Liu's Cafe

Dang, this place is IT. Still dreaming of the scallion sweet cheese croissant. Chiayi chicken rice is the kind of dish you wish was on hand anytime you’re feeling under the weather — like Chinese soul food. Already can’t wait to come back here.

Published at 2 months ago

Very cute cafe in KTown, love the atmosphere: no music, just pure noise (mostly loud talking) from all the customers, the kitchen, just makes me feel like I’m at a local cafe in Hong Kong. Lovely staffs, cashier was very friendly and helpful (guy in the glasses that always smiles). Food 10/10. I ordered the sesame cold noodles that was absolutely delicious, and the spicy wontons as well. Many great hot tea options, just like what they would offer in a small authentic southeast Asian cafe. Love this place :)

Published at 2 months ago

Came here for lunch around noon on Friday, and wait was around 15-20 mins. I will say the food was better than expected. The rice bowl, noodles, and dumplings didn't have overwhelming flavors, which I really liked. We tried one of their tea, and it was also good! Their French toast seemed it was fried, but it was not greasy at all.

Published at 8 months ago

Everything was delicious perfection - spicy wonton and noodles, chicken rice, braised pork rice, and even the strawberry croissant roll pastry. Arrived ~15 mins before opening (on a Sunday) and there were just a handful of parties a head of us. You order first then get seated. Friendly and helpful staff. I’d eat this every week if I lived closer to it!

Published at 6 months ago

A really cute little cafe. This is like a Taiwanese fusion cafe. They provide some authentic Taiwanese food and some Chinese dishes. Overall the food is authentic and good. The staff’s attitude is nice. I absolutely like the decoration here, which makes me feel the owner knows the Chinese culture.

Published at 5 months ago

Liu’s hit the mark on many fronts. First the food was fantastic. Portions were decent, ingredients were fresh and tasted “clean” and flavourful. We were party of 4 so we ordered 4 of the classics and some pastry. Beyond the food, the atmosphere was inviting, friendly and trendy. It does get crowded with lines forming pretty early but the wait was manageable since they deliver the food pretty quickly and people are good about eating and giving the space to others.

Published at 10 months ago

(also posted on their Yelp page)
For people working normal Monday through Friday jobs, this restaurant is hard to catch because they're only open in the mornings. On weekends expect to wait in line. (If you want to order take away, you can let them know and you may skip the line.)

My personal experience - I arrived at 10:30 AM but spent 10 minutes looking for parking. I got in line by ~10:45 AM and finished ordering/got seated by 11:20 AM. I had a party of two.

Immediately I could tell the servers put their heart into satisfying their customers. Huge props to every single employee I encountered. They were so pleasant, always had smiles, and were so friendly!

The menu is not extensive, so I feel this makes it easy to order. I highly recommend the cold sesame noodles WITH the chicken. The chicken is not dry at all. I love the sesame paste flavor and the chili. The spicy wontons were actually spicy. They're not as sweet as the ones from Din Tai Fung, which I appreciated very much.

They were selling egg tarts on that Saturday morning that I visited, but they ran out within 30 minutes of opening! I got the matcha pineapple bun from their bakery case. It was so delicious and even had some cream inside.

Pro tip: know what you want to order while you're in line. You have to order first before getting seated.

Published at 6 months ago

I really love this place and it would’ve been a 5 star for me IF they didn’t change the pork belly menu. Before, they had big pieces of actual pork belly, now, they cut it up to tiny pieces to appear as if it’s more and honestly the taste was so-so. Other than that, this place is an absolute go to for me, their breakfast food is amazing and so is the atmosphere. Beautiful decoration and lively, kind, waiters. Prices are great. I would recommend most of the dishes on both their breakfast and lunch menu other than the pork belly one and their sesame cold noodles. Personally, those two dishes aren’t bad for the price but I don’t think they’re great either.

