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Categories: Latin American, Bakeries, Vegetarian
Neighborhood: ChinatownMon-Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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No complaints.
Well, one actually.
I wish I could give this place more stars.
Everything we had was so amazingly delicious.
Had Angela's potion (spinach and mint limeade) which was like a mint julep or a mojito depending on your outlook. Damn tasty.
We both got the 3 tacos for $6.50 deal. My favorite was the carnitas which came with spicy pickled apple slices (photo: http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The meat was so juicy and flavorful. On the first bite, the juices flowed down my arm and onto the table.
The beef tinga wasn't very hot, but my lips and the corners of my mouth still burned a half hour after eating it.
I highly recommend Homegirl. Not just for the food and drink, but also for the positive message and industry that's backing the cafe.
If you're taking the Metro, it's a quick walk from the Chinatown Gold Line station, not far from Philippe's.
Who says eating out is superficial? Eating here is deep... deeply beneficial to our LA Community!
I had read about Homegirl Cafe but hadn't had a chance to get here from my downtown LA office for lunch. Last week I was able to finally get here. It was WORTH THE TRIP!
As part of my taco crawl (lasting a few days and including a local taco truck always parked north or south of Sunset on Logan Street in echo park, Tito's Taco off Washington blvd and Supelveda in Mar Vista area, and King Taco), I went here and enjoyed sharing 6 different tacos with my partner in crime. I had the salmon taco (fresh), green mole chicken taco, and white fish taco (my fav of the three). He had a chorizo, red mole (maybe my favorite of the 6), and a red sauced carnitas taco (also delish!).
He had the Mint Spinach Tea (Sarah's drink, I think) that was light and refreshing almost like a mojito. I had the mango and strawberry juice drink - yummy!
This meal hit the spot.
The atmosphere was nicely decorated and walls scattered with therapeutic art, expertly done and tempting to buy should I have that kind of cheese.
All proceeds support Homeboy industries... http://www.yelp.com/re... ... a wonderful organization that focuses on "Jobs not jails" and helps gang member rehabilitate. Pretty awesome if you ask me! Way to go!
This place is my favorite lunch meeting spot near downtown LA. Not only is the food tasty, but I know that the money is making a difference in people's lives. For those who don't know about Homeboy Industries, you should check them out: http://www.homeboy-ind... A nonprofit with soul, they believe in "jobs not jails" and Homegirl Cafe provides that for many at-risk youth or former gang members. Take some time to read up on them.
On to the food. I always come back for the same thing: the carnitas tacos! Even when I'm not hungry, I order three and eat all of them with gusto. I love the apple and pork combination and the salsa is just spicy enough. The meat is tender and I just can't get enough of it. For less than $7, you can't go wrong with the tacos.
One warning, however: you must be patient with service during the busy hours. Since the place is a training environment, service can be a little slow, sometimes. Just know that it's all worthwhile though; eating at Homegirl helps build a community, one bite at a time.
I'm all for helping out those trying to turn themselves around... But man, the service was awful. I recommend leaving silverware and napkins ready at the tables after you clean them off. It took a good while to get utensils.
The first time we tried to come here it was really crowded. We started to park and I realized it didn't look like a parking. I saw some workers there and they confirmed we couldn't park there. Then some rucca got crazy and was like, "keep moving." Oh hell no! I told my boss, "I think I'm gonna have to jump." She just laughed. I told her, I can be ghetto too, but I'm not ignorant. Dumb broad..
So we ate here today. Had a short wait to be seated. A longer wait to order, get water and our drinks, some stale ass chips (which we had to ask for twice), and utensils.
The only good thing was that the tacos were decent. They were 3 for $6.50. The salsa also reminded me of a tomato bisque with a kick to it. I rather liked it. Neither could make me go back though.
Overall, food was okay, 2 hour service for lunch, BAD!
Dug the Mexican fusion and yummy fruit drinks and of course the overall concept. Had a roast beef sandwich with fine-diced apple and vinaigrette and "Sarah's drink" to go. very filling for less than 10 bucks.
I ended up spending almost $20 with the tempting pastries and pan dulce i brought home.
The breakfast sounds delish. Looking forward to trying it soon.
