Little Sister DTLA

Vietnamese restaurant · Downtown Los Angeles

3

Open

Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null
Little Sister DTLA by null

Highlights

A vibrant bistro in DTLA with a cozy, shophouse vibe, where Asian-inspired European dishes and craft drinks create a must-visit dining experience.

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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523 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Get directions

Open (Until 12:00 AM)

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

"In the heart of Downtown's dining corridor, pulsing with life, is a small restaurant with a big heart. Little Sister's crowd, typically young and adventurous, come for authentic Southeast Asian dishes washed down with beer and wine. We order the imperial rolls stuffed with shrimp and taro root, glass noodles dipped in chili lime sauce, and lemongrass fried chicken you'll be dreaming about for weeks." - Hugh Garvey, Celeste Moure, Krista Simmons

·

Oct 9, 2023

View Postcard for Little Sister DTLA

"In 2015, Chef Tin Vuong opened his second Little Sister, this outpost near Pershing Square downtown. One thing that makes the DTLA location stand out from the original Manhattan Beach Little Sister is that breakfast is served here in addition to lunch and dinner. (The breakfast menu includes dishes like Vuong's elevated take on congee—a popular rice porridge throughout Asia, Chinese-inspired savory donuts, banh mi, and pho.) But that doesn't make this Little Sister any less of a spot for lunch and dinner—head here when you're in the mood for good Southeast Asian food."

The Los Angeles Hipster Guide
·

Mar 16, 2022

View Postcard for Little Sister

"In 2015, Chef Tin Vuong opened his second Little Sister, this outpost near Pershing Square downtown. One thing that makes the DTLA location stand out from the original Manhattan Beach Little Sister is that breakfast is served here in addition to lunch and dinner. (The breakfast menu includes dishes like Vuong's elevated take on congee—a popular rice porridge throughout Asia, Chinese-inspired savory donuts, banh mi, and pho.) But that doesn't make this Little Sister any less of a spot for lunch and dinner—head here when you're in the mood for good Southeast Asian food."

The Downtown Los Angeles Guide
·

Mar 16, 2022

View Postcard for Little Sister

Tina C

Google
The tables are all tightly squeezed in this restaurant so it was a bit uncomfortable even though it was empty. The food was good though. I liked their shaking beef and the crepe was good too.

grace ok

Google
Great food. Every taste was so delicious. The space is very tight though. The server was super nice and helpful. He really wanted us to keep getting drinks but in a nice way. Definitely would come again to try more on the menu!!! Love it 😍

wook kim

Google
Was in DTLA and figured we try Little Sister and have some Vietnamese food. The restaurant ambiance was nice and the server was also very helpful. But that’s were the great things about the restaurant ends. We were excited to try the food so we ordered 3 items even though we are light eaters. First the Bahn Mi came…immediately I knew I was going to be disappointed. The best part of a bahn mi is the bread. However they served their sandwich in a regular baguette and not the traditional Vietnamese baguette. Plus the short rib was overly marinated. The crepe was too thick and hard. The black rice seafood (more fusion than Vietnamese) had a good amount of seafood but was otherwise plain.

Irene Ortiz

Google
The food was top notch, and the service was great. They are pricey but the food is so worth it. Only problem with this wonderful restaurant is the location. I understand they have no control over what is happening outside their doors but trying to enjoy dinner with the homeless right outside the window getting high is a vibe killer. The place was full on a Tuesday evening by the time we left, so apparently people don't mind what's going on outside.

Preeti Saldanha

Google
Vietnamese fusion food in a very cozy setting. Definitely recommend making a reservation. I ordered the black rice with scallops, shrimp, and octopus. It was very good with the sauce! The Vietnamese flavor was definitely there with the lemongrass sauce. A bit on the pricey side

David Morales

Google
Wow! Feels like NYC in DTLA. Order everything on the menu. The pho ga and garlic noodles were everything I wanted. Flavorful and generous. But the real star was the papaya salad! It was too pretty to eat, and I was too hungry to stop and take its picture. It's a house specialty and for good reason!