Published at 8 months ago

So good! Simple, authentic and tasty dishes at a cheap price! I would definitely come back here again Definitely get the sesame noodles and the wontons. And the HK French toast! I tried their butterbeer latte and purple yam latte. Not my favorite for sure. But the food would definitely make me come back

Published at a month ago

This meal was the highlight of our LA trip! I don t know what kind of sorcery is afoot here but this little spot manages to be so much more than the sum of its parts. I felt so welcomed from the moment I stepped through the door and I liked that they have you order and pay before sitting down, it makes the dining experience more relaxing and low key. Loved how short and sweet the menu was, the chef has incredible restraint and a crystal clear vision. Every single thing we had was incredible, the best hk french toast and bolo bao I have ever had, and omg the scallion roll and dumplings. I don t know what it is about this place but I m still thinking about that meal days later. Also, the dining room made me feel like I was in a tvb serial from the early 90s which is the highest compliment.

Published at a month ago

Very cute cafe in KTown, love the atmosphere: no music, just pure noise (mostly loud talking) from all the customers, the kitchen, just makes me feel like I m at a local cafe in Hong Kong. Lovely staffs, cashier was very friendly and helpful (guy in the glasses that always smiles). Food 10/10. I ordered the sesame cold noodles that was absolutely delicious, and the spicy wontons as well. Many great hot tea options, just like what they would offer in a small authentic southeast Asian cafe. Love this place :)

Published at a month ago

Too slow

Published at 2 months ago

A really cute little cafe. This is like a Taiwanese fusion cafe. They provide some authentic Taiwanese food and some Chinese dishes. Overall the food is authentic and good. The staff s attitude is nice. I absolutely like the decoration here, which makes me feel the owner knows the Chinese culture.

Published at 2 months ago

Love this place. Food is amazing & the prices are beyond fair for the quality you re getting! Alex is always amazing & super helpful, he s the best!

Published at 2 months ago

Great milk tea and braised pork rice!

Published at 2 months ago

Dang, this place is IT. Still dreaming of the scallion sweet cheese croissant. Chiayi chicken rice is the kind of dish you wish was on hand anytime you re feeling under the weather like Chinese soul food. Already can t wait to come back here.

Published at 2 months ago

Found hair in wontons (see attached)!! We waited over an hour to be seated. Food was average. Def not worth the wait!

Published at 2 months ago

absolutely fantastic. the kind of place maria and i dream about opening. worth the wait.

Published at 2 months ago

I want to thank this place for giving us more food diversity in this neighborhood. I enjoyed the food and bakeries. Definitely I will try other menus here.

Published at 2 months ago

Published at 2 months ago

Published at 2 months ago

The food and drink was great

Published at 3 months ago

the pork dish was very oily but i don t know if that s how it s supposed to be. just definitely heavy. i also had like a pineapple pastry and it was good but maybe add some lemon zest to the recipe? it tastes a bit too eggy.

Published at 3 months ago

Good prices for good food! Parking: Always hard to find a street parking. Food : 5/5 |

Published at 3 months ago

Published at 3 months ago

Its a cute restaurant thats great for a Hong Kong-style breakfast. Im really glad that such a great restaurant opened in K-Town!! The amount of food is small, so it may not be enough for men, but I really like it~ I highly recommend the Spicy won ton egg noodles. It looks like they make all the dumplings themselves. There was too much sauce at the bottom, so they had to salt it a little at the end. Other desserts were also good, and the hongkong style french toast was really delicious. I highly recommend it!

Published at 3 months ago

Solid food at a reasonable price. I wish they did the pork belly the way they used to do it (bigger slices rather than smaller bites) but still overall good.

Published at 3 months ago

Published at 3 months ago

Published at 4 months ago

Worth the wait time

Published at 4 months ago

Stylish Taiwanese restaurant and cafe Food is generally cheap But now, sticking to the basics...

Published at 4 months ago

This place hits the spot every time. If youre going on a Saturday or Sunday, expect to wait. Write your name down, and take a stroll or check out the coffeeshop next door. Its well worth the wait. The interior feels a bit cramped, but consider it a part of the Taiwanese, Hong Kong experience. Staff is always friendly, and the menu isnt overwhelming. When you go in the afternoon, several things are sold out. It feels a bit odd that they have the same hours as during their soft launch, but post-COVID restauranteering is tricky business. I miss seeing the co-owner, who used to man the register, but good to see the place thriving. All in all, delicious, simple, comforting foods, vibes, and people.

Published at 4 months ago

Published at 4 months ago

Make sure u come the time when it opens, or u have to wait in line. Very nice and delicious food. Very affordable, and you can feel the unique vibe of it culture

Published at 4 months ago

Great food and great service ! The place is way too loud for me when it s busy and the pork belly rice was underwhelming but the wontons and chicken rice were very good ! Highly recommend their cucumber / mint lemonade also . Worth the money and waiting period .

