Santa Monica's refined tasting menu for the most special of occasions
Must-try: Full Tasting Menu ($295), Tomato Salad, Lobster Bolognese
📍 1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
6 curated picks with real TikTok reviews — updated 2026.
6 restaurantsThese are the best american restaurants in Santa Monica — ranked by quality, curated from over 230 LA restaurants tracked by Forks.LA. Top picks: Melisse / Citrin, Dialogue, Birdie G's.
Santa Monica's dining scene pairs ocean views with serious culinary credentials — walkable, diverse, and consistently strong.
Santa Monica's refined tasting menu for the most special of occasions
Must-try: Full Tasting Menu ($295), Tomato Salad, Lobster Bolognese
📍 1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Dave Beran's 18-seat Michelin two-star counter in Santa Monica — the most personal tasting menu in Los Angeles
Must-try: Full tasting menu (the only option), Wine pairing, Bread course
📍 1315 3rd Street Promenade, Suite 1000, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Jeremy Fox's Santa Monica American — duck, ribs, and Jewish-Southern cooking that defies category
Must-try: BBQ duck, Gluten-free fried chicken, Pie of the day
📍 2421 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Santa Monica's Southeast Asian brasserie — Bryant Ng's Singapore-inflected cooking in a beautiful room one block from the beach
Must-try: Singapore-style laksa, Kaya toast with coconut jam, Slow-roasted pork shoulder
📍 1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Santa Monica's farmhouse wine room — Jeremy Fox's produce-first cooking and one of the best natural wine lists on the Westside
Must-try: Vegetable plate (seasonal), Whole roasted chicken, Pasta with whatever's at the market
📍 1119 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Wood-fired small plates, bone marrow, and a buzzy cocktail bar on the east end of Santa Monica
Must-try: Wood-Roasted Bone Marrow, Tagliatelle with Braised Rabbit, Crispy Pork Belly
📍 602 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Melisse / Citrin is the top pick — consistently excellent food, a great atmosphere, and the kind of place locals recommend without hesitation.
Yes — Santa Monica has 6 strong american options ranging from casual neighborhood spots to destination-worthy restaurants. Melisse / Citrin, Dialogue, Birdie G's are the standouts.
For the top spots, yes — book 3–5 days ahead on Resy or OpenTable, especially for weekend evenings. Tar & Roses is more walk-in friendly if you prefer to be spontaneous.