Larchmont Bungalow, Mid-Wilshire

Larchmont Bungalow is located in Larchmont Village, a very charming shopping area in the Mid-Wilshire district of Los Angeles. For those driving down Larchmont Boulevard, it might be very easy to miss the humble sign for this bungalow. Thankfully, there was a small crowd waiting outside and I knew we were at the right place. Everything about the Larchmont Bungalow reminded me of a cozy and charming home. There are three large picture windows in the front with a very inviting stair case to the french door entrance.

The inside is tastefully decorated with artist's work on the walls throughout the restaurant. To the left of the entrance is the in house coffee roaster and a counter with a tasteful display of coffees and teas.


To the right of the entrance are the "Order Here" stations and the oh so dangerous glass case of baked goods.


Large laminated menus are available in front of each cashier and can be picked up for customers to study before their turn to order. One side contains all the breakfast items and the other side lists all the lunch and dinner items. The good news is, breakfast is served all day at this bungalow, which is a huge plus in my book.

We were fortunate enough to bypass the line on the busy Sunday afternoon since the great people at Larchmont Bungalow invite us for a meal. The restaurant was so busy, I wondered why I was invited to review the restaurant. It seemed like they were doing really well. I did keep an eye on the line and it seemed to go by fairly quickly. Everything on the menu looked amazing and we gave Ken, the owner of Larchmont Bunglow the freedom to pick our dishes. Since the restaurant offers open seating, we opted to sit outside since the weather was perfect. I knew I was in good hands when I saw Cholula on the table. If there is one thing that I love with breakfast potatoes, it's a dash of Cholula sauce. Although we didn't receive any dishes with breakfast potatoes, I know it will be there for our next visit.


The service was very quick and friendly. The drinks came out a few minutes after we sat down and the food arrived about 10-15 minutes later. A very good pace considering how busy they were. I also noticed customers around us weren't waiting too long before they received their food. Benji, "the face of Larchmont Bungalow" also came by for a visit and we had a good chat about blogging and staying fit while attempting to eat the entire city. Benji made his way around to several tables and check in with customers, which I thought made this place feel even more like home. Now onto the food...

French roast


A nice french roast with a light and very smooth taste. No bitterness or sourness at all to the coffee and absolutely no need for sugar, cream, or anything else.

Mexican mocha


The Mexican mocha was a delightful surprise. This ice blended beverage has the perfect balance of cinnamon, milk, and sugar. No need for whipped topping because the drink has a natural frothiness. I think I just found my new favorite ice blended drink. They also offer a regular mocha made with Ghiradelli chocolate, which I am sure is just as good.

Seafood Breakfast Crepe
$14.95


When this plate arrived, my mouth started watering just looking at the large chunks of lobster claw on top of the crepe. There is a very generous amount of lobster and shrimp mixed with spinach, scrambled eggs and roasted red peppers. The lobster and shrimp were cooked perfectly and everything was well seasoned. The tarragon hollandaise sauce was creamy yet light, which made for a wonderful compliment to the crepe. I haven't had many savory crepes, but I thought this crepe had a great texture and thickness. There was also a selection of fresh local fruits on the plate, which all tasted like they were in their prime.

Red and Blue Velvet Pancakes
$12.95


These red and blue velvet pancakes are one of the specialties at Larchmont Bungalow. The plate arrived with three large and very thick pancakes each cut in half stuffed with cream cheese and topped with whipped cream cheese and toasted walnuts with a side of maple syrup. My eyes lite up when I saw this dish because I was really looking forward to it. If you are a fan of red velvet cake, you will become a fan of these pancakes. It's like tasting the shell of a pancake on the outside and a red velvet cake on the inside. The pancakes had just the right amount of sweetness and the walnuts were perfectly toasted. The pancake is so good on its own, there is almost no need for maple syrup. This dish has redefined pancakes for me and I cannot wait to have it again. This dish can be shared by at least two people and more if you order additional dishes.