Published at 4 months ago

Published at 4 months ago

Published at 4 months ago

The servers are friendly and attentive. The cold noodles are perfectly spiced and refreshing on a hot day. The cozy atmosphere feels like a bustling night market. It s in a great walkable neighborhood no one who lives in ktown drives, we walk.

Published at 4 months ago

Published at 4 months ago

I recently had the misfortune of dining at Lius Cafe, and it was the worst experience Ive ever had. From the moment we walked in, the service was atrocious. We were initially told there would be a 30-minute wait, but after waiting for 30 minutes, we were informed there would be an additional 30-45 minute wait. To make matters worse, the staff was rude and unprofessional. When we expressed our concerns about the inaccurate wait times, we were met with indifference and even hostility. When the food finally arrived, it was a disaster. Our dishes were cold and tasteless. The ingredients were clearly of poor quality, and the presentation was sloppy at best. Overall, Liu s Cafe is a place I would not recommend to anyone. Save your money and your time, and dine elsewhere.

Published at 4 months ago

Published at 5 months ago

Liu s Cafe is a rare gem nestled in Los Angeles Koreatown. Affordable, high quality, and delicious food. The braised pork belly rice is perfection - tender and flavorful pork layed on a bed of rice paired with a side of thinly sliced pickled and a side of chili oil (absolutely incredible). The Jasmine Passion Ice Tea is refreshing, has the perfect amount of sweetness and blend of jasmine and passion fruit flavor. And you can t forget about the buns. The Matcha Pineapple and Pineapple Buns are a must have.

Published at 5 months ago

Published at 5 months ago

Good food! Me and my daughter loved it!

Published at 5 months ago

First off let s talk about the service it was amazing everyone was so kind and when it comes to the tip portion it s not something outrageous where they are asking for 30% it s all reasonable 6% -10% very well deserved 30% though It s you go in order then they sit you down and bring the food to you Now let s talk about the rice and pork dish oh my goodness all I gotta say is we ordered 2 more to go to bring it home back to OC. The pineapple bun omg also ordered 2 more to go and the Hong Kong milk tea was insane

Published at 5 months ago

PLEASE PLEASE bring back the congee. It was my fav thing on the menu and I need it back.

Published at 5 months ago

Published at 5 months ago

Omg love it. The French toast and the milk tea!

Published at 5 months ago

Fake Taiwanese restaurant Taiwanese dont come to this store Dont waste your money and time on this sucks store 1.Braised pork belly rice is too watery. fail 2.meat of the chicken rice is too thin. fail 3.cold noodles are too spicy. fail 4.The dining table is very very small 5.space is small, a lot of people were crowded 6.The location is terrible, there is no parking lot and it is difficult to park

Published at 6 months ago

The atmosphere is noisy and you have to shout when chatting There are very few menu options and the food has completely lost its Taiwanese flavor, especially the Chiayi chicken rice

Published at 6 months ago

yummy

Published at 6 months ago

As a real Taiwanese I will not recommend, it s overrated. It says Chinese modern restaurant but then put all Taiwanese stuff in their shop. We felt completely off. Plus the atmosphere was awful with people talking super loud, and it s such a small shop. The table was tiny and wouldn t fill with all of your food. We truly don t think their Chiayi Chicken Rice is authentic & the cold sesame noodles are overly spicy. All Taiwanese spirit was gone. I ll rather go to Joy/Pine & Crane :)

Published at 6 months ago

(also posted on their Yelp page) For people working normal Monday through Friday jobs, this restaurant is hard to catch because theyre only open in the mornings. On weekends expect to wait in line. (If you want to order take away, you can let them know and you may skip the line.) My personal experience - I arrived at 10:30 AM but spent 10 minutes looking for parking. I got in line by ~10:45 AM and finished ordering/got seated by 11:20 AM. I had a party of two. Immediately I could tell the servers put their heart into satisfying their customers. Huge props to every single employee I encountered. They were so pleasant, always had smiles, and were so friendly! The menu is not extensive, so I feel this makes it easy to order. I highly recommend the cold sesame noodles WITH the chicken. The chicken is not dry at all. I love the sesame paste flavor and the chili. The spicy wontons were actually spicy. Theyre not as sweet as the ones from Din Tai Fung, which I appreciated very much. They were selling egg tarts on that Saturday morning that I visited, but they ran out within 30 minutes of opening! I got the matcha pineapple bun from their bakery case. It was so delicious and even had some cream inside. Pro tip: know what you want to order while youre in line. You have to order first before getting seated.

