7 Best Restaurants in Silver Lake, CA
Trevino Properties September 16, 2024
Trevino Properties September 16, 2024
Silver Lake is one of LA's most exciting food neighborhoods — a stretch of Sunset Boulevard, Rowena Avenue, and Griffith Park Boulevard where farm-to-table pioneers, third-generation taco stands, and buzzy Thai kitchens share the same few blocks. Whether you're a longtime resident or visiting for the day, these are the 7 best restaurants in Silver Lake worth planning your meals around.
Below, you'll find what to order at each spot, who it's best for, and the practical details — hours, price, and reservation policies — so you can skip the guesswork.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sqirl | Californian Brunch | Weekend brunch, ricotta toast | $20–30 |
| Night + Market Song | Thai Street Food | Bold flavors, group dinners | $20–30 |
| Pine & Crane | Taiwanese | Casual lunch, dumplings | $20–30 |
| Forage | Farm-to-Table | Light, healthy lunches | $20–30 |
| Blair's Restaurant | New American | Date night, cocktails | $30–50 |
| Tacos Delta | Mexican Street Food | Quick, affordable meals | $10–20 |
| Millie's Café | American Diner | Classic breakfast, all-day | $20–30 |
Address: 720 Virgil Ave #4, Los Angeles, CA 90029 Phone: +1 323-284-8147 Menu: sqirlla.com Price: $20–30 per person
Sqirl is the kind of place that turned LA brunch into a destination. Chef Jessica Koslow built her reputation on housemade preserves, and that obsession with seasonality shapes everything that comes out of the kitchen. The ricotta toast — thick-cut brioche, fresh ricotta, and whatever jam is in rotation — is the order that put Sqirl on the map, and it still delivers.
Beyond the toast, the sorrel pesto rice bowl (with brown rice, lacto-fermented hot sauce, a poached egg, and feta) is a cult favorite. The menu rotates with the seasons and accommodates vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diners without feeling like an afterthought.
Pro tip: Lines stretch on weekends. Arrive before 9 AM on Saturday or come midweek for a calmer experience. Jam jars and pantry items are available in-store and online if you want to take a piece of Silver Lake home.
Best for: Brunch lovers, farm-to-table enthusiasts, anyone curious about LA's defining food trend of the last decade.
Address: 3322 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Phone: +1 323-665-5899 Price: $20–30 per person
Chef Kris Yenbamroong's Night + Market Song isn't trying to be polite Thai food — it's the loud, spicy, deeply flavored cooking you'd actually find in a Bangkok night market. Yenbamroong has cookbook deals and national recognition, but the Silver Lake location stays scrappy and fun.
Order the nam khao tod (crispy rice salad with sour sausage), the larb, and the fried chicken sandwich with Thai slaw. The pad see ew is one of the best in the city. If you can handle heat, ask the server for the dishes that don't make it onto the standard menu — there's almost always something off-script.
Pro tip: It's walk-ins only, and waits run 20–40 minutes at dinner. Put your name down, grab a drink at a nearby bar, and come back. Parking is street-only, so ride-share is your friend.
Best for: Group dinners, spice seekers, anyone tired of watered-down Thai.
Address: 1521 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Phone: +1 323-668-1128 Menu: places.singleplatform.com/pine-and-crane Price: $20–30 per person
Pine & Crane brought serious Taiwanese cooking to Silver Lake and quickly became a neighborhood standby. The space is bright, minimalist, and fast-moving — you order at the counter, find a seat, and food arrives within minutes. Despite the casual setup, the cooking is precise.
The dan dan noodles are the signature, hitting the right balance of sesame, chili, and Sichuan peppercorn numbness. The three-cup chicken (sticky, garlicky, fragrant with basil) and the beef noodle soup are equally strong. Vegetarians do well here — the mushroom-based dishes and seasonal greens get the same care as the meat plates. Wash it down with a housemade cold-brew tea.
Pro tip: No reservations, but turnover is fast and waits rarely exceed 15 minutes. The DTLA location (Aero) is great, but the Silver Lake original is still the move.
Best for: Lunch, casual dinners, dumpling and noodle lovers.
Address: 2764 Rowena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039 Phone: +1 323-407-6377 Menu: order.toasttab.com/online/forage-2764-rowena-avenue Price: $20–30 per person
Forage is what farm-to-table looks like when it's not a marketing pitch. The small, family-run cafe sources from local growers and home gardeners — Silver Lake residents can actually sell their backyard produce to the restaurant — and the menu rotates weekly based on what's coming in.
Order at the counter from a glass case of seasonal salads, grain bowls, and proteins. The farro salad with roasted vegetables, the crispy Brussels sprouts, and the slow-roasted pork shoulder are reliably excellent. Portions are generous, prices are fair for the quality, and the patio is one of the more pleasant spots in the neighborhood to eat outside.
