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A side angle of a full restaurant table at Baar Baar with meats and fish and mains.
Baar Baar.
Wonho Frank Lee

17 Superb Downtown Los Angeles Restaurants

Where to eat LA’s central business and cultural district

by Eater Staff Updated
10 comments / new
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Baar Baar.
| Wonho Frank Lee
by Eater Staff Updated
10 comments / new

There’s so much to eat in the heart of Downtown LA — the official city center that spans from Bunker Hill to South Park and the Historic Core. The options are endless with one of the city’s best mariscos creators, multiple options in the historic Grand Central Market, and a solid fine dining veteran next to door to the Broad, Here are 19 outstanding places to eat in Downtown Los Angeles.

Note: For restaurants in the Arts District, see the Essential Arts District map; for restaurants in Chinatown, check out the Essential Chinatown map; and for delicious things to eat in Little Tokyo, check out this guide.

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Corteza at Sendero

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Corteza — one of chef Kevin Luzande’s culinary journeys down the Pan-American highway — starts with gorgeous views on the 24th floor of the Ritz Carlton. His menu takes inspiration from the Sea of Cortez between Baja California and central Mexico with a Peruvian tiradito/crudo with Hokkaido scallops, ceviche Nikkei, and a showstopping chocolate skull confection that melts in dramatic fashion.

900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
A burning Day of the Dead dessert at Corteza restaurant in Los Angeles.
Dessert is served at Corteza at Sendero.
Wonho Frank Lee

The Original Pantry Cafe

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It’s not uncommon for a line to form outside the iconic Original Pantry. Crowds wait for a table to nab a plate of over-easy eggs with hash browns, toast, and bacon with hotcakes whether at 7 a.m. or 4 p.m.

877 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 972-9279
(213) 972-9279
Los Angeles Exteriors And Landmarks - 2020
The Original Pantry Cafe.
Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Also featured in:

Pine and Crane DTLA

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LA’s most popular Taiwanese restaurant opened its Downtown location in 2022. It’s a blend of the Silver Lake original location and owner Vivian Ku’s Joy in Highland Park, with a menu that features daikon rice cakes, fan tuan, thousand-layer pancakes, pan-fried buns, beef rolls, and lots of noodle and rice dishes.

1120 S Grand Ave Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 536-5292
(213) 536-5292
A sunny semi-shaded patio at daytime.
The patio at Pine and Crane in Downtown.
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

Baar Baar

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Baar Baar is a feast for the eyes and an upscale Downtown spot where chef Sujan Sarkar prepares modern Indian dishes that are equally beautiful and inventive with a tandoori butternut squash, spinach-Swiss chard saag paneer, and vibrant-colored cocktails under a Bollywood mural.

705 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 266-8989
(213) 266-8989
A side angle of a full restaurant table at Baar Baar with meats and fish and mains.
A selection of dishes from Baar Baar.
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Niku X

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As one of the new crop of Japanese restaurants showcasing opulent ingredients in Downtown, Niku X is all about excess with yakiniku or Japanese grilled meats, plus an 11-course wagyu tasting made by a Michelin-starred chef.

900 Wilshire Blvd Ste 212, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(323) 920-0302
(323) 920-0302
Caviar with uni at Niku X restaurant in Los Angeles.
Caviar dish with uni from Niku X.
22 Black Box

Rossoblu

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Steve and Dina Samson’s enduring Northern Italian restaurant continues to put out some of the best, well-rounded cooking in the city, with rustic wood-fired dishes complementing the incredible handmade pasta like the lobster risotto with mascarpone and English peas. And it’s all served inside one of the most stunning dining rooms in the city.

CITY MARKET SOUTH, 1124 San Julian St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 749-1099
(213) 749-1099
Tagliatelle with a beef-and-pork ragu at Rossoblu in Downtown.
Tagliatelle with a beef-and-pork ragu at Rossoblu in Downtown.
Rossoblu

Also featured in:

Sonoratown

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Sonoratown is easily one of the top taco spots in town, serving smoky grilled meats atop perfect flour tortillas in this busy Downtown shop. Order the chivichanga with shredded beef and wonder why something so delicious isn’t available in every neighborhood in town. (Although, Mid-City is lucky enough to now have its own location, too.)

