Take a Bite Out of San Pedro

There’s often a line at Busy Bee, a popular sandwich shop tucked into a “workingman’s“ neighborhood in San Pedro. Grab one of their legendary pastrami sandwiches and head to Point Fermin for a picnic with a view. Italian sausage and BBQ chicken is also a hit. Bring cash and an appetite, while the portions are generous, the Bee does not accept cards.

Formerly known as Pavich's, Burattino Brick Oven Pizza features pizza chef Lee Kim's gourmet pizzas. The thin crust pies are topped with premium toppings and unusual options like duck prosciutto, wild boar and Croatian dried beef. The menu also includes build-your-own Giant Calzone and massive half-pound Champion Sandwiches.

Regarded by many as the best chorizo-maker in L.A., Humberto Raygoza (aka the Chori-Man) counts acclaimed restaurants like Salazar and Sonoratown among his clients and fans. The Chori-Man cult following has continued to grow since Raygoza opened a small storefront in San Pedro in July 2017. Ordering starts with selecting a signature chorizo - Zacatecano Red or Tolucan Green - or chipotle braised beef. Then choose taco or burrito options like the popular Chori-Man Breakfast Burrito. Daily specials recently featured by @thechoriman Instagram have included beef & sweet potato chili, potato leek soup with Argentinian chorizo, and a smoked pork kimchi quesadilla. Raygoza recently introduced soyrizo - like the red and green chorizos, it's available by the pound or showcased in tacos such as soyrizo with sweet potato and arugula. The Chori-Man is currently open 8am-2pm on Thursdays, and 8am-8pm Friday-Sunday.

Not to be confused with the Beverly Hills sushi spot of the same name, Crazy Fish Grill & Market quickly became a local hit since opening in June 2018. Located at the Garden Village Shopping Center on Western Avenue, Crazy Fish specializes in fresh seafood with a focus on sustainability and affordability. Order at the counter, where wild-caught and farm-raised seafood is displayed in the glass case. From the Grill plates feature fresh fish like wild Alaskan salmon, yellowfin tuna and swordfish with a choice of sauce and two house or premium sides. Featuring fresh never frozen ahi, the Poke Bowl is made with brown or white rice, Persian cucumber, daikon sprouts, enoki mushrooms, papaya, and shoyu or spicy sauce. Available till they're gone, recent specials have included poke tacos on Taco Tuesday and a Crazy Shrimp Burrito.

At almost a century in business, J. Trani's Ristorante is one of San Pedro’s last remaining old-school restaurants. Now run by a fourth-generation chef, the menu mixes tradtional Italian dishes and modern favorites like seared ahi tuna.

Come for the falafel, stay for the baklava. Fresh Mediterranean is always on the menu at Nazelie's Lebanese Cafe, a strip mall eatery in Downtown. Nazelie's is one of San Pedro’s yummiest hidden gems and veggie friendly.

Opened in August 2017, Pappy's Seafood is a 5,000 square foot seafood restaurant housed in the building that was San Pedro's original post office and later Papadakis Taverna. At their casual eatery, owners Greg and Yunnie Morena (The Albright at the Santa Monica Pier) feature a coastal menu that ranges from classics like clam chowder, lobster roll, fish & chips, and a hearty clam bake to globally inspired dishes like poke, ceviche and seafood paella. Add craft beers on tap, boutique wines, and live music, and you have the LA Waterfront's newest must-try dining destination.

An award-winning traditional Italian complete with a regular “Sinatra Night,” Raffaello Ristorante has a warm family atmosphere thanks to the owners, who make it a point to greet diners. Generous portions of red sauce favorites and vegetarian friendly dishes are popular choices at this Downtown favorite.

Home of the World Famous Shrimp Tray, the legendary San Pedro Fish Market is California's largest seafood restaurant and can seat nearly 3,000 people, many of which come for the views of passing cruise ships and the Port of Los Angeles. Trays of seafood fajitas star griddled shell-on shrimp, sea bass fillets and/or lobster, all lavished with grilled onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes and potatoes. A cocktail bar dispenses shrimp, oysters, ceviche, octopus, crab or scallops. Grab a mallet if you want to bust open crab, or return to the market to source shark fillets, tiny smelts or torpedo-shaped barracuda. Basically, they’ll cook anything that swims. 

Slavko’s giant chicken is a certified Downtown landmark. Follow the big bird for roasted chicken with house-made seasoned salt and the creamy, toasty potato nuggets. Don’t miss the garlicky mayonnaise dipping sauce.

Sorrento's Italian Restaurant has been owned and operated by its original family since 1962.  They're open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. You can get the italian basics here, but they're known for the award-winning pizza. Order a pie and a pitcher of your favorite brew and kick back after a day of sightseeing.

Perched along the waterfront promenade, Utro’s Cafe boasts an outdoor patio where you can enjoy plenty of cold beer, as plainly promised on their green awning. It’s a great vantage point from which to drink away a weekend afternoon. But you won’t want to miss on the maritime memorabilia lining the restaurant’s old-time interior. You get the sense that a seaman stepping off a schooner in the mid-1900s might have admired the same view. Decor aside, the beer is cheap and the burgers are outstanding. The Devine, a double cheeseburger topped with avocado and bacon, is a greasy gut-buster for under $10. If it’s seafood you crave, the grilled swordfish sandwich is a winner. A dog-friendly establishment, their menu also features multiple options for your four-legged friends.

Appropriately titled, The Whale & Ale is the go-to outpost for English pub grub, including fish 'n' chips & curry, in the heart of the harbor. Designed with an eye to old Victorian stylings (wood-paneled walls, brass and copper fitted bar), it’s easy to transport yourself to 19th century London when you’re slouched on an antique barstool, sipping a smooth and creamy Old Speckled Hen on draft. More comfortable than kitschy thanks to an understated elegance, relaxation is amplified the moment your sumptuous, authentically-prepared Beef Wellington arrives at the table. And even though it’s firmly situated in the New World, they’ve got their own claim to UK history, as the first bar in the U.S. to feature Boddington’s cream ale on draft. Nowadays, no self-respecting English-themed pub would be caught without it. A resident pianist tickles the ivories every Friday night.