Selvia Chandra

Google
I recently dined at Little Sister DTLA and was thoroughly impressed. The ambiance was inviting, and the dishes were exceptional. The pho featured a rich broth with tender meat and fresh herbs. the spring rolls were fresh and the chilli sauce are great. The attentive staff provided excellent service, and the prices were reasonable given the quality. I highly recommend this restaurant for authentic Vietnamese cuisine and look forward to returning.

PK Fin

Google
This place is super yummy! We ordered a few off their noodle bowls based on our waiter's recommendations. There was plenty of flavor in both and plenty of food to share. The music was fun and so was the whole vibe of the place. We made reservations but it wasn't too busy or over crowded. We were stoked to get the window seats to people watch too!

Eric K.

Yelp
The Lemongrass Pork Chop was very flavorful and tender. The service was spot on, with the staff being very knowledgeable and friendly. The ambiance was warm and pleasant, I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Maruko X.

Yelp
Ambiance: trendy and packed bar style restaurant for Vietnamese cuisine, l generally have good experience at their other locations, and I've been back to DTLA restaurants few times, reservation is recommended for groups particularly during peak hours Service: very friendly and patient with questions, although it took quite a while to get all the dishes after placing the order Food: standard little sister menu, overall great choices 'goi cuon' - *** fresh spring roll with shrimp and pork, dipping sauce, okay taste for the roll and the dipping sauce was great shaky shaky beef - **** the signature dish here is their shaky shaky beef, watercress, baby tomatoes and burnt butter soy with tomato garlic fried rice, very bold taste, tender and flavorful meat, recommend 'goi du du' - *** green papaya salad, viet beef jerky, grilled prawns, peanuts, chili lime vinaigrette, spicy taste saigon lemongrass beef - **** vermicelli noodle, herbs, cucumbers, chili-lime dressing, spicy flavor, recommend 'bo kho' - **** braised short ribs, bone marrow, baby root vegetables, baguette, and butter and pate, flavorful broth and tasty beef, recommend Price: it's certainly on the pricey side for most of their food now, especially after the prices have increased over the time, expect $40 per person

Rebekah K.

Yelp
For starters, if you're looking for nice service, look somewhere else. You'll get your food, you'll get your water. Our waiter Adam hardly returned to ask us how things were going unless we flagged him down. We were understanding at first seeing as how it seemed he was waiting every table in the place. But then we saw how friendly he was being with all the tables in our vicinity and realized it must be an us thing. The food was okay. Previously the menu had cocktails, something that have been completely taken off the menu now. The shaky shaky beef was not tender, and we were not asked how we wanted it cooked where in times before we were. The garlic noodles were lacking seasoning except garlic, the crispy tofu was soft, and the pho's highlights were "not fishy." Overall the decor was fine. The girl who was helping bring our food out was actually asking questions, but our waiter and busser left everything to be desired. Will not be returning to this location; might have better luck in El Segundo.

Leo C.

Yelp
Second time visiting this spot, I really enjoyed it! Place seems to be always packed for lunch, got seated at bar during my visit. The interior is small and charming with bistro like atmosphere. Not your traditional Vietnamese restaurant, menu is fusion of South-East Asian cuisine. Their pho bo hit the spot on cold day, but it was not the best pho that I've ever had. Broth was okay and brisket was slightly fatty. Appreciated that they give you ample noodles and vegetables. The house spice crispy chicken (aka ga roti) was super crispy and tasty. It brought back memories of my mom fried chicken cooked the same way. Both rice and salad were wonderful. The food was a bit expensive for amount that I got, not enough meat on pho and half-chicken was small. Still delicious option and food arrived decent time.

Jynelle Christine S.

Yelp
Went here for a team dinner and the service, ambiance and food were all wonderful! I got these shaky shaky beef and the meat was nice and tender. The salad perfectly cut the richness of the beef while the rice was a nice neutral flavor! Our waiter was also so nice, he was very attentive and friendly!

Carrie T.

