Pijja Palace — Restaurant in Los Angeles

If I could describe Pijja Palace in one word, it would be “balanced.”

To use a lot more words, it’s not just balanced in the food department, but the vibe and decor as well. My wife and I booked this place to celebrate a week of marriage, and my hesitancies of it not being “nice enough” were quickly quelled as soon as we walked in and were greeted by the hostess.

Pijja Palace carves out a unique name for itself by blending & balancing customary sports bar elements, with those of a trendy upscale restaurant. It is a sports bar from things like the many TV’s placed to be seen from anywhere in the restaurant, the placards with the names of a few sports icons placed over the bar, a solid selection of beers on tap, and the overall causal non-posh vibe. I could easily see myself coming here to watch a playoff game. But all of that is offset by it also being a trendy, intimate restaurant, perfect for a date night. With great service, beautiful interior decor (soft lighting, warm materials, interesting & charming artwork, colorful/textured accents), and delicious bar food elevated by uniquely combining the litany of spices & flavors commonly found in traditional Indian cuisine, with traditional sports bar eats.

The Dosa Onion Rings consisted of a nice, almost corn-dog-like batter, with crisp ridges and flavorful pockets of salt & spices. The onion itself wasn’t burnt or too soft to bite through, and the mango chutney dipping sauce was a refreshing counterpart to the traditionally dense ranch that usually accompanies rings of tradition (lol).

We then had the Achaari Buffalo Wings, which were accompanied by, what our waitress referred to as “ranch” (Curry Leaf Ranch) and “blue cheese” (Yogurt Stilton). A must-order if you like a nice flavorful burn, and a unique twist on buffalo chicken wings, of which I am a frequent enjoyer of.

For our mains we went with what they seem to be known for: Malai Rigatoni and the Chutney Pijja; 2 more dishes perfectly balanced, while creating a unique culinary experience from the unexpectedly-harmonious blending of Indian and Italian cuisines. The Pizza was so so good. The crust was nice and crispy (I like my pies like that), and the richness of the tomato sauce & cheese, set the stage for the green chile chutney to shine & compliment with its freshness and spice. The Rigatoni was perfectly cooked & the sauce was incredible. Glossy, creamy, and thick, the intense flavor of Masala & Coriander melded so flawlessly with the tomatoes and cream to create a new level of pasta sauce. It was something I didn’t know I needed before today.

The service was top notch with a smile, and the staff made the experience even better.

We had such a great time, that while we were still sitting there we were already starting to plot what we’d order the next time we return to...

If you have the chance to get reservations for this place, please do so! When we arrived here on Saturday for dinner, the place was incredibly crowded as much as there were lines literally out the front door and people waiting in clumped groups. After giving our names, we were informed that the current wait would be 3 hours. Rather than get a table, we opted to stand in the line for the bar as it was just the 2 of us. It went by fairly quick and we probably waited about 30-45 minutes before we were able to grab some seats at the end of the bar.

After being seated, we were provided a drink and food menu. We had already figured out what we wanted (with all the waiting) so ordered everything when the waiter came back to us. For drinks, we went with a Chana Dal and Annapurna. We also grabbed some Dosa Onion Rings, Kesar Rickshaws, and a ‘pijja’ with a Peri Peri Vindaloo base and Kadai Paneer/Tandoori Onions as toppings.

The Chana Dal was somewhat mild and I personally didn’t really taste some of the flavors like ghee or the chana dal, but it was still good. I also tried a little bit of the Annapurna and the flavor profile was a little stronger there particularly because of the pandan, makrut lime, and vermouth. Of the two I’d say I enjoyed the Chana Dal more. The Dosa Onion Rings + Mango Chutney was a huge hit. The batter for the onion rings was incredibly thick and the onion rings were crispy. The chutney wasn’t overtly sweet and a had a hint of tanginess too. I’m a huge fan of dosa in itself so this combination is something I may try to make for myself in the future. The Kesar Rickshaw pasta was a surprise. The pasta was cut into rickshaw shapes and was perfectly al dente. I didn’t really taste any kind of spiciness from the Indian Long Pepper, but the sauce was tasty and there was a generous amount of parm on top. The ‘pijja’ with a Peri Peri Vindaloo base and Tandoori Onions/Kadai Paneer toppings wasn’t too special and made wonder if we should have gone with the green tikka or chutney pijja.

I wish we had enough room to try either of the soft serve ice creams. If I’m ever in LA again, and go here, I’ll probably try the recommended pijjas, malai rigatoni, wings, and sliders. I had a great experience here and definitely recommend you check...

To everyone, especially those who value diversity and inclusion, beware of the disturbing behavior exhibited by Suzanne, the General Manager of Pijja Palace. She and her companion seem to believe they have the authority to police their neighborhood, and their actions demonstrate a clear bias against people of color.

Her companion initially confronted my partner and me with suspicion and hostility, slamming a gate and demanding to know, 'Are you folks looking for something?' simply for walking down the street. The use of the word 'folks' in this context, combined with his aggressive demeanor, felt like a clear microaggression and an attempt to 'other' us in our own neighborhood. This escalated to a public confrontation at a local store where he continued his intimidation. When I threatened to call the police, Suzanne appeared and immediately joined in, demanding our address and attempting to justify their actions. This demand for our address, especially in the context of their aggressive behavior, felt like a clear attempt to police our presence in the neighborhood and confirm whether we 'belonged' there. Their later claim about a lost package is a flimsy excuse for their aggressive and discriminatory behavior, and it certainly doesn't explain why Suzanne chose to escalate the situation rather than de-escalate it.

It's telling that she seemed more concerned with my language than with her companion's aggression and prejudice. This incident exposes a troubling gap between Suzanne's understanding of allyship and her willingness to act accordingly. True allyship requires more than just words; it demands a commitment to challenging injustice and confronting one's own biases. The incident had a profound impact on me, leaving me constantly anxious and dreading the possibility of encountering them again. My own neighborhood, once a safe haven, became a source of fear and stress. This experience has been a significant challenge, and it's something I've had to actively work through to heal.

Pijja Palace needs to take responsibility for the actions of their management and ensure that all members of our community feel safe...