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While on call at the Westwood campus, I was looking for something different to eat and came across this spot. It was also within walking distance from our hotel, so parking wasn't an issue for us. This is a small spot with a pretty limited menu. I ordered the Pandan Kaya Toast, and luckily, I got the last Beef Noodle Soup of the day! Both were really tasty, NGL! The flavors were definitely there, but my biggest issue was the portion size. We came here for dinner, and the servings were small enough that we ended up going somewhere else for a second dinner. The setup is pretty straightforward--you order and pay at the counter before finding a table. They also accept Apple Pay, which is always a plus. Overall, tasty food and convenient if you're in the Westwood area, but definitely keep the portion sizes in mind if you're coming here hungry!
One of the best Taiwanese restaurants in LA, period. The food is delicious, one of my all time fave beef noodle soups. The vibes are fast casual and there's a line out the door and a wait to sit until someone leaves. Prices are low despite pricey Westwood. For beef noodle soup, it's a fantastic value ($13!) for a nice size bowl with perfectly seasoned broth (albeit slightly sweet) and a LOT of meat. The chili oil wontons are like crack dumplings bc the abundant pool of sauce is so good I recommend taking the leftover home and mixing it with noodles or anything else you can find. Don't toss it! Sesame sauce noodles are fantastic and very affordable. For a few bucks more add some very nice hand pulled chicken. A lot of ppl order the chayi chicken rice. For $9 you get a ton of food and it's one of the best values in all LA. The milk teas are great, hot or cold. It you get it hot it's in a super cute tiny mug that is very photogenic. There is so much hype around the place and it is well earned. Dont be scared of the line, it moves quickly and this place is always packed. Once inside don't linger; just eat and go so you can make space for someone else.
I was really pumped about trying this new place, but flavor wise it felt a bit short for me. We came there at around 6:30pm and they are out of the soup I want to try most esp cause it was a rainy day. Mind you we tried everything on the menu that's available for the 8 ppl in our party, but it just didn't hit. Service was friendly and quick and the place is definitely clean. I don't know if it's a place I want to come back to.
Service was fast, we ordered and got seated right away. The food is authentic and delicious. It's a mix of Taiwanese and Hong Kong style food. We got the braised pork belly rice, chiayi chicken rice, sesame cold noodles, and french toast. Honestly, I feel like you could order anything on the menu and it would probably be good. I love Liu's and will definitely be back! My only wish is that they had a side vegetable dish since most of the menu is pretty carb heavy. The interior is small and cozy with mostly bar-style seating.
If there are no lines it's worth going. The beef noodle soup is decent. Surprisingly the beef is shank meat slices. Good texture. But I can definitely taste the msg. Falls under the category of hk bistro food that is cheap and fills you up and not too shabby. Iced Milk tea is too dilute and too sweet.
Loved this spot in Westwood! Haven't been to the Ktown location but this place is great. Relatively simple menu, order at the counter. Not a huge space inside so probably gets busy at peak hours. Hong Kong milk tea was fragrant and sweet, perfect for summer! Sesame cold noodles with chicken had nice flavor, added a bit more chili oil which I liked, and adding chicken was a good choice. Texture of the noodles is nice! Beef noodle soup was a pretty good iteration- the meat is plentiful and has nice flavor, and noodles are cooked well. Would def come back just for this since it's right in Westwood! Hong Kong French toast was quite indulgent, crispy edges and custardy center. Sugary in the best way!! Typical Westwood parking situation on the street or in surrounding garages
I've been wanting to try Liu's Cafe. It's a first come, first serve dining situation. You wait in line and when there is a spot open then you can order from the counter. The system actually works pretty efficiently. The food came out super fast - within minutes. I was waiting to use the restroom and by the time I got back everything was served. My favorite dish was the chicken sesame cold noodle with chili crisp. The chiayi chicken rice was super flavorful and delicious too. The spicy wonton was just ok. I want to try their beef noodle soup next time. The host was super nice and she made sure we understood the seating and ordering situation. If you can't find street parking there is a pay parking structure called lot 32 off of Kinross Ave, west of the restaurant.
