Lokels Only

-Originally posted approximately one month ago under Never Caged which I recently found out shares the space and I had incorrectly attributed this experience to- Stopped by on my way home since it looked not busy and the smoothie poster looked good… my advice, don’t come here if you are in a rush, or at all really…. Bought two smoothies, waited 20 minutes in an empty dining room. No cup holder offered (my takeout from another restaurant cooled down while I waited.) Cups not filled to the top, upsetting given the $6+ of each. Do they taste right? Yeah, they are okay, but not worth such wait and kinda bummed the cups had a good amount of space left when one of the principal ingredients is ice…. Not coming back again.

This is a great place with a mission on community and food equity, however, I can't say I was charmed with it. Located in Chinatown, this place aims to serve a conglomerate of businesses' food. In this case, I went for spam masubis. The masubis were delicious-that I will admit- however the price for 2 was over $10 with an odd community surcharge. This is before you pay for parking as well. While this is a POC business, I would allege that their pricing limits inclusion and even invites further gentrification. Food was fine, price was horrible, as was the location. Wish I could have liked it more.

A few options from this community kitchen, I got some delicious Lao food. The Nem Khao was very flavorful and a great value

Every time I come in is such good energy. Everytime its different food, such a great place just to vibe and get some work done. Definitely my go to spot

So glad we stumbled on this spot while exploring Chinatown. We love supporting local businesses while traveling. We ordered the smashburger with extra cheese and had the bun extra toasted. So freakin' good! It was giving elevated grilled cheese vibes. Juicy and perfectly seasoned patties with the melty cheese...I'm still so annoyed that we didn't take a pic! The green smoothie was refreshing and a great chaser to the rich burger. If you're looking for a dollar menu, you won't find it here. However, you will find adequately priced offerings, delicious food, staff with great synergy, awesome customer service and a cool yet welcoming vibe. Looking forward to coming back!

Waited 30 minutes in line, to then having to wait another 10 so we can place an order. Did not want to wait any longer to order. Chef was cooking stuff of the fly because of low inventory. The food may be good but I can't tell you. We just left. Need more organization to run a smooth business. Very small location.

I tried to enjoy the outdoor venue. It had fake grass and awnings to keep in the heat. It's in a slightly odd location being accessible thru and alleyway and from a store. Food is sold and made to order, guests invited to use a QR code to check out the menu. Bathrooms are a pair of porta potties moved into a corner. The floor needs more than sweeping as there is safety glass in the fake grass. Maybe they need to rent a vacuum. It can't be easy to sweep the place. Overall it was an awesome night if primitive. For our venue night we were offered security guards for the door. We were the only place open on the block by nightfall.

I was very surprised when I walked in and realized it was take out. Then it took an hour to receive the food. They were out of greens and the cabbage they offered instead was so salty I couldn't even continue eating it. The turkey chops and Mac and cheese were salty as well. Small TV dinners portions really disappointed 😞

Upon entering we were so confused. Didn't know which menu to get or which counter to order from. The employees offered no help and were too busy to acknowledge us. It was 4pm and not too busy. The food is made fresh so it takes a while. Finally we got the correct menu and proceeded to order burgers and fries. The double cheeseburgers were really delicious. Cooked to our liking and very juicy. The Cajun fries were very tasty. We came for the burgers and were more than satisfied. The best way to explain this restaurant,think high end mini food court. The place is clean and cozy. Felt like I was eating comfortably in my living room. Good vibes and good food.

My sister and I went on a Sunday evening. It was definitely a good choice! We were not disappointed. We were a little confused finding the place because it's 3 restaurants at 1 location. The owner (we think he was the owner) was super friendly and welcoming. He cracked some jokes with us and made us feel at home which was a super plus! Chicken was super flavorful and so were the French fries. We thought about ordering more fries on the side. Lol. $15.99 Oxtail is a weekend special and we were not disappointed. Tons of flavors. Makes my mouth water at the thought. Candied yams were amazing. Sweetness like a dessert. Mac and cheese was also on point. $29.99 Portion sizes were good. We will be back.

