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Best Resturants San Marino Califonrai
San Marino may be a quiet residential enclave, but its boutique commercial strips along Huntington Drive and Mission Street hide several exceptional culinary standouts.
Here are the best restaurants physically located in San Marino:
1
Masamitsu Japanese Cuisine
Tucked away along Huntington Drive, this serene sushi counter has earned acclaim from dining critics and local food blogs as one of the finest under-the-radar omakase experiences in the San Gabriel Valley. The kitchen excels at traditional multi-course nigiri omakase, highlighting pristine seasonal imports like kinmedai (golden eye snapper), otoro, and Hokkaido sea urchin over meticulously seasoned warm rice. The room is peaceful, refined, and minimalist ($$$$ — about $150 to $175 per person, an impressive value compared to Westside sushi temples), with counter seats requiring advance booking.
- Julienne Fine Foods and Celebrations — A San Marino landmark for over 40 years, this charming French-style café and gourmet marketplace was famously praised by Jonathan Gold for its provincial warmth and scratch cooking. Sit on the brick patio for the rosemary-currant scones, chilled tarragon chicken salad, or hot breakfast quiches, all prepared with vibrant herbs and high-quality seasonal produce. The crowd is a mix of neighborhood regulars and garden visitors ($$ — about $25 to $35 a head, great value for polished cafe dining), offering open patio seating by day and special ticketed dinner series on select evenings.
Kind: place
Location: 2649 Mission St, San Marino, CA 91108
Instagram: instagram.com/juliennefinefoods
Website: juliennetogo.com ↗
Phone: (626) 441-2299
Reserve: exploretock.com ↗
1
San Marino Seafood
Part neighborhood fish monger and part casual sit-down eatery, this local favorite has spent decades serving the freshest catches in the area. The standouts here are the crisp beer-battered fish and chips, fresh Pacific halibut tacos, and steaming sourdough bowls filled with rich New England clam chowder. The setting is breezy and casual with a pleasant outdoor patio ($$ — around $20 to $35 a person, a very fair price for quality seafood), operating entirely on a walk-in basis.
2
Dumpling Bar San Marino
This vibrant dining room quickly became a local sensation across food blogs and social media for delivering handcrafted dim sum and dumplings directly in town. You will want to order the steamed pork and crab xiao long bao, which arrive piping hot with thin, delicate skins holding a spoonful of rich, savory broth. The vibe is clean, modern, and casual ($$ — around $25 to $35 a person, an excellent deal given the portion sizes and all-you-can-eat options), with walk-in seating that fills up quickly during the lunch and dinner peaks.
3
Colonial Kitchen
Anchoring Huntington Drive since 1933 and recognized by the Los Angeles Conservancy as a living heritage staple, this vintage diner preserves old-school Americana at its finest. Regulars swear by hearty breakfast staples like the Titan combo with fluffy buttermilk pancakes, as well as the thick-cut meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy. The space features classic leather booths and retro charm ($$ — around $20 a head, delivering large portions for the spend), operating as a walk-in haven for breakfast and early lunch.
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