Timothy Hollingsworth has reopened his landmark Downtown LA restaurant after a long pandemic hiatus serving a wide menu of modern American dishes, from wood-roasted eggplant and heirloom tomato tart to a whole grilled branzino and dry-aged duck breast. For this part of Bunker Hill, it’s hard to think of a classier place to have a date night.

This colorful gastropub serves modern takes on Indian classics in a Bollywood-meets-pop-art space. Founded by chef Pawan Mahendro and sons Nakul and Arjun, Badmaash means “bad ass,” and the menu reflects the brothers’ Indian heritage and childhood in Toronto with dishes like chicken tikka poutine.

Kwang Uh and Mina Park of Baroo fame opened Shiku inside Grand Central Market. The menu is very good Korean home cooking served at affordable prices. Start with fried chicken or deep-fried pyogo mushrooms then have a dorisak of popular proteins like LA galbi, andong soy-braised chicken, or kimchi-braised pork belly.

Leave it to San Antonio-native Josef Centeno to introduce Los Angeles to Tex-Mex cuisine. Taking the food far beyond platters of sizzling fajitas, the long list of small plates go down easy with nicely crafted cocktails.

Josef Centeno’s restrained Downtown LA restaurant has returned with a five course tasting menu priced at $125, an incredible value for the level of finesse and quality of ingredients at this establishment. With cooking influenced by Japan and Europe cuisine, this is the place captures the essence of modern Angeleno cooking perhaps more than any other fine dining restaurant in LA.

This Cantonese barbecue specialist is tucked inside the Spring Arcade. What sets Rice Box apart from typical Cantonese barbecue shops is its dedication to using only ethically-sourced, sustainable, and hormone-free meat.

Since debuting in spring 2020, Petite Peso has evolved into one of LA’s most innovative Filipino restaurants serving modern version of traditional recipes from chef Ria Dolly Barbosa. Bistek and sisig salads lighten up traditionally heavier dishes while rice bowl comes with pinakbet (various vegetables), salmon sinigang, pork munggo, or chicken adobo. Don’t miss the pastries either, like ensaymada or pan de sal to take home.

Newish Downtown LA kiosk Holy Basil has been quietly serving some of the best modern Thai food in the city. Its Smorgasburg stand expands its reach on the weekend, but this location in Downtown’s Historic Core is somewhat of a revelation for Thai food fans, with everything from gorgeous tom yum and green curry to stellar fried noodles.

Sonoratown is easily one of the top taco spots in town, serving 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 to every neighborhood in town.

Steve and Dina Samson’s enduring Northern Italian restaurant continues to prepare some of the best, well-rounded cooking in the city, with rustic wood-fired dishes complementing the incredible handmade pasta on the menu. And it’s all served inside one of the most stunning dining room sin the city.