Cozy Asian diner with a mix of Hong Kong and Taiwanese
I would like to introduce Liu’s Cafe, a place where you can enjoy affordable Chinese street food in the styles of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Shanghai.
Upon entering, you will see a counter and baked goods straight ahead, with tables on the side for dining in. To eat at a table, you must first write your name on the waiting list, and when it’s your turn, a staff member will call your name. At that time, you can place your order and, with your number tag, follow the staff’s guidance to your table to wait for your food. If you want to take baked goods or food to go, you can order directly without waiting, so keep that in mind.
The restaurant was bustling with people from the morning, enjoying their meals. I decided to get some baked goods to go and ordered a Pineapple Bun, Matcha Pineapple Bun, and Black Sesame Coconut Cake. All the baked goods were delicious, but personally, I found the Pineapple Bun to be the best. It was filled with Salted French Buttercream, which was incredibly sweet. I thought to myself, “Can it really be this sweet?” It was so sweet and tasty that I understood why many people were standing and eating Pineapple Buns while waiting for their tables.
We ordered Braised pork belly and Hong Kong Style French Toast. First, the Braised pork belly is a dish made using the belly part of the pork, which is the same cut we know as samgyeopsal, so it had a familiar taste and we could feel the unique flavor of the spices. However, since it is pork-based, it can be a bit greasy, but pairing it with the pickled cucumber side dish that comes with it created a perfect balance. Next, the Hong Kong Style French Toast was served, with a piece of butter and syrup served separately on top of the toast. Just before eating, when you drizzle the syrup, it naturally spreads, melting the butter and flowing down the toast, delighting both the eyes and nose. The Hong Kong-style toast is said to be a popular snack and breakfast item in Hong Kong, and it is a sweeter and crispier reinterpretation of the regular French Toast we know. Perhaps that’s why, with the first bite, the crunchiness, sweetness, and nuttiness filled my mouth. Liu’s Cafe is a place where you can enjoy a satisfying breakfast at an affordable price.
Liu’s Cafe
Experience Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Shanghai-style brunch at Liu’s Cafe in LA’s Koreatown.
