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    Uncle John’s Cafe

    4.1 (1k reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Uncle John’s Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Uncle John’s Cafe Photos

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    UNCLE JOHN’S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Uncle John’s Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Spicy Pork Chops
    Neil G.

    Review Update 2025 Many years later and I'm still a fan of Uncle John's! Their famous fried pork chops are exactly how I remember them -- crispy, flavorful, and pure comfort food goodness (as they should be, since that's their claim to fame lol) oh and that seasoning and sliced serrano's! great compliment as always! I haven't dined in for a while, but UberEats has been my saving grace -- the food still arrives hot, delicious, and just as satisfying. Uncle John's has always been my go-to for that perfect Chinese-American comfort mix: fried rice, pork chops, and of course, those eggs that somehow make everything taste even better! Consistency is key, and Uncle John's proves why it's still a classic favorite after all these years. Whether dine-in or delivery, they never miss.

    Steak and eggs with Fried Rice

    First time at Uncle John's and we were not disappointed! The host was amazing, helpful, and fast, answering all of our questions. The spicy pork chop, steak, and Hong Kong french toast (to die for!) were all delicious, and the portions were big. The cafe has a good vibe with nice music and a city view. We will definitely be coming back. Suggestion: Park a few blocks away and walk, it adds to the downtown LA vibe!

    Menu
    Debra A.

    The restaurant is inconspicuous and who knew they serviced breakfast because I thought it was a Chinese restaurant. I visited the cafe while visiting my son during the Labor Day weekend. My son recommended I try the peanut butter French toast! OMG it was so good, however the portion is slot so we shared it. The service was good and fast. The restaurant is extremely causal and typical decor. The neighborhood isn't the best however it's safe enough.

    Maruko X.

    Ambiance: the restaurant is located in downtown, with two layers of seating area Service: very friendly staff, one work in the front as cashier and server, and another one in the kitchen, you place the order at the counter and staff will bring food to your table Food: their menu have classic breakfast items and fusion style food SPICY PORK CHOPS - **** lightly battered fried pork chops topped with serrano peppers, their signature dish, the pork chop is bit dry but very crispy, recommend Price: moderate portions and reasonable prices, expect $20 per person for a quick bite

    2 Eggs with Spicy Chicken Wings
    Nicole W.

    Everything made to order- like "I see the steam" made to order. That alone is a rare feat in modern restaurant cooking. Opted for the To-Go box because of portions and time- but there is tons of comfortable indoor seating and plated meals for a 'take your time and talk' lunch vibe. Not too formal, and not too casual- very very local feel- which is nice on a Saturday afternoon. Food was delicious- Crispy wings, tender pork chop, unorthodox brunch side items (yes- Fried Rice!), and a perfectly balanced Vietnamese Iced Coffee (not too sweet, just strong enough). Service was absolutely lovely, patient, and professional. Gentleman at the register was really terrific and brightened my day. Located on the thoroughly gentrified and policed stretch of Downtown (IYKYK)- parking is ample and secure. While I don't make it to DTLA often, as a Valley girl- again- IYKYK...this is on my list of "stop if I'm in the area."

    The still shot of 2 Eggs with Teriyaki Chicken
    Terrance S.

    Definitely a nice blend of American and Chinese food. Liked the fact of the fried rice, teriyaki chicken, and eggs. You can't be mad at the Chicken Rolls as well. I will definitely be back for more options on the menu. Staff was great and food was delivered in a timely fashion.

    Having a business lunch just noticing impeccable service from the @Uncle John's

    Love when I see a good team just crushing their service. From Akira to the bus boy having his head on a pivot to see who needs refills. This shows good leadership. The food... Jk the food was amazing!!!

    BEEF PHO
    Ashley J.

