Dada Echo Park

Walking into Dada Echo Park feels like stumbling upon a secret you weren’t supposed to find. There’s no sign out front—just an unmarked door hidden in an alley behind a market. Once you step inside, the space opens up into something unexpectedly delightful: a white-walled dining room flooded with natural skylight on one side, and a vinyl-spinning listening bar complete with a disco ball on the other.

The menu keeps things simple with Mediterranean-inspired dishes that punch above their weight. Start with the cannellini bean dip, which arrives with a slick of chili oil and thick-cut sourdough begging to be dunked. The green risotto might sound virtuous with all its leafy greens, but it’s pure indulgence—creamy, cheesy, and deeply satisfying. For mains, the grilled branzino delivers with its crackling skin and delicate flesh, while the lamb chops are gloriously messy finger food.

This is the kind of place where you can pop in for a quick weeknight bite and be back home within an hour, or settle in for a full evening of cocktails and dancing. The bar scene stays relaxed even when DJs are spinning on weekends, making it equally good for an intimate first date or a birthday celebration with a big group.

If you’re looking for somewhere with character that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Dada fits the bill perfectly. Order a gin spritz, share some plates, and let the disco ball do its thing.