Casa Bella Inn Downtown LA

Orsa & Winston pairs Japanese and Italian influences in a prix-fixe menu served from an open kitchen. Chef Josef Centeno's cooking leans exploratory instead of traditional: think peak-season ingredients infused with wide-ranging flavors. Dishes move between familiar and unconventional: crudos accented with fruit and herbs and seafood preparations that nod to both Mediterranean and Japanese sensibilities. The signature satsuki rice porridge, finished with parmesan cream and uni, remains one of the more distinctive expressions of the restaurant's approach.

Its namesake is a Caribbean island just off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, but this beloved counter, located inside the Mercado La Paloma, is a distinctively Angelino phenomenon. Chef Gilbert Cetina, who previously cooked with his father at neighboring stall Chichen Itza, draws from Mexican coastal cuisines in dishes whose simplicity belies remarkable flavor. Spectacular quality seafood of unassailable freshness leaves an impression, whether in electrifyingly vibrant aguachiles and ceviches, excellent tacos served on house-made heirloom corn tortillas or skillfully grilled lobster — a pan

With only one seating per night, this exclusive destination is a treat for a mere handful of lucky diners. Indeed, securing a reservation is no small feat, but the reward is a culinary spectacle with few equals. All eyes are on Chef Brandon Hayato Go, who handles and arranges every ingredient with care and explains every course in great detail. Seasonality is everything, as thoughtfully sourced ingredients are sliced, fried, grilled or steamed to exacting standards. The likes of abalone, snow crab, onions and corn are presented on prized Japanese pottery and porcelain collected by the chef him

It’s all about the duck—whole roasted in a clay pot—at this dining delight. And, since the very best things take time, seat-of-the-pants types must know that this platter requires a bit of of planning: order at least a day in advance. However, upon entering this Koreatown gem, one may look forward to being rewarded with a generously portioned dish to dream about for weeks. Stuffed with chestnuts, sweet potatoes, rice and herbs, then wrapped and roasted for hours, the bronzed beauty is plated before your eyes. A spicy dipping sauce and light broth with greens elevates the preparation to epic he

A longtime fixture in LA's sushi culture, Chef Morihiro Onodera now operates from a more expansive, contemporary space that reflects both his history and his ambitions. Along with an à la carte menu, the restaurant offers an omakase experience that blends traditional sushi counter dining with subtle references to cha-kaiseki, beginning with a sequence of composed dishes before moving into nigiri. Seafood is primarily sourced from Japan, and the rice is milled in-house, underscoring a focus on ingredient integrity and control. Handmade ceramics crafted by the chef himself remain part of the pre

There's tucked away and then there's Sushi Kaneyoshi. This clandestine (read: difficult to find) sushi counter is in the most unexpected of places and has been a difficult reservation to score since the very beginning. However, once inside, the serene, minimalist dining room is a vision to behold. Great care is taken with every detail, whether it's the quality of ingredients, the precise knife cuts, the careful forming of nigiri or the gorgeous pottery, some of which are handmade by Chef Yoshiyuki Inoue himself. From golden lobes of uni to rich monkfish liver, product and preparation are held

You'll need to read the instructions sent ahead of time to find the entrance to Chef Ki Kim's restaurant, but any navigation woes are quickly put to rest once you're inside this ten-seat spot. The contemporary Korean tasting menu pulls in global influences, and meals begin with a few bites such as shirako gimbap, a shell filled with truffle rice and diced kimchi, or crispy, tender octopus in a creamy sauce with octopus head and gochujang. Charred sugar snap peas with steelhead trout roe and tuna or creamy pasta made with perilla seed and topped with fresh winter truffle display a creative flai