Published at 6 months ago

Everything was delicious perfection - spicy wonton and noodles, chicken rice, braised pork rice, and even the strawberry croissant roll pastry. Arrived ~15 mins before opening (on a Sunday) and there were just a handful of parties a head of us. You order first then get seated. Friendly and helpful staff. I d eat this every week if I lived closer to it!

Published at 6 months ago

Line system is whack. They don t tell you your name has to be on the list and people who arrived after you get seated before you even though you told them twice that the 4 people ahead of the last called party have been waiting longer. Thanks longer haired dude! Decent Chinese/taiwanese/hk staples and nice you don t have to go to the SGV, but for the wait I d rather have much much tastier in the 626

Published at 6 months ago

Total win. Cant say enough good about it. Another win for the most unlikely corner in LA.

Published at 6 months ago

Published at 6 months ago

Published at 6 months ago

Very homey dishes (the rice bowls are very homemade style). The star was the pineapple custard bun, the best I ve ever had

Published at 7 months ago

Published at 7 months ago

Just another overhyped aesthetic restaurant on social media. Was really excited to try this place, but left very disappointed. Food portions were small, flavours were not there, better buns at other places for less. The food and flavours felt too simple and made by someone who didn t know how to make authentic Taiwanese food :( The pork belly was chopped so finely it felt like there was more sauce than meat The wontons had a tangy taste which was quite weird. Also it was a 30 minute wait on a Saturday at noon - definitely not worth it wait or the hype unfortunately:(

Published at 7 months ago

Very good quality and authentic Taiwanese food!

Published at 7 months ago

Awesome little place! Excellent food and service. 10/10 vibes.

Published at 7 months ago

Delicious

Published at 7 months ago

Published at 7 months ago

Good people & ma jiang mian

Published at 7 months ago

Published at 7 months ago

They lived up to the hype both the pork belly and the wontons tasted absolutely good. I can highly recommend it. Qmd we did not hear any names being called during for those on the wait list. Thought the wait time can be long. Bring an sun umbrella for sunny days. Their locals are rather small for the high demand. Food

Published at 7 months ago

Published at 7 months ago

I ordered dessert and brunch and was satisfied. Added spicy dumpling soup + egg noodles. It was moderately spicy and gave me a new feeling with the unfamiliar but not overwhelming spice. Personally, I preferred the pineapple bun with buttercream inside as a dessert rather than brunch. The buttercream was not too sweet, but had a slightly salty taste, and was very delicious without being greasy. The pineapple flavor was gentle and just enough to not harm the flavor of the butter. I plan to visit again and try other desserts one by one! +However, since parking space is limited, public transportation is recommended. Alternatively, it is better to park on the street nearby.

Published at 7 months ago

Came here for lunch around noon on Friday, and wait was around 15-20 mins. I will say the food was better than expected. The rice bowl, noodles, and dumplings didnt have overwhelming flavors, which I really liked. We tried one of their tea, and it was also good! Their French toast seemed it was fried, but it was not greasy at all.

Published at 7 months ago

Such a fun place to go to. Awesome food and friendly service. Better go early because of the long line.

Published at 8 months ago

It seems like there s a new Taiwanese place opening up every week around LA. This place stands out as one of the better ones. The chicken rice and sesame cold noodles are good, but the wontons are the must get on the sparse menu. I wish they would ve kept the original dessert menu, as that was truly a standout my first time here. Nevertheless, this place is still worth a trip.

Published at 8 months ago

I really love this place and it would ve been a 5 star for me IF they didn t change the pork belly menu. Before, they had big pieces of actual pork belly, now, they cut it up to tiny pieces to appear as if it s more and honestly the taste was so-so. Other than that, this place is an absolute go to for me, their breakfast food is amazing and so is the atmosphere. Beautiful decoration and lively, kind, waiters. Prices are great. I would recommend most of the dishes on both their breakfast and lunch menu other than the pork belly one and their sesame cold noodles. Personally, those two dishes aren t bad for the price but I don t think they re great either.

