The L.A. Cafe

The food was great - we had a tomato basil soup and salmon tacos. Food came out pretty quick, was fresh and warm, just what we needed on a chilly night. The ambience on the streets around is indeed suboptimal but definitely not the cafe’s fault. Nice to find this spot for good healthy food in DTLA!

I came here after seeing reviews on Google and how highly rated they were. The customer service was great and their staff was very knowledgeable about food allergies. The baked goods looked great but while there we veered more towards lunch options. Boyfriend and I were impressed with the sandwiches we ordered and really enjoyed them. I definitely recommend eating inside because the street ambiance was not something I'm used to being from Ohio. Highly recommend checking this place out! I'd definitely eat here again if eating inside. Check them out!

On of many places I’ve been to when once upon a time girlfriend (Vee) took me. Great place to eat especially after hours of underground warehouse club parties. The food excellent! Service, especially at 1-2 in the morning excellent! Parking, eeh, so so but their’s plenty. I did my sneaky park like where I want without having to pay. 🤓 using the hazards, was able to park for 1 hour. Not ideal but at the moment it was a must. For sure if you are in town, drop by this joint and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

The food was really good and the size was perfect for each person for that price! I would totally recommend "Lumberjack plate" (the one in the picture) it's really fresh, good, and complete with : Tater tots, pancakes 2 eggs and bacon, and the same as the matcha latte was so good! There is sitting outside and some inside. There is some street parking, but it's limited, and there is parking around for about 10-12dlls.

First time here and service was fast and food was AMAZING. I got an iced tea and a roast turkey with avocado press panini. Sweetened tea to my liking and hot and good sandwich. Would try everything next chance I get

I just had the lobster grilled cheese, and I decided to spice it up by adding avocado—what a fun twist! It was my first time trying lobster, and while it was definitely different, I actually really enjoyed it!

The chili cheese tots and the chili cheese fries are the same price ($12) but half the portions for the tots. I’m not sure I can be able to understand this.

Let the video of the employee do the talking. The food is good but seems service needs improvements.

I recently visited LA Cafe and had a mostly good experience. I ordered the chili, and it was absolutely delicious--rich, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. It had just the right amount of spice, making it a comforting and satisfying dish. I would definitely come back just for that! However, I also tried the tater tots, and unfortunately, they didn't hit the mark. They had a strange taste, and after trying one, I decided not to eat the rest. It was disappointing, but thankfully, the chili made up for it. Aside from the food, the service was friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. While I wouldn't order the tots again, I'd definitely return to explore more of the menu--especially if everything is as good as the chili!

I've been to this place for breakfast foods a couple times. There's a good bit of outdoor seating, and it's a super cute cafe! The service was good, but I guess I was underwhelmed by the lobster grilled cheese. There was a buy 1 get 1 deal I couldn't resist, but my goodness, the sandwiches were extremely salty. They're pretty messy, but stuffed! I was happy they were stuffed because lobster grilled cheese sandwiches tend to be thin with thinly shredded lobster, but these bites were thick, making me believe it had to be some sort of lobster blend with fish rather than pure lobster meat. Either way, it was super salty, and the chips they came with were very burnt tasting and hard. I didn't enjoy the meal. I do recall their breakfast foods being good, as I enjoyed my time here on my first visit, but I think they need to revisit the lobster grilled cheese.

With a group of people who don't know what they want to eat? Are you in or going to DTLA? Then LA Cafe is for you. Before you go, know that your LA Cafe experience will solely depend on the food. This cafe has minimal seating and its mostly outdoors, so unless you want to take in all the charm Spring St. has to offer (jokes folks, jokes) you'll want to take your food to go. Which is a shame, because I've been going here for years and almost always enjoy the staff and service. The reason I say LA Cafe is the place for you if you don't know what to eat is because this place has everything. In DTLA early in the morning? They have typical breakfast fare, baked goods, coffee, and smoothies. For lunch, take your pick of standard (the turkey sandwich tastes so fresh) to the unique (look at all these reviews about the lobster grilled cheese), and everything in between. For dinner, they offer a heartier American food-based menu. The one thing I'd ask you to remember is that this is a cafe, while the food is good Michellin isn't visiting any time soon, so despite some of the items you see on the menu, keep those expectations in check. All in all, LA Cafe is a great place to grab some food in DTLA.

