Echo Park, Los Angeles. Fast, Delicious and Filling. Like its sister resto in HP, Joy, Pine and…read moreCrane serves geniusly fresh, reasonably priced and super delish Taiwanese plates. First, grab a menu, you fall in line and order. Then the cool thing is a waitperson will direct you to a table where you can put the number the cashier gives you. Then the food comes to your table when ready. I love the food here, Ive visited its sister resto Joy more often because its close to home. I would so come here when Im in the area. Theres so many shops and places to eat in Echo Park, its like another city In any event, there is a line but once you get your food, you're thankful a place like P&C that serves simple, inexpensive and delicious food NB. This place is bustling so you will not visit a quiet restaurant. Im sooo coming back. End of Yelp

Pine & Crane is a little casual eatery with a relaxing and easy-going ambiance contrasting its…read moretight-knit and bustling location. The classic Taiwanese dishes like Dan Dan noodles, chili oil wontons, beef pancake rolls, beef noodle soup, and scallion pancake all tasted delicious! I liked the fluffyness of the beef pancake roll which was really comforting. The peanut sauce of the Dan Dan noodles had a strong kick, and the fresh cucumbers and textured noodles balanced that out. The passion fruit tea was a nice refresher for the highly flavorful meal.

I put off coming here for years because there's something about being from the SGV where you write…read moreoff these types of restaurants as Instagram fads/only getting recognition because of it. But in all honesty Liu's Cafe is a reminder that this place shouldn't be frowned upon because Chinese restaurants are devalued. Liu's Cafe serves a limited menu of Taiwanese and Hong Kong staples with each dish tenderly presented. I made my friends meet up on a Friday morning before opening (around 10:40 hahaha) so we snagged seats easily. There's a handful of large tables for big groups, but most tables catered to small duos. Pricing isn't crazy, but for anyone from the SGV, you will find it a little steep since the portions are a little small. That being said, that doesn't diminish the value of the food here. We ordered: Kaya jam toast - tasty treat! I didn't taste much of the salted egg yolk, but it was unique for sure. Beef noodle soup - I don't eat beef, but my friend devoured it! She said it a wholesome, hearty balance of flavors, meat, and veg. Braised pork belly rice - I was super impressed at how flavorful it was without having to rely on being too fatty (nothing wrong with that in a pork belly dish, but I was super surprised as the depth of flavor it had). The pickled cucumber made each bite perfect. My main delta was there's a tad more rice than meat. Spicy wontons - the sauce is what stuck out and it is FRAGRANT. I could easily drink it or bathe in it. So delicious and crave-able! Hong Kong French toast - admittedly sweeter than any French toast I had in Hong Kong, but the textures of what you'd get in a breakfast place in HK are all there. If you're not a fan of desserts that are sweet (versus "not too sweet"), I'd pass on this. Otherwise the custard-like texture between bites can't be beat! Some of these reviews are likely from people who make the trek out here from the SGV/626 that often have a chip on their shoulder as to how the food here gets recognized by an international ranking system where their favorite mom and pop places are struggling. Liu's Cafe should be an invitation to remember that there should be more recognition of those types of restaurants and space for Liu's Cafe. The food isn't pretentious or pretends it does anything better than anywhere in the SGV, but instead it focuses on a small menu to perfectly execute each dish. Parking is a pain bc ktown lol, but I would gladly struggle through parking and a drive to come here again (I will avoid peak hours bc I hate waiting in line anywhere). I'll be back!

Decent place for a limited menu of well-priced quick eats. Came to see what the Michelin Bib…read moreGourmand hype was about - turns out, not much. You order at the counter and then grab a number to sit at one of their tables, where water and utensils are self-serve (and since it's mostly self-serve, the automatic tip prompts start lower than other places). We tried both rice dishes - the pork belly rice dish was much more flavorful, while the chicken rice dish was a little dry. The ratio of rice to meat was high. I was surprised by how limited the menu was, and unfortunately they make their house spicy sauce with peanuts so it cannot accommodate a nut allergy. The decor is pretty and meant to evoke a sort of nostalgia. Overall not bad, but not really a place that I would seek out specifically.

Friendly service in a contemporary and comfortable environment. There is a breakfast menu, then a…read morelunch/dinner menu. Breakfast recommendation: Thousand layer pancake Traditional breakfast set Lunch/dinner recommendations: Hot and sour soup Dessert recommendations: Traditional shaved ice Fruit shaved ice Dou hua Tea recommendations: Wen Shan bao zhong (caffeinated) Ali Shan Jin Xuan (caffeinated) They take card. They have indoor and roof-covered outdoor seating. Dogs are welcome.

