Pikoh

"With Patricia Escárcega still out on maternity leave, the Times is again turning to Gustavo Arellano for his take on Pikoh, Ricardo Zarate’s casual cafe in West LA. While Arellano finds that some of the dishes really hit the mark, ultimately the place is a bit frustrating when one considers what Zarate has shown he’s really capable of elsewhere. The menu itself, filled with bone broth and activated charcoal bowls, is a “parody-ready setup,” says Arellano, but does get saved in spots thanks to some real creativity: Elsewhere, Zarate and chef de cuisine James Jung hit the mark with “a chicharrón-esque pork tonkatsu served with sinus-searing Japanese mustard,” but overall Pikoh’s dishes “whisper Peru when they should scream it.” Add in some service hiccups and an issue at the bar, and suddenly Arellano is not having such a great time. Still, “a stop here isn’t a mistake,” even if the critic “still yearn(s) for the scintillating ceviches Zarate served from his original stall at Mercado La Paloma.”" - Farley Elliott

"For $39, Pikoh begins dineLA with an amuse bouche with oyster, ponzu, and avocado mousse. But then there’s the fresh and vegetable-filled first course, and entrees like the corn agnolotti with aji, lime and shallots." - Mona Holmes

"As you probably guessed, all-day restaurant Pikoh is located on Pico Blvd., on a relatively quiet stretch in West LA. It’s from the guy behind Rosaliné, but appropriately for the area, feels more like a casual neighborhood spot than an all-out party. During the day, you’ll find sandwiches, salads, and some mains, while at night there are small plates that range from pastas and quinoa hot pots to pork tonkatsu. It’s all pretty solid, although the small plates really are small, so if you’re hungry you might end up spending more than you intended." - Jess Basser Sanders

"Chef Ricardo Zarate of Once fame at the Grand Canal Shoppes just jumped on board at Pikoh on Pico Boulevard to create a non-Peruvian menu that spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner." - Susan Stapleton

"Pikoh is the planned all-day cafe on Pico Boulevard in the former Chan Dara space, led by chef Ricardo Zarate and chef de cuisine James Jung. The cafe will serve breakfast foods daily until 3 p.m., with lunch through midday and dinner from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. or later most nights. The menu will be non-Peruvian and will include a full bar and lots of wine. Pikoh is expected to open in the first week of February, offering counter service during the day and full table service at night." - Farley Elliott