The Best Oyster Happy Hours in Los Angeles
Updated on August 8, 2017
Los Angeles is now lined with oyster bars like they were palm trees, and restaurants are shipping in oysters from sea to shining sea. Angelenos have an oyster bar or restaurant serving oysters in nearly every neighborhood, with condiments, beverages, and menus catering to the local flavor. Aside from the sensation of privilege that an oyster happy hour bestows, it’s a titillating first taste - the ultimate culinary foreplay when getting to know a restaurant. Here are ten of the best oyster happy hours in the greater Los Angeles area.
Upstairs at the Ace Hotel
Inspired by Hollywood's famed Les Deux Cafe, Upstairs is the rooftop urban oasis at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. Upstairs hosts a variety of events, from DJs and live bands to pop-up shops and creative collaborations. One of the best views in L.A. is now even better, thanks to the $1 oysters available from noon to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
929 S. Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90015//} ?>
The Downtown location of this Euro-Asian restaurant is one the best places for locals to unwind after work. During the summer, the popular Matsuri Beer Garden features specials like garlic butter grilled oysters, kaisen skewers, frozen Kirin Ichiban and specialty cocktails.
Cliff's Edge
One of L.A.'s best urban al fresco dining spots, Cliff's Edge offers dishes made with the freshest ingredients translated through global flavors. Thursday night is oyster night. From 6-7 p.m. the best oysters that Cliff's Edge can get that day are priced at $1 each. There are drink specials during the oyster hour, but plan on that being your appetizer - you’ll want to stay for a romantic dinner on the patio.
3626 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026-1059//} ?>
Delphine Eatery & Bar
Located at the W Hollywood Hotel across from the Pantages Theatre, Delphine Eatery & Bar features California-inspired contemporary American cuisine with a focus on fresh organic ingredients. Delphine's vibrant colors and classic archways create a warm and inviting indoor-outdoor space that evokes Provençal cafés. Available every week from 5-10 p.m., Raw Bar Monday showcases $1 East Coast oysters, $1 chilled shrimp, $2 crab claws, $5 lobster rolls and more. Pair your seafood with a $5 sparkling rosé for a perfect pre- or post-theatre experience.
6250 Hollywood Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90028//} ?>
EMC Seafood & Raw Bar - Koreatown
Every neighborhood in Los Angeles seems to have its own oyster bar these days, with a menu reflecting the local flavor, like this bustling spot from the people behind Wokcano and Le Ka. A young, hip Koreatown crowd can be found at EMC Seafood & Raw Bar every day from 4-7 p.m. devouring $1 oysters by the dozen, provided an extra kick from a spicy mignonette and cocktail sauce topped with wasabi paste. Want some more? If you stop in at 10 p.m., the late night happy hour kicks in with $1.25 oysters, and the night’s just getting started - this is K-town, after all.
3500 W 6th St #101 Los Angeles, CA 90010//} ?>
Faith & Flower
This bustling Roaring 20s-meets-the-21st-century restaurant, located on the ground floor of the WaterMarke Tower in Downtown L.A., offers $1 oysters Sunday through Thursday from 5-6:30 p.m. The Social Hour special is available at the bar and the adjoining lounge, where you can also enjoy $8 cocktails. Flapper dresses and Oxford Bags are optional.
705 W. 9th St. Los Angeles, CA 90015//} ?>
Chef David Lentz has made Los Angeles a seafood Mecca with the highest quality products and flavorful menu items that riff on seafood classics with a contemporary California sensibility. If you’re thinking that Hungry Cat might be the best place for oysters on the cheap, you are correct. At the Hungry Cat in Santa Monica, $1 oysters are available on Mondays during happy hour and dinner, while the Monday special is offered during lunch at the Hollywood location. Complement your oysters with a crisp, dry Picpoul de Pinet for a guaranteed cure for your Monday blues.
MESSHALL Kitchen
The only thing missing are the sing-a-longs at Los Feliz’s own summer camp away from home. MessHall Kitchen serves well-crafted cocktails, uptown burgers and sandwiches in the former Brown Derby space, where Swingers and Royal Crown Revue once shined for a brief moment in time. It gets packed on Tuesdays, which touts $1 oysters, $1 tacos and $5 drafts of craft beers all night long.
4500 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027-2006//} ?>
Portsmouth
Chef Daniel Salcido is one of the Whitter-based chefs who helped turn former president Richard Nixon’s sleepy hometown into a destination for creative Latin cuisine. Salcido’s restaurant is first and foremost an oyster bar, where you can get $1.50 oysters from 5-7 p.m. every day. Happy hour diners can indulge in the oyster selection of the day like Dark Beach (WA) or Naked Cowboys (NY) paired with $2 off beers on tap, or a crisp Albariño from Napa. This is the place to go on the Eastside and worth a trek across town for delicious oysters before exploring pork belly tacos and Mexican street-style corn with crab.
13103 Penn St Whittier, CA 90602//} ?>