    We can here for brunch. It's a cute little place. The service was a 10/10! Everyone was so sweet and accommodating! The food was okay for us. Steak was a little tough and the fried rice just tasted like packet rice. The omelette was good but the hash browns were like mashed and then pan fried. The eggs and ham were cooked perfectly. The hong kong french toast tasted like a nicely fried doughnut with peanut butter in between, which I personally wasn't a fan of (if you love peanut butter, this is for you) I would try to give this place another go, maybe not for breakfast and I would come back because of how nice the staff was too.

    Pho
    Andrew W.

    I was pleasantly surprised! Walked in to check out the menu and saw that they sell Vietnamese food, being a skeptic since it was not originally a Vietnamese restaurant I ordered the pho and I was surprised how good it was. It was loaded with beef and noodles and they gave me pleanty of herbs and bean sprouts. I would recommend this place to anyone that is skeptical, try it out you will be surprised!

    Erica K.

    We had decided to stop by for dinner solely because of a YouTube video (I don't condone relying just on a video to convince one to dine at a certain establishment, but here we are). It operates on an order/pay at the counter, find your own table, where they eventually bring the food to your table. We ordered: Scrambled eggs with steak, fried rice Shrimp XO Chow Fun With XO, you expect there to be a bit of spice or a zing, but I was a bit disappointed that this dish ended up tasting like a toned down pad see ew. While everyone has a specific way of their eggs done, I would recommend veering away from scrambled because the portion size looked small, the steak tasted like something made at home, and the fried rice lacked variety and resembled soy sauce tossed in rice. They seem to run a tight ship with one person at the register taking orders and dropping off dishes with one cook in the back. There is a certain charm to Uncle John's, but other than nothing really worth coming back for..

    Inside
    Anna G.

    Stumbled upon this restaurant while looking for a breakfast place before my jury duty in the downtown area. The restaurant was clean and had a cute decor. It's an American/chinese restaurant so rice is available if you crave rice for breakfast. We ordered bacon eggs and rice and it came with toast... price was reasonable for being downtown LA. A pretty good breakfast.. customer service was even better!!

    Bonnie S.

    Rediscover DTLA's oldest diner: Uncle John's. With its new look and layout, it welcomes all with its amazing menu of American Diner Classics to Chinese American favorites and newly added Vietnamese dishes. My sons and I had an amazing time. That Hong Kong Battered French Toast stuffed with peanut butter and then drizzled with maple syrup was heavenly! What did we grub on at 8:30am? Classic Cheeseburger & Fries HK Battered French Toast Stuffed w/ Peanut Butter Sunnyside Eggs, Bacon & Sausage X.O. Combination Chow Fun Noodles Spicy Fried Pork Chops & Fried Rice Crispy Pork Spring Rolls Hot Chocolate Vietnamese Iced Coffee I highly recommend @unclejohnsdtla where there will always be something for everyone! Picky eaters, this spot will be your favorite! The service is prompt and friendly! Just love them! Visual Review: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9LdOFsyYRn/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

    STEAK AND EGGS
    Jefferson M.

    I had the steak and eggs with a side of fried rice, plus an extra order of spicy pork chops. The pork chop was tender, well-seasoned, and satisfying. But the combo of steak, eggs, and fried rice was the ultimate comfort meal--warm, filling, and just what you want on a gloomy day. At $17, the steak and eggs is such a good deal, especially with fried rice on the side. It's the kind of no-frills, feel-good meal that makes you want to come back

    Banh mi

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    Service was amazing! The food partitions are huge and the restaurant is super clean. I would come back here again

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    Service is great. Food is great! Good place for breakfast or lunch. Always able to get in and out quick for lunch/breakfast

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    Page 1 of 26

    Uncle John’s Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Uncle John’s Cafe

    Anything on the menu gluten free?

    There are a couple options from breakfast menu that's gluten free, i think tomato beef and grilled fish as well

    Do they serve Cajun all day now?

    No only in the evenings

    Do they serve seafood for lunch or just at dinner time?

    The other person who answered this is sus. They serve at all times.

    Do they have $1 oysters? If so, when?

    Most evenings when they have their Cajun Seafood Boil; but it is upon availability so best to call ahead or walk by!