A vibey and modern atmosphere to enjoy with friends or even go on a date. You order at the front…read moreregister, take a number and sit indoor or outdoor on their back patio area. Was such excited to try their Taiwanese food and overall it was really good. There was mix of well priced items and others that felt expensive. We got their wontons, dan dan noodles, beef noodle soup, popcorn chicken and fruit shaved ice. Their beef noodle soup was a bit bland and okay. I liked their popcorn chicken a lot because of the seasoning and saltiness of it. We finished it off with their fruit shaved ice and it so was sooo good. It was really sugary but that pudding mixed in with the fruit and boba like flavor just hit the spot. It gave me brown sugar boba which basically means it was a brown sugar syrup haha. You have to try it out but parking is a bit tough.

Absolutely enjoyed my meal and experience. Would definitely go back! Oh a whim, made a late…read morereservation on a weeknight. Went early to see if anything opened or if walk-in would be faster, surprisingly they actually had something come available sooner. We opted to sit inside and loved the ambiance. Food - amazing! I read reviews first and watched a couple IG videos so I knew a general idea of what we wanted to order. Glad the server suggested the orange chicken over the walnut shrimp when we were debating it. Chil wontons, absolutely a must get, different from DTF, not crazy spicy but full of flavor and richness. XO fatty noodles, perfect chewiness on the rolled noodles and the flavors were well balanced, we enjoyed them with a little chili paste and the orange chicken as the protein. Orange chicken, soooo much more flavorful than your average Panda Express orange chicken, good sized nuggets of chicken that were crispy and tender at the same time, and the zest livened it up. BBQ pork shank, our server did warn us it's not the easiest to eat, but it's worth it, hard to see cutting it off the bone because it was so dimly lite in the restaurant and your hands will get sticky but once you get chunks off the bone and your bao bun built it's delicious especially when you get the lacquered crispy skin yummm! Only skip for the night was the mango sticky rice. Much rather would've spend $8 on something else. The mango was tart/sour. The sticky rice was too wet and mushy. It was a pass for both of us. Service - our server was awesome. From greeting to end, he was the right amount of attentive and was super helpful with suggestions. Everyone from the food runner to the busser, they were all so nice. From getting us chili paste or to go containers, customer service was on point. Parking - love love that are a few parking spaces right out front. They're metered. But after 8pm it was free so perfect for us. Other than those spaces, there's a lot across the street if you want to risk it or also side streets parking too.

My wife and I visited Little Fatty while on a short LA business trip. We didn't have reservations…read more(I recommend a reservation) and the host told us the wait would be about an hour and this was a Monday night! She told us that we could be seated at the bar immediately, which is what we opted for. She placed us at a lower portion of the bar with two seats, which was perfect. The bartender, Justin took our drink and dinner order and I have to say, he makes amazing cocktails! We had egg rolls for an appetizer, which arrived very quickly and went well with our cocktails. I ordered a rye old-fashioned and my wife ordered a house creation, "Jesuit's Tea Party," which she enjoyed. For our entrees, I ordered Hainan Chicken and my wife had the Walnut Shrimp. Mine was really good, but I have to say I like the Walnut Shrimp better. They have their breading skills dialed in, so next time I think I'd go with something fried. All in all a great experience. Great vibe and everyone was very friendly and attentive.

Woon is one of those spots that just hits differently - homestyle Chinese food with such a good…read morevibe to match. The pork belly bao is an absolute must-order. The braised pork belly was so incredibly soft and melt-in-your-mouth, and paired with the pickled carrots and cucumbers tucked into that steamed bao bun - so juicy. We also got the scallion pancakes which were crispy, chewy, and came with a soy ginger dipping sauce. The wood ear mushroom and bean curd stick salad was a nice lighter contrast to the heavier dishes too. We tried the beef noodles as well. The noodles were a bit on the tougher side, which is kind of expected with this style, but the flavors were solid overall. But do NOT sleep on dessert. I had to order the deep fried bao bun with ice cream scoop inside and it was delicious. Absolutely worth saving room for if you're looking to end your meal off with a sweet treat! Parking is easy with plenty of street parking nearby. Love that there's both indoor and outdoor seating - the patio outside is perfect for bigger groups at night, and the inside has its own aesthetic vibe that's equally great. Great service, good vibes, and delicious food. I'll be coming back!

i really don't think you could go wrong with any choice off the menu! the service is always great…read moreand quick. i was actually quite surprised by the braised pork belly over rice. this is such a classic dish that i've always loved from my childhood and they made an amazing version of their own. just this alone was able to keep me full and happy. the cucumber pickles are a nice touch! even if you're not well-versed in chinese food, the menu is a great introduction to delicious staples that you typically can find in asian restaurants! went right before dinner so parking was easy and it wasn't busy.

