Uncle John's Cafe

A restaurant that has been around 60 years - it must be that good! It is the epitome of identity confused cuisine greasy spoon spot - a Chinese restaurant serving American diner style food … and Chinese food .. and Vietnamese food. 😂 Spicy Pork Chop - They mentioned that their spicy pork chop is what they are known for. I got that one off the menu, for $17 the serving is generous. 5 large cuts of pork chops, deep friend. I opted for the friend rice. My verdict- it is a decent pork chop, but if you are expecting SGV style Asian food — it is not. It is Chinese food for white person palate. It is not bad. Seriously. Just a different taste profile as you’ll find in Asian Chinese food. The fried rice to me is quite terrible. It is soy sauce rice to me. Don’t order that. Steak and Eggs The second most popular item on menu is the steak and eggs. If anything else this is their best dish. I conclude that the restaurant is a better American food diner than Chinese food. The steak was quite generous sized. Well seasoned. It satisfies that craving for that true blue hearty protein rich American breakfast. The hash brown was decent. I hope it was toasted crispier, but still good.

This place has pretty solid breakfast for the price. I ordered steak and eggs with fried rice. The steak was flavorful and the eggs cooked wonderfully. Fried rice was a bit bland, but plenty of condiments/seasoning were available. Portions were very generous! Giving a lower rating in atmosphere because it started to smell like cigarette smoke while I was eating. They were loading in food through the front door, but one of the employees was smoking directly outside the front door. Another customer actually went to the counter to ask for a refund and left because of the cigarette smoke entering the restaurant. I mentioned this to the employee smoking, but she was rather unapologetic.

This is definitely NOT the medium well steak I ordered. 🤢🤮 It's also waaay too salty. The fried rice is super bland, so are the eggs. Just threw $22 in the trash. 🗑 You can count on me not to come back here ever again - which is never a good thing for a local.

Such a great restaurant with wonderful food. I got the hash with rice and potatoes and wish I had a second stomach to eat another one. Vibe was great. People were nice.

Had a great experience at Uncle John’s in Los Angeles! The food was hearty, flavorful, and really hit the spot. Big love to the pork chop and the steak — both were cooked perfectly, tender, and packed with flavor. The atmosphere felt welcoming and comfortable, making it a great place to sit down and enjoy a satisfying meal. Definitely a solid spot when you’re craving something classic and delicious.

Spicy Pork Chops are a MUST. I’ve gone here over 50 times by now since I worked so close but man I never got tired of it. Very reasonable prices for DTLA paired with absolutely massive portions on the plate. They also have a cheaper value menu that rotates every day but has gotten a bit pricier since they switched locations. I would choose Uncle Johns over ANY other lunch spot downtown any day.

Uncle John’s has become one of my favorite local spots. I love that they now offer Asian fusion dishes, and everything I’ve tried has been delicious. The crispy pork is a must-order — perfectly crispy on the outside, flavorful, and so satisfying. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, and the service always makes you feel taken care of. If you’re in the area and craving comfort food with an Asian twist, definitely check Uncle John’s out.

Great American and Chinese diner food served with tons of character and charm. Note that, as of 2025, Uncle John’s has moved around the corner to 8th and Olive.

Great food at a great price! I came here for some breakfast and I was not disappointed. The fried rice was cooked very well with lots of wok hei! Definitely my favorite part of the meal. I think they were in the process of moving the restaurant elsewhere so the seating was a little strange. However, it was clean enough and I was happy. The place is cash only but they take Venmo and other pay apps.

Always a good time at Uncle John's! They moved from location I used to go to but I found them nearby at new location! I always recommend their spicy pork chops and they always offer good food and good service! So...if you're craving something in downtown that is a tried and tested good deal....go see your Uncle John!

There is something to be said for places like Uncle John's Cafe; a really chill, laidback and homey place that serves good food with a pleasant attitude. The vibe even makes the food taste better. Stopped by for lunch and went up to the cashier at the counter which is where you place your order before finding a table. He recommended the spicy pork chops with fried rice and I'm glad I took his suggestion. The portions are good and the pork chops were delicious. Really good. So was the chili oil which I happily added to my fried rice. The only downside were the egg rolls. Not good at all--a disappointment since I was craving that. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my meal and look forward to trying more items on the menu.

