"The light-filled dining room of Liu’s Cafe feels miles away from the busy Koreatown streets outside. The daytime breakfast and lunch spot from the team behind the now-closed Tokki opened in late 2023 on the same block as Koreatown hotspots Here’s Looking You and 6XS Coffee. Inspired by cafes in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Liu’s serves a tight menu of simple dishes from consulting chef Lareine Ko. Only five options are available on the daily menu, each coming in at $14 or under. For something savory, order the Chiayi chicken rice or the braised pork belly rice, or, for something more indulgent, tuck into the Hong Kong-style French toast. The cafe also carries a rotating selection of pastries from chef Isabelle Manubisan, including cream-stuffed pineapple buns, corn cheese danishes, and more. With a tranquil, but inviting interior it’s easy to want to settle in at a table over mugs of hot Hong Kong milk tea or a matcha pineapple bun. — Rebecca Roland, associate editor" - Eater Staff
