Chaya Downtown is the latest in the Chaya empire – including Chaya Brasserie Beverly Hills, Chaya Venice, and Chaya Brasserie SF. Capturing the downtown power lunch scene as well as the happy hour, Chaya Downtown features a full bar with great Asian-inspired menu.

This was to be my final meal as a resident in Los Angeles. The eight of us celebrate as if it was my birthday, when it seems like it would be my demise – since I would be moving permanently to Asia. I really didn’t want a big production, but my friends insisted on at least a dinner.

Our memorable dishes included the appetizers for bread – the Pork & Duck Rillette with Toasted Baguette and the Kalamata Olive Tapenade. I think we didn’t have enough of the spread or the bread. I know a couple of us, kept going back to the spread and the bread throughout the night.

The Tagine-Raosted Grass Fed New Zealand Lamb Chops & Merguez and the Grilled Dry-Aged Prime New York Steak & Braised Kobe Short Ribs stood out. Though there were a couple of orders of sushi plates and Sea Bass, the meats were heads and shoulders better entrees. There was also a Pork entree that I ordered, in which I forgot the name. But I do remember the savoriness of the protein entrees being quite good.

For a last meal in LA, it was memorable. In fact, with low expectations to the more flashy Drago Centro, I was pleasantly surprised. Though I wouldn’t recommend the sushi portion of the menu. The desserts were also very good. I didn’t enjoy the ambiance and decor of the venue. But I do wish it stayed open late for a bar and drinking crowd. It seems strange that almost all the restaurant bars closed before 11 or midnight, like Drago Centro, Chaya, and Bottega Louie.

What to Order: New York Steak and Pork Entree What not to Order: Sushi and Fish

Rating 2 Pigs $$$

Chaya Downtown 525 South Flower Street Los Angeles, CA 90017, United States (213) 236-9577 thechaya.com