Cabra Los Angeles — **Top Downtown Eats for Visitors (and Locals Alike)**

The scenario: My friends are staying Downtown Los Angeles, without a car for a long weekend - where should they eat?

As your ultimate LA tour guide, this is a high pressure ask because LA is incredibly huge (4M people and 10M in LA county, whew that’s a handful). Downtown LA (DTLA) is overflowing with unique, quality eats and distinct neighborhoods including Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Arts District, the Fashion District, the Flower District, Bunker Hill (you get the picture).

The term Downtown is so generically broad, it stills includes a multitude of possibilities; it’s a good problem to have. There’s huge diversity within a 3 mile radius - as it’s so dense. That being said, I gravitate towards pick places that can double as a home base, adjacent to other small attractions so tourists can spend a few hours eating, wandering, and soaking in that LA sunshine.

Now that I’ve outlined the DTLA challenge - let’s dive into my top, tourist, guest, and out-of-towner eat reccos for Downtown LA.

My criteria for making it on this list is a mixture of (1) uniqueness (unique with a high LA-vibe factor); (2) food quality (it has to be enjoyable to consume!); (3) atmosphere (gotta be different); and finally (4) price and location (because it must be in DTLA and I am an efficient spender).

1) Rooftop Dining at Cabra Los Angeles

*Sweet and Sour whole brazino at Cabra Los Angeles*

The Rooftop Bar at Cabra Los Angeles — *The bar at Cabra*

Hands down, Cabra Los Angeles on top of the new Hoxton Hotel. Behind the hostess stand is a narrow drink-centra bar-lounge area [no happy hour as far as I can tell]. After checking in, I was invited to enjoy a cocktail and was hit with the lively atmosphere of chatter and the energetic crowd who was all too happy to enjoy pretty views on a pretty rooftop.

Alas, our table was ready almost immediately so we were whisked past the cozy pool to the true restaurant dining room across the hallway. There, the space opens up with a wider rooftop dining space bordered by a long kitchen counter - so we got to watch the back house hustle from our seats. As the sunset, the dark atmosphere was perfect.

Bass Ceviche at Cabra Los Angeles — *Bass Ceviche at Cabra*

My out of town guests, no stranger to rooftops themselves, were super impressed and did not stop raving about the Peruvian menu. My friend’s favorite dish was smoked salmon queso freco dip with flatbread (which reminded me of naan). The bass ceviche with sweet potato was my star - as the potatoes were exquisite sweet potato cubes, which melted in my mouth (the perfect carb and fat combination), chase by the salty raw flavor of the seasoned bass. YUM. The main highlight was the whole, sweet and sour brazino which came out sizzling covered with crunchy potatos and herbs - definitely unlike other fish dishes I’ve had in LA. I would order every dish again, and perhaps multiples so that I would not have to share. Definitely, dine at Cabra (make a reservation); take your friends, your date, your parents. It is that flawless.

Quinoa and Beet Salad at Cabra Los Angeles

Smoked Salmon Queso Fresco Dip with flatbread

Cabra Los Angeles

1060 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Check Out More of Top LA Rooftops Here

2) Cha Cha Cha for Evening Drinks

*The Cantarito - tequila and grapefruit cocktail at LA Cha Cha Cha*

After a long workday, I took the elevator to LA Cha Cha Cha rooftop - and when the lift doors opened, it was a big welcome to Tulum vibes. It was going to be a good night. The happy hour crowd started to gather. We easily found a seat, ordered the guacamole and chips (the standard go-to), and one drink, then another, then another. I was in good company, good conversation, and loving the boho decor. The hours passed , and the area continued to gain steam, more people edging the bar area - and the chatter of voices growing louder and louder. The crowd transitioning from casual day-time to a sleeker night-out mood.

So don’t come here expecting a quiet, intimate conversation. This is an open rooftop bar with an outgoing crowd. It has the energy of talking to strangers and as the hours passed, the feeling of possibilities, as several other walkable Downtown bars and night life were just around the corner.

I love the beachy vibes, mixings casual and LA trying-but-not trying too hard.

There was a whole indoor-outdoor bar area, where the doors folded away. This bar was completely empty and appeared to only be used to mix the diner’s drinks. Definitely wouldn’t mind attending a holiday party in this event space.

The highlights were the ambience, the servers, the decor. The food is truly secondary (completely not memorable and overpriced) but I had such a good time, and the bartenders were amazing humans - I will gladly come back for drinks [or a date, girl’s night, works for many different occasions], especially if you want to bask in gorgeous rooftops in the center of the Arts District.

Afterwards, I recommend grabbing beers at Wurstkuche, dessert at the Pie Hole DTLA. If you arrived early, check out the art at Hauser & Wirth. Heck, arrive earlier to wander Little Tokyo (one of my favorite foodie places in Downtown).

LA Cha Cha Cha

812 E 3rd St Los Angeles, CA 90013

3) Little Sister for the best LA Vietnamese Food

*Banh xeo at Little Sister (Credit: Little Sister’s Instagram)*

I cannot talk about LA food culture without talking about the perhaps most divine part - all the amazing Asian food! I’m talking Chinese, Japanese, Thai , Korean - I personally think it’s the best in the world.

Thus I cannot complete this list without naming my personal favorite, fancy Vietnamese food restaurant in LA (yes, I truly believe it). As a Vietnamese-American (born in the USA) - I don’t think Asian food gets quite the fanfare as American food restaurants. So let us take a moment and step outset the standard food fare to enjoy the diversity which is LA.

Literally, every thing I have eaten at Little Sister, is an epic mouthful. The flavors are on-point (yes, authentic), the presentation is that which is more deserving of a mantlepiece than my belly, and the Colonial throwback interiors - just scream — they have truly been to Vietnam. When I’m there, I feel like I’m in Vietnam. It’s insane.

My mom’s favorite is the banh xeo, a savory crepe with shrimp, bean sprouts and herbs. I can eat any of the cuons (fresh springrolls) - as it reminds me of family meals.

So, if you’re looking for a truly LA experience, definitely don’t leave without eating some of the top-notch Asian food.

I am so proud that Little Sister has four locations in LA and Orange County; they deserve all the success they’ve experience and more.

Little Sister DTLA

523 W 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Where to eat Vietnamese Food in LA

More noteworthy places to dine in DTLA:

Everson Royce Bar - for bar food, casual and a patio

Bar Ama - for the best Tex-Mex, and a taste of what makes chef Josef Centano so epic (happy hour is always a win)

Holy Basil DTLA - is getting a lot of street food hype, I can’t wait to try it

Jist Cafe in Little Tokyo - for the best Japanese brunch/breakfast foods

Shin-Sen-Gumi - a chain restaurant with some of the best noodle game in town

Pizzanista - for an old-school pizza joint connected to the next door bar; feels like you’re being let in on a neighborhood secret

Full Moon House - for a taste of historic Chinatown, and food that never fails to satisfy

Pizzeria Bianco - another pizza joint (I think LA pizza joints are blowing up), more casual, upscale - currently blowing up at The Row (stop by Smorgasburg if it’s on!)