Dining Guide
Where to Eat in Manhattan Beach: A Local's Dining Guide
Manhattan Beach eats far better than a town of 35,000 should. A short list of genuinely great rooms clusters around the pier, El Porto covers surf-morning fuel, and almost everything is walkable from Highland Avenue. Here's where locals actually go.
Hours and menus change — check ahead before you go.
Breakfast & Coffee
Uncle Bill's Pancake House is the institution — expect a weekend wait and order the pancakes. In El Porto, North End Caffe and the beach cafés along Highland handle coffee and breakfast burritos before a surf; nothing beats eating one on the seawall watching the lineup.
Casual & Beachside
Simmzy's does burgers and local taps with the garage doors open. Fishbar is the easy seafood standby. El Tarasco, steps off the sand in El Porto, has been serving late-night burritos to surfers for decades — a genuine local landmark.
Dinner Worth Booking
MB Post is the town's marquee reservation — shareable plates and the bacon-cheddar biscuits everyone talks about. Its sister spot Fishing with Dynamite does raw-bar and seafood in a tiny room; book ahead for both. Love & Salt brings wood-fired Italian near the pier, and The Strand House pairs coastal California cooking with an ocean view.
Late Night & Drinks
The Kettle has been open until the small hours since 1973 — the after-everything spot. Ercoles is the no-frills dive bar locals defend fiercely. Both are cash-friendly, unfussy, and exactly what a beach town bar should be.
Eat Well, Sleep Closer
Every table above is a short walk or five-minute drive from Highland Surf House's three residences in El Porto. Book direct, drop your bags, and walk to dinner.