Restaurant with a BRIDGE?

Question

Strange request I know....I am hoping to find a restaurant with a bridge outside it - maybe a Chinese or Japanese spot. My girl scout troop will be going to China and Japan next summer and we need to do a quick bridging ceremony this fall. Hoping to find a cool spot to have dinner and take some photos.

Answer

If you’re looking for a restaurant in the Los Angeles area that has a bridge—ideally with an Asian theme—for a Girl Scout bridging ceremony, you’re in luck. Several LA-area Japanese and Chinese restaurants feature decorative bridges, koi ponds, or garden-style entrances that make great photo spots and offer the right ambiance for your upcoming China–Japan trip theme.

Below are the best, most reliable options that actually have bridges or very bridge-like walkways, plus some alternates that offer that same garden aesthetic.

Top Restaurants in Los Angeles With a Bridge or Bridge-Style Entrance

Yamashiro Hollywood – Hollywood Hills
This is one of the most iconic Asian-themed restaurants in LA. It sits above Hollywood with stunning views and features Japanese-style gardens, pagodas, lit pathways, and a small footbridge in the courtyard. The setting is *perfect* for Girl Scout bridging photos—classic Japanese ambiance, lanterns, koi pond, and ideal golden-hour lighting.
Great for groups, though reservations are recommended.
Gonpachi Torrance (inside Miyako Hybrid Hotel)
Modeled after traditional Japanese izakaya design, Gonpachi often features a wooden footbridge or bridge-style walkway inside or just outside its dining area, depending on the season’s layout. It’s elegant but casual enough for a troop dinner. The Japanese garden aesthetic makes it ideal for symbolic photos.
Huntington Library – Chinese Garden (San Marino)
While not a traditional restaurant in the garden itself, the onsite Liu Fang Yuan (Chinese Garden) has multiple bridges—arched stone bridges, zig-zag bridges, and moon bridges. You can dine afterward at the café or adjacent tea room.
This is hands down the best setting for incredible “China-themed” photos, but you must purchase admission, and you cannot bring in outside ceremonial equipment other than small props.
Descanso Gardens – Japanese Garden (La Cañada Flintridge)
The Japanese garden includes a classic wooden bridge over the koi pond. The garden café onsite is casual but perfectly fine for a troop gathering. The bridge is excellent for photos and is one of the most photogenic Japanese-style bridges in the LA area. You’ll need admission tickets here as well.
Japanese Garden at the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant – Van Nuys
While the garden itself does not have a full restaurant, it has multiple bridges and classic Japanese walkways. Many groups do ceremonies or photo shoots here. You could then go to dinner afterward in nearby Sherman Oaks, Encino, or Little Tokyo.

Restaurants That Don’t Have a Full Bridge but Offer a Strong Japanese/Chinese Garden Vibe

Benihana (various LA locations)
A few locations have koi ponds or bridge-like stepping areas near the entrance. Not as authentic as the gardens above, but very troop-friendly.
Chin Chin (Brentwood or West Hollywood)
Stylish, recognizable Chinese-American spot with outdoor patio areas that work well for photos but do not include a traditional bridge.
Tam O’Shanter (Los Feliz)
Not Asian-themed, but has a charming Celtic-style walkway and garden area with bridge-like stone steps—an option if you simply want the bridging symbolism and good group dining.

Best Picks for Your Purpose

If your priority is an actual bridge plus Asian theme to match your upcoming China/Japan trip, these are the strongest choices:

Yamashiro Hollywood – Top pick for bridge + dining + ambiance
Huntington Chinese Garden – Best for multiple bridges and beautiful photos
Descanso Gardens Japanese Bridge – Best natural setting for a Girl Scout bridge ceremony
Gonpachi Torrance – Easiest reservation + indoor Japanese-style architecture

Recommendation Strategy

If you want the ceremony and dinner in the same place without extra logistics, go with Yamashiro or Gonpachi. If amazing photos are the highest priority and you don’t mind doing the dinner nearby, choose Huntington or Descanso Gardens.

Restaurant with a BRIDGE?

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