The Best Los Angeles Restaurants for Group Dining

Located in East Hollywood, DeSano Pizza Bakery features four massive, 10,000-pound ovens named after Italian saints: San Felice, San Paolino, San Gennaro and San Matteo. The wood-fired, 900-degree ovens produce Neapolitan-style pizzas with ingredients like San Marzano D.O.P tomatoes and Mozzarella di Bufala that are sourced from Campania in southern Italy.

The cavernous 7,000 square-foot space offers picnic benches and long communal tables - great for groups to watch the big game or the pizza-making action from the open kitchen.

Specialty pizzas include the San Gennaro (San Marzano tomato sauce, sausage, peppadews, garlic, caramelized onions, scamorza, mozzarella di bufala, pecorino romano) and the namesake DeSano with San Marzano tomato sauce, sausage, pepperoni, garlic, scamorza, mozzarella di bufala and pecorino romano. The sunburst-shaped Meatball Madness is a Carnivale style pizza with ricotta cheese stuffed crust. Pair your pie(s) with a selection of local craft brews or Italian and California red and white wines.

After Rick Caruso, developer of The Americana at Brand, first tasted the famed dumplings of Din Tai Fung, he was determined to bring a location to the Glendale shopping mecca. His vision was realized five years later in October 2013, when the global chain opened Din Tai Fung next to Nordstrom.

The sleek, 160-seat space is accented with elegant granite and teak, and features a showcase dumpling making station where you can watch the skilled dumpling makers craft the iconic xiao long bao at a rapid clip. Order as you would at Din Tai Fung locations around the world, by checking off items like the juicy pork dumplings, shrimp shao mai, and pork chops over fried rice. The Glendale location boasts luxurious truffle dumplings and a full bar that features Asian-inspired cocktails. You can also get your XLB fix at Westfield Century City, The Shops at Santa Anita, and the Del Amo Fashion Center.

Established in 1923, El Cholo opened its flagship Western Avenue location (aka "The Original") in 1927 and has since expanded to Downtown LA, Santa Monica and Orange County. Family and friends have gathered to enjoy El Cholo's traditional Mexican cuisine for generations.

Start with the Fiesta Platter for 2 or 4: Crab & Beef Taquitos, Nachos, Quesadillas, Chimichangas, Guacamole and Sour Cream. Other shareable antojitos include Chicken Chimichangas, Aged Cheese Quesadilla, Taquitos (Chicken, Beer or Crab), Sonora Style Nachos (Frijoles, Tomato Salsa, Sour Cream, Guac) and the interactive Molcajete Style Guacamole, served in an authentic bowl for you to mix and mash.

Bring the El Cholo experience home with the El Cholo Combination Dinner for 20 ($280), which includes Caesar salad, Cheese Enchiladas, Tacos, Refried Beans and Rice. Appetizer and Entree Trays for 10 are also available. Classic Margaritas To-Go (Cuervo 1800 included) are available by the gallon, half-gallon, quart and a la carte.

With four locations in the LA area, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is ready to host your next upscale group dinner. Start with the Chilled Seafood Tower, which serves 4-6 and includes ahi tuna poke, shrimp cocktail, North Atlantic lobster tails, claws, and knuckle. Sides to share include the panko-crusted Onion Rings with smoked jalapeño aioli; and the Crispy Brussels Sprouts - flash-fried, topped with diced bacon and bacon vinaigrette.

For entrée, choose from seven cuts of Fleming's Signature Steaks, served with a choice of butter: Béarnaise, smoked chili, or herbed horseradish. Make it a decadent Surf & Turf and add the Truffle-Poached Lobster in Béarnaise sauce, topped with caviar.

Plant-based options include a Roasted Portobello & Cauliflower Steak entrée, along with veg-friendly sides like Roasted Asparagus, Fleming's Potatoes, Baked Potato Plain or Loaded (order without bacon), Sautéed Mushrooms, and Chipotle Cheddar Mac & Cheese.