Yelp
Man oh man you get what you pay for. I was a bit strapped on cash when I went out to Little Sister with two other friends, so I just got an appetizer while they both got banh mi's and boy, I regretted not being able to get more. The mood in the restaurant felt a bit elevated and very upscale. The food was expensive, but it was very good. Well presented, well served, and delicious. I took a couple bites of my friends banh mi's and was considering giving in and getting one myself. The food was served fast and the waiters were really helpful in deciding what to get. The banh mi's are served with fries, which are super crispy and delicious too. We were recommended the place by our friend's parents and would definitely recommend and come again!

Darren B.

Yelp
I love the food here and it's great for either a casual lunch or an evening date night. No matter which location you go to, the tables are very close together, and while getting in and out of the table can take some careful navigation on busy nights, but once you're in your seat, it's plenty of room. Place always has a good ambience and the staff is very professional and again I think you would like just about anything that you decide to order.

Christina M.

Yelp
We were a party of five that arrived in the late afternoon. Parking is expensive downtown and we paid $8 for one and a half hours on the meter. We were seated right away and brought water. The space is cute and small. Our server was helpful, but straight to the point. We ordered the beef stew which was very tasty, but a very small portion for the price. The black seafood rice was okay. The lemongrass chicken wings were good, but the lemongrass was a little over powering. The garlic noodles were good, but would have been better with a protein in it. The shaken beef was good and came with a small salad. The glamonade (ginger and lemonade mix) was very tasty. When the bill arrived, the gratuity was already tacked onto my bill. Most places do this for a party of six, not for a party of five. I'm not even sure this was stated on their menu.

Tracy D.

Yelp
Tiny, quaint restaurant. Don't forget to make reservations!!!!! Good Vietnamese food but it doesn't compare to the Vietnamese food you find in OC. Food is a little on the pricy side too. And a bit salty. It was a good place to try if you're in LA.

Sian S.

Yelp
WOW! This is one of the few upscale places that charges prices that I feel are 100% worth it. We got a lot of food for ~$100 including tip. You're paying for quick service, a beautiful interior, and FANTASTIC food--not to mention incredible generous portion sizes. Entrées range from $25-35 but based on what we ordered (lemongrass chicken wings, sticky rice), we got way more food than we expected with both dishes. Super happy with our experience, was delish. Probably will bring my parents here when they're in town next! Great for a date night too (no cocktail menu though, or at least we didn't get one)

Andrea K.

Yelp
Great find! Everything from the service, atmosphere and food were great! Douglas was our waiter and he was amazing! He was super patient and offered great suggestions. Even though they don't sell sake anymore, he pulled one from the back for us that they can still sell and let us sample it before opting for a half bottle. So many great food options! We got the shrimp and pork summer rolls which were some of my favs and the sauteed eggplant as smaller plates. I loveee eggplant and this one delivered. We also got the "Shaky Shaky Beef" which was good but I honestly thought it would be a little saucier, but the meat was cooked well and the rice on the side was really tasty.

Robyn S.

Yelp
To be honest, I had my reservations... I am somewhat wary of elevated renditions of popular cuisine because I feel like they can be a hit or miss and there have been many times where I couldn't justify the price. Little sister did not disappoint. There wasn't a dish that I didn't enjoy and the food was flavorful and vibrant. The ambiance was cozy and intimate and the portions were also pretty generous as well. The server had mentioned they recommended family style because of the timing of certain dishes would take longer than others but our group was pleasantly surprised on how quickly our dishes hit the table. Some of the most notable dishes were the pho banh cuon: tender beef and tendon with pickled onions and herbs wrapped in soft rice paper, bo kho: a rich and savory beef stew served with bone marrow, baguette and pate, and ga roti: crispy yet juicy chicken served with a flavorful bed of rice and chili ginger sauce. I was a little bummed that they ran out of porkchop but that just means I will plan another visit soon! Even though we were completely stuffed, there is always still room for dessert! The coffee flan was decadent and rich, with a touch of flavor that is very reminiscent of salted caramel. I also did try the pecan crumble and chocolate mousse but overall, I think the caramel flan is the best! We had celebrated two birthdays that evening and had a very memorable experience. Our party left satiated and content, we will definitely be returning soon!

Carol C.