The lobster grilled cheese is the reason why I would stop at La Cafe but after 2021 it was no longer the same, so unfortunate. An employee there mentioned it has a new chef? Not sure how accurate this could be but I do miss the iconic lobster grilled cheese sandwich which to me was 5 stars. I had a sandwich in 2023 and it was 2/5 =( bring the og sandwich back!!!

LA Cafe is UNDERRATED! Every time I order anything it is so bomb! Today, I ordered the Chicken Pesto Panini and Tomato Basil soup. The panini comes with chips they make in house. Everything was phenomenal! I was dipping the chips and panini in the soup... definitely eat here when in DTLA.

I don't know about the service or ambiance because I door dashed this to my hotel room, but it was good enough for me to dash it twice! I ordered the lobster sandwich which was a little too salty in my opinion but it does the job, and I got the tomato bisque which was hearty which I liked. I definitely think it's a little salty and I like to cut the acidity with sweetness but it also was filling and good.

Ok so I ordered 3 items at 8:15pm and they said 15 mins. I ordered 1. carne asada tots 2. Lobster Mac and cheese panini / chips 3. Chicken panini chips plate and we went earlier to get a cup of water so let's see how this goes. 1 star for him arguing back and forth about the tater tots being wrong. I ordered carne asada tots and they arrived as Korean bbq tots!!!! Omg!!! And when I complained on the phone he would not honor my complaint. Bad business. Don't eat here. You could make this food at home!!!

I don't like to complain to small business'. But I love food, and this place just wasn't right for me. I ordered the lumberjack. Came with 3 eggs, bacon, 3 pancakes and tater tots. Tater tots were hard, the eggs were perfect, and the bacon, didn't taste like bacon and the pancakes were so fluffy, they were hard to swallow. My daughter did however, love her waffle, hence the 3 stars. Also, because that Apple juice they have is really good too. I guess i was overhyped, because my daughter asked google, "Best breakfast spot in Downtown Los Angeles" and this place popped up as #1...only to be disappointed. Overall, it was okay, but wasn't to my liking. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again.

I walked here from the Hotel Indigo. I wish I knew ahead of time how small it is. Only about four window seats inside. There are a few tables outside, but it's not a pleasant place to sit. I had coffee with a Belgian waffle. The waffle was very good and it came with whipped cream and fresh strawberries. Even though I was eating there, it came in a takeout bag. This place could be so much more if it had a few tables.

Okay I'm honestly not sure why this place doesn't have better reviews. Maybe service? (I haven't been there in person so I wouldn't know) Or maybe because they have an extensive amount of options and it's almost impossible for every single thing to be good. That said, I personally haven't had anything bad. My brother loves their Thai tea. The California burrito is delicious. Their fried chicken is sooooo flavorful and crunchy. The tater tots are also yum. The only thing I dislike so far is that their hot chocolate was sort of watered down and their fries are entirely toooo salty. If this weren't the case I would've totally given it five stars. Try it for yourself.

I give up trying .....9x out of 10 my order is always wrong I hate all condiments and no matter how much I make it clear no sauces , there's always sauces on my order.

I ordered 1 Trix smoothie that took 15 minutes to make maybe 20. Aint no way it takes so long to make a smoothie . Heated !

Stopped in while waiting on my hotel room to be ready. Inside has a counter. Food was very good. Had the chicken and wFfles

I love that LA Cafe is open late night! During first trimester the strawberry banana smoothie + peanut butter was one of the few things that I could actually finish/keep down. (i also tried their chili cheese tots however once you have chili cheese from The Hat there's really no comparison lol so 3/5). They do have some spicy but tasty buffalo chicken tenders that I have enjoyed a couple of times as well! Small waiting area inside that does fill fast & there is also seating outside. Street parking is a little tough but they do have a couple of next door lots that are just steps away from the business. Service has always been great here - never have they messed up an order for me & always make sure I get my items in hand.

Food was really good lobster grilled cheese be on point. I'm going to try the lobster tacos soon enough.

