This area has a completely different vibe than the rest of LA, even in the downtown area.
After spending plenty of time in the area from touring studios, shopping at the Town Center, and just general sightseeing, we’ve found the restaurants we like to go back to again and again.
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Best Restaurants In Burbank
In this guide, I’m sharing the best places to eat in Burbank, including old-school fine dining steakhouses and retro diners.
1. Smoke House
Smoke House is a classic steakhouse in Burbank just across the street from Warner Brothers Studios that is an all-around great dining experience.
Celebrities and industry professionals have been dining here for decades and it’s possible that you might recognize someone!
It’s a great place for prime rib and you have to try their world famous garlic cheese bread.
We went for lunch one time after touring the Warner Bros Studio and also tried the tri-tip sandwich.
Then we went on another visit for a graduation dinner and had the typical full course dinner.
2. Paty’s Restaurant
Paty’s is one of the best retro diners in the area.
It’s also a popular place for celebrities to have business meetings.
When we went here we saw Julia Garner.
Now for the food.
I had a patty melt with sweet potato fries that was so good!
I believe JP had a Philly Cheesesteak (which I don’t see on their menu anymore) and we also shared a cup of their famous chili and beans.
3. Bob’s Big Boy
Just one block over is the best Bob’s Big Boy location.
When you go, ask if you can sit in the booth that The Beatles sat in when they visited!
The food and menus are the same as Frisch’s Big Boy, which is in the Midwest, except for one tiny detail.
The burgers at Frisch’s are served with tartar sauce and the burgers at Bob’s are served with mayo.
So the must try’s here are the chili spaghetti (which is another Midwest specialty – specifically from Cincinnati, Ohio) and the Big Boy Burger.
Also their side salad with honey mustard just hits the spot every time.
But most importantly, above all, you need to get some hot fudge cake!
Sometimes we stop here just for hot fudge cake.
4. Ribs USA
Ribs USA is a low-key and affordable spot just across from the Walt Disney Studios.
I’ve never actually dined inside the restaurant, but we’ve gotten meals to go plenty of times.
I don’t actually eat ribs, so I opt for the mac n cheese usually and sometimes the pulled pork sandwich if I’m feeling especially hungry.
JP always gets the ribs though and he says they always just fall right off the bone.
5. The Daily Grill
The Daily Grill is right outside of the Burbank Airport.
They have a few other locations near LAX, Palm Desert, and in Houston.
We shared the Panko Crusted Trout with sides of Risotto and Mac n Cheese.
Then for dessert we had the Chocolate Lava Bundt Cake and a slice of Key Lime Pie to go.
6. TAP
TAP is a quick service Asian restaurant near the Burbank Town Center (mall).
You get to build your own Asian rice bowls with tons of toppings to choose from.
I had Thai purple rice, teriyaki glaze, chicken satay, grilled vegetables, curry spiced corn, cucumbers, red onions, and bean sprouts!
7. Frontier Wok
JP took me here one afternoon because we happened to be driving by and he had completely forgotten that it existed until he saw the sign.
He used to eat there quite a bit when he worked in the area, so we decided to give it a try again.
It’s on Olive Ave, kind of situated right in the half way point between the Walt Disney Studios area and the Burbank Town Center area.
For starters, I personally love the wonton soup, but JP prefers the hot and sour soup.
For our meals we had the bbq bao buns and I think we had the Chow Fun noodles.
8. Granville
Granville has a few locations in the LA area, but the Burbank one is the only one we’ve been to.
I don’t remember what I had to drink, but their handcrafted cocktail list is extensive!
As an appetizer, I love the butternut squash soup.
The uptown mac n cheese is great for sharing.
It comes with aged cheddar, gruyere, certified humane chicken, asparagus, and peas.
For a little bit more protein, I recommend the Santa Barbara chicken sandwich.
This one comes with certified humane chicken, smoked mozzarella, roasted peppers,
caramelized onions, basil pine nut pesto, and garlic aioli on ciabatta.
9. Dog Haus
Dog Haus is a popular chain of quick service burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries, and tater tots.
It’s a nice little indulgence for a low budget.
We love their Cheeseburger and Chili Cheese Fries.
In Burbank, there is a Biergarten location up near the airport and a regular location next to the Warner Bros Studios, which is the one we went to.
10. In N Out
In N Out is obviously all over Southern California, but if you’ve never been, there is a location in Burbank right next to the Burbank Town Center.
My go-to order is the single cheeseburger with grilled onions and animal style fries (which JP and I share).
JP likes to indulge a little bit more and his go-to order is a double double and a strawberry milkshake.
Fun Things To Do Near Burbank
My favorite thing to do in Burbank is tour studios like Warner Brothers and Walt Disney Studios.
When I worked at Disneyland I used to go to the lot on my days off just to see what all was going on.
I also got a private tour one time, which was awesome!
We have a blog post of some of our favorite Secret Spots In Los Angeles and quite a few are in this area.
Also not too far away is Universal Studios Hollywood, which is perfect for a full day visit.
If you’re visiting in the Fall, there are a couple popular night time events including Nights of the Jack in Calabasas and Carved at Descanso Gardens.
If you’re visiting in the Winter, check out the LA Zoo Holiday Lights.
Where To Stay Near Burbank
Less than 10 miles down the road from some of the movie studios is the iconic Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel.
You might know it as the hotel from Pretty Woman with Julia Roberts!
We stayed once for New Year’s and absolutely love it.
It’s in walking distance to all the Rodeo Drive shops and restaurants too.
Conclusion: Best Restaurants In Burbank
Burbank really has a little bit of everything.
I personally love all the old school diner type places in the area that just feel like little neighborhood spots.
For more great restaurants just down the road, check out our posts on the best restaurants in Glendale, Westwood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and the Fairfax District.
I also made a list of our favorite restaurants in LA that cover all the different areas that aren’t already mentioned above!
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