The spicy salt and pepper pork chops at Uncle John's is my go to for lunch. The perfect blend of spices along with crispy exterior goes very well with the noodles instead of rice in my opinion. Definitely worth trying at this mom n pop restaurant.

Service is phenomenal! The girl taking my order is so welcoming and really connects well with customers! The new location is modern and has a good amount of seating. The food is very very very tasty. Definitely somewhere worth splurging at. Please give this place a visit!

I've been going to Uncle Johns since before they moved to this location, my go to is the spicy pork chops with fried rice. I normally visit during the week at lunchtime and it's very busy but this time I went on a Saturday and luckily we found parking right out front and it was not busy inside so we were able to order and sit down right away. The service is always good. They don't have a lot of staff working in the front, but the staff is always attentive. They have a lot of tables and chairs for you to dine in as well as a couple of tables outside. They also offer to go and you can call ahead if you're pressed for time.

Service- amazing! Akira is the sweetest and very attentive!! Uncle John's so lucky to have her. Ambiance - no frills, but clean and organized! Food - yummy! Def want to try other plates but corned beef hash omelette and pork chops I would order again. Dan Dan noodle is okay, probably would try other items.

Walking thru DTLA by Whole Foods, 8th and Grand. I had a Hearty appetite. Uncle John's did not disappoint. I have not been here for years to this quaint hole in the wall restaurant. Ordered Corned Beef Hash comes with 3 eggs home potatoes and a slice of bread. This could have been split or shared. Eggs were medium- perfect. Choice of Rice, fries or potatoes. Choice of bread, white, wheat, or sourdough. Green, Vietnamese or Black tea. They even have Boba. Walk up to counter to order and pay 1st. Order from their big menu and pay. They will bring utensils, drinks and food to you. Service was great, food was great, cool vibe. Parking is on the street or in the parking lot next door for the posted fee. Serves breakfast till 3pm. Opens Back up at 5pm for lunch and dinner. Closes at 9pm. Another filling meal at great little restaurant in Downtown LA. I'll be back!

The best in all of DTLA. Been going for 10+ years every week. Even though most friends moved away from DTLA, it's still our central meeting place. New location is a nice upgrade... food and service still the best as it's always been.

I had a great breakfast at Uncle John's Cafe. My cousin was in town from up north and we decided to have breakfast at this classic cafe. It was two orders of spicy pork chops with eggs and fried rice. They have great coffee here and impeccable service. The servers always filled our coffee and refreshed it from time to time. The food was outstanding. The food is moderately priced but worth it. I really enjoy the cafe ambiance. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable meal. I'll be back for some of the Chinese cuisine offered, like the wonton soup.

Can a café be called "lo-fi chill?" I just love the honest, simple and friendly vibe of Uncle John's. Perfect little spot to have steak and eggs and read on a Saturday afternoon. I almost hate to review it because I fear crowds.

This location is like an Asian fusion. I've heard of this place but never had the chance to eat here until now. This place really knows how to take the simplicity of Asian cuisine and serve it up anytime of the day. Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner. The staff was friendly and the serve was good. Since it was my first time here, I tried the House Fried Rice. And it was delicious. It had pieces of sausage, ham and shrimp and it was still hot off the wok when the plate came to the table. Only after I ordered my dish, did I realize they're known for their Pork Chop with spicy salt, (that you can also get with fried rice). I will have to stop by here and try their delicious Pork Chops.

Uncle John's Cafe is perfect for a quick, filling, and satisfying meal without breaking the bank. I almost always end up getting steak and eggs, and I don't think you can beat the quality and portions for the price. It's somehow been maybe a year or so since I've last been here, but I'm sure I'll start wandering back in here regularly in the near future. Also, during evening hours only, their menu offers a Cajun-style seafood boil that reminds me of the Boiling Crab. They offer an assortment of shellfish including shrimp, clams, mussels, and crab legs. You can choose from several different seasoning options, and you can also choose the level of spiciness. I'm actually quite shocked that there aren't more Yelp reviews/pics for the seafood boil here as it's actually pretty good. I mean it's not going to be a cheap meal like the good ol' steak and eggs, but it more than gets the job done whenever I'm craving some Cajun-style seafood, and it sure as hell beats the long wait at the Boiling Crab.

