Meet Rina Shin & Jason Escobar

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rina Shin & Jason Escobar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rina Shin & Jason Escobar, what principle do you value most?
Authenticity is by far our most important value. Authenticity allows us to provide a clear and compelling value proposition to our audience: a place to discover incredible eateries alongside beautiful artwork. It’s funny because Rina’s artwork reflects a rawness that perfectly aligns with our core values—it just worked out that way.

Our shared appreciation for authenticity comes from our experience in the service industry. Through our experiences, we’ve realized there’s something special about food made with great care and intention—it resonates with people in a way that goes beyond taste. Our work in the service industry gave us a peek on how food can brighten someone’s day, and we believe it deserves more recognition, and we think the best way to express this sentiment is through art and first hand accounts of our experiences.

Authenticity also enables us to build a genuine dialogue with our audience, one based on trust.
While we are still growing, we hope that BrushinLA, in the near future, becomes more than just a space for discovering great food in LA—it can also become a way for people to actively support their favorite small businesses.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Our art is deeply rooted in storytelling, food, and human connection. What sets us apart from other food content creators is the hand-painted watercolor illustrations. This adds a personal touch, making it feel like our audience is flipping through a diary of our experiences. Beyond just discovering new eateries, they can also purchase our artwork, turning these shared moments into something tangible.

Both of us have worked in the food industry, and that experience gave us a profound respect for the labor that goes into running a food business. We’ve seen firsthand how much effort, passion, and care goes into each dish. Through this, we’ve come to appreciate the beauty of food—not just as something delicious, but as a source of comfort and a way for people to bond in their everyday lives. That’s why our work feels so rewarding—it allows us to honor the dedication of business owners and highlight the heart behind their craft.

The journey to where we are today hasn’t been easy. Building something unique requires persistence, especially when blending art with food content in a way that resonates. We’ve faced challenges in growing our audience and balancing creativity with sustainability, but we’ve stayed true to our vision. The biggest lesson we’ve learned is that authenticity always wins—when you create from a place of genuine passion, people recognize and appreciate it.

At the core of our brand, we want the world to see that food is more than just a meal; it’s an experience, a story, and a reflection of the people who make it. Through our art and content, we hope to inspire others to not only discover great food but also to appreciate and support the small businesses that bring these experiences to life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Start the trip slow with a relaxing morning at Destroyer in Culver City. Their beautifully plated dishes are not only delicious but also creative, making it the perfect introduction to LA’s vibrant food scene.

Next, stop by Roji Bakery, a Japanese bakery known for its incredible pastries like curry pan, matcha roll, and black sesame anpan.

For lunch, head to Pine & Crane for comforting Taiwanese flavors—don’t miss the daikon rice cake, beef roll, and beef noodle soup.

Wrap up the day with an intimate and authentic Japanese izakaya experience at Sake House Miro. Enjoy a cozy, communal meal with a mix of yakitori, sashimi, and udon.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Jason: One person who truly deserves recognition in our project is Vivian Ku. A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of writing a “Day in the Life” article with her, and the insights I gained were incredibly inspiring. We spoke at length about her journey to opening Pine & Crane Silverlake and how, despite all the success that followed, it was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of her life.

She explained that it wasn’t until she fully committed—signing the lease for the current Pine & Crane Silverlake location—that her anxieties began to fade. She recalled, “At first, I wasn’t sleeping. I was worried and stressed. But once you sign the lease, you have to get it done. You become so busy making it work that there’s less time to stress.”

This really put into perspective how anxiety can sometimes be a façade—one that disappears when we immerse ourselves in action. Big commitments, risks, and pressure-filled situations often force us to rise to the occasion.

As someone who tends to overthink rather than act, I tried to apply this lesson by creating situations that would push me to take action.

Thanks to Vivian, I’ve become more willing to take risks and trust the process, realizing that action often quells fear more than overthinking ever could.

Website: https://www.brushin-la.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brushinn/?hl=en