Where To Celebrate Birthdays in Los Angeles

After coming here to see a friend’s band a while ago, I thought this would be an awesome place to have a birthday party. I’d totally want to get a bunch of friends together, order a slew of tapas and wine, and take over the patio.

If you’re looking for something a tad different, then you might want to book a table at this fondue restaurant. I’m not one for the whole melted cheese thing, but dipping things in chocolate usually goes over pretty well with people.

I came here for my brother’s birthday a couple years ago and it was a great choice. The restaurant was able to fit a pretty large group of people and there’s even live music. To make things ever easier, you can even get a family-style dinner. The food is probably better at Papa Cristos, but the ambiance here is a bit nicer.

If you’re looking to celebrate your birthday over margaritas and don’t want to compromise your invitation list, then get a table at El Cholo. The restaurant is large enough to accommodate a big party, so you can munch on the delicious tamales without having to leave anyone out. Just be aware, I have been to El Cholo many a time to find out that they only serve tamales during the summer months (around May to October), so be advised!

Now I feel like I’m getting to that age where a crazy birthday party in a loud bar just isn’t my thing anymore. What’s great about Fritto Misto is that the food is awesome (and totally reasonable) and they’re able to accommodate fairly big groups even though the restaurant isn’t huge. I went to a small birthday dinner here, but I definitely a couple of big groups celebrating birthdays on the same night. If you’re looking to drink a couple of bottles of vino with your closest friends and actually want to hear what everyone is saying, then you should seriously consider this Italian gem.

C&O is a great place for groups (good size portions, decent prices) if you’re planning on celebrating your birthday with a posse of friends. It’s pretty good Italian food— just try not to overstuff yourself with their garlic rolls before the food comes, those things are more addictive than crack cocaine! Oh, and come ready to sing.

I had my birthday here a couple years ago and it was a great place to celebrate. I had a big group of people and was worried they weren’t going to take my reservation since it was only a couple days before, but they took it! The food is yum-o (and easily shared if you want to go tapas style), and the sangria is tasty— all in all it was a pretty good place for a birthday.

This Cal-Mex spot is a good place to go if you’re looking for a nightlifey atmosphere for your birthday dinner. The bar area is usually pretty hopping on weekend nights and the restaurant also has DJ sets on some nights. I really like the food here— it’s not traditional Mexican fare, but it’s a fresh take on old favorites. If you’re celebrating a milestone birthday and want to invite everyone you know and their mother, the restaurant has a private room upstairs. I came here for my birthday several years ago, and if I’m remembering correctly I think they gave me free birthday flan…

Want to do something a little more special for your birthday? Then think about going to a Moroccan restaurant like Dar Maghreb. Not only will you be able to chow on delicious things like tagines and couscous, but you’ll be able to shake your hips with the resident belly dancer.

My friends and I all love this wacked-out sushi bar in North Hollywood. It’s the perfect place for a raucous, drunken birthday if that’s what you’re after. The sushi isn’t bad, but it’s not Nobu either. But you don’t come here for the rolls, you come here for the insane birthday fun that is Tokyo Delves.