Yelp
Yummy and great service! Everything is good. Will definitely return and bring friends!

Linh M.

Yelp
We dined here on Saturday to kick start my birthday month. Our group booked an early reservation and was seated promptly upon arrival. The interior small but, still able to accommodate large parties. They also have bar seating. This was our first time at the DTLA location. We have been to Little Sister at the Irvine Spectrum which was more open and spacious. Our server was pleasant and very attentive. We opted to order several dishes to share family style. For our dinner selection: ***House Triple Garlic Noodles - lacking the garlic flavor. It was very bland. ****Black Rice - delicious! Served with an assortment of seafood. ****Spicy Chicken Wings - crispy and flavorful. Great starter. ****Fried Sea Bass - wonderful umami flavor from the fish sauce. The fish was soft and melts in your mouth. ****Green Papaya Salad - green papaya and mixed herbs tossed in a tangy fish sauce. Topped with plump grilled prawns. So good! ****Shaky shaky Beef - tender and better than expected. Served with red rice and watercress salad. The food, service, and ambiance were all great! We'd dine here again!

Zabrina R.

Yelp
We went on a Sunday night and loved the decor, the intimate feel and the sense of history-telling in the designs of the wall. We were seated quickly and decided on 3 dishes as we were told this was family style (my favorite). We ordered the salmon crudo, since I was craving more of a light meal, and did like it! I thought it was a bit herb-heavy for my taste but the salmon and dressing were great. My favorite dish was the fresh spring roll. It was light, well balanced, and paired with the peanut sauce made the best appetizer. The peanut sauce had a little kick to it and had a smooth consistency making it easy to dip and eat. The shrimp vermicelli was also delicious but I did wish I read the menu a bit closer as the pork made it a bit heavy for what we wanted.

David M.

Yelp
I wouldn't exactly describe Little Sister as a hidden gem considering its popularity with the Downtown Los Angeles crowd, but is indeed a GEM. Over the years I've identified my favorite dishes and they are consistently delicious. It's a great place for family style dining too, but there's no shame in dining by yourself here given the incredible selection of starters and entrees. The sautéed eggplant and pho banh cuon are the two standout starters in my opinion. The eggplant is rich, fatty and pairs well with a bowl of white rice. Whereas, the pho banh cuon is salty, vinegary, and aromatic. The pho is always great to share and the SGV special comes with giant chunks of pork belly guaranteeing you don't leave hungry. Excellent flavors and a must try if you find yourself hungry in Downtown Los Angeles.

Jack L.

Yelp
Went back to Little Sister for my fiancées birthday and it was still a good experience! Nevertheless, I can't say that it was as spectacular as the first time. Main reason: the lack in quality of the shaky shaky beef. This was extremely unfortunate because the shaky shaky beef was my favorite dish the first time around. However, the rest of the night was extremely pleasant with a great ambiance, good service, and food overall! It was fun to explore some new dishes, especially the garlic noodles... so bomb!

Alexandra E.

Yelp
a cute little high end taste of vietnamese food. our top dishes were the shaky shaky beef and the the 'bo kho' (pictured) - only thing that we were not a big fan of was the liver paste that went with the bread and the bread was too hard to bite into. the place is also quite small but very modern. i had a party of 6 and luckily we were able to fit with very little wiggle room. the service was great and on top of everything! they actually recommended these dishes to us which we are so thankful for! i would recommend making reservations as there can be a wait especially on the weekends. parking is either street, valet (across the street) or a parking structure around the corner.

Josh J.

Yelp
Great spot in downtown la. The fried prawns are incredible, salmon crudo is amazing. They have shaky beef it'll knock your socks off. Tried their banh mi with chicken this week and was blown away.

Meera S.

