Casa Leo is a new Spanish Tapas restaurant at the corner of Los Feliz and Hillhurst offering modern, avant-garde Spanish in a trendy setting. I came on a Thursday evening with a friend at opening and we were immediately seated. Our waitress was exceptional, walking us through the entire menu and specials from memory, expressing spectacular knowledge of the restaurant, sharing her favorites, what items we could skip, the "must trys", how to consume the soup (sip, don't spoon!) and taking care of us consistently throughout the evening. We began with the Gazpacho ($10), a light, cool, creamy tomato soup with a drizzle of olive oil that was a perfect, refreshing starter. Following was the Ancient Grain and Radicchio salad ($18), an immaculate blend of flavors - hearty grains, acidic lemon dressing, crispy walnuts, a tangy umami cheese, vibrant grassy mint, sweet strawberries, all covered in coarse finishing salt. Truly, all flavor profiles - every taste receptor - was captured in this plate. Next was the Seasonal Coca ($17) , pizza analog with sweet squash which too provided a great contrast of flavors and an excellent crust. Finishing was the Trout Escabeche ($21), a beautiful, perfectly cooked fillet drenched in a delectable broth brimming with flavor. We finished with Helen's Cheesecake ($10), which was delectable - a fluffy, airy center, top covered with a firm, yet light creme, atop a solid crust base. The texture and subdued flavors were unique and the perfect completion for the meal. The acclaim this Cheesecake gets is entirely deserved. It is rare that all dishes are winners, but Casa Leo delivered hit after hit. The Ancient Grain Salad, Trout, and Cheesecake were the winners. By the time we left almost two hours later, the place was packed full of like-minded foodies eagerly enjoying this savory Spanish sanctuary. Prices, above, are slightly elevated for the small plates, but very reasonable for the quality. With flawless fare and supreme staff, Casa Leo is an absolute must-visit, and worth a detour for anyone looking for a unique, Spanish-inspired experience they will remember for weeks to come. ¡Hasta Pronto Leo! I'll be seeing you again soon. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Value: 4/5 read more

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Excellent experience from start to finish. We were treated like regulars the moment we walked in, and the host genuinely seemed happy to see us. Vibe not pretentious and food wasn't overly precious. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and gave thoughtful recommendations. The owner/chef even came by to check on us and spent time chatting, which added to the warm neighborhood feel of the place. They were also extremely accommodating with dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. No full bar, but the sangrias were excellent with great flavors, and the wine list was approachable rather than overwhelming. Nice touch that everything is available by the glass, carafe, or bottle, with bottles still being the best value. The vermouth on ice with dessert was fantastic. Every dish was excellent. The strawberry gazpacho was a fun twist, and the artichoke hummus rivaled the hummus at Saffy's, though in a different style. I also noticed the very high-quality olive oil across multiple dishes, which says a lot about the attention to detail. Heads up, they seem to have a cult around their cheese cake, every staffer mentioned it and waxed poetic (as do many reviews). :-) We'll do it next time but opted for the flan which did not disappoint -- texture and flavor spot on. This feels like a place that wants to become a true neighborhood spot. The long bar seems ideal for casual walk-ins or solo diners looking for a quick bite and a glass of wine. We went all out, but you could easily order a couple of plates and a drink and leave very happy. Portion sizes were generous for a tapas-style restaurant. A great addition to the neighborhood and absolutely worth a visit. Fills a niche in the area. read more

Great addition to the neighborhood! Decided to try this place based on Yelp reviews which is hit or miss lol. We loved this place. The food was delicious. Quality of ingredients superb. Flavor delicious. We cleaned our plates. The tuna crudo was some of the best tuna I've ever had, like buttah. In a sauce of chili olive oil. The mushroom coca was divine. The shrimp gamba was garlicky good. The tomato manchego tomato toast was just ok. Cheesecake light and flavorful. And the service was perfect. Shout out to Kevin who was the perfect mix of friendly and professional, and on it with refilling water, etc. Parking lot in the back $10 with lazy kid who told us to get our own car when we came out lol. Will definitely be returning . Yum. read more

Casa Leo - Mushroom coca - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Food 5/5: everything was amazing and service was amazing by Jesus G. ! Definitely very few Spanish restaurants in LA and this is one of the good ones. Fresh ingredients with rich sauce. Service 5/5 Jesus fantastic customer service. Ambiance 5/5: clean and modern. read more

Casa Leo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Gorgeous interior, friendly service and exceptional cheesecake! Unfortunately the rest of the food was just okay. read more

Casa Leo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The food was amazing thought everything was a bit spicy. The service was amazing and I thought the people there were really nice.

