10 Spots You’ll Keep Returning to in Echo Park & Historic Filipinotown

Whether you’re on the hunt for a vibey wine bar, a crispy-edged Detroit pizza slice, or one of the most exciting South Asian spots in the country, Echo Park and Historic Filipinotown are where the magic’s happening.

I’ve spent enough time in this neighborhood to know what’s just hype and what truly hits. This pocket of LA doesn’t need reinvention, it’s where artists, chefs, and a lot of my very opinionated friends converge on coffee shop patios and tiled bar tops, mostly to eat well and maybe complain about parking.

What ties these 10 places together is a kind of low-key brilliance, not flashy or overproduced, but packed with flavor, vibe, and a sense of place. These are the Echo Park and HiFi spots I tell everyone to try, and the ones I quietly revisit over and over.

1. Little Fish

Historic Filipinotown – Casual Seafood Perfection
You know those places you recommend and immediately follow with, “But don’t blow it up”? That’s Little Fish. This weekend-only sandwich window slings some of the best seafood in LA, usually a special like seared albacore on ciabatta, or a shrimp roll so buttery it could qualify as a spa treatment. Get there early. Lines form fast. Deservedly so.

2. Bar Flores

Echo Park – Latin-Inspired Cocktails & Patio Dreams
Bar Flores is what I imagine heaven looks like if heaven were full of mezcal and bougainvillea. The drinks lean tropical and strong, the crowd is always a little too good-looking, and the upstairs patio might be one of the most romantic corners in Echo Park. Pair your cocktail with snacks from the taco spot downstairs. Or don’t. You’re already winning.

3. Ototo

Echo Park – Japanese Pub with Cult Following
Ototo walks the line between intimate and explosive in the best way. It’s the kind of spot where you can drink your way through a sake flight and end up ordering three rounds of miso-glazed wings, not because you’re hungry, but because they’re that good. The tonkatsu sandwich is life-changing. The vibe is neighborhood bar meets izakaya greatness.

4. Pijja Palace

East Hollywood Border – Sports Bar, But Make It Indian
Calling Pijja Palace a sports bar is like calling Beyoncé a singer, technically true, but missing the point. This place redefines fusion with dishes like malai rigatoni and green chutney wings. The TVs play the game, but your eyes will be glued to the tandoori spaghetti. It’s bold, weird, thrilling, and so much more than a gimmick.

5. Greekman’s

Echo Park – Indoor vibes, Greek soul, and a wine list that slaps
Greekman’s isn’t just a summer patio hang (though the twinkly-lit courtyard is objectively great). Most of the action actually happens inside, a cozy, wood-toned room that feels like your cool uncle’s taverna, but make it Echo Park. The food is bright, unfussy, and deeply craveable: saganaki that arrives flaming hot (literally), perfectly charred souvlaki, and smoky eggplant dips you’ll want to double order. The all-Greek wine list? Wildly fun and refreshingly priced. This spot is built for lingering, come for a second date or just solo with a glass of retsina and a dream.

6. Donna’s

Echo Park – Vinyl, Vibes, and the Best Bread in Town
New to the neighborhood but already iconic, Donna’s brings old-school dinner party energy with the kind of food that demands a long night. Think: freshly baked focaccia, whole fish with salsa verde, and natural wine that tastes better shared. Also, there’s usually a record spinning. Of course there is.

7. Quarter Sheets Pizza Club

Echo Park – Detroit-Style Pizza with Cult Status
You don’t just eat Quarter Sheets. You commit to it. These slabs of cheesy, crispy, thick-crust pizza are unapologetically decadent, often topped with seasonal surprises or pepperoni cups that sizzle. There’s also usually a layered cake you’ll be thinking about for weeks. Worth every minute of the waitlist.

8. Woodcat Coffee

Echo Park – Neighborhood Espresso Spot That Knows Your Order
If Woodcat disappeared, there would be a neighborhood-wide protest. This tiny but mighty shop serves some of the best espresso in the city, period. It’s warm, personal, and exactly what a neighborhood coffee shop should be. Bonus: the baristas actually know how to pronounce your name.

9. Tsubaki

Echo Park – Tokyo Vibes, LA Heart
Tsubaki is a tiny izakaya where the staff knows their sake and the charcoal grill is the real star. Yakitori, miso eggplant, agedashi tofu, the dishes are balanced, elemental, and wildly satisfying. It's an ideal date night spot for people who care more about flavor than floorplans.

10. Perilla

Historic Filipinotown – Korean Veggie Powerhouse
What started as a pop-up is now a HiFi staple, with a hyper-seasonal banchan menu and a produce-forward take on Korean cooking. The vibe is modern Korean deli, but the cooking is high-level: spicy gochujang stews, chilled noodles, and banchan that’ll have you clearing your plate twice.

Eat Echo Park (and HiFi)

You could write an entire LA guide just about this stretch of the Eastside. These 10 spots reflect the area’s range, chill cafés, buzzy date spots, and mind-blowing meals, all within blocks of each other. Come hungry, come curious, and maybe carpoolm because yeah, the parking really is that bad.