Homegirl cafe; where heart meets soul
Homegirl cafe and Homeboy bakery truly capture the heart and soul of Los Angeles. Unlike most other restaurants that are strictly brick and mortar institutions serving some genre of cuisine coupled with a themed interior space, Homegirl cafe & Homeboy bakery both go way beyond your typical Los Angeles dining experience. It is a restaurant, bakery, art gallery, and for its employees a second chance to make things right. You can feel its pulse from the moment you walk through the door and are greeted by the hostess to concluding your meal..
Homegirl cafe, besides being a restaurant that serves authentic Latin fusion cuisine in a casual bistro setting is also the training ground for its employees, mostly former gang members and at risk individuals who are looking for a fresh start by learning new skills so that they can succeed in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Both Homegirl cafe and Homeboy Bakery are sponsored small businesses backed by Homeboy Industries, a non profit organization here in Los Angeles that focuses on assisting people in turning their lives around post-prison.
During my visit I spoke with many of the employees and you could feel their passion and charisma for foodservice and being a part of something so multifaceted as the bakery and restaurant. Homeboy industries provides many social services through its various outreach programs and business entities.
Shannon Smith, Cafe manager for Homegirl cafe provided me with her extensive knowledge of the restaurant, background on Homeboy industries and great culinary insight into its diverse menu. Homegirl cafe under the direction of Chef Patricia Zarate is a clean canvas to showcase Yucatan & Oaxaca-style regional mexican food to Angelenos.
Once I was seated I was treated to an overflowing bowl of homemade chips and salsa morita. The house salsa has a nice smoky flavor with mild heat and coupled with the sweet and refreshing taste of tomato. The salsa is the gateway to some great lunch menu items including the 3 taco plate(choose any 3 tacos), Ana's Salad and Consuelo's Sandwich(Vegetarian). With far too many menu items to sample in one sitting I will surely visit next-time for an authentic Mexican breakfast of Chilaquiles and a dinner of "build your own" enchiladas and chili rellenos or Vegan Mole.
Homegirl and Homeboy believe in sourcing produce locally and a majority of herbs and heirloom vegetables for salads are provided by the Homeboy organic garden program. Several plans for distribution of salsa's and pesto sauces to Ralph's and Whole foods grocery stores are already in the works.
The selections are endless at Homegirl cafe and this versatility of menu choices provides for a great place to network for a business power lunch, plug into wifi and have a satisfying lunch or even just to satisfy your latin cravings. An amazing array of baked goods make this the perfect morning stop to pick up your cup of joe and some pastries for your next office meeting or event. Catering services are also available for your next corporate of family venue.
From breads to cakes, Homeboy Bakery has you covered. On my particular visit I met some great people including a gentleman who wanted to get his second chance. We swapped stories about working in the kitchen over a sandwich. His enthusiasm for the program and landing back on his feet really put things into perspective and further illustrated how important the Homeboy organization is to our city and the lives it helps restore. One day I hope that Homeboy Industries can go way beyond just helping Los Angeles but our nation as a whole. The next time you get a craving for some great food and to see charity at its best, come down and sample a taste of reality at Homegirl cafe and Homeboy bakery. You will thank yourself for planting your feet back on the ground.
This morning it was a rainy mess out and as i was makinig my drive to the ugly 101 headed down alameda i noticed Homeboy/Homegirl Bakery i always pass by and never noticed the bakery part . Inside i noticed lights and pastry's so i busted a quick biatch on alpine and made my way in ! first thing to mind was wow i love that everyone has a theme (home boy home girl attire) well to my surprise wow its really the way they dress and wow everyone is so friendly and its a organization where they help guys and gals turn there life around and get them off the streets drugs gangs etc i love this place and i had not even ordered the food yet ...
so the menu is awesome as well as the prices my latte rocked a home boy by the name of Felipe made it (word to Felipe) so i ordered the chilaquiles Verde: chips simmered in a Verde creamy sauce with a hint of mint and cheese this dish was so good while i was sitting in 101 traffic it almost brought tears to my eyes ! i think i will be stopping by here more often to enjoy breakfast and say word up to my home boys and girls ! I'm also buying a T-Shirt next time they rock with red lips and liner !