I had the Turkey Chop meal with a side of greens. It was fire. The Mac n cheese, Turkey breast, and yams were all above average. The greens were good just not as good as the other items. My meal was so good I know I will be back to essentially try everything else. Aye bruh you can't tease us with them desserts on IG then not have em

When we walked in, the attitude immediately turned us off. We asked a guy just if the food was filing and he looked at us and said "I don't answer those kind of questions" in a very rude way. No one, even the cook, "Chef Soulo" spoke or seemed friendly at all which is strange because on tik tok he seems so inviting and fun. Water from the ceiling also kept dripping on me which was very disturbing. When we got our food, we tasted and realized the yams were burnt leading us to have to get new sides, the fries above and the store to stop selling yams. When I asked the same cashier for help, he said "he didn't take out order and the owner would have to deal with it" I just thought if you worked there, you'd be able to help. The food was either super salty like the red beans and string beans or not as seasoned like the fried chicken. I was really looking forward to supporting another black owned business but I'm good on soulo's forever.

I absolutely love the concept of this community kitchen. I have been wanting to try Nostalgia Cheesecakes and I finally got my hands on one! The Sweet Potato Cheesecake was amazing. Since it was straight out of the fridge, I had to let it thaw out a little but man it was worth the wait along with the $19 I spent. When it comes to homemade dessert, I will gladly spend that money honey. I'm a self taught at home Baker so I understand that ingredients ain't cheap and prep time is REAL! Well done Chef. I can't wait to try his other flavors. Definitely MUST TRY!!!

[Review #635] 2021 Yelp 100 Challenge (55/100) OTM Club 06/06/21 - 06/12/21 Cuisine: Melange of cuisines with plant shop... Lokels Only, Satay LA, Ninongs Dessert Lab, Hangaburs, Sad Girl Creamery, Treat Yourself Keto, Busy Juices, Lei'd Cookies, The Plant Chica. Restroom: Clean & well-stocked unisex restroom in the back left of restaurant through a short hallway on the right. Parking: Metered parking on both sides of Broadway, Ord St., Cesar E. Chavez Ave. Atmosphere/Service: Hipster, chic, laidback; welcoming, friendly & efficient service. COVID-19 Protocol: Masks, hand sanitizer by register & counter near living wall, touch-free menu. Tip: Sign-up on Snackpass app for rewards & exclusive discounts. I'm not in Chinatown as much as I used to (now that Mom has passed), but I still enjoy visiting my hometown every so often with my family. If it weren't for OTM Club's offer this week, I wouldn't know about this cool spot "Lokels Only" that supports a community kitchen/variety of cuisines & local businesses. What started as a podcast in 2017, it has flourished with small businesses & local creatives, forming collaborations as they host marketplaces, galleries, & events... leading up to their 1st brick & mortar storefront in 2020. Having made the mistake previously, I called in to make sure they were open before I made an almost hour long trek from the South Bay. A super cheery fella picked up & said they were open until 7 PM. Perfect! It was an early linner by the time I arrived in Chinatown. I had to circle the block to look for parking before finding a metered spot on the corner of Ord St. & Broadway; I also forgot metered parking is free on Sundays, luckily I only put in $1 for 20-mins. Whew! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I see the open sign but couldn't open the door, & called again... Mike said the door gets stuck once in awhile, pull harder. Duh me! LOL I said "hi" & I'm here to redeem the OTM Club curated LOKEL NACHOS (housemade tortilla chips, 4-cheese blend, short rib birria, onions, cilantro, cilantro crema). I love the open space & high ceiling, & the chill tunes! Definitely a spot I would bring my family back to hang out... there's a variety of eateries on rotation (not sure how often, but some of the posted food pics are no longer on the current June 2021 menu). I went to the restroom to wash up for the snack... it was spacious, clean, well-stocked, & hands-free, I didn't have to touch anything except the doorknob (which I used the paper towel that I wiped my hands on). =) By the time, my order was ready by the time I was out. Whoa... talk about quick! I was about to leave when I remembered seeing ube coffee cakes & twinkies on the website. Mike showed me the QR menu card to place my order via Snackpass, & look for "Treat Yourself Keto." They had a keto coffee cake, but what I really wanted was from Ninongs Dessert Lab, & both were sold out. =( However, this is good to know I'm the future so I can place an order ahead of time. The nachos came in a small, clear plastic container... I'm not sure if this is the regular size or 1/2-size, which some OTM Club partnerships offer a small portion. If this was their typical portion, it's quite expensive ($10) for such a small portion with little protein whereas Kylene H.'s had more birria. The chips were hot & had major crunch, the little birria I got was flavorful & tender (wished I had more), & that cilantro crema (also wished I had more) was très magnifique! Yum, yum! Like I said it was a snack, but a yummylicious one! =D A solid 4.5 stars! It's a bit hectic to drive out here as traffic is starting to increase with everything starting to normalize, but when I'm in town, I'm definitely stopping by to see what they have to offer! I hope to pick-up those twinkies & coffee cake by Ninongs Dessert Lab before they rotate out. And if you're lucky to live within a 5-mi. radius, Lokels Only will deliver with a minimum 1-hr. advance notice for timely delivery. Recommended: Lokel Nachos (housemade tortilla chips, 4-cheese blend, short rib birria, onions, cilantro, cilantro crema).

