Slideshow

What to Eat and Drink at Zengo, Open in Santa Monica Place

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Charred won ton tuna tacos

L.A.’s growing Asian-Mexican fusion movement hurdled into the spotlight this year, leaving a trail of tacos in its wake bearing various Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, and Japanese influences. If you find such inventive additions to our collective city menu as Roy Choi’s kim chi chow with chicharrónes or Xoia’s lemongrass carnitas to be a thrilling reflection of our local culture, you’ll find yourself in a Wonderland at Richard Sandoval’s Zengo, now open at Santa Monica Place. Wanna see the menu and food photos?

Co-owned by Placido Domingo, there are locations already in Denver and New York, but with perfect timing, the menu speaks to our current fusion through endless marriages of strong Asian and Latin flavors that are even fun just to ponder. Among them are Peking duck tacos in shells of thinly sliced daikon, arepas stuffed with achiote-hoisin pork, chipotle-terriyaki chicken wings, charred tuna in wonton-shell tacos, and sweet ‘n sour rice noodles with pork shoulder carnitas, as well as refreshing takes on sushi, tiradito, ceviche, and salads. Cocktails employ spirits like aguardiente, shochu, and agave in new ways like a pomelo-mescal margarita or Mekhong pina horchata. Imagine the possibilities while perusing Zengo’s full dinner and drink menus below and check out some Sandoval food porn in this slide show.

Zengo, 395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica. 310-899-1000.

Zengo Dinner Menu

Ceviches & tiraditos

seafood ceviche 13
shrimp / octopus / calamari / aji panca /
heart of palm / orange / serrano / bonito

california sea bass ceviche 12
aji amarillo / red onion / cucumber / apple /
tomato / shiso

tasting of 2 ceviches 16

hamachi tiradito 13
radish / sriracha / apple / mint / ponzu

wagyu beef tiradito 14
miso mustard / citrus soy / sesame /
green onion

Dim Sum & Antojitos

edamame
salted 5 xo style (non veg) 7

thai chicken empanadas 10
chile poblano / oaxaca cheese / mango-curry salsa

shrimp-vegetable potstickers 10
red chile-dashi sauce

pork-mushroom gyoza 10
black vinegar-soy sauce

achiote-hoisin pork arepas 9
corn masa / avocado / crema fresca

charred tuna wonton tacos 12
sushi rice / mango salsa / guacamole

peking duck-daikon tacos 12
duck confit / curried apple /orange-coriander sauce

thai shrimp lettuce wraps 12
chorizo / peanut / cilantro / tamarind chutney

chipotle-teriyaki chicken wings 12
scallion / sesame

From the Land

braised beef short ribs 14
manchego cheese-huitlacoche potato puree / shiitake / dragon sauce

chicken tandoori 12
masala-achiote roasted chicken / black bean dal / cilantro & mango salsas

crispy tofu 11
napa cabbage / lemon aioli / sesame chile sauce

wagyu skirt steak churrasco 14
onion tempura / mustard chimichurri sauce /chipotle egg sauce

beef tenderloin palomilla 16
sauteed bell pepper-onion / ginger-serrano sauce

noodles & rice

pork carnitas rice noodles 11
pork shoulder / mushroom / cashew / soft egg /hot ’n sour sauce

beef short rib udon noodles 11
shiitake / asparagus / basil / cilantro /hoisin broth

wok fried rice 8
duck / shrimp / pork / egg / carrot / scallion
vegetarian upon request

steamed jasmine rice 5

Sushi Rolls

chipotle yellowfin tuna roll 13
yellowfin tuna / wasabi tobiko / avocado /sesame-chipotle rouille

torched wagyu beef roll 14
tamago / scallion / masago / truffled ponzu

volcano roll 13
seared salmon / peekytoe crab / cucumber /chipotle aioli

vegetariano roll 10
grilled asparagus / red pepper / avocado /lemon-sake aioli

unagi masago roll 13
eel / masago / avocado / tempura flake / kabayaki

Soup
chipotle miso soup 4
tofu / tomato / wakame / truffle oil

hot & sour egg drop soup 7
foie gras-pork dumplings / enoki /green onion

Salad
wakame-hijiki seaweed salad 9
cucumber / carrot / daikon / apple /ginger dressing

crunchy calamari 11
lemongrass / mixed greens /orange-coriander sauce

tuna tataki 12
avocado / kaiware sprout / tomato /heirloom baby carrot / mixed greens /lemon-wasabi dressing

give ‘n take chicken salad 11
togarashi candied pecan / orange / cabbage /piloncillo-ginger vinaigrette

