"This casual Taiwanese iner in Koreatown has the kind of daytime scene where off-duty chefs sip hot milk tea with friends and dates lock eyes over warm buns. The people-watching is a major draw here, but it’s the inventive pastries and homey rice bowls that make it a standout. We recommend stockpiling the matcha pineapple buns and black sesame coconut cakes then throwing in a few gussied up classics like spicy wontons and Hong Kong-style French toast filled with oozy “lava custard.” They don’t open until 10:30am, but get there by noon on weekends before things start to sell out." - brant cox, sylvio martins