One of these best things that happen during the pandemic are community kitchens and art spaces like Lokels Only. It was hard for local chefs and businesses to serve their food as safety regulations caused many spaces like restaurants, art shows and outdoor festivals to shut down, taking away the very places where local chefs would thrive. Lokels Only is a brick and mortar spot where you can get food from your favorite vendors. Download their app and make sure you pick the location in Chinatown to see which vendors are selling that day. These are vendors that sell hard to find items too! Treat Yourself Keto makes one of the best keto cheesecakes in LA; Sad Girl Creamery serves fresh artisanal ice cream with the best ingredients; East Los Musubi serves spam musubi and island grindz to the East and DTLA areas. Not only can you get lunch but you can also bring home a plant from The Plant Chica and Filipino desserts. There is truly something for everyone! Easy covered parking in the garage behind the shops. Make sure you validate your ticket. But first thing is first, download their app to see what their featured vendors are for the day. You can make your purchase there as transactions are contactless and cash less.

This community restaurant is pretty hectic. It's 3 restaurants in one shop. I typically get JFC (Japanese fried chicken) here and they've always been stellar. Every time I come it wasn't as hectic as it was today. I'm not sure who runs the front kitchen, I believe it's the soul food company but they're pretty rude. The chef was just yelling at his other chefs and employees, telling the customers to stop catching an attitude and asking where the food at. "It's coming, don't rush me" lol. The cashier was yelling back at the customers saying "can't you see I gotta take orders and help other customers, I can't keep answering your questions." Customers don't know where to line up cause there's no direction so when other customer line up in their line, the cashier yells at the customer and says, "oh naw, you gotta line up in they line." And just aggressively points towards the window. The girl looks at me and I just shrug as I've been waiting 5 mins for a pickup order and no one's addressed me cause it's so hectic in there. So the cashier goes back to get the person from the other restaurant and yells at them to serve their customers. They're yelling at each other. Yelling at the customers. Yelling at the other vendors. I'm sure their food is good, but I would never put up with this hostility.

The spot is really cool and has a truly unique vibe. The burgers themselves are fine, but nothing amazing and definitely not worth the price. The fries are also just so-so, and their online ordering system is a complete mess which resulted in two orders of fries and us not getting any of the sauces we ordered. Maybe worth eating-in for the vibe, but likely a pass if you're looking for an amazing burger.

