Kitchen Mouse Cafe — Restaurant in Los Angeles

ALWAYS NOISY. Have had a hilarious time or two trying to order at the order-counter-register; wait-person and I could not hear each other over the bad music. You have to ratchet down expectations and assume loud group conversations, crying kids, random high pitched electronic messaging to the kitchen, trying to be drowned out with the bland music. I know, I know, I'm not in a library setting, I realize. (Though, they do have a fair collection of diverse cookbooks for your reading pleasure.) During a recent (usually) short wait for food, I downloaded a Decibel measuring smartphone app. Just as I thought, 65 to 80 db, which the app says ranges /compares normal conversation at 3 feet to vacuum cleaner and alarm clocks (next level is power mower.) Evidence enough that this not just a figment of my imagination or misanthropic view. (Although....) I usually order the GLK breakfast, or Avocado TLT or the whachacallit open-faced sandwich with sauerkraut on top. The rest makes me squeamish. The vegan faux-Mexican dish my lunch-date ordered was a failure, obviously needing some visual help. It looked particularly disgusting. Doesn't culinary training encompass serving the food in an appearance that is appetizing and tasty? Frequently notice the over use of salt here, especially in salads, even when requested not to add it. You'd think a health-concern such as this would be intuitive. Hipsters sometimes are not so...

I stopped by in the evening since I was in the area after a meeting and I'd been wanting to check this place out for a while. They have a different menu for dinner, and while I was a little bummed (because their breakfast/brunch menu looks great), I was still looking forward to my meal.

I was seated at a corner table near the entrance of the establishment. There are two seating areas and I was a little surprised/confused that I wasn't seated in the area where other patrons were eating. In my experience, restaurants typically seat people together so that servers only have to tend to one area. Maybe they thought I wanted to be alone? Maybe they thought I didn't want the distraction? Either way, I just looked out the window and people/dog watched.

I ordered the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice and the Psychedelic Daalipop. That tuna was absolutely spectacular! It had a great flavor and I loved the pickled ginger on top (which was a nice surprise because it wasn't listed in menu ingredients). I'd definitely get it again when I want to splurge.... it was a little on the pricy side at $14 for 2 cakes.

The Daalipop was super tasty as well. I loved the variety of flavors and textures in this dish.

Overall, I spent $35 (on two dishes and no beverage, not including tip). It's a nice vegan place to visit with fresh, clean ingredients that you can taste, which contributes to the higher...

I’ve been coming to kitchen mouse for years. I didn’t mind the prices because the food was good, but today was it for me. I placed an order online for a build your own bowl, when it arrived, I was shocked at how much it was for what I got! Kitchen mouse has slowly gotten worse when it comes to portions. A few years back, the price reflected the quantity, but now it’s LAUGHABLE at what they think a good size bowl is. This just goes to show you that places like this move into neighborhoods, and slowly price out long time residents on a night out, to cater to other new comers who aren’t a part of the fabric of the neighborhood, would you eat here for a 30 dollar price tag for scraps? For the cost of a cookie, I’d rather go down the way to Amara Kitchen. We all work hard for our money, and todays the last time I ever order from Kitchen Mouse. They use to give you three Moros cakes for each bowl, now just two, the yams I ordered, looked like half a serving, I had to specifically ask for sauces to be full because there’s been many times they aren’t, if I’m paying those prices, I want my full meal. Overpriced/hipster place, that epitomizes what’s wrong with Highland Park, and why most of the longtime residents here eat elsewhere, I’ll be among them.

The double chocolate cookies I received weren’t...