Came here with a friend and wasn't excited on the experience, but definitely not a bad one. There were a variety of different options for breakfast which was pretty nice, but we ended up with the breakfast burrito and breakfast tacos. All in all, it just wasn't that great. They lacked a lot of flavor, but I still ate most of it. The lattes however were quite perfect! They have lots of milk options and good flavoring choices. It's not in the cleanest area, but for what they got, they make it work. Very fun seating with swivel bench seats and aesthetic plants around. Would like to try again but with a different food option. All the staff were helpful and nice which is always a good sign!

LA Café is right across from The Majestic in DTLA. Mostly a takeout spot, but if you're lucky you can snag one of the few tables outside. I went late morning, and got the LA Cafe breakfast burger with fries and a vanilla latte. It's made to order so it took about 15 mins to be ready. The burger was good! The tots gave it a nice crunch. The fries that come with it were good as well, though in hindsight I would have asked for another side so it wasn't so much potatoes. The coffee was delicious, and not bitter or overpowering.

Probably the best inexpensive coffee in downtown! The chocolate croissants are also my favorite

The Lobster Grill Cheese is delicious. I enjoyed the tomato soup with it. When I used to work DTLA I would go before work and get a strawberry streusel muffin that was delicious. That was the best muffin I have ever tasted. I order to go.

My ultra nice co-worker treated us to sandwiches ordered for delivery. It's been a while since I have had anything from LA Cafe so I had her order for me. So I got the lobster and cheese panini. The sandwich was still warm when it arrived. Being that it was delivered, the bread was already soft. It would be awesome to eat it on site as I know it would be toasted outside and soft in the middle. It's a big sandwich, thankfully it was cut in half. I felt full with just the half. We also got a bag of kettle fried chips- my fave. Located on busy Spring St. DTLA, it's a small cafe with nice employees. Delivers within 3 mile radius. Delivery driver was nice.

2 stars because the service is great, and there was no line, but the food!!??? What happened?! I used to love coming here, sadly today I ordered a lobster grilled cheese sandwich (almost 20 bucks) just to throw it away! God, it was sooooooo bad and salty. I feel like I wasted my time and money. I was disgusted by it. I dislike to leave these type of reviews, but honestly I should've avoided it

They make the best fried catfish dinners. Always fresh. Their tartar sauce is the best that I have tasted. I highly recommend them For any seafood dish on the menu!

Good was super hot ready in 15 min. Fries seasoned to perfection and the wings are big, hot, juicy and not over cooked. Only reasons I can't give it more stars is, ranch is watered down. With all the business this place gets there is no reason to dilute the ranch. Gives cheap business. The wings I ordered were all drums and only one flat. I prefer flats and if you do, make sure you state you want all or at least half flats. Also they should offer blue cheese dressing, it pairs up better than ranch w wings IMO. Aside from that it was good. Probably won't order this again but it definitely want bad.

Ambiance: small takeout sandwich shop, limited seats indoor, few outdoor seating tables near the entrance or along the street, the surrounding neighborhood isn't really good for dining here Service: the staff here is friendly and provided useful suggestion, it took a quite a long while to get the food, apparently there are online orders even thought it didn't seem too busy in store Food: variety choices on the menu under different major categories LOBSTER GRILLED CHEESE - **** Lobster, brie cheese, tarragon, mustard, fish protein, and cheddar cheese on country white bread, very creamy and tasty, recommend Buzz Chips - **** house made chips served with sandwich or panic order, very crunchy, recommend Price: decent quality and affordable prices, less than $20 for a fulfilling meal

Open late, great menu, friendly staff! I was worried we'd have to settle for fast food leaving a late show at the forum around 12:30am on a Saturday morning. I was pleasantly surprised with the menus options and was able to get a real meal after hours. The food was prepared quickly, al dente, flavor filled, served hot, and a was decent portion size that satisfied but also not leaving me feeling overfed. I'll be returning for their Lobster Grilled Cheese soon, their regular customers were raving about it and claimed they ordered it often when dining here. Minimal seating inside, as in four barstools. So if you're going to be dining here late bring a sweater and enjoy their outdoor seating. Update: After hearing even more accolades about the Lobster Grilled Cheese Sandwich I returned the following day to try it for myself. The verdict... it lives up to the legend, 9/10! Crispy buttery bread, rich and cheesy, served with house made chips! Id definitely order this again. Also notable, my wife had the Peanut Butter Filled Reese's Donut this morning, out of this world good!

