Nina N.

We took our firstborn friend out for her birthday dinner, which coincidentally was the actual restaurant's birthday. And we had a grand ole time. Each three of us ordered one item each from the pre fixe menu (at an absolutely steal btw) and the items were a flavormaxxing (our running joke of the night haha) bomb of Asian cultures. I ordered several fish based items that were light and filling, and accompanied it with a non alcoholic drink that tasted like tootsie rolls. The duck fat rice was super umami and it helped augment the flavors of my dishes. Lastly the dessert was a dream. Fruity and fragrant and light enough to eat. Don't let their name fool you- make this restaurant not only a first but many visits.

Tristan J.

First time customers. Had dinner last night with the family. For the the price of the pre-fix menu, I believe it was worth it. Food is to our liking. Ambiance is simple and inviting. Attentive staff.

Aheeka M.

Inside Chinatown's Mandarin Plaza sits firstborn with indoor and patio seating. This is a 4-course prix fixe menu, coming out to $68/person, before taxes and fees. I've come here two times - with a 5:30 p.m. reservation - and enjoyed the food, service, and ambiance. Pro-tip #1: Do not get their bread & butter starter; it is an absolute waste of money - a mate of mine went only to find out that it is a literal small smear of butter. The price is outrageous at $6 for 3 small pieces of bread and $5 for that butter smear - I promise you, this is not worth your money whatsoever. The first time I came here, we got bar seating and shared everything: 0. DRINKS & AMUSE-BOUCHE 0.1. Hojicha Milk Punch: Kettl Fuuka Hojicha, Cara Cara Orange Zest + Juice - $16 I do not recommend this - all I tasted was the yoghurt. 0.2. Celery root blini, creme fraiche, N25 ossetra caviar, reduction of apple and black vinegar - $15 A little too much apple reduction & balsamic vinegar, but otherwise, 8/10 - a little more caviar would be good. 1. COURSE 1: APPETISER 1.1. Wagyu Beef Tongue Carpaccio: Fermented kohlrabi, mala vinaigrette, arugula I didn't get the appeal of the Wagyu beef tongue - I have a lot of lengua (tongue) tacos and this honestly tasted like every other tongue I've had. The mala vinaigrette was gorgeously mouth-tingly, but I could have done with a little bit more kohlrabi and arugula; after a bite, I did feel a little heavy; despite it being a muscle, it doesn't taste anything iron-y like liver would. 1.2. Trout Tartare: Oro blanco, preserved chilies, jasmine Oh so absolutely fresh - I loved that I could taste the jasmine in a subtle manner & it was balanced perfectly with just the right amount of spicy kick from the preserved chillies, with the citrus juice from the oro blanco truly making this such a stellar "spring" dish with the trout. The gelee jasmine that was served was the right amount of tartiness with the oro blanco that I had knew I had to come back a second time to have it again. 2. COURSE 2: APPETISER 2.1. Duck Sausage en Crépinette: Apple condiment, red braised daikon, swiss chard It's a hefty, single (but not fatty or heavy) meatball and I personally found you only need a little bit of the condiment as it's sweet. 2.2. Stuffed Morels: Tofu and mushroom parfait, young peas, green garlic, buddha's hand This. This is the SINGLE dish that I would get again and again. It was such a fresh, refreshing, light, citrus-y, mildy chewy dish, perfectly balanced with young peas & green garlic. 3. COURSE 3: ENTREE 3.1. Grilled Short Rib: Black garlic, cabbage and leek terrine, yuxiang, pepper jus So rich, but not heavy; almost like it was a mole sauce - the beef was super tender. 3.2. Roasted Local Fish: Preserved mustard, green Sichuan, fennel, glass noodles Delicious, fresh, and light. 4. COURSE 4: DESSERT 4.1. Vanilla Sponge: Red bean, oolong, blackcurrent, blackberry Light sponge, delicous sauce; well made and not-too-sweet - a high compliment. 4.2. Lime Leaf Curd: Cashew, coconut, white chocolate This literally took me back to my childhood in Southeast Asia - I absolutely loved - LOVED - the strong lime leaf flavour, paired with the --Loved the seafood dishes because everything I got was fresh, citrus-y and light dishes; the meat dishes were a little heavier in the mouthfeel & sweeter due to the sauces they came with. The second time, we did patio seating & shared everything, except the last dish: 0. DRINKS 0.1. Oaxacan Old Fashioned: Agua Del Sol Espadin, Empirical Ayuuk, Be Bright Alo Faficho Natural, Fresh Passionfruit, Mole Bitters, Orange Coin Strong and well-made; definitely recommend. 0.2. Lacto Blueberry Fizz: Seedlip Grove, Lacto-Fermented Blueberries, Lemon, Soda - $14 Refreshing; good non-alcoholic option. 1. COURSE 1: APPETISER 1.1. Wagyu Beef Tongue Carpaccio 1.2. Trout Tartare 2. COURSE 2: APPETISER 2.1. Duck Sausage en Crépinette 2.2. Stuffed Morels 3. COURSE 3: ENTREE 3.1. Dry-aged Liberty Duck (for 2): Oolong-scented chestnut purée, grilled cauliflower, blackberries We got our own plate with duck and it so well made with a crispy skin and tender duck meat, paired perfectly with the chestnut purée. This is a must order - having tried other items from that course, I strongly recommend it. 4. COURSE 4: DESSERT 4.1. Vanilla Sponge: Red bean, oolong, blackcurrent, blackberry 4.2. Banana Pudding: Rum gel, tonka cream, brown butter Awesome crunch; lovely, thick gel texture; yummy butteryness. Service was great - attentive, not-too-talkative or hovering, and consistent. I do recommend, like others, coming earlier - with a reservation - because after 6 p.m., they get extremely busy and packed. You can park in the parking lot that this building is in for $10 (cash) or you can try to find street parking anywhere in Chinatown - depending on the day, you might get lucky. Pro-tip #2: There is a 3% service charge added to each bill, but you can ask for it to be removed, otherwise factor that into your tip.

