Liu’s Cafe Review: Everybody Wants to be a Regular at This Neighborhood Koreatown Cafe | Eater LA

"An ideal neighborhood restaurant and bakery with DNA plucked straight from Hong Kong or Taiwan and rooted in Koreatown, this light-filled spot draws morning crowds for custard-filled, fluffy bricks of Hong Kong-style French toast with milk tea or spicy wontons, while evenings add beef noodle soup and a handful of desserts. With a no-reservations setup and an accessible price point (every dish under $15), it works for any occasion — from a quick pastry stop on a walk to a brunch catch-up with friends or a solo meal of comforting chicken over rice — and you’ll soon find yourself becoming a regular. Chiayi chicken rice layers shredded chicken and crispy fried shallots over a scoop of white rice in a shallow, fragrant pool of brothy sauce made with chicken drippings; add a healthy scoop of chile oil for heat. At night, the beef noodle soup arrives with fall-apart tender beef cheek slices and baby bok choy in a rich broth tinted with warming spices, with chewy noodles hearty enough to chase the chill of even the coldest Los Angeles nights. From the glass-case pastry program by chef Isabell Manibusan, the rotating, seasonal selection often includes flaky cheddar-and-scallion biscuits, pineapple buns, and taro-and-coconut hand pies. Best for a casual, no-reservations weekend brunch with friends that will cost less than $25 per person, and if you’re ordering takeout in person, you can skip the often-long weekend line and walk straight to the counter to order." - Rebecca Roland