Considered one of the best places to live in Los Angeles, West Los Angeles offers locals and visitors a dense urban setting where museums, schools, parks, cafés, bars, and restaurants are within easy reach.

History of West Los Angeles

After the Spanish colonization, most of what is now West Los Angeles was incorporated into the Rancho San Vicente y Santa Monica. The original Californio landowners sold out after the Mexican-American war, turning most of the area into bean and wheat fields. Japanese settlers also established orchards and nurseries, some of which are still in business today. 

West Los Angeles was originally its own municipality known as Sawtelle, and in the 1920s, Sawtelle was annexed by the City of Los Angeles.  

Dining in West Los Angeles

While its dining scene is not as vibrant or popular as its surrounding neighborhoods, West Los Angeles offers more than enough options for a delicious, and sometimes, extraordinary meal.

Established in 1986, Javan Restaurant serves authentic Persian cuisine highlighting rich culinary traditions and unique flavors –meat, fish, and poultry are delicately seasoned with signature Persian spices such as sun-dried limes, saffron, and Advieh. Portions are large too. A combo consisting of chicken koobideh, beef koobideh, beef tenderloin kabob, a salad, and basmati rice easily feeds five hungry diners.  

Chef Jan Yao blends his Taiwanese and San Gabriel Valley roots to create his Michelin-starred tasting menu at Kato. Diners are treated to elevated pan-Asian comfort food, and some of his artfully-prepared classics include black tapioca buns filled with sweet pork, tuna tartare on a white soy cracker, crab porridge, Taiwanese fried chicken, smoked Hamachi, and buttermilk pudding.

A taqueria that proves how tacos are not fast food, Sonoritas Prime Tacos serves tasty Mexican eats made from seasonal, local, and preferably organic ingredients. Everything from corn tortillas to their salsas are homemade. Their tender and juicy steaks are also cooked according to the diner’s preference. Their prime tacos include rib eye, filet mignon, shrimp, and lengua.

Shopping

Thanks to an impressive number of shopping districts (L.A., after all, is the mecca for everything trendy and fashionable), West Los Angeles offers easy access to retail therapy options.

Westfield Century City is L.A.’s epicenter of shopping and entertainment. The outdoor shopping mall has over 200 shops and restaurants and is anchored by a three-level Nordstrom, a modern two-level Macy’s, a remodeled three-level Bloomingdale’s, and the West Coast’s first Eataly. 

The Giant Robot is a hub of Asian-American pop culture in L.A.’s Little Osaka neighborhood. Its storefront is packed with dolls, plush toys, prints, and other knick-knacks, featuring characters like Hello Kitty. The fun, quirky boutique also sells graphic novels, books, magazines, tees, and hooded sweatshirts.

Just steps away from the beach, Santa Monica Place is a luxury shopping center anchored by Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. The outdoor mall also features a wide range of stores such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry Brit, Hugo Boss, Kitson, and Tesla. Santa Monica Place completes the Third Street Promenade shopping experience and boasts a rooftop food court overlooking the Pacific. 

Breast Health Medical Center in West LA:

Located near West LA, Bedford Breast Center offers several different breast cancer detection and treatment options to patients from all around the state. Patients come to our medical diagnostic imaging center, designed for women, by women, to receive superior care from our breast experts.

Services Offered:

Schedule a Consultation with a Breast Specialist at Our West Los Angeles Medical Center

Our top-notch team of physicians and compassionate staff are here to serve you. With more than 50 years of combined medical experience treating women, our surgical team is more than equipped to provide the high standard of care patients not only expect but deserve. Contact Bedford Breast Center in Beverly Hills, CA today and take charge of your breast health.

Visit our areas we serve page to see additional Beverly Hills neighborhoods we service.