Al Dente is one of those small neighborhood spots where the food feels much more ambitious than the space. The pasta is all handmade, and you can genuinely taste the difference in both quality and flavor. The noodles have that fresh, slightly chewy texture that packaged pasta just does not have, and everything tastes carefully made rather than mass produced. The bolognese is spectacular: deep, rich, meaty, and comforting without feeling overwhelmingly heavy. It is the kind of dish that makes you slow down because every bite is worth paying attention to. The salads are also surprisingly substantial. The chopped salad, in particular, is a generous portion and packed with flavor, so it feels like a real part of the meal instead of an afterthought. Save room for the tiramisu, which is very good: creamy, balanced, and a great finish after the richer pasta. The only downside is the ambiance. The interior is tiny, so when it gets busy it can feel hectic and cramped. Still, the service is amazing, friendly, attentive, and impressively efficient despite the limited space inside. read more

We ordered the Bucatini Carbonara, and my boyfriend ordered the eggplant pasta dish. The pasta texture was very good, and we absolutely loved the eggplant dish! The only thing I didn't understand was the Carbonara. It tasted very different from other carbonaras we've tried, it was greasy oily and bitter! . I noticed other people who ordered it before and after us seemed to enjoy theirs, but I couldn't even finish mine. I'm not sure if there was something off only with my dish or if the flavor just wasn't for us. Other than that, it's a very nice restaurant with excellent service. read more

Al Dente - BUCATINI CARBONARA MACCHERONCINI - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

If you're looking for an authentic taste of Italy, this is the place. Luigi puts his heart into every dish, making everything from scratch just like my grandmother used to--from fresh homemade pasta and rich, flavorful sauces to incredible focaccia and one of the best tiramisù I've had outside of Italy. Every pasta dish is cooked perfectly al dente, exactly as it should be, and so delicious that you'll already be planning your next visit before you've finished your meal. The quality of the ingredients and the attention to detail truly set this place apart. What makes the experience even more special is Luigi himself. He's always there, welcoming guests, making recommendations, and ensuring everyone feels at home. His passion, professionalism, and genuine hospitality are evident in every aspect of the restaurant. The outdoor seating is charming, they also offer catering for private events, and whether you're planning a romantic dinner, celebrating with friends, or simply craving real Italian food, you won't be disappointed. This hidden gem delivers a true Italian dining experience--no passport or plane ticket required. If you want to impress someone (or simply be impressed yourself), don't miss this place. Highly recommended! read more

Actually came by during dineLA week and didn't realize but tried their 3 course option. Not much seating inside and there are 2 tables outside. I was really excited for the food. We had the salad first and I liked the light dressing but I felt some of the leafs picked was very bitter. Onto the pasta, which was a good light portion, was pretty tasty except for the fish with greens that made it oh so bitter so that is why the dock in stars. The dessert really made up for it with the ricotta pastry something I will be coming back just to buy. Service was ok since they only had a cashier and then one server and again there is not a lot of space so it was difficult to get by but they managed. I really wanted to like the pasta but the bitterness from the veggies they used was too overpowering to enjoy the sauce. read more

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Cute small restaurant for take out or dine in. I visited for DineLA which is crazy because I used to work down the street and never remembered seeing this spot before. Caesar salad was decent, the noodles in my tagliatelle pasta didn't live up to the restaurant name and unfortunately the sfogliatella dessert did not taste how I remember the ones I ate in Italy did. The staff were really sweet and I think just overwhelmed by the crowd for DineLA and the fact that they offer that menu for takeout as well (something I haven't seen before but I'm sure many customers take advantage of). They definitely have other pastas I'd be willing to try. read more

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Cute neighborhood spot with dine-in and takeout options. There is limited seating indoors and outdoors but most people seemed to opt for takeout when I was there with my fiancé. We ordered the tagliatelle the butcher and the bucatini carbonara. The portions were small for the price but I did like the texture of my bucatini. The sauce was a tad too oily for me but my fiancé loved his tagliatelle. The chef is Michelin-rated so that was a draw. You pay at the counter and then they'll bring out your food. Metered street parking available. read more