After visiting a nearby gunshooting range (ironic?), a group of us came here for some grub. We were unable to sit in the cafe since they were closing at 3pm, but found a large enough table by the doorway to seat the 7 of us.
I got Yuyu's Sandwich and Sarah's Drink - so friggin' delicious and it hit the spot! The place is bright and colorful, and for just a buck more, they give you a free refill!
However, the sad reality is that their location isn't in the greatest spot (right on the edge of Chinatown) and they close in the afternoon because they just can't afford to stay open. As a result, it took them forever to get our food out. They're not just any restaurant either, as eating here supports the local community; if they were close to my work or home, I would be frequenting them VERY often.
No complaints. Close to my work. The house salad w/ citrus dressing tasted fresh and like some gourmet ish. The "moloy" sandwich, tasted bomb. Kinda like some stewed chicken w/ kimchee. Hahaha. I know that's making some of you run for the hills. Good free hot sauce w/ chips, too.
I went to this place for dinner and the only thing nice was the decor!!!! I haven't waited for an order at any other restaurant in such a looooong time, other than this place. I waited at least 25 minutes!
For the kind of food they serve here, I'll be happy to walk down to Olvera St. a few blocks away anytime!! I'm surprised to read other reviews talking about tacos, sandwiches, and salsa with chips....Those items weren't even on my menu, seriously!!! I was served with chick peas and chili powder for an appetizer. The only thing on my menu was enchiladas and chili relleno. I chose the Traditional salsa which was nothing extraordinary! Man, Acapulco Restaurant will beat this place anytime!!! I must say the rice was tasty. There was some corn and spinach in it. I also ordered "Rachel's drink." It was a mixture of spinach and mintade. It was good, yet if you let it sit for a while all the greens settle at the bottom and you choke on the bits after taking a sip.
We gave the server a decent tip, but sure didn't deserve it because not once did she check on how we were doing or give us a refill on the nasty tap water.
NEVER AGAIN AMIGOS!!
Homegirl chilaquiles and juicy green potion...where are you when I crave you most???
With our LA home base nearby, we frequent the Homegirl and are huge fans of not only their mission, but their uber fresh take on Latin cuisine.
Lunch menu is a little scarce and could probably do with a but more substance (hungry folks - order tacos *and* a salad), but we seriously heart the breakfasts and their soups & salads are usually pretty right on as well. I've heard mixed feelings about the cinnamon coffee, but speaking for myself, I'm a fan.
Don't expect the usual menu here or typical dishes. Expect great food such as different high grade salads with cranberries, mangos, pecans, etc., new creations such as salmon tacos, and tasty sauces like their jalapeno pesto and tangy orange. Order the juice- it's all natural and freshly blended.
In addition all this deliciosity, you'll be supporting our local community and youth.
Enough has been said about the good work and services this company does for youth. You need to support community efforts like Homeboy Industries! Building community, empowering youth, and giving young people an alternative to gang life. Their free services "focus on case management, education, job training and placement, legal services, mental health counseling, twelve step meetings, pre-release and transition counseling, and tattoo removal."
Buy some gear from the shop (nice T-shirts and mousepads) and/or some good eats from the cafe and know your money is supporting a good cause.
AWESOME food!
Angela's potion lemonade is to die for!
1 Star lost for the poor parking & inattentive staff!
LUNCH IS THE BEST!
I would like to say that you should visit Homegirl because of the good they are doing for our community. The food is okay. It's a fusion Latin-American menu and it's not going to appeal to everyone, but many love the fusion of flavors. I have not found a dish that I love yet, but I am trying! Again, its because I love the concept of the Cafe.
In addition, they offer cooking classes where you have the opportunity to work with the chef and the HomeGirls. THESE are a MUST! They usually have a great menu to pick from, they serve sangria and chips/salsa and it is a great evening. The only thing they need to be careful about is keeping the classes smaller, with too many people in attendance it looses its charm and interactions.
Take the metro, get in your car, or drive you scooter (like I do) and enjoy Homegirl Cafe!
Good food, great service! I had the chilequilles..mm.. delicious Besides the great service and awesome food, I love the mission behind the restaurant and support mi gente!!
mexica tiahui!
Filling, fresh food with a meaningful backstory. I love it.
