LASA

LASA was founded by Filipino-American brothers, Chef Chad Valencia and Chase Valencia. The word lasa, meaning taste or flavor in Tagalog, always had a lot of meaning in the Valencia brothers’ upbringing. Food was always a centerpiece of any gathering and cooking was a way to bring their family together. The value of good food and a memorable dining experience is at the very core of their identity. With LASA, the Valencia brothers want to impart that joy of sharing a good meal with those you hold close.

The journey began in the summer of 2013 as a series of intimate backyard dinners among the Valencia brothers and their friends. During the following two years, LASA would see themselves grow from the backyard setting to restaurant pop-ups at the Highland Cafe in Highland Park and at the Elysian in Frogtown. With the popularity of their pop-ups, the Valencia brothers began to garner considerable attention in the LA dining scene. In 2016, they caught the attention of Chef Alvin Cailan (Eggslut), where he saw the potential of the LASA restaurant project and ultimately offered the Valencia brothers a weekend residency at his Chinatown culinary incubator, Unit 120, at the Far East Plaza. After a successful year of operating 4 nights a week at Unit 120, in 2017, LASA took over the culinary incubator space to make it as their permanent home.

From backyards to their own brick and mortar, the LASA family finally have their own restaurant.