It's an iconic Hollywood place with a history. I highly recommend going, just for the experience. The food was OK, the portions big, we had starters and then shared two entrees between the four of us. We found the service underwhelming though. If you take food and service, I would be rather on the three star side, service even less. If not for the historic ambiance and the experience, I would not go again. To sweeten this a bit: if we had friends visiting, I may go again, more like a touristic stop than a culinary experience. read more

Small Chinese restaurant with a cute railcar theme in West Hollywood area. Service was good, we got lucky and no wait time for lunch. The food portions were decent particularly for the family style platters. Prices were about average, $20-$30 per entrée. The food itself was just OK. The dishes that we got that were supposed to be spicy were not. Quite frankly most dishes could've used a little bit more flavor. You could do worse places for lunch but no rush to go back. read more

The Formosa Cafe - Spicy Fried Rice - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hollywood, California

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The moment we entered the restaurant, there was such an overwhelming smell and stench of bug spray. The smell never left. I couldn't stop being so nauseated by how strong the stench of bug spray was. I don't know if they had a pest issue or some kind of bug problem, but it was quite disturbing. We ordered fried rice and chow mein requesting them to make it spicy and it was probably one of the most blandest food we have ever had. Tasteless. I will be honest and say that the portions were very good. However, what's the point of large portions when the food is horrible? I will say that the cocktail was delicious. Had a plum something. I don't remember the full name of the cocktail, but it was quite delicious. The orange chicken was also very delicious. They get two stars only because of the orange chicken and the cocktail. Never coming back. They need to fix that bug spray smell read more

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This place is a whole vibe. Purely from a food perspective, the menu here is pretty standard Chinese fare and is above average though not incredible. The dan dan noodles are spice and solid. The walnut prawns were a bit too sweet. The prices are also on the high side. But what you're paying for is the setting and nostalgia. I mean, we dined in a converted train car! The inside is dark, sultry, and decadent. The service is solid though a bit scattered at times. read more

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My cousin recommended this place after he picked up my friend and I from the airport. He lives in the area and mentioned this was his fave spot for Chinese food! It was also convenient because this place was on the Resy app so I was able to book a reservation and utilize my Amex's Resy credit. We ordered good amount of food since it was 3 of us. The food was family style so we got plenty of food. We ordered Chicken Fried Rice, Chow Mein, Veggies, Fried Tofu, and Orange Chicken. We also a drinks but I sadly don't remember the names. Although all the drinks we got were amazing and had a good amount of alcohol to give a good buzz! Everything came in hot and well portioned! We had PLENTY of leftovers to take home. Everything was tasty and my favorite dish would definitely be the Fried Tofu dish. Overall, good food, great service, and the atmosphere is a chill vibe! read more

This place is pretty iconic to LA, the history it has with old time mobsters! The vibe of this place is so Old Skool, the bar is phenomenal and the train car is so cool! Bugsy Siegels drop safe is illuminated near a booth in the front where he used to dropped his stash back in the day... We ordered a chow mein dish and orange chicken.. Both were ample servings and flavorful. I complimented it with a John Wayne Old Fashion which was very artisan with smoke. All was great on this occasion and will be coming back to try more menu items... Our server was very attentive and we were greeted by several staff to ensure everything was good! A very positive experience! read more

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We ended up here because the happy hour we wanted to go to was apparently on vacation!! Food and drinks for the golden hour are well worth it! Plus the history here makes it so much fun to just hang out! I want to thank all of our bartenders as they were just above and beyond! There was absolutely no stuffy Hollywood attitude and they went out of their way to serve us! Taylor, Bryan, Matt and upstairs with Sophia, you guys were all so friendly and accommodating!! Thank you!! read more

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Made reservations here on a Sunday afternoon Showed up and seated promptly The service was excellent The vibe is very chill and old school it's cute and comfortable The food was out of this world Literally every single item was to die for It seemed made fresh to order It was hot and delicious The tuna tartar is holyyyyyy All of it was literally mouth watering they also have a bar and it's in an old rail.car read more

