The Pacific Rim center is an odd mixed use complex that feels a bit like a smalltown airport. It’s home to New Kowloon, a smashing place for dim sum, a manicure salon, a Vietnamese restaurant, a dental clinic…it’s also home to the recently opened LA Cafe. We stumbled in to LA Cafe on accident when we found that Quoc Te, another restaurant was closed.
LA Cafe has a hip, brightly colored interior – lime green booths and red vinyl chairs, orange walls. The staff wear wacky wide neckties. And the menu is a trial. With tiny type and not very sensible categorization, it’s hard to know what to order – especially since there are so many things to choose from. Navigating the L.A. Cafe is, well, a little confusing. But also, wow, it’s totally worth it. Before I launch into what we ate, let me give you two pieces of advice:
- Go now. Seriously. They just opened and I don’t think the gringos know about it yet.
- Ask a lot of questions when you order. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up with something that looks like the blue plate special at Denny’s. I’m not making it up.
The menu is a mix of Western style plates and Asian food. Japanese noodles and steak and eggs. It’s, as I’ve said, hugely confusing and the pictures are no help, they’re just clip art and have no bearing on what’s on the menu. You’re going to have to ask questions. There are a few things I’ll recommend.
Fried Tofu with Dry Scallop Golden Mushroom comes with some baby bok choy and rice. The tofu has the perfect texture and the plate has plenty of Enoki mushrooms on it; they’re almost like noodles. Shrimp and Pineapple Fried Rice has big chunks of pineapple and the rice tastes of sesame oil. The Seafood and Udon with Black Pepper Sauce is spicy and delicious with shrimp, fish, and squid tossed in with the peppery noodles. The Eel on Curried Rice was melt in your mouth delicious.
On the not-so-great side? The Shrimp Toast we had as a starter was odd and tasted like it came from the freezer section of your supermarket. The Pumpkin and Spare Rib Hot Pot was rather plain. And the Sole with Green Vegetables, well, that’s the one that seemed to have come from another restaurant entirely. The fish was attractive but plain and came with mashed potatoes and mixed green veg – also looking like they came from the freezer section.
The dishes we had that were good were not just good, they were exceptional. I’d go back just for the Udon with Black Pepper Sauce. I enjoyed the bright colors and it’s fun to eat in a place where you’re the only gringos. This place isn’t for unadventurous eaters – there’s a certain feeling that you’re not sure what you’re going to get. But hidden in this difficult menu are some real gems.
LA Cafe has been open for only a month. I’ll be back. If they can suss out the menu, this place will be great.
LA Cafe is at 900 Jackson in the Pacific Rim shopping center. They even have free, off street parking.
This has absolutely nothing to do with this post…but when I went to the Co-op yesterday to grab a few groceries (mostly stuff J won’t eat)…I wanted to try one thing I’d never tried. So I picked up a package of gluten-free (soy) cheese (cheddar). Have you ever had it? It’s OKAY, I guess. Maybe I can’t be nearly as healthy as I wish I could be. 😉