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Best Restaurants for People Watching in Universal City

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41 restaurants available nearby

A photo of TAO Asian Bistro - Los Angeles restaurant
1. TAO Asian Bistro - Los Angeles
4.7
Exceptional(4233)
Price: Expensive
• Asian • Hollywood
Booked 116 times today
TAO Los Angeles is a dynamic two-level space, complete with two private dining rooms, outdoor patio, lounge with large bar. and main dining room anchored by our 16 foot Quan Yin statue.
A photo of The Tower Bar restaurant
2. The Tower Bar
4.7
Exceptional(2016)
Price: Very Expensive
• Californian • West Hollywood
Booked 76 times today
The Terrace at the famous Sunset Tower Hotel debuted a new look in May of 2018, featuring a refreshed outdoor dining experience with updated furnishings and an elegant new bar. The Tower Bar Restaurant has split views of the city from either side of the lobby. It offers a swank lounge, bar and an al fresco dining experience. Custom made banquettes line the windows that showcase an unparalleled view of the Los Angeles skyline. Art deco design influences include walnut with gold inlay trim in a subtle, muted color scheme. The delectable menu features California Bistro with Italian fare. A dress code is enforced, please call for information.We are now open daily for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is offered six nights a week, Monday-Saturday. We are unable to guarantee a seating preference of indoors or outdoors. We recommend a sweater or light coat during the evenings.Shorts, baseball caps, sweats, sandals, tank tops, phone calls, computers and photos are not permitted.
A photo of Saffy's restaurant
3. Saffy's
4.8
Exceptional(1237)
Price: Expensive
• Middle Eastern • East Hollywood
Booked 104 times today
A multi-regional Middle Eastern restaurant in East Hollywood, from Chefs Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis of Bestia and Bavel.
A photo of State Social House restaurant
4. State Social House
4.8
Exceptional(166)
Price: Moderate
• Gastro Pub • West Hollywood
Booked 1 time today
We offer savory American Pub Bites with flavors from the farms of California to the Far East and Europe. At each of our four bars, we offer 20 beers on tap, an elegant selection of boutique wines and a unique seasonal cocktails menu. We offer The Tortugo Lounge next door where you can sit back and enjoy a fine cigar. We have TVs throughout the first floor and The Tortugo Lounge here you can watch all major sporting events. And for those who enjoy live music and a more intimate setting, we offer The Attic upstairs.
A photo of The Little Door restaurant
5. The Little Door
4.7
Exceptional(3044)
Price: Expensive
• Contemporary French • West Hollywood
Booked 26 times today
Two simple wooden doors open up to quite a buzz in an otherwise romantic courtyard, where a colorful crowd hangs at the bar and lingers at coveted patio tables. Inside, seats spread throughout the candlelit house-turned-restaurant with intimate furniture. Organic seasonal ingredients, creatively prepared and impeccably presented, characterize our unique menu. If you do not see a reservation time for the time you would like please also check on Tock at exploretock.com/thelittledoorFor reservations on Holidays, please call the restaurant.
A photo of Drake's Hollywood restaurant
6. Drake's Hollywood
4.5
Awesome(134)
Price: Very Expensive
• American • West Hollywood
Booked 12 times today
Drake's is a swanky, old Hollywood-inspired restaurant with sophisticated cocktails at a large, circular bar.We accept reservations 7 days in advance. Reservations open up at 9 am. For groups of 8 or more, please call the restaurant. Reservations are strongly encouraged as we have limited walk-in availability.Please provide at least 24 hours’ notice for any adjustments. No-show reservations will incur a fee of $50 per guest.We do not seat incomplete parties. To ensure that all parties are seated punctually and with ample time to enjoy their experience, a time limit is enforced: 1 hour 45 minutes for parties of 22 hours for parties of 3 to 4 2 hours 15 minutes for parties of 5 to 8Valet is available.A 5% surcharge will be added to each guest check. This charge is for the benefit of Drake’s employees. In support of this initiative, the entirety of this charge is retained by Drake’s.
A photo of Formosa Cafe restaurant
7. Formosa Cafe
4.7
Exceptional(1084)
Price: Expensive
• Asian • West Hollywood
Booked 54 times today
The Formosa Cafe is a restaurant and bar founded in 1939 and located at 7156 Santa Monica Boulevard at the intersection with North Formosa Avenue, in West Hollywood, California.The restaurant has a long history of movie star and film industry patronage due to its close proximity to studio lot across the street, which began as the United Artists lot and was later owned by Warner Bros. Generations of movie stars such as Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable have eaten meals at The Formosa. Frank Sinatra is reputed to have spent many nights at the Formosa in the 1950s, pining over Ava Gardner.After a brief 2 year hiatus, a complete refurbishment, and a tremendous menu update The Formosa Cafe has returned to serve the Los Angeles community once again.
A photo of Irie Restaurant & Lounge restaurant
8. Irie Restaurant & Lounge
5.0
Exceptional(116)
Price: Expensive
• Californian • West Hollywood
Booked 3 times today
Located in the heart of West Hollywood, Irie Lounge and Restaurant offers guests the full sensory experience combining cannabis and California comfort food with a southern twist. Irie brings all of the farm/farmer's market to table freshness, but with the tanginess and smoked dishes that southern food is celebrated for. Whether consuming cannabis or not, our black-eyed pea hummus, dandelion Caesar salads, and dry-aged New York strip with charred treviso are dishes guests are celebrating us for.
A photo of Sogno Toscano - The Grove restaurant
9. Sogno Toscano - The Grove
4.4
Awesome(25)
Price: Expensive
• Italian • Central Los Angeles
Booked 11 times today
Sogno Toscano invites you to experience a true Italian escape in the heart of Los Angeles. Located within the prestigious "The Grove", this marks our fourth U.S. location and the first to be realized as a full-service restaurant and cocktail bar. Here, we bring Italy's rich culinary heritage to life in elegant setting, surrounded by the energy and allure of one of LA's most iconic destinations.As a leading importer of premium Italian products across the U.S., every ingredient we serve is carefully sourced and brought directly from Italy, honoring our dedication to authenticity and excellence. Join us for a genuine Italian experience...no passport needed! N.B.: TABLE RESERVATIONS ARE ONLY INTENDED FOR FULL SERVICE. For any questions, feel free to contact us on OpenTable.
A photo of Queen Violet Weho restaurant
10. Queen Violet Weho
4.6
Exceptional(406)
Price: Moderate
• Asian • West Hollywood
Booked 10 times today
Queen Violet is a modern Asian fusion restaurant in an unique European style building with a beautiful floral courtyard. Most of our dishes are inspired by Chef Sara Thongchoet. We also offer traditional Thai and Chinese recipes that make you feel at home. Chef Sara created her own recipes from her apartment in 2010 by cooking for her family and friends. Everyone loved her food, and her friends brought more friends!  She quickly realized that the groups have gotten too big for her apartment. This moment of inspiration sparked her passion and her soul to become a chef.  Chef Sara finally made “Queen Violet” happen in the heart of WeHo!So why the name “Queen Violet”?-Queen?  We playfully imagine our customers to be Queen Bees returning to their hive (our restaurant).-Violet?  In Thailand, violet is the color of the LGBTQ, not the rainbow.  So, we chose violet to represent our support for the LGBTQ community.So welcome to Queen Violet !

