This place was a great experience form start to finish. The menu Has a lot of unique dishes but…read moreeverything fel we thought out instead of overcomplicated. The naan with the dipping sauces was the perfect way to start. and the grilled oysters had an incredible smoky flavor that really stood out. The gilled corn wasn't my favorit it was have been much easier to eat if it had been cut off the cob but that was a small detail in an otherwise excellent meal. great service worth the visit.

We came for Dine LA, and this was way above my expectations. I knew it would be a chef-y place,…read morebut I didn't expect to love my meal so much. Dinner was $70 per person and consisted entirely of shared plates. It turned out to be plenty of food. We started with the roasted shishito peppers and the crispy pork belly. That pork belly was the best dish of the night - absolutely delicious. Next came the chickpea fritters, which were also really good. The roasted beet salad was up next. I hate beets. But I still liked this. I wouldn't order it again because, yeah, I really don't like beets. But if you like them even a little, you should get this. I actually ate several bites of this, and it was nice. The Sichuan Chili Bass presented a similar situation as I don't really like fish - but again, I ate this and it was quite tasty. Dessert was a "s'mores" situation - a messy, glorious bowl of chocolate, meringue, graham cracker crunch and strawberries. Service was awesome - perfectly pacing the meal. My friend had a couple of cocktails which were gorgeous. And the room is lovely and light. I don't love the neighborhood and parking can be tough. I definitely would come early unless you're taking a taxi. Genuinely surprised how much I liked this meal. Everything was very well done and clearly made with care without seeming fussy or too precious. Highly recommend and would definitely come back. This is a place to take your out-of-town friends to.

Zinc Cafe is one of my favorite brunch spots and it never disappoints! We had the American…read moreBreakfast, the Middle Eastern Breakfast and the French Toast - everything was fresh, flavorful and absolutely delicious. The Blueberry Smash mocktail and Zinc Sunrise were the perfect refreshing drinks to go with brunch. The service was excellent - quick, attentive and friendly without ever feeling rushed. Great food, great atmosphere and consistently a wonderful experience. We'll definitely be back!

What a beautiful venue So much potential…read moreCurrently operating like a morgue The girl that's supposed to be standing at the door is standing in the back customers keep walking in and then walking out because nobody's there to greet them I had to find my server I had to ask for coffee You can smell the death of this place in the air as they cannot even open the gates because it's probably too much work Sad

Very nice hidden gem here, it's located off the beaten path, romantic and whimsical with a…read moregoth-like feel. I tried the beignets and they were really tasty, server was attentive and a good looking crowd showed up for "The Obscure" reserved seating for tasting and I was told mocktails if you're not into the spirits of that sort.

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a chill LA patio and a New Orleans street parade had a…read morebaby, The Rising Sun is exactly that child, and it's thriving. The outdoor patio feels like you accidentally wandered into a breezy corner of the French Quarter. Warm lights, casual seating, and that "kick back and stay awhile" energy. Ordering through the app and picking up at the window makes you feel like you're part of a secret club, the kind where the password is "extra napkins, please." * Chicken Po' Boy, WOW...This thing is stacked. Crispy chicken, tangy sauce, and bread that holds everything together like it's doing core workouts. It's messy in the best way, the kind of sandwich that demands respect and maybe a bib. * Fully Loaded Cajun Tots, These tots don't play around. They show up dressed to impress, cheese, toppings, flavor, the whole squad. It's basically a tiny potato block party, and you're invited. * Beignets, very delicious, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and dusted with enough powdered sugar to make you question your laundry choices. One bite and suddenly you're hearing jazz horns in the distance. Their coffee game....Dangerously good. My boogie coffee drink - latter came out smooth, sweet, and caffeinated enough to make me consider running around the block a few times. It's the kind of drink that makes you shimmy in your seat and say, "Yeah... life is good." This place nails the New Orleans vibe without trying too hard. Great food, fun energy, and a patio that makes you forget you're in LA traffic territory. Come hungry, come curious, and definitely come ready for powdered sugar on your shirt. Miguel C.

OAT MILK LATTE ICED:…read more -- nice balance of creaminess and boldness, maybe just a tad bolder than I like but very good -- quality java, nearly bought a sack -- very smooth -- not sour, nor bitter RATING = A Great interior design inside. So very modern LA. Street parking is vague and leaves you wondering if you will earn a ticket. There is a reference to "permit", but nothing was crystal clear as I recall.