Published at 8 months ago

My favorite restaurant in all of Los Angeles. Outstanding food at an outstanding price.

Published at 8 months ago

Published at 8 months ago

Everything about this spot is outstanding. From the super friendly and helpful staff to the delicious food and variety of tea. And the premises were super clean and makes you feel welcome. Food

Published at 8 months ago

Pretty good food. Cool atmosphere and good service

Published at 8 months ago

the pork belly rice had me wanting 2 more bowls

Published at 8 months ago

Update! Our fave brunch spot but go early! Limited seats. Added plus! Friend said staffed by hunks Just moved to the area and wished for a place that matched our love for joy, woon, and pine and crane. Braised pork was my fave and you MUST get that szechuan cookie! Will definitely come back to try everything on menu.

Published at 8 months ago

Doesn t offer to-go on some items like dumplings. Apparently it s not what the chef prefers. Sure chef, maybe put it on the menu before people wait in line. You re inconveniencing your patrons.

Published at 8 months ago

Great addition to koreatown with creative taiwanese pastries and authentic hot food.

Published at 9 months ago

Published at 9 months ago

Their French toast made me recreate the scene from Harry Met Sally. The scene where Sally fakes an orgasm. Except this was real, a real food induced, ecstasy filled, eyes rolled back religious experience. I don t think I m allowed back so I ll be taking my French toast to-go next time.

Published at 9 months ago

Delicious, well-priced, and a treat to the senses!! Love their food and really kind staff. An easy choice!

Published at 9 months ago

Delicious, spicy sesame noodles and chicken! Very well-priced, too.

Published at 9 months ago

Tried this place during my trip to LA after watching Jenns recommandation video Their pastries are

Published at 9 months ago

Great little place. I got a chicken rice bowl that was perfect for a rainy morning. The strawberry tea was also spot on. Even though it was busy, the service and atmosphere there felt very calm. I hope to go back and try some baked goods.

Published at 9 months ago

Published at 9 months ago

Published at 9 months ago

Really tasty food, exceptionally friendly and enthusiastic service, plus awesome ambiance! The half hour wait was worth it. Yes, expect a wait, even for a party of two. We had the chicken rice, the spicy wontons and the cold noodles. All were just superbly delicious. The spicy food is not overly spicy. Even I enjoyed it. Its pleasantly spicy. My favorite dish were the spicy wontons on a bed of egg noodles! The matcha pastry and the biscuit were really good too. Its a really fun experience thanks to the staff and ambiance! Meter parking is available.

Published at 9 months ago

Published at 10 months ago

Came here for brunch with a few friends earlier during their soft opening. Fantastic food at reasonable prices when split with a party. Mix of staples and creative twists on the menu. Save some extra time to look for metered spots nearby, gets busy on the weekends. Small cafe so come early for seats! Their sesame cold noodle is flavorful but refreshing. Spicy wontons are not too spicy, very umami. Their Hong Kong style French toast is a crowd favorite - crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. Buttery without being too sweet. A must try! Check it out if you get the chance.

Published at 10 months ago

I can t stop going there

Published at 10 months ago

Was a taste of home. Really enjoyed the simple menu and they made everything with great flavor. Breakfast ends at 11:25, and lunch rush comes in fast! It gets crowded around 11:30 so be sure to come in early. We got braised pork belly rice, chiayi chicken rice, and spicy wontons with noodles. I recommend all! I ll be back to try the other dishes. Parking isn t easy so just be mindful about that.

Published at 10 months ago

Great Canto homey food and the pineapple bun is excellent. Tables get crowded fast.

Published at 10 months ago

Liu s hit the mark on many fronts. First the food was fantastic. Portions were decent, ingredients were fresh and tasted clean and flavourful. We were party of 4 so we ordered 4 of the classics and some pastry. Beyond the food, the atmosphere was inviting, friendly and trendy. It does get crowded with lines forming pretty early but the wait was manageable since they deliver the food pretty quickly and people are good about eating and giving the space to others.

Published at 10 months ago

worth the wait and line.

