Best Casual Restaurants in Highland Park

Price

££
£££
££££

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

Regions

DowntownEast LAHollywoodPasadenaSan Fernando ValleySan Gabriel Valley

Areas

AlhambraArcadiaArts DistrictAtwater VillageBeverly / Fairfax / La Brea / Third St.Burbank

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeaway only

Seating options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Gender-neutral toiletWheelchair access

203 restaurants available nearby

1. Dunsmoor

4.8

Exceptional(994)

££££Price: Very Expensive

• American • Eagle Rock

Booked 76 times today

Brian Dunsmoor’s namesake restaurant, Dunsmoor, is the latest iteration of his ongoing exploration of American heritage cooking. It is, first and foremost, a restaurant for the community that surrounds it, and a loving expression of the relentless research that has informed his cooking for the last ten years.We offer the full menu at tables in our dining room and at the chef's counter, as well as at our outdoor tables. Reservations are recommended but we make every effort to accommodate walk-ins when possible. Dunsmoor's wine bar, accessible either through the restaurant or via its own door on Ave 35, does not accept reservations and serves a limited menu of our raw and larder items.

2. Bacari GDL

4.8

Exceptional(1159)

££££Price: Expensive

• Italian • Glendale

Booked 28 times today

Bacari GDL is a Venetian-inspired small plates restaurant featuring Mediterranean-influenced dishes by Chef Lior Hillel. We are the 3rd restaurant of Kronfli Brothers, a family-owned, growing group of restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Alongside our delicious tapas, we offer a rotating curation of small-production wines and eclectic beers, unique craft cocktails & mocktails, and we are also known for our one-of-a-kind 90-minute open bar special.Our team provides warm hospitality in our comfortable, intimate indoor lounge by the bar or in our spacious, breezy outdoor patio. You will feel like home when dining at Bacari GDL.We welcome but do not require reservations — we love to accommodate walk-ins and large parties, even on busy nights. Bacari GDL is the go-to spot for our neighbors, and we look forward to hosting you soon!

A photo of Pez Coastal Kitchen restaurant

3. Pez Coastal Kitchen

4.6

Exceptional(74)

££££Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Pasadena

Booked 18 times today

Executive Chef & Proprietor Bret Thompson, with a rich culinary background spanning prestigious establishments in the U.S. and abroad, brings his expertise to Pez Coastal Kitchen. Joined by his wife Lucy Thompson-Ramirez, they have left an indelible mark on the Los Angeles dining scene with their previous ventures, including the beloved Pez Cantina and LA Burrito Co. in Montebello, but at Pez Coastal Kitchen,Chef Bret’s focus shifts to innovative techniques such as curing, smoking, and specialized dry-aging of seafood which will be a distinctive feature.The menu at Pez Coastal Kitchen reflects our culinary team's commitment to excellence, offering a tantalizing array of appetizers, chilled seafood, crudos, family-style entrees, exceptional sides, and innovative desserts. From Chilled Beets with hazelnuts to Whole Fried Fish and decadent desserts like Warm Chocolate Butterscotch Peanut Butter Cake, each dish is crafted with precision and creativity.

A photo of Fogo de Chão - Pasadena, CA restaurant

4. Fogo de Chão - Pasadena, CA

4.0

Excellent(1020)

££££Price: Moderate

• Brazilian • Pasadena

Booked 78 times today

Fogo de Chão is an internationally-renowned steakhouse from Brazil that allows guests to discover what's next at every turn. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo elevates the centuries-old culinary art of churrasco - roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame - into a cultural dining experience of discovery. Please join us in our dining room, in our more casual Bar Fogo, or bring the Fogo Experience to you with Fogo To-Go or Catering. Visit our website to make a reservation or place an order.

5. Celestino

4.6

Exceptional(3602)

££££Price: Expensive

• Italian • Pasadena

Booked 44 times today

Celestino Ristorante in Pasadena is no longer a well-kept secret. The Drago Brothers continue to exceed expectations with the freshest seafood, finest homemade pastas, organic meats, and variety of desserts made on-site. Some of the favorites include; Florentine style T-bone, black and white ravioli filled with shrimp, branzino al sale, flown-in burrata and vanilla custard with an assortment of fresh berries. Come in and enjoy authentic regional and seasonal specialties complemented by an award-winning wine list. We offer dynamic Private Dining rooms, a full bar, garden patios, and the friendliest staff to make any meal or special event at Celestino Ristorante most memorable. We do not up charge for Private Dining room use, or special Wine Dinners. Open Monday through Sunday for dinner seven days a week. Lunch hours are Monday to Friday.