Fleming's locations are available to host private holiday parties for groups, featuring multi-course lunch and dinner menus (vegetarian and dietary restriction options upon request) and festive décor.

The focus at Fogo de Chão is churrasco, the Brazilian art of roasting meats over an open fire. Following its popular location on the famed Restaurant Row along La Cienega, Fogo de Chão expanded to Downtown LA in February 2015, El Segundo in May 2022, and Pasadena in September 2022.

The dining experience centers on the carvers, who are signaled with a double-sided disc. The green side tells them to keep delivering skewers of meats that are carved tableside. Flip to the red side and the carvers will stand by till you're ready for more.

Options include the signature Picanha (a prime cut of top sirloin), Bone-In Beef Ancho (Ribeye), Linguica (Spicy Pork Sausage), and Frango (Chicken). Add an Indulgent Cut (sized to share for four or more) like Wagyu New York Strip, Wagyu Ancho, or Dry-Aged Tomahawk Ancho.

Along with the carved meat, dinner includes unlimited trips to the Market Table & Feijoada Bar, featuring fresh seasonal salads, vegetables, imported cheeses and cured meats, seasonal soups, and Fogo feijoada (traditional black bean stew with sausage). Brazilian side dishes such as pão de queijo (cheese bread), crispy polenta, garlic mashed potatoes and caramelized bananas are served tableside.

Vegans and omnivores alike have made the weekend brunch at Gracias Madre one of the busiest in LA. After your group is seated on the beautiful patio, start with a pitcher of Purista Margaritas, which serves six and can be made with tequila or mezcal (top shelf options available) and classic or spicy.

For the table, there's Queso Fundido (warm housemade cashew cheese, jalapeño, pico de gallo, cilantro, corn tortilla chips) and the Tower of Spuds - a roasted potato tower with soy chorizo, cashew nacho cheese, guacamole, and pico de gallo. Gluten-free shareable dishes include Esquites (roasted sweet corn, chipotle aioli, cashew mozzarella, onion, cilantro, Brazil nut Cotija, Aleppo pepper), Coliflor (deep-fried cauliflower), Chilaquiles, and Potato Pimento Flautas.

Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, the James Beard Award-winning Guelaguetza serves some of the best Oaxacan cuisine in the country. Located on Olympic Boulevard in Koreatown, the expansive restaurant features a family-style section on its menu with dishes that serve three to eight diners.

One of the most popular items is the Festival de Moles, a $40 sampler plate with four individual servings of mole negro, mole rojo, coloradito and estofado - served with shredded chicken, rice and a hand-made tortilla.

Another crowd pleaser is the Botana Oaxaqueña - eight people can dive into the Full Order ($155), a platter laden with chorizo, tasajo, cecina, chile relleno, carnitas, Oaxaca cheese, grilled onions and cactus. Served with guacamole, frijoles de la olla with nopalitos, and 14 memelitas.

Meaning "horn of the bull" in Japanese, Gyu-Kaku showcases authentic Japanese yakiniku (barbecue), where guests share premium cooked meats over a flaming charcoal grill while sipping on sake, shochu and frosty beers. The global chain numbers more than 700 locations around the world - the first U.S. location opened on Pico Boulevard in West LA. Other LA locations include Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks and Pasadena.

The fun, interactive group dining experience lets guests do their own cooking (with expert assistance from helpful servers) on personal grills with “smokeless” roasters - downdraft systems ensure you don’t smell like the charcoal you’re cooking with. Gyu-Kaku offers a wide range of meats, including the bestselling 21-day aged harami (skirt steak), prime kalbi (short rib) and bistro hanger steak. Other popular items include pork belly, duck breast, chicken basil, garlic shrimp and a veg-friendly menu.

Gyu-Kaku offers three Premium All You Can Eat options, priced from $45 to $65 per guest. AYCE is limited to 90 minutes, and everyone in the group must choose the same option.