Yelp
Saw an 8:30pm Friday night reservation, for the same night, for Little Sister while driving from Orange County to Downtown LA and took this as an opportunity to try the upscale Vietnamese restaurant. After circling the busy area for about 10 mins, we finally found street parking about a block away from the restaurant. Woo! As we walked in, it seemed like every table was occupied and the place was busy! The tables are all tightly squeezed together so be prepared to get friendly with your neighbors. Definitely not an ideal spot for big groups but rather better suited for pairs and trios. We ordered the spring rolls, seafood crepe, and beef vermicelli noodle salad and could not stop talking about the latter. The beef vermicelli noodle salad was delicious and satiating - highly recommend this one! The seafood crepe was huge and a bit difficult to eat but nonetheless yummy. The spring rolls were unfortunately subpar and the peanut sauce was unique to our palate. The service was on point and the pricing is hefty for this spot. I'm glad to have tried Little Sister but not sure I'll be coming back any time soon. Will stick with some not so upscale restaurants when looking for my next Vietnamese food fix.

Novia E.

Yelp
They have a very esthetic looking plates on everything that we ordered. Came by because my friend has been hyping me up to try, but little did we know, they changed the menu to a new one so the recommendations isn't there anymore. We had a reservation on a weekday and was seated right away. We asked for recommendations and we ended up ordering shaky beef, pork spring roll, and a vermicelli dish that has crispy pork belly and prawns. I also ordered coffee flan for dessert. I think I've had better pork spring roll but appreciate the thinness of the rice paper, however the sauce isn't quiet right as they all tend to be too sour. I don't really taste the fish sauce, just lemon juice with pepper. Shaky beef was ok, they used fillet mignon, but it's too well done cooked, so it's hard to chew on. My favorite is the pork belly in the vermicelli dish, the prawns taste like regular shrimp. I expected more for prawns because they should be bigger. Overall I gave it a 4 stars because of tremendous service they have. The staff are friendly and attentive. It was pretty crowded vibe when we came in.

Andrew K.

Yelp
Normally I don't write the reviews but I had to, for this one. When the food was served, it looked good and decent. This was misrepresentation. When I ate the first dish, I thought oh, this is pretty salty. So I drank water cleaner pallete. After thatt, I tried eating another dish. Again salty. In fact, every food I tasted , it was all super salty! Personally, for the benefit of doubt, i I have ordered 5 different dishes. And have tried them all. All foods were super salty. I thought i was getting high blood pressure and unconsciously, i started to get scare of eating the food. Please, if you care about the your health and your pallete, and want to spend $100+ go somewhere else. The food here is not worth your time and money.

Eriko M.

Yelp
It was Saturday night and we didn't have reservation but we were lucky and got to sit at the bar immediately. The bar seating wasn't bad. There was more light so it was easier to read the ment and enjoy the colorful dishes. There is a hook underneath for your bag/jacket. Since this was our third time, we picked things we've never gotten before. We got the short rib, sea bass and crispy tofu. The crispy tofu was good. The hidden eggplant was cooked and seasoned perfectly. The short rib was flavorful but a bit too salty and the meat was really dried out. The sea bass was pretty disappointing. Lacked flavor and was a bit fishy. I also had a taste of my friend's garlic noodle. It was pretty good and very garlicky but nothing special. I think their eggplant, shaky shaky beef and spring rolls are amazing but the other dishes are just ok. The waitress was very nice and friendly though. So hence 4 stars instead of 3.

Giovanni P.

Yelp
The service was excellent and expected of a beautiful ambiance . Very nice for dinner or lunch date . The lighting was really good for nice conversation's. The food for Vietnamese is a whole other levels lol. Many corporate foods cannot replicate this because it's very dependent on the chef taste buds and flavor . If you never had flavors like this which are robust and explorative then this is your sign ! Flavors are sweet , savory , citrusy , and mild pungency that kicks your taste buds to the dopamine levels you haven't experienced in most food places especially that of good vibes.

Jackie X.

