San Damián is a new and aesthetically pleasing restaurant located on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, Los Angeles. It offers a fresh take on coastal Mexican cuisine in a bright, open, and minimalist space. The restaurant is known for its exceptional cocktail program and comfortable dining environment, suitable for both casual drinks and full dinners.
Customer Perception
Customers consistently praise San Damián for its incredible food, great service, and amazing drinks. The atmosphere is described as cozy, beautifully curated, and aesthetically pleasing, with a great nighttime vibe. Dishes like the Clams, Tostada de Cangrejo, Tlayuda Chorizo de Pescado, and Carne Asada Hanger Steak receive high marks for freshness, flavor, and perfect execution. While some minor criticisms were noted during its opening week (e.g., tuna tostada freshness, aguachile flavor profile, mild seasoning for some palates), the overall feedback highlights unique flavors, high-quality ingredients, and attentive staff.
Additional Details
San Damián is a relatively new establishment on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, Los Angeles. It offers valet parking next door, which is helpful given the area's tough parking. Outdoor seating is also available.
The restaurant is suitable for both daytime visits (e.g., sitting at the bar) and has a great nighttime vibe. For those without reservations, arriving right when they open is recommended to secure a spot at the bar. It's ideal for a date or for enjoying drinks and a few bites, as well as a full dinner.
Great new spot on Abbot Kinney for a date. We sat at the bar during the day and it was nice and bright. I’m sure it has a really great nighttime vibe as well.
The cocktail program is 10 out of 10; get the Canuto if you like a little smokiness but it’s a very refreshing beverage.
If you like spicy, this is the place for you. The seasoning was a bit mild for me and might be how this cuisine is traditionally served (I prefer heavy hand with the salt and pepper) but they definitely didn’t skip on the heat. The dishes were a bit hit or miss BUT it was opening week so I have to go back next month. The tuna tostada did not taste as fresh as I would expect for the price. Granted they just opened and we ate at around 5 PM. The flautas were excellent - ask for extra sauce!! The couple next to us got the steak and said it was their favorite dish.
The service was really really great and the bartender (Alexis?) was awesome. He made incredible drinks.
Parking will be tough, but they have valet next-door. If you can’t get a reservation online, get there right when they open and sit at the bar. They had some outdoor seating I think as well. We will be back!
Amazing Experience , if you know about Enrique Olvera then this is a no brainer. Hands down, one of the best Mariscos resturants in Southern California!!! The food was out of this world and I have to say one dish in particular stole the show. I have never had a dish that I could remember for a specific chef that was out of this world and the Kanpachi al pastor with the pineapple butter is a staple dish I will remember forever.
5
San Damian is a perfect addition to Abbott Kinney. With neighbors like Alisa Wine & Friends and Felix, it fits right in with its fresh take on coastal Mexican cuisine. The space is bright, open, and minimalist without feeling cold or overly designed.
The restaurant has bar seating, a small semi-communal area, and plenty of dining room space. Really liked the fact that it doesn't feel like they're trying to cram as many tables in as possible. The layout feels open and comfortable.
Service was great! Wild that they've only been open a couple weeks because the staff already seems to have everything figured out. Plates get cleared fast, fresh silverware shows up with each course, and they're always around if you need something without constantly bugging you.
The Drinks:
Margarita ($22)
Fuventino ($21)
Canuto ($21)
All three had great flavor and felt unique. Feel like the Margarita offers the best value and was easily my favorite of the group. The Fuventino was delicious but felt a little light for a $21 cocktail. All three were delicious though.
The Food:
Aguachile ($27)
Clams (Market Price - $27 today)
Tostada de Cangrejo (Crab) ($22)
Tlayuda Chorizo de Pescado ($26)
Carne Asada Hanger Steak ($56)
Aguachile
The shrimp was fresh and flavorful, paired with onions, thinly sliced cucumber, green salsa, and pickled red onions. This was good, but not really what we were expecting. The menu mentions lemon, so I was hoping for a brighter, more citrusy flavor, but it tasted a lot more olive oil-forward. Still enjoyed it overall, but probably wouldn't order it again. The fried corn tortillas and crackers it comes with are really good though.
Clams
Incredibly fresh with a flavorful broth that has just the right amount of kick. The rice soaks everything up perfectly. Definitely a dish I'd order again.
Tostada de Cangrejo
If you're into crab or tuna, definitely order this. Super simple dish, but honestly one of the best things we had all night. It's light, insanely fresh, and lets the ingredients do all the work. One of those dishes that doesn't need anything fancy because everything in it is already so good.
Tlayuda Chorizo de Pescado
Think of a Taco Bell Mexican Pizza, but way better and made by someone who actually knows what they're doing. Crispy, super fresh, and loaded with chorizo de pescado, black beans, and a bunch of bright flavors. The fish isn't overpowering at all, and everything tastes insanely fresh. Easily one of the best things we ordered.
Carne Asada Hanger Steak
Don't skip this one. We ordered it medium-rare instead of the recommended medium and it was cooked perfectly. The outside had an awesome crust with a little crunch in every bite. The potatoes were unreal and probably my favorite side of the night--sweet, salty, and unlike anything I've had before. The peppers were great too. Tons of flavor without any real heat.
Overall
Really enjoyed our meal here. San Damian is such a great addition to Abbott Kinney and works whether you're just stopping by for drinks and a few bites or sitting down for a full dinner. The team was incredibly friendly and helpful, and you can tell they're genuinely excited about the food.
We'll definitely be back to try the desserts and the Kanpachi Al Pastor, but after this visit, I'd feel pretty confident ordering just about anything on the menu.
3
Food was great. Cocktails were good, wine list wasn’t stellar. Service was eager but slow. The server enjoyed explaining dishes but didn’t follow up after reciting the menu. Drinks weren’t readily replenished and dishes weren’t explained. Lights were way too bright and too spotlight/stark. Music was far too loud. Incense upon walking in was strong (and I lean hippie). Hopefully they’re working out the kinks.
3
It’s def got potential but needs to work out some kinks.
We had a rez for 8:30pm but didn’t get seated until 9:15pm with no offer for to make up for it (a free drink while we waited is a no brainer). They were out of all the N/A options on the drink menu and said they probably won’t have a program longer term…. guys it’s 2026 and many people no longer drink.
The atmosphere and vibes were great but the food was hit or miss. Tuna tostada was a standout. Prawns had great flavor but super pricey ($12 each), hard to de-shell, and should have been cleaned better. Guac was good, but I’d pass on flautas and aguachile as both really lacked flavor. The chocolate mousse for dessert was definitely a smash though. Ultimately felt a bit lacking in the value for the $$.
Love the concept and once they’ve got their sea(food) legs under them I’d be willing to give ‘em another whirl.
