Best French Restaurants in Downtown LA (90012)
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: March 2026
Our Top Pick
Bakers Bench
French Laundry-trained pastry chef Jennifer Yee applies Michelin-level lamination technique to 100% vegan croissants and danishes with Japanese flavor influences — named a top-22 bakery in the nation by the New York Times.
Notable Picks
#1
Bakers Bench
8.3
French Laundry-trained pastry chef Jennifer Yee runs a fully vegan bakery where Michelin-level lamination meets Japanese pantry staples like furikake, black sesame, and yuzu — the kind of technique that earned a top-22 national bakery nod from the New York Times. Tucked in a quiet Chinatown courtyard off Alpine Street, it draws pastry purists who come specifically for the croissant program and leave wondering how none of it contains butter.
Must-Try Dishes:
Furikake Croissant, Egg Roll Croissant, Seasonal Fruit Danish
What Makes it Special: French Laundry-trained pastry chef Jennifer Yee applies Michelin-level lamination technique to 100% vegan croissants and danishes with Japanese flavor influences — named a top-22 bakery in the nation by the New York Times.
#2
Azay
8.0
A family-run Little Tokyo storefront where Chef Akira Hirose applies classical French technique to traditional Japanese morning plates — one of the few places in LA proper doing a dedicated Japanese breakfast. The tight, open-kitchen format keeps things intimate and unhurried, built for regulars who treat it as a weekend ritual rather than a one-off visit.
Must-Try Dishes:
Daily Bento, Japanese Breakfast, Omurice
What Makes it Special: Family-run Little Tokyo institution where Chef Akira Hirose merges classical French technique with traditional Japanese breakfast — one of the only dedicated Japanese breakfasts served in LA proper.
Worthy Picks
7.8
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Business Lunch Power Players
A French brasserie embedded in The Music Center that has built its rhythm around curtain times, pacing courses so theater-goers eat without clock-watching. The menu leans on brasserie staples like steak frites and burrata salad rather than chasing trends, which keeps it reliable for the downtown professional crowd. Expect a lively dining room on show nights and a noticeably calmer pace during weekday off-peaks.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Frites, Balsamic Glazed Brussels Sprouts, Club Sandwich
What Makes it Special: French brasserie at The Music Center with service paced to curtain times, so you never miss the opening note.
7.5
A Korean bakery chain applying French pastry technique to a deep rotation of breads, cakes, and filled pastries—baked on-site daily with items like sweet potato bread and fresh yogurt cream cakes that lean into Korean flavor profiles. The Little Tokyo location draws a mix of quick-grab commuters and cake shoppers, though the 17% one-star rate across reviews signals uneven execution depending on timing and item selection. Works best when you know what you want and treat it as a reliable pickup counter rather than a destination bakery experience.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blueberry Fresh Yogurt Cream Cake, Sweet Potato Bread, Coffee Bun
What Makes it Special: Korean-French bakery baking 300+ items fresh daily, blending Seoul street-food fillings with French pastry technique in the heart of Little Tokyo