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Los Angeles, CA

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Liu’s Cafe

4.4 (828 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Order Liu’s Cafe Takeout or Delivery

Liu’s Cafe Photos

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LIU’S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Liu’s Cafe

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Artwork in the interior
Kevin L.

I'd been hearing a handful of great things about this place, so I finally stopped by--and I can see why people enjoy it! Ordering was straightforward, and the staff were really helpful in explaining how everything works and pointing out some of their more popular dishes. I went with the pork belly and rice, and it ended up being a really satisfying meal. The ratio of meat to rice was just right, and the refreshing cucumbers added a nice crunch and freshness that balanced out the richness of the pork belly. I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to finish the whole plate, but somehow I cleared it! The interior has a cozy, nostalgic feel that almost reminded me of being at Grandma's house. It can get a little warm inside despite having AC, but it wasn't enough to take away from the experience. I also liked that water, utensils, and napkins are self-serve after you pay, which keeps everything simple and convenient. Overall, a delicious and comforting meal with helpful staff, generous portions, and a relaxed atmosphere. Definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm craving something hearty and satisfying.

Pork belly over rice and cucumbers
Jenny P.

I've heard about this place for a while and finally got a chance to try it! It's a Michelin-awarded restaurant that's surprisingly affordable, and the whole place has such a cozy, homey feel. The food honestly reminded me of a mother's cooking after a long day -- simple, comforting, and satisfying. When I went, you order at the counter first and they give you a number card, then you can grab any available table. It can get busy at times, but I went right when they were starting to pick up, so it wasn't too crowded. Utensils, water, and napkins are all self-serve. I usually like ordering things I wouldn't normally make at home, so I went with the French toast since it was a little different from your typical French toast. It was crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and filled with custard. The syrup tasted almost like a lighter, more watery condensed milk, but it wasn't overly sweet or overpowering, which I really enjoyed. The pork belly over rice was probably my favorite. It was so comforting and reminded me of Vietnamese braised pork belly with eggs -- definitely the kind of dish that feels like home. I also tried the oolong iced tea. It was refreshing and good, although nothing too out of the ordinary. Overall, this is a great spot if you're looking for affordable Michelin-recognized food with a cozy, comforting feel. I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu!

Monica T.

Had this place on my wishlist for a while and it did not disappoint! We ordered the chicken rice, pork belly rice, sesame noodles, and Hong Kong French toast. Everything was made really well. I especially loved the pork belly rice and the French toast. The flavoring was superb, and the French toast was so crispy but not overly sweet. The serving sizes aren't too big, so you can order almost everything on the menu to share. The service was also really kind and fast. The inside was really cute with all their decor, and they have a good amount of seating. The only con is that they only have street parking, and it can get a little rough in Koreatown. Would definitely come back!

Spicy wonton
Amy L.

What we got: 1. Pork belly bowl 9/10: a table favorite. Great flavors and good size 2. Spicy wontons 8.5/10: sauce was slightly vinegary which I like 3. Dan Dan noodle: 7/10: cold noodles a classic. We liked this but thought out of the dishes ordered we could've done without if we had to choose 4. HK French toast 10/10: a must try. Perfectly crispy and warm. Overall loved this place and can't wait to come back! The seating is shared seating so you just find a table once you order at the front

chicken rice
Anna W.

Liu's is def at the top of my list of favorite places to eat! I tried the beef noodle soup this time, and it was also really good. At this point, I feel like everything on their menu is delicious, so you really can't go wrong with what you order. The prices are reasonable, and the food is flavorful and authentic. You order at the counter, and they bring the food to your table, which is convenient. The ambiance is cozy and lively and it's always busy!

Casey K.

I think we came around 10-15 minutes before opening on a weekday and was the second party in line. I'd say there were maybe 4-5 parties already waiting by the time the restaurant actually opened. I don't think it's necessary to line up early since the line moves pretty fast, especially on the weekday. The only thing I'd keep in mind is that there aren't many seats inside, so you might have to wait a bit after ordering. You order first at the front then bring a number to your table. The menu isn't very big so if you have more than 5-6 people in your party, you could probably do family style with everything on the menu. Since the menu isn't big, I assume they're constantly cooking each menu item so the food came out super quick after we ordered. The food itself is very comforting and my group and I agreed that the beef noodle soup was probably the best thing on the menu. The beef was tender and the soup was very flavorful. I don't think anything here will blow your mind but if you're looking for solid food that gives you a warm feeling, this is probably the right place. I'd also say things were also fairly priced.

