Liu's Cafe — Restaurant in Los Angeles

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 you're 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 can't go wrong! It was on the sweeter side in comparison to the szechuan cookie, which has that numbing effect that's 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 I'm stupid so I don't know how to identify the flavors of what they might have used to coat the tops of the biscuits with but it's 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 shouldn't. The tea was served with a nice little set of teacups that were very cute and picturesque. It doesn't actually have milk in it, but the way the tea leaves are cultivated (again, I'm 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 haven't 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 aren't 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 I'll...

So this has been on my list to try for a while. I got there fifteen minutes before they opened their doors for the day and was greeted by a line. I was probably number 8 out of 18 or so people. It was a Saturday so I assume it could be slower on weekdays. I was able to find street parking, but it’s only meter and street so good luck.

While in line we were given a menu to think our future choices.

I decide to try the Hong Kong Style French Toast, Cold Sesame and Chili Crisp Oil Noodles, and the Hong Kong Milk Tea.

Once you place your order you’re seated. The interior had a communal tables and a sparse littering of 3-4 tops and 2 top high tables. There’s a water spigot with Chinese and English markings. It feels foreign. There’s also a station for you to procure your tableware and napkins.

The sesame noodles were legit. I added chicken to it. It was cool, bouncy, and flavorful. If you do not like sesame seeds sauces this is not for you. But it paired well with chili and cucumber. My only wish it was spicier.

The HK French Toast was a revelation. I’ve always seen videos, but never tried. I can’t say if it’s authentic, but for what it was it was awesome. It felt like a giant French toast stick from Jack In The Box, but far more complex and elevated. It was filled with a sweet custard filling. The syrup was a mixture of sweet condensed syrup and brown sugar. The salt really hit the contrast getting you salty and sweet goodness.

The milk tea was served warm and was just flavorful. You got a very good front facing black tea flavor caressed by the sweetness of the evaporated milk.

All in...

First, I want to address a few things. I did look at the low star reviews to see what the issue was. Some were valid (critique of cultural foods when you are of that culture) but being upset over it being too loud in there by others or the tables being too small is silly. And the plates are meant to be shared.

My only issue that I would hope that they consider is a better system with the waitlist. People line up, not aware that someone eventually comes around asking for a name. We were told our group of three would wait about an hour and fifteen or so minutes. It was a beautiful day so it was a non-issue. However, she said that we were allowed to walk around to kill time. But I can’t help but think that we would not be around when the name was called because I saw many group names called and not be around.

Ok, the food! On the table: sesame cold noodle with chili crisp, hong kong style french toast, spicy wontons, and braised pork belly rice

🌞 it felt kind of perfect to get the window table, the sun came through to showcase these dishes to look just as good as they tasted! I do see a major difference of how some of these dishes look now vs 8 months ago with a lot of the poorer reviews. Being in the food business around LA can be tough, so it seemed that Liu’s takes criticism with grace and shift whatever necessary, I’m happy for the cafe :^)

The additional creamery next door was incredible!! The ginger pear sorbet...