Published at 10 months ago

Reasonable price and good quality. Every pastries are good with milky oolong tea. And every lunch menu is very attractive. Food : 5/5

Published at a year ago

Checked out this place as a recommendation from a friend. Chef Eddie opened up this place a few months ago, and boy was it amazing. Decor is minimal, functional, with a cute dining area and an open kitchen concept. Mini kitchen in back (I m assuming for baked goods) while the chefs fire up favorites like hand-peeled chicken and braised pork belly up front. I tried the pineapple bun with butter, and it was light, tasty, and not too sweet. The real star was the pork belly rice bowl - fresh, piping hot, and well-spiced. I love how easy it was to get some soy sauce and chili crisp to accompany it, and really enjoyed the pickled daikon (I hate cucumber). The bathroom was notably clean, the natural sunlight was welcomed, and the vibes were right. Definitely will come back soon! Dietary restrictions: Able to substitute

Published at a year ago

Published at a year ago

Delicious and so polite :) overall amazing experience, yummy!

Published at a year ago

good food good service :)

Published at a year ago

Food was great and reasonably priced. The service was great as well. Parking might be tricky but we got lucky and found a spot right outside. Definitely recommend and would definitely come back.

Published at a year ago

Everything was good. Clean and delicious portions of food. Remember to add noddles to your wonton spicy soup. It taste amazing.

Published at a year ago

Great place for a pleasant coffee with friends!

Published at a year ago

Published at a year ago

Published at a year ago

All the breakfast items are great!

Published at a year ago

Very cute place with an edited, well-priced menu, friendly service, delicious food, and a nice seating area for a cafe this casual. Enjoyed the chicken rice, egg tart, and passion fruit jasmine tea. Looking forward to returning.

Published at a year ago

The food, the vibes, the staff ~ all immaculate!! The chicken rice, wontons, and peanut noodles were my favorites. Egg salad sandwich was also very tasty and good texture of egg salad, crunch, and bread bun. Make sure to get some tea too! Vegetarian options: The pastries and only a few menu items are vegetarian.

Published at a year ago

Amazing! One of my favorite new spots!

Published at a year ago

Love this place. Very cute little cafe, delicious eats at a great price. The braised pork belly bowl, and wontons were the highlight. Especially recommend the wontons! The staff are very friendly too.

Published at a year ago

It s hard to find good diner-like spots, especially ones that serve Asian classics. While not exactly a traditional cha chaan teng, Lius fits the bill perfectly in the community. The food really hits the right balance of being comforting while also adding the right amount of flair. For example, the pineapple buns have that amazing sweet crunch but Liu s bun is buttery and not dry or bland. Really the only thing I d suggest is they need more seating.

Published at a year ago

This place checks all the boxes in every department. The food: Everything we ordered was beyond delicious and presented very nicely. We ordered the chiayi chicken bowl, the pork belly roll, and the spicy wontons, in addition to a pineapple bun and a couple of egg tarts. Every item was perfect. The prices were very reasonable. You can feel free to kind of splurge without having to worry too much about how much you re spending. The service: The employees are all very polite and the food came out quickly. They had staff on hand to keep the dining area clean and help customers find available seating. The atmosphere: The space may be small but the design is very classy and intelligently laid out. The clientele here is nice as well lots of well-mannered, normal people. Stepping into this restaurant is a breath of fresh air compared to some of the stuff going on just outside on the streets of Koreatown.

Published at a year ago

Most of the menu items were unavailable.

Published at a year ago

Amazing food, amazing staff. All the rice dishes are a must try but everything is delicious, you won t go wrong.

Published at a year ago

Two days, two trips to Liu s, both fantastic experiences. Every dish was excellent, and the team couldn t be friendlier. Highly recommend for either breakfast or lunch!

Published at a year ago

Great little place. Food came in fast and, despite straightforward, it was tasty. It wasn t mind-blowing but great for the price. There were a couple of stand out ingredients in the dishes like the wonton sauce and the yellow pickle in the chicken meal. I wish the egg was creamy but it might be a Taiwanese cuisine thing to have hard boiled eggs?