Yelp
Made reservations for 2 at 8 pm on Dec 31, 2023 for NYE dinner. We luckily found some street parking a block away as this restaurant is in the middle of downtown. We arrived at the restaurant around 7:45 pm. We were greeted after a few minutes and seated immediately after. The inside is a bit small but compact. It fits a good amount of tables but there's narrow space for walking. There's 2 inclusive bathrooms in the back. The menu was a little hard to read because the font is small and smushed together but not a big deal, just something to note. We decided on a bottle of Zinfandel ($68), crispy prawns from "introduction" ($23), braised short rib from "meat & poultry" ($36), and the black rice with seafood ($38). I guess they didnt have any dessert options at the time because we weren't offered any. They only had maybe 2-3 servers so service was a tiny bit slow but friendly. The food was ready pretty quickly and all came at once. The crispy prawns were delicious. Cooked perfectly and definitely crispy. I liked the fish sauce style dipping sauce and the green creamy dipping sauce. The pickled veggies and sliced hot pepper added some nice flavor also. The black rice was my favorite. The rice was soooo savory and still crispy. I loved the bits of okra and the different seafood which included little octopus, scallops, mussels, clams, and shrimp. The side creamy sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and pineapple sauce were all delicious as well and added some flavor to the somewhat bland seafood. The short rib was sooo yummy as well. It was super savory. A baguette cut in half can be slathered with butter and pate. You then dip the bread into the short rib stew that also had very soft and sweet carrots. While delicious, it was a bit heavy. Overall an excellent experience. Really good modern Vietnamese / Vietnamese fusion food. Would definitely come again!

Maryellen S.

Yelp
Douglas was my server, he's an absolute sweetheart and made my night. Sometimes when you dine alone you can feel like a second class citizen but he was very attentive and took time to explain the menu to me using how hungry I was as a gauge on what to choose. I didn't have a reservation but he asked the hostess to see if she could find me a better seat than at the bar. I did end up at the bar but it was really fine. I had a waist pack on and tied my jacket around me...not much room to put stuff around you at the bar. I had the Shaky Shaky Beef...which was superb. Beef is so iffy if it's not good quality or cooked perfectly. The watercress was thicker and heartier than watercress I've had before and the burnt butter soy sauce was so delicious and had a unique flavor. I'm not a huge fan of rice but the rice was delicious too. Everything about the food was on point. I am a super picky eater and care about every aspect of my meals. The sparking rose glass was filled to the top...much appreciated since drinks are so expensive. I'm in LA for a few more days...definitely want to go back and try a few more things. Highly recommend! I was walking around and noticed Little Sister was crowded even though it was early so I figured it must be good. Reservation recommended since it's kind of small but worth the wait if you walk in.

Mahsa S.

Yelp
We had a wonderful workday lunch here! The menu has a wide selection of options and they're able to accommodate various dietary restrictions and allergies. While it is a bit more expensive than other options in the area, everything is super tasty and high quality. The salmon was perfectly cooked and flavorful with a side of rice. The food comes out as it's ready so it may not all come at the same time for big groups. Staff was very friendly and the service was quick!

Natalie B.

Yelp
What a cute gem of a place! Comfortable vibes, you can totally dress up if you want, it feels so homey and welcoming. I love that ifs not extra or in your face. It's just the right amount of everything. From the ambiance to food, to the design, to the bar. It's a well thought out place. Quick and efficient service, I will definitely be back'

Roddy L.

Yelp
I've passed by this spot numerous times & I've heard great things about this spot. We ordered the pho banh cuon, imperial rolls & ,shaky shaky beef, and for dessert we got the warm pecan tart, whiskey dates with ice cream. The pho banh cuon was pretty good overall and the sauce was the best part. The imperial rolls was also good but a little overcooked and the shaky shaky beef was excellent but the rice is what made it phenomenal. The desert was a great end to the whole overall dining experience. I definitely recommend this spot, but I wish the Banh mi was available for dinner. Parking is limited to street & customer service was great. Also seating is also pretty close to other parties if you're a party of two.

Diana W.

Yelp
I'm so happy that this place is back open. I thought we lost it in the pandemic. Punchy flavors, perfectly executed every time.

Divot K.

Yelp
Never disappointed when dining at Little Sister. Chic decore, great ambiance and sweet musical vibe. The food is amazing, delicious, vibrant, fresh and bountiful. Service? Impeccable! Can't wait until we can dine at Little Sister again (hopefully soon!)

Ladybug R.

Yelp
They have amazing food and coffee. They have excellent customer service. The staff is always with a simile.

