Best Seafood Restaurants in LA Arts District (90021)
4 hand-picked restaurants, AI-analyzed and critic-validated
Essential Picks
#1
Kato
9.2
Chef Jon Yao’s Taiwanese-American tasting menu weaves market seafood into deeply personal, technique-forward courses with quiet confidence. Expect meticulously balanced flavors, luxe ingredients, and a beverage program that’s as thoughtful as the plates. It’s a destination meal that still feels rooted in LA’s Arts District energy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Egg custard with crab, Fish maw with caviar, Crab bolo bao
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred Taiwanese tasting menu that treats seafood as the main narrative.
Notable Picks
8.7
Chef Junya Yamasaki’s progressive Japanese cooking centers on pristine California seafood and vegetables kissed by binchotan and a wood-fired stove. The former bank setting and long cypress counter create a calm, almost ceremonial izakaya-meets-kaiseki energy that still feels approachable.
Must-Try Dishes:
Monk’s chirashi sushi, Daily sashimi selection, Whole lobster katsu burger
What makes it special: Modern Japanese seafood and grill work rooted in SoCal seasonality.
A reliable raw bar inside ROW DTLA serving well-sourced oysters and coastal comfort staples. The shellfish is the clear star, but warm plates like lobster rolls and fish sandwiches round it into a full meal. Industrial food-hall vibes mean energy over intimacy, especially at peak hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oysters on the half shell, Maine lobster roll, Hot fish sandwich
What makes it special: A top-tier oyster program with a refined-but-casual DTLA setting.
Worthy Picks
A compact mariscos outpost bringing the bright, chile-citrus flavors of Jalisco-style seafood to an industrial pocket of 90021. The fried shrimp tacos and ceviche-forward tostadas are the move—clean, punchy, and perfect for a quick daytime stop. Expect a simple setup focused on the food, not the frills.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tacos dorados de camarón, Ceviche tostada, Campechana cocktail
What makes it special: Focused Jalisco-style seafood in a low-key daytime format.