Casa Leo was such a great experience and I need more people to go. Everything I tried was genuinely delicious and felt really thoughtfully done. The crudo was a standout for me, with this almost batata brava-style sauce on top, peppers, and really great olive oil. It was such a unique take and honestly one of the best crudos I've had. The chef studied with master paella chefs in Barcelona and you can tell. I'd never had paella made with noodles and cuttlefish before and it was so interesting and different in the best way. I heard people come back just for that dish, and I totally get why. We also loved the beans, which were snap pea-like but not quite, super fresh and addictive. Even my boyfriend who usually skips vegetables kept reaching for them and we're still thinking about them. The gamba al ajillo was another highlight. Classic flavors but with a twist that tasted like brandy or something slightly sweet and caramelized, almost like ignited alcohol notes in the best way. It elevated the whole dish. And the flan was incredible. I usually don't order flan because my grandma's is hard to beat, but this one had this subtle Caribbean warmth, almost like cardamom and orange. The texture was perfect. I still want to go back and try the Basque cheesecake next. Overall, 5 out of 5. Perfect for date night, a group dinner, or just a really good meal you'll think about after. read more

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There are many things to commend this lovely spot. When we arrived, the hosts greeted us warmly and we immediately felt welcome. The restaurant has been designed with care. It has good lighting, acoustics that allow for conversation, nice music selection, comfortable chairs, stable tables (so over tables that wobble!), and attractive tableware. We are not huge eaters so the two of us shared three dishes. The roasted eggplant was delicious. There was acid from the tomatoes, char from the eggplant, pepper from the olive oil, and umami from roasted hazlenuts. Still thinking about it a day later and would order it again. We also had the mushroom ragu coca, which was a well-seasoned umami bomb, and the oxtail, which was tender and full of savory concentrated flavor. We practically licked the plates. Our server was super nice and friendly but sometimes the service didn't match the excellence of the kitchen. For example, I ordered a glass of white wine and it didn't come before or with our first dish (the eggplant). When I asked the server if he could please bring it, his reply was "They are making it." I mean, it's a glass of wine, right? And don't you want to get it to me right away so you can offer me a second glass later that better pairs with the oxtail? And don't you want to suggest an extra coca to mop up the glorious olive oil on the plate? Our server did not ask if I wanted more wine, didn't clear dirty plates at the end of the meal, and didn't even try to temp us with dessert. I could understand if the restaurant was booked tightly and they needed to turn a table but we had been there barely an hour and the place was half empty. Another odd thing: when we ordered the oxtail, which is one of the pricier menu items, the waiter warned us that it would take 45 minutes to come to the table. Frankly I didn't believe him - because that didn't make sense to me given how oxtail is prepared - so we ordered it anyway and it came out about 20 minutes later. It would be a shame to discourage people from ordering this amazing dish. My husband initially wanted to change our order when he heard about the wait and we are so glad we didn't. I write all this so that management has an opportunity to get specific feedback from new customers who plan to become regulars. Once the front of house and kitchen are more aligned in excellence, this place will be 5 stars! Try it! We will be back. read more

I absolutely love this place. The food is delicious and well executed and thought through! The wait staff were so cute and attentive, there was just a happy wholesome vibe. Try the mushroom pizza thing. i forget what it is listed on the menu!! OMG YUM. I felt so comfortable and happy to spend my money there coming off a very bad experience from Wilde's this was so refreshing. I will def be back and bring others with me. read more