The Westside has been pretty barren when it comes to Taiwanese food, so the opening of Liu's Cafe in Westwood earlier this year was very much welcomed! My only complaint is that parking can be tough for those driving to the location, but that's pretty typical for Westwood. The menu is fairly simple, but it made it easier to choose what I wanted. My boyfriend and I ordered a couple of items for lunch: - Braised Pork Belly Rice: I really enjoyed the pairing of the pickles with the pork and rice. The rice soaks up the leftover sauce from the pork, which makes it even more flavorful. - Beef Noodle Soup: The broth is fragrant with heavy beefy flavors! It comes with tender slices of beef. - Kaya Jam Toast: Since Liu's no longer does pastries, I opted for this as my lunch sweet treat. It was a great way to end the meal! I do wish the bread was toasted a little bit more, though. - Lemon Iced Tea: A refreshing drink that was reminiscent of an Arizona Iced Tea lol. I do wish there were fewer lemon seeds in my drink, though! I used a straw and ended up sucking up 5+ seeds, which was pretty unpleasant. - Hong Kong Milk Tea (Hot): Literally everyone dining when I arrived had the iced version on their table. It's sweet, milky, yet strong tea flavor! Overall, Liu's never disappoints when it comes to flavor and quality. Seating can be a little tough, and you can expect to wait a couple minutes for a seat to free up since it's mostly bar seating, but it's definitely worth the effort and wait to eat here!
Everything I tried was generally yummy. I arrived at 7:20pm on a Friday evening and found parking right outside! There was a short line but I enjoyed trying the HK toast (pictured), the HK iced milk tea (pictured) and beef noodle soup, chicken rice and wontons (non-spicy option!). The total was around $60 with tip and the food came out in 10 mins or so! The beef noodles were deliciously thick noodles with well cooked perfectly tender beef! The chicken rice is clean steamed chicken thighs in soy sauce rice and fried onions - a great balance of soft, fragrant chicken and crunchy goodness! The portions are relatively small and suited for individuals who are not sharing. The benefit is you can go with a group of friends, each other something and everyone can try a bite! Classic HK dishes done well c:
Didn't know a second location opened up. Was staying near the area and decided to check it out and the wait wasn't too bad... about 4 parties ahead of us. You order first, pay, then get seated. The food comes out pretty quick. You have to get utensils, plates and water yourself. The pork and rice was the favorite. I do wish that they gave a bit more pickled cucumber on the side. Also got the spicy wontons, beef noodle soup and Kaya toast.
Highly recommend visiting when they open in the morning! Great little spot for a brunch. Parking is tough because it's in Westwood, you will likely have to pay for parking. Food was great, their menu is similar to the DTLA location. They do not offer pastries like the other location though. Service was quick and easy, you order first then find a table. Cutlery and water is self serve.
Been wanting to try Liu's Cafe for the longest time, so I was so excited to finally check out their Westwood location! It's a relatively small, cozy spot serving Taiwanese and Hong Kong comfort food with a casual atmosphere. You order at the counter, and they bring the food to your table. Water and utensils are self-serve as well. I appreciated the simple menu and the relatively reasonable prices! I got the sesame cold noodles with chili crisp and hand-peeled chicken ($12, plus $3 for the chicken), and it was delicious! The portion was larger than I expected, and the noodles were coated in a rich sesame and chili crisp sauce. We also tried the panda kaya toast with salted egg yolk ($5), which was freshly toasted and so tasty too! I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu!
We came here around lunch time on a Saturday. It was packed, but the wait wasn't too bad. We didn't like the stool seating against the wall as there was literally no room to move around. It's very tight seating and hard to eat while trying to not hit your neighbor's back or arm each time you take a bite of food. Just glad the bar area opened up and we moved over there. Pros: 4 star rating just for the cold sesame noodles with shredded chicken. It's so flavorful and so pleasant to savor during a hot day. It's the best one I've had in LA. Cons: Wonton - the sauce was way too salty. The wontons were smothered in it. Lacking acidity and sweetness to balance it. I'm not a fan of the sauce. Pork belly rice (Lu Rou Fan) - I wished the kitchen didn't flatten the pork belly on the rice. The pork belly was lacking a gelatinous texture and not melt in your mouth. The ground meat was a bit too lean for this dish. Not the best representation of Taiwan's authentic Lu Rou Fan. A bit disappointed! We would definitely come back for the sesame cold noodle. The lemon tea and oolong tea were so refreshing.
