Where to Eat In Downtown L.A.

When the surroundings are as dazzling as the Disney Concert Hall, the restaurant within has to make a statement. Enter Asterid, from Angeleno native Ray Garcia. After closing his Alta California-focused Broken Spanish during the pandemic, Garcia’s latest celebrates the diversity of Los Angeles cuisine in dishes like sunchoke rosti with sunflower creme fraiche, yellowtail with melon and cucumber, and lamb shank with charred eggplant puree. It’s a vibrant space both inside and out, sitting along the grandeur of Grand Avenue next to The Broad, Moca, and the new Frank Gehry-designed Conrad Hotel.

Taking Kato from a small strip-mall gem to a much larger, beautifully designed space at the Row DTLA, Jon Yao is once again serving ambitious Taiwanese-American tasting menus to sold-out crowds. While the menu changes frequently, expect to see things like a Santa Barbara uni donut with Iberico ham and brown butter, hoja santa-wrapped black cod in broth, and kumquat shaved ice emerging from the open kitchen. A smaller bar tasting menu is available for walk-ins only. Don’t miss cocktails from veteran barman Austin Hennelly, including a large selection of innovative non-alcoholic options.

This modern bistro tucked into a corner of the bustling Arts District features subtle twists on traditional and familiar French classics. Chefs Max Boonthanakit and Lijo George met while working at Alain Ducasse’s Blue in Bangkok, and they combine their fine-dining chops with a playful attitude evident in dishes like moules frites, with the mussels carefully deshelled before it hits the table, or the highly snackable gunpowder baby shrimp. With refined service and an airy vibe, consider Camphor for your next date night.

If to you, post-pandemic dining means eating a constant stream of grilled meats, we’ve got just the place. The lively downtown outpost (there’s a second location in the Beverly Center) serves both an unlimited churrasco and a la carte menu with carnivorous options from filet mignon to rib eye, lamb chops, sausages, and more. Unlike many other Brazilian haunts, you’ll find A5 Japanese wagyu beef here, and even a burger served at the bar. Speaking of the latter: Happy Hour runs weekdays from 5-7 p.m.

Just steps from perpetual hot spots Damian and Bestia, Kodō brings a minimalist vibe to this ultra-hip pocket of the Arts District. But don’t let the sleek and serene decor fool you: Kodō is full of energy, thanks to chef Yoya Takahashi (Hamasaku). Part izakaya, part cafe and sake bar, you’ll find everything from drinking snacks like charcoal-grilled skewers to beautifully prepared sashimi and sushi, seaweed salads, and somen with sea bream. Plenty of cocktails, natural wines, beer, and sake abound. This will be the house restaurant for the eight-room Kensho Rykn hotel when it opens later this year.

Yxta, pronounced “eeks-tah,” is one of the more underrated Mexican spots in L.A. Sitting on the border of the Arts District, it caters to a devoted regular crowd, and it’s easy to see why. The lofty, industrial-chic space is perfect for fresh and vibrant plates of slow-cooked carnitas served with handmade tortillas, chorizo-studded queso, shrimp with chile de arbol garlic butter, and enchiladas smothered in richly spiced mole.

“Top Chef” star Stephanie Izard opened a West Coast outpost of her wildly successful Chicago restaurant in the heart of the Arts District, where she blends boldly flavored dishes with seasonal L.A. ingredients. With huge arched windows, blonde woods, white furniture, and enough plants for a community garden, G&G perfectly captures that Southern California vibe. On the menu, things like goat tartare; grilled corn with spiced caramel, cotija, and tajin; chili-crunch chicken thighs with pickled kumquat and sweet potato noodles; and sweet-and-sour beignets. There’s an entire vegan menu, too.

Seeing the L.A. skyline from 71 floors above is indeed one of the sexiest things about this stunning restaurant atop the U.S. Bank Tower building. The tallest restaurant in Los Angeles, it’s a stunner, and the perfect place to watch the glow of the sunset play off the brass sculptures inside. The curved room offers a perch for every mood: lingering dinners for two, post-work drinks with friends, and nightcaps before the evening ends. Executive chef Javier Lopez offers a tasting menu, and you can sip a cocktail named for the L.A. neighborhood you love (or are admiring from above).