Hello! Just…read moreupdating my previous review. My wife and I live and work in the neighborhood and we've been coming here for almost 2 years. The coffee is incredible. I get the Purple Fruit and Wilder Blend pour over and my wife gets the Purple Fruit as well. She also drinks the mocha, peppermint tea or Moroccan ice tea... About a month ago, one of the managers here Jason introduced me to these drinks so I bought the Purple Fruit beans and a pour over kit and started drinking it at home in the mornings since we both get up early. My wife tried it and she loved it. She asked me to get a few bags incase they run out so I did! I buy Verve coffee for my team and people in our building all the time. I enjoy buying good coffee for others as much as I enjoy drinking it myself. Their lattes and mochas are really good too. I also bought some beans for my mother in law so she can share it with her friends back home in Seoul and she said they loved it! My coffee game has been elevated and I loveeee it! Bonnie, thank you soo much for the thoughtful birthday message on the cup. She gave me the Wilder leftover on a shot cup and it was the first time I took a "shot" in 4 years. I had a nice chat with Ed about gratitude and counting our blessings. Jason and Brian have a lot of deep knowledge and experience with coffee. The team here really work hard and really know and enjoy their coffee. We are not perfect but they still strive to serve us everyday. We are truly lucky to be served by you and you make our day better whether we realize it or not. It's an experience and an adventure. It is personable and natural. Really excellent and exceptional service all around. Thank you to everyone. Jason, Brian, Ed, Matt, Anthony, Daniel, Agia, Pars, Ale, Bonnie, Kayla, Alex, Ozy and the rest of the crew. Cheers!

My boyfriend and I first visited Bike Shed about two years ago for a friend's get-together, and we…read moreabsolutely loved it. He is definitely a bar person and really appreciates places with a great beer selection, so this spot immediately stood out to us. Fast forward to my birthday. I was dealing with the birthday blues and didn't feel like doing anything too big, but I still wanted to celebrate with a small dinner. Another restaurant I considered was completely booked, so we chose Bike Shed. Honestly, I should have made it my first choice! Booking was incredibly easy, everyone was so kind, and our table was ready as soon as we arrived. It wasn't overly crowded, which made the evening feel relaxed, and parking was easy for all of my friends. The food was amazing, and the prices were very reasonable. We all work hard for our money, and sometimes you want a great dining experience without spending more than $150 per person. Everyone had such a great time, and the entire evening was exactly what I needed for my birthday. We also had no idea Bike Shed was dog friendly! As soon as we walked in, we saw two dogs inside with their owners, which made us love the place even more. My boyfriend and I will definitely be returning. Next time, we're bringing our dogs!

Valet parking or street parking…read more This place is really big and spacious! Ambience is nice. If you come for the day time there's an outdoor area view which is nice. They also have a bar section right in the middle. Lots of TV so you can also come for sports watch etc . I had the chicken waffles and it was delicious! Staff was also super friendly and nice!

My husband and I have been wanting to eat here for some time. What really caught our attention was…read morethe fusion style with Filipino cooking. We never thought Filipino food could be elevated.....oh, were we wrong. Sampa was an amazing experience, and we got to try it during DINELA. From the ambiance, to the great service from the server and staff, to the amazing food. Again, never thought Filipino food could taste like this. A lot of what we tried were specific to DineLA but their staple like Filipino Bucatini and Crab Fat Fried Rice lives up to the hype. Thank you for a great experience

