Filling the space of that pho place across from Machiavelli that was always sadly empty, La Cocina Oaxaquena is much less so, probably due to its reportedly good Oaxacan food and staying open until 2 a.m. While LCO is not officially connected with the famous/great La Carta Oaxaca (and its siblings Mezcaleria Oaxaca on Queen Anne and Capitol Hill), one of the owners used to be a manager there, and the menu is much the same.