A Neighborhood Gem : Casitas

I finally made my way to Casita on Ventura Blvd, one of those spots I’d been meaning to try forever but just hadn’t gotten around to. They’ve been open for a few years now and are part of the Tashio Group, with Anderson Paak as an investor (unclear if he’s involved across the board or just with Casita, but either way, cool detail).

My great aunt was in town, and I needed a solid Mexican restaurant in the Valley that would live up to her very high tequila standards. We all ordered margaritas, I went mezcal, obviously and we kicked things off with the chips and salsa tower. The salsas had real flavor and real heat.

The Caesar salad was dressed just right and came with large perfectly baked brioche croutons that crumbled instead risking a cracked tooth. A little luxury moment I didn’t know I needed.

After seven years of being vegetarian, I’ve recently started reintroducing seafood and okay, occasionally bacon, so I ordered the fish tacos, and they were some of the best I’ve had. Crispy, fresh, not drowning in sauce but just enough chipotle crema to keep it interesting.

My mom and aunt split the chicken taquitos and calamari, and judging by the clean plates, I think it’s safe to say nothing disappointed.

The vibe at Casita is bright, beachy, and kind of makes you feel like you’ve snuck away to Tulum for dinner. Whether you’re just grabbing drinks and apps or making a night of it, it’s definitely a spot I’ll be coming back to