Scallop and Shrimp Salad
$13.95


Deep fried scallops and shrimp with shredded red and napa cabbage, enoki mushrooms, parsley, cilantro and mint tossed in a wonderful miso dressing and finished off with crunchy potatoes in place of croutons. The scallops and shrimps were perfectly cooked. I've never had scallops deep fried and really enjoyed it. The salad had just the right amount of dressing and all the ingredients were allowed to shine. The mint was a very refreshing touch and the potatoes stayed very crisp.

Sea bass
$17.95


The last dish was a miso marinated sea bass with fried rice and salad. The two pieces of sea bass were both evenly and perfectly cooked. The miso flavor came through, but just the right amount so it didn't mask the natural flavor of the fish. The fried rice had asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, red peppers and a very generous amount of sliced avocado on top. All the vegetables were cooked just right and maintained a nice crunch. The mango, papaya and cucumber salad was a very nice touch and well paired with the peppery arugula.

The food at Larchmont is thoughtful, well balanced, refreshing, visually appealing and comforting. Add the cozy atmosphere and friendly, courteous staff and this restaurant has it all. Larchmont Bungalow is now one of my favorite casual restaurants in Los Angeles. This restaurant has brought back my confidence when it comes to ordering seafood. I'm usually hesitant to order seafood because it is so often overcooked or seasoned incorrectly, but I am 100% confident to order it at Larchmont Bungalow and cannot wait to try the rest of their seafood menu, including the grilled fish tacos. It has been a while since I had a meal where everything tasted spot on and the overall dining experience was flawless. It's hard to believe this place has only been open for a little over a year because it is already a well oiled machine. I would recommend this place to anyone without hesitation.

Larchmont Bungalow
107 N Larchmont Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004



Parking
There is metered parking along Larchmont Boulevard and street parking on residential streets.

Daikokuya, Little Tokyo

I would say I crave Daikokuya at least twice a month. I discovered this place after hearing about it from a co-worker and since my first visit, I have been addicted. Daikokuya is wedged in the middle of a block packed with Japanese restaurants, but one look and you'll noticed, it is the thriving business on the block. The restaurant is first-come first-served and they have a clip board for patrons to sign in. There are usually people standing outside waiting to get in for a bowl of the highly desired ramen. This visit, we waited less than 30 minutes and were seated at the counter.

Food

Salad
Complimentary with purchase of combination


Ordering a combination is the way to go. You get the same size bowl of soup which is 8.50, plus your choice of a delicious side such as fried rice and various teriyaki bowls and a cabbage salad, which is my favorite. The sliced cabbage, carrots and green onions are topped with a creamy dressing packed with flavor. It always leaves me wanting more. This is the best side salad I have had at a ramen restaurant.

Daikoku Ramen Kotteri with small Chicken Teriyaki
10.50




We were seated at the counter and we were fortunate enough to witness the cooking and assembly of the noodles. The noodles are cooked for 1 minute and 45 seconds in boiling water. Once the noodles are ready, they are poured into large bowls and topped with broth, kotteri (extra pork fat), slices of pork, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, boiled egg, green onions and a few shakes of sesame seeds. This combination creates one of the most delicious ramens dishes I have tasted. The broth is full of flavor and while sitting at the counter, we noticed a carton of soy milk being poured into the large vat of broth. The pork is sweet, tender, incredibly flavorful and melts right in your mouth. Although a huge bowl of ramen, I always find myself finishing every last drop. We discovered that there is a larger bowl option for those who aren't quite satisfied with the regular size.


Perhaps next time?


Although the main attraction at Daikokuya is their ramen, everything else is also very good. The chicken teriyaki is not over sauced like some places, the chicken is cooked perfectly and the rice is just right. I will definitely order this again.

Daikokuya is one of my favorite ramen houses in Los Angeles county. I've never had a disappointing meal and always leave more than satisfied. There is usually a wait and it can become quite long depending on the time and day you go, but definitely worth a 30-45 minute wait. Bring good friends and the time will pass quickly. If you do go, don't skip over the kotteri option for the ramen.

Daikokuya
327 E 1st Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Parking
There is very limited street parking, but plenty of parking in near by lots.