I recently had my first visit to Homegirl Cafe, and I will definitely be returning. The cafe is located on the corner of Bruno and Alameda and a part of the Homeboy Industries, which tries to give convicted criminals a second shot in life by earning an honest living.
The decor is great, clean and very modern. There is artwork by local artists (perhaps people from the Homeboy Industries) up for sale on the walls depicting local LA scenes.
Now, the menu. The menu is a great eclectic variety of Latin American inspired dishes. As many reviewers recommended I tried Gabrielle's Chilaquiles and they were delicious! The best I've found outside of Mexico, nice and crispy (often they get too soggy under the sauce), a flavorful sauce with just enough heat and cotija cheese to compliment the dish. I also sampled the zuchinni blossom omelet and it was also very very tasty. They also offer some fresh squeezes juices, may I recommend the mango & rasberry juice?
The service was a little slow, but extremely nice and professional.
The bottom line, you'll feel good walking out of that restaurant knowing you just ate a (very reasonably priced) tasty meal and performed a small philanthropic act while you were at it. I definitely recommend it!
This will be more a review for the concept behind this restaurant than the food itself.
So, as you probably know from skimming the other reviews or visiting the website, Homegirl Cafe is pretty unique. It's a restaurant staffed entirely by kids who were formerly in gangs, and gives them a second chance to seek out "jobs not jail."
I love this idea. Absolutely positively love it. It makes me so happy to know that there are people in the world who have that much faith in young people who've made mistakes here and there, and that there are people who work to find active, practical ways to teach young people responsibility, pride in themselves, respect for each other.
What a great idea.
The food itself is also pretty good, and affordable. All the breakfast items are $6.75. I ordered a spinach omelet with a side of black beans. They serve American and Mexican dishes; the portions are huge; and the flavors are good. Nothing too extravagant or unnecessary, just some simple, good food. My friends got this crazy vegetable scramble and this thing of chips and cheese and beans (I'm blanking on the Spanish word for it, my bad.); both were tasty and flavorful too.
So, all in all:
+ Good food
+ Great mission
+ And pretty damn inspirational to see these kids doing their thing, being responsible, and making new lives for themselves.
I was originally thinking of giving four stars because the food is good but not great, but then I thought that this is really one of those places where it's not really about the restaurant but more about what it does for society.
Homegirl Cafe = AWESOME, in the best possible sense of the word.
Awesome spot in Chinatown. All I have to say is you get your money's worth at this place. The food is pretty much Mexican and American but Homegirl Cafe makes the food right and at an affordable price. We got a plate full of bakeries for only 5 bucks and the chilequilles....incredible. The service was helpful and friendly, and it's cool to see people try to make a positive change in their life.
For the lunch menu you'll get different choices of things like, salads, sandwiches, tortas, and tacos. You have to try on their fruit drinks...really good. Check out this place, free parking is on the back side of the building. Just keep in mind Homegirl closes early around 5 PM, but I heard rumors that they are going to now open for dinner. Yummy.
I came here with three of my girls from East LA...we each ordered something different so we could try a variety of things on the menu.
Their chilaquiles (regular or "gabrielle's") is so good. Best I've ever had & that means a lot because I grew up in the Mission where you can't walk a block without hitting 2 or more really good taquerias. Their scrambled eggs with nopales (cactus) was also very tasty.
I saw the Homeboy Bakery display case on our way out, so we stopped to pick up some cookies (really cheap, really fresh) to take home.
I stopped in the other after noon, just before lunch was over. The service was excellent! I had the sweetest server. I ordered the house coffee - with orange and cinnamon, who couldn't love it. I also got three tacos. I had the potato-tofu taco, which I would probably pass on the future, though the other two made up for it. I also got the Green Chicken, which had great shredded chicken and shredded apples, and the Carnitas taco, which was very delish.
I had a cactus omelette with the homegirl potatoes and a glass of Angela's Green Potion, which tasted like a virgin mojito. The bright orange hot sauce that came with the chips was really delicious.
Great cause, friendly waitress, food was a bit slow but they did accommodate our breakfast request so close to the cut-off time. Worth coming back to--goodies in the pastry area looked pretty good. Steps away from the Chinatown Metro station, FYI.
