Best Authentic Restaurants in El Sereno

100 restaurants available nearby

1. Bestia

4.7

Exceptional(8226)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Downtown

Booked 126 times today

A multi-regional Italian restaurant in the Arts District of downtown Los Angeles.

2. Manuela

4.8

Exceptional(215)

Price: Expensive

• Californian • Downtown

Booked 28 times today

Located in the Arts District of Los Angeles, Manuela unites chef, farmer and artist to create an authentic and original dining experience. Under the direction of Executive Chef Kris Tominaga, the menu celebrates seasonal ingredients sourced from the best farms and producers in Southern California.Serving a wide range of vegetables, grains, fish, and game, Manuela also features an exemplary bar program, which serves classic cocktails using house-made bitters and tonics. Local beers are on tap, while the carefully selected wine list is designed to pair with the smoke and acid at the heart of Manuela’s menu.Designed by Los Angeles native Matt Winter and named for Manuela Wirth, the restaurant is illuminated and animated by specially commissioned works from artists Paul McCarthy, Mark Bradford and Raymond Pettibon.

3. LA Cha Cha Chá

4.5

Awesome(1327)

Price: Expensive

• Mexican • Arts District

Booked 25 times today

LA Cha Cha Chá is the sister restaurant to Mexico City's Terraza Cha Cha Chá. A place where we celebrate our barrio culture with delicious Mexican food, cocktails, wine, and a wide selection of mezcal and tequila.HAPPY HOUR SERVICE: Our happy hour is counter-service style. Please order at the bar and seat yourselves. The kitchen closes at 3:30 p.m., but cocktails will flow until 4:00 p.m.CANCELLATION POLICY: You have until 5 hours before your reservation to cancel, otherwise, your group will be charged a fee of $30 per person. All reservations have a 15 minute grace period, after this time, your booking will be moved to the top of our waiting list. Parties of 1-2 reserve the table for 1.5 hours. Parties of 3-4 reserve the table for 2 hours. Parties of 5-6 reserve the table for 2.5 hours. Parties of 7+ reserve the table for 3 hours. - We do not take requests for specific tables- Reservations are weather permitted

A photo of The Factory Kitchen - Los Angeles restaurant

4. The Factory Kitchen - Los Angeles

4.7

Exceptional(3608)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Downtown

Booked 26 times today

Defining a culinary journey through the Italian Peninsula and hosted in the loading docks of the Factory Place Arts Complex in The Arts District in Los Angeles, The Factory Kitchen is a typical Italian Trattoria with simple and approachable fare.

5. Celestino

4.7

Exceptional(3537)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Pasadena

Booked 34 times today

Celestino is a genuine Italian restaurant as evidenced by its fresh, homemade pastas and variety of authentic Italian dishes. Customers rave about its authentic food, with one reviewer stating 'the food here is always excellent' and another calling it 'fantastic authentic Italian cuisine'. The consistent high-quality service and food also add to its authenticity, making Celestino a true gem for Italian food lovers.

6. Star Leaf - Asian Cuisine

4.6

Exceptional(167)

Price: Expensive

• Asian • Pasadena

Booked 41 times today

As an award winning restaurant group, Star Leaf creates a fine dining experience that combines ingredients and spices that will teleport guests across the Pacific to a tropical paradise. Founded in 2011, Star Leaf Pasadena is our first US-location in the beloved Playhouse Village. Every dish is prepared with passion and respect for the traditions that shaped Asian cuisine. The culinary team selects the freshest ingredients, ensuring each bite is a celebration of flavor and culture, while instilling innovative modern touches.

7. Eigikutei

4.9

Exceptional(83)

Price: Very Expensive

• Japanese • Little Tokyo

Booked 11 times today

Eigikutei is a Japanese cuisine, sushi, and Shabu Shabu Kaiseki restaurant in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. We have a bar and offer high-end Japanese sake. Eigikutei serves Japanese Kaiseki cuisine courses. Each Kaiseki course expresses the traditional Japanese culture and simple but deep tastes that Japan has grown from time immemorial. We hope all of our guests can enjoy our Kaiseki cuisine with Japanese cultural experiences.**If you wish to select multiple courses, simply choose 'Standard' to reserve seats. We will take your orders at your table. Please do not select menu experiences.