So simple. So affordable. And so incredibly delicious. Liu's Cafe is a gem. The reputation here is strong. And after looking at the menu, I figured it'd be good. I didn't expect these simple dishes to be mind-blowing. They were. The noodles, rice, soup, french toast... all of it. Phenomenal. Sweet, savory, umami, decadent, and fresh flavors all around. Liu's is an unassuming spot with very efficient service. Clean and simple inside, no glitz or glam needed. Come for the amazing food, and no need to break your bank in the process. read more
Came on a Friday afternoon just past the lunch rush, but still ended up waiting to be seated. The wait was about 5-10 minutes, which wasn't bad. We ordered the beef noodle soup, spicy wonton and sesame cold noodle w/ chili crisp + chicken. The portion was decently sized, especially for the price. Spicy wontons didn't taste spicy at all. Beef noodle soup was good, but didn't taste like Taiwanese beef noodle soup. It was missing some depth and beef flavor, which Taiwanese beef noodle soup is known for. Instead, it kinda reminded me of pho (a bit lighter in flavor). Sesame cold noodles were a delight, and reminded me of Taiwan. I am happy that I have found a good place for Taiwanese food when I have my next cravings. The place is small and it's all counter seating. It does have a "cafe" feeling, but I wish they had more table seating so it's easier to converse for parties bigger than 2. read more
Intrigued by the fact that they have only seven items on their menu and our friend still visits this place a couple of times a week, we decided to try it today. Located at the south end of Westwood, the restaurant is quite cozy, featuring an open kitchen and counter seating for a maximum of 30 guests. When we arrived, there was a line, but it moved pretty quickly (even with their first-come, first-served rule no matter the size of your party). After 15 minutes, we were seated and decided to order all the items on their menu except the starters. The food started coming out within 5 minutes, and not surprisingly, all the dishes were delicious. Here is the breakdown: Chiayi Chicken Rice: Its shredded chicken pieces were tender, and the sauce was savory and glossy without being greasy. The rice was cooked to perfection. Sesame Cold Noodle w/Chilli Crisp: The noodles were pleasantly al dente. The peanut- based sauce was well-seasoned and tad sweet. Braised Pork Belly Rice: What a crazy sauce! Rich, super flavorful and with a hint of sweetness. The finely chopped pork belly pieces were soft and the melting fat greatly enhanced the taste of the rice. Spicy Wontons: The sauce was pleasantly spicy and nicely garlicky. The wraps were cooked perfectly and the fillings were well seasoned. Beef Noodle Soup: The quintessential Taiwanese dish was perfectly represented. The noodles had a perfect bite. The soup was light but flavorful, and the sliced beef pieces were tender. Hong Kong Style French Toast: The toast's crust was lightly crispy, and the inside was beautifully filled with sweet custard. A perfect way to wrap up the lunch. After this meal, it's completely obvious why our friend eats here multiple times a week. Incredible food--highly recommended! read more
While on call at the Westwood campus, I was looking for something different to eat and came across this spot. It was also within walking distance from our hotel, so parking wasn't an issue for us. This is a small spot with a pretty limited menu. I ordered the Pandan Kaya Toast, and luckily, I got the last Beef Noodle Soup of the day! Both were really tasty, NGL! The flavors were definitely there, but my biggest issue was the portion size. We came here for dinner, and the servings were small enough that we ended up going somewhere else for a second dinner. The setup is pretty straightforward--you order and pay at the counter before finding a table. They also accept Apple Pay, which is always a plus. Overall, tasty food and convenient if you're in the Westwood area, but definitely keep the portion sizes in mind if you're coming here hungry! read more
2 months ago
One of the best Taiwanese restaurants in LA, period. The food is delicious, one of my all time fave beef noodle soups. The vibes are fast casual and there's a line out the door and a wait to sit until someone leaves. Prices are low despite pricey Westwood. For beef noodle soup, it's a fantastic value ($13!) for a nice size bowl with perfectly seasoned broth (albeit slightly sweet) and a LOT of meat. The chili oil wontons are like crack dumplings bc the abundant pool of sauce is so good I recommend taking the leftover home and mixing it with noodles or anything else you can find. Don't toss it! Sesame sauce noodles are fantastic and very affordable. For a few bucks more add some very nice hand pulled chicken. A lot of ppl order the chayi chicken rice. For $9 you get a ton of food and it's one of the best values in all LA. The milk teas are great, hot or cold. It you get it hot it's in a super cute tiny mug that is very photogenic. There is so much hype around the place and it is well earned. Dont be scared of the line, it moves quickly and this place is always packed. Once inside don't linger; just eat and go so you can make space for someone else. read more
I was really pumped about trying this new place, but flavor wise it felt a bit short for me. We came there at around 6:30pm and they are out of the soup I want to try most esp cause it was a rainy day. Mind you we tried everything on the menu that's available for the 8 ppl in our party, but it just didn't hit. Service was friendly and quick and the place is definitely clean. I don't know if it's a place I want to come back to. read more