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What a great Friday Happy Hour we had at Formosa. Yes, I've been here a bunch of times in the nearly 40 years I've lived in L.A., but not really since its major revamping a few years ago, and it's going to be back in my regular rotation from now on. We got there on the early side, so we were able to snag 2 seats at the bar, where we were well-tended-to by our bartender who mixed up an excellent Bombay Sapphire Martini to celebrate National Martini Day. A skilled blend of the gin and vermouth, stirred to a proper chill without watering it down. Nice!! My wife ordered a Riesling, and found it to be refreshing as well. Now, of course, Formosa is decked out in deep reds and blacks, and all manner of Chinese decor circa Hollywood's golden age, and it still feels like at any moment, a hard-boiled, detective movie argument might break out in the corner booth. The menu goes along with the decor, mainly focused on classic Chinese dishes, from dim sum to full entrees, and it all sounds very appealing on paper. Used to be that the food was far less appealing upon delivery, but that has changed big time. The food is now quite excellent, and very much worthy of your time. We ordered up the Shrimp & Pork Shu Mai, and liked them so much we got a second order. Freshly made and fresh out of the steamer, they were packed with a very tasty filling, and joined by a vinegary sauce that elevated the flavor even more. We also ordered the Dan Dan noodles, made here with brisket instead of pork. Lots of peanut flavor and a good deal of spice, served in a very ample portion. These were hearty, tasty and very satisfying. Parking in the lot below is easy, and the staff is energetic, friendly and accommodating. After 87 years, the Formosa has definitely hit its stride again, and you'd do well to treat yourself to some time in this reborn rendezvous from the good old days. read more

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Formosa was in one word...disappointing. I have been wanting to go eat here for well over a year and finally had the chance to go in with family and was super excited. The decor of the restaurant is stunning and the ambiance is 1 of 2 things saving me from leaving a plain 1 star review. Paid parking is available in the back lot (free for 1 hr!) but you'll need the Metropolis app / account. Upon arriving and being greeted and told to seat wherever we'd like, we were then fully ignored by our waitress until almost 40 minutes into our visit. Genuinely, I have never had an experience like this and we were in shock. Around 8 minutes after being seated, a very kind bartender who could see our waitress visibly ignoring us came by to drop off menus. 10 minutes after that, he then took our order. Another 10 minutes later, he dropped off our food. ANOTHER 10 minutes after that, our actual waitress came by to ask how everything was after we had already seen her look at our table and walk right on by multiple times. To be clear, she was also treating other tables like this and the bartender had to help those tables out as well. Maybe ~8 minutes later, she came by and asked if we wanted the check to which we had to tell her that we had just ordered dessert (with our aforementioned bartender) to which she replied back that she didn't know we did that (which,,, why would she,,, she had been ignoring us almost our entire time in the restaurant??) After all this mess, she is the only who was listed as our server on the bill and the tip we left went toward her as opposed to the bartender who was the one actually helping us out. Price wise, if you do want to come visit, come during happy hour or lunch specials time. We came during lunch special time by accident and were able to absolutely be full with just ordering from there. We opted for orange chicken (different than at other places but fine) + walnut shrimp (enjoyed) + chow mein (don't recommend) + vegan egg rolls (recommend!). We got the apple cinnamon wontons for dessert and I wish we had known this dish was predominantly ice cream prior to ordering (miss). Overall, I'm saddened by my experience here and while I was initially hoping to come back to this spot, I left feeling very uncertain of it. read more

