Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Downtown

OpenTable

Updated February 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Downtown? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Sushi Enya - Little Tokyo

4.8

4.8 (136)

$50 and over

Sushi

Downtown

About the restaurant

Under new management; we are no longer taking any of regular dinning nor Omakase reservations.

Sushi Enya is a Japanese sushi restaurant that first opened in the heart of Little Tokyo in Downtown, LA. After five years of perseverance and experimentation in Downtown, LA, we opened our second location in beautiful Old Town Pasadena.
Our third location, which opened in 2018, is located in the beach city of Marina Del Rey.

Our owner Chef Kimiyasu Enya trained for over 10 years in Japan to perfect his craft.

It is our goal to ensure that quality remains consistent and every experience is enjoyable for all guests.

Top review

Steve

Dined 2 days ago

Great experience! Great food preparation and flavor. Friendly and fast service. Thank you for a great dinner Sushi Enya. We will be back.

Dahlia

4.8

4.8 (26)

$30 and under

Cocktail Bar

Downtown

About the restaurant

Experience an intimate space for afternoon tea at Dahlia, our newest DTLA destination nestled amid the Downtown bustle. Enjoy a selection of botanical teas and garden-fresh treats in a cozy setting. Gather with friends for a delightful afternoon within Dahlia’s immersive interiors, designed by Kelly Wearstler. Drawing inspiration from Mexican modernism and Moroccan aesthetics, the space features a rich palette of pinks, warm ambers, and verdant greens, complemented by textured tilework, vintage furnishings, and a stunning glass installation from LA’s Judson Studios. Indulge in curated experience by our talented team, Caroline Styne and Chef Suzanne Goin, showcasing local and seasonal ingredients.

Top review

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined on Feb 15, 2025

My afternoon tea experience at Dahlia was so wonderful, that I already made three more reservations! Beautiful ambience, delicious food/tea/cocktails, and amazing service from Lluvia (the lovely woman in charge of the tea service). I had the vegan tea and my friend had the regular tea, and we were both super pleased with the yummy offerings and delightful presentation. Can’t wait to go back!

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Experience

Cocktails at Dahlia

Genwa Korean BBQ DTLA

4.8

4.8 (33)

$31 to $50

Korean

Downtown

About the restaurant

Enjoy a delicious meal with friends or family at Genwa Korean BBQ DTLA located at the heart of downtown Los Angeles. It boasts an contemporary decor and a casual atmosphere, offering high-quality meats and other authentic Korean dishes. Genwa dtla is renowned for its extensive variety of "banchan" Korean side dishes, setting it apart from other Korean BBQ establishments. Notably, Genwa features state-of-the-art smokeless grills, ensuring you won't smell like you've been to a campfire. Guests can choose from seafood, beef, pork and veggies to cook at their table on a smokeless grill. Genwa also has appetizers, desserts and dumplings, as well as noodle, vegetarian and rice dishes. It even provides entrées that are cooked in the kitchen. Earning top spot on LA Weekly's 10 Best Korean BBQ Restaurants in Los Angeles in 2012, Genwa continues to impress. It offers a full bar serving numerous drinks and cocktails. The restaurant accepts reservations and offers take-out services to guests.

Top review

Gianni

Dined on Feb 15, 2025

It was nice, but the ambiance was not the best. And the server kind was took back by me asking about the menu, it wasn’t explained very well.

Bavel

4.8

4.8 (5038)

$31 to $50

Middle Eastern

Downtown

About the restaurant

A Middle Eastern restaurant in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles.

Top review

JamesVIP

Dined 7 days ago

One of the best restaurants in the city! CJ made the experience even better! Highly recommend!!!

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Popular dish

Oyster Mushroom Kebab

Popular dish

Slow Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma

Popular dish

Grilled Prawns

PROPAGANDA

4.8

4.8 (75)

$30 and under

Italian

Arts District

About the restaurant

Propaganda focuses on organic, biodynamic, Italian natural wines, aperitivi cocktails, Italian style Tapas and the authentic Pizza (Pinsa) Romana.
Aperitivo Happy Hour everyday till 6pm and till 5pm on Sunday

Top review

Terry

Dined 4 days ago

I came for the lovely wine selections. The waiter made excellent suggestions for food. It was a nice evening.

Kato

4.8

4.8 (343)

$50 and over

Contemporary Asian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Kato serves seasonally-focused tasting menus influenced by Taiwan and Asian American nostalgia.

