Check out some of these great restaurants conveniently located in Downtown Los Angeles, nearby the LA Coliseum
- The Original Pantry
877 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 972 9279
The Original Pantry decor is straight out of a noir novel--bleak lighting, Formica tables, turn-of-the-century photos of downtown and a high-security cashier's cage. Busy at every hour, ancient waiters cater to an endless stream of ravenous nightcrawlers and lunching City Hall suits. Full steak dinners with a squirt of the cafe's signature sauce--plus all the fixings--are bargain-priced. Hearty breakfasts of omelettes, ham and buckwheat pancakes are also legendary. The Original Pantry is a USC Trojans local favorite!
-Engine Company No. 28
644 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 624 6996
Downtown L.A. is slowly making its long anticipated comeback and places like this are a big reason why. As its name might suggest, the dishes served here are all drawn from a "firefighter" theme. In fact many of them come from firefighters' own private cookbooks. And, God forbid, if something should burn out of control in the kitchen, help is certainly not far away. Favorite menu items include the meatloaf, sausages (with a very unique spice blend) and roasted chicken.
-Park's Barbeque (BBQ)
955 S. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles CA 90006
(213) 380 - 1717
What makes Park's BBQ different from other Korean BBQ restaurants is the quality of meat and the less-intense stench imbedded in your pores. While the kalbi strips (bbq short ribs) seem like a natural choice, try something new and order the thrilling kalbi tang (short rib soup) made with dates and ginseng or the hae mul pa jun (Korean-style seafood pancake).
-Langer's Delicatessen
704 S. Alvarado St, Los Angeles CA 90057-4020
(213) 483 - 8050
Langer's Restaurant (since 1947) is known for their #19 hot pastrami sandwich, swiss cheese and cole slaw. The added Russian style dressing is the best. The potato and/or meat knish is outstanding. Just like an authentic NY deli.
-Philippe the Original
1001 N Alameda St
Los Angeles , CA 90012
(213) 628-3781
Since 1918, Philippe's has been serving the best French-dipped sandwiches in the world. That seems logical because it was the original Philippe who claims to have invented the juicy concoction nearly 100 years ago. The prices haven't changed that much sincea roast beef, pork, turkey, ham or leg of lamb sandwich satiate your palate and suit your pocket! Want a cup of coffee? Got a dime? No kidding.
-Chichen Itza Yucatan Restaurant
2501 W. 6th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 380 - 0051
Chichen Itza Restaurant is a family owned and operated business specializing in Yucatecan Food and maintaining the authentic Yucatecan flavor.
The Yucatan peninsula of Mexico has one of this countries richest culinary heritages, it's a mixture of Mayan, Spanish and Lebanese recipes.
Chef and owner Gilberto Cetina uses these recipes and then adds a touch of his own to give our customers an experience they won't find anywhere else.
The owners of a celebrated but far-flung Yucatecan food stall have opened this cozy, eponymous restaurant near MacArthur Park. The menu highlights the Mayan, Spanish and Lebanese influences of the cuisine, with specialty appetizers like beef and cracked wheat patties known as kibi. The chef seasons a familiar Mexican entree like pollo asado with sour orange juice, achiote and pickled red onions, and also serves Yucatecan specialties like the marinated pork dish cochinita pibil, and papadzules which are hardboiled egg-filled tortillas spiced with epazote and pumpkin seed sauce.
-Zucca Risorante
801 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 614 - 7800
An old Italian villa was resuscitated back to life for food consumption in style, and voila! You have Zucca serving classic Italian fare in spacious environs. The decor is exquisite with mosaic tiles around the wood-fired oven. While the pastas are homemade, the sea produce and cheese are flown in from Italy. The red lampshades hanging over tables look bright, complimenting the high ceilinged vista. Enjoy your meals with your kids (especially if they are under 12), as their meals are free!
-Cicada
617 S. Olive St.
Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 488 - 9488
This restaurant is regarded as not only one of the best Italian eateries in the city, but also one of the most beautiful spaces. This opulent architectural landmark is truly beyond description. Diners are offered modern Italian fare and, more than one regular patron has proclaimed the Fettuccini Alfredo to be one of the best on the West Coast. If you can get a reservation, which is essential, pay a visit here. You won't regret it. You may bring your own bottle of wine, subject to a corkage fee.
-Pacific Grille
601 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(213) 485 - 0927
This elegant lunch-only weekday restaurant is a welcome and unique alternative to all the downtown steak houses, the perfect stop before a USC Football game at the famous LA Coliseum.. Business people fill up the two rooms during the lunch hour to sample the eclectic, adventurous menu. Try the 'Lasagna Japonaise', the Sea Bass or the Vegetable Spring Rolls with tangerine sweet and sour sauce. You won't be disappointed, unless you want dinner, too.
-Ciudad
445 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 486 - 5171
Ciudad's walls and ceilings are splashed with Miro-like splotches and Picasso-esque scribblings. The playful decor is quirky enough that hipsters won't feel guilty about using their gold cards, yet trendy enough to entice suburban foodies to come downtown.
Ciudad diners embark on a giddy tour of Latin cuisine, complete with authentic live music! Appetizers are the most seductive--pliant slices of sushi-quality albacore are slicked with chili and citrus, and Bolivian sweet corn tamales are meltingly rich. The best of the uniformly delicious starters: Argentine empanadas stuffed with wild mushrooms and Swiss chard. Cuban beef stew is kicked up with a dark-rum orange sauce. Moqueca, a Brazilian dish, is a jumble of fish, lobster and shrimp adrift in a subtle coconut-lime broth--the whole concoction ladled over cilantro rice.