Published at a year ago

Despite the buzz on Instagram, my visit to Lius Cafe was marked by confusion from the start. Upon arrival, a line at the cashier and people waiting with number signs left us puzzled. It turns out we needed to locate the lady managing the waitlist, get our number, wait for our turn to order at the cashier, and then find a seat. This unconventional process contributed to an awkward beginning. The menu was disappointingly limited, featuring only four food options. We opted for the Chiayi Chicken Rice, Braised Pork Belly Rice, Spicy Wontons, and a Pineapple Bun. While the Chiayi Chicken Rice was enjoyable, it didnt bring any distinctiveness compared to what Ive had before. The Braised Pork Belly Rice was passable, though other restaurants in SGV offer a superior version. Unfortunately, the Spicy Wontons lacked flavor, with minimal filling encased in a thick skin. The Pineapple Bun, advertised as a highlight, was a letdown. For a more affordable and delicious option, Id recommend Sunmerry or 85C. Despite the soft bread, the sugary crust felt off to me. Overall, Lius Cafe left me unimpressed and feeling that its overhyped. The confusing ordering process, limited menu, and underwhelming dishes make it hard to justify the Instagram praise. Id advise exploring other dining options in the area.

Published at a year ago

Liu s Cafe s meals are homecooked, Chinese-styled. The portion sizes are just right for me - not too big, not too small. Their spicy wontons are a very unique shape, and their flavors are also uniquely good. Very different from Din Tai Fung s spicy wontons with a homemade kick to it. I got the chicken and the pork rice bowl as well which were very delicious. Their desserts are great too. My only issue with dining in here is that the dining space is very small so people are cramped while eating. I can hear almost every conversation going on, as people s voices bounce off the walls.

Published at a year ago

place is really nice and cute! service is really good. if you had to order one thing, get the spicy wontons. its the BEST ive tried so far. ive also tried their croquet and egg tart. didnt like the hk milk tea but the strawberry roobios tasted like really really good iced tea!

Published at a year ago

Published at a year ago

Delicious, fast service, and very affordable!

Published at a year ago

Great food, dessert, and price. But no parking... Food

Published at a year ago

Boisterous happy atmosphere during my lunchtime visit. Delicious chicken dish, charming staff, fast service and totally recommended.

Published at a year ago

This place serves really authentic Taiwanese food. The pork belly rice is really tasty. I wish there was more meat; however, its prepared with lots of traditional pork oil which adds to the flavor and it s so yummy . The baked goods they have are some of the best Ive ever had in LA. I like the Taiwanese-style element decor, though the seating can be a bit tight.

Published at a year ago

Published at a year ago

Delicious food! Good tea!

Published at a year ago

I heard that it had just opened, so I visited it while I was visiting LA! Ordered bec sandwich, chiayi rice, wonton, and egg tart. The sandwich bread seemed to be homemade and the bacon was thick and filling. The chicken in the chiayi rice was moist and tender, and the wontons were delicious, especially the chili sauce. And even though the egg tart was cold, the pie remained crispy, making it the most delicious egg tart Ive ever had. The drink, Jasmine Passion Fruit Tea, was refreshing and not too sweet. The inside of the store was clean and the decorations were cute, and I thought it was nice to be able to see the pastry kitchen in action. I highly recommend it, so please stop by when youre in LA!

Published at a year ago

Soft opening review! Super excited to see an Taiwanese-HK cafe pop up in Ktown. Def got all the nostalgic flavors with a hint of fusion. Lu rou fan (pork belly rice) tasted just like Taiwan. Egg start had a little extra creme brulee sweetness on top of a crispy crust. Pineapple buns was room temp but perfect flavor. Highly recommend for anyone in the city!

Published at a year ago

Love this new little restaurant! Perfect for lunch or a little snack. Nothing like it in ktown! Had the Chiayi Chicken Rice. Simple and delicious. The portion was big enough to leave me satisfied or add on a drink or pastry (which I did). Pineapple bun was great. Would love to come back and try the weekend brunch special.

Published at a year ago

This new Ktown cafe has a smart business plan utilizing a small space, delicious food and fast, professional service. The vibe is very good here and the limited menu is reasonably priced and you ll want to try everything. We loved the egg salad sandwich and a spicy/sweet bowl of wontons. Both were delicious. We also liked the chive and cheddar biscuit with honey butter on the side. We already plan to go back for the pork belly bowl (sold out) soon. Be prepared to find parking on this busy street on 6th and Western and note that the hours are only 11:00-3:00 daily.

