Best American Restaurants in Chinatown
5 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Howlin' Ray's
Nashville hot chicken with six heat levels up to Carolina Reaper intensity
Notable Picks
8.4
Nashville hot chicken executed by a chef who trained under Thomas Keller and Gordon Ramsay—seven heat levels from mild to Carolina Reaper territory. The chicken arrives with perfectly crisp skin and juicy interior; heat calibration here runs hotter than competitors at equivalent tiers. Staff hospitality stands out in a counter-service format, with genuine warmth that regulars cite as part of the draw.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sando, Chicken on the Bone, Jojo-Style Sando
What Makes it Special: Nashville hot chicken with six heat levels up to Carolina Reaper intensity
8.2
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Family Friendly Favorites
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
The 1908 original that put French dip on the map—beef hand-carved to order, rolls dunked in natural jus at the counter, sawdust still on the floor. The communal-table, cafeteria-line format rewards decisive ordering and a willingness to elbow in during peak hours. Go for the double-dipped beef and expect the experience to feel like a working lunch counter that happens to be a monument.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef French Dip Double-Dipped, Lamb French Dip, Pickled Eggs
What Makes it Special: Credited as the birthplace of the French dip sandwich since 1908, with meat hand-carved and rolls dipped in natural roasting juices
#3
Baby Bistro
8
Chef Miles Thompson runs a tight six-dish progression out of an 1890s Victorian bungalow in Chinatown, where the entire 35-seat room fires the same concise seasonal menu each night. The format rewards diners who want to hand over the reins—ankimo torchon and passionfruit-dressed spaghetti squash signal a kitchen comfortable with Japanese and European technique applied to California produce. Best approached as a complete experience rather than an à la carte stop, with the intimate scale and historic setting doing most of the atmospheric work.
Must-Try Dishes:
Country Bread with Liptauer Cheese, Ankimo Torchon, Spaghetti Squash with Passionfruit
What Makes it Special: Chef Miles Thompson serves a concise six-dish seasonal menu inside an 1890s Victorian bungalow that seats just 35, designed to be fired as a complete progression.
Worthy Picks
#4
Nick's Cafe
7.9
A cash-only, counter-seat-only breakfast spot that has held down the same corner of Chinatown since 1948, running a tight menu of diner staples like chilaquiles and biscuits and gravy that keep regulars rotating through the stools. It fills a specific role in the LA morning circuit—pre-Dodger game fuel, weekday solo breakfasts, weekend brunch for those willing to circle the block for parking. The format is no-frills by design; you sit at the counter, order fast, and eat well for cheap.
Must-Try Dishes:
Eggs Benedict, Chilaquiles, French Toast
What Makes it Special: Cash-only diner operating since 1948 with counter-seat-only breakfast that draws Dodger Stadium crowds and Chinatown locals alike
#5
Lasita
7.8
A Filipino rotisserie and natural wine bar built around lemongrass-rubbed chicken inasal and a no-rules, share-everything ordering format. The compact 32-seat Chinatown dining room runs loud when full, so the 25-seat patio is the move for conversation-heavy dinners. The curated natural wine list paired against dishes like sizzlin' shroom sisig gives it a lane that few spots in LA occupy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Inasal, Pancit Kang Kong, Sizzlin' Shroom Sisig
What Makes it Special: Filipino rotisserie and natural wine bar in Chinatown with a no-rules dining format — order at any pace, share everything, and pair lemongrass-rubbed chicken inasal with a curated natural wine list.