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Three stars for the food, five stars for the vibe and ambiance. equals four stars. Super disappointed with the food. I had the chow mein, with chicken added. $30. It was an ample portion, and it didn't taste bad, but it was very dry, and the chicken was sparse. I would not recommend it as a main dish, but rather one to share. Bummer. My friend had the orange chicken. He liked it. I tried it and thought it was way overcooked. Again, he liked it, I say, nah. We had potstickers for an appetizer, and they were actually really good, and the sauce that came with them was perfect. The service and the staff were excellent. Bravo to all of them!! It's pretty dark in there, and I like it. So dark my camera flashed when taking food photos, and that doesn't happen often. You might need to turn your flashlight on to see the menu so have it ready when you go there!! haha!! They have a couple of bars, and this is where I think this place shines. To me, it's a great place to meet someone for a drink. Not a meal. Maybe a drink with an appetizer. I was there on a Tuesday night, and it was packed. People love this place. Lots of people in groups celebrate birthdays, or whatever. The energy is good. Everyone looks happy!! I've been wanting to go to this iconic restaurant for a long time. Glad I went. It's checked off my list, and I'm one and done. Still, I think it's a cool place. read more

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I love Formosa because the drinks are high quality and delicious! The bartender was really fun! The ambiance is really cute and a great date place! read more

The Formosa Cafe - Taro ice cream and sesame balls - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hollywood, California

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Have been coming here for about 2 years now and I always look forward to coming back. My boyfriend and I chatted with the bartender while we waited for our table and he was so sweet. This is the cutest place for drinks+dinner. The ambience is dark and romantic but still casual enough where you could go with anyone and have a great time. Food is beautiful and delicious with large portions and many options for vegetarian/vegan! Thank you for being you Formosa read more

The Formosa Cafe - Short rib sesame noodles - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hollywood, California

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Matt and the team were amazing from start to finish. I organized a large group dinner and he was accommodating making it a fun experience. The food and service was excellent as always and everyone had a blast! Highly recommend checking it out if you've never been! read more

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I THOUGHT MY ORDER WAS WRONG!!!!! So, I placed an online order for lunch. I ordered the VERY well priced Furmosa Bowl. I walked in the Cafe is far from cafe-ish. It's an ENTIRE VIBE!!! It's a TRAIN! Super cute, the dim lighting sets the tone for great food and service which is matched by the staff that greet you at the door. As I waited for my food I was asked if I would like a beverage or anything else LOVED THIS! I get my food and I get back to my office only to find that I didn't have the item that I wanted in my bowl. I took my food back. The server/bartender, the Chef and the manager Matt came to inquire about my order. They asked how I ordered and wanted to know most importantly HOW they could get me fed. WHATTTTT????? They met my need without a fuss they gave me a BONUS and a credit. I got back to work and ate my food. This is thee absolute best bowl I've had EVER!!!! I will definitely be back when it's not my lunch hour so I can get a famous cocktail. Please drop-in and tell Matt and Tyler they'll treat you well I promise. read more

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The inside is incredible and rich with history. The service was very prompt and friendly. The food was disappointing. We ordered the Dan Dan noodles and a Chicken that came out with soup and rice. It didn't taste Chinese at all, super salty and more like Italian spaghetti like flavors. I think most people come here for the vibes not really the food and that's how it felt like to us. read more

Unmatched ambiance, drinks and food in a historical location. There is even an Elvis booth where the King lounged regularly. The Hollywood legends that graced this establishment is unrivaled with the exception of perhaps Musso and Frank. Come for drinks or Chinese food or both to get a taste of history. read more

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I had the best time here for dinner. It was my first time, I didn't know I'd write a review so I hadn't taken pictures of the food and drinks but both the food and drinks were spectacular. I learned there was so much history here... Elvis's old seat was pointed out. Marilyn Monroe's also... and another Western movie star. There's an old train car in there as well. Lots of history. And then I learned that Formosa was an old name of Taiwan's... I love Taiwan so this place became that much more special. We got a fortune cookie about August... we asked a gentleman how they get their fortune cookies and why they're smart enough to talk about August. We were impressed lol. Found out the man we were laughing with was the manager and his name is Jarred. Jarred was attentive and great, we had the best Sunday night dinner here! What a special and great experience- thanks Jarred! read more

Cool atmosphere and great food! I would definitely come again. The service was kinda slow, but I like eat and run. read more

