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
