There are some restaurants where the food is the entire story and then there are restaurants where the people become part of it too. A recent visit to Mariscos Osuna in Watts ended up being beautiful bit of both.
My friend Dominique first discovered the backyard restaurant through Instagram and shared it with me, suggesting we visit. It was an immediate yes on my end and once our schedules aligned, we made our way there. Technically, the day began with a stop to get our auras photographed in Chinatown and then when the hunger began to set in, we went to Mariscos Osuna. Looking back on it, this was one of those perfectly LA kind of days where your plans somehow make complete sense even though they sound unusual when explained out loud. Aura photos and seafood in someone’s backyard? Doesn’t sound like a regular Saturday, but that’s ok.
Once we made our way from Chinatown to Watts, we arrived at Mariscos Osuna. After parking, walking through the front yard, and ringing the bell at the front window, we were seated in the backyard patio which in the moment felt like someone’s family gathering – that meant we immediately felt welcomed.
Sitting at the table and while looking over the menu, it hit me: I needed to practice my Spanish. It’s one thing to practice with people I know, but with complete strangers—that’s another level of learning. So I took the opportunity and asked the staff if I could practice my Spanish with them. Thankfully, they said yes. And surprisingly, that only made our lunch better.
What followed was one of my favorite parts of the entire visit.
Between ordering, chatting, and laughing at my inevitable language mistakes, I was able to practice in a real-world setting with people over a subject I know, food. Doing so and asking if I could photograph the food while being made, gave Dominque and I the chance to go to the grill with the chef and see how it’s all done. As we watched our food being prepared, we spent time chatting with the owner. Learning that he’s from Nayarit, that his family works with him, and how much he loves cooking (all in Spanish) is what made the time joyous. Then, to see the care that went into the meal in between conversation before it ever reached our table made me appreciate it even more.
When the food arrived to the table, it was everything I hoped it would be.
A Piña Agua Fresca ($5), Rice ($3), and 1¼ lb Pescado Zarandeado ($50) arrived from the grill and was placed before us. The grilled fish didn’t come alone, it was served alongside handmade tortillas and pico de gallo salsa. While the presentation was simple, the flavor was anything but. Seasoned with juice from a squeezed orange, salt, and the char from the grill, the fish allowed its freshness to take center stage.
Like many whole fish preparations, it still contained bones, but neither Dominique nor I minded too much. We happily worked around them, pulling apart pieces of fish and building tacos with the handmade tortillas.
Each bite felt incredibly satisfying.
What I loved most about Mariscos Osuna wasn’t just the food, though the pescado zarandeado alone is worth the visit. But I loved how it felt to be there and what came with it. The conversations, hospitality, and the time to practice a language I’m really enjoying. The chance to step into the kitchen and meet the people behind the meal.
By the time we left, it felt like we had experienced something much bigger than lunch. And those are often the meals that I enjoy most.
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Address: 117 W. 107th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003
Phone: (323) 907-6588
Hours: Thursday through Monday – 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, closed Tuesday and Wednesday
Social: Instagram