    Does the wonton soup have stuffed wonton/dumplings or is it just the long noodles? If yes, what meat is in the wontons?

    The soup contains stuffed wontons, not just long noodles, as you had posited. Said wontons typically contain pork AND shrimp unless specifically requested otherwise (they're usually v happy to oblige). It's very delicious.

    Do they serve alcohol or is it BYOB?

    They don't serve alcohol, but allow you to bring drinks over from the bar next door that they share a door with.

    Do they serve their steak and eggs combo during their dinner hours as well?

    No, they serve Cajun seafood for dinner.

    Is the parking difficult and metered?

    Yes, there is metered parking that may be difficult to find.

    View All 11 Questions

    Yang Chow - Shrimp fried rice

    Yang Chow

    4.0(3.7k reviews)
    1.6 miChinatown
    $$

    Soup was good and service was very fast, food was delicious. Me and my friends left there very fat.read more

    I recently ate at Yang Chow in Pasadena, so I was pleasantly surprised that my coworkers wanted to…read morego to the original location in Chinatown. We had two orders of slippery shrimp, kung pao chicken, eggplants with hot and spicy garlic sauce, juicy steamed dumplings, and pork fried rice. Overall, both restaurants in Chinatown and Pasadena provide great food quality. The ambience was cozy with dim lighting. Our round table had a wooden rotating tray. They have pictures of celebrities and politicians who've visited their restaurant. Service was relatively quick, but there was a 20-minute wait for the dumplings. Valet parking can get difficult when the lot gets full. A few cars entering the narrow driveway had to reverse out of the way to let others leave. The kung pao chicken was very tasty with a good amount of spice. I noticed that the slippery shrimp didn't taste as spicy as the portion from Pasadena. Reviews say that the spice is adjustable. Regardless. it tasted great as it came right off the pan. The pork fried rice was delicious with a savory flavor that didn't seem overpowering. I thought the juicy steamed dumplings were the weakest dish out of our whole order. There wasn't enough flavor and heat from the broth. I didn't try much of the eggplants, but they tasted adequate for me.

    Photos
    Yang Chow - Comedor

    Comedor

    Yang Chow - Yang chow fried rice

    Yang chow fried rice

    Yang Chow - Moo Shu Pork

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    Moo Shu Pork

    Hui Tou Xiang - Instagram: @eat_saw_telle
 
 Yangchun

    Hui Tou Xiang

    4.3(481 reviews)
    5.7 miHollywood
    $$

    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.

    I'm convinced Hui Tou Xiang is one of Hollywood's best-kept secrets for Chinese food. I've been…read morehere five times now, and they consistently deliver - every single visit has been excellent. Our go-to dishes are the cucumber salad (refreshing and perfectly crunchy), green scallion pancakes (especially good with the chili sauce), pork shumai (better than Din Tai Fung imo), and the spicy pork wontons. On our most recent visit, we tried the sesame noodles, and I've been daydreaming about them ever since. The staff is always friendly and attentive, the vibes inside are great, and there's a solid drink selection with cocktails, draft beer, and bottled options. And the price point? Outrageously reasonable, especially in this economy. Consistently delicious food, great service, and incredible value. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Hui Tou Xiang
    Hui Tou Xiang - Liang Ban Noodles

    Liang Ban Noodles

    Hui Tou Xiang - Ahh!  The beer help extinguish the fiery chili oil.

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    Ahh! The beer help extinguish the fiery chili oil.

    Sichuan Impression - Tea at Sichuan Impression

    Sichuan Impression

    4.0(944 reviews)
    10.7 miWestwood
    $$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    6 years in business

    The service was good. You'll just have to flag them if you need something. They were all helpful…read moreand nice. Food wise - everything we ordered was great. The cumin lamb was flavorful and spicy. The Mao Cai was spicy, full of meat and the broth was tasty. The boiled fish was my second favorite - spicy and fish was not overcooked. The fried intestines were really great! The shrimp fried rice is ok. I wanted either a whole fish or a whole crab but they ran out - on a Saturday night. They have a good Asian beer selection. $35 for corkage. $6 valet parking with validation. Free for 1 hour only with validation. It's a very casual place. Clean.

