I am so happy I finally got to try Dama! I absolutely love Antonia LaFasso so I've been dying to…read moretry one of her restaurants. Now when you pull up originally you might think, "am I in the right place" but once you park and get into the courtyard, it is LOVELY! Amazing ambience! There is a bocce set up, string lights. It is a little slice of oasis in the middle of the fashion district. The restaurant itself - beautiful. I couldn't ask for more. Absolutely perfect in my book. Beautiful plants hanging, perfect Spanish music in the background (any place playing Natalia LaFourcade is a win). The drinks were great! I had the jungle bird which was fun. Food was so good too. The whipped beans are the star! We had the guacamole which was tasty, great tostadas with it. The arepas were good but the pork belly was a little too fatty (I know pork belly is always fatty) to the point the fat muted the flavored for the arepa a bit, but still delicious. The empanadas were great and as someone who lived in South America and ate empanadas every day, these really took me back to my Paraguay days. The squash blossoms were light and perfectly fried. Unfortunately my friends had gone to Funke the night before so they were comparing the squash blossoms and Funke won out, but they still liked Dama's! Small plates were enough for the 3 of us. The service was quick and attentive. Parking was easy for us. I will definitely be back!

We've probably been to Dama two dozen times. It's one of our regular spots and we love it…read more First of all the service is always great. The staff are lovely humans who really seem to care about their customers. We have some faves on the menu. The bean dip is fabulous and I'm addicted to the baby gem salad. They have recently amped up the filling in the delicious crispy squash blossoms and I love the acidity and heat. The fish is also a hit in my books. One dish that doesn't work for me is the lamb chops, which is a shame since it's my favorite protein. I've ordered them multiple times with clear instructions on temperature and have found them overcooked and tough. The beef tostada was just ok. Whilst I loved the pickled veg on the side, the beef was underseasoned. It wasn't bad - just not up to the standard of other dishes. The vibe in the place is welcoming and the restaurant is nicely appointed. We will continue to be regulars and it's really worth trying if you haven't been yet.

Qué Bárbaro -- Level 8 Los Angeles…read more Recently visited Qué Báraro inside Level 8 at the Moxy Hotel Los Angeles, and the venue itself is one of the biggest reasons to come. If you've never been to Level 8, it's a really unique dining and nightlife concept with multiple restaurants, bars, and themed spaces all connected together under one roof. You can easily spend an entire evening exploring different venues without ever leaving the property. The design, decor, and overall atmosphere are impressive and unlike anything else I've experienced in Los Angeles. It's also conveniently located next to Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center). At Qué Báraro, we started with the ceviche and then tried the El Asado experience. The ceviche was one of the highlights of the meal -- fresh, bright, and flavorful. The live-fire grilled items were also very good. The pork belly, shrimp, chicken, and grilled meats all benefited from the smoky flavors coming off the grill. My biggest criticism is with the El Asado experience itself. At $79 per person, I expected a little more variety. The menu choices are fairly limited, and the wait times between rounds can be longer than expected. Because of that, I never really felt like I was getting the full benefit of an all-you-can-eat experience. Places like Galpao charge the same price with fast service and a big selection. That said, the food quality was good, the atmosphere was excellent, and Level 8 alone is worth experiencing at least once. If you're looking for a unique night out in Downtown LA, I'd absolutely recommend checking it out.

What an incredible experience at Que Bárbaro! From the moment we arrived, everything felt…read morewelcoming, vibrant, and full of great energy. The food was absolutely outstanding, and you can really taste the quality in every bite. We tried the empanadas and they were phenomenal. Perfectly crispy on the outside and packed with flavor on the inside. The meat was juicy, rich, and seasoned beautifully. Honestly, every dish we tried was amazing and you can tell there's real passion behind the kitchen. A huge shoutout to Juan for setting everything up for us and making sure the experience was seamless. And a big thank you to the manager, Sherryl, who made us feel incredibly welcome and took great care of us throughout the visit. Great food, great service, and an overall fantastic atmosphere. If you're looking for delicious empanadas and an authentic, memorable dining experience, Que Bárbaro is definitely the place to go. Highly recommended and we will absolutely be back.

