Oaxaka blends Mexican, Asian flavors

The vibe: We definitely went on the earlier side, so we were initially the only ones at the restaurant.

• Oaxaka has few indoor tables and bar seating.
• If you're willing to brave the summer heat, there's also outdoor seating and a bar window with stools (think Hollywood's version of a Miami ventanita).

What we ate: We started with chips & guac ($8), wakame salad ($7), tuna nachos ($19), a cheese quesadilla ($14) and the tuna tower ($19).

• My fiancé was obsessed with the passionfruit juice ($6).
• We quickly realized we ordered three variations of tuna and seaweed salad but had zero regrets.
• Some of us then ordered the carnitas burrito ($16), carnitas bowl ($16), tuna cruda bowl ($21) and the beef short rib bowl ($21).
• The Mexican bowls come with your choice of protein, lime white rice, black beans, cheese and salsa.

Best bites: We loved all the appetizers that we ordered, but we likely could have done without the extra wakame salad.

• The bowls and burritos were flavorful and the beef and carnitas were especially tender.

Yes but: Don't overdo the appetizers. The portion sizes are generous.

• Be prepared with a backup entrée choice because the restaurant ran out of the short rib and only had enough for one bowl.