Hubby was casually perusing Instagram when he came across a reel on Sampa. We were drooling so much…read morethat we placed a reservation for later on the same day. And we are so glad we did. This is more upscale, almost fine dining Filipino food. Something I have never experienced before. We were very intrigued and were excited to try the food. If you're looking for a carinderia or turo-turo taste, this ain't it so don't come expecting that. Menu is not extensive, which is what we like. I have a hard time at Cheesecake Factory and that just stresses me out. I feel like their food menu is compact, thoughtfully created, and appealing. We had a very difficult time not ordering the entire menu. So we ended up eating almost half of it. Drinks menu was also very innovative and the drinks were STRONG. I also appreciate that they have non-alcoholic versions of some of their drinks. I wasn't indulging that day so Hubby and I were able to sample one of each type. Calamansi Mojito ($20) for him and Ube Horchata ($14) for me. As for what we ate: Manila Mais ($18) - 2.5/5 stars - It was, okay. Filipino-ized version of Mexican elote, corn-ribs style. Though it had Filipino elements like the bagoong butter, it didn't really taste like anything different. And to be honest, the bagoong butter didn't bring anything to the table the way it was presented to the side of the corn. It was too hard and just sat on the elote as you ate it. Kare Kare Tamales ($26) - 5/5 stars - UH-AMAZING!!! I could have eaten two, regular-sized tamales versions of this as an entree instead of two smaller appetizer size. The braised oxtail inside the tamales was soft and tender but the peanut butter veloute was *chef's kiss*. You definitely tasted kare kare but in an innovative way. I just wish they had some steamed rice or bread so I could soak up the sauce. I almost cried when they took the plate away because I didn't want to waste the sauce! Bicol Express Mezzelune ($38) - 4/5 stars - I was eyeing this originally but opted not to until the chef came out and talked us into it. And I'm so glad he did! This was delicious! Ironically enough, I just cooked traditional Bicol Express the week before and this definitely hit those notes without being a carbon copy of it. Again, where was the rice?! Only thing I can dock is that I felt like the pasta was a tad too thick and was chewy to my taste. Otherwise, I would definitely order this again. Was the sleeper hit of the dinner. Crab Fat Fried Rice ($38) - 5/5 stars - Crab? Crab fat? In rice?? Of course, sign me up! So delicious and a very generous portion. I wanted to hoard it to myself but I guess I had to share with Hubby. Would order this again. Ribeye Salpicao ($96) - 3/5 stars - Not my favorite of the bunch and this surprised me because I love rib eye. It came out medium instead of the medium rare we ordered and the taste was just not to my preference. It's possible that it was just overshadowed by the other excellent dishes we had. Likely will not order again though the portion was generous. Two minor things I wish they had but not enough to dock stars: Rice and spoons. Come on, now! This is a Filipino place! These two are musts? How else could I mop up all the delicious sauces they put on the food?! Service was impeccable! From front of the house host, bartender, and the chefs, the experience was very welcoming and polished. We sat at the bar and was able to chat with the chefs when they came to introduce themselves to us and they were the nicest people. You felt like you came to a friend's house and not an impersonal stranger's. Will definitely be back to try the other half of the menu we missed and we'll be bringing friends!

After a late night out, the hubs and I needed something reasonably close and yummy for breakfast…read more We were staying at the Hotel Per La so I sent my hubs to grab and our food to bring it back to our hotel room. My breakfast burrito was good. My husband's breakfast sandwich was better so halfway through we traded. Service was great. Ambiance was nice.

I'll be honest here, I kind of wanted to hate this place ever since I almost went a few months back…read morebut changed my mind when I saw six people wearing fedoras at a table and wanted nothing to do with that, but here we are, months later giving this place another real shot. My wife and I stopped here a few weekends back for lunch and I was pleasantly surprised with just how much I enjoyed the food. The ambiance here is pretty generic, white and bright and very copy and paste of a lot of places popping up recently. The staff was super friendly while taking our orders and dropping the food off, which is always appreciated. I ended up ordering the Santo's Turkey Melt which is smoked turkey, grilled onions, Swiss cheese, and chipotle aioli served on sourdough with a side of french fries. The sandwich was really good and the same can be said for the french fries and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of fries given, so thumbs up to that. I forgot what the food costs so I visited the website and for some reason they don't think it's important to put that online, which is pretty darn stupid if you ask me. Overall, I didn't have a bad experience at Sandcouch Cafe and I would visit again in the future thanks to it's convenient location. The food was solid and the staff was friendly, and that's really all I need when ordering a sandwich.

This is one of my favorite spots to meet up with friends for a casual get together when in the…read moreDowntown LA area! It's conveniently located to the LA Convention Center, Crytpo.com arena, and LA Live which makes it a must visit before or after an event! I am obsessed with their happy hour, which offers healthy items at discounted prices with generous portions! I have been here so many times throughout the years but most recently found myself here during a busy World Cup match! Regardless, the service and quality of food was not sacrificed! I was greeted as soon as I got there and the bartenders were overwhelmed but still friendly and helpful. I was so tempted to get a margarita, since theirs are amazing, but decided to keep it dry and just get their vegan nachos. I was able to score a table outside on their lovely patio, which felt secluded enough from the main street. My food was brought out quicker than I thought and I was delighted, as I was famished! The vegan nachos here are fantastic and the happy price is only $10, which is a steal for what you get! They are costed in the most magical concoction of a bean puree, cashew cheese sauce, and guacamole which all have the most creamy, luscious and savory flavors. It's so hearty and well seasoned and not only filling, but you feel great after. Parking is pretty easy, as there are usually ample meters available nearby. I cannot wait to return again soon the next time I'm in Downtown LA! I am hoping to try more of their vegan options and next time I will for sure get a drink to go along with their delicious food!