Beef Noodle Soup
Sharon H.

Doubling down on this 5/5 star restaurant. Everyone that works here is so efficient and wonderful. They don't take orders for dine in unless there's a table ready for your party. I love that so much. Food is always a hit. Everything is an absolute must, so come prepared to eat and order the whole menu. Also, did you know you could get DoorDash cash back for Dine-In orders? I thought about ordering to-go on the DoorDash app after passing by and seeing a line out the door, but surprisingly, there's perks to dining in. Plates, water, and utensils are self serve. I love this place a lot. Wish they had convenient parking and I didn't need to drive into LA .

Erick T.

Really great Taiwanese food! We ordered one of everything on the menu and there wasn't a single dish that we didn't like. The braised pork belly rice, spicy wontons, and sesame cold noodles were our top favorites. For those a sweet tooth, the Hong Kong style french toast, deep fried and filled with lava custard, was decadent and delicious. Service was reasonable, though the staff seemed a bit overwhelmed at times. This was understandable, given how many people kept coming into the restaurant. Seating can be limited and lines can be a bit long at peak hours. However, once you order, the food arrives at your table impressively fast. The ambiance is quaint and comfortable.

Bruce F.

This restaurant only offers a few items, but they're doing them all perfectly! I ordered Pork belly braised rice: simple, delicious and comforting. The pork belly was properly braised and had that signature Chinese five spice fragrance. Sitting on a bed of white rice every bite was consistent. Sesame cold noodles with chicken: The sesame sauce carried the dish. It was rich and nutty, balanced with red chili for real heat that built gradually instead of just blasting you upfront. Savory and spicy in the right proportions. It was my favorite. Hong Kong French toast: Had the fried, crunchy sweetness of a funnel cake, but the maple syrup and butter sent it over the moon. The center was filled with custard, making it the perfect dessert to finish the meal.

Braised Pork Belly Rice and Chiayi Chicken Rice
Chris G.

Came here for lunch and had the spicy wontons, braised pork belly rice, and Chiayi chicken rice. All the dishes were really good, but the Chiayi chicken was definitely my favorite. The restaurant has a cool modern look with concrete floors and a mix of marble and wood tables. You order at the cashier and then grab a seat in one of the two dining rooms, which are both open seating. The staff was nice, the food came out fast, and everything we ordered was really tasty. I'd definitely come back if I was in the area.

Richard C.

I absolutely love this place. Liu's Cafe is one of those places where they have the perfect blend of service level, quality food, ambiance, and price point. With a party of 4, you can basically order the entire food menu and still come out affordable. While the price point does mean that the portions are relatively small, the dishes are pleasantly filling! I particularly liked the sesame cold noodle, with chicken added. Don't skip out on the kaya jam toast too. I can't wait to come back again and try the rest of the menu.

Yuko B.

Our annual visit to LA and possibly our last "annual" visit since my son will be graduating from college next year. Our main focus on this visit was food! We went to some of our usual favorites but we also tried a few new places that my son had discovered and recommended. Liu's Cafe was one of them. We went there for Sunday lunch and my son told us that we had to line up right when they opened. Luckily, we found a street parking spot on the same street so we parked and headed straight to Liu's Cafe. But there was already a long line waiting outside! They mostly have tables for two so a group of three like us had to wait a little longer. We probably waited about 30 minutes. Although we wanted to order everything on the menu, we settled on the Braised Pork Belly Rice, Beef Noodle Soup, and Hong Kong Style French Toast. I also ordered the Hong Kong Milk Tea. Everything tasted amazing! The portions were also perfect for lunch. The Hong Kong Style French Toast was especially interesting. It was filled with custard and deep-fried, then topped with brown sugar syrup and condensed milk. My son ordered it and of course, I had to take a bite. I loved it but I don't think I could eat the whole thing... It was very sweet and definitely felt like a calorie bomb! After placing our order, I noticed that so many people were ordering the Sesame Cold Noodle with Chili Crisp and I immediately regretted not ordering it! I was really hoping we'd be able to go back before leaving LA so I could try the Sesame Noodle but unfortunately, we ran out of time... (And then my son teased me by sending me a picture of the noodles after we got back home. He had gone back there with his friend!) Now Liu's Cafe is definitely on my "Must Go" list for our next visit to LA!

