Fishing with Dynamite

The story

Fishing with Dynamite: Michelin-Recognized Seafood in Manhattan Beach

A celebration of summers on the shore

Chef David LeFevre draws from his childhood on Virginia’s Eastern Shore and the energy of SoCal’s beach communities. Fishing with Dynamite, his 32-seat Manhattan Beach restaurant, is anchored by a lively oyster bar. The menu blends “old school” traditional seafood fare with “new school” dishes that pull flavors from around the globe.

Pristine seafood, simply prepared

The kitchen focuses on sourcing only the most pristine seafood—whether raw on the half shell, chilled in a classic shrimp cocktail, or dressed in a Maine lobster roll. The Lobstah’ Roll Picnic Kit, available for holiday weekends, includes chilled Maine lobster tossed with in-house mayo, celery, chives, and lemon zest on toasted milk buns, served alongside summer corn salad, red bliss potato salad, and a key lime pie parfait. It’s a taste of the restaurant’s ethos: straightforward, high-quality seafood that lets the ingredients speak.

Recognition that speaks for itself

Fishing with Dynamite has earned a Michelin Recommended distinction (2026), along with past honors including “Best Oyster Bar” and Best New Restaurant by Los Angeles Magazine, and multiple appearances on OpenTable’s 100 Best Restaurants in America. The Michelin plate in 2019 marked it as a destination for seafood lovers in Los Angeles County.

The space and the vibe

With outdoor seating and a wheelchair-accessible layout, the restaurant feels both polished and relaxed—a place where you can stop in for a quick dozen oysters or settle in for a full meal. Chef LeFevre’s larger family of restaurants (The Arthur J, RYLA, M.B. Post) shares a commitment to hospitality, but Fishing with Dynamite remains the purest expression of his love for the coast.