The fastest, cheapest, frequently best food on Santa Monica's streets.
Vendors, food trucks and stalls: the cheapest, fastest, frequently best food in Santa Monica.
Hot Dog on a Stick still hand-dips corn dogs at Muscle Beach in Santa Monica, where Dave Barham began hand-dipping them at his 1946 lemonade stand.
TryOriginal corn dog
TipThe rebuilt stand pounds its lemonade by hand the way it did in 1946; corn dog and lemonade is the whole menu you need.
Sunny Blue wraps made-to-order omusubi on Main Street in Santa Monica, miso beef and curry rice balls pressed warm behind a six-seat counter.
TryMade-to-order omusubi
TipMiso mushroom is vegetarian and gluten-free; get one spicy salmon for the walk down to the beach.
La Purepecha hand-presses corn tortillas on Broadway in Santa Monica, a Michoacan-style counter of asada tacos and machaca burritos without the fuss.
TryAsada tacos on handmade tortillas
TipTacos on handmade tortillas with cilantro and onions are the order; parking sits right beside the shop.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Step into the glamor of old Hollywood as you dine at historic restaurants once graced by silver screen legends. Explore top-rated contemporary fare and diverse immigra...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Experience the energy of the iconic Original Farmers Market, a Los Angeles landmark since 1934, and discover why the market and its the surrounding neighborhood remain...
Guided tour · 6 hours
Spend a day surfing in Los Angeles with local experts. Visit two iconic surf breaks in Southern California, learn about the history of the beaches, and enjoy a picnic ...
Tacos Por Favor has fed Santa Monica's Olympic Boulevard workshops since the nineties, a no-frills counter of hard-shell tacos and chile relleno burritos.
TryHard-shell tacos and burritos
TipThe lunch rush peaks at noon sharp; order the chicken taco plate and grab salsa from the bar before sitting.
Heavy Handed smashes short-rib-blend patties on Main Street in Santa Monica, beef tallow fries and Straus soft serve from a pandemic pop-up made good.
TryShort-rib smashburger
TipDouble smash with American cheese, fries in tallow, soft serve after; the line moves faster than it looks.
Benny's Tacos brines its rotisserie chicken for 24 hours in citrus and garlic on Wilshire in Santa Monica, with churros piped full of Bavarian cream.
TryRotisserie chicken tacos
TipThe rotisserie chicken plate feeds two; finish with the cream-filled churros even if you think you will not.
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
TryThe Godmother sub, takeout counter
TipOrder the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Sweetfin builds chef-driven poke bowls on Broadway in Santa Monica, an entirely gluten-free kitchen of bamboo rice, kale noodles and citrus ponzu fish.
TryPoke bowls
TipEvery bowl base swaps free, so try the kale noodle base; the whole menu is gluten-free by default.
HiHo Cheeseburger griddles 100 percent grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farm on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, a classic double for fast-casual money.
TryWagyu cheeseburger, counter service
TipThe mustard-grilled double with onions is the order; it is counter service, so grab a booth before you order.