Chef Jaytee Asis has brought a new concept to 4th Street Market: Tayabak by Dakine Grindz.
“Santa Ana has a very rich history,” said Asis in a phone interview. “It’s predominantly a Hispanic community, and Filipinos share a similar history. I wanted to introduce our culture with theirs and to show everyone what Filipino flavors are.”
Alongside his partners, Rianna Lapena and Emerson Baja (of Long Beach Lumpia), Asis offers a bevy of Pinoy fare, including different types of Lumpia that change on the daily; a vegan kare kare consisting of agedashi-style tofu, eggplant, bok choy and green beans; short rib Kaldereta poutine, a riff on the Filipino stew and the Canadian french-fry staple; adobo popcorn chicken; veggie pancit bihon, a noodle dish; and sinigang wings, crispy chicken wings tossed in a tamarind-garlic sinigang sauce and served with calamansi fries and tomato-onion relish or chili-garlic fried rice.
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Because nary a menu is complete without a smashburger, Asis prepares a bistek version in Oklahoma-style format (wherein a mound of wafer thin onion slices are fried and smashed into the beef patty on a hot griddle). The new space will also feature menu items from Long Beach Lumpia, including ube cheesecake and pizza in lumpia form.
Tayabak by Dakine Grindz (which means “that kind of food” or “the delicious food” in Hawaiian pidgin) had a quiet opening on Aug. 13. Dakine Grindz is a company Asis started five years ago, with Tayabak by Dakine Grindz being the first brick-and-mortar space of the budding brand.
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The official grand opening fete will be on Saturday, Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Guests can look forward to a live DJ, a photobooth on the front patio, plus a raffle to win a Labubu plush toy.
4th Street Market’s newest food spot comes on the heels of Jar:becue, a Korean-inspired Texas barbecue eatery by chef James Jung, which opened in July.
Tayabak by Dakine Grindz is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed on Mondays.
Find it: 201 E. 4th Street, Santa Ana