Kasih

"There are dinners you plan weeks in advance, and then there are dinners that come together last-minute. On your average Tuesday, you text with a few friends, and pick somewhere central and easy to get into where you won’t have to circle the block six times to find a parking spot. Next time that happens you should head to Kasih, an Indonesian restaurant in Little Tokyo where there’s never a long wait and the food is more interesting than what you’ve had delivered the past three nights. Kasih is at the bottom of a big apartment building and looks like the dining room of an internet company where everyone balances on bosu balls at their desks. But despite a somewhat generic look, there’s usually a lively crowd of co-workers grabbing something to eat at the bar, a second date happening in a corner, and a big group hanging out on the patio. photo credit: Jakob Layman There’s a lot to choose from on the menu - curries, fried chicken, Indonesian slaw, and more - and your first order of business should be the sambal tasting. This big board comes with four different spicy dips, giant puffy crackers, and the most delicious bowl of nuts we’ve eaten in our lives. Next, move onto Kasih’s riffs on traditional dishes, like the chicken sate and beef rendang, and try some of the less traditional ones, like the fantastic snapper ceviche. The cocktails aren’t very good, so we tend to just bring a bottle of wine and pay the $25 corkage fee. And considering that all the food is meant to be shared and nothing costs more than $25, bring as many people as you can so that you have an excuse to order half the menu. Turns out you don’t have to plan three weeks in advance for a delicious and interesting dinner out. You just have to end up at Kasih. Plus, the building next door will validate your parking. Food Rundown photo credit: Jakob Layman Sambal Platter This board of spicy and salty, addictive dips is the only way to start a meal at Kasih. Take the little bowl of spiced, candied nuts with kaffir lime and hide it where no one else at the table can find it. photo credit: Jakob Layman Kakap Ceviche A very close first runner-up for best dish here, this snapper ceviche is spicy and tangy, with a heap of lemongrass and crispy fish skin on top. At first bite, you’ll think, “Eh, not so spicy,” but by the end you’ll be taking big sips of water that absolutely will not help. photo credit: Jakob Layman Ayam Rujak This spicy fried chicken comes on top of a tomato, tamarind, and coconut sauce that’s full of flavor, but doesn’t overpower anything else on the plate. Gulai Kambing Telling you to order a lamb curry best described as funky and slightly sour might be a hard sell. But this is great, and certainly different than most curries you’ll have had before. photo credit: Jakob Layman Rendang Sapi Instead of a big bowl of saucy curry, this rendang involves a thick coating of sauce around incredibly tender, slow-cooked beef. It’s fantastic. Jagung Bakar It’s corn on the cob. Tasty corn on the cob with a shrimp paste butter, but still - corn on the cob. Nasi Goreng & Mie Goreng Kasih’s takes on classic Indonesian fried rice and stir-fried noodles are total crowdpleasers, rich with thick soy sauce and sambal." - Jess Basser Sanders

"Kasih seems like just another restaurant at the bottom of a mixed user, but don’t let that deter you. The Indonesian food you’ll find inside is interesting and tasty. Some dishes here are traditional, like sate and sambals, and others less so, like the fantastic snapper ceviche that has crispy fish skin and a creep-up-on-you spice level. This is a restaurant where you’ll always be able to get in, order a few things to share, and walk out still being able to afford to eat for the rest of the week." - Jess Basser Sanders, Brant Cox

"Kasih is so rarely talked about, but I really enjoyed their take on modern Indonesian. I loved their sambal platter to start and especially Hamel’s fish preparations. Really vibrant and exciting dining experience in a subdued dining room." - Matthew Kang

"Modern Indonesian fare has had a bit of a moment in the past year, with the stellar Kasih debuting in Little Tokyo while Mr. Sate opened in sleepier Palms neighborhood just steps from longtime Indonesian restaurant Simpang Asia." - Matthew Kang

"What It Is: A modern Indonesian restaurant in Little Tokyo Perfect For: Casual Midweek Dinner, First/Early In The Game Dates We checked out Kasih for dinner, and though its bright space at the bottom of a giant mixed-user in Little Tokyo feels a bit corporate, the food is anything but. From the sambal platter (Indonesian chips and dips) to the vegetable curry to the spicy slaw, everything we tried on Kasih’s menu was both interesting and delicious. It’s a casual place, with a huge front patio, making it an excellent choice for a big group dinner before a night out downtown. Verdict: Fantastic modern Indonesian food. We’re putting Kasih on our Hit List." - Jess Basser Sanders, Brant Cox, Brett Keating