Braised Pork Belly Rice
Kimberly D.

We came on a Thursday right at opening and was 2nd in line. I even got a street parking spot on the same block! This Taiwanese cafe is located in the middle of K-Town so you can definitely plan a day around this spot. The cafe has a minimalist, vintage charm with Chinese decor on the walls. The staff is friendly and you order your food at the counter right as you enter the cafe. Plates, silverware, cups, to-go boxes, and water are available for self-service so keep that in mind when you are calculating gratuity. But the kitchen staff and servers were very fast and our food came out so quickly. The food is definitely worth all of the hype. We really did like all of the dishes we ordered. Hong Kong Style French Toast - This is a must try! The bread has a crispy, sweet crust with a lava custard in the middle. It comes with brown sugar syrup. You have to try this toast with and without the syrup. So good! I don't normally order french toast (too much calories) but this was so worth it. Braised Pork Belly Rice - The pork belly is so well seasoned and is layered on top of a bowl of rice with pickled cucumber. Just mixed it all together. This savory dish is the perfect balance to the sweet french toast. Spicy Wontons - These pork wontons come in a spicy sauce with chili oil, sesame and peanuts. They were delicious but you can get good spicy wontons at a lot of LA restaurants these days. I definitely recommend coming here with a group and ordering a bunch of dishes to share. The prices are very reasonable so try as many dishes as you think you can eat!

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Reviews are largely positive. Diners praise the flavorful comfort food, cozy atmosphere, quick and friendly service, and affordable pricing.

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Liu’s Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Liu’s Cafe

Where can I find parking?

It's metered street parking or neighborhood parking. If you park in the neighborhood pay attention to signs.

Is it good for larger groups? (6-7)

I recall most the tables are small (2-3 people) and there's only one large table in the middle where they'd put multiple small parties. A large group may have to wait a long time. Your odds may be better if you're willing to split up.

When is the best time to go?

I think weekends is best right when opening or before noon

Do they have take out now?

Yes

Hi do you also offer coffee?

We have hot drip brew and cold brew cans :)

Do they have takeout?

Not yet! Takeout will be availble after grand opening!

View All 7 Questions

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Woon - Beef noodles

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Kato - Fried fish

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4.4(682 reviews)
4.4 mi•Downtown
•$$$$

Kato Overall Rating:…read more(5/5 Stars) Sometimes a fine dining restaurant in a strip mall serves you some of the best Taiwanese Californian fusion food you've ever had. And you leave thinking, wow, how incredible is it that I get to travel, eat, and experience the minds of chefs this talented? Kato was one of those meals that reminded me why I love doing this. 7 Course Experience-$285 I chose the traditional 5-course Bar Tasting Menu at $185, but when I was presented with two add-on courses that screamed my name, obviously I had to try them. I'm already in LA. When will I be back? We listen and we don't judge. This meal was a rollercoaster of flavors that took me through texture, simplicity, spice, and freshness. Each dish genuinely made me smile. Some sounded almost too simple on paper, but once I tasted them, it was clear just how much thought, technique, and care went into every bite. The flow of the meal made sense, and nothing left me feeling confused or out of whack, even with the additional courses. The portion sizes were also perfect. I even took home the bread and liver spread, which became my 3 a.m. snack after dancing the night away. No regrets. This was the kind of meal that simply made me happy. Creative without trying too hard, thoughtful without being pretentious, and delicious above everything else. I completely understand why Kato has two Michelin stars. Service This was my first Michelin tasting experience sitting at an actual bar, and I loved it. As a frequent solo diner, I usually enjoy watching the kitchen work from the chef's counter, but this time I got to watch the bartenders create drinks throughout the night. It was such a fun change because cocktail-making is an art of its own. Even better, they took such wonderful care of me that I genuinely couldn't stop smiling. Disclaimer: These are my personal opinions. Please try these restaurants and form your own judgments--it's what I would do.