From the Sea
chipotle-miso glazed black cod 16
daikon radish / lemon-togarashi aioli

pan-seared california sea bass 14
pineapple salsa / saffron-dashi ponzu

scallops al mojo de ajo 14
bacon-corn-edamame salsa / roasted garlic soy /yuzu-sriracha aioli

grilled achiote salmon 13
sauteed mushroom / bacon / achiote ponzu

Vegetables
yucca fries 6
roasted sweet plantains 6
manchego cheese-huitlacoche potato puree 6
fingerling potatoes 6
asparagus 6

Latin-Asian Cocktails

Sugarcane

Cucumber Mojito 10
rum / midori / cucumber / mint

Mango Mojito 10
rum / mango / mint / lime

Hibiscus Mojito 10
rum / hibiscus / mint / lime

Prickly Pear Caipirinha 9
cachaça / prickly pear / lime / brown sugar

Mekhong Pina Horchata 11
thai rum / pineapple / horchata

Agave

Tamarind-Togarashi Margarita 11
blanco tequila / tamarind / citrus / togarashi salt

Pomelo Mezcal Margarita 11
mezcal / fresh pomelo / citrus / grapefruit bitters

Kumquat TBD Margarita 11
Tanteo Tropical / kumquat / tbd

Strawberry Hibiscus Margarita 11
tbd

Grain

Sake Sangria 9
sake / red wine / mango / apple / passion fruit / pineapple

Limonada de Fresa 11
vodka / lemon / strawberry / sour mix

Cardamom-Guava 12
gin / cardamom syrup / guava

Ginger-Naranja 11
vodka / sake / orange / ginger

SAKES BY THE GLASS

Kirinzan 11
Junmai / Niigata
delicate white flower aroma / crisp and dry finish

Kikusui Organic 15
Junmai Ginjo / Niigata
soft texture and light fruity aroma / brewed in classic
niigata style

Manotsuru Four Diamonds 17
Junmai Ginjo / Niigata
tropical fruit notes on the nose / complex,
earthy finish

Dassai 50 11
Junmai Ginjo / Yamaguchi
light and clean / fruity ginjo aromas / crisp finish

Daku 13
Nigori Junmai / Niigata
mild and creamy / juicy pineapple on the
nose / velvety finish

Yoshinogawa Gensen Karakuchi 7
Honjozo Extra Dry / Akita
extra dry / grassy aromas / sharp, palate cleansing finish

Minato Tsuchizaki Yamahai 10
Honjonzo / Akita
hearty and tangy / perfect for richer dishes

SHOCHUS BY THE GLASS

Yokaichi Mugi 8
barley / takara shuzo
rocks / splash of water

Sudachi 9
citrus / nishi shuzo
rocks / shiso / splash of club soda

Mizuho Awamori 13
okinawa rice / mizuho
rocks / splash of soy milk

Towari Soba 15
buckwheat / takara shuzo
rocks / honey / splash of black tea

Kiccho Hozan Imo 8
sweet potato / nishi shuzo
rocks / wedge of lemon

Tomino Hozan 22
sweet potato / nishi shuzo
rocks / splash of grapefruit

Tori Kai Kome 24
japanese rice / torikaishu
neat / hot water on the side

WINES BY THE GLASS

Sparkling
Vilarnau Brut / Spain / NV 12

Mont Marcal Cava / Brut Rosado / Spain / NV 11

White
Chenin Blanc / Indaba / South Africa / 2009 8

Torrontes / Urban Uco / Spain / 2009 9

Sauvignon Blanc / Mapema / Argentina / 2009 10

Riesling / Nik Weis “Urban” / Germany / 2009 9

Pinot Gris / Hugel ‘Gentil’ / France / 2008 10

Chardonnay / Arboleda / Chile / 2008 10

Rosé
Garnacha / Vega Sindoa / Spain / NV 8

Red
Malbec / Michel Torino “Don David” / Argentina / 2008 11

Cabernet / MontGras Reserve / Chile / 2008 10

Shiraz / Yalumba / Australia / 2008 10

Blend / Can Blau / Spain / 2008 13

Tempranillo / Zuazo Gaston Rioja / Spain / 2007 10

Pinot Noir / Puerto Viejo / Chile / 2009 10

LATIN-ASIAN BEERS

Asian

China Tsing Tao 6
India Kingfisher 7
Japan Kirin Ichiban 6
Japan Sapporo 7
Laos Beer Lao 6
Thailand Singha 7
Singapore Tiger 7
Vietnam 33 Export 6

Latin

Argentina Quilmes 7
Costa Rica Imperial 6
DR Presidente 7
Jamaica Dragon Stout 7
Mexico Corona 6
Mexico Dos Equis Amber 6
Mexico Negra Modelo 6
Mexico Pacifico 6
Mexico Tecate 6
Mexico Bohemia 6
Peru Cusquena 6

What to Eat and Drink at Zengo, Open in Santa Monica Place