Best Solo Dining Sanctuaries American Restaurants in Highland Park
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Goldburger Highland Park
A best-in-city contender where dialed-in smash patties, long-running pop-up cred, and constant lines make even a late-night burger feel like an event.
Notable Picks
8.3
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Trendy Table Hotspots
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Born from a lauded pop-up and anchored on York since 2020, Goldburger serves double smash burgers with lacy edges, soft buns, and carefully tuned sauces. Lines can stretch late into the evening as locals and burger tourists chase one of LA’s most talked-about patties.
Must-Try Dishes:
Goldburger, LA Special, California Classic
What Makes it Special: A best-in-city contender where dialed-in smash patties, long-running pop-up cred, and constant lines make even a late-night burger feel like an event.
8.1
Highly Likely’s Highland Park outpost is an all-day American cafe where excellent coffee meets cheffy comfort plates and all-day breakfast. Laptop-toting regulars and neighborhood families share the airy, plant-filled space over black sesame waffles, breakfast burritos, and seasonal mains.
Must-Try Dishes:
Black sesame waffle, The Levantine sando, Breakfast burrito
What Makes it Special: Design-forward cafe energy with a menu that treats brunch and dinner with equal care.
8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Family-owned since 1969, Penny’s Burgers is a corner standby for charbroiled burgers, breakfast burritos, and old-school plates that cross between diner and fast food. It’s the kind of place where portions are generous, prices stay modest, and the menu quietly covers both American and Mexican comfort staples.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charbroiled cheeseburger with fries, Breakfast burrito with eggs, bacon, and hash browns, Carne asada fries or plate with rice and beans
What Makes it Special: A 1960s-era neighborhood counter slinging burgers, burritos, and plates all day.