Ben gave us one of the best dining experiences we've had at Chubby Cattle. From the moment we sat…read moredown, he was friendly, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable. He took the time to explain the menu, offered great recommendations, and made sure our broths, meats, and drinks were always taken care of without us ever having to ask.

Nice clean place in the middle of little tokyo. Really enjoyed the food. Our server Troy was great!read more

I ate at Bestia several years ago, before COVID, and I still think about that dinner today. I had…read moreflown from New York during a dreary stretch, and landing in sunny Los Angeles felt like arriving on another planet. California offered an immediate rush of light, space, and possibility. My memory is that when I turned my phone back on at LAX, my friend messaged to say he'd gotten us the hookup at Bestia. That dinner belongs to a chapter in which I spent considerable time in California and felt energized by the contrast with New York. My friend is highly discerning, with impeccable taste in food, design, and culture. He notices details most people miss, so when a place impresses him, I pay attention. From the moment I saw his message, I knew the reservation meant something. Even before we entered, Bestia's character was evident. Faded lettering crossed the corrugated metal facade, while brick walls and old loading doors preserved the warehouse's industrial history. Inside, enormous windows and garage doors brought light into a room shaped by glass, exposed ductwork, and warm amber pendants. When I fantasize about living in a loft, many of the attributes I picture are here, especially the incredible windows and connection to the street. Inside the restaurant, the dining room achieved a combination I rarely encounter. It had the table density and collective buzz of a great New York restaurant, but within a large, design-forward space closer in scale to something found in Chicago. New York creates energy through tight rooms, while Chicago excels at ambitious spaces with strong architectural identities. Bestia captured both advantages and made its considerable footprint feel alive and unified. We sat shoulder to shoulder at a pale stone counter facing the open kitchen. Golden era hip hop was playing, and A Tribe Called Quest still rings a very specific bell. I ordered the squid ink pasta, and it was exquisite, with enough depth and precision to command attention amid everything happening around us. We also spotted an unmistakably A-list celebrity, whom I will leave unnamed, making the night feel quintessentially Los Angeles. During that period, I often stayed at the Ace Hotel downtown, and the Arts District felt vibrant, raw, and full of possibility. The proximity to Skid Row could be deeply jarring, with severe hardship existing beside ambitious development and expensive restaurants. That contrast kept the neighborhood from feeling like a neat story of urban renewal, even as Bestia seemed to anchor its evolution. The warehouses and loading docks gave the area a character that no new development could convincingly recreate. Nearby, I also remember the American Apparel complex during its demise and the rise of impossibly cool Los Angeles designer John Elliott. His Escobar sweatpants and Villain hoodie helped define the kit of that moment; loyalists will understand. Los Angeles is a fickle city, drawn toward whatever is new and shiny, which makes Bestia's longevity especially impressive. Scene without substance is plastic, and Bestia earned its electricity through exceptional cooking, assured service, and a remarkable space; if I lived in Los Angeles, this would be one of the places I'd rely on whenever I wanted to impress someone. This is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in the world.

Funny enough, I never thought I'd be back after my last visit, but a friend chose Bestia to…read morecelebrate her birthday, so here I was. Even with a 9:30 PM reservation, the restaurant was still absolutely packed. This time we actually had proper seating, which made for a much better experience. We ordered a mix of dishes including the octopus, bone marrow pasta, black ink seafood pasta, pizza, gnocchi, and the Branzino. The octopus, bone marrow pasta, and black ink seafood pasta were all solid as usual. The pizza was decent, but the gnocchi was a disappointment and easily my least favorite dish of the night. The standout was without a doubt the Branzino. It was perfectly cooked with a light, crispy exterior and incredibly flavorful inside. It was one of those dishes where everyone kept reaching for another bite until the plate was completely clean. Service was better than my previous visit, I'd give it a 4/5 this time. Overall, this experience was a noticeable improvement, and while I still think some dishes outshine others, the Branzino alone is worth coming back for.

The service was excellent! ( Special thanks to Tube ) . The…read morestaff was friendly, attentive, and made our dining experience very enjoyable. The only downside was that the tables were placed very close together, which made it feel a bit crowded and reduced privacy. Other than that, everything was great.

Michael G. was fantastic! He was friendly, attentive, and made sure our table had everything we…read moreneeded without ever being overbearing. He had a great attitude, answered our questions, and made the whole dining experience even better. Excellent service from start to finish, I'd be happy to be seated in his section again.

