Liu's Cafe
Taiwanese restaurant · Koreatown
3915 1/2 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
Highlights
Taiwanese-Hong Kong cafe serving comfort food & pastries
Taiwanese-Hong Kong cafe serving comfort food & pastries
"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, cathy park
"This daytime diner from the team behind the now-closed Tokki (and Danbi) has first-rate Taiwanese comfort dishes and incredible people-watching, but it's the creative pastries that make it a triple threat. Liu's is only open from late breakfast to late lunch, which makes it well-suited for a leisurely midday deal, or if you don't mind battling the sidewalk crowds, weekend brunch. Start with the cold sesame noodles, caramelized pork belly over rice, and Hong Kong-style french toast filled with salted egg yolk custard. The adorable space is lined with vintage movie posters makes provides a nice backdrop for your next daytime date, too. Just warn them about the brutal street parking situation first." - sylvio martins, brant cox, garrett snyder, cathy park
"The adjacent cafe will not be affected by the ice cream outpost's closure; pastry chef Isabell Manibusan oversees desserts here in addition to having developed the ice cream menu and supervising desserts at the modern Korean restaurant Danbi." - Rebecca Roland
"Liu's Cafe is just the sort of casual spot you'll come to again and again. Arrive early, as seats fill quickly, then order at the wood counter, where you'll get a sneak peek into the bustling kitchen. You'll also spy their selection of pastries, which definitely shouldn't be overlooked. Order the house-made pork wontons for a tender, tasty treat, and be sure to get the extra egg noodles to soak up that wonderfully kicky chili oil. Braised pork belly rice is another dish of pure comfort, and no matter what you have, everything is complemented by a pot of tea, such as the milk oolong. Finally, the pastries grab attention from the very beginning and closing out with a dessert like the citrus curd tart with shaved fennel salad is everything you want it to be." - Michelin Inspector
"A small daytime spot inspired by Hong Kong and Taiwanese cafes, offering an affordable, tightly focused menu crafted by a consulting chef: braised pork belly rice, Chiayi chicken rice, and cold sesame noodles all priced at about $12 or less. The pastry program includes Hong Kong–style sweets such as pineapple buns and egg tarts, and drinks highlight Hong Kong milk tea and iced tea to round out a satisfying lunch." - Rebecca Roland