Service was fast, we ordered and got seated right away. The food is authentic and delicious. It's a mix of Taiwanese and Hong Kong style food. We got the braised pork belly rice, chiayi chicken rice, sesame cold noodles, and french toast. Honestly, I feel like you could order anything on the menu and it would probably be good. I love Liu's and will definitely be back! My only wish is that they had a side vegetable dish since most of the menu is pretty carb heavy. The interior is small and cozy with mostly bar-style seating. read more
1 month ago
If there are no lines it's worth going. The beef noodle soup is decent. Surprisingly the beef is shank meat slices. Good texture. But I can definitely taste the msg. Falls under the category of hk bistro food that is cheap and fills you up and not too shabby. Iced Milk tea is too dilute and too sweet. read more
1 month ago
Loved this spot in Westwood! Haven't been to the Ktown location but this place is great. Relatively simple menu, order at the counter. Not a huge space inside so probably gets busy at peak hours. Hong Kong milk tea was fragrant and sweet, perfect for summer! Sesame cold noodles with chicken had nice flavor, added a bit more chili oil which I liked, and adding chicken was a good choice. Texture of the noodles is nice! Beef noodle soup was a pretty good iteration- the meat is plentiful and has nice flavor, and noodles are cooked well. Would def come back just for this since it's right in Westwood! Hong Kong French toast was quite indulgent, crispy edges and custardy center. Sugary in the best way!! Typical Westwood parking situation on the street or in surrounding garages read more
I've been wanting to try Liu's Cafe. It's a first come, first serve dining situation. You wait in line and when there is a spot open then you can order from the counter. The system actually works pretty efficiently. The food came out super fast - within minutes. I was waiting to use the restroom and by the time I got back everything was served. My favorite dish was the chicken sesame cold noodle with chili crisp. The chiayi chicken rice was super flavorful and delicious too. The spicy wonton was just ok. I want to try their beef noodle soup next time. The host was super nice and she made sure we understood the seating and ordering situation. If you can't find street parking there is a pay parking structure called lot 32 off of Kinross Ave, west of the restaurant. read more
2 months ago
The Westside has been pretty barren when it comes to Taiwanese food, so the opening of Liu's Cafe in Westwood earlier this year was very much welcomed! My only complaint is that parking can be tough for those driving to the location, but that's pretty typical for Westwood. The menu is fairly simple, but it made it easier to choose what I wanted. My boyfriend and I ordered a couple of items for lunch: - Braised Pork Belly Rice: I really enjoyed the pairing of the pickles with the pork and rice. The rice soaks up the leftover sauce from the pork, which makes it even more flavorful. - Beef Noodle Soup: The broth is fragrant with heavy beefy flavors! It comes with tender slices of beef. - Kaya Jam Toast: Since Liu's no longer does pastries, I opted for this as my lunch sweet treat. It was a great way to end the meal! I do wish the bread was toasted a little bit more, though. - Lemon Iced Tea: A refreshing drink that was reminiscent of an Arizona Iced Tea lol. I do wish there were fewer lemon seeds in my drink, though! I used a straw and ended up sucking up 5+ seeds, which was pretty unpleasant. - Hong Kong Milk Tea (Hot): Literally everyone dining when I arrived had the iced version on their table. It's sweet, milky, yet strong tea flavor! Overall, Liu's never disappoints when it comes to flavor and quality. Seating can be a little tough, and you can expect to wait a couple minutes for a seat to free up since it's mostly bar seating, but it's definitely worth the effort and wait to eat here! read more
Everything I tried was generally yummy. I arrived at 7:20pm on a Friday evening and found parking right outside! There was a short line but I enjoyed trying the HK toast (pictured), the HK iced milk tea (pictured) and beef noodle soup, chicken rice and wontons (non-spicy option!). The total was around $60 with tip and the food came out in 10 mins or so! The beef noodles were deliciously thick noodles with well cooked perfectly tender beef! The chicken rice is clean steamed chicken thighs in soy sauce rice and fried onions - a great balance of soft, fragrant chicken and crunchy goodness! The portions are relatively small and suited for individuals who are not sharing. The benefit is you can go with a group of friends, each other something and everyone can try a bite! Classic HK dishes done well c: read more
Didn't know a second location opened up. Was staying near the area and decided to check it out and the wait wasn't too bad... about 4 parties ahead of us. You order first, pay, then get seated. The food comes out pretty quick. You have to get utensils, plates and water yourself. The pork and rice was the favorite. I do wish that they gave a bit more pickled cucumber on the side. Also got the spicy wontons, beef noodle soup and Kaya toast. read more
Highly recommend visiting when they open in the morning! Great little spot for a brunch. Parking is tough because it's in Westwood, you will likely have to pay for parking. Food was great, their menu is similar to the DTLA location. They do not offer pastries like the other location though. Service was quick and easy, you order first then find a table. Cutlery and water is self serve. read more