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you
From verified diners like you
  • RonVIP
    Los Angeles •42 reviews
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    Our favorite neighborhood spot. The food is always extraordinary. We had couple of less than stellar experiences out of many the were, in fact, stellar. Lately and especially yesterday, the experience was fantastic. Everyone was friendly. The service was paced perfectly. We took friends from out of town to experience Saffy’s and they could not stop raving about every dish. We all had a hard time picking the best of the night. Great spot. Highly recommended. RG.
    More info
    Saffy'sPrice: Expensive• Middle Eastern• East Hollywood
    •
    4.8
  • Lisette
    Los Angeles •1 review
    5.0
    Dined 1 day ago
    From check-in to checkout, everything was seamless. Server and managers touched the table multiple times. Food came out fast. The best items were the wagyu teppanyaki and the whole snapper. I thought music was gonna be loud but it was just perfect volume but then we came in at 5pm on Saturday night so everything and everyone was still family-friendly.
    More info
    TAO Asian Bistro - Los AngelesPrice: Expensive• Asian• Hollywood
    •
    4.7
  • len
    Los Angeles •5 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on 9 Feb 2025
    Superior service experience and delicious food. It is spendy, but completely delivers if your expectations are a classy and classic West Hollywood experience with charm and a gorgeous view. Anthony's over/above service while waiting in the bar area was precious.
    More info
    The Tower BarPrice: Very Expensive• Californian• West Hollywood
    •
    4.7
  • Catherine
    Los Angeles •1 review
    5.0
    Dined on 8 Feb 2025
    Very nice romantic place and the food and drinks were 10 out of 10
    More info
    The Little DoorPrice: Expensive• Contemporary French• West Hollywood
    •
    4.7
  • Norma
    New York City •2 reviews
    5.0
    Dined on 8 Dec 2024
    Took a while to get served but once we did the staff was fabulous and attentive. Great ambiance but a bit noisy.
    More info
    State Social HousePrice: Moderate• Gastro Pub• West Hollywood
    •
    4.8

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