RYLA

"To the uninitiated, Ryla appears to be just another spot serving brunch bait like breakfast sandwiches and fluffy pancakes. But the Taiwanese and Japanese food at this Hermosa Beach spot will turn around an otherwise boring weekend morning. Expect pork belly benedict with yuzu hollandaise, a crispy katsu sando, and breakfast fried rice studded with sweet Chinese sausage. If you’re fine with indoor seating, you’ll have no trouble walking in on Sunday morning. Otherwise, make a reservation for their sleek sidewalk patio." - brant cox, sylvio martins

"Chefs Ray Hayashi and Cynthia Hetlinger are dishing up modern Japanese and Taiwanese fare at perhaps the coolest South Beach opening in 2022. The former Laurel Tavern space now sports a snappy Tokyo-inspired cocktail bar and a menu featuring hits like tonkotsu miso ramen, Chinese sausage-stuffed fried rice, and Hokkaido milk bread. The Grandma’s Cigarettes are a slightly smoky take on a honey-lemon-ginger cocktail and definitely worth ordering for first timers. The weekend brunch service makes for a perfect pre-beach meal, with a pork tonkatsu sandwich, fluffy Japanese pancakes topped with blueberry compote, and rosé-style tteokbokki vodka sauce good for sharing." - Matthew Kang

"A modern izakaya just steps from Hermosa Beach, Ryla comes from a Japanese and Taiwanese chef-duo serving polished versions of donkatsu, tonkatsu ramen, and hot chicken karaage. The cocktails, like the smoky Grandmother’s Cigarettes, are among the best in the South Bay. Ryla’s striking ambiance boasts a dark, romantic vibe that opens into something bright for weekend brunch (if weekend brunch is one’s idea of a first date)." - Rebecca Roland, Matthew Kang

"A modern izakaya just steps from Hermosa Beach, Ryla comes from a Japanese and Taiwanese chef-duo serving polished versions of donkatsu, tonkatsu ramen, and hot chicken karaage. The cocktails, like the smoky Grandmother’s Cigarettes, are among the best in the South Bay. Ryla’s striking ambiance boasts a dark, romantic vibe that opens into something bright for weekend brunch (if weekend brunch is one’s idea of a first date)." - Rebecca Roland, Matthew Kang

"Ryla may have the best brunch in Hermosa Beach with its playful take on Japanese and Taiwanese flavors told through typical weekend dishes. Think egg crepes, egg-topped fried rice, pork belly eggs Benedict, and a fluffy Japanese souffle pancake topped with blueberry compote. The menu has grown in the past year, with sushi rolls, yuzu shio butter ramen, and even Hong Kong French toast, making this a crowd-pleaser just a few steps from the beach." - Eater Staff