OMG.......THIS IS REAL SOUL/COMFORT FOOD. You have to wait because it's made to order.....but well worth the wait. The corn bread......I call it cake bread. Delicious.

Stopped by this spot to try the Hangaburs Smash Burger and Hot Chicken Sandwich. Good food with good flavors. Unfortunately we had a little bit of a hiccup with our order but the Chef tried to rectify the error. I would come back again, next time for the lokele burrito.

As always all the food was on point and I tried the jambalaya fries for the first time and it was absolutely amazing.

My son and I came here to try the food after seeing on Instagram and an associate told me about this place. I've tried billionaire before so I Came expecting quality again. Today I was sadly disappointed I ordered three plates one with oxtails, Mac, and cabbage the oxtails were very salty they were off the bone and pretty much mush or it was just the end of the pot, and the Mac didn't have any flavor. The first turkey chop dinner with the Mac and yam was ok though the chops were balled up and kind of resembled a chicken breast. No 2 turkey chop dinner with the red beans and rice and green beans were salty to another level I would never ever try these two if I did some how find my way back here. They only things that were edible were the cabbage, the turkey chops and the yams. And the kool aide

While exploring the city, we decided to stop by for lunch. I had ordered through the app and went to pick up, but they offered seating so we decided to just enjoy our food here. Ambiance is exactly my aesthetic: industrial, clean symmetrical lines, wooden accents, exposed duct work multiple group tables and outdoor seating. Parking can be a bitch in this area, just FYI. So to start, I made an error when I placed the order and they had originally delivered it to my place. But customer service was SO ON POINT that instead of correcting me, they just made a new batch of wings for us. Dude, reasons to come back to a place is just the hard work they put to making the customer happy. (You guys really didn't have to, so I sincerely appreciate it) The wings were bomb - I'm not a huge fan of wet wings. I'm a creature that loves the crunch and dips the pieces into the sauce. But these were actually still a bit crunchy and the flavor was bomb. My friend ordered the Manila chick which was a nice light citrus pepper flavor. The beers were bomb as well (I just can't remember what we ordered). Honestly, once COVID is over, I see myself kicking it here with a bunch of friends all the time. It's a cool vibe, cool concept, cool people, and good food. Good times, for sure!

Chef Dave...my dude. I didn't even plan on getting food, I just wanted to switch out some dollars for quarters lol! Within the next 10 minutes Dave had me HOOKED. My Smash Burger was a single patty but with the caramelized onions and cheese it felt like a double; as a firefighter who can easily eat a shit ton- I'm easily satisfied. The food is dope but Dave's passion to please is what'll have u coming back. In a time when genuine connection in rare, the Chef is reminder of what home feels like. Cheers Brotha, til next time

Decidedly Meh Ordered a Hangaburs Smashburger with fries. First thing off, didn't get fries. Was served with Tatertots. Not even good Tatertots, soggy, salty, very meh. Basically inedible. Burger was better, but definitely nothing special. Burger patty was burnt. Lots of grease from the meat and oil cheese with nothing to balance it but a few slices of pickle. No napkin in the carry out bag....not the end of the world I'm prepared but yeah that could have been awful.

What an interesting concept of a brick and mortar community kitchen! I really like how they experiment with unique foods through their multiple businesses such as utilizing ube into desserts such as coffee cakes. I also saw keto based desserts as keto cheesecake! I came for their short rib birria nachos topped with cilantro crema, 4 cheese blend, onions, cilantro It was full of flavor, however the portion size was extremely disappointing as the box was the size of my hand. Quite expensive for $10. However, it definitely reminded me of birria tacos and was a unique take on birria tacos. I feel like complimentary consommé and a larger portion size would do this restaurant justice. I'll definitely come back to check out their other restaurants as they are quite unique!