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It's been a long time from my teens & 20's frequenting this establishment. Always a great scene. My girl had never been so we made a Friday reservation and fought the traffic. It was totally worth the effort. Great historic vibe, a legendary watering hole of Hollywood's golden age. Our food was delicious. The pork belly lettuce wraps were a standout. The peanut sauce and Chinese peppers lit it up! So much to choose from and great service! The topical drinks were off the hook too! So glad we went. The old red car dinning area was an awesome touch especially if you're a long time family from early LA. I could hear my grandma & dad laughing on the way to the LB Pike! The red neon and dark Chinese motif made you feel you were entering a long lost voyage to the Orient. read more

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Simone was my server and she deserves a bonus !!! Very nice , great attitude, friendly and fun !! Really made my experience amazing. The happy hour is perfect only 10$ for cocktails and they are delicious Amazing atmosphere and the restaurant is 100 years old - check it out it's a must read more

The Formosa Cafe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hollywood, California

I had another great time at the Formosa Cafe during their silent film night on Fridays! I heard about this through a friend and decided to come by on July 24th for a silent showing of the classic Dick Tracey movie. The movie was shown on the 2nd floor of the restaurant; the ambiance/ atmosphere was very vibey, service was quick, and drinks and food were great (as usual). Overall, it was another very pleasant experience. read more

Classic Hollywood experience for locals and tourists alike! Strong cocktails, and very good food. We love sitting in the trolley car. Lots of classic Hollywood photos and memorabilia. read more

I really enjoyed Formosa Cafe. I had been meaning to try it for ages! It's an iconic Chinese- American fusion restaurant in LA that's been around since the 1930s. It has that Freaky- Friday style vibe and atmosphere. The food is super delicious. I loved the filet mignon with broccolini. The bits of filet were so juicy and perfectly cooked. It came in a salty and sweet sauce that perfectly balanced the dish. And it came with white rice. Would highly recommend, my only feedback was I wish it came with more meat. Had a similar point of feedback for the Dan Dan Mian which came with tender noodles sautéed with ground brisket. It tasted absolutely delicious but I definitely felt the lack of protein in this one. I wanted to take it home and cook it with extra ground beef - that would have taken it from an 8 to a 10/10! It was also super spicy which I loved. I would love to try their Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) next. They looked so good but I was so stuffed after these 2 dishes, I just did not have room. Their prices are not cheap, but I will say, you can tell they make their food with quality ingredients and thoughtful recipes! read more

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Great service and great food! Highly recommend the tuna tar tar and the chicken lettuce wraps! The drinks were strong and the decor is super cute! read more

You can't beat a truly historic restaurant/bar! Not only is it a piece of Hollywood magic and filled with amazing decor of legends, it also has delicious food and the staff make you feel like family. Manager, Jarred, was so great tonight. Be back again soon! read more

Formosa Café felt like we stepped into a time capsule of Old Hollywood and a vintage Chinese restaurant, which is exactly the sort of chaotic charm I can appreciate. THE FOOD. - Xiao Long Bao "XLB" Soup Dumplings. Handmade which is why they need about 15 minutes to prepare. The wrapper is tender and the pork is savory from the rich broth. Pro Tip: poke a hole at the top of the dumpling and let the broth out (prevents from the dreaded "juice explosion"). - Chinese Chicken Salad. Crisp, refreshing, and surprisingly bright. The wontons bring the crunch, the tangerines bring the pop. - Chinese BBQ Pork. Tender, delicious pork with sweet, crispy skin. The pork arrives whole & uncut, locking in the juices until you're ready to break into it. A side of steamed bao buns (6) and mixed vegetables come with this dish. We decided the most appropriate thing to do was to make tacos! Definitely the highlight of our meal, highly recommend. THE DRINKS. - John Wayne's Hat. Sweet with cinnamon and smoky undertones. - Sichuan Fogcutter. Vivid, punchy citrus with a bitter finish. It comes in a cat-shaped cup for added cuteness. THE PARKING. Street parking or underground (for a fee). We did underground parking and didn't have any issues finding a spot close to the restaurant. THE VERDICT. Iconic and steeped in Hollywood history, Formosa Cafe has stood the test of time; welcoming movie legends and everyday patrons alike, all under one storied roof. Additionally, the food's thoughtful flavors, fresh ingredients, and consistent execution make it a restaurant worth re-visiting. read more