Al Dente - TAGLIATELLE THE BUTCHER and BUCATINI CARBONARA - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Stumbled here during an oil change. I followed the chef and forgot - what a legend, the place didn't disappoint either the pasta was sooo good. If you can't make it to Italy.... We got the sauce right here in LA baby!!! Sooo good read more

Al Dente - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Terrific neighborhood pasta shop in Rancho Park! I stopped in for lunch on a weekday and it was pretty quiet. It's counter service, so I placed my ordered for their Tagliatelle the Butcher and sat down on one of a handful of tables. My pasta was cooked al dente and had a good chew. The thick noodles did a nice job of soaking up the Wagyu bolognese. The chef won a Michelin star at a previous restaurant and the food quality shows. In addition to pasta, they have Sicilian-style pizzas and pastries in the case. You can also buy their housemade pasta and sauces separately. The seems like it's is a mostly focused on takeout, but it's pleasant enough to dine in. Wish I still lived in the area so I could make this one of my regular places! Metered street parking and parking on the residential streets (check the signs). read more

Al Dente - Ya - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is hands down the BEST pasta in LA in my opinion. The lamb pappardelle has my heart. The butchers bolognese and the eggplant pasta are also absolutely fantastic. I cannot wait to try every other dish on the menu. I'm even taking my mom here tonight. I highly recommend this place. read more

The sfogliatella are amazing. Crispy delicate thin pastry layers surrounding fresh-tasting ricotta with bright orange flavor. Highly recommend! read more

Al Dente - Love, love, love their sfogliatelle! - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

An im-PASTA-ble journey to find the perfect bowl of pasta is now over! As someone who's tried quite a few Italian restaurants across Los Angeles, @aldente_pastashop takes the prize for my new favorite! Headed by Michelin-trained chef Luigi Fineo from Puglia, Italy, Al Dente specializes in authentic, fresh handmade pasta that is truly cooked to al dente perfection. Every dish I tried reflected Chef Luigi's commitment to traditional Italian craftsmanship, flavors and high quality ingredients, and I can't wait to be back again soon to try more of their menu. If you're in the West LA area, definitely check them out for high quality, authentic Italian pasta, salads, pizzas and more at very reasonable prices! Featured here: ‍ truffle orzo * maccheroncini * tricolore tiramisu * read more

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One of my fav spot here in Santa Monica, usually no wait and there's seating on the outside. read more

Al Dente - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My favorite place for Italian! Pizza is still my go-to, but I recently tried the salad and soups. Delicious!! Both the green lentil soup and the broccoli and farro soup are healthy and on the lighter side than the pastas. Pair the soup with the focaccia bread, and it's a perfect meal. I've tried all of the pastas now, and my favorites are the wagyu Bolognese, cavatelli, and pesto fusili. Great staff! Open til 9pm, but they might run out of pizza and bread if you go late. read more

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Am still absolutely in love with their tiramisu !! My husband again had a dental appointment with Dr. Komatsu, whose office is right across the street. I wanted to just surprise my husband by showing up as his appointment was ending, as I was nearby on another errand. As he was checking out, I said "let's get the tiramisu". He said he was going to do that for me anyway -- gotta love this man Like last time, he purchased 2 pieces for me. When we got home, I ate one of the pieces. It was as amazing as I remembered. For you (very) old timers: you remember "Snuffles" from the Quick Draw McGraw cartoons? Whenever Quick Draw wouid gave him a dog biscuit, Snuffles would hug himself, leap into the air and float contentedly back to earth. That's what it felt like when I took my first bite of tiramisu. No kidding. I offered my husband a bite, but he declined. He still wasn't a fan of tiramisu, but admitted that, as far as tiramisus go, it was as the best tasting one he's ever had, based on when he had a taste from last time we purchased. Several hours later, I saw him, holding a fork, and opening the refrigerator. He said "where's the 2nd tiramisu" ? Oop - I already ate it I felt terrible that he didn't even get one taste of it. I should have read my original review, and had ordered 4, and not just 2, pieces ! read more

