Encanto

With exceptional dishes like Baja oysters and Iberico pork fajitas, paired with great cocktails, Encanto offers a standout dining experience in Los Feliz.

There’s one thing about traffic in Los Angeles: when given the opportunity, it will severely and without a doubt fuck up any plans you had on making it from the San Fernando Valley to dinner in Los Feliz on time.

Such was the case with my intentions of making it to Encanto on time for dinner with Matt. Graciously understanding, he ordered a ESPRESSO MARTINI (reposado tequila, licor 43, espresso cantera negra) for me, perfectly timed for my arrival.

That’s the power of a solid dining partner: they know what to do to immediately make the stress of taking the 170, to the 101 to get off at Vine to take Franklin across melt away.

The smokey blend of coffee and tequila? It fixed me.

Also awaiting me was an order of GUACAMOLE, CHIPS & MOLCAJETE SALSAS (fire roasted tomatillo & roja). This, combined with a deep heavy sigh, allowed me to truly transition into being in the moment. Plus, with Matt, conversations flow as easy as the cocktails.

There was a special of the night: the BAJA OYSTERS (½ dozen oysters with granny smith apple mignonette) along with the TASTE OF BAJA.

This included a selection of the ROJA (shrimp, red snapper, cucumber tomato, red onion, herb oil), the AGUACHILE (blue crab, shrimp, avocado jicama, pickled onion), the LECHE DE TIGRE (whitefish, spanish octopus, arbol chile oil cucumber, jicama) and the KONA KANPACHI (kanpachi, cucumber-chamomile water serrano, pickled red onion, radish).

Upon first bite, we literally could not stop talking about this dish. It was an immediate burst of flavor that was complex and delicious. It was an intense feeling of pleasure, curated from the best of the sea.

The star of the evening was the IBERICO PORK FAJITAS (al pastor-marinated, fajita-mixed vegetables with served with fresh-pressed blue corn tortillas salsa macha & cilantro dipping sauce).

To compliment, I ordered the CACTUS BLOSSOM (espadin mezcal, prickly pear, elderflower).

The cocktail was absolutely beautiful.

But the pork fajitas?

Beyond. This dish was incredible.

As with most nights out with Matt, our conversation hit some really beautiful moments. In reflection, we discussed the concept of happiness. Matt pondered the concept that happiness is a fallacy. Instead, it’s contentment, safety and security that matters most. Instead of striving toward something, happiness is satisfaction and acceptance of life.

It’s rare that a place lives up to expectations in Los Angeles. Dining with Matt at Encanto, from the warm reception from our server (looking at you, Civico 2064) to the absolutely outstanding cuisine, paired with exquisite interior design and you have an absolute hit of a spot for a quality night out in Los Feliz.

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