Disclaimer: Naysayers warned us the consumption of oysters in such a short period of time could be dangerous. However, weâre still here to tell you… you can definitely trust the oysters we ate in Downtown LA…
After consuming just over 100 oysters in just 10 days, we have to say, we’re feeling stronger, more energetic, and a whole lot more frisky… Care to join us?
In celebration of National Oyster Day…Here is our list of 10 Great Places for Oysters in the DT.
Preux & Proper – Fashion District
Preux & Proper is probably the first fine dining establishment to introduce $1 oysters to the Fashion District and that suits Downtown just fine.
Every Monday from open to close, you can take advantage of P&P’s Southern Hospitality alongside a brave portion of freshly shucked oysters, laid down on a cool bed of ice. Only you wonât find any fancy pickled condiments or elaborate dressings for dipping these slippery sensations – only your choice of good old fashioned hot sauce made in house.
Be careful, these oysters will put a spell on you and have you making reservations to return all summer long, especially for âSammyâs Cookoutâ every Thursday!
With select bites from Executive Chef Sammy Monsour, a long list of Red and White wines and signature cocktails from beverage director Cassidy Wiggins, Preux & Proper will have you feeling’ the Downtown Juju.
The Little Jewel – Chinatown
If you ever want to get away from the obnoxious noises of the big city and escape to the Bayou, smacking lips and Abita beer sips is what youâll hear upon entering the Little Jewel located on Ord Street in Chinatown.
Crawdad and catfish – husband and wife team are well known for their Cajun delights and make the cutest couple, as wife Eunah rings up the orders from one side of the deli/market and hubby Chef Marcus Christiania Beniger serves hearty portions of Louisiana favorites from the other. The whole place makes for a colorful collage of taste bud satisfaction for a steady crowd of new and returning customers..
For those of you who enjoy your oysters fried, âwell, them two have got a wonderful surprise.â
The Oyster Po’boy! Not just one, but three varieties. All at 10 inches long, they fit five or six of what seem like gigantic oysters, laid back on imported fresh bread direct from Louisana. Thier traditional Fried Oyster Po’Boy comes fully dressed in shredded cabbage, tomatoes, pickles, onions, mayo, and hot sauce.
Chef Beniger knows everything there is to know about a Po’boy and tells the tale of âthe Peace Makerâ. A Po’boy so delicious the wives of yesteryear, who grew tired of waiting for their rambunctious husbands to return home after a late night of drinking, put away their rolling pins, if their husbands brought home a “Peace Maker” Po’boy.
Although, they may have even thought of bopping their inebriated husbands over the head with the 10 inch long sandwich, they couldnât help but to forgive and forget.
We wonât ever forget Little Jewel’s Po’boy either. Besides, itâs so big weâre still eating it.
The Oyster Gourmet – Historic Core
Listening to Christophe Happillon reminisce about his humble beginnings servicing private parties and local restaurants with his traveling 10 by 10 oyster shucking stations mirrors the story of the resurgence of DTLA itself.
Being one of the original shuckers Downtown has ever known into becoming one of the most notable, his cultivation aligns perfectly with the rejuvenation of Grand Central Market earning him the title of, The Oyster Man!
Entering Grand Central Market off Hill Street youâll see The Oyster Gourmet kiosk. Itâs hard to miss. Of the many vendor inhabitants, The Oyster Gourmet is by far the most original. A collaboration between Christophe and his design/partner, his Kiosk allows an efficient space just large enough for shucking, wine and beer pours, placing scallops and stacking tuna poke.
Itâs a large wooden and canvas, winged-steampunk inspired contraption that reaches upwards like beetle wings with the ability to close itself just like an oyster in the low tide.
One of our favorite ways to judge the quality of sweet oysters is for their ability to disappear at a rapid rate. At a dozen, thereâs always the chance one will be off-flavor and stop the experience in its tracks. This just wasnât the case anywhere we ventured during our ten day oyster journey. So, we continued to set sail. Landing next on the Far East shores of Little Tokyo.
Kasih – Little Tokyo
When Kasih opened almost a year ago in Little Tokyo few downtown foodies had any idea of just how delicious Indonesian food could be. Chefs Vindex Tengker and Zachary Hamel soon made it obvious their take on Indonesian cuisine had definitely figured out how best to please the population.
Kasih means âloveâ and thatâs such an appropriate title for this handcrafted restaurant/ bar with walls of glass, natural lighting, an open kitchen and some of the most welcoming staff youâll find anywhere in downtown LA.
The dishes at Kasih are as exotic as they are flavorable. With no two alike, each dish reaching far to outdo the next in style, presentation and taste.
Indonesian vegetarian dishes are plenty, providing a healthy mix of fruits, legumes, roots and vegetables; all accentuated with the islandâs blend of spices that push the limits of our personal spice levels between each and every overzealous bite.
Enjoying a cocktail menu filled with brightly-colored tropical potions and a dozen of Kasihâs Blue Diamond Oysters from Virginia, we began noticing other plates being served to the patrons all around us.
Crispy Ayam Rujak (chicken wings), Iga Bakar (short ribs), Asinan Kelapa (Indonesian salad); all so loving.
Oyster Loverâs Paradise
Oyster lovers know, the true test of a good bed of oysters is how fast they disappear.
If you find yourself uncontrollably woofing down these little pearl makers youâll know itâs true love, and the oysters at Kasih were happy to reciprocate.
Kasihâs oysters came with two sides of dipping sauces – Red and a surprisingly enjoyable sweet green sauce that disappeared as fast as our oysters did.
