Warung Cafe

the food is fantastic! try the papaya and tofu salad, black bean potstickers, baby lamb chops (perfectly spiced and cooked, accompanied by a tangy andsweet mustard-inspired sauce) coconut black cod with jasmine rice, green curry, and mongolian beef (definitely much more crisp flavors that your usual mongolian beef, and not too greasy.) you can order in rounds and expect your food to arrive on time, but make sure to prepare when it becomes rush hour in the restaurant, as they dont have a large staff. the staff is great, though. definitely go to warung!!

Pros: unique, bold, and tasty food, great sake sampling, ambience

Cons: hard for them to handle rush hour

Posted 09/25/09

My wife and I visited this place last night with friends for dinner and were curious what this place would offer. We were all pleasantly surprised. The manager Ivan was very curtious and the servers were provided a comfortable experience. This place is small, cozy with a nice decor. As for the food, loved it! I find that most restaurants easily offer the usual beef, chicken, fish, veggie dishes but am always looking for creativity. We found that here. The dishes are each very unique in their preparation. Take a look at their menu - you will find at least 6 things you will really want to try. First place I've found thats great for meat-eaters and vegetarians. The drinks are pretty good too -- the cucumber martini was a favorite among our friends.

Pros: food, drinks

Cons: parking (street and there are couple of garages nearby)

Posted 02/27/09

The first time I went to Warung, I fell in love with it. I thought this would be added to my favorite restaurants list but unfortunately it did not measure up the second time. I ordered some of the same plates and yet the rich flavor was not there in the tuna tartar, the sea bass nor the veggie dumplings. I will be going back sometime in the dim future to round it out and hope that I just went on a wrong day. It is tapas so you will get a chance to try different things which is always fun but pricey. Great date spot.

Pros: Variety of food

Cons: service still needs improvement: either intrusive or too apathetic

Posted 06/08/08

Yeah, it's another "Asian Fusion" restaurant, but Warung may pleasantly surprise the Westsiders that invade Downtown with increasing regularity. The menu blends a variety of dishes from many countries, including Japanese, Korean, Thai and Chinese. None of the small dishes are particularly authentic, but it won't stop you from enjoying them. Standouts include the edamame rice, the wild mushrooms, papaya and tofu salad and salmon saikyo style. It's an excellent choice for vegetarians. My one and only complaint is that the service is intrusive and a bit overzealous about clearing your table. It can turn an otherwise very good meal into a somewhat unpleasant experience. On the other hand, if you don't know much about Pan-Asian cuisine or small plate dining, you may find their enthusiasm helpful rather than annoying.

Pros: Good take on Pan-Asian cuisine; very nice setting; excellent for vegetarians.

Cons: Service is over-zealous and hurried.

Posted 04/19/08

I love good Asian food, but this was the first time I'd actually ever tried Asian fusion. The place was packed and we had to wait 10 minutes to be seated, but the host was great and gave us a free round of drinks at the bar. He actually went home to get two extra chairs so he could seat us sooner. I ordered the vegetable dumplings, thai green curry and the coconut creme brulee for desert. The dumplings were good and the curry was better than at some authentic Thai restaurants I've been to. If you like coconut, then the creme brulee was just right. The service was fast and very polite. The decor was sophisticated with dark woods and the restaurant seem bustling with life. I'd definitely go back again!

Pros: Great service, tasty food.

Cons: Tiny, no parking-- use valet

Posted 04/14/08

Romantic, sensual, beautiful food, fantastic drinks, and great employees. We found this quiet place by accident and it's one of our favorites in town.

Pros: ambience, food, bar

Cons: none

Posted 10/06/07

Ok. i just move into my new loft in downtown LA. I have been to places for dinners and lunches. The other day, i went in with a new neighbor for dinner. I was impressed with the decor, the atmosphere, the service and the food. I tried mongolian beef and fried shrimp and scallops. My friend had a small order of dumpling. I like this place. Try it.

Pros: food, atmosphere, service, value

Posted 03/25/07

We tried Warung only two nights after its grand opening post-remodel. We weren't overly hungry, so we got four appetizers. The cold peanut noodles were perfectly cooked and the sauce was delicately flavored. The green papaya salad with smoked tofu was beautifully presented and so fresh. The wakame salad was a bit too "fishy" tasting for our palates. If you're a huge eater, you may leave feeling a bit hungry, but I thought the portion sizes were just right and we left satiated. My only wish (as always) is for more vegetarian options. The decor is very hip and sleek, yet casual. I love supporting up-and-coming businesses downtown and Warung is definitely worth checking out.

Pros: Sleek setting and fresh, tasty food

Cons: Portions could be a bit larger

Posted 02/14/07