Masa 14, DC #3

Masa 14 is a Latin-Asian restaurant in the heart of the 14th Street restaurant district in Logan Circle. As one of Richard Sandoval's restaurants, I have been impressed with the cuisine on previous visits and have even partnered with them to give away gift cards on my blog in the past. So, I let the manager know I was coming this time and I say that to let you know that I definitely received some special attention, but I will also say that nothing they offered me couldn't be offered to any other diner who requests it.

Masa 14 has many items that either can be veganized or are already vegan on the menu. After ordering a bottle of wine, we started with the Crispy Soy-Glazed Okra, which normally has milk in its batter, but can be made without it upon request. This has always been a favorite dish of mine -- the okra is very crispy and the glaze brings a bit of sweetness to the dish that is complemented by the red chili ponzu.

My favorite dish was the Pennsylvania Mushroom Flatbread without cheese. This flatbread is always cooked to perfection and topped with avocado, mushrooms, and peppers. I found it a bit dry and think a finishing oil would make it absolutely perfect, but the flavors are still very good even without that.

The chef offered to make us a few special dishes. The first was the Wok-Fried Calamari made with tofu instead. Served with scallions, we found the tofu to have a great texture and tasty glaze to it.

Lastly, he prepared a smoked tomato and truffled potato dish that tasted incredibly meaty. In fact, it was my friends' favorite dish. This was an off-menu dish that was loaded with flavor. I found it a bit overwhelming, but everyone else loved it.

I really appreciated the attention the chef gave me on this visit and his creativity in offering dishes I hadn't had before. The dishes are well-priced at $6 to $10 each and the atmosphere is always very lively. This is why I often invite out-of-town guests here. And with all the new stuff on 14th Street, it seems it is a little easier to get a reservation at the places that have been well-established. Keep it up, Masa 14 and you'll remain a local favorite.

Previous reviews
August 20, 2012
August 2, 2011

Masa 14
1825 14th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-1414