DAMA Fashion District - Downtown LA Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Let’s talk about DAMA, a hidden gem that will take your taste buds on a first-class flight to Latin America. Yes, when you first pull up, you might have your doubts—but don’t let the exterior fool you. The moment you step inside, you’re transported to a stylish, beautifully curated space that’s both inviting and effortlessly cool. Whether you’re vibing under the stars on the patio or soaking in the energy inside, this spot delivers on all fronts.

•The Food – Small Plates, Big Flavor• DAMA is a tapas-style restaurant, meaning you get to taste a little of everything—trust me, you’ll want to. I’ve practically eaten my way through the entire menu, and here’s what you can’t miss:

Crispy Squash Blossoms – An absolute knockout. The delicate crunch, the goat cheese and thyme whipped together like a love affair on your palate—it’s rich, velvety, and simply unforgettable.

Aguachile – Light, fresh, and perfectly balanced. The citrus, the spice, the freshness of the seafood—it’s everything you want in a ceviche, elevated.

Crispy Potatoes – Don’t sleep on these. They’re golden, crunchy perfection, and when that chimichurri hits, it’s a flavor explosion that’ll have you questioning every other potato dish you’ve ever had.

Classic Guacamole – Simple, yes. But DAMA doesn’t just make guac, they make the guac—smooth, creamy, with just the right kick.

Toasted Bread with Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic Confit & Olive Oil – Sounds basic? Think again. This dish is a masterpiece of textures and flavors. The crunch of the bread, the slow-roasted garlic melting into every bite, the burst of sweetness from the tomatoes, and that luscious drizzle of olive oil—it’s next-level delicious.

Charred Little Gems – This isn’t just a salad. It’s smoky, crunchy, and packed with deep, complex flavors. Who knew lettuce could be this seductive?

Shrimp Cocktail – Fresh, plump, and packed with flavor. The sauce? Absolute fire.

Fish Tacos – Like a dream you never want to wake up from. The fish is perfectly cooked, the slaw adds a fresh crunch, and the sauce ties it all together like a chef’s kiss in every bite.

•Desserts – Sweet, Naughty, and Oh So Necessary• Churros – A crispy, golden delight. The cinnamon-sugar coating is just right, and when dipped in that luscious sauce, it’s pure heaven in every bite.

Fluffernutter – Oh honey, this one’s got a kinky side. Think warm, gooey, nutty, and sweet all at once. It’s a little sinful, a little playful, and absolutely worth every calorie.

•Cocktails – Shaken, Stirred, and Straight-Up Perfect• Passion Fruit Margarita – Tropical, tangy, and dangerously smooth. The perfect balance of sweet and tart.

Cock & Bull – This one? Cock-a-luscious. Bold, complex, and exactly what a cocktail should be.

•The Vibe & Final Thoughts• DAMA is the place—whether you’re on a date, catching up with friends, or just looking for an excuse to indulge in phenomenal food and cocktails. The ambiance is effortlessly sexy, the service is top-notch, and the flavors? Out of this world.

Pro Tips: Make reservations—this spot stays packed. Valet parking available—so no stress about parking. Bring your appetite and order a little of everything.

Bottom line? Don’t just add DAMA to your list—make it a priority. You can...

Often when a restaurant is super hyped up by others, or has a celebrity chef name attached, or both, I come away disappointed in the food. That is NOT the case at DAMA--this place is L E G I T.

First of all, we experienced DAMA for the first time during the pandemic, and I'd like to point out that they took every precaution to make us feel safe. Outdoor seating at tables spaced well apart from each other, reservations required to keep total people in the restaurant under control. Servers wore masks, shields, and gloves too.

Now let's get to DAMA's glorious, outrageously tasty food. We started our dinner with a couple cocktails, which were stiff and tasty--they have an extensive bar that'll suit any thirst. Then it was time to decide on food--forgoing the large plates, we elected to order four of the small plates instead so we could try a variety of dishes and share everything (my favorite type of dining, honestly). On a recent takeout-centric episode of Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, I had seen Guy Fieri try making DAMA's beef empandas, so I knew I wanted to try those, and I am glad I did--super flavorful filling, great crunch on the outside, and that Brazilian hot vinegar dipping sauce kept me coming back for more. We also had an order of corn, complete with queso, crema, and a cilantro aioli that was dynamite--one of the best takes on street elote I've ever tried. Next were the chicken croquettes, bursting at the seams with flavor and wrapped in a crispy, crunchy breading that had me pondering licking my plate when they were gone.

Our final plate was so good it gets its own paragraph. If you come to DAMA and only get one dish, make it the oxtail tostada and thank me later. I had never had oxtail before but was down to finally try it after seeing it prepared in so many mouthwatering ways on various cooking shows, and MAN am I glad I tried it at DAMA. Insanely flavorful meat with impeccably balanced toppings of cilantro, cabbage, avocado crema, hot pickled veg, and a twist of fresh lime. These tostadas are small in terms of size, but absolutely gigantic in terms of flavor. A cannot miss dish, at a cannot miss restaurant.

The service was timely, friendly, and top-flight. All in all, my experience at DAMA was 100% positive, and I highly recommend everyone give it a try, especially during the pandemic when so many wonderful eateries like this one are struggling. And when you do stop by, you just might see me there, the newest DAMA addict, wolfing down oxtail tostadas...

First I will say this, this was one of my favorite restaurant's, Today my niece and I went to eat at DAMA, my niece starting chocking while drinking water, she got up and went over to the planter and spit the water in the flower planter, that was the closet's spot( not the best spot be she was choking). She came back to the table and the Asian young lady asked if she was OK and she told her she was choking from drinking the water to fast and I apologized for my niece spitting the water in the planter, I told her I would put more dirt over the water if she wanted me too , she told me no it was OK she then put on some gloves and went over to the planter and picked up the wet dirt spot, and walked in the kitchen with the dirt. Claudia then came 5/10 mins later and asked if my niece was allergic to anything, my niece told her no she was choking on the water it went down the wrong way, Claudia proceeds to tell us we had to leave the restaurant and that they will take care of the bill, now we insisted on paying our bill because she was choking on water not the food the food was perfect but Claudia said because of health and safety rules we had to leave, because she might have been allergic to something, we told her she was not ( wouldn't a 30 year old women know if she was allergic to something) she was just choking. We left and I called back and spoke with Claudia she proceeds to tell me that we could have had a contagious disease, you can image how offended I was, Claudia said that they had to be safe, I asked her how did choking become a contagious disease. then my next question was, was it because we were black Claudia said we have black employees LOL LOL. Not that it matters to DAMA but I will not be going back here, this was my niece's first time here, because I always tell her how great there food is, so please if you are BLACK don't choke in the this restaurant because you will have a CONTAGIOUS DISEASE...

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