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.

So stoked that I finally got to try this place. It no longer has to be stuck in my "want to go…read moreplaces" bookmarks! We were able to secure a 5:30pm reservation on a Saturday night with outdoor seating. Friends had dined here several times so started off the night with some good recommendations! For a party of four, they recommended about 5-7 dishes to share. I have unique allergies so both the staff and kitchen were extra careful and made sure to let us know if any of the dishes we ordered had any potential cross contamination. To be safe, we didn't order one of their popular dishes (green beans) as it has cashews. We thought about having those to the side but were afraid there could be potential contamination from the pot they make it in. We ordered about 6 dishes to share and ordered a matcha tres leches to share per each couple. We probably could have ordered another main but we left with satisfied bellies. Naan & Dips - $21 Must get! Naan is super flavorful and comes with two dipping sauces. It was a good portion size to share among 4 people Roasted Carrots - $19 Couldn't get the green beans due to my cashew allergy so we opted for the next recommendation given by our waiter! The carrots were so tender and flavorful. Tomato & Stone Fruit Salad - $24 I really enjoyed this one although our friend felt like the Chicago location made this more flavorful. The creamy tofu sauce with chili oil makes a great pairing! A great refreshing way to start off the meal before all the heavy flavors from the mains! Ginger Chili Yum Salmon - $38 Salmon was extremely tender and cooked well. It comes with two pieces of salmon, so it made it easy to share between the two couples. The sauce was okay for me. Sticky Glazed Pork Shank - $48 My absolute favorite from what we ordered. Meat fell off the bone and was seasoned so well! I liked the addition of lettuce and pickled veggies. You can eat as is or make it into a lettuce wrap! Highly recommend, maybe next time I won't share this one haha Pork Belly Noodles - $36 Pork belly was tender, but I don't remember much from it...also the portion size was lacking so maybe that's also a factor. 2 Matcha Tres Leches - $17/each YES to this! This was such a divine way to end our meal. The blackberry frozen jam and matcha whip was such a treat! Loved the addition of matcha white chocolate quinoa crisps!

The Bottom Line 3.5 stars: Good option when in the area, with some concerns as noted below…read more Location 3 stars: Downtown Los Angeles Arts District, northeast corner of Matteo Street and Whittier Blvd, across the Matteo complex. Coming from the San Fernando Valley, nearest Freeways are the 101 (Exit 2A - Alameda Street/Union Station) and the 5 (Exit 135A - 4th Street). There is limited street parking. We self-parked in a paid ($10 after 6 PM) structure attached to the complex. Venue 4 stars: Huge venue with indoor seating, a large bar area, and a nice rustic and relaxing patio area. Service 3.5 stars: Friendly and helpful but not very attentive. Food 3 stars: We stopped by for lunch on a weekday. They were serving their Brunch menu at that time. It featured a large assortment of offerings including soups, salads, specialty items such as Avocvado Toast and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, burgers, sandwiches and egg dishes such as Eggs Benedict, omelets, wraps and sandwiches and chillaquiles. We had the Zinc Benedict (Salmon), the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and the Avocado Toast. All were just OK but unfortunately lacked in plating/presentation and taste and were rather small for the price. Also their "poached" eggs are not really poached... they were steamed in molds, giving them more of a rubbery texture compared to a true poached egg. Drinks 3.5 stars: Full bar, specialty cocktails and mocktails, specialty coffee/tea/matcha and juices. I had the Iced White Mocha, which was ok.