    My fav: wontons in chili oil, tea smoked pork ribs -- phenomenal, and my best pick so far is…read moreLeshan's Qiaojiao beef soup -- especially very comforting on a chil winter day I prefer the Alhambra's location over this Westwood one, because it looks more modern, with a vibrant design and a cozy vibe. It also appeared to me that the food tasted slightly better at the Alhambra location, but that may very well have been my bias. The restaurant workers looked more organized vs this location that has more of a traditional Chinese vibe, slightly tired building, not particularly clean, service feels a bit rushed and sloppy. We went there for Thanksgiving Dinner and it wasn't packed but we went at the opening time and the people kept coming. 90% looked Chinese which also speaks for the authenticity.

    Photos
    Sichuan Impression - Wonton in chili oil 红油抄手

    Wonton in chili oil 红油抄手

    Sichuan Impression - Beef noodle casserole 砂锅牛肉

    Beef noodle casserole 砂锅牛肉

    Sichuan Impression - Intestine noodle of Shuangliu 双流肥肠粉

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    Intestine noodle of Shuangliu 双流肥肠粉

    Firstborn - Zhajiang Oxtail squid, cucumber

    Firstborn

    4.2(135 reviews)
    1.9 miChinatown
    $$$$

    Firstborn is almost shockingly good for Chinatown, whose hip arriviste eateries have all seemed to…read morecoast on far more hype than quality. The menu is New American with Chinese influences served as a four-course prix fixe set, with each course having three choices, and optional additions are available. (There is an à la carte menu available in the bar area.) I went very carnivorous on my selections, choosing the beef tongue carpaccio, duck sausage, and beef short rib. There was not a bad dish among these: The tongue was tender, soft, and delicate. The duck sausage was fantastically good as well; served with an apple jam atop Swiss chard, it was a sort of Chinese-Alpine fusion cuisine of which I never envisioned but instantly wanted more. While delicious, the short rib was overshadowed by its cabbage accompaniment. My server told me it takes four days to make that dish, and I would have happily ordered a full dish of just that. The kaffir lime curd dessert was light and balanced, perfect after the heavier meat courses and like a small vacation to Thailand on a plate. The one dish I did not love was the Chongqing fried chicken course I added. The chicken itself ― a boneless leg quarter ― was a large portion and well-prepared, but the sauce covering it was a thick layer of chilis (which, thankfully, were not inedibly hot) and straight oil, lots of oil. Eating so much oil like that made for gastrointestinal discomfort the rest of the night. The soy pickles helped cut the greasiness a bit, but they weren't vinegary enough to get that level of oiliness off the palate. The duck fat rice, though quite good, also did not help much given its fattiness. Given the chance, I definitely would have requested the oil-sauce on the side. I did appreciate the crunchiness of the batter, which never went soggy despite being soaked in that oily puddle for a long time. I did not find any wines by the glass that bowled me over, so I stuck to cocktails, which were good. Service was warm, personable but not intrusive, and brisk, while the room has the comfortable feel of a mid-century modern den complete with well-worn cookbooks on the shelves lining the walls. I would happily return to try the bar menu with cocktails or when the prix fixe options change. At $68 for four courses, Firstborn's prix fixe is one of the best fine dining offers in L.A. right now, and it makes a trek up to Chinatown worthwhile.

    Really outstanding modern take on Chinese cuisine. They apparently change their menu every week so…read morenothing is old. Their service was great and their servers were very knowledgeable. Their drinks also stood out in terms of creativity and the amount of work that goes into them. Overall, I put this on par with Baroo in terms of creativity, service and flavor.

    Photos
    Firstborn
    Firstborn - Duck sausage

    Duck sausage

    Firstborn - BBQ Cabbage

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    BBQ Cabbage

    Uncle John’s Cafe - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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