Lasa

Lasa, which means taste or flavour in Filipino, is a casual Southeast Asian eatery at 31 Wallcliffe Road in Margaret River, a little off the main strip. It cooks Filipino and Thai dishes from scratch, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor alfresco tables, which makes it an easy low-key lunch stop with the dog after a morning on the coast.

The dog setup

Dogs sit in the alfresco seating out front, which is where you want to be anyway since the interior is small and set up for counter service. Water is typically available for dogs outside, but bring your own bowl to be sure. Keep the lead on and pick a shaded table on a warm day, because the alfresco area catches the Wallcliffe Road sun.

The vibe

The cooking is the point here: pork adobo, crispy lumpia, green chicken curry, chicken inasal and a massaman wagyu karubi curry, with mango sticky rice as the dessert when it is in season. There is a proper run of vegan and vegetarian dishes too, and the menu rotates. Trading hours have shifted between seasons, running from early breakfast through to dinner on selected days, so check Lasa's Instagram or Facebook page before you head out rather than trusting an old listing.

Getting there and parking

Wallcliffe Road runs south-west out of town toward the river and the coast, and the eatery has free off-street parking plus street parking nearby. It is an easy couple of minutes' drive or a flat walk from the town centre with a dog.

Close by with the dogs

The river path and town parks are close by for a leashed stroll, and Brookfield Dog Park covers the off-lead run. Other dog-friendly tables in town include District Club Margaret River with its deck and lawns, morries and El Toro Margaret River.

Max: Pork adobo and crispy lumpia outdoors with the dog at my feet. Off the strip and all the better for it.