Lasita Rotisserie & Natural Wine — Restaurant in Los Angeles

So we finally decided to check out LASA after we had two of our friends recommend LASA and seeing it highlighted on a buzzfeed show named “Worth It”. Something worthy of trying? Sure. I think it really depends on your taste buds. I will start off that the staff is extremely polite, courteous and know their stuff. We were seated promptly for our reservation where we started our dinner off with some non-alcoholic drinks. I had the Green Mango Soda and my gf had the Calamansi drink. The mango soda had a slight amount of bitterness mixed with tart and a hint of mint. I guess you can say it reminds me of a different type of kombucha. The Calamansi drink reminded me of a delicious mellow lemonade. Both drinks are worthy of a try. They’re not something you would normally find. The menu was simple with 14 items of varying sizes. We passed on the Pulutan so we could make room for the Umpisa and Ulam where we ordered the Wok Roasted Gailan, Savory Kakanin, Lumpia Sariwa Beef Kilawin and Lechon Manok. I will review write about each dish as they are each worthy of a review. Beef Kilawin: The patis aioli mixed with the flat-iron tartare made for the right mix of umami and texture in this dish. We however had to agree that the salt and vinegar on the taro chips were overpowering for us. On scale of 1-10 with 10 being an extremely salty, the chips were a level 8. We liked the tartar, just wished the chips complimented it more. Wok Roasted Gailan: This Chinese broccoli dish was splendid. It reminded me of the Chinese broccoli and oyster sauce dishes you get at dim sum spots, but with more flavors. The slight bitterness of the broccoli was balanced with the sour of the vinaigrette and the sweetness of the bagoong (salted krill) while the rice gave the added slight touch of crisp to an overall soft dish. Savory Kakanin: This was my number three fav dish for the night. Parts of it reminded me of Japanese dishes. The brown rice cake was seared to just a slight crisp while the butter and broth made for a rich sauce to bring the soft shimeji mushrooms and rice cake together. A must try imo. Lumpia Sariwa: Not a lumpia like one you would eat at a family gathering. We were told this dish is usually on point, but unfortunately for us the saltiness and sourness of the peanut soy vin overpowered the dish. Lechon Manok: The crispy chicken on this dish reminded me of the crispy chicken dishes I would eat at Thai spots, but the sauces on this dish were much better and this was my second favorite dish for the night. The perfect balance of saltiness from the pan jus and the slight bitterness of the swiss chard were brought together well with the neutral puree texture of the brown rice polenta. For dessert we ordered the sesame seed ice cream and were given a serving of chilled ginataang as a complimentary dish on the house after we mentioned the Lumpia was salty. The salty and bitter of the sesame seed sprinkling goes well with the rich sweetness of the vanilla ice cream. To our amazement, the chilled ginataang was our lightest dish of the night and my favorite dish. We liked the lightness and fluffiness of the whipped coconut milk mixed with the sweet/bitter of the Asian pear and slight hints of sweet from the rice balls. In closing, I’d recommend going here with 4 people, so you can order a variety of their dishes and see for yourself if you like it. It breaks away from the traditional Filipino menus and expands your horizon to dishes you wouldn’t have anywhere else....

Chinatown. A two-story, open-air rectangular plaza sits unassuming, placid. There's typical Chinese fare representative of the generations that came only with what they knew. There's an atypical chicken shop born out of tradition bred with the fire and fury of breaking conventions. There's innovation coupling with classic tastes producing a bowl so delectable you'll move here just to eat something good daily. There's meat produced with love and attention delivered in a device so classically Chinese, you'd be flabbergasted a bao did that. There's risk takers abound--you don't set up shop here if you aren't up for a challenge. And, in the thick of it all, the meaty middle, centered is LASA--a daring and brilliant challenger featuring a tale of Filipino-American glory. The proprietors, two brothers--one steering the front of the ship, the other the back--are clear fighters but also lovers and their intimate space is every bit who they are. Look for the symmetry and you'll find it everywhere.

LASA is a prime date spot for two intelligent, adventurous eaters. Exposure of our senses is so rampant in this age that 'adventurous' is a bar set too high sometimes. I say 'adventurous' only because I think it a reach for most people to challenge their palates even in the slightest. The environment is warm, inviting. There's a couch overlooking the entire dining room so you are instantly absorbed into the community, even while you wait. The hosts and servers are ever helpful and as great a guide a bemused guest could ever need. You are welcomed to take a dive into this pool of flavor and artistry.

Experience: Skewers. That vinegar. Some white rice, and my hungry dinner mates had shed their apprehension and were ready for our main dishes. We planned to split the three entrees but little did they know I would've killed them off for their shares... I let them live. My first bite into lemony brown rice accompanied by some perfectly crisp duck skin and I had reached a level of zen, understanding violence's only purpose is to separate us and remove our ability to further create and nurture amazing food. No more violence. Oh, also the beef cheek was pillowy soft. The dumplings had a heart of their own. And, the Ginataan lifted me into the clouds where I dreamt I was in a ball pit with the fritters but instead of playing I just ate all of them until there were no balls left but the loose change and condoms people drop in ball pits.

Give them your money. You won't spend...

amidst ambient orange light in a shopping center in chinatown is lasita. adorned with playful turquoise awnings that are giving disneyland toon town (in the BEST nostalgic way), there is a little patio with light teal tables and white metal mesh seats, a tiny amber tea light centered on each table. so playful and happy.

i stumbled upon this at 3pm after endless inspiration at the neighboring cookbook store in the same plaza. i waited the requisite 2.5 hours until the 5:30pm evening open by exploring the neighboring shops and looped back around 5 and they were having a team meeting around an inside table before they opened! :,) it was adorable and sweet, i imagined they were discussing the menu or latest wine editions, so wholesome.

so! here we are at 5:31, there is a line of about four small 2-4 person parties ahead of me waiting at the hostess stand. the hostess was super kind and i suddenly worried, "wait, shoot, i don't have a reservation?!"

this was no matter- i was lucky because i had the power of being a party of one. the inside was so ambient and orange, playing a mix of electronic music that kind of blends into the light. seating inside is varied. the back is lined with tall, sleek, minimalist wood booths, a few smaller square floating tables, a big ol' group one, and a skinny bar space (WITH BAG HOOKS!) with some metal stools line the windows. okay, now onto the food, i promise.

the amazing waitress, sophie, recommended a solo special (!!) with the chicken, garlic fried rice, some veggies, and a glass of the chenin blanc. it came out almost instantly?! the rice was like eating BUTTER, perfectly cooked. there was a bit of crunchiness on top. on the side were these carrots and other delicious autumnal colored veggies that were cold, spicy, tangy, heavenly with the warm rice & chicken. the chicken was great too, well flavored, great portion, and soft. served on a beautiful big pink ceramic blate (plowl?) with two dips. wish i had more time to stay for dessert, they looked divine!

could not recommend this place enough. perfect spot for a solo dinner or glass of wine before catching the train. definitely recommend a reservation if you're dining with a group. a sweet location, caring staff, and beautiful...