Casa Leo was as the kids say, MID. Caesar salad - while it looks beautiful it is the most flavorless Caesar salad. I will say the lettuce was fresh and beautiful. I can appreciate locally sourced produce. Marinated Olives - these were fun and I appreciated the warmth the cinnamon brought to these. Tuna Crudo - it was ok overall for flavor. All the components were good and FRESH but I think a pinch of finishing salt would have helped pull this together. Mushroom Coca - this was the best savory dish. Delicious bread, pesto and shroomies! Ox tail - I wanted to love this. I will say it was good, but lacked salt. Pork loin - cooked to a perfect temp just at mid rare, but again no salt! The taters that came with this were so good. They almost helped the pork loin with its bland coriander crust. Cheese Cake - objectively I can see how people love this. It was good just not my jam. Ricotta blueberry Cake - BOMB and get an Americano with it. The blueberry compote I want a bowl of it. I don't know if this is a restaurant that has cooking with no salt as apart of its ethos, but if it is I get it. I'd still come back, but with a salt shaker in my pocket. If it's not, what are we doing? Rationing flavor???? In general, if your vibe is low sodium, have a deep love for locally sourced fresh produce and quality ingredients, I'd say give this place a shot. read more

I was walking with my best friend who lives in Los Feliz and we noticed this little spot tucked in where Stamp used to be -- so decided to stop in on a whim for a late dinner. We were SO happy we did! This little restaurant is special, even while it still finds its footing with decor post-Stamp. Their sangria was gingery and yummy, the Caesar salad was really good, and the trout was probably one of my favorite fish dishes I've ever had. But let me tell you... the cheesecake stole the evening. This is the best cheesecake you're going to have. We were there late and the chef himself came out to see how our meal was going, and we got to talk to him about how the restaurant came to be, and the fact that his cheesecake recipe is a family friend's who made him promise to never give out the recipe. Apparently there is a sake / cheesecake pairing that I completely missed, so will be back for that! read more

Good restaurant in a quiet part of Los Angeles. Nice servers and ambience.... unique menu read more

This place is so cute and food was really good. It's so nice to have something new and different in the neighborhood. Staff was really great and accommodating. Will definitely be back! read more

Casa Leo - Caesar Salad - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Casa Leo is Los Feliz's BEST new restaurant. The food is remarkable, the staff is so kind, the design is beautiful, and I've loved every time I've been here. Chef Josh is just so talented. Absolutely add this to your list- you'll love it! read more

Casa Leo - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The food at Casa Leo is made with such intention and mastery of flavor and artistic presentation. Every item blew me away with flavor and freshness. I felt like we were in Spain! What a perfect contribution to our neighborhood this is my new favorite spot. Do not sleep on the cheesecake. It is absolutely beyond. Run don't walk to Casa Leo!!!!! read more

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Casa Leo is a really special restaurant, with incredible food, a beautiful ambiance, and the sweetest staff. We've been coming here since their soft opening, and always have the best experience. There's always a table open for walking in and everything from brunch to dinner is amazing. It's really a gem of a restaurant to have on Hillhurst and everyone needs to try it! Also if little doms is full, walk across the street for an amazing meal! read more

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Absolutely delicious food for dinner. The chef and owner approached us and couldn't have been friendlier. Designer so beautifully inside.

First time in, wanted to try desserts but was so full and satisfied after my meal that I'll have to go back soon. Mushroom coca was spectacular, gazpacho of the day (beet and yuzu kosho) was a perfectly balanced way to start, eggplant was delicious and I was glad I had coca crust to swipe it up with. Best meal in recent memory and I would never play say that lightly. They're brand new and working out staff scheduling, so make reservations if you can! read more

Food is great but small..... What is with the 4oz pour vino??? You confuse austerity with brevity. Live a little! read more

I think I just found my favorite spot in Los Feliz. We originally decided to come because we heard the owner previously worked with Jose Andres at The Bazaar, so we knew this has got to be good. And we were correct. First of all the service is impeccable. Our host was so kind, and funny - he explained every dish and he spoke to us like we were regulars, we felt really welcome. He even offered for the kitchen to make us more bread to sop up the sauce from the gambas (which I will get to). Chef Josh himself came to talk to us, which was so so cool! He's super chill and told us about working at The Bazaar to deciding to open his own restaurant, it was so interesting and refreshing to see the chef come talk to us and ask how we're liking everything. He didn't have to do that, but it shows he cares about the customers and the quality of the food. He even gave us an extra dessert he's been working on, and it was amazing. Ok onto what really matters - the food. Everything was delicious! I'm a huge sucker for Spanish tapas, and this place is exactly what the neighborhood needs. We basically had half the menu, but the highlights were the Jamon Iberico, the scallop ceviche, the corn and lardons cocas, and the gambas. We also got the special, which was a uni paella made with vermicelli, and it was really nice. For dessert, the cheesecake is probably one of the best I've ever had in my life. And the other dessert Chef Josh gave us was this light, palate-cleansing chocolate mousse. I really hope he decides to make it a permanent fixture on the menu. The place is very warm and welcoming, definitely where I can see being the go-to spot to catch up with friends or go out for a date on a Saturday night. I hope to come back here soon! read more