A photo of Gus's BBQ - South Pasadena restaurant

8. Gus's BBQ - South Pasadena

4.6

Exceptional(2036)

Price: Moderate

• Barbecue • South Pasadena

Booked 36 times today

Since 1946, Gus’s has been serving the good folks of South Pasadena (and beyond!) true Southern hospitality and some of the best real pit BBQ around. Housed on historic Route 66, Gus’s is a tribute to Southern life, where family, tradition and celebration are of the utmost importance. A menu filled with traditional Southern cooking and authentic, wood-smoked BBQ is complemented by an impressive range of whiskies, wines, cocktails and local craft beers. Today, Gus’s is a space for a warm welcome, a cold mint julep, and a big plate of the best flavors from the American South and Midwest. You’ll leave knowing exactly why Gus’s food has been hailed, “….so good that we found ourselves eating more than we’d imagined” by S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times and was named one of the top 10 BBQ restaurants on the west coast by Sunset Magazine.

9. Hearts and Flame

4.1

Excellent(257)

Price: Expensive

• Italian • Little Tokyo

Booked 7 times today

Hearts and Flame is a truly authentic Italian restaurant. Reviews rave about the freshly made pastas, sea-to-table dishes, and the memorable experience of steaks cooked over an open flame. The ambiance and service are consistently praised, with one reviewer calling it a 'hidden gem in DTLA'. The restaurant's commitment to quality and authenticity is evident in every aspect, from the food to the service, making it a standout in the DTLA Arts District.

10. Asterid

3.7

Very Good(306)

Price: Very Expensive

• Californian • Downtown

Booked 2 times today

Inspired by Chef Garcia’s Angeleno experience, asterid lives to discover and celebrate Los Angeles’ mosaic of diverse cultures and culinary richness through vibrant, ingredient-driven menus in a warm, lively atmosphere. Authentically from and for Los Angeles, asterid features Chef Garcia’s California-inspired menu and bar program that celebrates the spirit of L.A.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

J
Jesse
Orange County •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Let me just say that everything we ordered was chef’s kiss 🤌🏻 the ambience and attentiveness of the staff is also top tier. Definitely coming back soon.
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BestiaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Downtown
•
4.7
C
Carolinavip
Los Angeles •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Amazing everything Food, drinks, waitress I would clarify a bit more about parking (only confusing thing)
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ManuelaPrice: Expensive• Californian• Downtown
•
4.8
C
Cecilia
Los Angeles •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Excellent service, did not rush you to leave like other restaurants. The food was as delicious as always. Never disappoint.
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The Factory Kitchen - Los AngelesPrice: Expensive• Italian• Downtown
•
4.7
T
Tom
Los Angeles •68 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
Always a pleasure to visit Celestino! The food and the service are consistently gracious and professional.
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CelestinoPrice: Expensive• Italian• Pasadena
•
4.7
A
Angel
Los Angeles •1 review
5.0
Dined on Nov 17, 2024
The food is always amazing! The carnitas are fall of the bone tender and the orange glaze is beyond. The venue is super cute but what made the night was out server Denae D. Her personality shines and she can work a table like I’ve never seen before! She charmed my mom and dad, which is not an easy thing to do, and she managed to consistently check on us while managing other tables and being amazing over there as well. 10/10 will return again AND make sure I sit in Denaes area! I hope the restaurant acknowledges the amazing staff they have and keep her for as long as she needs the gig (:
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LA Cha Cha CháPrice: Expensive• Mexican• Arts District
•
4.5

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El Sereno

Best Authentic Restaurants in El Sereno

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100 restaurants available nearby

1. Bestia

2. Manuela

3. LA Cha Cha Chá

4. The Factory Kitchen - Los Angeles

5. Celestino

6. Star Leaf - Asian Cuisine

7. Eigikutei

8. Gus's BBQ - South Pasadena

9. Hearts and Flame

10. Asterid

See what locals rave about

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