Dim sum is traditionally enjoyed with friends and family at breakfast or brunch, but at Lunasia Dim Sum House it's an all-day affair, served daily from open to close. Wait times can be long - especially on weekends - but well worth it for dim sum on par with the best in Hong Kong. (Protip: Lunasia offers reservations for groups of 8 or more, call ahead up to a month in advance.) Instead of traditional push carts, diners fill out menus for made-to-order dim sum. Tea is served in cast iron teapots.

At the original location in Alhambra, groups load up the Lazy Susan with favorites like the massive Jumbo Pork & Shrimp Shumai and Jumbo Har Gow. The Baked BBQ Pork Bun is another standout - the sticky-sweet bun practically melts in your mouth. Other highlights from the 100-item menu include the Pan-Fried Turnip Cake, Macau-style Egg Custard Tarts, and Rice Noodle Rolls - filling options include char siu, beef, shrimp, Chinese donut, brown rice & mushroom, and the luxurious Live Lobster.

With locations in Eagle Rock and Pasadena, Malbec Argentinean Cuisine showcases signature grilled meats and the award-winning Argentine wine that gives the restaurants their names. Large format dishes and hearty portions of appetizers, salads and pastas invite sharing.

The Tabla de Chorizos offers a selection of Argentinean Chorizo, Red Argentinean Chorizo, Thin "Parrillero" Sausage, Morcilla, Salsa Criolla, and Cannellini Bean Salad. Choose a platter for two, three or four people. Veal sweetbreads are available as an add-on.

Steaks from the wood-fired grill are all-natural, hormone-free and wet-aged for 21 days. All steaks are served with three sauces: Chimichurri Norteño, Salsa Criolla and Salsa Mia.

The Tabla Mixta offers a choice of two cuts, which are sliced on a skillet and served family style: Medallones, Entraña a La Parrilla, Ojo de Bife, Lomo, and Bife de Chorizo. Add-ons include any item from the Tabla de Chorizo, grilled shrimp, and sweetbread.

Standout steaks include the 16 oz Ribeye, 16 oz New York, and the showstopper Chuleton - USDA Black Angus Tomahawk. The Caracu offers four pieces of bone marrow, grilled rustic flatbread and salsa verde.

Save room for homemade desserts like Budin de Pan (Argentinean style custard bread pudding) and traditional Flan de Caramelo.

Jenee Kim opened the LA branch of Park's BBQ, originally from Seoul's Chungdam District, in the heart of Koreatown in 2003. It's since become the standard-bearer of Korean barbecue not only in Los Angeles, but in America. It's widely regarded as one of the highest quality KBBQ experiences outside of Korea, with an incredible selection of meat that's unrivaled in the city.

For those in the group that are new to KBBQ, start with the Taste of Park's P1: Park's Galbi, Bulgogi, Beef Brisket, Boneless Beef Short Rib, and the signature Ggot Sal ("Flower Meat") - heavily marbled cuts of USDA prime short rib. Park's also features American Wagyu in its Taste of Wagyu (Brisket Point, Boneless Beef Short Rib, GGot Sal, Ribeye Cap) and a 14oz A5 Wagyu Special. Dishes to share include the sizzling Stone Pot Ribeye Bulgogi with clear noodles; Beef Tartare, and the spicy Kimchi Pancake.

In a 2020 interview with Weekend Edition on NPR, Padma Lakshmi said, "I love the kebabs at Shamshiri Grill. I love anything from that Iranian restaurant. It's wonderful if you're ever in Los Angeles. Go to Shamshiri Grill."

Listen to Padma's advice, and on any given night you'll find the bustling dining room filled with families, friends and dates. As chef-owner Hamid Mosavi told Padma on the Persian Square episode of her Taste the Nation series, “Kabob shows love and care, and brings people together.”

Along with the fantastic kabobs, the Shirin Polo is a must: white or brown basmati rice is mixed with slivered almonds, pistachios, and orange peels in a sweet saffron sauce, and served with a choice of chicken or lamb shank. The popular lamb neck is only available as an option on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Another essential dish is Tahchin, available Tuesday through Thursday - baked basmati rice cake layered with chicken or lamb, eggs, yogurt, saffron and topped with sautéed barberries.