208 E 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 628-3710
(213) 628-3710
Sonoratown’s flour tortilla taco with guacamole salsa on top.
Sonoratown.
Farley Elliott

Also featured in:

Otium

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Chef Timothy Hollingsworth’s eight-year-old restaurant serves beautifully executed modern American dishes, like a wood-roasted eggplant and heirloom tomato tart, a whole grilled branzino, and dry-aged duck breast. For this part of Bunker Hill, it’s hard to think of a more elegant place for date night or sit at the bar for a cocktail.

222 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 935-8500
(213) 935-8500

Also featured in:

Rice Box

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Tucked inside the Spring Arcade is Rice Box. What sets it apart from typical Cantonese barbecue shops is its dedication to using only ethically sourced, sustainable, and hormone-free meat. Opt for the triple seven-spiced porchetta crackling, curry beef stew, or the roasted duck that’s marinated and air-dried for seven days.

541 S Spring St #131, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 988-7395
(213) 988-7395

Also featured in:

Holy Basil

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Downtown LA kiosk Holy Basil has been quietly serving some of the best street Thai food in the city. This Historic Core gem is somewhat of a revelation for Thai food fans, with everything with cold hand-pressed tofu, gorgeous tom yum, green curry, and fried noodles.

718 S Los Angeles St space A, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 559-4994
(213) 559-4994

Also featured in:

Shiku

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Kwang Uh and Mina Park of Baroo fame opened Shiku inside Grand Central Market in 2021, with a menu of quality Korean home cooking at affordable prices. One can never have a bad meal here; just order the fried chicken or deep-fried pyogo mushrooms, or the dorisak of popular proteins like LA galbi, andong soy-braised chicken, or kimchi-braised pork belly.

317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 265-7211
(213) 265-7211

Also featured in:

Sarita's Pupuseria

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This long-standing Grand Central Market vendor specializing in pupusas fills the griddled Salvadoran staple with traditional staples like beans and cheese, the classic loroco and cheese, and a range of meats. Don’t sleep on the substantial breakfast plates or fried yucca topped with crispy chicharron.

317 S Broadway E5, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 626-6320
(213) 626-6320
Salvadoran pupusas at Sarita’s Pupuseria
A pupusa from Sarita’s.

Also featured in:

Orsa & Winston

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Josef Centeno’s restrained Downtown LA restaurant features a reasonably priced tasting menu that balances finesse and quality of ingredients. With food influenced by Japanese and European flavors, Orsa & Winston is the place that captures the essence of modern Angeleno cooking perhaps more than any other fine-dining restaurant in LA.

122 W 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-0300
(213) 687-0300

Also featured in:

Badmaash

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Downtown’s Bollywood-meets-pop-art gastropub serves modern takes on Indian classics. Founded by chef Pawan Mahendro and sons Nakul and Arjun, Badmaash translates to “naughty,” with a menu that reflects both the brothers’ Indian heritage and childhood in Toronto with dishes like chicken tikka poutine.

108 W 2nd St Apt 104, Los Angeles, CA
(213) 221-7466
(213) 221-7466
Spread from Badmaash
Badmaash
Facebook

Also featured in:

Pizzeria Bianco

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Chris Bianco’s spot at the Row regularly sees lines of people waiting to score the iconic pizzaiolo’s New York-style, Sicilian, and alla pala slices at lunchtime. A dinner menu has a handful of small plates like spiedini — a roasted bread — and antipasti platters, as well as whole pies ranging from Bianco’s signature Rosa tomato-topped pizza to the Wiseguy, made with wood-roasted onions, smoked mozzarella, and fennel sausage.

1320 E 7th St #100, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 372-5155
(213) 372-5155
Three slices of cheese pizza, two with red sauce, a third with green sauce, on paper plates.
Pizzeria Bianco slices.
Matthew Kang

Also featured in:

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Kato Restaurant

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Although chef Jon Yao moved into its new location within the Row DTLA in early 2022, Kato remains a destination for its elegant, Taiwanese-influenced tasting menus. Reservations are hard to score, plus there’s a $275 price tag ($170 for the bar tasting menu) for dishes like A5 strip loin grilled and served with potatoes, black garlic, and braised tendon in a beautiful, understated dining room.

777 S Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 797-5770
(213) 797-5770
Dish from Kato
Kato restaurant at the Row.
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Guzzu Bento-ya

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Guzzu Bento-ya nails its daytime concept. The simplicity of modern bento boxes in a beautifully minimalist and modern Japanese space works well in Los Angeles. The layered bentos feel like opening a gift, with layers of cured mackerel, seasonal vegetables, potato salad, and miso-cured egg yolk.

