Cea-Lo L.A — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Cea-Lo LA: Soul Food with a Modern Twist

Tucked in the heart of Los Angeles, Cea-Lo LA offers a soulful culinary experience that stands out for its creative take on traditional southern flavors. As soon as you walk through the doors, the warm, inviting aroma of familiar comfort foods fills the air, but the dishes here are far from ordinary—they're soulful yet refined, offering a delightful balance of tradition and innovation.

I began my meal with their Kung Pao Shrimp and Grits, (not on the menu 😎) a dish that exemplifies the bold creativity of the kitchen. The tender shrimp, kissed with a spicy-sweet Kung Pao sauce, sits atop creamy, buttery grits that melt in your mouth. The combination of the Southern staple with a touch of Asian heat is brilliant, offering a flavor profile that dances between rich and tangy without overpowering the senses. It's fusion done right.

Next up, the Fried Catfish with Collard Greens and Mac & Cheese—a classic combination that feels like a warm hug from your Southern grandma. The catfish was crispy on the outside, perfectly seasoned with a crunch that gave way to tender, flaky fish. Paired with collard greens cooked just right—smoky with a hint of vinegar—and mac & cheese that was decadently creamy, each bite was a journey through layers of flavor and texture.

But perhaps the crown jewel of the meal was the dessert: Peach Cobbler Cornbread. This dish alone could bring you back to Cea-Lo LA time and time again. The warm, crumbly cornbread was studded with juicy peaches, adding a burst of sweetness to every bite. It's the perfect balance of comfort and nostalgia, with a little twist that makes it unforgettable.

Cea-Lo LA isn’t just serving soul food; they’re elevating it. Whether you’re a die-hard traditionalist or someone eager to experience something new, this place has something for everyone. With dishes that pay homage to their roots while daring to be different, Cea-Lo LA is a must-visit for any...

While I wasn’t particularly floored by Cea-Lo LA, I would still recommend everyone go there. The service was friendly but almost too laid back to where there wasn’t really a flow to the ordering process. This isn’t a big deal but it was a bit confusing knowing who was going to be helped next. I also wasn’t given utensils or napkins with my order, I had to ask for them. As for the food, I got the Fly Fish Dinner with Collard Greens and Potato Salad. The weakest element were the Collards. Although it didn’t bring down the whole meal, it was disappointing. They had a good bite to them but lacked any real flavor and just tasted like cooked greens since they weren’t made with a ham hawk. The Potato Salad, on the other hand, was great. It was properly cold, there were just enough chucks of potato and egg to add texture but it was still very and I think there was some pickle relish in there too which added some good sweetness. The Fly Fish was stand out. The pieces are huge so it’s a great portion. The fish itself is breaded perfectly and super delicate, melting like butter when it hits your tongue. I would highly HIGHLY recommend the Fly Fish and Potato Salad. While not everything was great, the things that were, were amazing and I would love to go back to try out more...

Wow I LOVE finding places like Cea-Lo L.A.! Chef Chris and Ja literally make you feel like you walked into their home as soon as you enter, we couldn't decide what to get so their suggestions made ordering easy! The food is incredible, to say the least, between 3 of us I think we had some of the best they have to offer! One of us had the vegi plate, Mac and cheese, collar greens, and black eyed peas, I'm usually not the biggest fan of greens and peas but I find myself wanting to go back just to have their collar greens and black eyed peas, another had the white meat fried chicken which was incredibly crispy and, "so juicy inside" haha a quote and I had the seafood plate, catfish and shrimp with a side of wings! The fish was so fresh, battered, and fried to perfection! I really can't rave enough about this food, I've eaten at most of the LA Weekly's top 10 fried chicken restaurants or pop-ups in LA and Cea-Lo L.A. not only belongs on that list, but I would put it in the top 3 for sure! I wish I knew how to recommend a restaurant to the weekly, and if anyone out there does, please send them Cea-Lo's info! For me I can't wait to return and have some more of those collar greens and black eyed peas! Completely blown away!!! Thank you Chef...