Homeboy Industries is a pillar of decency in the city of Los Angeles. What they set out to do and accomplish is a prime example of what is noble and good. You should check out their website and see what they're all about.
The tacos at Homegirl Cafe are even better than all that.
They're not your average, in the hood, taco truck tacos. Homegirl Cafe is a restaurant, where you get seated, order from a menu and then served. The tacos exemplify that. There's about 8 or so different tacos that they offer, and all of the ones that I have tried suggest that their recipes have been created by a skilled culinary artist. The fish tacos are a must-try, and I enjoyed the conchinitas taco.
Homegirl Cafe also has a pastries case, whose contents looked pretty delectable. Our table split an order of flan, which was refreshing and not too sweet - a decent conclusion to our meal.
The service was extremely professional. I wouldn't have known that our server had a checkered past, had I not seen that they proudly share information of the staff on the menu. At the time that I had gone, the wait staff was unexpectedly short-staffed, and our waitress was able to attend to everyone in the dining room expediciously. I was very impressed - maybe all wait staff should have a gang-related past!
Overall, Homeboy Industries exudes tremendous pride in every facet of their program, and Homegirl Cafe is no exception. Their food is great, and I'm glad to have patroned such a stand-up establishment!
The green potions are fantastic. The revueltos were OK, though not terrific. There were very little eggs and the texture was just so-so. Our food took absolutely forever; however, it probably had something to do with the fact that we came just before 11, and they were "transitioning" to lunch, they said. The lunch menu actually looked pretty interesting... particularly some of the tacos. If I'd gotten those and they had been the bomb (plus the green potion), I would've definitely given four stars. Alas, we were told that if one of us got lunch, we would all have to get lunch. That transition thing again.
On the bright side, the food is really fresh (they were apparently cutting the potatoes up and cooking them from scratch) and our server was really cool.
There's a parking lot in the back with plenty of parking. It's a better bet than the two-hour street parking, espacially if you get here just before the lunch transition.
Angela's potions is to die for, its one of the best things on the menu. I would go just for the potions. I never been there for breakfast but lunch is great. I have tired everything on the menu. my favorite item are the salads w/queso fresco. the tacos are fantastic not your typical tacos, a must try.
The cakes are pretty good.
on the plus there is plenty of parking...
No need to add more to the slow service comments on this site - yes it is slow, and not the place to go for a quick power lunch, but if you were there to have a leisurely casual catch-up lunch like I was, it was a really nice place with a great ethic and mission.
Food was solid, and there were a bunch of tasty vegetarian options. I had the tacos, tofu chorizo (NOT as good as soy chorizo) and potatoes w/ grilled tofu. All very good, not great, but very good. Very good chips and salsa, too - and lots of refills.
The service is slow, but very competent, and nice, which I'll take over fast and rude/idiotic any day of the week.
Overall, a fine place, 3.5 stars rounded up because I love and respect what they are about, and they make above-average food for sure.
Whether its the food or the cause that makes you feel good, you won't leave here unsatisfied.
I had a roasted poblano omlette that was delicious! The spinach mint lemonade was also delicious! As was the jalapeno cornbread. Yum.
Cool cause, colorful decor, delectable menu, and delicious food. I didn't have any serious problems with the service.
Of course by now, you know that this place is run by former inmates. It is a great program to get people back on their feet. EVERYONE deserves a second chance!
Oh and did I mention the food is pretty good too. They have a wide selection of dishes for every appetite. They have many different tacos which are all excellent. You are allowed to mix and match!
The location is not the best, but the ambiance and physical structure of the place is modern and nice.
Okay, so walking through their parking lot can be a little intimidating. But the food here is awesome! I've been to this place several times, and it never disappoints me. The servers are all very nice, and this place is always clean. Lunch time can get pretty hectic, though.