Food was cheap and Bahn Mi was delicious. I got a lychee iced tea and it was under 15 bucks. Will come back if I am in the area again.

Food is very very tasty. I drove 8 miles out of my way to try this place and if I am now within 10 miles I will have to stop. The staff is very friendly as well.

We had breakfast here twice and would gladly return. Their food is a delicious fusion of American and Chinese food. We had an omelet with charsu pork the first time and eggs with teriyaki chicken the next time. Both times, we had fried rice with it. Everything was delicious. It was nice that they gave us extra teriyaki sauce with the chicken. We also got boba and coffee, which were good.

Located in a "humble" area of the city, lots of pay lots around and sidewalk meter parking... this little storefront "mom & pop" type place is pretty bomb! Nothing fancy, just a little diner, great place for breakfast! I had the teriyaki chicken and fried rice with eggs and it was so good! Love adding a little chili sauce-YUM! My husband really liked to chasu pork omelet too. Coffee is terrible (sorry) service is great! You place your order at the counter and then they bring your food to you at your table. Very friendly and attentive.

My gf and I love this Cafe! It has been a while since we came back to this place to eat after the pandemic. We enjoyed the customer service and the environment. All the staff was super friendly and helpful with our questions. If you haven't tried this spot, this place is a MUST in LA! I ordered the steak and 2 eggs with white toast on the side. My gf order the spicy pork chops with Vietnamese coffee. Our order came out fast and did not have to wait long at all. We always crave this place whenever we are in DTLA.

The staff there was very helpful , and professional. The food was good .. Hope to do business again . Highly recommended

I was craving orange chicken and my coworker highly recommended this place. So I came here early and was kinda sad. The spicy orange chicken was not spicy, not orange zesty. Plenty of chicken and pretty big in size. By the time I ate it.. the batter was soft. Container travels well but the steam inside made the food all soggy. Fried rice was better than the chicken. Will have to give this place another try next time in person at the cafe.

The dive bar next door is one of our pit stops before heading to the Crypto arena. We usually order a meal at this restaurant and have it delivered next door to the bar. The service is always friendly and the food is always so good and flavored just right. I keep ordering different items off their menu and it's always good.

Uncle John's is a nice down home spot for a variety of dishes. It is located on Grand Avenue between 8th & 9th. Keep in mind Grand is one way going south but you should be able to find plenty of street parking if not in front, surely on the side streets. I grabbed the Tuesday special which was a Chinese inspired dish with Egg Foo Young - Outstanding. Food is prepared fresh. Staff is professional and efficient. You can dine in or take-out.

This is my downtown LA spot! Looking for a nice, clean spot to get a bite to it and here it is. This place is always busy for a reason, and the staff works hard to get you a seat and get your food to you ASAP. Parking can be an issue here, but that is not their fault. You name it and this place has it. The spicy pork chops are the go-to meal, full of flavor with a little heat on it. It's worth the wait!

Food was TERRIBLE. I had the beef chow fun and it was not fun at all. The beef was like gelatin. Taste was really bad. Bummer

Lowkey lovely cafe W/ great service They have Amazing dishes ,and bomb boba milk tea

Cute, retro style diner. The wait staff are very friendly and have great personalities. You feel welcomed and well taken care of. The food was delicious and plenty.

Uncle John's Cafe wasn't busy when we went, only 1 other table besides us at 6pm on a Wednesday.  This was a semi-self service diner where you order food/pay at the register first, and then the staff will bring to your table. The decor definitely fits the fast food joint vibe, and it's connected to the Stillwell Hotel building. There are street meter parking around the block. Pro: menu price is fair, and each entree includes a free drink Con: flavor of the food is average and tasted dry/hard We tried the following: STEAK and EGGS although we requested medium, the steak was cooked to well done.  The meat was tough, dry, and flavorless, definitely needed some kind of sauce. The side fried rice was a bit disappointing; it just tasted like salty rice and lacked flavor. We broke up the eggs to mix with rice to enhance flavor. SPICY PORK CHOP: although the texture was too hard, the deep fried spicy pork chop has good flavor and spice. The pork chop would have paired better with white rice instead of the fried rice. We liked the chop better than the steak. Overall, the portion is all right and will not let you go hungry, but I was craving something more substance after the meal.

