< The Latest 2025-01-22T18:07:10+0000

OC’s Descanso brings elevated, street-inspired food and plancha dining to LA

Descanso opens its first Los Angeles location on Jan. 23.

The Pasadena Star-News | Wed 01/22 10:06am PST | Richard Guzman

Orange County’s high-end taqueria Descanso is heading north and opening its second location in Los Angeles this month.

The sprawling new 9,000-square-foot restaurant is set to open Thursday, Jan. 23 at 5773 Wilshire Blvd., with the goal of paying tribute to Mexican street vendors in an elevated setting where the chefs cook the meals right in front of diners.

“We’re bringing the experience of a taco stand to a higher level here in Los Angeles,” said Sergio Lopez, the head chef at the new 240-seat restaurant.

Just like the original location in Costa Mesa, which was founded in 2018, the Los Angeles spot will offer the restaurant’s signature plancha dining, where chefs prepare multi-course meals on a grill in front of diners. It’s similar to teppanyaki restaurants like Benihana, where the cooks put on a show as they prepare dinner. But at Descanso, it’s not about putting on a show but showing off the potential of street food.

Orange County’s high-end taqueria Descanso is d opening its second location in Los Angeles on Jan. 23 at 5773 Wilshire Blvd. (Photo courtesy Descanso)

Orange County’s high-end taqueria Descanso is d opening its second location in Los Angeles on Jan. 23 at 5773 Wilshire Blvd. (Photo courtesy Descanso)

Orange County’s high-end taqueria Descanso is d opening its second location in Los Angeles on Jan. 23 at 5773 Wilshire Blvd. (Photo courtesy Descanso)

Orange County’s high-end taqueria Descanso is d opening its second location in Los Angeles on Jan. 23 at 5773 Wilshire Blvd. (Photo courtesy Descanso)

Orange County’s high-end taqueria Descanso is d opening its second location in Los Angeles on Jan. 23 at 5773 Wilshire Blvd. (Photo courtesy Descanso)

Orange County’s high-end taqueria Descanso is d opening its second location in Los Angeles on Jan. 23 at 5773 Wilshire Blvd. (Photo courtesy Descanso)

“Our ingredients are fresh, we’re a scratch kitchen, everything is made here daily and for us this is not about putting on a show and doing tricks but it’s more like a food class, an education. We talk to diners about the ingredients we’re using, why they belong in certain dishes. It’s an education,” Lopez said in Spanish.

It’s also an homage to Mexican street cooks who prepare meals in front of customers at stands and taco carts, Lopez added.

“Mexican food has no limits and it’s in the streets where you find unique flavors and we’re bringing all of that experience to L.A.,” he said.

While it was inspired by street food, with its brick facade and impressive archway entrance, the restaurant has the feel of a large Mexican hacienda with a modern and culturally rich interior that features vibrant artwork showcasing Mexico’s cultural heritage with bright murals and colors. The new spot has a central bar, a main dining room, two open-air patios, the Plancha room and a private plancha room designed for up to 10 people.

Highlights for the Los Angeles menu include the Enchiladas de Langosta, made with butter-poached lobster in tortillas, and the Taquitos de Camarón, made with marinated shrimp, blue corn tortillas, shredded lettuce, morita aioli, and mango-habanero salsa. One of the chef’s favorite dishes is the Sea Bass Tlapique, which is steamed in corn husks and made with nopales and huitlacoche. The latter is a delicacy sometimes called the Mexican truffle.

“It’s a traditional way it was done by natives who lived around Lake Xochimilco (in Mexico) as they cooked the fish they caught in the lake, and it’s delicious,” Lopez said.

Lopez also recommends the Short Rib Estofado, which he calls their version of birria but made with short rib. It’s braised with beer for about five hours and made with Guajillo chili and Serrano pepper.

“Birria is often served at parties, weddings, and quinceañeras. And this dish is a party full of flavors,” he said.

For more information go to descansorestaurantla.com

 

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