They make green rice that is delicious. The beans are also really good, and the tacos de carnitas (pork) are to die for! The meat is so tender and juicy. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their drinks!!!! I always order "Sarah's drink," which consists of mango & raspberry juice. It is so fresh and definitely a thirst quencher. :)
for those of you seeking a charitable tax deduction when you are preparing your 2009 returns, homeboy industries is barely scraping by in terms of operating costs. in a city as wealthy as los angeles, this is disgraceful.
we are talking about what, in the larger scheme of things, are tiny bills that h.b.i. cannot meet, ranging from $7,000.00 to $25.000. please let your moneyed acquaintances know about the tight funding situation at homeboy / homegirl, or if you can spare even a small sum, do consider giving it to this place. this is an institution that los angeles cannot risk having go under.
do-nate! do-nate! do-nate! & pass the word along, please ! ! !
homegirl is now open for dinner as of july 16th.
had a chicken mole that was memorable & delicious.…
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On my first visit to Homegirl Cafe for lunch, the beauty of the building itself amazed me. It's light, decorated with provocative really cool Latino art, and hums with the vibe of people doing good.
But the food: I got Martha's salad. It was HUGE. At $6.95 a total bargain, full of mango, greens, pumpkin seeds, jicama. A huge bottle of homemade creamy cilantro dressing came with it.
Then the chicken mole tacos: red and green moles, homemade. The baby corn tortillas were delicious. I'd go back for those tacos. Granted, mole really pumps my nads.
The place gets crowded at lunch with downtown workers which is great to see.
If you're visiting LA I'd definitely recommend a visit both to be exposed to this great project as well as to have some fantastic food.
Refreshing change of pace. Clean, colorful, cool (temp), cool (ambience), fresh (ingredients) and imaginative (menu).
Try the 3-salsa & chips appetizer and if you figure out the ingredients of the dry, seed-filled one, let me know because I like it! Liked the 2 designer fruit/veg drinks (see pix) and the tacos, which were small (truck-sized) with really unique fillings (nopales y queso fresco, tofu & potato). The Tati's Vegan Sandwich was OK but not amazing.
Nice looking, fresh pastries at the register are worth taking home.
All in all, a creative menu, good service and decent prices make this a must try.
Nestled snugly into a gritty little urban slice of Los Angeles a couple of blocks' walk from Olvera Street and Chinatown, the bright, modern facade of Homeboy Industries strikes a keen visual metaphor for the center's mission; to take at-risk and troubled youth off the street, away from criminal influence, and show them hope for a decent future.
Enter the Homegirl Cafe, a division of the Homeboy center that functions as a sort of prototype workplace for the youth taken in. Restaurant service, basic cooking/baking skill, and retail experience--the cornerstones of entry-level jobs in the real market--are learned in a low-stress but functioning environment.
Sweet! A place that I can feel pretty good about giving my (or someone else's) money to.
The food's good! A plate with three differently flavored tacos runs at $6.50, and the tacos, if not what ol' Jehovah himself would serve up, are tasty. The house coffee, with cinnamon and orange peel, is a sexy sexy coffee. The bakery is quite nice, and the small gift shop is pretty much what it sounds like. Everyone was also pretty nice to us, and seemed pretty relaxed.
Maybe a little too relaxed.
Okay, they were slow as hell. The food prep time was a little mysteriously long, but whatever. The real problem is the lack of any acknowledgment when you enter, and the 10-15 minute wait for any kind of service in a mostly empty cafe. I've been a server, too, homegirls. My first day I was thrown onto eleven tables waiting for service in a place notorious for high-maintenance customers. All sympathies to yer plight, ladies, but for reals you ain't gonna get a real restaurant job if this is how you handle it.
It's difficult to give this kind of criticism to a place whose ideals I completely support. And this review should by no means discourage you from supporting the place. Hell, with service that slow, I still got a T--shirt from the shop afterward. All the cafe needs to be an excellent place to eat, and what the kids working there really deserve in order to be truly ready for the workplace, is some kind of competent management to make sure everyone's on-task.
Overall, I do recommend Homegirl Cafe. The food is healthy, good, and inexpensive. Just be aware beforehand that you're more than likely to wait a bit on the service, and you'll enjoy a good meal in a nice, bright, clean cafe atmosphere while supporting an excellent cause.
Eating here serves a great cause as Homegirl Cafe is one of the major driving forces behind the perseverance and maintenance of Homeboy Industry, a non-profit organization that helps previously troubled youth to re-enter society in a healthy and meaningful way.
