Nestled in Chinatown's Far East Plaza, Lasita is a vibrant rotisserie and wine bar serving up modern Filipino classics like tender chicken inasal and crispy pork belly lechon, all while encouraging you to linger with a glass of natural wine and great company.
"The signature chicken inasal at this sexy Filipino rotisserie and wine bar in Far East Plaza should be the centerpiece of every meal. Each bird undergoes a full-on spa treatment: massaged with lemongrass and garlic paste, basted with spiced butter, and presented spatchcocked with tanned crunchy skin, plus two dipping sauces (garlic mojo and calamansi soy). Don’t be shy about tearing into it with your hands. The rest of the tables are doing the same, which turns the busy dining room into an ASMR soundstage." - brant cox
"From the moment you walk into Lasita, you’re at the center of the party. That might sound intimidating on paper, but this colorful, Filipino rotisserie/wine bar in Chinatown has created a space where everyone is allowed to have fun, eat great food, and hang out for hours. The menu focuses primarily on brined meat like pork belly lechon, but the star of the show is without question the inasal. This juicy rotisserie chicken is stuffed with lemongrass and garlic, giving it sweet and citrusy notes, with a slight acidic bite at the end. Lasita usually gets slammed during prime dinner hours, so although you can probably snag a walk-in spot on the 25-seat patio, you should book a reservation ahead of time for a sexy booth table." - nikko duren, garrett snyder
"The “Lechonista” There’s a lot to like at LASA’s new Chinatown rotisserie pivot, Lasita - brined pork belly lechon, citrus-y inasal chicken stuffed with lemongrass and garlic, that banana confit turon pie - but one of our favorite things comes in sandwich form. Called the “Lechonista,” this dense, pork belly behemoth is exactly what you want to be eating on days when you need something heavy, to keep you toasty through LA’s cold, early Spring days. Served on a thick, appropriately crusty Bub and Grandma’s ciabatta loaf, thick cubes of crispy pork lechon are topped with charred scallions, cilantro salsa verde, red onions, and a tangy calamansi vin stew." - the infatuation los angeles crew
"We’ve been fans of this Filipino spot since its very first iteration as Lasa, a BYOB pop-up that dates back to 2017. While the interior, service style, and menu have changed over the years, the food delivers the same bright and spicy flavors and the warm space is just as ideal for a fun, family-style dinner where you can linger over excellent remixed Filipino dishes and a few bottles of natural wine. For birthdays, our move is to put a rotisserie chicken and pork lechon on the table, load up on every sauce and side, and make our way through their top-notch but affordable wine list (most bottles fall under $70)." - brant cox
"We’ve loved our meals at Lasa over the years, but this Chinatown spot's current form as rotisserie-slash-wine-bar Lasita is its best version yet. The slightly more casual menu pushes the envelope with fun, delicious takes on traditional Filipino food, rounded out with bottles of beaujolais flowing from the bar. Come here to eat lemongrass-stuffed chicken inasal, flawless mushroom sisig, and spiral-cut pork belly lechon with the right amount of skin crackle, but stick around to feel hot and drink good wine. The dining room quite literally glows like a summer sunset, with soft light showering the pale pink walls. And if you’re not periodically making eyes at the mysterious hottie a few seats down, you’re caught up in the rapture of their calamansi cream pie. " - brant cox, nikko duren, arden shore, sylvio martins
