The 38 Essential Restaurants in Los Angeles

"There is no better weekend decision than pulling off Pacific Coast Highway as signage for Malibu Seafood draws impossibly nearer in the foreground. The seafood shack, which butts up to a verdant Corral Canyon trailhead, has delighted hikers, road-trip-weary travelers, and beach-goers since it opened in 1972. Here, find all the old-school seafood stand favorites: deep-fried seafood plates, which, beyond the fish and shrimp standard, can feature clam strips, squid, and oysters; fish sandwiches topped with vinegary coleslaw; and grilled seafood platters with proteins like freshly caught halibut, swordfish, and tuna served alongside crispy crinkle-cut french fries, rice pilaf, or a butter-slathered baked potato. Seafood steamers are on order, too, with Dungeness crab offered seasonally, as well as lobster, clams, and mussels. The restaurant’s ceviches and seafood cocktails comprise some of the lighter fare, and all spreads can be enjoyed from its tiered patio set-up, which provides ample views of the iridescent Pacific Ocean before it. — Nicole Adlman, cities manager" - Eater Staff