The atmosphere was nice and calm, we came in the early morning while we waited for our hotel to be ready. The service was fast & very nice. The food was a 7/10 and would definitely come here again as they had a lot of things on their menu and one of the later opened spots here in downtown. The matcha latte was 10/10! Absolutely delicious!!

I came across this place while wandering DTLA. I decided to walk in and was intrigued by the amount of awards the place won. They have a small bar area where you can eat by the window and some seats outside. I wasn't really hungry, but because parking is hard, and I was curious to try the food, I decided to try something on their menu. They offer some pastries that looked like they had better days, and some donuts that also looked quite aged. So I took a look at their menu that mainly consists of breakfast items and diner food. They have a wide variety of items to choose from, so I decided to try their Crispy Breakfast Tacos. I was happy to find that it was made to order, since it took a bit of time to get my food. I brought it home and was also pleased to find that it was still crispy. I wasn't too fond of the crispy shell, and the flavors was just okay. I was happy with the avocado, but was not blown away. But, this is a great place to pop in when you're hungry and looking for something to grub on, they are open very late!

My daughter loves this place. We were in DTLA so I said "let's see what the hypes all about. I ordered the steak and mushroom panini. It has Swiss, arugula, pesto, tomatoes, onion on a focaccia bread and of course panini style. My daughter got the hot chicken wrap. The sandwiches are pricey just an FYI. Are they worth it? It's not everyday you get a sandwich that is popping with flavor. This sandwich was definitely just that...popping! Full of flavor. My only qualm is the steak tasted like it's cooked and then reheated kinda taste. Hence why I gave a four. Don't get me wrong the sandwich is bomb. Sandwich came with homemade chips that were seasoned. The inside of the shop is definitely a trendy feel. I definitely want to come back and try more of their menu items. They also have dessert. Definite recommend 100%.

I like this place, definitely the Panini's they are so bomb and pair it with the chips ! Easy to order and fast to pick up I don't recommend to eat there as they don't have space best to pick up.

I use to come here a lot when I was in college, recently ordered it for nostalgia purposes. My veggie burger was good but my fries tasted gross and dirty like they hadn't changed the oil in the fryer or something in a long time lol I couldn't eat them. Unfortunately I don't think I'll order again because fries are everything and if you don't change the oil often then it's gonna be a consistent problem . Veggie burger was still okay though

My friends recommended this place, I ordered food to go, got the breakfast burrito , fries , & a burger, well the breakfast burrito had maybe 1/2 of an egg in it it was all hash brown potatoes in a tortilla & the fries were supper soggy, I was very disappointed

Fabulous food great service and your food doesnt take forever to come out. I love just picking up and absorbing the positive atmosphere. A gentleman from out of town stated he is on vacay but he has brought his family every morning for a week to eat there. When you get the unexpected great service and food its hard to go anywhere else

I always get the Lobster grilled cheese 10/10 Also started getting the cookies and crème milkshakes and it's pretty good The service is always fast but just the parking sucks so maybe order online or phone and just pick it up

I would never recommend this place. The lady inside made me wait outside for no reason?? There was only one person inside besides security guard sitting inside???? I'm here all the time never an issue for some reason. There's an issue this time??? She was completely rude and unprofessional it's cold She's forcing me to wait outside The lady with the pink hair I don't understand why she was so mean? The cashier was super nice and understanding even the security guard felt weird Literally freezing outside and there's no one inside besides the security guard I don't get it

I love LA cafe , great service, the food is great I love the lobster grilled cheese and the pesto chicken panini. Ambiance not so great but overall still good

HMMM not for me, thank you very much. I am sure they cater to the DTLA lunch on a budget crowd. But, when you step inside, the musty interior smells were overwhelming, and fighting off the homeless is next to impossible. Hated it.