Clara C.

Yelp
Disappointed to say "overrated" is the word that comes to mind for Little Sister. I was able to snag a reservation for two people only three hours prior. I used Open Table. Once I arrived, the host took us to a table against the wall. It was so close to the party next to us that they were leaning over - away from us. Good thing they left shortly after. As we were getting the check, they seated another group there. They looked uncomfortable as well. The menu was annoying to read. They crammed everything onto one page with no photos. I saw yelp photos of menus from 5-7 years ago, and they look the same except the background is all faded now. You could tell no effort went into these menus. The server gave us 1-2 recommendations from each section, which was helpful. I do want to point out that I asked her specifically about the braised short ribs having pate on the side, even though the menu said butter. She confirmed this, so I ordered it. I placed this order first because she said it would take longer to make. I also wanted the grilled pork chop, but the server said they ran out of it. This made me change my decision to order the tom rang rice dish. The spring rolls came out first. The spring roll itself was good, but the sauce was even better. The sauce was nutty, not too sweet, and savory. I drenched my spring roll in this sauce. The tom rang and short ribs came out later. To my disappointment, the braised short ribs only came with a slab of butter. It was missing the pate. I notified the guy who gave it to us. He went to the back to check, and he came back to us later saying they ran out of pate. Only upon request did he give us a small bowl of spicy pickled cucumber. The short ribs were just ok. I expected this to be the best tasting because it's the most expensive dish on the menu (other than lobster) and took the longest to make. The sauce on both of these dishes were so similar. I could barely tell the difference. The shrimp in the tom rang were not fresh. They were almost mushy in my mouth. The skewers were probably the best thing I ordered. The sauce was tangy and balanced the fatty bone marrow and short ribs. I loved all the veggies, garlic, and peppers provided. This was by far the messiest dish I've eaten in a while. The sauce ran down my fingers and onto my sweater sleeves. After wiping on my napkin, my fingers were still sticky. Service was eh. I can't blame the waitress because it seemed like she was taking care of half the dining room by herself. Even the host was serving dishes. I feel like this restaurant is on a downhill trend. The server clearly saw how crammed our table was with all the dishes and did nothing to help us arrange them. Pro tip: make your reservation for after 7 PM on weekdays when the parking is free on Hill Street (about two blocks away). I would NOT recommend this place for a date. It is crowded and feels claustrophobic. Parking in downtown sucks. The food gets messy. The price is not worth the food quality or quantity.

Danny M.

Yelp
Indicates "$$" I'd say it's more like $$$, but maybe it's just a little pricey to me. That's the only reason for four stars. Food, otherwise, pretty much is five stars. Had garlic noodles and they were great, just enough sauce and heavy with garlic flavor, laced with thinly sliced slivers of garlic. Also had chicken dumplings with mushrooms, and they were as good as any I've had at dim sum spots. Tender, and held composition (didn't fall apart) when dipping in savory chili sauce / oil. They also have their own Rice Beer and that was light and refreshing.

Cristal B.

Yelp
Pho!!! The waiter git the order right everything was great. Very cute cafe, it was definitely a vibe. You can't tell how awesome it is from the outside. Looks can be very deceiving

Angela L.

Yelp
The food was amazing, each dish was perfectly balanced between savory, sweet, and with spice. It is a smaller space but it made for an intimate environment. The service was fine, we barely saw our waitress.

Prisma ..

Yelp
Where do I even begin with this place!? I have been on a roll this past week with the new food spots and this place ended the week, perfectly!! I was with a party of 4 so we decided to do it family style and share a bunch of dishes. Gonna rate them all below, hope you consider and enjoy! Service -- 10/10 Papaya salad -- 9/10, bursting with flavors, incredibly fresh, combined with shredded unripe papaya. Shaky Shaky beef - 10/10 IN.CRED.IBLE. To say the least. It comes sauced up with a side salad and rice. And you can dip it into a citrusy flavored sauce. House spiced crispy chicken - 9/10 served with a chili ginger sauce, steamed rice and salad. Great flavor combos and every well seasoned! Shrimp spring roll - 9/10 came out with a peanut sauce and while I'm not a big fan of peanuts, this sauce definitely elevated the dish. I really appreciated the fact that the sauce came out warm.