1102 Lawrence St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(310) 858-0336
(310) 858-0336

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Corteza at Sendero

900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Corteza — one of chef Kevin Luzande’s culinary journeys down the Pan-American highway — starts with gorgeous views on the 24th floor of the Ritz Carlton. His menu takes inspiration from the Sea of Cortez between Baja California and central Mexico with a Peruvian tiradito/crudo with Hokkaido scallops, ceviche Nikkei, and a showstopping chocolate skull confection that melts in dramatic fashion.

900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015
A burning Day of the Dead dessert at Corteza restaurant in Los Angeles.
Dessert is served at Corteza at Sendero.
Wonho Frank Lee

The Original Pantry Cafe

877 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017

It’s not uncommon for a line to form outside the iconic Original Pantry. Crowds wait for a table to nab a plate of over-easy eggs with hash browns, toast, and bacon with hotcakes whether at 7 a.m. or 4 p.m.

877 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 972-9279
(213) 972-9279
Los Angeles Exteriors And Landmarks - 2020
The Original Pantry Cafe.
Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Pine and Crane DTLA

1120 S Grand Ave Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90015

LA’s most popular Taiwanese restaurant opened its Downtown location in 2022. It’s a blend of the Silver Lake original location and owner Vivian Ku’s Joy in Highland Park, with a menu that features daikon rice cakes, fan tuan, thousand-layer pancakes, pan-fried buns, beef rolls, and lots of noodle and rice dishes.

1120 S Grand Ave Suite 101, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 536-5292
(213) 536-5292
A sunny semi-shaded patio at daytime.
The patio at Pine and Crane in Downtown.
Matthew Kang

Baar Baar

705 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Baar Baar is a feast for the eyes and an upscale Downtown spot where chef Sujan Sarkar prepares modern Indian dishes that are equally beautiful and inventive with a tandoori butternut squash, spinach-Swiss chard saag paneer, and vibrant-colored cocktails under a Bollywood mural.

705 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 266-8989
(213) 266-8989
A side angle of a full restaurant table at Baar Baar with meats and fish and mains.
A selection of dishes from Baar Baar.
Wonho Frank Lee

Niku X

900 Wilshire Blvd Ste 212, Los Angeles, CA 90017

As one of the new crop of Japanese restaurants showcasing opulent ingredients in Downtown, Niku X is all about excess with yakiniku or Japanese grilled meats, plus an 11-course wagyu tasting made by a Michelin-starred chef.

900 Wilshire Blvd Ste 212, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(323) 920-0302
(323) 920-0302
Caviar with uni at Niku X restaurant in Los Angeles.
Caviar dish with uni from Niku X.
22 Black Box

Rossoblu

CITY MARKET SOUTH, 1124 San Julian St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Steve and Dina Samson’s enduring Northern Italian restaurant continues to put out some of the best, well-rounded cooking in the city, with rustic wood-fired dishes complementing the incredible handmade pasta like the lobster risotto with mascarpone and English peas. And it’s all served inside one of the most stunning dining rooms in the city.

CITY MARKET SOUTH, 1124 San Julian St, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 749-1099
(213) 749-1099
Tagliatelle with a beef-and-pork ragu at Rossoblu in Downtown.
Tagliatelle with a beef-and-pork ragu at Rossoblu in Downtown.
Rossoblu

Sonoratown

208 E 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Sonoratown is easily one of the top taco spots in town, serving smoky grilled meats atop perfect flour tortillas in this busy Downtown shop. Order the chivichanga with shredded beef and wonder why something so delicious isn’t available in every neighborhood in town. (Although, Mid-City is lucky enough to now have its own location, too.)

208 E 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 628-3710
(213) 628-3710
Sonoratown’s flour tortilla taco with guacamole salsa on top.
Sonoratown.
Farley Elliott

Otium

222 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Chef Timothy Hollingsworth’s eight-year-old restaurant serves beautifully executed modern American dishes, like a wood-roasted eggplant and heirloom tomato tart, a whole grilled branzino, and dry-aged duck breast. For this part of Bunker Hill, it’s hard to think of a more elegant place for date night or sit at the bar for a cocktail.