Amazing Amazing Food! best Italian in DTLA. Branzino is the best! Along with salads, pastas, and…read moretiramisu

Happy Hour in DTLA? Say less…read more If you're looking for a spot that delivers on both quality and value, Settecento has earned a permanent spot on our repeat list. We stopped by during happy hour and everything hit the mark--from the crispy calamari and wood-fired pizza to the wine and fries. Great portions, fresh ingredients, and a vibe that makes you want to stay for "just one more drink." Sometimes happy hour means smaller portions and lower expectations... not here. Will we be back? Absolutely. This is one of our favorite happy hour spots in DTLA.

Freshly made udon. Nothing goes better than this…read more My second time here. And this time we tried the duck udon and sea urchins udon. Both are excellent. The sea urchins one is creamy and VERY RICH. The cream sauce bend in really well with the sea urchins. But definitely not something you would order if you are on a weaker stomach. The duck udon is flavorful with plenty of meat. The soup pair perfectly with the udon as well. There was a line outside before it opened. But not too bad. They got a little eating area outside right next to the street and I saw people ate there with their dog as well. I guess that they are "kinda" dog friendly?

7/19/2026 3 1/2…read moreStars Not my first time here, but my first review on Yelp. Been awhile since I was last here. UDON KAKE It was good, but the broth was a bit salty at first. Udon noodles were good, but it was not excellent. It did have light chewy texture. BUT in comparison to Meiji Seimen, it fell short, really short! I was disappointed. BEEF BOWL It was delicious! Beef was tender and moist and loved the caramelized onion too. Rice was delicious too, not dry nor mushy. Served with pickled red ginger. A very satisfying bowl. Sat at the bar, so watched them make udon from scratch, which was nice. WAIT LIST There was a line when I got there, just as it opened. It wasn't long, but everyone wrote their name down on a wait list. There's a sheet of paper placed on the table outside. Please write your name down ASAP, as that will help in making sure that you will grab a seat. Also, the lines are disorganized too, so it's best to write down your name, so no one cuts in front of you. It is a small restaurant. Limited seats. CUSTOMER SERVICE It was okay. Everyone got in the restaurant in the order they came in. Service was quick and there were no delays in taking orders. The server came by quickly and dropped off the check as she saw that I was nearly finished with my meal. PARKING Parked at Joe's Autoparks. It was $15! I did not know until after I paid the ticket. Very difficult to find parking in this area, so not many options unless you want to walk really far, back to your car in 90 degree heat. There was another parking garage next to Joe's, but the price was the same! Would I come back again? Not sure. Given that the udon wasn't what I expected, it may be my last time here. Also, parking sucks.

Well husband and I are always so impressed with the food and we keep going over and over and over…read moreagain and take new friends which we never disappoint by bringing them to delicious seafood servings .. we had a little mishap nothing to do with the food but their general manager Briana, fixed the issue right away and we kept on enjoying our food!

I'm usually not the type of person to wait in long lines for food, but Holbox is 100% worth it…read more We were lucky enough to grab seats at the counter, which I actually recommend if you can. It was really cool watching the chefs prepare each dish and since we were sitting right there, we got to chat with them and ask questions about the menu. They were pretty friendly and were happy to explain the dishes. We ordered several items and everything was delicious!! The seafood was incredibly fresh and each dish was well executed. My least favorite was probably the taco de pulpo. The octopus itself was grilled perfectly but the overall flavor just didn't quite do it for me. The food also came out surprisingly fast, especially considering how busy they were. I can definitely see why people are willing to wait in line here. Great food and fast service. I'll definitely be back.

I LOVE DAMA. If I could give this place more than five stars, I absolutely would. I've been coming…read morehere for the past six years, and it has truly become my favorite restaurant. From the exceptional food and drinks to the warm hospitality and beautiful location, every visit is a wonderful experience. the service is always welcoming and attentive. I've recommended DAMA to so many friends over the years, and it has become a favorite for them as well. It's rare to find a restaurant that maintains such a high standard year after year, but DAMA does exactly that. I truly love this place and can't recommend it enough. I have several favorite dishes and celebrated many birthdays here. Thank you for six incredible years--I look forward to many more.

