Latin American cuisines are front and center during L.A.'s Dine Latino Restaurant Week

"Over 200 Latino restaurants throughout L.A. County are participating in Dine Latino Restaurant Week with prix-fixe menus, discounts and special dishes from May 12-24."

"When last summer's raids resulted in an evening curfew in downtown L.A., with many businesses forced to shut down or close early, Latino-owned restaurants were hit the hardest. Many employees didn't feel safe coming into work, leading to staff shortages, and some of the restaurants' usual clientele stopped coming in for fear of being targeted by agents."

""I feel like [Latino restaurants] are kind of being a little bit attacked or suffering because of matters outside of their day-to-day operations," said chef Agustin Romo, owner of Peruvian restaurant Casa Chaskis. "We're struggling. Everything from food [and] produce to rent.""

"In Long Beach, Casa Chaskis will serve a prix-fixe menu with beef empanadas (or a vegan alternative), chaufa with pollo or tofu and passion fruit juice for $22. Lugya'h, a popular stall for Oaxacan cuisine in West Adams' Maydan Market, will offer mini tlayudas with a choice of protein (chorizo, tasajo, morcillla or veggies), an appetizer dip (mole, guacamole or a surprise salsa), an agua fresca (hibiscus or horchata) and hibiscus jelly for $35."

Over 200 Latino restaurants across Los Angeles County participate in Dine Latino Restaurant Week from May 12 to May 24, offering prix-fixe menus, discounts, and special dishes. The event is hosted by the Latino Restaurant Assn. and represents culinary traditions from 20 Latin American countries. The fifth anniversary comes after a difficult year for Latino restaurants, including ICE raids that led to curfews, closures, staff shortages, and reduced customer traffic due to safety concerns. Chef Agustin Romo described ongoing struggles with food and produce costs and rent. Participating restaurants include Casa Chaskis in Long Beach with a $22 menu and Lugya'h in West Adams with a $35 set featuring mini tlayudas, dips, agua fresca, and hibiscus jelly.

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