The 3.8-magnitude temblor hit a mile east-southeast of Marina del Rey at 3:18 a.m. PT, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was felt across the region, including in Hawthorne, Culver City, Redondo Beach and Inglewood.
"All of a sudden the whole house started to shake. I was shocked. It was the first earthquake I've ever experienced," said Alan Notkin of Marina del Rey.
The earthquake was described as a quick jolt.
"It was very sudden, very abrupt. It caught us off guard," one resident said.
A smaller 2.4-magnitude quake struck the same area around 5:27 a.m. PT. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages from the earthquakes.
