Since its 2020 debut, Enrique Olvera’s Damian has become one of the best upscale Mexican restaurants in the city, as well as one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, period. Damian’s understatedly stylish ambience and unforgettable seafood-centric small plates, grilled meats and playful vegetable mains easily put it in the same league as its always-popular parking lot neighbor, Bestia, but the restaurant defies any simple comparison. When every bite reflects Damian’s commitment to traditional Mexican cooking techniques and ingredient sourcing, there’s no one singularly great dish to order, but you’d be remiss not to order the unforgettable pollito al pastor and art-like hibiscus meringue.

Arts DistrictLocated in DTLA’s Arts District—one of the city’s best neighborhoods for fine dining in recent years—Damian is chef Enrique Olvera’s first LA opening following the success of Mexico City’s Pujol and New York’s Cosme and Atla. This semi-outdoor, exceptionally stylish spot is one of those restaurants where everything from your contemporary chair to the dollop of salsa on your plate feels like an aesthetic treat. All of these refined touches make Damian a great option for special occasions or perhaps a much-needed date night.

Run by the chef behind Cosme in NYC and Mexico City's Pujol, Damian is an upscale spot in the Arts District that more than backs up its high price point. Classic dishes get a chic makeover to look a lot fancier than they need to be, but the flavors shine through: there's lobster al pastor with tart pineapple butter, a charred-until-crispy pescado a la brasa, and tostadas topped with caesar salad and uni. Still, the back patio might be the most impressive part of your meal.

The space is the epitome of modern industrial chic—think concrete floors, exposed brick walls, lots of planters with lush greenery, and dimmed lighting both in the main dining room and in the back terrace, with its retractable roof and colorful mural. You're in a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles... so surely a Margarita is in the cards.

Damian blends a brutalist aesthetic with red brick walls and fresh greenery to create an elevated, Mexico City-inspired eatery in Downtown L.A. Since local sourcing is a priority, menus change with the seasons, and though the food certainly shines, the cocktail program puts an unforgettable spin on timeless classics. With six different margaritas to choose from, guests can enjoy everything from a mezcalita to a spicy marg to a combo of both. The Cadillac margarita is a slightly sweeter version made with reposado topped with Grand Marnier, but the signature Nochtli is the most innovative take, made with velvet falernum, prickly pear and cucumber bitters.

Regardless of Damian’s menu rates position the restaurant firmly in gourmet cuisine area, the meticulously provided, well-crafted seafood, meat, and vegetable meals, as well as hand-made cocktails/mocktails, have helped it become one of the town’s finest Mexican eateries. The Bestia-adjacent site’s subtle but nevertheless elegant atmosphere is ideal for all important events in the evening, as well as weekend-only brunch. Despite the fact that the menu adjusts depending on the season, popular meals such as the family-style costillas enmoladas (pork ribs in mole) and duck al pastor remain a safe bet.

market, but Damian has settled into a restaurant that feels intentionally engaged with the city. In a region so rich in Mexican food culture, Damian’s leadership team, led by Jesús “Chuy” Cervantes, seems to ask through its cooking: What can we bring to the conversation?. Answers come in such forms as salmon tostada spread with Sungold tomatoes and smoky, shatteringly crisp Chicatana ants (a luxury ingredient in Oaxaca and other regions of Mexico), and a masterpiece centered around a meaty bulb of celery root that has been nixtamalized, baked, then braised in garlic, lemon and butter.

Mexico City’s famed Enrique Olvera finally opened an outpost in LA with Damian, bringing Chef Jesus “Chuy” Cervantes who has worked at his other restaurants in NYC to head the kitchen. It’s worth the splurge to try the modern Mexican menu here: thin slices of smoked clams are beautifully layered with cucumber, crispy tlayuda is topped with queso fresco and shrimp shells and the large format costillas enmoladas (pork ribs with mole sauce) are served with Sriracha fried rice, a nice nod to LA’s melting pot of cultures. 2132 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021; damiandtla.com

In LA’s Arts District, Damian showcases contemporary Mexican cuisine that celebrates Pacific Coast culinary traditions and seasonal Californian produce. Helmed by renowned Chef Enrique Olvera and Chef de Cuisine Chuy Cervantes, the restaurant offers an outdoor patio reminiscent of Mexico City, featuring brutalist design elements, tropical plants and winding wooden banquettes. Damian stands out with its innovative dishes and artisanal spirits, making it a premier destination for those seeking a sophisticated yet authentic outdoor dining experience.

Located in Los Angeles, California, this stylish Mexican food restaurant is reminiscent of 'Pujol' in Mexico City, the flagship project of the renowned Mexican chef Enrique Olviera, which held top positions in The World's Best Restaurants ranking for several years. In fact, it was listed as the 13th in the world by renowned list 50 Best this year. Elegance is the word that defines the ambiance of this industrial dining space, featuring minimalistic furniture adorned with plants and small candles on the tables.

