Where to Eat in Manhattan Beach Right Now: The 2026 Local's Guide

Where to Eat in Manhattan Beach Right Now: The 2026 Local's Guide

Manhattan Beach has always had a dining scene that punches above its size. The stretch of restaurants along Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Manhattan Avenue draws a crowd that expects quality, and the city has consistently delivered. What's happening right now is particularly worth paying attention to. A wave of strong new concepts has already opened, more are still arriving, and the neighborhood dining landscape is measurably more interesting than it was two years ago. Whether you are a local looking for something new or planning a visit to the South Bay, here is a current, ground-level guide to where to eat in Manhattan Beach.

The Anchors: Restaurants Every Local Knows

These are the restaurants that define Manhattan Beach dining. They have earned their reputation, and they continue to hold it.

Fishing with Dynamite — 1148 Manhattan Ave Consistently the best-reviewed restaurant in Manhattan Beach, FWD is the oyster bar and coastal seafood spot that chef David LeFevre built into a local institution. It is listed in the 2025 Michelin Guide USA and has earned multiple appearances on OpenTable's 100 Best Restaurants in America. The menu rotates with the season and leans into the kind of unfussy, ingredient-forward cooking this neighborhood responds to. 

The Arthur J — 903 Manhattan Ave At The Arthur J, every steak is cooked over a live wood fire grill using white oak embers, with a selection of USDA Prime, True Japanese Wagyu, and Black Angus beef. The mid-century modern room, the martini program, and the Emmental popovers with strawberry butter make it the top choice for a special occasion dinner in the South Bay. 

Love & Salt — 317 Manhattan Beach Blvd A decade-old staple for American-Italian pizza, pasta, and salads in an indoor-outdoor setting, Love & Salt sits steps from the pier and remains a reliable anchor of downtown MB dining. Chef Chris Feldmeier, known from Nancy Silverton's Osteria Mozza in Hollywood, is back running the kitchen, which signals a new chapter worth revisiting. 

The Strand House — 117 Manhattan Beach Blvd One of the most recognizable dining rooms in the South Bay, The Strand House offers contemporary American cuisine with direct beach views and the kind of ambiance that earns it a permanent spot on every "best of" list for the area.

Manhattan Beach Post — 1142 Manhattan Ave The restaurant that launched Chef LeFevre's MB empire. Casual, creative, and still drawing a crowd more than a decade in.

Recently Opened: What's New in MB

Coucou — Manhattan Ave (former Nando Trattoria space) Martini drinkers and Francophiles in the South Bay now have a neighborhood home at Coucou's Manhattan Beach debut. Now on its third location, this French-influenced bistro is the kind of place you drop into after a walk on The Strand for steak frites, oyster platters, or a fancy hot dog topped with onion jam. There is also a daily apéro hour from 5 to 6 p.m. with a cocktail and two snacks. The room is design-forward without being precious, which fits downtown MB well. 

Saint & Second — Manhattan Village Saint & Second, part of the family-owned Hofman Hospitality Group, brought elevated American cuisine, inventive craft cocktails, and a coastal design aesthetic to Manhattan Village. The space was built out with California artists and features a softer, sun-washed palette. Standouts include the S&S Signature Burger, Steak & Frites, and a seasonal cocktail program that changes regularly. 

Toranj — 1019 Manhattan Beach Blvd The South Bay had no options for upscale Persian food until Toranj arrived, bringing an elegant atmosphere and drawing the expat community in for special occasions. The tahchin, a saffron-scented rice cake with yoghurt and barberries, is a weekend standout, while the kebabs and stews balancing sweet, sour, and herbal flavors are worth ordering any day. A genuine addition to the neighborhood that fills a long-standing gap. 

Esperanza Cocina de la Playa — Downtown Manhattan Beach From chef Jackson Kalb, this casual and inventive taco-focused concept departs from anything else in the beach cities. The menu centers on tacos that range from traditional to genuinely unexpected, including a sweet potato, feta, scallions, and pipian version that has become a standout. One of the more interesting openings in MB in recent memory. 

Bread Head — 1129 Manhattan Ave Founded by chefs Alex Williams and Jordan Snyder, who earned a Michelin star together at Trois Mec, Bread Head brings a chef-driven approach to the humble sandwich. The shop is built around a house-made focaccia baked fresh throughout the day, with a tight menu of meticulously composed sandwiches using purposeful, locally sourced ingredients. Open daily, with weekend breakfast service starting at 8 a.m.

Still to Come: Keep an Eye On This One

Great White — 401 Manhattan Beach Blvd (former Pitfire Pizza at Metlox) Great White, the beloved Venice all-day cafe that first opened in 2017, is bringing a new location to Manhattan Beach at the high-visibility Metlox corner spot. The all-day menu spans wood-fired pizzas, fish tacos, kale-pesto pasta, a full espresso bar, and a curated natural wine list. An opening date has not been officially confirmed, but the liquor license is filed and the space is in progress. Worth watching.

The Bigger Picture

Manhattan Beach, traditionally known for more conservative upscale dining, is taking meaningful risks in the current cycle. The newer openings reflect a demographic shift: the crowd moving into the area is younger, more food-curious, and willing to support chef-driven concepts that go beyond the expected. Persian food, inventive tacos, Michelin-pedigreed sandwiches, French aperitif culture — it is a more layered dining landscape than this city has historically offered. 

For buyers and residents evaluating South Bay neighborhoods, the dining scene is one of the clearest indicators of a neighborhood's energy and long-term staying power. Manhattan Beach is not coasting on reputation. The sustained investment in new, quality concepts signals continued demand, a healthy local economy, and a community that supports excellence at every price point.

Updated April 2026. Always confirm hours and reservations directly with each restaurant.