222 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 935-8500
(213) 935-8500

Rice Box

541 S Spring St #131, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Tucked inside the Spring Arcade is Rice Box. What sets it apart from typical Cantonese barbecue shops is its dedication to using only ethically sourced, sustainable, and hormone-free meat. Opt for the triple seven-spiced porchetta crackling, curry beef stew, or the roasted duck that’s marinated and air-dried for seven days.

541 S Spring St #131, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 988-7395
(213) 988-7395

Holy Basil

718 S Los Angeles St space A, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Downtown LA kiosk Holy Basil has been quietly serving some of the best street Thai food in the city. This Historic Core gem is somewhat of a revelation for Thai food fans, with everything with cold hand-pressed tofu, gorgeous tom yum, green curry, and fried noodles.

718 S Los Angeles St space A, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 559-4994
(213) 559-4994

Shiku

317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Kwang Uh and Mina Park of Baroo fame opened Shiku inside Grand Central Market in 2021, with a menu of quality Korean home cooking at affordable prices. One can never have a bad meal here; just order the fried chicken or deep-fried pyogo mushrooms, or the dorisak of popular proteins like LA galbi, andong soy-braised chicken, or kimchi-braised pork belly.

317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 265-7211
(213) 265-7211

Sarita's Pupuseria

317 S Broadway E5, Los Angeles, CA 90013

This long-standing Grand Central Market vendor specializing in pupusas fills the griddled Salvadoran staple with traditional staples like beans and cheese, the classic loroco and cheese, and a range of meats. Don’t sleep on the substantial breakfast plates or fried yucca topped with crispy chicharron.

317 S Broadway E5, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 626-6320
(213) 626-6320
Salvadoran pupusas at Sarita’s Pupuseria
A pupusa from Sarita’s.

Orsa & Winston

122 W 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Josef Centeno’s restrained Downtown LA restaurant features a reasonably priced tasting menu that balances finesse and quality of ingredients. With food influenced by Japanese and European flavors, Orsa & Winston is the place that captures the essence of modern Angeleno cooking perhaps more than any other fine-dining restaurant in LA.

122 W 4th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 687-0300
(213) 687-0300

Badmaash

108 W 2nd St Apt 104, Los Angeles, CA

Downtown’s Bollywood-meets-pop-art gastropub serves modern takes on Indian classics. Founded by chef Pawan Mahendro and sons Nakul and Arjun, Badmaash translates to “naughty,” with a menu that reflects both the brothers’ Indian heritage and childhood in Toronto with dishes like chicken tikka poutine.

108 W 2nd St Apt 104, Los Angeles, CA
(213) 221-7466
(213) 221-7466
Spread from Badmaash
Badmaash
Facebook

Pizzeria Bianco

1320 E 7th St #100, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Chris Bianco’s spot at the Row regularly sees lines of people waiting to score the iconic pizzaiolo’s New York-style, Sicilian, and alla pala slices at lunchtime. A dinner menu has a handful of small plates like spiedini — a roasted bread — and antipasti platters, as well as whole pies ranging from Bianco’s signature Rosa tomato-topped pizza to the Wiseguy, made with wood-roasted onions, smoked mozzarella, and fennel sausage.

1320 E 7th St #100, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 372-5155
(213) 372-5155
Three slices of cheese pizza, two with red sauce, a third with green sauce, on paper plates.
Pizzeria Bianco slices.
Matthew Kang

Related Maps

Kato Restaurant

777 S Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Although chef Jon Yao moved into its new location within the Row DTLA in early 2022, Kato remains a destination for its elegant, Taiwanese-influenced tasting menus. Reservations are hard to score, plus there’s a $275 price tag ($170 for the bar tasting menu) for dishes like A5 strip loin grilled and served with potatoes, black garlic, and braised tendon in a beautiful, understated dining room.

777 S Alameda St Building 1, Suite 114, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(213) 797-5770
(213) 797-5770
Dish from Kato
Kato restaurant at the Row.
Wonho Frank Lee

Guzzu Bento-ya

1102 Lawrence St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

Guzzu Bento-ya nails its daytime concept. The simplicity of modern bento boxes in a beautifully minimalist and modern Japanese space works well in Los Angeles. The layered bentos feel like opening a gift, with layers of cured mackerel, seasonal vegetables, potato salad, and miso-cured egg yolk.

1102 Lawrence St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
(310) 858-0336
(310) 858-0336

Related Maps