Enrique Olvera’s first Los Angeles restaurant has everything we’ve come to expect from the Mexico City chef: gorgeous food that’s as much about Los Angeles as Mexican tradition; a space that’s sultry and colorful, with a gorgeous outdoor space filled with murals and plants as thick as a rainforest; cocktails made with small-batch Tequila and mezcal you won’t find everywhere else. Look for dishes like Baja clams with salsa macha, a vegetarian pipián verde with mushrooms, and an elote tamal topped with toasted ants. Dessert is not to be missed.

You’ll find something for everyone at this massive Downtown spot, from khachapuri to penne chicken alfredo, teriyaki salmon to slow-cooked baby back ribs, mac ‘n’ cheese to cheesecake. There’s even Dom Pérignon and unlimited oysters for two — a baller meal with a price tag to match. But hey, the more-is-more approach, plus a retail wine shop, kept the brothers Gomiashvili afloat during the pandemic. Come here for bottomless mimosa brunches, mariachi and jazz ensemble nights, and the occasional dance performance, too.

Imagine you’re on a beautiful island, sipping a daiquiri and nibbling on ceviche and empanadas. When you open your eyes and realize you’re in a former banana warehouse in DTLA, simply take another sip and lean in. Part of the Market South complex (shared with Rossoblu), Dama is colorful, chic, and almost entirely outdoors, making it a perfect spot for balmy summer nights — or any time you want to feel swept away.

ERB has everything: One of the best patios in the Arts District, if not all of Downtown Los Angeles; a Matt Molina-designed menu of excellent burgers and fries, flaky biscuits, taquitos, and more; cocktails that change regularly but are never less than exceptional; and a wine list curated by owners of Silver Lake Wine (partners in the venture). Whether sitting under the neon “My that’s better” sign at the bar or under the canopy out back, it always feels like a party here.

What started with chef Wes Avila slinging sweet potato tacos and hamachi tostadas from a truck is now a brick-and-mortar neighborhood staple with an expanded menu of seasonally changing specials, cocktails and more. Beyond tacos, think raw and grilled oysters, masa gnocchi with black beans and cotija, scallop aguachile, and elevated palomas, prickly pear margaritas, and a spiced old fashioned to drink.

David Chang’s Chinatown-adjacent spot sprawls across a massive indoor and outdoor space, with a cool, slick atmosphere fitting of the New York import. The flavors span from Korea to Italy to Southern California. Delicious small and large plates change regularly, with the exception of mandatory essentials like bing with cultured butter and caviar, crispy rice with shrimp, and the smoked bo ssam or boneless chuck short rib that feeds a group.

This former Arts District warehouse is now a vortex of motorcycle culture, tattoos, coffee, food, cocktails, and beer. An import from London, the menu for the 325-seat restaurant and cafe features everything from a full English breakfast to fried chicken and waffles, kale salads to pulled pork sandwiches, pasta, steaks, and more. Welcoming to all, there’s even a retail shop for all your (new or existing) moto needs.

With three locations (the other two are Mid-Wilshire and Beverly Hills), this well-known Korean barbecue player makes grilled meats and an huge array of banchan (20-plus!) approachable for novices while also appeasing traditionalists. Pork belly, brisket, and galbi are all reliable picks, along with a la carte choices like spicy pork bulgogi and an Australian Wagyu beef rib eye. Being in the South Park neighborhood makes Genwa a good option for L.A. Live goers.

Hidden inside the historic Spring Arcade building, gems like this little oasis of French culture are what make dining around DTLA feel special. A strong local and after-work crowd are drawn to Garcon’s Parisian feel, with its eclectic art, weathered brick walls, and live entertainment. The rotating by-the-glass wine list — mostly French but with picks from around the world — is fun to peruse, as is the small menu of quiche, sandwiches (on Clark Street Bread), and charcuterie plates.

After hooking diners at places like Melody, Little Prince, and Employees Only, this once-roving pizza pop-up, known for its rectangular focaccia-style pies, has found a permanent home in a colorful, greenery-filled Arts District spot. In addition to cheesy square pizzas with seasonally changing toppings, there are raw-bar dishes like oysters and crudo, whipped eggplant dip, and salads. Cocktails, non-alcoholic sips, and natural wines add to the fun.