A takeout restaurant that's open late every day in downtown LA. There are a few tables outside to sit at, but most people order to go. I've been twice now, both late nights after a concert/event. I tried the lobster grilled cheese with the tomato soup & also a couple different paninis. I finished each item in one sitting, it was that good! They've got a lot of good options on the menu so it's definitely somewhere I'd gladly return to anytime I'm in LA. Check them out!

I love tying out local cafes when I travel. I feel like I get better vibe of the city and connect with locals. Staying in DTLA gave me a lot of amenities and L.A cafe was a few blocks away from my airbnb. The staff was really nice and did not mine explaining items on the menu. The L.A Cafe was so cute, small and intimate. I loved the added Purple and the chalkboard vibes menu. There is outside seating available but L.A streets are not in the best shape so I was not interesting in sitting outside. The seats and tables were basic unfold plastic and was not giving the same vibe as indoors. I decided to story and ppl watch; the few seats available are bar like and allow you to sit towards the window. The L.A cafe does offer a bit more variety than the average cafe. I ordered the Chicken n Waffles, and an ice coffee. The ice coffee was just what I needed after a long travel! The chicken "tenders" was SO good to my surprise. It was fresh out the oil and seasoned really well! I am usually a fan of bone in chicken but L.A Cafe did a great job. The Waffles was not as fluffy and soft as I was expiating but nothing some syrup can't fix. I definitely recommend L.A Cafe on your next L.A trip.

Chiccen sandwich smacc all I need to say if I'm being honest but I gotta leave 85 words atleast

Not the most outstanding food, yet it's a cafe open 24hrs! Great place to go after the bars in DTLA! Watch out for homeless when seating outside.

My favorite go to place in La! Everything I've tried here is so bomb. I've been eating vegan lately and their vegan options are so good. I always get the veggie tower or the pesto veggie panini

The Nutella shake omg first of all whoever thought of this genius!! Loved it so much very rich in texture but so delicious also the lobster grilled cheese I mean amazing definitely will continue going and recommend

Overall: 4.2/5 We ordered on Ubereats which took about 40 minutes to deliver. The food was good but pretty pricey for the small portions. Carne Asada Tots ($12.95): We got an egg which was another $1. The tots came in the small appetizer size box so it was definitely overpriced. The Angus asada beef was good, not overcooked or dry. The toppings on the top is what gave this dish an umami flavor but it also made the tots very soggy. Steak & Mushroom Melt With Gluten Free Bread ($13.95): The gluten free bread was an extra $1. This sandwich was the size of a packed PB&J you used to eat as a kid so it was also a rip off. The sandwich was average, and all the flavors blended in together. What was amazing about this order is actually the buzz chips. These are so addictive and just so tasty! They don't feel/taste oily so I can keep munching on them.

man oh man this place has really gone down hill. it's been in such a steep decline for the last few years, i used to be a regular and haven't been back in over a year. just went in this past weekend and i'm so disappointed. that was the end for me honestly. the food was soggy, the bakery items were not fresh, the staff is rude, the prices have gone up, the outside was filthy. i'm good

The customer service is terrible at this restaurant. The manager tonight was incredibly rude and the employees must learn from her because when I walked in the door I greeted one of the employees standing at the counter and he literally made eye contact with me, said nothing, then turned around and walked in the other direction. The food is very basic (nothing special) but the service leaves an even worse taste in the customer's mouth due to terrible attitudes the employees have there.

Great burgers and amazing fries! I had the spicy vegan burger and added avocado and my partner had the mushroom brie burger. We scarfed it down it was so dang good! Juicy and filling! Will definitely pop back in if I was down here or order from them!

Hit or miss. I've been ordering here for years because they are open late and have a large selection. Love the fries and the large portion size good to share. This place is best for pick up and delivery

We've been ordering LA Cafe for years and I was happy they've survived the past couple of years. The selection of food on the menu can delay people quickly deciding upon what they REALLY want, but whatever you choose it's going to be tasty, quality food that's well prepared ... and even travels well for deliveries. I've always wanted to eat there to get it 'fresh fresh', but spots are extremely limited.

Lobster grilled cheese was really good especially if you out late and have the munchies... The line was super long so I just ordered it on Door Dash and picked it up.. Took like 17 mins...It was fresh, hot, and got it with chips.. This was my first time and i will definitely come back against.