Alex H.

My partner and I had an incredible dining experience at Firstborn. The food was absolutely amazing from start to finish. The highlights of the night were the celery root blini with crème fraîche and Ossetra caviar, the trout tartare, the duck sausage, and the grilled short ribs. And a special shoutout to the fried boneless chicken leg -- it was goddamn delicious! The wine list is exciting. It has some hard-to-find aged bottles. We scored a bottle of 2007 François Cotat Sancerre. Cotat is one of the most iconic Sancerre producers, and because his wines are built to age, finding a 2007 vintage on the menu here was a massive treat. While we didn't dive into the proper cocktail menu, my partner ordered the non-alcoholic Hojicha Orange Milk Punch, which was phenomenal, and judging by how beautiful the drinks at neighboring tables looked, I'd assume their cocktail program is strong. Service was stellar. Lisa, who helped us navigate the wine list, was lovely! She was incredibly generous, offering us a few complimentary pours of other wines to taste. Will definitely revisit to try other menu items and their cocktails!

Karissa L.

I had a nice drink on a weekday evening. The two bartenders were skilled, kind, and attentive. The bar and reading nook are perfect for a cozy, candlelit conversation. My favorite menu item was the Szechuan fried chicken. The spice was addictive. I would come back if I were in the area for another art event or to meet a friend after work. This day I ordered the Sunchoke & Date cocktail for $20. After tax, tip, and kitchen fee it was $26.21.

Audrey F.

Firstborn is located inside of Chinatown's Mandarin Plaza, which has its own parking structure that costs $5. The restaurant is fairly low key -- dim lights, a small bar area, and on the quieter side. It's a small plate situation so my friend and I got 5 dishes. Everything tasted great and I especially enjoyed the warm honeynut squash and the chongqing fried chicken. The rice is made with duck fat but I don't taste much of a difference, so that's the only thing I'd skip on. Service is very attentive and friendly.

M M.

This place is a. Hidden gem in china town When I first discovered it they had just been opened 1 days I came back few months later to grab a drink and service is great, Great drinks and got to only try out Duck fat rice and cocktails I plan to come back for dinner was already impressed too bad my stomach was fill for any other meals

Arianna S.

I'm back y'all -- with another review, mkay mkayyy So boom, my homegirl just had a birthday (shoutout to her! ), and she wanted to try something new, so we scurried over to this spot. They offer a prix fixe menu with optional add-ons, and baby... they did what needed to be done. We started with the fried boneless leg of chicken with morita chili crisp jus and soy pickles -- and this? A strong start. Course 1: Trout tartare, oro blanco, preserved chilies, jasmine Super refreshing and honestly tasted way better than it looked (no shade ). Course 2: Duck sausage en crépinette, apple condiment, red braised daikon, Swiss chard I was really looking forward to this one because I love duck, and it did not disappoint. Course 3: Grilled short rib, black garlic, cabbage and leek terrine, yuxiang, pepper jus Now THIS... the short rib was everything I needed it to be. Succulent, flavorful, and cooked just right. Dessert: I'm not even gonna hold you... I don't remember exactly what it was, but I do remember it being good The service was great too -- our server was knowledgeable and really knew the menu, which I always appreciate. If you're in the area, definitely stop by and show them some love. P.S. We Ubered, so I can't confidently speak on parking... but wishing you luck if you drive

Walt B.

Everything tasted interesting and adventurous. Almost nothing tasted yummy. The dish that came closest was the Vanilla Sponge dessert. Despite the dull description, the four layers offered different, complimentary flavors and textures. My companions liked the artichokes appetizer, duck sausage and duck breast. But my overwhelming sense of the dishes was that they were meant to impress, but not necessarily to be enjoyed. And I didn't.

Mary H.