What an experience today at this establishment!…read more Quick backstory: myself and my coworkers frequent this place a lot because it is walking distance from our office. They do have some good food, but the service always seems to be a BIG miss. The first couple of times we came here, everything was great! Then visit after visit, it was always something, on top of not knowing how long you would be there. The worst was about a little over 2 hours. That day it was not that busy, or it didn't seem like it to us and from the time we sat down, until we left was a bare minimum of 2 hours. On a previous visit, our server randomly left and we were not notified or helped until we asked to speak with a manager because we hadn't seen our server Today was it..... we will never go back there again They do have an outdoor patio area, which is where we normally sit, but with this heat we sat inside. I see a small white dog running around the patio area with its leash dragging behind it and no one following it. The dog is looking like it needs to poop. I see a lady emerge with a clear plastic bag around her hand... YES! THE DOG POOPED IN THE PATIO BY ONE OF THE TREES (see attached photo) we could not believe our eyes! The lady picks it up, then proceeds to walk around the restaurant looking for a trash can to throw away the dog poop! She knew she was doing something wrong because any server that was around her, she hid the bag behind her back. The dog also butt scooted all through out the patio floor! As I write this, I cannot believe that happened. Completely lost our appetites. We asked for a manager and all he did was go laugh, joke and smile with her. Before I left, we told them we would never be back and that they should really check their trash cans to see what she did with it. It was semi good while it lasted Zinc

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.

The rising sun is an interesting spot! It has a cool gothic vibe so if you want to fit in…read moredefinitely come dressed in black. It's a small self served restaurant with a limited menu that changes, since not everything we saw on yelp was available. When we visited the options were crispy chicken/hot link sliders, different variations of tots and beignets. We went with the crispy chicken sliders and loaded Cajun tots and they were both very flavourful and delicious. The chicken was well seasoned and crispy paired with tangy pickled vegetables and a tasty pretzel bun. The combination of flavours packed a punch but we did wish for a thicker slice of chicken. The tater tots were very well seasoned too and the sauces were yummy, something acidic would be a nice addition to cut through the fatty goodness. When we asked for utensils they didn't have any forks so they gave us one spoon and one knife. We made it work. Definitely want to come back to try other things on their menu whenever they rotate it.

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!

Food, service, and ambience are all 5/5 stars! The only thing that sucked was the parking. This…read morepart of LA just sucks to park at in general. We had to park around the corner in a really disgusting area that was full of trash, dog poop and smelled really terribly of urine and sewage. That being saidddd! The Shepard's Pie was sooo good, it is my new favorite. Served in a skillet, it was a big, piping hot portion that's enough for 2 whole meals! It paired absolutely beautifully with a pint of their Bike Shed Brew. I felt like I was in London, spot on! The only thing I would add is some HP Sauce and/or Tabasco. I waited 10 years to finally check this place out and it was absolutely worth it! I'd love to bring people, my girlfriend even said it would be an amazing wedding venue, we just wish they had a better parking situation.

I went there for a friend's birthday party. The food was pretty decent. The decor was great, and…read morethey had an in-house barbershop. I ordered the Steak Nachos for $32. $22 (Nachos) + $10 (Steak). It was a generous portion. I checked the bill, and it was straight up. I gave our waitress a generous cash tip. The waiters and waitresses were great. What irked me was that, when I looked at my credit card statement, they overcharged me. It was probably because I clicked NO TIP, yet I tipped the waitress. Wow! That's disappointing. I'm never gonna take my friends here. Parking sucked, but not impossible. But you gotta walk the ladies on the darker areas of the street.

Amazing experience. My wife and I decided to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary at Sampa. Peter…read moreand his staff were super gracious and friendly hosts for the evening. The food was incredible too. The duck and crab rice blew us away. They take a lot of pride in their craft cocktails which also stole the show. Ube clarified drink was 1 of a kind. 10/10 must try!

It's modern Filipino food with portions that are on the smaller side but still didn't leave me…read morehungry afterwards . Started with a mocktail for me. This place is pretty dark they did have these little lamps on the table. Ube horchata was delicious, not too sweet. Love that the clove and vanilla did not over power the ube. Wish it had less ice but this way I will order another. Well played! Of course I ordered another. Ordered the Crab fat rice and the uni kaluga caviar served on sky flakes crackers, fun presentation even if the caviar just slid off right when it was brought to us. It was good l, I'm glad I tried this place.

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.