Our Meal At Manuela | DTLA | Los Angeles | California | Opened October 2016

https://manuela-la.com/

https://www.instagram.com/manueladtla/

Manuela is located inside the Hauser and Wirth gallery complex in the Arts District of downtown LA and is surrounded by contemporary art, restored industrial architecture, and lush green courtyards.

The food is bolstered by an in-house garden nestled inside the Hauser and Wirth courtyard which provides fresh herbs, fruits, flowers, and vegetables for both the kitchen and the beverage program. They have their own chickens that guests are welcome to visit as well as a compost program in partnership with “The Hungry Gardens,” who oversee the management and operation of the garden and live chicken programs.

The menu is seasonal and ingredient-driven, with a distinctly Southern California feel—approachable yet full of flavor. Dishes come and go with the seasons and the menu is always evolving with only a few mainstays like the biscuits and the chicken.

The open kitchen complete with a wood-fired grill at center stage allows diners to sit at the bar and watch the action.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA:

Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

Our Meal At Kurrypinch | Thai Town | Los Angeles | California | Opened 2025

https://www.kurrypinch.com/

https://www.instagram.com/kurrypinch/

Wine featured during the episode:

https://www.villagepopwine.com/

Originally opened in Van Nuys as a mostly takeout operation, Kurrypinch, and its Chef/Owner Shaheen Ghazaly have just reopened with a more modern dining room in East Hollywood

Kurrypinch's cuisine leans traditional Sri-Lankan with some fun and creative twists. The food is flavorful, spicy, and deeply reliant on heavy spice blends, coconut, and of course, rice. There are influences in the cuisine from southern India, Malaysia, and southest Asia, as well as colonial Dutch, Portugese, and English.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast:

Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZUVt7hAf8JvrA4NvHRd7Z?si=3f3b627900fb4583

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aftertaste-la/id1840083535

Amazon → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b94749de-3c4c-40a2-b549-f80ac2725a58/aftertaste-la

RSS Feed → https://feeds.captivate.fm/aftertaste-la/

📱 Connect with us here:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aftertastela

Threads → https://www.threads.com/@aftertastela

TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@aftertastela

🍴 About Aftertaste LA:

Join Chef Vlad and Nicole on their journey through the Los Angeles dining scene. Each episode focuses on a different restaurant, analyzing strengths and weaknesses from service to flavor, to creativity, and everything else

Nicole and Chef Vlad are the friends you trust to give a thorough review of the many restaurants of the diverse and vast Los Angeles dining landscape. They’ll break down the hits, the misses, and the avoid-at-all-costs so you can target your experiences to what fits you best. Whether you’re a local, just visiting, or dreaming of an LA vacation, they’re your source for tasty information about the restaurant experiences that make Los Angeles special.

⭐ Our Rating System (1–4 Tastebuds):

1️⃣ Tastebud = Skip it

2️⃣ Tastebuds = If you’re in the neighborhood

3️⃣ Tastebuds = Worth a trek

4️⃣ Tastebuds = Can’t miss

#AftertasteLA #LosAngelesFood #RestaurantReview #FoodPodcast

Our Meal At Butchr Bar | Echo Park | Los Angeles | California | Opened August 2024

https://www.butchr.bar/

https://www.instagram.com/butchr.bar

Butchr Bar is a combination wine bar + retail butcher shop showcasing beef and lamb from Australia alongside natural wines, charcuterie (all made in-house), and small bites. Their aim is to offer a more relaxed alternative to a traditional steakhouse without sacrificing quality.

The space is cozy and stylish with some kitschy decor with a large concrete bar, some small tables, and an outdoor space with a few patio seats. The steaks are all dry-aged in house and on full display, being grilled on Japanese charcoal for guests to see.

The retail butcher program has weekly specials, steaks and charcuterie for purchase, as well as, homemade sausages and their own custom burger blend.

Chef Johnny Lee, previously with Pearl River Deli, is behind the stove bringing his extensive experience eating and traveling through most of the Malay archipelago along with him, with a little bit of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Cantonese techniques thrown in the mix.

This is the type of restaurant that you wish would open next to you. Its cuisine is filled with unique and powerful flavors without being too intimidating. Perfect for sharing whether you are on a date or with a big group.

The exceptional restaurant design and service is a testiment to the efficiency of restaurant group Last Word Hospitality who's other notable restaurants include the likes of Found Oyster and Queen St Raw Bar.

Opened: November 2024 Filipinotown (rampart village technically)

Type: Cantonese-Malaysian

Executive Chef: Johnny Lee “the prince of poultry”

Awards and Recognition: Michelin Bib Gourmand

Specialties/Signature Dish: Ayam Berempah Wings, Beef Cheek Rendang, Ulam Bendi (okra)

Ambiance: Penang Inspired Decor with checkered floors and wooden banquettes

Our Meal At Pasjoli | Santa Monica | Los Angeles | California | Opened Sept 2019

https://www.pasjoli.com

https://www.instagram.com/pasjoli.sm

Opened Sept 2019 in Santa Monica, Open Daily 5pm-10pm

Type: Focusing on Classic French Cuisine with Californian Flare and Ingredients

Executive Chef: Dave Beran

Awards and Recognition: Michelin Star 2021, Michelin Plate 2022, James Beard Semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant

Specialties/Signature Dish: Duck A la Presse Tableside $350

Ambiance: Business Casual, Well suited for dates, celebrations, and special occasions

Recently, Pasjoli has undergone a revamp to a fun, neighborhood french bistro with emphasis on elevated-Californian produce. This likely change was due to the opening of Seline and the macro-economic climate plaguing greater Los Angeles.

Pasjoli has remained at the top of the LA dining scene and is considered one the best restaurants in the city. Early reports indicate that it has not missed a beat with its changeover to a more casual menu and dining room.

Another fun note: It has also been used as a training ground for the cast of the Bear with Chef Dave Beran himself providing his expertise to the likes of Carmey and Co

Lasita started off as Lasa in 2017 by brothers Chad and Chase Valencia and was a fine dining, tasting menu restaurant before covid. They re-launched as Lasita in 2021 focusing on a more casual approach to their modern filipino fare.

Lasita has done a great job of bridging the gap between fine fining and casual with its modern take on filipino cuisine, centered around a rotisserie, and natural-wine bar program that is hailed by many as delicious, unpretentious, and authentic to its Filipino roots.

Ronan | Fairfax | Los Angeles | California | Opened Sept. 2018

https://www.ronanla.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ronan_la

Ronan is helmed by couple duo Daniel and Caitlin who both worked at now-closed Sotto as well as Alimento before opening Ronan.

The pizza is Neopolitan-style with leopard crusts and sourdough tang that's become a mainstay in the ever-evolving pizza scene in Los Angeles. One thing that sets Ronan apart is its focus on local produce and chef-driven small plates in case you want something other than pizza. There is something for everybody at Ronan.

RVR | Abbot Kinney | Venice Beach | California | Opened Oct. 2024

https://www.instagram.com/rvr.venice/

https://www.rvr.la/

RVR has become one of the hardest reservations to get in Los Angeles, with Travis Lett making his triumphant return to Los Angeles.

RVR's cuisine is a continuation of Letts’ love letter to California produce and Izakaya-style dining, a concept he explored at his former restaurant, MTN. The menu showcases seasonal, locally sourced vegetables often prepared simply but vibrantly.