3 months ago
Been wanting to try Liu's Cafe for the longest time, so I was so excited to finally check out their Westwood location! It's a relatively small, cozy spot serving Taiwanese and Hong Kong comfort food with a casual atmosphere. You order at the counter, and they bring the food to your table. Water and utensils are self-serve as well. I appreciated the simple menu and the relatively reasonable prices! I got the sesame cold noodles with chili crisp and hand-peeled chicken ($12, plus $3 for the chicken), and it was delicious! The portion was larger than I expected, and the noodles were coated in a rich sesame and chili crisp sauce. We also tried the panda kaya toast with salted egg yolk ($5), which was freshly toasted and so tasty too! I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu! read more
3 months ago
We came here around lunch time on a Saturday. It was packed, but the wait wasn't too bad. We didn't like the stool seating against the wall as there was literally no room to move around. It's very tight seating and hard to eat while trying to not hit your neighbor's back or arm each time you take a bite of food. Just glad the bar area opened up and we moved over there. Pros: 4 star rating just for the cold sesame noodles with shredded chicken. It's so flavorful and so pleasant to savor during a hot day. It's the best one I've had in LA. Cons: Wonton - the sauce was way too salty. The wontons were smothered in it. Lacking acidity and sweetness to balance it. I'm not a fan of the sauce. Pork belly rice (Lu Rou Fan) - I wished the kitchen didn't flatten the pork belly on the rice. The pork belly was lacking a gelatinous texture and not melt in your mouth. The ground meat was a bit too lean for this dish. Not the best representation of Taiwan's authentic Lu Rou Fan. A bit disappointed! We would definitely come back for the sesame cold noodle. The lemon tea and oolong tea were so refreshing. read more
Amazing food. Everything on the menu looked so good, and I wanted to try it all. We ended up going with a rice bowl and cold noodles. My girlfriend has been trying to find non-korean cold noodles for the longest time and this really hit the spot. Service was super quick, by the time we sat down after ordering, the food was already sent out. I wish I tried more of their dishes, so I will definitely be coming back! read more
14 days ago
Great, fast service. Small, cozy place but usually it gets pretty crowded. Great stuff, but best to order ahead. We got the chicken bowl and the pork belly bowls to go, and both were really good. Fresh ingredients. Great spices. Quality meats. The flavors in both popped. The portions were good sizes, especially for the price. I would definitely recommend the place. Absolutely worth a try. read more
If you have ever had actual Kaya toast from a hawker stand in Singapore, do NOT try it here. It is so far from the authentic that calling it Kaya toast on the menu really just sets it up to be a big disappointment. What is served here isn't bad, it just should really be called something different. We tried both the coconut & the pandan. The toasts we were served had the most negligible amount of salted egg on it, so there was no salty element at all. The jams were all sugar, & neither tasted anything like deeply caramelized, authentic Kaya jam. Don't get me wrong - the service is friendly. Everything else on the menu is good. But also these things are available in comparable quality at other restaurants. Sigh. The Kaya toast menu item was really what set this place apart from the others that carry similar wonton, noodle, & rice dishes in LA. If you have never had Kaya toast in Singapore, you probably won't experience the level of disappointment. You'll probably enjoy the toast here. I envy you. read more
CALL IN YOUR ORDER or wait time is around 20-30min+ depending on the time of day Why Liu's Cafe? - Craving Taiwanese and Hong Kong food - MICHELIN Guide recommended - Cafe style quality and affordable 4/5 Food - Spicy wontons 3/5 = had better but does the job - Braised pork rice 4/5 = delish - Hong Kong milk tea hot 4/5 = delish - Chiayi chicken rice 4/5 = delish - Kaya jam toast 3/5 = pass nothing special 4/5 Service| Ambience - Looks like mostly all UCLA students work here, but all are friendly and courteous. - Seating is tight but everything is cleaned fast and they walk you to your seat 3.5/5 Parking Street parking or UCLA Parking Structure 32 read more
New spot that opened up in WW and I always see lines waiting to try! The wait was a bit, but it wasn't too bad. I do think that the seating is pretty tight though :( My friend didn't have much room behind her before hitting the other person, but can't do too much about it. For the foods, we grabbed Kaya toast, cold sesame noodles, spicy wonton, and braised pork belly rice. My first time having the Kaya toast and it was pretty solid! I also liked the sesame cold noodles. I was underwhelmed by the braised pork belly rice, as the flavor wasn't that strong and felt like dry meat. The spicy wontons were also alright. The menu is pretty limited, so we got to try a bulk of it. Not too sure if I'll be back, but it was decent! read more
8 hours ago
The food is so good everytime! I definitely recommend this place, just parking is not the best. Small place but they sit you down quick. read more
Quick service, spacious restaurant and overall good vibes. I got the chicken and rice and it was SOOOO good. Sounds boring but the rice is soaked in a flavorful broth and the chicken is soo tender and flavorful. My friends got the noodles and they loved it too. I'd probably get the noodles next time! read more