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Stop 1 on our overnight trip to LA, Formosa for lunch. Extremely glad we took the time to make it here for lunch on this short trip, the food and cocktails are absolutely spectacular. The more and more I learn about the LA food and cocktail scene, the more I have wanted to fit in a visit to Formosa. This place is a total trip to walk around, with rich history in the area. We started out our meal with the Chow Fun and I can tell you if nothing else, get this. This is out of this world and unlike any chow fun you have ever tried before. The slight crispness absolutely sends these giant noodles over the top. The XLB came next, these were pretty solid, but after the XLB I've had in San Francisco and the Bay Area you could skip these and save room for some other stuff. Not really a big, but go to a specific Dim Sum spot for your XLB. Lastly for food we have the Gua Bao trio, all 3 options were awesome but the pork belly was SUCCULENT! Now that is what pork belly is supposed to taste like. 10 out of 10. Now let's talk cocktails, first off the "Side of White Rice," I can't even put my finger on what the underlying smoky umami flavor was in this thing, but it was a delight. We also tried the Green Tea Martini which was also fantastic, totally unique blend of flavors. Lastly the wife and I split the Lucky Dragon Bowl. While this was tasty, my recommendation again is skip this one, and go for trying 2 other house cocktails, bonus points if you elect for the paper lantern swizzle. Great times all in all, and I absolutely will return again. The staff was extremely friendly the entire time, super attentive and joyed to hear that we flew here specifically to try Formosa. read more

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There's a reason all the stars have dined here! The deep red interior creates a sultry mood, and the food being excellent is just another perk. We ordered basically everything on the menu, so here are my top recommendations: the beef short rib noodles, the steak and broccolini -- all 10/10. Even the tuna tartare was surprisingly delicious. We had XLB, Chinese chicken salad, orange chicken, lettuce wraps, chow mein, wonton soup, spicy wok-fried rice, pot stickers, Brussels sprouts, and fried sesame balls with taro ice cream for dessert. The matcha martini could use a revamp since no tea flavor was detected, but other than that, this is a phenomenal restaurant that everyone should try. The servers did a great job accommodating our family's large order. read more

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Love the Old Hollywood ambiance! Gorgeous cocktails, the most delicious food and friendly wait staff. Must do when in WeHo!

Always fun to visit a historical restaurant in LA! The interior is great - old fashioned Chinese restaurant with photographs of movie stars from a bygone era lining the walls. Added a star because of the atmosphere. Service was pleasant and accommodating. We didn't like one of our entrees (temperature and texture) and it was removed from the table (and the bill) without fuss. The egg rolls and potstickers were good, but average. The Brussel sprouts were fantastic; a huge portion. Same for the fried rice. We had plenty of leftovers. read more

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Honestly the restaurant looks 1000 times better online and unfortunately I was influenced. We got sat in the cable car and apparently so was everybody else because it was SOOOO loud I could not hear the person across from me. Anytime someone from another table would sneeze or cough in the car it felt like they were doing it on me. My server wasn't nice or attentive at all. Anytime I needed something and looked for her she was just having an oddly long conversation with a guy she knew at a different table. As for the food none of it was that good unfortunately. If u enjoy actual Chinese food u prob won't like the place too much. The walnut shrimp was rly good though. My drink was nasty. And the prices weren't too bad so that's good I guess read more

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I've missed this place! I used to come all the time before the current ownership meticulously restored this treasure. I've been back only once since (until today), and that visit was a few years back. Anyway, saw I never posted a review so, here goes.... This place is better than ever! The food is great. Fresh, tasty and a very good selection. It fits the atmosphere of the place perfectly. We tried a few things - egg rolls, Kung Pao chicken and chicken soup dumplings. No complaints on any of them. Service is friendly and efficient. Everything together sets the perfect vibe. That's it; I'm a regular once again! read more

