Los Angeles Restaurant Week is returning from August 14 through August 28, 2026. The official Dine LA announcement says more than 400 restaurants across 84 neighborhoods will offer special menus, with prices beginning at $15.
The big list is exciting, but it can also be a trap. A prix fixe is only a deal when it lets you experience what a restaurant does best, at a price that beats a normal visit. These six reservations make the strongest early case.
Openaire, Koreatown
Openaire is the most transporting option in the group. The restaurant sits in a plant-filled greenhouse beside the pool at The LINE LA, while chef Josiah Citrin's team builds the menu around seasonal California produce and shareable plates.
The hotel's official Dine LA event page confirms a three-course dinner for $55, served from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the event. A $35 wine pairing is optional, and the special menu is unavailable on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Choose Openaire for a date or a dinner where the room matters as much as the food. Read our full Openaire guide before booking.
Lawry's The Prime Rib, Beverly Hills
Lawry's is the clearest old-school value play. Local coverage confirms a $75 three-course menu built around the California cut of prime rib, the famous spinning bowl salad, broiled lobster tail, Yorkshire pudding, and a choice of creamed spinach or creamed corn.
That is unusually close to the complete Lawry's ritual, not a compromise menu assembled for a promotion. See the Beverly Press menu report and our Lawry's Beverly Hills deep guide for the full strategy.
Manuela, Arts District
Manuela's appeal is the setting: a garden-framed restaurant inside the Hauser & Wirth arts complex, with Southern-inflected California cooking and ingredients drawn from its own grounds. The restaurant has posted an official Summer Dine LA page confirming its August 14 to 28 participation.
The current public page does not expose every course and price in search results, so check the live menu before committing. This is still a smart lunch or early dinner choice when you want to combine a gallery visit with a meal.
Redbird, Downtown Los Angeles
Chef Neal Fraser's Redbird occupies a former rectory beside the Vibiana event space. Its courtyard and layered dining rooms make it one of downtown's best-looking special-occasion restaurants, while the menu moves between California produce, wood-fired meats, and globally informed sauces.
Redbird appears in current Dine LA coverage, but menu details can change before the event begins. Use the official Dine LA directory to confirm the live courses and reservation link. Book it when atmosphere and polished service matter more than maximizing portion size.
Charcoal Venice, Venice
Charcoal Venice is Josiah Citrin's more elemental restaurant, centered on live fire, grilled vegetables, seafood, and meat. It is a useful contrast to Openaire: less garden escape, more smoke, char, and a neighborhood dinner feel.
The restaurant is among the chef-driven names highlighted in Restaurant Week coverage. Confirm the final event menu through the official directory, then judge it by whether the courses include Charcoal signatures rather than generic steakhouse choices.
Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery, Pasadena
Agnes makes the list because its identity is unusually specific. The Old Pasadena restaurant combines a cheese shop, market, and modern American dining room, so a set menu can move naturally from playful snacks to richer, cheese-forward plates.
Visit Pasadena lists Agnes among the city's participating restaurants. It is the best group option here for diners who want a relaxed room and a menu that does not feel like another conventional Restaurant Week steak dinner.
How to book Dine LA without overpaying
Compare the prix fixe against the restaurant's regular menu before reserving. Drinks, supplements, tax, and gratuity can turn a seemingly inexpensive dinner into a much larger check.
Prime Friday and Saturday tables will go first. Midweek dinners, early seatings, and lunch menus often provide the same promotional pricing with less booking pressure. Confirm that everyone at the table must participate, since Openaire explicitly requires full-table participation and other restaurants may do the same.
Dine LA Summer 2026 FAQ
When is Dine LA Restaurant Week in summer 2026?
It runs from Friday, August 14 through Friday, August 28, 2026.
How many restaurants are participating?
The organizers announced more than 400 restaurants across 84 Los Angeles neighborhoods. The live list and menus are available through the official Dine LA site.
Are drinks, tax, and gratuity included?
Usually not. Check each restaurant's terms, especially for wine pairings, supplements, and full-table participation rules.
Which menu offers the strongest value?
Lawry's $75 dinner includes its signature prime rib service plus lobster tail and classic sides. Openaire's $55 three-course dinner is the more atmosphere-driven choice.
Should I reserve now?
Yes for prime weekend times. If your preferred table is gone, monitor cancellations and try an earlier weekday seating.
When reservations are gone
Let Resto Mojo keep checking for the table.
Choose the restaurant, date, party size, and time range. Resto Mojo monitors supported booking platforms and can book when a matching opening appears.