The quality of the pasta was top notch. Fresh, well made, well cooked. The flavor of the noodles even without sauce was on point. Just know ahead of time that the portions are more lunch/cafe portions but I'm totally fine with that I think the price for the portions is a good match. I got the linguini vongole (clams) and the sauce was good. The only negative thing I have to say here is that the clams were mostly an afterthought. I'd rather have fewer larger clams than several small ones. The focaccia bread with tomato sauce was also pretty good. read more

Al Dente - FOCACCIONA, TOMATO, OREGANO - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Solid, neighborhood stop for fresh pasta. Came in on a late weekend evening and was served quickly. Pasta was fresh, flavors were authentic and reflected traditional Italian flavors. Ingredients were clearly high quality. Good prices, good service, small seating area if you want to eat in. read more

Al Dente - Clams - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

My wife actually discovered this little pasta shop after seeing nothing but glowing reviews. Between the chef's Michelin-star kitchen background & it being a local gem, we were both really excited to support the place. A few Sundays ago around 7:30 PM, we called for a pickup. The waitress was super friendly and suggested we just come in to order so the pasta would be as fresh as possible. She mentioned it wouldn't take long since they weren't too busy, which sounded like a good plan. Based on her recommendations, we went with the most popular dishes: the Pappardelle Lamb and the Tagliatelle The Butcher, plus a side of focaccia. We live about 12 minutes away, so we were ready to dive in as soon as we got home. Unfortunately, the meal was a major letdown. I really hate giving a poor score, and maybe it was just an off night because it was a Sunday. But these were honestly some of the worst pasta dishes we've had. Ironically, for a place called Al Dente, the pasta was literally the opposite: soggy, lacking flavor, and with very little sauce or toppings. It actually tasted lower quality than a frozen pasta. On the bright side, the shop itself is a cute neighborhood spot, the service was great, and the focaccia was actually delicious (reminded me of the bread from Eataly). But at the end of the day, the main course just didn't deliver. I'm not sure I'd want to gamble on whether the head chef is in the kitchen or not next time, so I can't really recommend it. read more

Excellent authentic Italian food Tiramisu is legit Ordered three times this week because we enjoyed it so much Grazie Mille Chef Luigi read more

- $26 for take away pasta for 1 person - man behind (after) me ordered (4) pasta dishes to go. ^ his food was packaged up and ready while I had to keep on waiting for mine. - food was actually great tasting. Could use some parm or some sort of cheese topping but great overall. - man running front of house needs more hands + organization. read more

What we ordered: - Pappardelle Lamb $16.85 This was soooo savory and if you love lamb this is the perfect pasta for you! This was my first time having lamb meat in pasta and so I just had to try it. It's slow braised lamb neck with toasted pistachio and percorino romano. Honestly the portions looked small to me when I first got it but I actually only ate half and was so full. Love the taste of all the herbs in the lamb. The lamb was so tender and loved the fatty parts of it. I'd give it a 5/5. - Bucatini Carbonara $16.95 My fiancé ordered this one, he seemed to enjoy it and was able to finish the whole bowl. It's made with egg yolk, guanciale and pecorino romano. - Wagyu meatballs $12 This came with 4 meatballs, I thought it was ok. I was craving meatballs at the time and it helped satisfy the craving. I'd give it a 3/5. I'd definitely come back if I'm ever in the area! I'd love to try their other pasta and pizzas. read more

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Found this spot thanks to the InKind app when looking for lunch the other day. Its bright yellow outside makes it easy to spot and is very cozy inside. The owner is super friendly and patient. We opted to try a Caesar salad, foccacia, three pastas and dessert. The lamb tagliatelle was the highlight of the pastas and we'd definitely come back for that. Hearty portion of lamb and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The linguine vongole, I'd skip next time and try something else. The sfogliatella is excellent with crisp filo dough and tasty cream inside. Very glad to have a great new pasta spot in the neighborhood! read more