Mercado La Paloma Mission Statement: Mercado La Paloma is located in the Figueroa Corridor of South…read moreLos Angeles a neighborhood that is full of creative and hard working entrepreneurs, community spirit, artists, musicians and cultural traditions. The area has historically suffered from disinvestment - including a lack of quality jobs and business opportunities, quality gathering spaces, quality food, and art and cultural opportunities. The investment that has occurred in the area has often not been designed for the benefit of those living in our community. In 1999 in response to the suggestion of some residents in Esperanza's housing developments for a local version of the bustling markets that they had left behind in their home countries, the idea for Mercado La Paloma was born. Mercado La Paloma Offerings: Offering a unique blend of local retail, cuisine, and cultural experiences. Developed by Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, it provides affordable business opportunities and living-wage jobs for local residents. 1st Floor Community Room Rental Fees: - $25/hour for current Mercado tenants, vendors, and local community groups - $60/hour for external nonprofits - $100/hour for external for-profits - $55 per day for day table rentals For Room Reservations and more information, email: daniel@mercadolapaloma.com Shop Vendor Stalls Inside Mercado La Paloma: 1) Gloria's Alterations 2) Joe's Sports World 3) Donaji Oaxacan Crafts 4) Paloma Cutlery ========= Food Vendor Stalls Inside Mercado La Paloma: 1) Holbox 2) Taqueria Vista Hermosa 3) Thai Corner Food Express 4) Chichen Itza 5) Komal 6) Oaxacalifornia ======== Wait Time: Wait time doesn't seem like an issue with 5 of the 6 food vendors. The one food vendor that you might have to wait for is Holbox (Michelin 1 Star). I went over the weekend and the food vendor stall had a separate line dedicated to the shop. Took about 40 minutes get to the front of the line to order. Parking: Paid parking can be found in their private parking lot and free parking on Grand and surrounding neighboring streets. Ambiance/Decor: Pretty cool ambiance with plenty of tables and chairs inside outside for your dining pleasure. Shops/Food Vendor Of Choice: I haven't visit any of the shop vendors stalls, but I've visited 3 (Holbox, Taqueria Vista Hermosa, and Thai Corner Food Express) out of 6 food vendors stalls. All the food vendors that I've tried were very good. Mercado La Paloma For Thought: I would mind coming back to try other food vendors.

I love this food hall. Holbox is the most popular choice, but there's also excellent food at other…read moreplaces too. Chichen Itza is the older restaurant of the chef Gilberto (holbox) family. Komal has delicious food and is the expert with masa and tortillas. Oaxacalifornia has the best selection of agua frescas. There's Thai Corner that I have not yet tried but want to check out. Taqueria Vista Hermosa is great. There's something for everyone and the ambiance is always bustling. Parking can be difficult if you're visiting during busy hours on the weekend.

Absolutely delicious. Forget everything else and run here. The food is not just good it's…read moreexquisite. We love to eat but can't put away that much so we had the Acevichado Sushi Roll, Tiradito de Salmon, & the Truffle Fries. Every single one was impeccable. - the roll is not at all authentic Japanese but the sauces, spice, textures, and everything in between are absolutely perfect. Would get 2 next time - the fries with the sauce were such a nice side that's an easy comfort food prepared with the perfect touch of elevated fine dining - the tiradito was the star of the show. A perfect blend of sweet and sour with the absolute most refreshing taste ever. I cannot emphasize enough how good this dish was. As someone who's traveled the world and eaten many dishes from many cultures in their home country, this here is hands down the best most refreshing tasting dish I've ever had. The music was just as fusion as the food made for a great vibe This place should never have a seat open nor a table not filled. Get in now before it becomes too popular for the average person to get seated. Not to mention how sick the owner is and how much heart and soul he truly puts into all these dishes. Being able to try each while getting a 1on1 with him on every dish was just the cherry on top

