Hinano Cafe

04/16/09

BEST bar on the Westside, HANDS DOWN!

by Mickrhodes

I moved away from Venice to Claremont last summer and I miss a few key things about living inland: NUMBER ONE is the beach, of course, but NUMBER TWO IS THE HINANO BAR! I LOVE this place. Went there regularly for the past 13 years and I gotta say there's nothing like it anywhere else in LA. Great burgers, ICE COLD tap beer in frosty glasses, good prices and FREE POPCORN! They even have a decent jukebox. I wish there was something like it out here but there just ain't. I miss you, Hinano ...

• Pros: Down home, yet could be completely ruined by hipsters
• Cons: Parking

09/14/08

Burger Destination!

by NativeCalifornian

Best burgers I've had in a long long time. If parking and traffic were not so difficult, I'd be going here at least 3-4 times a month just to get that absolutely fantastic burger.

Not wanting to lead anybody astray here, I'll at least describe the characteristics of the burger that has me in a mouth watering frenzy. I understand that everyone has different ideas of what is a good burger.

First I'll mention that I don't usually care for bars and this bar is one that I, as usual, don't really care for. Filthy bathroom, loud mouthed customers, bartenders that occasionally step outside to take a puff of whatever.

The tap beer is fresh, cold, and served in frozen glasses! Yeah! The parking situation is what you should expect when you are literally footsteps from the waters edge at the Pacific Ocean coast in Southern California. Luckily, there is a pay lot that costs something like 7 dollars. If you get real lucky, you'll find a parking meter for roughly 2 dollars an hour.

Now for the meat of my review: This is such a fantastic burger. It is a large sesamie seed bun. The patty is large, probably a third pound. It is served on a bed of shredded lettuce with grilled onions unless you specity otherwise. The real appeal of this burger is that the large, juicy patty is grilled until it is crispy on both sides. And it seems to be well seasonsed with salt and pepper too.

Sounds simple, but who really takes the care to fry up a burger so that it is hot, fresh, crispy, juicy, and THEY REMEMBER TO ADD SOME SALT AND PEPPER just before placing it on the prepared bun with the fixings and deliver it to you in a paper basket with a (whimpy) bag of potato chips.

Trust me, if you like a hot and juicy cheeseburger or hamburger, this place is fantastic.

• Pros: Burgers, tap beer, bar atmosphere, free popcorn.
• Cons: Parking, unpredictable staff and clients.

09/07/08

Best Burger by the Beach

by KevBacon

Best greasy, hangover-curing burger in West LA. You'll find me there once or twice a week and it's always an empty stomach that draws me in. Great burger, amazing turkey burger. Plenty of good beer to wash it down. Great people to enjoy it with.

Hinano perfectly fits my definition of a great dive bar. Friendly service from bartenders who remember you. Awesome food options (as I have already said: burgers!!!). Good beer choices. Live music, pool tables, and a jukebox.

You will find regulars on their same stools day after day, but lots of fresh faces too. Everyone is friendly. I almost always go alone, but end up having a great conversation with someone new or the bartender each time. Good relaxed place to watch a game. Not a lot of TVs, so you won't always get your game unless you arrive early. Not a sports bar, but a good bar to watch sports, hang out, grab a bite, and relax.

• Pros: Great food, friendly people, good service

08/05/08

RUDE BARTENDER

by joejoe78

RUDE, AWFUL, RUDE. male bartender has huge chip on his shoulder about something. AVOID THIS PLACE, for real.

06/17/08

Great dive bar, just raised prices

by eatdrinkmerry

Hinano was one of my favorite, low-key, dive bar places. Great beer, great bar-burger, good pool tables, sports on TV and good popcorn out of the machine. It was also one of the last places near the coast that wouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to go out and have a couple drinks. It's still reasonable, but just raised their prices about 25%. The burgers that were great at $5.50 are now $6.50. The big Hinano beers that were reasonable at $5.50 are now overpriced at $6.50 for less than a pint. The pitchers are affordable, but small. Before, the only drawback was the fact that it's beer/wine only, but the prices made up for it. Now, I'm not so sure. Also, the last few times I've been in, there has been a rowdy-verging-on-violent element.

10/20/06

Popular beach dive bar offers sawdust and suds to local characters and the occasional tourist.

by Contributor

The Scene
Hinano Cafe fills the Venice dive bar void left by the revamped Brig. Wade through scattered sawdust to get to the jukebox, which spins everything from Social Distortion to Garth Brooks. Initial-carved wood tables and walls dominate the decor, while a fire pit rests in the corner. Two pool tables offer a popular diversion from the beer drinking, which is the main draw as the bar serves beer and wine only. Those looking for apple martinis or a discreet hideaway should shy away from this brightly lit beach hang.

The Draw
The laid-back atmosphere attracts a wide array of locals--from beachgoers to barflys. Summertime sees a substantial amount of reciprocal traffic from the Venice Whaler across the street, so customers are sometimes more dolled up than they would be if Hinano was their primary destination.

10/20/06

Best Burgers!

by mariearagon

This is a great bar to be mellow and to play pool! The burgers are pretty darn good! We usually end our bar nights here for a quick bite and one last pitcher!

• Pros: Pool Tables, Awesome Staff, & Best Dive Bar
• Cons: Parking

09/08/06

Great beach dive bar!

by malmed

Two pool tables, free popcorn, great burgers, and a decent jukebox! Live music on the weekends. Fun, easy-going crowd. There are great pictures and news stories of old Venice hung next to the bar and supposedly Jim Morrison's etched signature can be found among the writing and etchings on the walls and furniture.

09/04/06

Friendly Dive with Great Burgers

by nervous

Go for the burger and forget the ambience. You dont have to dress up for this place. Friendly people. No problem in starting up a conversation, either. Not your beachy singles bar, but thats a good thing.

02/18/06

Beach Dive

by hermosahottie

A divey beach bar with great burgers, good beer, pool, free popcorn, and lots of colorful characters. Grungy guys; if you're looking for cute men go somewhere else. This is more a drinking place, which is good since it opens early morning every day!!