Talin A.

Yelp
Food was so tasty and the vibes were immaculate. Super fun for a double date. Highly recommend!

Clayton C.

Yelp
We had never been here before but needed to hang out in town before heading North of LA because of traffic. This place was recommended to us and we checked it out. It was AMAZING! I've been craving it ever since! We can't wait to go back! Wow! This is a must!

Oliver G.

Yelp
I went solo and ate at the bar. I had the chicken dumplings because it was similar to a dish I make. It was excellent and gave me ideas for how to improve mine (e.g. hand made chicken dumplings instead of a chicken breast). I like to try eggplant dishes at Asian restaurants to compare the differences. This was not spicy, but rather sweet and savory. The place was packed and excellent so I booked a four person table for my colleagues the next night. The shaky shaky beef is their special and worth it.

Abel A.

Yelp
Been here three times so far, and I've had an amazing experiences for all three. I work in the area so walking here is no issue, making a reservation is easy. Our host is always amazing she is very knowledgeable and always recommends the best food for our group. You have to get the shrimp and pork spring rolls, shaky shaky beef, and garlic noodles these three will not disappoint. The restaurant is a bit small but they have a huge flavor in their food. Great spot for lunch meetings.

Janette W.

Yelp
A perfect dining experience hidden in Downtown LA. We stopped by intending to grab a quick lunch, but ended up digging into this excellent menu. The shrimp and pork spring rolls were outstanding, fresh and flavorful. The roasted short rib banh mi was just perfect and so were the pork skewers.

Sonya E.

Yelp
Stopped in for a quick lunch and the hype of Little Sister in DTLA is real. The freshness, the aromas, the plate presentations -- everything hits. I ordered the Goi Cuon which is their fresh spring roll with shrimp & pork, and a peanut dipping sauce ($15). There were lots and lots of fresh herbs and vegetables in every bite and I enjoy that the most in a good spring roll. My Saigon Lemongrass Beef Vermicelli Bowl was excellent -- filled with an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs -- the 'chili lime dressing' married everything really well. I was so impressed by the ambiance and vibe. And, the service was quick, friendly, and efficient. I can't wait for my next visit!

Athena N.

Yelp
I've visited this restaurant twice, and the food is consistently amazing, definitely deserving 5 stars. My only gripe is that it's quite small and can get noisy. Still, I'd absolutely recommend it.

Kay Y.

Yelp
Food was amazing it's def an American Vietnamese fusion spot. They toned down the spice and fish sauce a lot to cater to the locals but overall food is amazing. We got the garlic moods, spring rolls, & Vermicelli bowl. Shared it family style and that's the way to go! That way everyone gets to taste a bit of everything! Walked by in our literal jammies (pjs) because we thought "hey let's go get chipotle" but noticed it was finally not packed and we thought *sigh* let's give it a go to see if we can get seats... lol Best decision ever! I'm so glad they happily seated us T_T We were so afraid they wouldn't seat us due to being not "dressed up" Server Alexis was also super helpful and friendly as well(:

Katherine L.

Yelp
Good service, nice ambiance. Relatively upscale Vietnamese restaurant. We liked the wings, shaky shaky beef, spring rolls. Keep in mind as with all of downtown LA, it's impossible to find parking...

Kawika L.

Yelp
Amazing food, although admittedly the company made it so much better. Grateful that there were no peanuts.

Michael C.

Yelp
Excellent food! The shaky beef and black rice are excellent! The service, however, is a different story! For a small place, I had to ask basic items that should have attended to! I may come back for the food, not the service!

Stephen C.

Yelp
Little sister is a good spot to grab some Vietnamese food with a contemporary twist. The waiter recommended some good stuff and some of his favorites. He definitely knew the menu. The service was good. Parking: parked in a parking structure around the corner My favorite dishes were the papaya salad and the banh xeo Overall: might return when in the area

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Little Sister DTLA on Postcard