Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Downtown

OpenTable

Updated 05 February 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Downtown? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses 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 1 day 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

Kira

Dined on 15 Feb 2025

Customer service was excellent from the moment we walked onto the property. Everyone was polite, smiling, warm, and hospitable. The front desk, the wait staff, the back up wait staff, the bar, ... everyone. Lovely vibe. Very good food. We had the vegan tea service. Every morsel was delicious. The scones we great! The tea waitress was absolutely lovely, She shared her enthusiasm about her love of tea and it enhanced our experience. We plan to return. We were a group of four.

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Experience

Cocktails at Dahlia

TENSHO

4.9

4.9 (71)

$31 to $50

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 14 Feb 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

Damian

4.8

4.8 (16)

$30 and under

Mexican

Downtown

About the restaurant

We are a restaurant in Los Angeles' Arts District rooted in Mexican culture while celebrating seasonal Californian produce.

Top review

Jason

Dined 2 days ago

Been wanting to go here for a while now. At one point, we were going to Ditroit once, twice a week, every week. Great ambiance. Really good food & presentation. Will definitely return

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 3 days ago

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

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 6 days ago

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

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 17 Feb 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

Manuela

4.7

4.7 (238)

$31 to $50

Californian

Downtown

About the restaurant

Located in the Arts District of Los Angeles, Manuela unites chef, farmer and artist to create an authentic and original dining experience. Under the direction of Executive Chef Kris Tominaga, the menu celebrates seasonal ingredients sourced from the best farms and producers in Southern California.

Serving a wide range of vegetables, grains, fish, and game, Manuela also features an exemplary bar program, which serves classic cocktails using house-made bitters and tonics. Local beers are on tap, while the carefully selected wine list is designed to pair with the smoke and acid at the heart of Manuela’s menu.

Designed by Los Angeles native Matt Winter and named for Manuela Wirth, the restaurant is illuminated and animated by specially commissioned works from artists Paul McCarthy, Mark Bradford and Raymond Pettibon.

Top review

Cate

Dined on 15 Feb 2025

came here for brunch on a saturday with a reservation. the hostess and server were very nice and skilled. the steak and eggs were really good. biscuits and aguachile were good as well. i LOVE oysters, but i felt like maybe the carrot mignonette overpowered the oyster flavor a bit but that could just be personal preference. great ambiance. good people. good food. and i loved the garden and the chickens. this is a lovely place in a lovely area of LA. i would definitely come back!

USC University Club

4.8

4.8 (106)

$30 and under

American

Downtown

About the restaurant

The University Club Restaurant is an elegant space to host work meetings or enjoy a gracious setting with friends. Our menu changes seasonally and reflects the best of local produce.

Reservations are recommended. Our dress code is Business Casual.

For reservations, call (213) 740-2030

Top review

Tina

Dined on 14 Feb 2025

Usc has the best service and the best food. I will always come back.

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 6 days ago

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

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