4 months ago
Having been a repeat customer of the Koreatown location for a while now, it's nice to see Liu's Cafe expanding across LA! The menu is simple and works. With the hype still buzzing around this new location, you may experience varying wait times depending on the time and day of the week you come here (closed on Monday and Tuesday though!) All the staff are great and very attentive to your needs. When a line forms, they generally give you a menu ahead of ordering as to give you time to decide which item you want to indulge on that day, a good gesture and allows a good flow of customers to get in and out as the space is small (counter seating only). The food itself is a no-frills type of Taiwanese/Hong Kong style selection, reminiscent of the flavors from the area. Both the Chiayi Chicken Rice and Braised Pork Belly Rice are my go-to's when coming here, paired with a hot Hong Kong Milk Tea, and the HK Style French Toast as dessert. Come hungry because this place will fill you up and make you order more (trust me, I've done it multiple times here). read more
Overall Experience: 9.0 / 10 I've gone here a couple of times and they have been very consistent with their food and experience. There usually is a good line out the door as the restaurant isn't too big, but service is fast and people come in and out of the restaurant quickly. The food: I've tried most the items on the menu. My favorite are the sesame cold noodles with chili crisps. I always add it with the chicken and it tastes amazing. The bouncy noodles with the rich nutty creamy satisfies my cravings every time. This is also because I have a personal preference for chili peanut/sesame cold noodles, as my GF thinks its only good. Their braised pork belly rice is extremely flavorful, very rich, umami and very a subtly sweet. The pickled cucumber brings a perfect amount of tang and acid to the dish too. I would say I wish the pork to rice ratio is a little off, as I would like a larger layer of pork on the rice since each bite does not have enough pork/ flavor on it. But what my GF and I did was add the sauce from the spicy wontons into the pork rice bowl and make it a better ratio. I also really enjoyed the wontons, but the filling it a little too mush for me texturally. The flavors are on point, as I love the spicy sauce they use. The wonton wrapper is also an amazing bouncy texture but the filling texture is too many layers of soft for my preference. The dumplings are slightly spicy, not overly but drenched the sauce. The filling is small, and was a little mushy for my preference in texture. The filling was flavorful, but it is mostly masked by the spicy sauce. I have also tried their Hong Kong style French Toast and the Kaya Jam toast which I both really enjoyed. They both remind me of the bread that I make myself, which is fluffy, and soft on the inside, and subtly sweet. The condensed milk and the crispy hong kong french toast works so well, and inspires me to make it myself at home. The Kaya Jam toast is good, but if you are to get toast anyways I would recommend the Hong Kong Style French toast. Overall: I would recommend you to come here and give it a try! Don't let the line intimidate you as it moves pretty fast. read more
My new favorite! Liu's Cafe is probably the best Chinese food I've had in LA proper, and it has such a unique take on some of the classics. I've had Beef Noodle Soup at so many restaurants in LA, but Liu's Cafe does something extra that gives theirs a unique flavor that greatly complements and enhances it over the more traditional ones you'll find at Northern Cafe or even Pine and Crane (which is still one of my all time favorites). When you walk in, you're immediately at the counter, which means the line may sometimes be out the door. The entire restaurant lives up to its "Cafe" name, as the seating is pretty tight, and most of the chairs are bar-level, rather than a lower Dining or Counter level chairs, so keep that in mind if traveling with children or for accessibility needs. The employees were all super, super friendly, and gave their opinions on which dishes they recommended and why. The food came out very quickly for having been a completely busy day. Our milk teas arrived within 5 minutes, then BNS and Wontons, and then our Cold Sesame Noodles with Chicken (get it with chicken, it's so good!) Each one of our dishes could stand alone, and the Cold Sesame Noodle dish is actually something I now find myself craving! The pulled chicken with chili sauce is beyond delicious, and the tea was good enough to come in alone for. I love this place, and now want to check out their K-Town location, too! read more
Have come back to Liu's Cafe multiple times, especially after the lines have cooled down since the first month of opening, and the food has been consistently good every visit! The portions are, for me, just right, the food is not overly priced, the service is friendly, and the food always comes out pretty quickly. The interior is quite small and it is kind of bar-style so you will be sitting next to someone you don't know likely, but personally I didn't mind. I tried the Beef Noodle Soup and the broth was flavorful and the beef was really tender; I really enjoyed it! It's unfortunately not available on their to-go menu but I also really enjoyed the Braised Pork Belly Rice bowl, which is! The Hong Kong Milk Tea was just okay, and personally felt like it was lacking a little flavor; not sure if it was just the batch or day though. Overall though, pretty solid spot for some Taiwanese classics and will definitely be back to try probably the Spicy Wontons next time! read more