Visited UJ's today for lunch. Servers was busy, so it took a few mins to place my order. Although the servers are nice, they seem overworked. There should be a designated cashier at all times. Main: 1) Steak & Eggs (2.1/5) - Medium-rare. Yes it's an $18+ steak; hard to complain but boy, were 1/8th of the steak inedible. Hard to chew, like rock hard. Not as tasty as I had hoped for. Maybe charge a bit more for a better quality one?? Not recommended. 2) Iced tea (4.5/5) - Hard to screw up iced tea. Refreshing. I recommend this. 3) Service (4.2/5) - Kind-hearted & attentive from both ladies. But again they was busy with the 5 tables. Ambiance (4.5/5) - Updated interior, with decent chairs and clean tables. Natural light shines through. All in all, I would like to give them another shot by ordering something else next time. BTW, I saw Uncle John's on Buzzfeed's Worth It series SIX years ago & I always wanted to give the restaurant a shot. Too bad my first impression didn't live up to the YT video. Until next time! Sorry no pics; I was starving!

The food is delicious. The service is quick and friendly - you can tell they have regulars and it feels amazing to experience the familiarity. The ambiance is what you make it! They have indoor seating and outdoor seating, which I usually opt for because I love sitting outside even if it is just a table on the sidewalk. If you are a friendly but solitary diner like I am, I recommend sitting outside, they make sure to check on you but not too often. The orange chicken is delicious, the fried rice, the pork chops, the honey walnut shrimp, the XO fried rice and the house chow mein are all phenomenal. They also close midday to switch their cuisine over and the seafood boils are legit! No matter which menu you get, you're in for a treat!

One of my favorite diners in LA. It's the ultimate comfort food being an Asian American growing up US. It really reminds me of when my mom would mix Taiwanese and American home cooking all the time. ^^ Pork chops and eggs with fried rice is one of my favorites here. The pork chops are consistently juicy and crispy and so full of flavor! I'm also a fan of the chasu pork omelettes and chasu grilled cheese. As far as the seafood boil on the dinner menu goes, I'm not a fan. But I'm still leaving 5 stars because the brunch menu items are so good!

We love this place ! The fried pork chops are the best! Also their wonton noodles soup is delicious!

Uncle John Cafe is really really really good from the ambience to the service to the food. It was all excellent. I really enjoyed my breakfast, which was eggs and hashbrowns. They made it cooked to order just the way I liked it and charity is a real great host/waitress.

I just found this place a few months ago and I'm hooked! Staff is extremely nice and helpful! Food is amazing! They just added Vietnamese food and I love Vietnamese food and decided to try it..... I go here 1-3 times a week!

Been here a few times. Love their honey chicken wings! And the portion is big. I usually got it with the fried rice. Though I must say the fried rice sometime is good and sometime it just ok. But that's ok, it's hard to find good asian style chicken wings in DTLA so it's all good. Will definitely come back for more

I went with a neighbor to Uncle John's for the first time recently. This little restaurant has been around for years and is an unexpected delightful experience. I enjoyed the "House Green Tea" and the immaculate way the entree was served. There were different dishes and really difficult to decide at the restaurant ...close to closing time. I would like to vist again after we enjoyed the orange chicken and pork chop entree, The side of rice was nice. Varied cuisine here so the experience was just the tip of an iceberg. I'll be back.