~ ALL LOOKS, NO SERVICE, BIG REGRET ~…read more Reviews looked good on yelp so my group opted to have an early dinner here, but wow... this was one of the most disappointing and uncomfortable dining experiences I've had in a long time. We came in around 5:30pm on a Saturday and the restaurant was literally empty. That should've been our first clue. We were seated and then completely ignored for about 25 minutes... no water, no menus, no check-in. We finally had to flag someone down just to acknowledge we existed. Things went downhill fast. When my pregnant friend asked if they had iced tea or coke, the server actually told her she shouldn't be having caffeine and suggested something else instead. That comment was wildly inappropriate, not her place, and absolutely unacceptable. Full stop! Ordering food took forever, and when it finally arrived, it was painfully underwhelming. Dishes were missing items listed on the menu, portions were small, and the prices were laughable for what you get... think expensive guacamole that barely feeds one person, croquettes that tasted frozen, and fries that felt like an afterthought. Add in an extra kitchen fee on the bill and it just felt insulting. Service overall was scattered and disengaged, the space didn't feel very clean, and for a party of 8 being the only guests there, it somehow felt like we were an inconvenience. No warmth, no hospitality, no accountability. This place tries hard to look like an upscale Latin fusion spot, but it's all surface-level. Between the disrespectful comment, slow service, overpriced and mediocre food, and awkward vibes, this was an easy never again. Please save your time, money, and energy.

When you enter their 24th floor it's quite spectacular…read more They're always shining with brilliant welcoming smiles. We sat at the bar for a little bite to celebrate my husband's birthday and boy were we so delighted by the appetizer we chose because it was hands down one of the best things I've tasted. We got their Aguacate Relleno which is an avocado stuffed with blue crab with puffed quinoa, yuzu pearls, and a garlic ajoblanco sauce. Their service was spectacular and the view was pretty nice.

Went to Sendero with a group of four for dinner and drinks. We didn't have reservations, but when…read morewe walked up the place was pretty lightly attended. Honestly felt like there were more staff than patrons. Despite that, it took over 15 minutes for anyone to even come to our table. Not a great start, especially for a restaurant at this level. Service was slow across the board, including drinks. It dragged to the point where we decided not to stay for dinner and left after our first round of cocktails. The space itself is beautiful and the views are obviously a big draw. Drinks were decent, but not enough to make up for the lack of service. Hoping this was just a one-off, but overall pretty disappointing.

Ordered three pupusas thinking they would be small, but was surprised at the size of them! Super…read moreinexpensive as well. Very homey vibes. The service is quick. Parking may be challenging. They have karaoke at night which looks super cool.

El servicio fue muy amable y considerado con nuestra experiencia. Ordené unas pupusas revueltas y…read moreunas aguas frescas. Las pupusas estaban ricas, aunque sí tardaron en salir. También pedí un tamal de elote, pero tardó demasiado y mejor les dijimos que ya no lo trajeran. Los meseros se disculparon muchas veces y nos explicaron que no tenían a todos los cocineros presentes. Quiero creer que fue una situación incontrolable. ¡Quizás sí regresaría por el buen ambiente y las pupusas deliciosas!

Amazing healthy delicious chicken ever!!!! It is for real. Wellmade chicken the top of the LA, I…read morebet. I love side dishes too. To dine in, it is hot with smoke. So it is good for togo. There are small parking space. Service is very fast. Reasonable price!!

Small little shop that's always bustling with business. No frills and the kitchen staff are always…read morefiring on all cylinders. I got chicken, rice, and beans. The chicken is white meat, but mine came a little dry for my taste. The skin was the best part - well roasted and flavorful. The black beans were decent, the rice was good. I did have to wait half an hour on a weekday in between lunch and dinner (when it was "less" busy, but less is relative - this place is always busy) so I walked around and did errands. I came back, the staff looked at me and called my name knowing I went out, and I took it to-go to eat at home nearby.

Another great paseo San Miguel. As a frequent diner of the Western locations I am happy to see them…read moregrow. This location serves beers, palomas and margaritas. Service was attentive and friendly. Manager Alex came by and introduced himself and our waitress Michelle was on it. Food was just as good as other locations. Pupusas and pasteles were delicious. A big plus is that now I have a suprema to pair up with it...I could not be happier! Now this place is fairly new so they could use some more foot traffic but I am sure they will get there as soon as word spreads. FYI There is parking in the back of the restaurant. Look forward to get some sopa de pata there as well!

My wife has visited several of their restaurants (Vermont Ave. , MLK & Western Ave.) and now this…read morenew one on Broadway Ave. They, all, are great on consistency on how they prepare your food. This particular one has a better ambience and their service is exceptional. If you're in for a good experience, this is the place. We strongly recommend it.