This place be bussin for the Lokels, get it? I believe it's a shared kitchen so you have a variety of options and vendors to choose from. Came here for a birthday dinner for a friend and had no issues with the accommodation. I had a food item that didn't process properly on the order bill and got a replacement on the house. Great atmosphere, parking might be hard to find but not terrible at certain hours. Would recommend checking this place out.

I hiiiighlyyy recommend this place ! It is SO DELICIOUSLy good it doesn't make sense!!! Best vegan carne asada fries I've ever had. One time with impossible meat, the next with mushrooms! Omg it's amazing the texture and taste! You won't regret trying this

We love the burgers and the atmosphere is the kind that leaves your belly full and your mind uplifted. Great staff

It was confusing and a lot of people in a small space . Food was good! The food is the only reason I'll return and I'll take it To go. Service was ehhhh , the guy who helped my family was rude to half of us and nice to the other half.

I ordered the oxtails Dinner and it came with two side i loved it .. i will return again so good i forgot to take a picture Black Owned Good customer Service

If you're looking for the best smash burger. You must try this joint. Very great homey vibes inside the restaurant. All the staff are great! A+++++ service!

Outstanding customer service and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich is fire. The indoor kickback style gives it chill vibe

Food was bomb with a great vegan selection. Location was bomb n chef Dave was so attentive n showed he really cared. Love this place.

Fried pickles are a MUST TRY !!! Such a great experience. Foods amazing and the service is even better. Big shout out to Chef Dave for being so polite and attentive. If you're in the are or even out of the area, do not hesitate to stop by!

Hamburger ok but not great Very confusing how ordering process and menu to use. Need more info on website

Such a cute spot. A community kitchen that hosts some of the BEST LA pop ups/vendors. Worth trying. Great variety of keto, plant based options.

Extremely overpriced, the burger is really bad. Service is very slow and the burrito was edible at best.

It's only my second time visiting Lokels only and I'm already falling in love with the food from the menu the vegan menu and their classic burger is just sooo good

Excellent selections my Fav is East Los Musubi. Gonna try the Empanadas from our takeout order. The concept is great for a variety of reasons like Variety. Find your taste stay for a good vibe if you can. Cool mural work inside and enjoyable music for Musubi

The food subpar, over priced and the service was horrid. Wouldn't recommend straight disgusting

This place is dope, the vibe I'm here is super LA with a great ambiance. I'd def check it out. The owner was genuine and welcoming. The service here was great. I'd come back. The concept of this spot is a community kitchen giving others in the community the opportunity to grow their businesses. Come here if you want chill vibes and good people.

Chef Dave is a awesome guy. He is very passionate about his place and you can tell the love he puts into his food. Must try!

Heard about this place on Instagram, its not far from my job so i thought I'd give it a try. Aannnddd well the burger wasn't the best (I did get there before they opened but when I looked it up the hours said 11:30). I ordered the Brutus Delux and I was not expecting to get a burger that was made from a frozen patty. It didnt really have flavor hence it being a frozen patty. The BBQ sauce didnt have a lot of flavor either. My burger wasnt hot either, I work about 5 minutes away by the time I got back to work the burger was about room temperature. The service was good, they played good music while I waited. Will I go back ? Yes, because I want to try the other food shops thats there. But I definitely will not order another burger ‍

Warm inviting spot in Chinatown / DTLA! Chef was really welcoming and food was tasty! Mac N Chick sandwich had heat, good amount of pickles, and everything worked really well together!

New favorite spot. Love this place not only because of all the variety it provides but because of what is stands for. Allowing small "local" business's to have a place to grow & provide exposure! So dope. Jamie & Mike are also so awesome and friendly! Donuts, burgers, cookies, beer...and the list goes on all in one place! Definitely doesn't get better than this!

