Spice Table THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Spice Table

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Spice Table

114 S. Central Ave. (E. First St.)
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-620-1840
Map
Southeast Asian grub in a rustic setting in downtown Los Angeles' Little Tokyo.
Openings: Dinner Mon.-Sat.

Features

  • Parking lot
  • Dress code: Casual
THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Spice Table, Los Angeles, CA


THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Spice Table Restaurant Review:


The Spice Table in Little Tokyo is housed in a brick building that dates back more than a century. Inside, the setting is raw and rustic with exposed ducts and light bulbs ensconced in bird cages. The restaurant is divided into three sections: the entrance room with counter seats overlooking the wood-fired grill, then an intimate space with a few tables that leads to a larger dining area in the back. Chef/owner Bryant Ng, originally from Singapore and recently chef de cuisine at Pizzeria Mozza, offers polished Southeast Asian grub. His wife Kim is from Vietnam, so expect traditional specialties from both countries, including dishes such as satays (lamb belly and tripe), black pepper crab toast, jellyfish salad and kaya toast (coconut jam toast for dipping in a slow-cooked egg with soy sauce and white pepper). Creamed kale is sprinkled with house-made paneer and a slab of grilled pork belly. Be on the alert for specials like cod wrapped in a banana leaf with curry and coconut milk. Larger plates range from a cheeseburger (yes, a cheeseburger) to beef rendang and laksa (rice noodle soup with spicy coconut gravy, shrimp, mussels, fish cake, hard-cooked egg and laksa leaf). About a dozen wines are offered by the glass and bottle, while the draft beer list spotlights local breweries like Craftsman Brewing Company in Pasadena. Parking costs $7 (or $3 for 90 minutes with validation) in the adjacent lot. The Spice Table has also hosted pop-up nights for Ugly Drum, the small batch barbecue operation from Erik Black and Joe Marcos.