Was brought here by a friend as they knew I was a foodie and wanted to show me their favorite tapas…read morespot Downtown in the Fashion Distric for an early birthday celebration. Cute building with lovely patio seating: from the trailing hanging pothos plants, Spanish tiles, to relaxing latin-house music the vibes were welcoming. I'm not much of a drinker though, when asked if I wanted to make my pina colada a "float" I thought incorrectly about ice cream. It was graciously explained that you take an additional shot of rum and float it on top of the drink or mix in to make it extra boozy. The pina colada is top notch they hollow out a real pineapple to make the drink and it's the size of your face! The watermelon cocktail was delicious and there is also a mezcal option. Tasted like if a watermelon aqua Fresca was combined with a margarita, there is a hint of salt that brings out the fruit sweetness. We special ordered a bunch of different proteins and vegetables at half portions to make a feast: Aguachile- Light refreshing starter, kanpachi perfectly marinated and great for the summer heat. Crispy potato- Phenomenally done fingerling potatoes. Whipped beans- Carnitas on top made this dish. Fried chicken tacos- Found the chicken slightly on the dry side, if there was a creamy/thicker sauce would be even better... nothing wrong with flavor, good mild heat. I did enjoy the fresh shredded cabbage and carrots, reminded me of bahn mi. Empanadas- Loved the acidity of the sauce that cut through the fattiness of the ground meat. Light shell. Crispy Squash flower- Delicate crunch, like an angelic version of a jalapeno popper. Lamb chops- Definition of "treat-yourself" luxurious meat lollipops. Celery salad- Simple dish but the lemon flavor and tartness really helped break up the richness of other dishes. Churros- Light crunch and small, petite dessert. The thin caramel sauce is addicting. Fine dining, for those special occasions or if you just want to splurge for a morale boost highly recommend this restaurant. Valet parking or park across the street or around the corner in a lot for $5-10.

Serious vegan ramen…read more I ordered the Yuzu Sesame with everything. The bowl arrived covered with a see-through lid to hold in the steam -- lifting it off as the steam cleared was a small but memorable touch, like a magic trick. A nice bit of theater. The noodles are stellar. Thick, chewy, and hard to find in the US -- not what you'd expect from a vegan bowl, but they absolutely nailed it. Possibly my favorite noodle of the year. The broth, however, came out lukewarm. It's a fixable mistake, but it meaningfully hurt the experience. True to the warning, it's sour -- yuzu-forward with a heavy citrus presence. It's also thicker and more viscous than a typical broth, which isn't quite right texturally, but the flavor is well above average for a vegan dish. The richest vegan broth I've had -- the tonkotsu of veganism. The toppings are an interesting collection, and they do a lot of work to keep the bowl from feeling sparse. The ginger tofu crumble almost reads as a breakfast ingredient -- good, but it makes you miss meat. The pan-fried dumplings are the standout: I bit into one and let the broth fill the pocket. A new experience, and a smart way to add substance without meat. The crispy onion gets lost in the mix, and the alfalfa sprouts fit the vibe without contributing much flavor. The presentation and commitment to bold flavors within a meatless framework are real strengths. The inventiveness reminds me of Mensho -- a genuine willingness to be different. With a properly hot, slightly thinner broth this could have been a 10. As it stands, 9/10. Innovative, delicious, and the noodles alone are worth the trip. That said -- even by LA standards -- $43.95 for a bowl and a four-piece roll is genuinely painful. Sides: Skip the spicy miso avocado rolls. The rice is dense and compacted, and the whole thing is overdressed in sauce, making it messy and unpleasant to eat. Lesson learned. 9/10

I really enjoyed the #9 White Truffle it was delicious and the sprouts made it so much better! I…read morewish I had mixed them in more instead of taking such a big bite. Service was quick, friendly and helpful. The ambiance inside is relaxed and casual but elegant. We liked the corner table with the wooden bench seating. I thought the music was pleasant but a bit overwhelming and repetitive. The Mac and Cheese has a delicious topping I thought was crispy onion. There is outdoor seating but I might not recommend it unless you feel the moment is right. I think their seating could be more comfortable and their prices are high. I'd like to explore their rewards program and app to see if there are any good deals. We spent a lot trying the Sushi. It was delicious and nicely sweet and savory, the miso was comforting. We could have gotten out for around $25 a person but the standard experience here seems like just ramen would usually run you about $32 plus local parking per person. We ended up spending $100 for the two of us driving into DTLA for this place. Fun! But would definitely plan more of an outing in LA if I came back. Looking forward to checking out the Studio City location. Thank you!