It would take years to sample every Mexican restaurant Los Angeles has to offer, but even in a crowded field chef Enrique Olvera’s modern, subtly inventive restaurant stands head and shoulders above the competition. Located in a renovated warehouse in the downtown Arts District, Damian blends exposed-brick industrial chic with a laidback ambience that extends from its buzzy outdoor terrace. Highlights of the menu include the uni tostada with a blue corn base and their fresh twist on fish tacos.

That’s the kind of grip this Mexico City-based master cook has on his acolytes. After hitting it big with Pujol, and a handful of other spots in Mexico, Olvera came north of the border to give Angelenos a taste of his contemporary Mexican cuisine in 2020. Getting a table for dinner at Damian usually means a 20-minute wait — and that’s with a reservation — so brunch is a slightly less chaotic time to feast on his fascinating reinvention of Latin classics.

Located in the Arts District, Damian is rooted in Mexican culture while tying in the seasonal produce of California. Book a reservation and start your dinner with the mussel escabeche and smoked clam, followed by carne asada or gordita, and finally, finish it off with toasted coconut or banana leaf flan. With a multitude of unique menu options and a moody, intimate atmosphere, Damian is definitely making our list of top Mexican restaurant stops.

Damian, celebrated for its modern Californian cuisine, offers an elegant and upscale dining experience. The restaurant features a refined menu crafted by Chef Akira Akuto and Chef Nick Montgomery, emphasizing fresh and seasonal ingredients to create exceptional dishes. Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Damian sets the perfect ambiance for couples seeking a luxurious dining establishment with its chic decor and intimate setting.

The transplant from NYC—operated by the team behind Damian, Cosme, and Pujol—makes a lot of sense on Abbot Kinney. It’s laid-back, breezy, and full of attractive people wearing linen pants. It’s also the undisputable best Mexican restaurant on the Westside, with a menu of homie, simple classics, like quesadillas with epazote and an open-face al pastor gringa with sweet pineapple butter that drips down your forearm.

Best for: Outdoor dining, celebrationsLocation: 2132 E 7th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90021Price: Mains from around 30 USD. The focus on Californian produce continues at Damian, but this time with a Mexican bent. The downtown restaurant comes from chef Enrique Olvera, whose extensive list of award-winning establishments includes Pujol in Mexico City, ranked the 9th best restaurant in the world in 2021.

Damian is a stylish and contemporary DTLA restaurant that has mastered the art of contemporary Mexican cuisine. Founded by Chef Enrique Olvera, Damian serves vibrant dishes that use local ingredients while paying tribute to the culinary methods and traditions of the Pacific coast. Even the beverage program is masterful, featuring artisanal spirits that pair wonderfully with the food menu.

Damian is a CASAMATA restaurant in Los Angeles’ Arts District that serves contemporary food rooted in Mexican culture and inspired by Pacific coastal traditions. Its friendly service, airy decor, and focus on high-quality local ingredients create an inviting atmosphere. With a thoughtful bar program featuring artisanal spirits, it offers a warm and relaxed dining experience.

Expect the unexpected at this upscale restaurant in Los Angeles, where Mexican flavors meet Hollywood glamor. With Baja seafood dishes so tasty they bring a tear to your eye, an inspired cocktail list, and mouth-watering famous duck carnitas. This restaurant is truly a hidden gem in Los Angeles that you'll want to visit again and again to try everything they have to offer.

Explore contemporary Mexican food with a local Californian flare at Damian. Located in the eccentric arts district this birthday idea in Los Angeles is great for a special occasion or a casual date idea in Los Angeles. In the evenings Damian has a starstudded upscale menu full of elevated Mexican dishes such as swordfish poc chuc, pollito al pastor and sweet tamal.

Why You Need To Dine Here: Rooted in Mexican culture while bringing in seasonal, local ingredients, Enrique Olvera’s stamp on downtown L.A. offers a rich selection of elevated tacos, quesadillas, tostadas and more.

2132 E 7th PlLos Angeles, CA 90021(213) 270-0178 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Damian is a modern restaurant led by chef Enrique Olvera, established in 2020.

: Created by acclaimed chef Enrique Olvera, Damian blends Mexican heritage with cutting-edge cuisine, making it a standout in LA’s fine dining scene.

Why We Love It: Damian takes fried chicken to fiesta levels. Imagine crispy chicken tacos with salsa verde—your taste buds will shout “¡Olé!.

2132 E 7th Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90021Phone: 213-270-0178 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Damian (@damiandtla)