this location is better! only bar seating (perfect for me i love eating alone) + the most efficient service servers are all incredibly nice and the dishes come out immediately. i was in and out in under 15 minutes. so perfect read more
Yummy Taiwanese spot that brings tasty Asian food to Westwood! I came here on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago, and the line was pretty long, but it moves quickly. The food comes really quickly (before we even had a chance to sit down after ordering). The waitress recommended each person get two dishes, but tbh one is more than enough. I had the sesame cold noodle and braised pork belly rice, and both dishes were a 5/5. They were both flavorful and had great portions. read more
Let me preface that I am not expert on Taiwanese food but on Hong Kong cafes as I was born and raised there. By that standard this is not good. Dishes were too sweet. Braised pork belly is really minced pork for all practical purposes. Pork sauce was too sweet but many American palates may find this a plus and not a minus. The cold noodles have no bounce and the chew is soft and lifeless. Chicken was fine and inoffensive. The peanut sauce is waaaaay too sweet and not salty enough. read more
Overall, a really great experience! The food is pretty good across the board. I do wish the 牛肉麵 had a little more content to it, but the noodles themselves were very unique. While it might not be the most authentic take, I really have no complaints about the taste. A quick heads-up if you are visiting: parking was pretty difficult to find, and we had about a 30-minute wait. However, one standout detail I really appreciated at the end of the meal was that their payment system's default tip setting is only 8%, which is incredibly refreshing. Despite the wait and the parking situation, I highly recommend checking it out. read more
Yes, everything about this place is amazing. Ok, maybe not the hour-long line on the weekend, but man, is it worth it! So just prepare mentally, bring a book, bring a friend, and prepare for an absolutely delicious meal. I was able to order a hong kong milk tea in line, which was incredible and gave me the energy to keep waiting. The wait gave us plenty of time to decide what we wanted, so we ordered right away, and the food came out super fast. Everything, I mean, everything was delicious. Not one bad bite. Then, fast forward weeks later, I was craving beef noodle soup, didn't have the car, so I ordered delivery and even that was fire!! They know what they are doing! So so happy they're on the Westside now. Already a repeat customer. read more
Chill Taiwanese/ Hong Kong fusion cafe with reasonably priced comfort food, if you put the Internet hype aside, it is a great laidback spot that benefits the local community (UCLA students). If you view it as a viral food spot that lives up the hype, it's not transformational. *Better than the Ktown location because of parking, and less line* (we came here on a Saturday late afternoon) ** Mind you seating could be limited since it's bar seating so it may not be the best place to come with a huge party. I think 1-4 people are cool. I personally think it's a great idea for them to open up their 2nd location at Westwood, the cafe offers affordable and yummy options for students around the area. FOOD Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice (4.8/5): With the price point you are paying and you're actually eating meat- not synthetic protein. I definitely think this is my #1 recommendation from this place. Taste wise, nothing magnificent but it's a bowl of comfort that is decently sized, and fills you. Seasoning is on point, I serve it with the chili oil on the table. Kaya Toast (4.5/5): Just basic Kaya toast with some coconut flakes, I love how they carry Kaya stuff on their menu. This Southeast Asia flavour deserves to be more known. It tastes custard like, coconuty-aromatic flavour. ^ I wish they have a Hong Kong Style French Toast with the option to add Kaya filling, that would be a game changer! The egg coated crust would compliments the rich custards-like coconuty aromatic. Spicy Wonton (4.3/5): Good to order for sharing. It's standard chili oil wonton, each restaurant has their own version to the sauce. I wouldn't say this is my top spot for it but it scratches off the itch if you're craving for dumplings, also tastes decent. SERVICE Service is friendly and decent, it's a cafe setting where you order at the kiosk. Then you get seated with the number stand placing on your table. They have a self-serve corner, where you get your napkins and utensils. Food didn't take a long time to come, all tastes pretty decent (not magnificent). But I've no complaints. OVERALL Can't find anything to complain here, parking is not as bad as Koreatown location. Also a great affordable laidback food spot around UCLA, I'd definitely see myself coming here as a student for quick lunch or to fill up my tummy during finals week. Now that this spot has been around for a couple years, I'd say if you view this spot as a casual Asian-fusion cafe- you're not getting disappointed. It's affordable, tastes decent, clean ambience, service with no attitude, parking not too hard. "IG viral spot" However, if you're hoping to have a life transformational/ Bib experience. There's not really a lot of creativity in their dishes or nothing magnificent in terms of taste that you would woah, it's comfort food. This spot got IG viral for a second around a year ago, and now that time thinned out the hype, I think I like this place better than before. read more