Dining Room Tasting Menu │ $325
The dining room tasting menu focuses on seasonality and innovation.

Bar Tasting Menu │ $185
The bar tasting menu is a slightly abbreviated collection of classic Kato dishes.

An 18% fair wage and operational fee has been added to your bill. It goes to provide elevated, comprehensive benefits, as well as consistent, livable wages for all staff. Though many of our guests choose to leave gratuity for exemplary service, it is neither necessary nor expected, though it is greatly appreciated. This gratuity will be shared by all hourly staff.

Top review

LocVIP

Dined on Feb 17, 2025

the only michelin starred Taiwanese restaurant in the nation. you have to try it if you like asian food and especially Taiwanese. it is nothing like any Taiwanese you have tried. also its more seafood forward than beef which we liked as its lower cholesterol. presentation is beautiful and some of the dishes are mind blowing. the crab pooridge is way way better than you think. i can't even remember it all and non alcholoic pairing was great. we had it with some wine vs full on alcoholic pairing. its on par or better than Single Thread non-alcoholic pairing especially if you like asian flavors.

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Experience

Bar Cocktails & Snacks

Experience

Bar Tasting Menu

Experience

Dining Room Tasting Menu

Bar Amá

4.7

4.7 (460)

$30 and under

Tex-Mex

Downtown

About the restaurant

Bar Amá is a Tex-Mex restaurant located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Our outdoor patio is available only on Friday & Saturday evenings (weather permitting). If you have any questions, please e-mail us at info@bar-ama.com or visit bar-ama.com.

"Fideo and borracho beans with cilantro and pork belly simmering on the stove, the spicy warmth of menudo every Christmas and New Year’s, egg salad with a fried egg between a butter toasted bolillo, and puffy tacos stuffed with lengua carnitas and crushed avocado and doused with pequin chile vinegar salsa. These are just some of the dishes that have inspired me – the food that I was nurtured with by the women who raised me. Bar Amá is my interpretation of their Tex-Mex." – Chef Josef Centeno

Top review

DianaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Had not been in years and food was just as amazing as I remember!

San Laurel

4.7

4.7 (409)

$50 and over

Spanish

Downtown

About the restaurant

San Laurel is one of the flagship restaurants in Chef José Andrés’ collection at Conrad Los Angeles. Here, he effortlessly combines his signature forward-thinking approach to Spanish cuisine with the gorgeous produce found at Southern California’s year-round farmers’ markets. San Laurel is open daily for breakfast and dinner service.

The restaurant’s interior combines organic, earthy tones and natural wood finishes with richer hues to complement what’s on the plate: the flavors of Spain as seen through a California lens.

Top review

Alisha

Dined 3 days ago

A wonderful dining experience with my family! The strive and the food were superb.

Bestia

4.8

4.8 (8364)

$31 to $50

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

A multi-regional Italian restaurant in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles.

Top review

WilliamVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Great food and service. Nice vibe. Every dishes was excellent. Very tasty.

TENSHO

4.9

4.9 (71)

$31 to $50

Japanese (Shabu-Shabu)

Little Tokyo

About the restaurant

Even if seats are full, we may still have availability. Also, special requests or inquiries would be welcome. Please do not hesitate to reach us by phone (213-617-1016).

5.3.2022 Tue
NEW OPEN in Little Tokyo
[TENSHO]

Right in the heart of Little Tokyo, “Kagaya” has established itself a top tier shabu shabu restaurant. Now, the torches have been handed to a new head chef and owner, the next generation to carry the torches of tradition and exquisite flavor, with the new name of TENSHO.

Trained in traditional Japanese cookery, this 23 year veteran chef is on his way to introducing a new wave of Japanese delicacies to the States. As close as you can get to Japan itself, this chef brings his revisioned menu, with patron favorites, and extensive sake list. The desert and a la carte menu is designed by their French trained chef.

The wagyu beef is of A5 rank. The seafood, carefully selected to be of highest quality. Food that is not only delicious but also good for the health.

Top review

OmarVIP

Dined on Feb 14, 2025

Our favorite date spot in LA. The staff is so friendly and the food is 💯

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Experience

Deluxe A5 WAGYU (JAPAN, 8oz)

Experience

USDA Prime Beef (Rib, 8oz)

Experience

Deluxe A5 WAGYU & Seafood

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