Just go! Soft opening! Amazing food and service. Only lunch hours for now but will have dinner hours in a month or so and liquor license next week fingers crossed. read more

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Food was just lacking. Not Spanish food. Maybe inspired? Dos bezos in Pasadena actually does good Spanish.

Had a fantastic experience at Casa Leo. Every dish was absolutely delicious, showcasing fresh ingredients, a touch of family-recipe warmth, and incredible Spanish flavors. Chef Joshua and our host Alex treated us with such genuine hospitality that we felt welcomed from the moment we walked in. The food, service, and atmosphere all came together to create a memorable evening. Can't wait to come back. read more

The menu called me in and the food will bring me back! Los Feliz needed a spot offering something different and the current brunch menu is more modest than nearby "same ole dishes"....but the food is in no way modest. A fine hand is at work in the kitchen with a creative approach. The Sea Trout Lox was superb. The melt in your mouth Tortilla Espanola reminded me of those I had in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Argomaniz in the Basque region. Thank you @casaleo.la read more

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I absolutely loved the food here. Absolutely Delicious!!! We had the Tuna Crudo, Mushroom Ragu Flatbread (Cocas), Trout, an eggplant dish and Flan. OMG they were all SOOO good! Truly excellent food with excellent service! Empty tables and I don't know why!!! I don't think they did good advertising for this place. I only saw it for the first time a few weeks ago. I really want them to stay so I am posting this review. Their prices were absolutely reasonable. Honestly, too low for the quality of the food. Our server Kevin was amazingly pleasant and professional. The ambience for dinner was cozy and cute. Check them out for sure! I am going back tomorrow! read more

Lovely ambiance, excellent food, great hospitality. I just thought the whole experience was really sublime, and very unexpected. There are a lot of other restaurants in the area that catch more hype, but this is the real deal. The standouts - the coca bread, which is definitely not pizza and not pita, but something entirely different and wonderful. And of course, the cheesecake. It was suggested to us that it would be the best cheesecake we've ever had, and I can't lie. That was true. I'll be returning to try more next time. Please give this place your business. read more

Excellent Ancient grains Salad, customer service, & has both lot and street parking options. Perfect lunch spot to meet friends or a business lunch. Comfortable setting & elevated food 10/10 . I need to come back to try their famous Cocas! I should have taken a photo before I ate it, but it was so good!! read more

Casa Leo - Ancient grains salad, excellent!!! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Everything at Casa Leo is fire. The food, the service, the ambiance, everything! We shared the tuna crudo, corn coca, torrijas, and the pan con tomate y manchego as well as some lattes for brunch. The tuna crudo was melt in your mouth delicious and so full of flavor. The coca was the perfect bite of summer with a hint of spicy from the Fresno chili. This is the perfect place to catch up with a friend over coffee and some shared plates. We love it and can't wait to come back and try more menu items! read more

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Last night's dinner at Casa Leo in Los Feliz was one of the best bites I've had all year. Everything was simple, honest, and incredibly well sourced -- exactly how it should be. For a moment, I felt transported straight to Spain, eating true tapas. Grateful to have a place like this just down the street. Very nice ambiance calm setting, friendly service. Dishes you can't miss: the Lionmane cocktail, the gazpacho, tuna crudo, eggplant, pan con tomate with manchego, corn coca, tuna conserva coca, and definitely don't leave without the cheesecake. I'll be back real soon! read more

Casa Leo - The menu - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Read an article about this being run by a Jose Andres Alumni. So thought we'd come try it. These are not tapas. -Zataar on pita bread ? Oh sorry "Cocca". We know the Spanish colonized everything but they didnt create everything. They definitely are NOT perfectionist either. -Pallets were blown out by the raw thick onions. Not a good bite. - it also states "CA" influence ; this person is most definitely a transplant & did not grow up here. -Ceviche has got to go, or whatever that was. -There was so much oil on plates , you could hear gas prices rising. It's obvious what's going on here. Someone is still living in the glory days. That's pretty "bizarre" * Overall ; Pretentious , Salty , & so much damn onion on certain dishes. - there's no identity. It's too try hard & dated. Felt forced & lacked soul. - this is food for old people that live in Los Feliz. ******Los Feliz is exactly a place like this needs to be...... read more