Pro tip: It's takeout-friendly by design, and they encourage reusable containers. Great option for a healthy weekday lunch or a low-key dinner that doesn't require a reservation.
Best for: Lighter meals, seasonal eating, anyone who wants quality without a sit-down commitment.
Address: 2901 Rowena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039 Phone: +1 323-660-1882 Menu: blairs-to-go-delivery-menu.square.site Reservations: resy.com Price: $30–50 per person
Blair's has been on Rowena since 2002, which makes it elder-statesman territory in a neighborhood where restaurants come and go. The warm, terra-cotta-toned dining room is the kind of place you'd take a date or settle in for a long Sunday dinner with friends.
The menu is New American with seasonal pivots — grilled ribeye, pan-seared salmon, a serious mac and cheese, and a daily fish preparation that's worth asking about. The cocktail program leans on seasonal ingredients and is one of the more thoughtful in Silver Lake. Wine list is well-curated without being pretentious.
Pro tip: Reserve through Resy, especially on weekends. The patio fills up fast on warm evenings. For parties of 8+, call ahead — they accommodate larger groups with notice.
Best for: Date nights, special occasions, anyone craving a proper sit-down dinner with cocktails.
Address: 3806 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Phone: +1 323-664-2848 Price: $10–20 per person
Tacos Delta has been a Silver Lake institution since 1984 — a family-run window-service spot where you walk up, order, and eat under a covered patio that's been there longer than most of the neighborhood's residents. The prices haven't crept up the way the rest of Sunset has, which is part of the charm.
Carne asada and al pastor are the move, but the carnitas and grilled chicken hold their own. The salsa bar lets you customize, with everything from a bright tomatillo to a slow-burn habanero. Beans are vegetarian (no lard), and the rice is solid. Burritos are massive — fair warning.
Pro tip: Seating is limited counter and bench space, so most people grab to-go. They cater for groups of 20+ if you need to feed a crowd.
Best for: Quick lunches, cheap eats, post-bar runs, anyone who appreciates a place that hasn't tried to reinvent itself.
Address: 3524 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Phone: +1 323-664-0404 Menu: places.singleplatform.com/millies Price: $20–30 per person
Millie's has been on Sunset since 1926 — making it the oldest restaurant on this list by a long stretch. The diner has evolved from its original sandwich-counter days into a Silver Lake breakfast and lunch fixture, but the bones of an old-school neighborhood diner are still there: worn counter seats, friendly staff, generous plates.
The vegan rancheros are surprisingly good, the breakfast burritos are stuffed properly, and the buttermilk pancakes are the kind that don't need much beyond butter and syrup. Vegetarian and vegan options run deep — uncommon for a place this old — and the kitchen handles them with the same care as the classic plates.
Pro tip: Breakfast is served all day, which makes Millie's the late-rise weekend move. Small lot in the back and street parking, but expect to walk a block on weekends.
Best for: Hangover brunch, classic diner cravings, all-day breakfast loyalists.
Walkability: Sunset Boulevard is the spine of Silver Lake's restaurant scene, and most of the spots on this list are within a 10–15 minute walk of each other. Park once and graze.
Parking: Few restaurants have dedicated lots. Read the street signs carefully — permit zones are aggressively ticketed. Ride-share is often easier than circling.
Outdoor seating: Patios fill up fast on warm evenings, especially at Sqirl, Blair's, and Forage. Arrive early or call ahead.
Dietary needs: Silver Lake is one of the easiest neighborhoods in LA for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dining. Most menus are clearly labeled.
What's the best time to visit popular Silver Lake restaurants to avoid waits? Weekday brunches before 10 AM are quietest at Sqirl and Millie's. For dinner at Night + Market Song or Blair's, target before 6 PM or after 8:30 PM.
Which Silver Lake restaurants are best for groups? Night + Market Song handles lively group dinners well. Blair's accommodates parties of 8+ with notice, and Tacos Delta caters for larger gatherings.
Are there good late-night options in Silver Lake? Night + Market Song stays open later on weekends. For very late eats, The Red Lion Tavern nearby is a reliable option.
Which restaurant is best for a first-time visitor to Silver Lake? Sqirl for brunch or Night + Market Song for dinner — both capture the neighborhood's creative, no-pretense food culture.
Are reservations needed? Only Blair's takes reservations (via Resy). The rest are walk-in only.
The food scene is just one reason Silver Lake remains one of LA's most coveted neighborhoods. If you're thinking about putting down roots here, Alexander Trevino can help you find the right home — from hillside mid-century moderns to walkable Sunset Junction condos.
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