The love didnât end there. Within moments we found ourselves engulfed in the unconditional love only Kasihâs Fried Yellow Tail Collar can bring. We fell hard, taking every bite to heart.
Rappahannock Oyster Bar – Warehouse District
Thereâs an army of Chesapeake Bay fresh-farmed oysters being deployed and shipped overnight across the U.S., with hundreds of reinforcements making their way to the concrete docks of Rappahannock Oyster Bar each day at the Row.
A.K.AâŠRappBar commands a variety of crustaceans and locally sourced fresh fish that outfit their signature dishes. With Happy Hour everyday from 4-6pm, we recommend a formation of a dozen or so delicious oysters in all varieties, from sweet to briny, along with Rappsâ Smoked Trout Deviled Eggs, sweet and spicy Buffalo âsoldierâ Shrimp, and Fresh Bay Scallops with yuzu, burnt orange, poppy seeds and tarragon, all paired with a sweet glass of Chardonnay. 777 S. N. Alameda, LA CA 90021. www.rappbardtla.com
Imperial Western – Courts District
What happens when you reopen the doors of the long lost 80 year old annex on the westside entry way of Union Station? Imperial Western. That is what happens.
Inside, youâll find just as many culinary treasures as you will long lost antiques. All purposely added by Cedd Moses’ team of time traveling barextraordinares to Union Station’s allure as one of the city’s most adorned tourist attractions. Thanks to Imperial Western, itâs even easier to lose yourself the way architect son and dad team John and Donald Parkinson untended back in 1939.
Old rail cars, classic art nouveau architecture, rose gardens, and now, Imperial Westernâs micro brewery and gastropub menu program is what you’ll discover.
All Imperial Western beers are made in-house and a self guided tour allows you to view the beer making process behind glass ridden hallways.
Order from the bar just below the venueâs giant antique clock replica, whose black iron hands span over 4ft across. Enjoy the happiest hour of your departure while relaxing inside any of Imperial Westernâs comfy raised booths, and slurp oysters as you reminisce the 1930s.
We most certainly did. If you plan your trip right, your oysters may arrive with a flight of beer – always right on schedule.
Le Grand – Financial District
When Downtown LA’s Top Mediterranean restaurant, Le Grand, opened last Spring, we kind of knew chef and brother duo, Alex and Chris Manosâ elegant Mediterranean inspired seafood focused dishes, set inside an historic building in the heart of Downtown, would be as unique as their adventurous spirits. But, when they invited Downtown Weekly on the day they debuted their new brunch program, we couldnât help but share the news of our discovery.
Extra! Extra! Le Grand has something so special that no other restaurant in downtown can match.
What started around 11am with a dozen oyster basil blossom mignonettes sent to us on a bed of ice, adorned with a giant clam shell, quickly led to the enchantment of a soft shelled crab sandwich resting on a black charcoal bun.
Followed by Le Grand’s Branzino Provencale with spring vegetables and a dessert of Raspberry Nutella brioche buns, we completed our encounter around 12:30pm.
Window seating, specialty mimosas and excellent service, Le Grand is nothing short of delightful. What we discovered there was more than just food. Le Grand’s menu proves to be trailblazing and iconic.
Le Petite Paris – Old Bank District
On a scale from one to Oyster, Le Petit Paris oysters get an O, for just okay. Not because their $1 Oysters at Happy Hour donât measure up, but because they just canât compare to all the other delicious choices youâll find on their Happy Hour Menu.
Sunday thru Friday from 4:30-7pm, with $21 bottomless mimosas and menu items starting at just $5, as far as weâre concerned this is France.
We can even dine on homemade Duck Foie Gras beneath the La Tour Eiffele. The location of Petit, within the architectural upper echelons of the Old Bank District, is as nostalgic a site as the Arc de Triomphe and the menu, as majestic as the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
On this day in history our oysters will celebrate Bastille Day with Sea Bass Cerviche and Burgundy Escargot.
Faith and Flower – South Park
Doubt if you must, but nothing will ever break the bond we have with one of Downtownâs most favorite dining destinations. Faith and Flowerâs ability to consistently deliver the finest service, most interesting cocktails and delectable gourmet entrees, within a safely lit, congenial atmosphere has more than earned our trust. When we found out they had oysters served during brunch, we all set out to make the pilgrimage.
F&F serves a healthy dozen of oysters with a Pink Peppercorn Mignonette and Yuzu Ponzu. They too, go down very fast and are chilled perfectly by a large bed of ice.
Accompanied by Faith and Flower’s St. Germain Spritz, an intoxicating dose of St. Germain, Club Soda and Prosecco, this succulent experience and excellent service is one we religiously attend, again and again, as would any true believers.
Water Grill – Bunker Hill
Trying to slow down while eating a tray of delicious oysters was almost an impossible task. Still enjoying our cocktails and other enjoyable items tremendously, we still managed to save the best for last!
Since 1989, the Water Grill has been here to fulfill our deepest nautical fantasies. Mermaids and sailors are reminded of the fresh tang of the sea as soon as they arrive on the shores of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel that houses this urban seafood oasis.
A virtual sea bed of crustaceans of every kind line the restuarant’s center bar. Upon the ice, you will discover a fresh catch of just about everything that is delicious about the sea; clams, crabs, fish, lobsters and of course oysters.
Sixteen different types from the eastern and pacific rim. The Water Grill does not discriminate and welcomes all types onto its shores.
Known for its oyster sampler and iced shellfish platters – All hands on deck are encouraged to cast their nets and enjoy!
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