A photo of The Arbour - Pasadena restaurant

6. The Arbour - Pasadena

4.7

Exceptional(2105)

££££Price: Expensive

• Californian • Pasadena

Booked 56 times today

The Arbour brings rustic elegant dining to the historic Pasadena neighborhood of south Lake Avenue. Paying homage to the extraordinary agricultural bounty of California, The Arbour’s menu showcases relationships with sustainable local farms and purveyors.

7. Le Grand Pasadena

4.0

Excellent(124)

££££Price: Moderate

• American • Pasadena

Booked 9 times today

Embark on a culinary journey like no other at Le Grand, where our Unlimited Tasting Experience lets you savor as many dishes as you’d like for $55 per person. Crafted in smaller, tapas-style portions, this menu is designed to help you explore a wide variety of flavors—from coconut shrimp and four-cheese ravioli to wine-braised brisket, mandarin salmon, and an array of delightful desserts. Our Brunch Menu offers the same unlimited approach for $49 per person, featuring favorites like French toast, avocado bagels, and cheddar bacon scramble, among many others. Pair your feast with our Unlimited Cocktail Experience at $27 per person, or opt for bottomless wines, beers, and mimosas at $25 per person. Enjoy more for less—why settle for just one appetizer and entrée elsewhere when you can treat yourself to unlimited mouthwatering dishes here at Le Grand? Join us in Downtown LA or Pasadena and discover a menu that truly offers something for every palate.

A photo of Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Pasadena, CA | Old Town restaurant

8. Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Pasadena, CA | Old Town

4.5

Awesome(1658)

££££Price: Expensive

• Japanese • Pasadena

Booked 44 times today

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

9. Gale's

4.8

Exceptional(3367)

££££Price: Moderate

• Italian • Pasadena

Booked 32 times today

Gale's Restaurant is a totally local Pasadena spot for delicious Northern Italian fare, tucked away from the tourist chains in Old Town. Couples, families and friends that seem to have just finished a day outdoors snuggle among the brick walls and small marble tables, drinking cocktails and wine from elegant Brighton goblets. Start off with Bruschetta, Burrata Salad or Gale's Simple Salad and then move on to the country-style Tuscan steak or one of the house made ravioli specials. For dessert, don't miss the Tiramisu or Gale's iconic Coconut Cake. The wine list is a favorite among the guests for it's variety and excellent value.

A photo of True Food Kitchen - Pasadena restaurant

10. True Food Kitchen - Pasadena

4.6

Exceptional(3216)

££££Price: Moderate

• American • Pasadena

Booked 56 times today

True Food Kitchen is a chef-driven restaurant and scratch bar that was founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, the pioneer of integrative medicine, to provide food that tastes great and is good for you. At our table, delicious dining and conscious nutrition go hand in hand, without sacrificing flavor, creativity or indulgence. Our expertly trained chefs craft flavor-forward dishes, handcrafted cocktails and freshly pressed refreshers so you can enjoy epic food experiences that aren’t just good for you, but good to you. Join us in Pasadena for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. New flavors, new combinations, new obsessions. Come see us for something completely new and delicious.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

C
Carina
Los Angeles •4 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Service was very considerate and kind, our server checked on often us and made sure we enjoyed every dish! I love that she gave us the opportunity to speak up if there was something we weren’t happy with (we were happy with everything). She was awesome! Albacore Tuna and Carolina gold rice were the favorites for us and the pork and green chili stew felt like home. The space is beautiful, very minimal and classy. Definitely will be back at the bar for the burger and to try some other items.
More info
DunsmoorPrice: Very Expensive• American• Eagle Rock
•
4.8
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Our dinning experience is awesome! Our waitress Dom is so courteous and attentive during our entire meal time! We definitely will be back soon!
More info
Fogo de Chão - Pasadena, CAPrice: Moderate• Brazilian• Pasadena
•
4
M
MattVIP
Greater Boston •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Amazing good and service! Would highly recommend. Dont skip dessert, its a must.
More info
CelestinoPrice: Expensive• Italian• Pasadena
•
4.6
S
Susan
Los Angeles •30 reviews
4.0
Dined on 5 Mar 2025
This was our first time here and it was fresh and tasty. It’s a shareable experience which allowed us to try several different things.
More info
Pez Coastal KitchenPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Pasadena
•
4.6
T
TJ
Los Angeles •1 review
5.0
Dined on 22 Feb 2025
My experience here was truly wonderful, and I was touched by how attentive and friendly the staff were. It’s clear they genuinely care about their customers. I will absolutely return and will happily recommend this place to friends and family.
More info
Bacari GDLPrice: Expensive• Italian• Glendale
•
4.8

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