La Brea's Texas-style smoke house — the beef ribs alone are worth the drive from anywhere in LA
Must-try: Beef ribs, Brisket, Jalapeño cheddar hot links
📍 609 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
The best lively spots great for groups and friend gatherings in Mid-Wilshire — curated from over 200 LA restaurants.
3 picksThe best dinner spots in Mid Wilshire for a group are the ones where sharing is built into the menu and nobody has to overthink the order. These 3 picks are ideal for groups of 2–8 — places with enough energy that you can actually talk, menus worth exploring together, and a vibe that doesn't require a special occasion to justify the tab. Catch the TikTok reviews to find the right fit. Top picks: Bludso's BBQ, Jon & Vinny's, Canter's Deli.
Mid-Wilshire's Koreatown-adjacent dining corridor has excellent depth — Korean barbecue institutions alongside newer openings in almost every cuisine.
La Brea's Texas-style smoke house — the beef ribs alone are worth the drive from anywhere in LA
Must-try: Beef ribs, Brisket, Jalapeño cheddar hot links
📍 609 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Fairfax's spicy fusilli phenomenon — Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo's red-sauce Italian that Delta Airlines put on their first-class menu
Must-try: Spicy fusilli vodka, Chicken parmigiana, Gem lettuce salad
📍 412 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
LA's 24-hour Jewish deli since 1931 — the Kibitz Room launched Guns N' Roses, the pastrami launched everything else
Must-try: Pastrami Reuben, Matzo ball soup, Black and white cookie
📍 419 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Bludso's BBQ is a go-to for a reason — the format is built for sharing, the energy is right for a group, and the food is consistent enough that everyone leaves happy.
Jon & Vinny's handles larger tables well and has a menu with enough variety that even the pickiest eater in the group will find something. Call ahead if you're coming with 6 or more.
Groups have a harder time walking in, especially on weekends. Reservations are strongly recommended for parties of 4 or more. Most of these spots book through OpenTable or Resy.