* Food: We did the bar tasting menu and everything on the menu was a 10/10. You can tell everything…read moreis intentional and crafted to perfection * Service: Amazing service. I was a bit cold and they could tell and gave me a blanket for dinner. Constant utensil change and napkin replacements. in Atmosphere: It looks cozy and inviting. It's not your typical fine dining restaurant. I love the open kitchen Drinks: Ordered a pomegranate shaved ice drink. It was a bit bitter but amazing overall

Came here for a birthday dinner and had a wonderful time. Upscale Taiwanese food? Don't mind if I…read moredo! It's tucked away from the busier crowd being at the Row DTLA / Smorgasborg area. I actually really like this because they have a parking structure that is affordable + you can shop around depending on your reservation time. You won't see a large sign out front and may pass it when walking around (I know I did the first time) but be sure you bookmark it! We came during Sunday dinner service and were seated immediately. The staff here is well put together and in sync from the moment you walk in, go to the bathroom, and up to when you leave. Each time you leave they don't just fix your napkin but they replace it. Decor is minimal but I liked the ambiance. The bathroom is a little darker than expected though. haha As for the food, we did the tasting menu and I really enjoyed the variety of proteins with the fish, duck, quail, and more. The first entrees were really refreshing and I enjoy that the menu changes seasonally so they really cater to using the freshest and in season ingredients. Loved the fois gras/milk roll and the desserts the most but I thought the tasting menu was creative with presentation and how you are supposed to eat it. They even have some additions you can order with your meal ahead of time so they can plan in between the standard items. We didn't try them this time around but I am curious to come back during another season to see the menu they present. Waiters were always quick to refill glasses, offer wine recommendations, and clean up. We didn't try the cocktails this time around but they looked really interesting and even have a pairing you can order with your tasting. It was a nice touch to know the art is an homage to art from his family and it was a nice surprise to get some tea to go as a gift.

This is a very nice restaurant. The waiters are kind and the service is fast. There are also a lot…read moreof very delicious food and drink options that look as good as they taste. Overall, it is an amazing place to eat.

Some call it comfort food, others might call it fine dining on a budget. That evening we went-- it…read morewas simply an amazing dinner. Anything you can eat you any night you don't have to cook is usually a great night out. This evening was no exception. Our waitress was kind and accommodating. Positive energy, drinks filled and smile that felt genuine. The ambiance of the restaurant was bar like, but with adequate seating for dining in. Everything was prepared wonderfully and had tremendous flavor. I recommend trying their Hui Tou, stuffed with pork or beef, pork and leek pancakes, they also have vegetarian options. Their pork shumai was delicious, xiao long bao's soup dumplings were flavorful. Delicious. I definitely need a second trip here to try their soups and more of their variety of dumplings.

Accidentally came on a busy mah jong event night so we couldn't sit outside like we had planned. Oh…read morewell, just means I got come back again soon! Food was fantastic across the board and I can't wait to try more.

I've always been curious about this spot and I'm so happy I got the chance to try their food. I had…read moreno idea the history or the name of this type of cuisine but a friend of mine told me that chifa (Peruvian and Chinese fusion) food is really popular in Peru. My friend and I shared the Lomo Saltado (filet mignon over a bed of rice with cherry tomato and onion with fries), Black Pepper Shrimp and siu mai. To drink I chose the Thai Basil Vanilla--almost like a Thai Vanilla iced latte! The Lomo Saltado was really good with rice. No notes here! The Black Pepper Shrimp was great too but had some heat, so not for someone who can't handle spicy especially on a hot summer day. I must say the prawns were huge! Super flavorful spices and went really well with the white rice. Siu Mai was great, kinda wished there were 4 instead of 3...had to be a bigger person and offer the last one to my friend haha! Now the decor was super cool. Loved the rich green velvet seating & the gold accent lighting fixtures. Although the seats weren't the comfiest, but it made a pretty IG photo ;) I shall return again, Chifa!