6 LA Restaurants to Dine Solo At During Your Next Business Trip

Business trips can often mean solo meals at the bar. As someone who travels often for work, I actually prefer sitting at the bar and getting a front row seat to all the action — you can also strike a conversation with the chef or your bar mate next to you. Whether you’re looking for a place to make some deals or will be dining as a party of one, here are a few places around Los Angeles to check out during your next business trip.

Kazu Nori

Westwood

Don’t be fooled by the location. Even though Kazu Nori is located in Westwood Village and you may be dining next to broke college students, this sushi-bar only restaurant is still a local fave. You may have heard of it’s sister restaurant, Sugarfish, which is also highly recommended, but when you don’t have time to wait in line, want a grab a quick bite, or are simply dining alone, Kazu Nori is your best bet. Grab a seat at the bar and order the 6-Hand Roll for all the traditional hand rolls like salmon and crab in one order.

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Terroni’s

West Hollywood

If Italian is what you’re craving, then Terroni is the perfect place! With two locations (one in West Hollywood and the other in DTLA), Terroni serves up classic Italian fare like Tagliatelle Al Ragu and freshly made Margherita pizzas. You can pull up a seat at one of their wooden tables, sit at the marble top bar, or if it’s a beautiful day grab a table outside which is what I like to do when I’m dining solo. The restaurant prides itself in the quality of their ingredients — like their olive oil, which is actually made in Italy, exclusively for Terroni.

Tatsu Ramen

Sawtelle

One of the best things about LA is the diversity and all the different cultures that the city attracts, which means you can find almost any type of cuisine depending on what your palate craves! On the famed foodie street, Sawtelle Boulevard, you’ll find some of the best Asian food. Tatsu Ramen was started by a few local families who fell in love with ramen while in Japan and decided to bring a piece of Tokyo back to LA. The signature Tonkotsu broth takes 12-14 hours to make daily and they also offer a vegan and gluten-free option (because, LA).

What makes this place friendly for solo diners? For starters, it’s never easy having a conversation while you’re busy slurping ramen. The fast casual restaurant uses iPads for ordering, just like Japan, which means it’s a great spot if you’re looking to dine in a jiffy. You can select one of their signature ramen bowls that run about $14 on average or you can make your own bowl and add any topping you’d like, from a soft boiled egg to organic tofu.

And if you’ve got time to satisfy your sweet tooth, just walk along Sawtelle for a number of bakeries and confectioners like B. Sweet or Beard Papa for their famous cream puffs.

Montage

Beverly Hills

Right in the heart of the Golden Triangle of Beverly Hills is the luxurious Montage Beverly Hills hotel. Just steps away from the famed Rodeo Drive is this urban oasis with its striking Spanish Colonial Revival design and welcoming garden, locals and travelers alike are welcome to dine and get pampered at the bougie hotel. Stop by for happy hour at The Cafe between the hours of 3-6 PM for the Bubbles & Brew happy hour menu that includes $2 oysters, spicy tuna on crispy rice, and everyone’s favorite — truffle fries, and then wash it all down with a glass of bubbly or beer. You can also sit next door at the hotel bar and enjoy the sounds of live jazz music Wednesday through Saturday from 7:30-11:30 PM.

Wally’s

Santa Monica

The popular wine shop owned by the Marciano brothers (yes, as in the GUESS? brand) just opened their newest bar and restaurant in Santa Monica, a few blocks away from Ocean Blvd. Diners can expect the same menu favorites like the Wally Burger, a sophisticated crowd, long communal tables, and floor-to-ceiling bottles of rare and popular wines. Head over after work hours and snag a table at the bar (if you’re lucky) and definitely order the charcuterie plate — it’s a must here!

Sora

DTLA

The Intercontinental DTLA, one of downtown’s newer hotels, is home to sushi bar Sora, where you can pick your sushi straight off the conveyor belt while overlooking the City of Angels. The conveyor belt options include traditional sushi, sashimi, and vegetarian options as well. For the more adventurous eaters, leave it to the chef and order the Omakase or pick from one of their two bento boxes which comes with a miso soup, seaweed salad, and a combination of nigiri, sushi, and tempura depending on your choice.

The best time to dine at the hotel restaurant is during their All You Can Eat Conveyor Belt lunch special for $35 per person when suited diners flock, or in the evening during sunset hour so you can catch the last few hours of daylight with a side of sushi. The sushi at Sora is fresh and so are the views from the 69th floor.