Man if you are by the jewelry district. You need to come here for breakfast or lunch! This place is a gem! (Pun intended) We came in around lunch time after ring shopping. Haven't eaten all day and we were hungry! Uncle John's did not disappoint! First off the service was amazing! We ordered: Steak and eggs with fried rice -8/10 steak perfectly cooked, and where else can you get fried rice with your steak and eggs! Patty melt on rye with regular fires - 10/10 (fiancée's rating)I didn't eat this hot but my fiancée couldn't stop talking about how good it tasted. I had the other half later that night and it still beat any other patty melt I ever had A side of egg rolls -20/10 if you aren't hungry but just in the area please do yourself a favor and go get these. These were the best egg rolls I ever had. Out of everything we at here, I crave this every time I remember these! My mouth salivates just thinking about them. They could only sell egg rolls here and it would make a killing. Spicy pork chop 9/10 perfectly cooked prom chop and seasoned well add chili oil to it. The green onions on top give don't make it feel so heavy. The drink were like any other drinks but all of this together was one of the best meals I ever had and for the price man if I lived close to this place I would eat here every day.

Great. Breakfast in DTLA. Lunch specials look great. Packed full of folks at 930. The woman at the counter is amazing at juggling all the orders.

Intentional American diner plates and Americanized-Chinese food with generous portions, friendly staff, and affordable prices. Ambiance is charming and relaxed. They can do any Chinese dish with fried tofu and I highly recommend the kung pao!

Worth the money and hype! Everything was perfectly cooked and the service was very nice. For the steak I think medium rare made it a lot softer than medium ( the one closest is medium rare, the other on is medium). If you're driving in LA and don't mind paying for parking, there's a lot right next to it so it's a pretty close walk as well :)

We felt the pictures from the website were very deceiving. No atmosphere. Didn't stay.

Terrific food and even better service. Staff was very friendly and our breakfast came out hot. Thank you so much!!

I saw Uncle John's Cafe on a Facebook video that was looking for the best steaks at different price points. starting at $12.99 with eggs, fried rice and toast, you CANNOT BEAT IT! We also opted for the corned beef hash and eggs. The great thing was that the drinks were FREE! So we got a Thai iced tea and Jasmine Boba. My steak was cooked perfectly and rare just like I wanted it. The fried rice is something straight out of a Chinese steam table restaurant but that's fine with me. Sunny side eggs and white toast made the meal. The corned beef hash was nice and crispy. The shocker was the English muffin which was thick and not like a Thomason's EM. Service: 9/10 Cleanliness: 8/10 Ambiance: 9/10 Bathrooms: 7/10 Food: 9/10 Value: 9/10 Will I Return? YEAHBUDDY

Great service, been going here since they only had counter space to sit, had to wait by the wall for a chair to open up. The spicy pork chops are a must

This place is a family favorite. We try to stop whenever we're in LA. Spicy Pork Chops are fantastic. Enjoy!

This place rocks. The food is scrumptious and flavorful ( especially the spicy pork). The staff are super attentive and fast which is perfect for work lunch hour. The portions are perfect for sharing and they have so many options that you just have to come back to try them all!! Great little hidden food gem, definitely adding it to my weekly lunch stop :)

I been coming here before they even moved to Grand. Even though the place is not owned by original owners, they have kept the standards high. Thus place never disappoints me.

I made my first post pandemic visit to Uncle John's. Fantastic. I ordered the Friday Daily special: Kung Pao Shrimp with Fried Rice and Shrimp Egg Foo Young. I also got a 1/2 order of the egg rolls. Very tasty. Was really too much food but I'm a pig so I powered through it. I'm a big fan of Americanized Chinese food. It's so hard to find these type of restaurants. I'm willing to drive far to get it. Service was solid. They've moved to an "order at the counter and they deliver the food to your table" model. My server was still attentive and friendly. Ambiance...well not much. It's a place to "enjoy a tasty lunch" type of place. Not a "try to impress a first date" type of place.

My husband got the spicy pork chops, and I got the vermicelli. I very much enjoyed my vermicelli. It was the perfect combination of savory and tangy sweet. My husbands pork chop meal was just heavenly. I don't know what magic they do to create this perfection, but I recommend it.

Service is friendly, Jose is great I always order the lunch special for $8 plus tax and I am never disappointed! My favorite is the garlic teriyaki chicken with broccoli over rice! Ambiance is nice inside, clean and always decent people inside

i ordered the spicy pork chops with chow mein during my lunch break. honestly, the chow mein was FIREEE. i would definitely come back just for those yummy noodles. tbh, the pork chops were very dry and not spicy at all