Chef Mosavi offers numerous vegan dishes, including Albaloo Polo, Falafel Platter, Kabob, Bamieh (Okra Stew), Curry, and many more.

Tucked into the second floor of a strip mall a couple of miles from UCLA, the third location of Sichuan Impression has a lively dining room that's perfect for groups, families, and even date night for couples that love the fiery cuisine.

The huge gatefold menu conveniently lists dishes with peppers to gauge diners' spice tolerance, ranging from mild/no peppers, to tongue-tingling and mouth-numbing (1-2 peppers), to the scorching three peppers.

Start with "Impressive" appetizers like Grandma's Pickled Cucumber, Wontons in Chili Oil, Home-Style Fried Rice (available non-spicy), and Street Corner Potato Strips - rated two peppers, but even Sichuan newbies will enjoy noshing on the spicy fries.

Properly warmed up, the table will be ready for specialties like Mapo Tofu, Toothpick Lamb, Boiled Fish with Rattan Pepper, and Sichuan Impression's most popular dish, the famed Tea-Smoked Pork Ribs. For those that can handle the three-pepper Dry Pots, there's Fried Squid, Fried Shrimp, and Fresh Bullfrog.

The Six is named for the The Society of Six, an influential community of six Northern California artists during the 1920s Prohibition era. At their cabin, known as “The Chow House,” these artists created art with their home-made meals, brews and wines. With The Society of Six as its inspiration and locations including West L.A. and Studio City, The Six offers hearty gastropub fare in a rustic, sustainably designed interior. Dishes are made with locally sourced ingredients and served in classic cast iron skillets and rustic wood planks. The menu centers on the concept of “six” - guests choose from six starters, six savory entrees, six red wines, six white wines, six brews on tap and six desserts.

One of LA's most iconic restaurants, The Tam O'Shanter was opened in 1922 by Lawrence Frank and Walter Van de Kamp (they later founded Lawry's the Prime Rib) and there's a lot of history inside its dark wood walls. Walt Disney and his animators were regulars - his favorite table was #31, right by the fireplace and commemorated by a plaque. Numerous spaces in the Scottish-themed restaurant can accommodate groups - the menu ranges from classic Lawry's Prime Rib cuts to Pan-Seared Salmon and a veg-friendly entree of Herb Roasted Root Vegetables with beets, parsnips, onions, carrots, arugula and goat cheese.

Opened in 2008, Wurstküche was one of the first restaurants to pave the way for the current red-hot dining scene in the Downtown LA Arts District. A Venice sequel followed in September 2011. Long communal tables make these modern beer halls ideal for groups.

Lines started forming outside the original Wurstküche ("Sausage Kitchen" in German) from the get-go - diners were eager to try "Exotic" sausages like Rattlesnake & Rabbit with Jalapeños, Duck & Bacon with Jalapeños, and Lamb with Mediterranean Spices. More approachable than the Exotics, "Gourmet" offerings include Kielbasa, Filipino Maharlika, and Mango Jalapeño. Plant-based options include a Beyond Meat Veggiewurst, Mexican Chipotle (chipotle, arbol, chiles, garlic, onion) and Smoked Apple Sage (apples, Yukon potatoes, rubbed sage). The Belgian fries are a must - glazed in white truffle oil and served with a choice of dipping sauces.

From its perch above Hollywood Boulevard, boasting panoramic city views, stunning architecture and tranquil gardens, Yamashiro has welcomed guests to its spectacular hilltop setting for generations.

Helmed by Vallerie Castillo Archer, the first female executive chef in the restaurant's history, Yamashiro offers group-friendly Sushi Boats - a chef's selection of sashimi, nigiri, and sushi rolls. The Small Sushi Boat totals 40 pieces and serves 2-3 guests; the 80-piece Large Sushi Boat serves 3-6. Level up to the Sushi Yacht for 6-10, which adds Crispy Rice and assorted hand rolls to the mix.