Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Downtown

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

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 favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

TENSHO

4.9

4.9 (64)

$50 and over

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

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Aug 31, 2024

Great the food was exzellent and the service was amazing

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Experience

Deluxe A5 WAGYU (JAPAN, 8oz)

Experience

USDA Prime Beef (Rib, 8oz)

Experience

Deluxe A5 WAGYU & Seafood

Mona Pasta Bar

4.9

4.9 (59)

$30 and under

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Mona Pasta Bar

Dinner dishes highlight the marriage of Italian techniques with Southern California ingredients including Pesce Crudo with citrus cured hamachi, kosho beet vinaigrette and hazelnuts, Burrata & Tomato with burrata pugliese, heirloom tomato, pine nuts, pesto and squash blossom, Casarecce with lamb sausage and rapini, Lumache - alla vodka, and a Whole Branzino with caramelized fennel.

The menu is designed for snacking over a glass of wine, sharing with friends and/or enjoying a more coursed out dining experience. Pasta, a focal point of the offerings, will all be made in-house.

The wine list is focused on fun, daring, low-intervention, natural wines to accentuate and complement the food. The primarily Italian focused list with opening selections from Sicily to Puglia will be rotating based on seasonality and availability.

Top review

Jenvip

Dined 7 days ago

Delicious food and dessert! Excellent happy hour house red and appetizers! Quaint restaurant and great music. Must try it!

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Experience

Wednesday - Sunday Happy Hour!

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - Downtown Los Angeles | CA

4.9

4.9 (137)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Little Tokyo

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

DeeL

Dined on Aug 15, 2024

We have the 6-people bbq and it was a lot!! Servers were nice and friendly too!

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Experience

Prix-Fixe Yakiniku Courses for Everyone!

Eigikutei

4.9

4.9 (74)

$50 and over

Japanese

Little Tokyo

About the restaurant

Eigikutei is a Japanese cuisine, sushi, and Shabu Shabu Kaiseki restaurant in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. We have a bar and offer high-end Japanese sake.
Eigikutei serves Japanese Kaiseki cuisine courses. Each Kaiseki course expresses the traditional Japanese culture and simple but deep tastes that Japan has grown from time immemorial. We hope all of our guests can enjoy our Kaiseki cuisine with Japanese cultural experiences.
**If you wish to select multiple courses, simply choose 'Standard' to reserve seats. We will take your orders at your table. Please do not select menu experiences.

Top review

Helen

Dined 1 day ago

We sat at chef table with two other groups. There are 3 chefs so it’s like private dining. I love attention to detail and food taste excellent as expected. Will go back again!

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Experience

Sushi Kaiseki Tasting Menu

Experience

A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Shabu-Shabu Kaiseki Tasting Menu

Experience

A5 Hannari Wagyu Shabu-Shabu Kaiseki Tasting Menu

Kato

4.8

4.8 (294)

$50 and over

Contemporary Asian

Downtown

About the restaurant

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

Tasting Menu (Dining Room) │ $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

Johannavip

Dined 1 day ago

Wonderful from start to finish! Definitely one of the best restaurants in LA.

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Experience

Bar Cocktails & Snacks

Experience

Bar Tasting Menu

Experience

Dining Room Tasting Menu

PROPAGANDA

4.8

4.8 (58)

$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

Annmarie

Dined on Sep 1, 2024

Loved the food and ambience at Propaganda. Very friendly and courteous service.

Genwa Korean BBQ DTLA

4.9

4.9 (23)

$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

OpenTable Dinervip

Dined on Jun 16, 2024

Amazing service and delicious food. Excellent value

Bavel

4.8

4.8 (4831)

$31 to $50

Middle Eastern

Downtown

About the restaurant

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

Top review

LOLITAvip

Dined 3 days ago

First time there. Went with girlfriends. The best lamb evah! Babaganoush and humans and pita all amazing.

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Popular dish

Oyster Mushroom Kebab

Popular dish

Slow Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma

Popular dish

Grilled Prawns

Bestia

4.7

4.7 (8060)

$31 to $50

Italian

Downtown

About the restaurant

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

Top review

Sarah

Dined 2 days ago

Excellent, per usual. Going as the season change is really nice, as there were a few end of summer dishes and some fall dishes appearing.

Cabra - LA

4.9

4.9 (1192)

$31 to $50

Peruvian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Cabra Los Angeles is a Peruvian-inspired restaurant by Chef Stephanie Izard and Boka Restaurant Group, located on the top floor of The Hoxton, Downtown LA. Open for Dinner seven nights a week and Brunch on the weekends, the lively dining experience is anchored by shareable plates bold in flavor and bright in taste, with sweeping views of Los Angeles.

Top review

Hana

Dined 2 days ago

Wonderful experience today at Cabra. Food was simply delicious. Lots of healthy option. Personal favorites include empanadas and quinoa beet salad. I love the dessert and mocktails. Ambiance is lovely. The restaurant above a beautiful hotel. Will definitely come back.

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Popular dish

Wood-Fired Skirt Steak

Popular dish

Chicken Thigh Skewers

Popular dish

Salmon Skewers

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