Published at a year ago

Published at a year ago

My friend said their Taiwanese friend who is VERY discerning about Taiwanese restaurants really loved this place, so we decided to stop by and give it a try! When you first enter, you order at the register, then take a stand with a number on it and seat yourself. We came on a Thursday at around noon when there was still plenty of seating open, though as time passed during our visit it got a bit busier. The people working at the register (shout out to Patrick!) are very very kind and helpful and can offer you suggestions if youre feeling a bit stumped on what to try. When I arrived, they also had free samples of their matcha white chocolate cookie and their szechuan peppercorn peanut cookie. The matcha white chocolate was sooo good -- a tried-and-true flavor combo that cant go wrong! It was on the sweeter side in comparison to the szechuan cookie, which has that numbing effect thats typical of szechuan peppers. It was also very very yummy! Very reminiscent of those classic Chinese peanut / almond cookies, but with a hint of spice. I ended up buying a matcha white chocolate cookie to give to my roommate. The cashier told me that the braised pork belly rice and the BEC sando were the most popular so far! However, I am a vegetarian, so the only savory meal item that I could really order was the tea egg salad sando. I am very bad at making decisions, so this was not a problem for me :) I ordered a cheddar & chive biscuit as well, and the friend I came with ended up getting the braised pork belly rice. We also ordered a pot of the milk oolong tea to share. My friend and I both expressed surprise by how filling both of our dishes were! The bowl for the pork belly rice is deceptively small, but my friend was full about 2/3 of the way through. He enjoyed it very much! I also loved my egg salad sando. I really liked the cheese in it, and the pickled cucumbers provided a nice vinegar-y bite to balance the creamy eggs. I was actually too full to eat the biscuit then and there, so I took it home (there are take out boxes against the wall that separates the register from the seating area). It is was so so fluffy and flavorful with a sweet and crispy top (sorry Im stupid so I dont know how to identify the flavors of what they might have used to coat the tops of the biscuits with but its yummy ) the honey butter it is served with is also super good and quite sweet; I could honestly eat just the butter by itself, though I probably shouldnt. The tea was served with a nice little set of teacups that were very cute and picturesque. It doesnt actually have milk in it, but the way the tea leaves are cultivated (again, Im stupid, idk if this is the right way to say it but the point is that it) makes it so that the flavor of the tea is super creamy. I felt like it actually tasted kind of buttery, and the flavor was borderline butterscotch-y for me. The aroma was also so enjoyable, so the entire tea drinking experience was very pleasant. A super unique tea, since I definitely havent tasted anything like this anywhere else! The cashiers also recommended the love story tea. Right now is their soft opening, so it seems like there are still some items that arent available yet, but I am very excited to return and try the Hong Kong-style french toast once they begin serving their brunch menu. I would also like to try more of their bakery offerings, including the pineapple buns and the egg tarts, so Ill definitely be back! Vegetarian options: from the meal options, they have a tea egg salad sando. in the weekend brunch specials that they plan to offer after their soft opening, they have a hong kong-style french toast available. all of their homemade pastries and drinks appear to be vegetarian! the menu says that they cannot accommodate substitutions. Parking: mostly street parking available! there are a few lots nearby for other businesses and its up to you if you want to risk parking there.

Published at a year ago

I read good things about this spot, but was even more impressed after eating there. Everything was delicious and the space was bright, open and inviting!

Published at a year ago

Pork belly rice and spicy fried chicken sando were delicious. I would love to see them use the same pork belly to make Gua Bao : )

Published at a year ago

Published at a year ago

Published at a year ago

Overall ambience was fantastic. Their scallion bacon egg and cheese was made fantastically. Cheddar cheese really hugs the nice scrambled eggs and bun with a hint of scallion was a great compliment. Their twist on a lox bagel replacing the bagel with scallion pancake was phenomenal. Salmon was SUPER fresh and the dill garnish with the buttery scallion pancake base melts in your mouth. Much easier to share than a bagel, eat it like little slices of a pizza. My favorite was the fried chicken. This is a MUST try! Chicken thigh, so super juicy dark meat on the inside has an insane crust and perfect batter with a local sichuan chili oil seasoning. Their twist on Nashville Fried chicken is a home run. The coleslaw was on point and there generous portions of thigh meat makes it great for sharing. This is great fusion comfort food that does taiwanese RIGHT. 5 stars all around.

Published at a year ago