Firstborn is a cute and aesthetic spot located in Chinatown. Perfect for a night out with friends or date night. We were able to snag free street parking about 2 blocks away, but otherwise it looks like mostly metered parking. We arrived for our 6:30 reservation on a Friday evening and the place was nearly empty. But once 7 PM hit, the tables were packed. They unveiled their DineLA menu a bit early but we wanted to try more options and the DineLA menu didn't have what we were looking for. Amongst two, we shared the clam gnocchi, sweet potatoes, fried chicken, BBQ cabbage, and beef short rib, as well as the ginger cookie for dessert. I got a Paloma drink, which had a Szechuan numbing spice aspect to it but was otherwise pretty simple (not sure if it was worth the price tag of around $18-20, but this is LA). I thought the food was good, with some standouts and others not extremely memorable in my opinion. I personally thought the sweet potatoes were ok. They didn't feel like anything I was rushing to order again. The clam gnocchi I was quite looking forward to trying, but found to be mostly salty and one dimensional. It had some crunchy bites, which I liked, and would've wanted more of. And the clams were lacking, too. Also, sadly, the texture of the gnocchi wasn't doing it for me. Things improved with the fried chicken and BBQ cabbage. The fried chicken is excellent. Great crispiness and loved the chili oil. No complaints. The serving is also quite large with 5 big pieces, including 2 large drumsticks. The cabbage was also nice and tender with good flavor. By this point in the meal I was actually pretty full, so our previous dishes would have been plenty for 2 people if you're trying to stay a bit more budget friendly, as the short rib, our entree, was $65 or so. The dish had good flavor, was tender, and felt like a reasonable portion. We opted for that instead of the duck and I think it was a fair choice, though I would be curious to see how it compares. The ginger cookie dessert was a nice finishing touch. I liked the various components and thought it had some fun textures and good balance of flavor. It felt different than other desserts I've had before. Service was stellar - our waitress was very helpful, friendly, and checked in many times. Dishes were changed out each course and our table cleaned. Overall, pretty good experience! I might return in the future to try the duck, but otherwise I think I checked this one off the list.

Tammy L.

Great place, great service, very delicious food! Located in China town - doesn't look like much outside, but when you walk in, the ambiance is cozy and chique. Our waiter, Daniel, was very informative, went over the menu and answered all our questions- Making it easy for us to decide between all the options. We ordered 9 dishes and 3 desserts - perfect for our table of 4 - we walked out STUFFED and well worth it. Portions and prices were good for what we ordered. Everything was sooo good and had an umami-ness to it. My favorites were the wagyu tongue (tasted a little like pho), sweet potatoes ( would come back and order 2 next time), BBQ cabbage, egg custard, Fried Chicken (I've never had that crunch before!), their duck fat rice, and their ginger cookies for dessert! *You cannot go wrong with anything you order on the menu, Highly recommend making reservations! 10 out of 10 for me! Enjoy.

Adam C.

I saw this restaurant pop up on Eater and YouTube and was interested in trying it. It's a newer spot, located in the northern part of Chinatown in LA. I would say that the prix fixe menu is worth a try, if you're even remotely curious about trying anything on their menu. The options are solid, and the price point is modest for an upscale dinner. I think the courses were good overall, and the flavors were generally interesting. I will also say that I didn't think there was much in the way that will really blow you away, if you've dabbled in a decent amount of finer dining. The interior decor is nice. The bathroom is nice. Both are what you'd expect from a higher end place, and I think they reflect that this is a going to be a trendy spot for diners who want to splurge a little bit without breaking the bank. Service is attentive and pleasant. I have no complaints. The parts of the dishes that stood out most to me were the cabbage and leek terrine (from the Grilled Short Rib dish) and the red braised daikon (from the duck sausage dish). On recommendation from my server, I had the Hojicha Milk Punch, which was definitely more of a taste of oolong and green tea rather than any sort of milk or punch. It mostly just tasted like tea. While pleasant, I do not think I would get it again, as I look for a more interesting taste for a $16 mocktail. My least favorite parts of the dinner, though not bad at all per se, were the sourdough and duck fat rice supplements that I decided to also try on top of the four prix fixe courses. The sourdough and butter were pleasant, although I did not feel as if it was special versus other bread and butter I have had at other establishments. The duck fat rice was truly underwhelming and ultimately just tastes like ... rice, with a hint of oily chicken broth flavor (even if it is duck fat). From what my server told me, the menu is supposedly going to be rotated out every few months to keep things fresh. I may visit again if I see a menu that catches my eye.

Bryan R.

The food was absolutely delish there were some misses for me just based on my taste preference. Wasn't a fan of the pumpkin just because it wasn't what I expected but also not mad about it. Service was great, would recommend coming earlier when opening because when it gets busy it gets busy. Overall great when it comes to coursing food and swapping plates. Servers are soft spoken and it echos inside, so me being partially deaf was struggling a bit. Ambiance was beautiful, subtle, minimal but clean. Overall felt like someone's home in the best way possible (straight out of magazine). 9/10 rating. Price for 3 with two cocktails and 8 dishes (two not pictured)