OyBar — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Hipster dive bar with fantastic food and drinks.

Oy Bar has been on my list for quite sometime and so glad I finally got to check it out.

Very unassuming from the outside and frankly most of the inside. It’s definitely a dive bar in most aspects but the menu and the vibe - we sat next to two actresses, one pretty well known.

Highly recommend making a reservation because we came on a Wednesday and only got a table because we got there super early. The website says walk in only but they’re on Resy.

They have a fantastic spirits selection and their specialty cocktails were super creative and fun. My favorite was the Lightworks which has Reposado and Dill pickle brine. It has the perfect amount of “pickle” to make it interesting but is otherwise very well balanced.

Even if you’re not a big drinker, come for the food! Much like the cocktails, the food menu is eclectic, innovative, and delicious. One of our friends is a vegan and it was also very vegan friendly.

Of the items we tried: Mushroom chili oil salad - 5/5 new item on the menu, umami bomb with slight hint of spice that anyone can handle, vegan Spicy noodz - 5/5 perfectly bouncy noodles with a rich, almost earthy tomato garlic sauce and chili oil, also not too spicy, vegan if you tell them to put the parmesan on the side, you can also add shrimp, we didn’t Chicken Donburi - 4.7/5 honestly don’t remember the dish well besides the fact that it was tasty Wagyu quesadillas - 4/5 great crust and dipping sauce

There were plenty of other items on the menu that I’d come back to try. I think in general they rotate the drink and food items often so the menu is always fresh and new.

Service was great, our host sat us down even though one or two of our party were still on their way. Our waiter was super chill and friendly and the chef came by at one point...

Whuuuutttt! This ain’t your grandpas oyster house anymore. I’ve lived a block away from the oyster house in Studio City for over 10 years. It is literally the closest place possible to grab a drink or a bite, and yet I avoided it like the plague. The oyster house I knew was a prime candidate for Jon Taffer’s bar rescue. But the oyster house I experienced tonight was damn awesome. So apparently this transition happened about a year ago, and unfortunately I’m just finding out. It took a taco stand that sets up outside the building to lure me in. I got a plate of slap-yo-mama-good tacos and then wandered in expecting to see the same old oyster house but instead discovered a vibed-out room that only resembled its former establishment in the placement of the bar and tables. I then noted that the alcohol behind the bar was full up with top shelf brands. And many of them lesser known niche brands you would come to find in a craft cocktail bar setting. I was then supplied with a legit AF cocktail as I noshed on my tacos. I was so taken aback by the whole experience that I asked the bartenders when this transition happened. It all made sense when they shared that Flask liquor on Ventura was behind the takeover. Flask is one of my absolute favorite wine stores in LA. So it’s no wonder that this place is stocked with some amazing brands and bartenders that really know what they’re doing. I am beyond excited to have this so close to home. The neighborhood just went up a notch. If you live in Studio City, and if you’ve ever been to the old oyster house and like me swore you’d never go back... then it’s time to give it another shot. Don’t walk, run, because we have a new gem in...

Hands down the most unprofessional dining experience I’ve ever had. We were seated, ordered, and were actually enjoying ourselves — until the staff told us we had to leave because the chef’s friend showed up and they wanted our table. Yeah, you read that right. Paying customers, forced out mid-meal so the chef could play favorites. Absolutely disgusting behavior. Doesn’t matter how decent the food is when the restaurant treats customers like disposable placeholders. If you want to gamble your night out on whether you’ll be valued or shoved aside for the chef’s buddies, then by all means, eat here. Otherwise, avoid this place...