By Eddie Kim

Downtown is the city’s hottest dining scene, with new restaurants popping up in every district and established eateries continuing to impress. It’s no wonder that people from across Los Angeles now flock to Downtown for a meal.

Much of the culinary power comes from a cadre of chefs — some new, some with decades of experience — who are not only serving delicious food, but are also changing the way we dine. It’s a fine line to straddle, but 14 chefs in particular are offering inventive tastes, combinations and cooking tactics. However, it’s not just about being different for the sake of being different — their food keeps people coming back for more.
Here (in alphabetical order by chef) are the 14 most interesting chefs in Downtown:

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Micah Wexler, Wexler’s Deli: Wexler gained a following at Mezze, a Beverly Grove restaurant that served contemporary American dishes with a Middle Eastern flair. That closed, and now he’s ensconced in Grand Central Market, running an old-school Jewish deli. It’s an unlikely twist, but Wexler clearly knows what he’s doing — his handcrafted pastrami is possibly the best in the city (yes, we know Langer’s exists). The juicy, smoky, thick-sliced pastrami is king here, but don’t miss Wexler’s delicately smoked fishes, corned beef, and luscious egg and tuna salads.

At 317 S. Broadway or wexlersdeli.com.