"Local favorite" usually means a ride of 10 miles or less. Typical ones include:
Martha's 22nd Street Grill (Sidewalk Café) in Hermosa Beach
Roy's in Redondo (behind South Bay Hospital)
King's Hawaiian Bakery in Torrance (Sepulveda Blvd.)
Nickie's Café on Gaffey in San Pedro
Hof's Hut on Crenshaw in Torrance
Dinah's on PCH at Crenshaw
The Back Burner in Hermosa Beach
CJ's pantry, on Catalina, Redondo Beach
The Good Stuff on Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach