Right off Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, Running Goose has built a reputation as the kind of place regulars discover almost by accident and then keep coming back to for years.
This is a Central American-leaning gastropub built around family-style tapas, a cozy light-strung patio, and its own herb garden, and it’s been quietly flying under the radar since it opened.
Inside Hollywood’s Most Overlooked Patio Restaurant
The duck here is where a lot of the praise starts, with reviewers specifically calling it out as some of the best they’ve had, tender, well-seasoned, and clearly the kind of dish the kitchen takes real pride in. It’s the sort of order that turns first-time visitors into regulars pretty quickly.
Beyond the duck, the tostadas and churros have become signature items in their own right, giving the menu a nice mix of savory small plates and something sweet to finish.
Since everything is designed to be shared family-style, it’s a menu built for groups who want to try a little bit of everything rather than committing to one entree each.
Weekends bring a different energy entirely, with bottomless mimosas available for a two-hour window alongside any entree purchase between 10 AM and 4 PM.
That’s turned Saturday and Sunday into a real draw for anyone looking to turn brunch with friends into a longer, more relaxed afternoon.
If it’s your first time, start with the duck and order a round of tostadas to share around the table, then finish with churros if there’s still room.
Since the restaurant closes on Mondays, plan your visit for any other day of the week, and keep in mind hours shift slightly depending on whether you’re going midweek or over the weekend.
Food Highlights
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Duck: Served confit-style with oven-baked sweet potato, rapini, carrot puree, and a cherry port wine reduction, the Duck is the dish most reviewers bring up first, and one visitor specifically called it “great duck” worth returning for.
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Salt Cod Churros: A savory twist on the classic dessert, these are essentially fried brandade fritters served with saffron aioli and a squeeze of lime, and the Salt Cod Churros have become something of a signature dish that servers affectionately describe as “adult fish sticks.”
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Vegetable Tostadas: Crispy, veggie-based, and surprisingly flavorful, the Tostadas span options like Arugula, Carrot, Tomato, Radish, and Corn, each topped with a different crema or aioli that keeps the lineup from feeling repetitive.
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Chèvre Gnocchi: Made from corn masa rather than potato and tossed in a browned sage butter sauce with forest mushrooms, kale, and parmesan, the Gnocchi gives the menu an unexpected, globally-inspired spin on an Italian classic.
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Gambas: A shrimp dish that regularly gets ordered alongside the churros and lamb chops for the table, the Gambas has become one of the go-to shared starters for groups splitting several small plates.
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Lamb Chops: Frequently mentioned alongside the duck confit and cassoulet as one of the heartier options on the menu, the Lamb Chops round out the restaurant’s more substantial shareable plates.
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Ribeye Steak Frites: A 12oz grilled ribeye finished with truffle and peppercorn cream and served alongside kale and hand-cut potato fries, the Ribeye Steak Frites gives diners a serious entree option beyond the small plates format.
Atmosphere
Running Goose operates out of a genuinely charming space that reviewers describe as oddly delightful, with a cozy patio strung with lights and its own herb garden tucked into the property.
It’s the kind of setting that feels intimate without trying too hard to impress.
That relaxed, under-the-radar quality is part of what’s kept the restaurant a favorite among locals rather than a tourist stop, even with a 4.5-star rating and a steady stream of praise.
It works well for a casual dinner with friends, a weekend brunch, or a low-key date night away from the busier parts of Hollywood.
Bottomline
Running Goose is the Hollywood restaurant to seek out when you want proof that small plates and shareable dishes can leave just as strong an impression as a full entree, whether that’s through the standout duck or the crowd-favorite tostadas.
With a cozy patio, a genuine herb garden, and bottomless mimosas on weekends, it’s easily one of the more charming hidden gems in the city.
Address:
1620 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
📞 +1 323-469-1080
🕔 Open Tue–Thu 11:00 AM–8:30 PM; Fri–Sat 11:00 AM–9:30 PM; Sun 11:00 AM–7:30 PM (Closed Monday)