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In terms of pasta, chef most assuredly knows what he is doing in the kitchen. I've spent time in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo etc. and this unit delivers quality from the very first forked morsel. In terms of pizza, it is decent and holds its weight but nothing special - their emphasis is rather on their pasta. Don't let the small store and relatively limited seating capacity fool you -- this unit is a power player. Edit: I understand that this is high praise for a restaurant, and I want to put out a disclaimer that I might have caught the restaurant on a good day. The head chef was in the kitchen at the time, but staff rotate shifts and your-mileage-might-vary depending on who is in the kitchen at the time. read more

Loved the pastas here! Small space with limited seating but incredible food. I tried 3 of their pastas as well as their Italian chopped salad. The truffle orzo was INCREDIBLE. Carbonara was excellent as well. They have plenty of take out options and cook at home kits that are very reasonably priced. I wish I lived closer so I could come more often. read more

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Take out maccherocini was really good! With the salad and dessert it's definitely 2 meals!

Who doesn't like homemade pasta with some fine dining pedigree? Al Dente is a solid option in the neighborhood for casual dine in and to-go. The staff is incredibly nice, helpful,and gracious. Meat and veg pizzas are presented up front and are served with a quick heat up. The middle is fluffy, the crust is light and crispy perfect for dipping in any leftover pasta sauce. The time and effort is apparent in the pasta dishes I've tried. Classic Bolognese has nice deep flavors, stewed lamb is tender though I'd personally like it to be a little less runny, crispy gnocchi has great potato flavor but I think the crispy gets a little bit lost with all the oil and my last serving was a little too salty. They take orders online and by phone, street parking is a bit limited especially during rush hours and the weekends. read more

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Lucky to be able to get a seat outside to eat. We got the tagliatelle- the butcher and pappardelle lamb. Both were good but the lamb was amazing , highly recommend, and would get it again. For sure worth the price as well. read more

Al Dente - TAGLIATELLE THE BUTCHER - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I don't get the hype at all. Maybe we came on an off-day? The shop is super cute. Lots of people were doing grab-and-go. There are a few small bar top tables for dine-in. It's a small shop and not full service - pasta comes out in containers. We ordered tagliatelle the butcher ($17), fusilli genovese ($16), and a lemon estathe ($4). Both the pastas were really oily, decidedly NOT al dente, and lacking in flavor. We were pretty disappointed. read more

A nice quaint spot. We ordered for dineLA and wanted to pick up. The staff was nice and allowed us to order it via phone bc we couldn't do so online. Food was good. The salads come in large portions. I preferred the bitter flavors from the tricolore. I liked the tagliatelle the butcher and maccheroncini. The tagliatelle was savory with mild tomato flavor. The maccheroncini had good tomato flavor and the pasta was more fun to consume. The eggplant wasn't much so yaaay. Tiramisu was better than sfogliatelle. Tiramisu had a light cream and the bottom soaked up a lot of coffee. Delicious. Safogliatelle is like...a croissant with powder sugar and a citrus/vanilla filling that is kinda on the thicker side. Is good for what it is but tiramisu was def better. Overall, I would go again. DineLA or not read more

Came here for dinner earlier today and left happy and satisfied! Both pasta we selected were amazing. I don't usually like to eat lamb because of the smell but this one doesn't smell at all. The Linguini Vongole was amazing too. Both pasta are cooked perfectly to my liking just like the name of the restaurant- al dente. Service was great, the staff keep on checking on us. Making sure that we enjoy the food and have enough water. Will definitely come back again!! read more

Al Dente - LINGUINE VONGOLE - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Incredible food, outstanding warm friendly service, this place is a must visit. It's small, but with some seating outside. The food is actually perfect. read more

Al Dente - The focaccia is melt in your mouth perfection!!!! - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The pasta tasted ok, but the portions were on the small side. I got take out and i was quite surprised at the portion size when i got home. I ordered the Tonnarelli Pomodora and it was $18.60 after tax. I should have taken a picture of it before eating. I was hoping to find a regular go-to pasta place within walking distance of my house. But I feel this one does not hit the mark. Also, the service was kinda slow, since I was there late afternoon when the place was empty and it took 25 minutes to cook one pasta dish. Ambiance was good, but the inside of the store is kinda small, so most people have to sit at the outside tables, which is fine when its cool, but during some times during the day, the you will still be under the sun despite the shades over the table. read more

