"Kasih in Little Tokyo is a place that checks all affordable-date boxes. Most of the smaller, shareable plates cost less than $20, and their drinks are strong and involve unusual combinations like banana-infused bourbon in an Old Fashioned. As a bonus, you’ll probably learn a lot about each other’s spice tolerance from the sambal sampler. There are plenty of good options close by for a post-dinner drink, like the back patio at Far Bar." - brant cox, kat hong, brett keating