Dining here not only supports a charitable purpose, you can also satisfy your taste buds with their healthy, fresh, and delicious dishes. They offer a great selection of breakfast and lunch dishes, for example, omelets, soups, salads, sandwiches, tacos, as well as a list of freshly made juices.
I really like the roasted pineapple guacamole - what an original and smart idea it is to incorporate roasted pineapple bits into an otherwise boring-ol dish.
I want to return to try other dishes.
Dear Homegirl Cafe,
Please, pretty please, bring back the fideo soup with chicken as it was made in your old location (on 1st Street). Also, please serve it everyday and not just one day out of the week.
Thank you (fingers-crossed).
I love this place.
The taco menu is extensive; I had the tofu chorizo and whitefish tacos. Yum and yum. The prices for breakfast and lunch are totally reasonable, especially considering how huge the breakfast portions are! I can't wait to go back for breakfast.
Coffee is insane: brewed with cinnamon and orange. Mmm...so fragrant.
Homeboy Bakery: I've tried a few items and they have all been fresh and flavorful. Flan strikes the perfect combination of eggy custard, cinnamon, and caramelized sugar for a touch of sweetness. The chocolate meringue cookies are chewy and moist inside, and one pastry--I forget the exact name, apple turnover, even though it's not really a turnover?--is probably the best apple-filled cinnamon-sprinkled pastry I've ever had.
Support Homeboy Industries by eating here!
I am fond of Homegirl Cafe, not only because this place a great place to eat, but also serves the community by assisting troubled youths/former gang members from being involved with unlawful activities and guiding them to a better path.
This is one of my favorite places to brunch in Los Angeles. My co-worker and I have been here twice for breakfast. We just recently went here for lunch for someone's birthday. Let me start with breakfast....
For breakfast, my favorite is the:
Gabrielle's Chilaquiles - crisp tortillas simmered in morita sauce with onions, cotija cheese and crema fresca. Served with black beans. Add eggs any style.
I have NEVER heard of Chilaquiles until moving to Los Angeles. I guess I have been deprived. All I have to say is that it is VERY good!
For lunch: I had ordered the 3 for $6.50 tacos - (1) Carnitas with Apple and Tomatillo Salsa (2) Red Chicken Mole with Pickled Red Onions and Habenero (3) Grilled Chicken with Tamarind and Orange Salsa
They all had that flavor with some kick to it. The mole was wickedly spicy. I love spicy foods, but this one left me in tears. It helps by washing the spice out with Angela's Green Potion which is lemonade with spinach & mint.
Definitely check this place out. Don't forget to check out the pastry display on the way out. :)
People are right about the service being slow. But as long as you know that going in and you prepare by bringing a good group to chat with, and order a couple muffins to stave off the hunger pangs while you wait for your real breakfast, it's totally bearable. Their food is borderline too spicy for me cuz I'm a wimp, but even through the heat still really tasty.
I usually don't like muffins because they generally disappoint me, but these muffins made me like muffins again! So light, moist and flavorful. I definitely want to go back, especially since they stopped serving breakfast 5 minutes before we got there and we had to order lunch. The breakfast menu sounded soooo good.
I'm giving this a 4 star partly for the idea that it represents. That's not to say that the food isn't up to par, it is but I wouldn't say it's spectacular. The food is good, and it's not just typical latin food it has a flair of uniqueness to it. The tacos were quite good, not authentic and not the best but enjoyable as were all the other plates we ordered. Each had a flavor of it's own and didn't just taste like another version of King Taco.
The decor is modern and full of art. The service is nice, although on occasion you can feel the strain of troubled kids learning to function in the business world. The best thing about the space is that it is giving troubled kids a real chance to change their path and do something positive, the fact that you can get some pretty good food while supporting them is icing on the proverbial cake. Support this effort.
Food - B+
Ambience - B
Service - B+
Value - A-
Free Cupcake
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Wednesday Special
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
Fullerton, CA
Category: Coffee & Tea
Whittier, CA
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Westlake
Category: Middle Eastern
La Habra, CA
Category: Restaurants
Fullerton, CA
Category: Juice Bars & Smoothies
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
Good to show off to others. Mainly priced low,…
Because sometimes you just need to clean out your…
Places that other people are crazy about but I…
I'm trying to become an authority on cheap ass…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