Prank has a fun atmosphere and a great location in DTLA, but my experience was a bit mixed. The…read morecocktails didn't quite live up to expectations. I ordered the Espresso Martini, and it tasted pretty watered down and lacked the bold coffee flavor I was hoping for. On the bright side, the food was definitely the highlight. The mussels were flavorful, the calamari was crispy and cooked well, and the fries were delicious. Those dishes really saved the experience . Overall, I'd come back for the food, but I'd probably steer clear from cocktails and order a real drink. Prank is a convenient place for dtla residents in surrounding apartments to come get some quick bites and drinks and catch a live game

Distrito Catorce is a gem in Boyle Heights that delivers on all fronts. The food was outstanding!…read moreFresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, with authentic flavors and quality ingredients that stood out from the first bite to the last. The ambiance was welcoming and the art was tasteful. What truly elevated the experience was the service. The staff were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, making us feel genuinely welcomed throughout the meal. They were quick to offer recommendations and ensured everything was perfect without being intrusive. We ordered the tostaditas de atún agua chile negro, beet salad, carne asada taco and Al pastor taco and watched the World Cup game. Distrito Catorce combines exceptional food, a great atmosphere, and top-notch service. It's the kind of place that leaves you planning your next visit before you've even finished your meal. Definitely plan on coming back to watch more World Cup games.

I knew heading into Distrito Catorce that I wanted to see three things . The closing art exhibit,…read morehear the live band, and finally try Chef Jonathan's menu. It was basically a grand slam. To be honest, I was already biased because his Smorgasburg pop-ups were consistently good. But Distrito Catorce is different , it's like art. My favorite dish was the tacos de papa with salsa macha. The crunch of the potato taco riding into the salsa macha and crema felt like home, but with some extra pop. His salsa game is on point. The scallion salsa on the ribeye taco was also gas. Lastly, I really dug the tostadita de atún. It hit perfectly on these hot summer days. Low-key, I still want to try the El Rey de Noche. Tacos de beef trompo are starting to hit LA, and dude was ahead of the curve making picanha-brisket tacos de trompo. Service is smooth too. The servers are helpful, and solid at the bar. Overall, it's a cool spot with a menu that feels unique to LA.

Manuela is absolutely charming. Their whole indoor, outdoor feel is such a lovely concept. I went…read morefor brunch but will be back for dinner and want to sit on the patio. Parking: there's valet and several of lots but watch out for the $5 small print. I went 2 blocks up by the residential area and was able to find parking on a Saturday around 12pm. For drinks, i had a classic Aperol Spritz, which was very nice and refreshing. But I had to try Florida Man because of these ingredients (blueberry rested Ilegal mezcal, Lo-Fi vermouth, lemon, African basil). They have a really good beverage program, and I would like to come back more for drinks and try the Bro over Tomatoes. For food, I got the pop over benedict, honestly, I didn't know what I was expecting because I was assuming a regular benedict, but it was the most beautiful presention and delicious hollandaise sauce i've ever had in my life! The hollandaise has a little spice to it that blended well with the creaminess. I also had that barbecue oysters, which is basically oyster rockefeller. I really how they have fun names of their drinks as well as their food. The service were absolutely delightful. My server made me laugh. When I asked him, what should I get between one or the other drink, and he suggested, why not get one after the other which made me chuckle. A definitely a great sales person.

This is a very cool / beautiful restaurant, but unfortunately I felt that the value and service…read morewere lacking, the service in particular. The food was overall tasty, although I felt my steak was tougher than usual for the price point. The shrimp ceviche, although good quality and refreshing, had a slightly bitter taste to it (more so than the usual citrus tang) which I felt detracted from the overall flavor. It kind of felt like there were too many ingredients to it which detracted from the tasty simplicity that the dish is known for, although that is just my opinion and someone else may enjoy it more. The service on the other hand was not particularly good. Our waitress came off as slightly standoffish when asked about gluten free options and failed to refill our water cups multiple times throughout the meal, to the point my partner had to get up and do it herself. The sneaky 4% service charge automatically added to the bill also left a bad taste in my mouth. I have always been of the mind that the responsibility of compensating staff adequately falls on the business, not the public, and any extra tip is for good service and should remain optional by the customer, especially when they charge this much for basic entrees. Our bill came out to over $100 for two people (2 dishes, 1 shared appetizer, no drinks besides water) for breakfast. Overall I'd give this place 3.5 stars, worth checking out, but probably not worth frequenting often. Ambiance is an 8.5/10, the food was about a 7/10, the value was a 6/10, and the service was a 5/10. The food was solid, the ambiance was nice, the value is average to below average, and the service could use a little work. That being said, it's a nice place worth checking out, just make sure you ask to have that 4% charge removed from your bill, and tip accordingly.