Chef José Andrés’s finer dining restaurant San Laurel on the 10th floor of Conrad Los Angeles serves a stellar tasting menu on the restaurant’s terrace overlooking the Walt Disney Concert Hall or in the main dining room along the glass-encased open kitchen. The Chef’s Table experience ($180 per person), which needs to be booked in advance, begins with a cocktail and includes seven courses that wind through Spanish-inflected lighter bites, like a yuzu persimmon salad and hiramasa ceviche, before ending with black cod and wagyu beef. Dessert includes an impeccable selection of mignardise and is as memorable as the meal. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

Former French Laundry chef Timothy Hollingsworth’s nearly decade-old restaurant serves beautifully executed modern American dishes, like Ora king salmon tartare with tamaki rice, spinach bucatini with bacon and clams, and grilled petrale sole with yeasted beurre blanc. In this part of Bunker Hill, it’s hard to think of a more elegant place for a cocktail at the bar or a romantic date night

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.

This long-standing Grand Central Market vendor specializing in pupusas fills the griddled Salvadoran staple with traditional ingredients 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.

Downtown LA’s Niku X is all about excess with a focus on yakiniku (Japanese grilled meats). Chef Shin Thompson, who had a lengthy career in Chicago including Furious Spoon ramen and Michelin-starred Bonsoirée, helms the upscale restaurant on the second floor of the Intercontinental Hotel serving flaming tomahawk steak tasting menus on one side, and an 11-course yakiniku tasting on the other. Either will run a pretty penny, but expect extravagant and well-cooked meat from start to finish.

The huge 24th-floor dining complex at Sendero exhibits chef Kevin Luzande’s varied influences, from the more casual seafood spot Corteza to the formal-leaning Argentine-style steakhouse Leña. Both offer incredible views of Downtown and beyond. Beef fans will love Leña’s various prime and wagyu offerings, while those looking for a balanced meal can expect polished starters. Try the wagyu beef carpaccio with black truffles or opt for chori-pan stuffed with chorizo, cauliflower escabeche, chimichurri, and aged cheddar.

Consider the Exchange inside the Freehand hotel a sneaky Downtown hit. The intimate dining room serves Israeli and other Levantine-inflected dishes from talented chef Narita Santos, who isn’t afraid to pepper in global influences. The results are well-crafted, seasonally appropriate food that pops with flavor. The restaurant’s quirky ’70s-inspired decor keeps the vibe loose.

Downtown LA kiosk Holy Basil is serving some of the best Thai street food in the city. This Historic Core gem is somewhat of a revelation for Thai food fans, serving everything from cold hand-pressed tofu, to gorgeous tom yum, green curry, and fried noodles. Check out the Thursday to Saturday seafood specials.

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. It’s the ideal neighborhood restaurant for South Park denizens with service from breakfast through dinner.

No one knew what to expect from a lavish rendition of teppanyaki, but Joshua Gil, an accomplished fine dining and modern Mexican chef, has pulled off something that balances one of LA’s flashiest dining experiences with top-quality preparations. Maison Kasai operates as one of multiple restaurants inside Level 8, an eye-catching production by Mark and Jonnie Houston. Maison Kasai weaves traditional teppanyaki elements of steel-top grilled meats and seafood with one of the best Benihana-inspired fried rice finishes anywhere. Expect plenty of opportunities to post Instagram gold.

Ray Garcia’s South American-inflected grill restaurant stands as the most everyday but still date night-worthy destination inside Level 8, an impressive nightlife and eating spot at the AC/Moxy hotel complex just across from Crypto.com Arena. Here, Garcia starts the meal with a skillet of molten cheese and tomato, finishing with grilled picanha and shrimp. The cocktails are stellar too.

Steve and Dina Samson’s enduring Northern Italian restaurant continues to prepare some of the best, well-rounded cooking in the city. Rustic wood-fired dishes complement the incredible handmade pasta like the lobster risotto with mascarpone and English peas. It’s all served inside one of the most impressive high-ceiling dining rooms in the city.

Famed Phoenix chef Chris Bianco has taken a while to figure out his exact setup in Los Angeles, but it seems both the pizzeria and nearby Pane Bianco have settled into their respective rhythms. The pizzeria serves Bianco’s wood-fired pizzas with light Italian appetizers and sides, while Pane Bianco serves New York City-style slices, square slices, and sandwiches. Expect excellence all around, with simple but fresh ingredients prepared in a minimalist fashion.