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I used to come here regularly back in the day, but I hadn't stopped by in a long, long time and thought I should come by and check it out to see if it's still the same. Glad to say the original Formosa café is still intact, with additions having been added over the years, including a back dining room and upstairs area. We enjoyed one of the comfy red leather booths in the main bar area and the selections of the happy hour menu. We all enjoyed the food with the soup dumplings being my favorite as they were kind of unique. Our server was prompt in getting us our drinks although you could tell they were stretched a bit thin with happy hour just kicking in. I really enjoyed coming by and reliving old memories here at the Formosa Café, can't wait to read more

My adult son lives not too far from this location and he's been multiple times. It's always been on my list, but I was never in the area but today was my lucky day. Very cool exterior and interior with a train car that you can sit in. There's also some more private dining areas tucked in the restaurant. The bar is super cool and the overall look of it is very cool. We were enthusiastically greeted by the server who quickly offered something to drink. She also mentioned the special lunch menu, which was kind of like a bento box for I think around $24. We opted to order off the menu. We ordered some dumplings, the orange chicken and some spicy fried rice. I didn't think the fried rice was too spicy so you may want to adjust or add that spicy level to how you prefer it. The server was very attentive. All of the food items were delicious. I would order these items again. We sat in the train car, which was fun. I think these are more items or entrées to share as opposed to each person ordering one. They also seem to have a cool drink list. Street parking in the area. I'll definitely come back. read more

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With the name Formosa, I wish the restaurant had more traditionally Taiwanese foods. I did not come here expecting anything authentic, but a gua bao for $8 is insane!! Green tea martini (2.5/5): i thought this was just okay, not anything too special. there are other places with better green tea/matcha cocktails for sure. marinated cucumbers (2/5): too sour :( spicy fried rice (2.5/5): this was also just average. not great, not terrible. i wish the egg was incorporated into the rice and not just a fried egg on top. more veggies would be great as well. i feel like the rice was seasoned in a way that wasn't super outstanding and felt very much like someone's home cooking. egg tart (2/5): once again, very underwhelming. i think i like hong kong style egg tarts more. this one seems more portuguese. the custard was too soft and the pastry was okay. fried sesame balls & taro ice cream (3/5): the taro ice cream tastes more like coconut. i expected a rich taro flavor, but this reminds me more of the trader joe's ube ice cream. still tastes good, just not as described. the sesame balls are not very good. everything just becomes mushy the second you bite into it. overall, i wouldn't recommend this restaurant, especially if you're looking for taiwanese/chinese food. the waitress was sweet though and the restaurant interior was cute (think very americanized chinese designs). read more

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One of the most attractive and storied bars in Hollywood, The Formosa Cafe went through the ringer some years ago. I happened to drop by in the period when they had taken everything off the walls and painted the interior. I opened the door, looked aghast and then closed it. Bobby Green, who I used to know, and the 1933 Group restored The Formosa in 2019 and did an impeccable job. Once again, this is one of the most stylish bars you will find anywhere. Today, I went for lunch and ate in the train car. I had the chow mein with tofu, which looked good on the next table, but was about average. I felt like the one waiter was in charge of two rooms and couldn't possibly keep up, even though it wasn't that crowded. I do remember the drinks here are excellent and would still highly recommend anyone who hasn't been to check out The Formosa. read more

The food, the ambiance and staff are great. I have heard about this place since I moved to LA and it did not disappoint.

When we walked in, we felt enveloped by old Hollywood. It was so fun and the food was amazing. Chinese chicken salad for the win! We can't wait to go back and try more of the menu delights. The service was excellent and the place itself was just so beautifully done. There was an easy ambience to it all where you could just get comfortable and talk together over your meal. I came to understand this was a favorite place of John Wayne, the Duke himself, and it was pretty easy to see why. Treat yourself to this old Hollywood treasure and go! read more

Cute but honestly the food is just whatever. We got the orange chicken (over cooked), vegetable chow mein (almost tasted like Mexican food), and the potstickers which were the best part. I won't be back but it was a fun spot to try. read more

The Formosa Cafe - Cocktail Bars Near Me - West Hollywood, California

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