Larchmont Bungalow Cafe — Restaurant in Los Angeles

An unexpected oasis of welcoming, elegant charm that belies the ordinary strip mall in which this wonderful restaurant is hidden away. The last time my partner and I ate at The Habit on Sunset & Alvarado, we noticed signs leading to another establishment directly across the parking lot. We looked at each other and said simultaneously: "I didn't know there was anything back there!" We took a quick peek and decided to give it a try the next time we went out to dinner, and tonight was the night. We were totally unprepared for what we found - the place is so beautifully designed - cozy despite its enormous size, each well appointed detail makes your eyes smile when discovered. The exposed brick and high. beamed celing makes the inside area feel as open as the incredibly charming outside seating area. Whoever put this restaurant together is working at the top of their game - they managed to make it feel warm, intimate, elegant, casual, expansive, comfortable, and secluded all at the same time.

And then there's the food!! The menu is mouthwatering and everything is served all day including breakfast items. The glass cases in the bakery section were filled with gorgeous cakes that i trust are as good as they appear to be - I was too full from my cup of delicious Bison chili with just the right amount of a kick, and my perfectly executed BBQ pulled pork wrap with sweet potato fries. I know I'm going back asap since I noticed their coffee menu includes a Mexican chocolate mocha....it amazes me that more coffee shops don't include Mexican chocolate as an option, but I'm certainly not surprised this establishment was savvy enough to do so after having finished taking it all in.

Even if all foregoing were true, it wouldn't guarantee that you would have a good experience there - it always comes down to the people. And you couldn't ask for a more genuine, friendly, attentive, welcoming group of people running this place. Everyone I spoke to fits this description and you can feel their justifiable pride in the environment they've created. And in a million years you wouldn't think a place this special and wonderful could exist there at the corner of Alvarado & Sunset. But it's there - and it's my new favorite restaurant so I'm spreading the word because they deserve to be around a...

Sunday, August 4th, my family and I came to Larchmont Bungalow to eat lunch. I ordered the pesto panini sandwich, a sandwich I've had there before and never had any issues. Yet something was off about this sandwich and I asked the waiter if they could make me another one. They told my husband that they could either recook the chicken or I can order something different, but that he had to double check with his manager, Jazmyn. He came back and said the only option is to buy another sandwich for 50% off because I had eaten half the sandwich. I was so angry, I went straight to the manager, Jazmyn, to show her I had taken 2 bites to make sure I was right in that it tasted off. Yet, she insisted that meant I ate half the sandwich. I was so angry, I gave her my plate and said I'm never coming back here again. I see now that I am not the only one who has had this problem. The difference is other reviewers were actually offered a different meal or a refund–I got neither! And one reviewer said she nearly completed her meal! My family spent nearly $100 here and this is the kind of service they gave us. Check your management, Larchmont Bungalow, cause if this is policy, you guys are going to get more and more bad reviews like this and less customers trusting the food. I have lived in Echo Park my whole life and have made it a point to support local establishments. Even during the pandemic, I ordered from you guys. I'm sad to say, this one poor decision by manager, Jazmyn (she spelt her name for me) has soured my taste for this place. I won't be taking my family back here when there are plenty of GOOD and honest...

Family of Australians, arriving in LA looking for inspiration for somewhere to eat; asked a Latino US immigration officer when we were getting processed. He responded with "try the Larchmont Bungalow". God bless this man. A modern day Einstein with a finger not just on the pulse, but in the beating heart of good eating itself. BEST SUGGESTION EVER.

By golly gumdrops, what a place. Pleasant garden setting next to a relatively busy road. Prices were tiny bit more expensive than I expected, but perhaps that was me not expecting it to match Australia's Tax On Everything.

Besides, the food made up for it. Mein Gott, did it ever. We ate and ate and ate. So enjoyable. So good. Wunderbar, to quote a talking German dog.

And so, for every morning for the rest of our stay, we came back to the Larchmont. Every single day. Try anything there and it will be spectacular - try the breakfast burritos or anything Mexican for a particularly amazing feed (urgh, salivating now five thousand miles away).

Five out of five stars, Larchmont. Actually, take six. Fantastic staff, great service and just amazing food. And, importantly for caffeine consumers, great coffee.

Highly, highly, highly recommended. And then once more for good luck: highly.

Go there. There are no talking German dogs, but there is everything else, including the centre of the known...