9 Hidden Gem Restaurants In California Only Locals Know About

California’s food scene goes way beyond the famous spots tourists flock to. Tucked away in neighborhoods across the state are amazing restaurants that locals try to keep secret. These hidden gems offer incredible food experiences without the crowds or high prices of more well-known establishments.

1. The Mill Valley Beerworks in Mill Valley

Nestled among redwoods north of San Francisco, this brewery-restaurant combo dazzles with farm-to-table cuisine. Their roasted beet salad with house-made ricotta has a cult following among Marin County residents.

Locals appreciate the rotating craft beer selection that perfectly complements seasonal dishes like their famous sourdough pretzel with house mustard.

2. Guisados in Boyle Heights

Family-owned and fiercely authentic, this taqueria serves homestyle braises on handmade corn tortillas. The sampler plate lets you try mini versions of their most popular tacos, including the mouth-numbing chiles torreados.

Weekend mornings bring locals who line up for their legendary breakfast burritos with chorizo and perfectly scrambled eggs.

3. Marshall Store on Tomales Bay

Perched on stilts over Tomales Bay, this unassuming seafood shack grills the freshest oysters harvested just yards away. Smoke billows from outdoor grills where bivalves sizzle under chipotle bourbon butter.

Picnic tables overlooking the water fill with locals enjoying Dungeness crab sandwiches and clam chowder while pelicans dive nearby.

4. Bestia in Downtown LA’s Arts District

Hidden in a former warehouse, this industrial-chic Italian spot requires reservations weeks in advance. Chef Ori Menashe’s handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas keep LA foodies coming back despite the difficult parking situation.

The bone marrow gnocchi with crispy breadcrumbs remains their signature dish that locals recommend to first-timers.

5. La Ciccia in Noe Valley, San Francisco

A tiny Sardinian restaurant where Chef Massimiliano Conti and his wife Lorella create authentic dishes from their homeland. Their fresh spaghetti with bottarga (cured fish roe) transports diners straight to the Mediterranean.

San Francisco locals whisper about this spot, trying to keep the 30-seat dining room from being completely booked by tourists.

6. Gjusta in Venice Beach

What looks like a nondescript bakery actually houses a food paradise where locals grab breakfast and lunch daily. Their baklava croissants sell out by 9am, while the porchetta sandwich draws midday crowds.

Skip the nearby tourist traps and join Venice residents at the hidden back patio with your tray of house-smoked fish.

7. Duarte’s Tavern in Pescadero

Since 1894, this family-run coastal institution has been serving their famous cream of artichoke soup to generations of locals. The humble exterior belies the quality inside – don’t miss their olallieberry pie, made from berries grown nearby.

Motorcyclists and farmers rub shoulders at the bar, trading stories over bowls of cioppino loaded with local seafood.

8. El Parian in Los Angeles

Birria specialists extraordinaire, this family-run spot in Pico-Union serves Jalisco-style goat stew that locals drive across town for. The rich, complex broth comes with handmade tortillas perfect for dipping.

Weekend mornings find multi-generational families sharing massive platters of tender meat while mariachis occasionally stop by to perform.

9. Gjelina Take Away in Venice

The takeout window of famous Gjelina restaurant offers incredible food without the wait or reservations. Their butterscotch pot de crème converts even sworn dessert-avoiders into believers.

Local surfers line up post-session for the mushroom toast topped with truffle oil and farm eggs that puts avocado toast to shame.