Kiez Küche & Beer Garden — Restaurant in Los Angeles

A Taste of Berlin in the Heart of Highland Park!

We came to Kiez Kuchen on a gorgeous Sunday around 1pm — my wife and I, plus a close couple of friends — and ended up having one of the most enjoyable dining experiences in recent memory.

Right off York, you step through a sleek black gate into a beautifully styled beer garden that blends classic German beer hall energy with a modern LA twist (see photos!). Since it was warm out, we opted for a table indoors to stay out of the sun. The interior is just as impressive — high ceilings, warm lighting, and an airy, welcoming atmosphere.

Only minor ding was a short 5-minute delay before being seated and offered drinks, even though there was plenty of space. But from that moment on, the service was attentive, friendly, and perfectly paced.

My buddy and I went for the Reissdorf Kölsch — classic, crisp, and served just as it should be. The ladies ordered the Paulaner Sunset, a German orange cola-style drink that they absolutely loved. Unique and refreshing.

We started with the Mini Potato Pancakes were perfectly crisp, topped with applesauce and a salty mascarpone dollop — incredible flavor contrast.

The Pretzel was classic and tasty, if a bit on the small side, but the sweet mustard dipping sauce stole the show.

I had the Kiez Schnitzel (pork) — easily the best schnitzel I've ever had. Juicy inside, crisp outside, with garlic cream and a fried egg on top. It was bold, rich, and absolutely satisfying.

For my sides, the bacon potatoes were hearty and good; the spätzle was wonderfully authentic and full of flavor.

Both ladies ordered the Pretzel Schnitzel (chicken) and loved it — topped with beer cheese, bacon, and pickles.

Their sides — sauerkraut, red cabbage, German fries, and spätzle — all hit the mark and were as comforting as they were tasty.

Jay got the Traditional Bratwurst (pork & veal) and said it was a total win. His favorite part? The creamy cucumber dill salad.

We were stuffed… but we pushed on and shared three desserts:

Apple Strudel – flaky, warm, and classic.

Beignets – crispy outside, fluffy inside, drizzled with raspberry sauce and powdered sugar.

Bread Pudding – served warm, topped with ice cream and fresh fruit — heavenly. All three were absolutely killer and worth the extra calories.

About $50/person with drinks, entrées, and dessert — not cheap, but worth every cent. Quality, portion size, and vibe justify it.

Kiez Kuchen nails the experience: fantastic food, great drinks, beautiful space. We’ll...

Vegans beware, and please don't buy into reviews by those who aren't ordering vegan dishes talking about "good vegan options."

The vegan schnitzel came out as a small, extremely thick & flavorless cutlet / puck - a far cry from the flat, breaded, authentic-looking version offered to meat eaters. To add insult to injury, it was topped with a chunky sauce that tasted like canned tomatoes and little else. Brussels sprouts were mealy, soaking in oil, and unusually bitter. The "German" fries were anything but - not traditional pommes at all, but over-fried, coated in seasoning, and cold on arrival. All around very disappointing and inauthentic.

We shared our experience and barely-touched plate with our server and were advised to simply order better next time. At this price point, there's no reason for us to return for a next time or for anyone opting for a vegan meal to come to this restaurant. Which is really unfortunate, as the patio still looks the same as it did under predecessors Wolfie's, Put Me in Coach, and Hinterhof, and still carries the same charm. The potential is all there - the food just feels like a total bait-and-switch for vegan or vegetarian customers.

Had really high hopes for this restaurant and was so sorely disappointed. Could...

We went within a week, or mere weeks, of opening and I think there are kinks in service and food prep still to work out. The potential is really there, though! My Kolsch beer was too warm and so was one of the beers my partner ordered. Better temp reg needed on the kegs for sure. There were too few servers for the amount of people dining at dinner time so service became slow soon after we sat down. But the servers were nice, friendly, had great pronunciation for all the German words and were fun to talk to. I really like the interior which is modern but still has nods to the classic German beer garden and great art from Berlin adorning the walls. The selection of beer on draft and in bottles is excellent and if you’re coming for just that - you shouldn’t be disappointed! We did love the sausage! But the sides of fried potatoes, brussels sprouts and spätzle lacked some a depth of flavor and needed more seasoning. We did love the sauerkraut! Next time we visit, we will try different mains and see if those are better. Will definitely return and hope things get better as they’re...