This is the new place in the neighborhood serving homemade pasta and sauce with a few extras. It did not disappoint. The food was delicious at a good price point. The service was great and we left satisfied with full bellies. A little small, great for takeout, but you can definitely eat there. There are a few high top tables inside and outside. The meatballs were amazing, only $12 for four. read more

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I was so excited to try this place for their handmade pastas, TAGLIATELLE THE BUTCHER and PAPPARDELLE LAMB, but they were both very salty and oily unfortunately. Their pasta is perfectly al dente and loaded with lots of protein in these dishes, but the saltiness and overwhelming amount of fat made it difficult to enjoy. I'm hoping to give this place a try again in the future because it was still pretty tasty and fresh. read more

Finally found the best pasta in town Everything here is fresh and absolutely delicious -- the kind of meal where every bite makes you pause for a second and appreciate how perfect it is. The fresh pasta has that amazing bite and texture that only comes when it's made with care. I ordered: *Pappardelle Lamb - Juicy, rich, and packed with flavor. The sauce clings to the pasta so well, and the lamb is so tender it practically melts. *Bucatini Carbonara - Creamy, salty, and peppery in all the right ways. This is exactly how I want carbonara to taste every time. I came in really craving pasta and wanting to try somewhere new, and I'm so glad I did. The food blew me away, the flavors were spot-on, and I left already planning my next visit. I'll definitely be back -- and next time, I'm bringing friends so we can try even more dishes! read more

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Love this shop and chef! Wonderful place to pick up the week's essential - hand made pasta, home made soups, delicious jams, and freshly baked olive bread all from an Italian master. Grab a slice of decadent pizza on your way in and you won't regret it. read more

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As a person who has sadly never been to Italy, I would make a large bet that this would be what I would expect to eat there! Everything was super fresh and clean tasting, and portion sizes also were the perfect amount but don't expect leftovers as they're not American portions lol. You also can't stop eating it until it's gone because it is so good! We got take out and they do not have a kids menu so we got the fresh spaghetti from the front case for $6 to cook at home. The chopped salad had gorgeous chunks of salami in it, love me some mozzarella balls and the dressing was wonderful. This is definitely another lovely local neighborhood go to for excellent food, takeout, and a cute date. read more

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Pasta was fresh and good, but portions were very small for the price (@$20-$30) for a plate of pasta. For a group of we spent $175 for 4 plates of pasta, focaccia, and 1 tiramisu (only drank water too). We left hungry still. You order and find your own seat. It's a small place with no restrooms so probably not good for a large group (anything more than 4). read more

I was really excited to try this place after reading all of the reviews. I ordered the carbonara and the lamb pappardelle. I tried the carbonara first, and it was super dry, AND SUPER SALTY! I was really surprised that I found it to be as salty as it was because I usually add salt to my food. Nope. This was extremely salty, inedible. I knew for sure this was going to make my body swell from all the salt. I moved on to the lamb pappardelle. Same thing. Less dry, but just as salty. I had to throw both meals out. I feel awful that I'm leaving only one star.. read more

Picked up pasta and pizza for dinner guests tonight and it was a huge hit! Tagliatelle with 1 container bolognese + 1 container marinara for a more saucey sauce. Fusilli + basil pesto. Prosciutto pizza. Veggie + sausage pizza. Don't forget the chocolate chip cookies! The staff is super helpful with suggestions. The ingredients are fresh and high quality. End result = delicious dinner! Skyler approves Al Dente! read more

Al Dente - Skyler approved pasta shop! - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Went to Al Dente for the first time today with a friend after work. I already knew the ambiance would be relaxed and chill from instagram and I didn't need to make a reservation. It was so filling your gonna have to eat your dessert in the car. Which I did. Met Luigi who is the owner and Diana our host. Such a perfect little hole in the wall spot. Try the PAPPARDELLE - LAMB. It's the best! It the perfect date spot, after work dinner spot and great neighborhood lunch or dinner mom and pop. Plus hella parking. Thank you Al Dente. read more

Al Dente - The menu - Pasta Shops Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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