Let's get lit! Where to celebrate Hanukkah in Los Angeles

Get your dreidels out and potato pancakes on the table — it's time to celebrate the festival of lights in the city of angels. We've got a rundown of menorah lightings, community gatherings, and of course, festive meals (including restaurants which have a selection of to-go offerings). The fun starts this Sunday evening and goes on for eight days.

AKASHA (Culver City)

AKASHA, from chef Akasha Richmond, has been a beacon of light on the Hanukkah scene, burning bright for almost two decades. This year’s menu includes a slow-braised brisket made with an “old school recipe” ($115), Yukon Gold potato latkes ($15), house-made local apple sauce ($15), and an apple crisp ($32) or hanukkah cookies ($20) for dessert. All dishes come reheat-ready with instructions.

Runway at Playa Vista is holding its celebration

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Courtesy Runway Playa Vista

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RUNWAY (Playa Vista)

Kick the festivities off with a menorah Lighting at RUNWAY in Playa Vista before beginning your holiday feast. The event is free to attend and is done in collaboration with Rabbi Joseph Greisman of the Playa Vista Jewish Community.

Gelson's (various)

Gelson’s mingles tradition with endless possibilities, offering five different Hanukkah dinner options with everything from brisket to no-salt free-range organic BBQ chicken for between $90 and $95. Most menus also include matzo balls in chicken broth, potato latkes, tzimmes, chopped beef liver with egg, and noodle kugel.

Each Hanukkah dinner is designed to feed a group of four. Sides are also available a la carte if you need a little extra. The Holiday Assorted Rugelach Platter is a must, and showcases chocolate and cinnamon flavors with fresh berries ($30 for 12).

If you’re entertaining a large group, consider one of the Hanukkah Catering Platters with choices like seasonal fruit ($90 for 20 servings) and a jaw-dropping holiday side of poached salmon garnished with cucumber slices and aspic ($165 for 10 servings). Chef Julia Child would be proud.

Beverly Gardens Park Lily Pond (Beverly Hills)

Monday, Dec. 15, is the Menorah Lighting Celebration for the city of Beverly Hills. The iconic menorah is already on display and Instagram-ready.

The Milky Way (Pico-Robertson)

The Milky Way's Hanukkah kits

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Courtesy Milky Way

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This restaurant, famously owned by Steven Spielberg's late mother, is where you can “phone home” for Hanukkah. Specials include Latke Kits ($48) and Mensch Bakery sufganiyot boxes ($28). The latke kits include a dozen latkes with all the trimmings, while the sufganiyot boxes include six jelly doughnuts. It’s all served in those gorgeous tulip boxes.

If you’d prefer to dine in, they're hosting a Lights and Latkes Dinner at 5 p.m. Dec. 14. Expect latkes, jelly doughnuts, Israeli wine and gelt and dreidel festivities. 

The Skirball Cultural Center (West Los Angeles)

The Skirball Cultural Center's Hanukkah Festival is on Sunday, Dec. 14, and the event runs from noon to 5 p.m. It features performances, latke tastings and live music. You can also explore the museum as early as 11 a.m.

Nate ‘n Al’s (Beverly Hills)

Nate ‘n Al’s is a Beverly Hills classic, known for serving traditional Jewish delicacies, dating back to 1945. This is a great non-committal spot for your Hanukkah holiday because you can just walk in and enjoy a bowl of matzo ball soup ($12.95) or a rbrisket with sides ($31.95).

Hanukkah Catering is also available for large-scale orders like latkes ($25.95), blintzes ($27.95), matzo ball soups ($16.95), and holiday whole roast chicken for four ($45.95).

Whole Foods (various)

Enjoy a Hanukkah at home thanks to Whole Foods. The Burgundy braised brisket meal has everything you need to feed a family of eight, including a brisket braised in red wine, roasted green beans with peppers, olives, and capers, honey-roasted carrots, potato latkes, applesauce, and matzo ball soup. Complete the meal with an order of chocolate rugelach ($7.99). All of these items are also available à la carte, and everything is packaged with reheating instructions.

Third Street Promenade (Santa Monica)

Light the menorah every night of the week at the Third Street Promenade. Beginning at 5 p.m. Dec. 14, different community groups will host a lighting each night. Pair that with a Winter Skate at the special Ice at Santa Monica Pop-up, and you’ve got yourself an illuminating night out.

The Original Farmer’s Market (Mid-City)

Bringing light to the Farmers Market

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Meredith Torvik

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Courtesy Farmers Market

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The Original Farmer’s Market is holding its Hanukkah Celebration Dec. 14, including youth performances, kid crafts, holiday bites and a menorah lighting.

Genghis Cohen (Fairfax)

Genghis Cohen, known for their NYC-style Chinese food and Dec. 25 festivities are kicking things off a little early this year with something sweet for your Hanukkah table.

Run DMC Ice Cream stands for Delicious Morsels of Challah and features rum raisin challah bread pudding ice cream made with challah from Challadad ($15 per pint or $8 a scoop when dining in).

Huckleberry (Santa Monica)

Huckleberry has everything for your classic Hanukkah celebration. Choose from a Creekstone Farms Brisket ($175) or oven-roasted Scottish salmon ($200) for five for your main event, and encircle it with dazzling delights like matzo ball soup ($30), crisp potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream ($55), as well as a sweet noodle kugel ($39).

Add on a Dreidel Cookie Decorating Kit for even more family fun ($18).