Ok just go there and try a bunch of stuff. It's all amazing. I could bore you with details of what I ate but honestly, everything is thoughtful and the chef (who we luckily met) is no joke. Quality quality quality. Great ambience, service, food and wine. Oh, and do not leave without a slice of the cheesecake! We actually ended up buying a whole one. Enjoy! read more

Excellent experience. The food, atmosphere, and service were top-notch. The tapas, especially the eggplant and scallops, were inventive and inspired. We loved the trout and oxtail. Well paired wines. Wonderful date spot but also a great laid back neighborhood spot. True gem. read more

I love this place. I come here regularly and it never disappoints! Try the cheesecake because it's the best I've ever had.

Best chicken skewers we had in our life. Word by word what they said after eating it. Great service and wonderful chef. Thank you read more

Casa Leo - Best chicken skewer my kids had in their life. Word by word what my kids said. Great service and amazing chef. - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Terrible... my second time I came here for my birthday I asked if I could order a glass of wine or a small appetizer and get a cheesecake on the house because that was what was promised to me (by Alex who wasnt there my 2nd time around) when I came in my first time. Also i confirmed with the male host working tonight and i called before coming and he said yes you get a cheesecake if its your birthday. Cool. So i show up and the host baits and switches the rule in person and says i need to order food. So i asked speak to the manager. and the chef / manager with a mole on his lower lip, with a white chef suit, who was being super vague making ish up, says I have to order 2 to 3 regular priced dinner items to get a slice of FREE cheesecake ( that cost $10 ) ... now why would I pay $70 for small tapas style portion food when they're being super greedy and stingy to offer a $.35 cent slice cheesecake LOL. Or when I can just pay $10 for their overpriced but delicious cheesecake myself without having to order any of their pork infested food i dont eat? Also, tell me why when the host was telling me about the menu, he counted like 7 items that were NOT available? Lol. Weird. Because of this poor experience, I genuinely hope this place fails miserably for how ridiculous and unwelcoming they are. Get out of my neighborhood transplants read more

Casa Leo - Cheesecake - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Just got back from their paella drop, which was so amazing I had to go hug the chef! Deep, rich flavors, perfectly cooked rice, and as a bonus, insanely cheap for what you get. ($22 for real truffles!) We also tried their gazpacho, which you will initially think is a glass of orange juice, it's a lovely yellow/orange smooth puree rather than a chunky gazpacho, totally different than anything we've ever had. Total knockout, I could have downed 4 of them. The chef is crazy talented, I cant wait to go back and try everything he cooks. Go there. Nice people that really care about what they are doing. read more

Casa Leo - Truffle paella, wow! - Tapas Bars Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The food makes you feel like you traveled to another country, it has unique good taste. The staff is friendly and helpful in making decisions. I like the seating and lighting it's ideal for eating food. read more

We had a superb dinner there on Wednesday, everything was delicious. There were four of us so we got to taste several dishes and all of them were unique in their flavors and delicious. The chef Joshua served some of the dishes discussed his inspirations. Perfect evening with friends. This is my first restaurant review, I thought so highly of it that I thought I'd share. read more

There's a lot of hidden gems in Los Feliz but none will make you feel as special as Casa Leo. From the moment you are greeted by the host, taken care by the server, and even personally greeted by the chef, you will feel like a regular from start to finish. The service is impeccable and that's saying a lot but the food (think tapas) was bar to none. I mean seriously I was on a food adventure from the first tapas to the last dish. I'm a sucker for ceviche so if I had to highlight any dish, the scallops ceviche is going to be ordered every single time I come back. Oh believe me when I say I'm coming back !!! read more

What a lovely place. Taste palette of the food is refreshingly delicious. Mediterranean cuisine flavor from Spain. Pleasant interior and friendly service. We enjoy our lunch at this place. Great for meeting with friends or enjoy quality food by solo. read more