I'm sorry to say I was pretty underwhelmed with my dining experience last weekend…read more Service felt impersonal, almost perfunctory, and inconsistent as the night went on. Not sure if they are trained to talk in very low voices, but it was hard to hear and understand what our primary waiter (we sat at the bar, so it was the bartender) was saying. He was good about explaining the courses and the wines at first, but once there were a few other guests, another younger wait staff came to pour our wine and serve our food. When I asked about the wine, she didn't know anything about it and said she would have to ask. That is kinda disappointing for a 2 star Michelin restaurant. I'm not even asking for a trained sommelier here, but you'd think whoever is pouring is well informed in the chosen wine. At a restaurant of this caliber, I expect a little more than just "this wine is from so and so area". Food-wise, there were some impressive flavors, but some disappointing ones. You couldn't even taste the uni in the uni+caviar on a donut dish (which was an add on). The donut was so over powering, it killed the delicate flavor of uni. I enjoyed the lobster and duck dishes. The boba dessert was very salty, but the trio of cookies at the very end were delicious. The courses came out pretty quick and the portions were small- the whole dinner from start to finish was an hour and a half, which might be the fastest Tasting Menu dinner I've ever had. It was so fast that we didn't have to pay for parking- the first two hours were free! If you go, I'd recommend the wine pairing, the different wines were very good and paired really well with all the dishes. I don't want to nick-pick, but it is hard not to at a 2 star Michelin restaurant. I wanted to love it, maybe my expectations were a little too high.

Photos
Kato - Inside

Inside

Kato - Duck w/ soy preserves/pine mushroom

Duck w/ soy preserves/pine mushroom

Kato - Liu sha bao (sort of - contents of a lava bun should traditionally be hot, but this was served cold)

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Liu sha bao (sort of - contents of a lava bun should traditionally be hot, but this was served cold)

Hui Tou Xiang - Zha jiang

Hui Tou Xiang

4.3(497 reviews)
2.9 mi•Hollywood
•$$

Great spot to stop at before a concert. Arrived when it was full and we grabbed a seat at the bar…read morepretty quickly. Service was attentive and friendly. I really enjoyed the dimly lit Hong Kong style bar. Food arrived pretty promptly after we ordered but we did get an array of hot and cold items. Flavors were fabulous. Fish potstickers had a delightful crunch and savory, flavorful filling. Shrimp shumai have a nice bite with plenty of filling. Our chili oil noodles had a great texture and wasn't too spicy. Their house made chili oil had a nice spice profile, not wildly spicy. Quaint place that was a perfect spot for two. Prices were reasonable and their house drinks were well balanced. Great experience.

The decor was nice and I liked the vibe. Intimate place with a few tables and a nice bar area. The…read moretable we were sat at was pretty small, we ordered quite a few items and at first they paced our food but at one point our tiny table was so full we couldn't eat comfortably due to the lack of room. I think it would've been better had they continued to pace things out. It wasn't busy around the time went so in my opinion they could've waited a bit. Now for the food...very underwhelming We were disappointed as we were eager to try this place! The dough was very thick for both the pork+crab xlb and the spicy wontons. The xlb hardly had any soup in it but I will say the broth that we were able to get out was v flavorful. The stewed beef noodle dish was very bland. The beef itself was very tender and I could tell the veg in it was fresh , but unfortunately it was a bland dish overall. The marinated tofu was bland as well. The star of the show for us was the beef hui tou! I think it was pretty tasty and fried beautifully. The drinks we had were just alright as well. Can't say I'd come back regrettably.

Photos
Hui Tou Xiang
Hui Tou Xiang - Liang Ban Noodles

Liang Ban Noodles

Hui Tou Xiang - Ahh!  The beer help extinguish the fiery chili oil.

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Ahh! The beer help extinguish the fiery chili oil.

Liu’s Cafe - cafes - Updated October 2026

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