Siti Brings a Taste of Southeast Asia to East Austin

After leaving the finance world to pursue her passion for cooking, global traveler Laila Bazahm turned heads in 2023 with her Spanish fusion concept, El Raval. But in her downtime, the Filipina chef longed for a place serving the Asian street foods of her youth. “People who know me know I’m a sucker for laksa,” Bazahm says. “But I didn’t know where to find it in Austin, so I just decided to make it.” Her latest endeavor is a love letter to the cuisines of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and her native Philippines reimagined with creative twists and local ingredients. Housed inside the Frances Modern Inn, Siti (a Malaysian title for “lady”) exudes an intimate, familial atmosphere, with rattan chairs and goldenrod hues inspired by Asian colonial houses. The hiramasa’s tender yellowtail amberjack bathed in tom kha spices makes a perfect meal starter. And the laksa cements its role as a menu centerpiece, boasting juicy grilled Gulf shrimp, scallops, and clams in a creamy coconut-galangal sauce. Get adventurous with the charred cabbage served atop Serrano curry paste, or savor the succulent chili crab and lobster. An homage to “the moms, aunts, and grandmas who prepare this food,” Siti captures the matriarchal energy of South Asian cuisine. sitiatx.com