Such an amazing concept! The Lokels Only Market is literally a restaurant location that holds multiple small restaurant business pop-ups. You can go on the website and place an order for pick up from all of the small restaurant businesses under one order! What's also amazing is that each day, there are different restaurant choices and menus to choose from. This concept is just wonderful because this gives small businesses the opportunities to grow. My family and I drove up from San Diego to check out this experience and it was amazing! Here is a drop down of what we ordered from the different restaurant choices we had for that specific day: El Sauzalito Fish Tacos - Beer Battered Tofu Taco Beer Battered Eggplant Taco Lobsterdamus - 1lb Grilled Lobster Lobster Truffle Fries Hot Chicken LB - Sliders with Cheese Combo Let me just say that the food was to DIE for! I really think it is amazing that there is a concept out there that supports "Lokel" restaurant business pop-ups. This place is the definition of that. I will like to add that there is also DRINKS TO GO!!! Anyways, if your looking for something totally different and want to support small developing businesses, this is the place to go!

Food is ok but way overpriced and the burgers are so small really not worth the price. They served tater tots animal style that was definitely not worth the price all in all I spent $25 and was still hungry.

Small shop right on Broadway. Very chill music. The main guy was funny and very friendly. Ordered the double smashburger, comes with side of fries, and mayo-mustard dipping sauce? I couldn't figure it out, but I liked it. I wish the fries were a little bit been more seasoned. And got the TukTuk Thai drink, it's a must try if you like lemonade and thai tea...I thought this mixture works well together. The burger was pretty good imo. Not much of a cheese person but it definitely was flavorful. Overall, chill spot, comfortable seating. I'd come back to try the other items on the menu, especially the Muy Thai Por Favor drink, it looked bomb!

I went to Lokels Only this past Sunday to pick-up my 'Rican's food order. Unfortunately, due to an honest mistake in kitchen I ended up waiting over an hour for my food. I'd like to thank Mike and his staff and the the Rican's representative for their excellent customer service in explaining what happened and then working to get us our food and taking great care of us. I'll definitely be back again to try all the different stuff you offer.

Straight outta LA located in the heart of Chinatown is a hot grub spot, to make your tastebuds water with there amazing special sauce and unique artisan menus. Lokels Only is one of a kind that changes there menus up frequently with an awesome variety of cuisines'. My family and I have are sensitive to a few foods. Lockels Only was able to provide a variety for each of are limitations from vegan options to meat lovers. For meat lovers I would recommend the smash cheeseburger, the meat was tender and smothered in sauces and topped with pickles. For the vegan heart the Cali Burrito was mouthwatering with there vegan cheese and special sauce brought the flavors to life. My kids couldn't even taste the difference between dairy cheese and vegan cheese If your passing by or a local you gotta try Lokels Only and get your grub on

I got the mac n chicken sandwich. The vegan one. I thought it was very good the staff was cool too and i liked their fits

Buuuuuuusssssiiiiiiiinnnnnnnn!!!!! Loaded fries are amazing. Been here 3 times and every time it's delicious. The 110 smoothie is soooo good and refreshing. 10/10

I like the fried pickles. the mac & chicken burger was okay but kinda dry and bland. i'll still give them another chance sometime. I do have to say that it's strange and disappointing that this vegan restaurant is filled with leather sofas.

It was a nice location, the concept sounds pretty cool where the only serve local food and beverages. We came for what I thought was available (bbq short ribs) but not on the menu this week. Service and staff super good and friendly. They are still trying to figure out how to operate in this new norm, but I'll come back to check them out again and see what the food and beverages stack up!

This review is nothing about their food, but their customer service is straight ass. I've gotten better customer service getting food at the DMV.

First time! Had the karagge sliders and they were so juicy and crispy! So much flavor, the perfect bite! The vibe was old-school hip hop and artsy. Love this place!

Smash Burger? Hot chicken sandwich? Vegetarian? They've got you!! All of it is extremely tasty, the staff cares and the ambiance is all LA.