I was excited that Liu's Cafe came to Westwood so close to UCLA. The line is typically out the door, but you can get lucky every once in a while. The cafe is an interesting fast casual style type of restaurant. You order and pay at the front, then they seat you and bring your food out to you. There's basically only bar seating around the perimeter of the cafe. I highly recommend the milk tea. It's very fragrant and you can taste the tea. The cold peanut noodles were nice on a hot day. I hope to come back again soon! read more
I did take out for Liu's Cafe. It was super fast for two braised pork rice bowls. Also tasted the same as the ktown location ... gotta love consistency! Just like the ktown location, their take out menu is very limited. However, they currently do not have online ordering and parking is kinda difficult in Westwood. Love this place so much and happy to have this location open! read more
Food: - One of the few authentic Taiwanese restaurants in West LA! - Liu Rou Fan: I typically dislike this dish since the meat is usually fatty, but at Liu's cafe, the meat is lean! The dish was small, but had good flavor - Chiayi chicken rice: rare dish to find, the chicken was tender - Spicy wonton: overall good flavor, but not amazing - Hong kong french toast: contains cream in the middle, outside was fried Service: - Parking: Westwood parking is always tough, try to get street parking - There is almost always a wait, but the staff do their best to make the experience as fast and smooth as possible - If you order togo, the wait is shorter - You order at the counter and then get served at the tables read more
I've been wanting to try this place since it opened, and I'm glad it lived up to the hype! This is as close to classic Taiwanese flavors as you can get on the west side. Obviously, it's not going to be as good as Taiwan, but it's pretty close. I personally think the braised pork belly rice is the closest, then the beef noodle soup, and then the spicy wontons (maybe skip those), but I think everything is worth a try here. Seating is very limited since it's all bar seating, so don't come with large parties. Parking around UCLA can be difficult too, so either find metered street parking or try one of the parking structures near Ralphs and Trader Joe's for minimal rates. read more
6 months ago
New liu's location right next to ucla! You can't go wrong with ordering because the menu is small and simple. Homey and light Taiwanese staples. What we ordered: *Pandan kaya toast (4/5) - crispy and lightly sweet! *Spicy wontons (4.5/5) - tasty, I do prefer the din tai fung ones specifically for their sauce though *Sesame cold noodles with chicken (5/5) - why haven't I ordered this at the koreatown location?! sooo good, perfectly seasoned/balanced, and the chicken paired well with it *Braised pork rice (4.2/5) - missing some of the umami fatty flavor compared to braised pork rice I've had in Taiwan, but still good There's almost always a line so be prepared to wait, it took 40 mins from arrival to get our food on a Thursday afternoon. Street parking only. read more
3 months ago
visited liu's cafe on a sunday about 15 mins after opening! we had to wait maybe 10 mins for an available seat but basically you order at the register first and then the cashier walks your party to an open seat. they don't allow you to pick a table before ordering. i can see why there's a line out the door since the seating is minimal. i sat on the bar by the window and honestly the seating is pretty cramped and uncomfortable i got the hong kong style french toast, sesame cold noodle w/ chili crisp, and milk tea hot (not pictured). love both, the cold noodles are simple and tbh can be made at home but you can't go wrong with it! the hong kong style french toast is def popular for a reason, it has the perfect crunch with custard/cream inside + condensed milk to drizzle on top. the french toast is sweet so i dipped it into the condensed milk rather than pouring. i would def come back to try their other noodle dishes but i would recommend going when they open to avoid any lines read more
Happy they opened a location in West LA! I visited this spot for lunch around noon on a Friday with some co-workers and our experience was pretty good! This spot was decently crowded and busy when we went. We waited for about 20ish minutes before the 3 of us were able to order and take a seat. The interior is nice, but small. The seating is very Asian style with shared tables that are very close to other patrons. It isn't the most ideal for people who need personal space when dining out. For the food we got: - Hong Kong Milk Tea (Iced): A bit diluted, but not bad. Not too sweet and paired well with the dishes we had. - Beef Noodle Soup: For $13, this was great value and pretty filling. A good amount of noodles and a generous amount of tender beef cheek. The broth was tasty and was even better after adding some scoops of chili oil. - Hong Kong Style French Toast: My favorite here. Crispy exterior and fluffy and custardy interior. I loved the textures, warmth, and sweetness of this toast. Can be a bit heavy on its own, so it was good to share with 2 other people. Overall, this was great and almost as good as the Ktown location. The Ktown location has the bakery items and more space, but this spot wasn't bad, just limited compared to the other location. Also not as great as the HK cafes in the SGV area, but still a great option for West LA that I would recommend. The prices are also great for the area! read more
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