Diner Week: CJ's Cafe...feeling the love after church

5501 W Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 936-3216
Mon-Sat 6:30 AM-6 PM
Sun 7AM-5PM

Here is a where we take a detour from the big, buff, American style diners of Diner Week. CJ's Cafe is a shining example of how Mexican culture has melted into the diner genre in SoCal, making it something practically American by it's own standards...after all, America by nature is just one big melting pot of cultures that have slowly started to "gray" into each other.

Though the picture here shows a tamer time, don't let that fool you. This small cafe has become the equivalent of a 3rd Street brunch spot on Sundays. This happens to be one of THE after church go to spots in the Pico district. Plenty of seating and a fast staff help things from being too nightmarish thankfully.

They offer some pretty unique breakfast plates, i.e. my "Deli omelette" filled with pastrami and cheese. The pastrami was extra lean, not too salty and made me wonder why I this isn't a standard at other places. The hash potatoes are notches above the rest. I do believe that they grill the onions ahead of time and then mix them with the potatoes giving them a flavor packed punch. Most other places just mix them in right away with out cooking them first.

As stated before, their Mexican breakfast plates, such as this Huevos Rancheros plate, really shine. Eggs were done perfectly over medium, the Ranchero sauce was packed with chili flavor though not spicy and didn't compete in any way with the side of chorizo that came with it. I kid you not I'd give this plate at least an 8 on taste. Speaking of which, the chorizo that they serve up is DYNAMITE. I could eat this kind of chorizo with any plate for breakfast. On a side note, be sure to try there tortas which are a showpiece for the ingredients they use.

Parking is a whiz with street AND rear parking. They have a great staff and a well varied menu that should satiate most anyone's morning needs. Their loyal following shows up right when they open, and why shouldn't they...they've got the right formula going on there.

Free Drink Refills:Yes
Entree Price Ranges: Breakfast is $5 to $8, lunch is $4 to $7, and dinner is $7 to $10

Thai House...a personal favorite spot in my hood

8657 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310)274-5492
Lunch: Mon-Fri 12PM-3PM
Dinner: Sun-Thurs 5PM-10PM
Friday: 5PM-11PM
Saturday: 1PM-11PM

I laughed the other day when I realized I hadn't put one of my favorite local Thai places up. Thai House has been open for a quite a few years now and I've been blessed to live within relative walking distance of it. But really what is "walking distance" in LA? It's been interesting to watch how they've slowly been adding to their clientele and have really made it a great community dinner spot. Funny thing I've noticed recently about many Asian spots about our town is their very generic in their choice of names. I mean how do you distinguish one Thai House from another Thai House? Just makes me wonder why they chose the names they did. But I digress.

The walls covered with young artists artwork, the exposed roof, and the kind of a trendy overall warehouse atmosphere gives this place a pleasant feel that makes everyone feel at home. Now, while I can personally vouch for a good portion of the entire menu let me show off some recent highlighted plates that were pretty killer.

We started off with a bowl of their Coconut Chicken soup which had creamy Thai spice and lemongrass broth with galanga and fresh mushrooms. The coconut cream coupled with lots of tang thanks to the lemongrass and galanga are great. It's also hearty, with the healthy sized crimini mushrooms that float around in it. After having this a couple of times I need to ask my wife to snag me some of this soup next time I'm sick. It's big on taste and the hints of heat give it enough zing to put it within reach of most heat sensitive palates.

I test many places out with their cashew chicken to get a feel for how they make some of their basics. Their's consists of good sized hunks of tender, juicy, sauteed chicken coated in roasted red curry sauce (not too spicy), with scallions and water chestnuts to even out the plate. It's solid and worth getting when you can't decide on what to get.

Their Spicy Beef Thai Yumm has thinly sliced tender NY beef strips on a bed of fresh greens with tangy lemon grass vinaigrette and crisp red onions. Everything's lightly dressed, but there's plenty of extra if you decided to douse the meat and greens like we did. This is such a great plate when you're feeling like you want something more fresh but still want some meat.

Other plates of note include their Panang, Pad Thai, their Catfish Special (crisped whole catfish falling off the bone with a teriyaki and lime sauce), and their Angel Wings (chicken and pork stuffed in chicken wings). Every time I come back I wonder why I don't come here more often. The prices are pretty good, the place itself is always a pleasure to be inside and the service is good. Oh and theirs that whole walking distance thing...maybe I'm just lazy. Have a great 3 day weekend guys!

Free Drink Refills: No
Entree Price Range:Lunch specials range from $7.50 to $9 while dinner prices range $8 to $15
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A funny thing heard at a wine shop at their cheese section. A customer picked this up and the person at the counter said "Yeah made from real pug's milk". The customer was like "really"? Some people are so gullable.

Sky's Tacos

5408 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 932-6253
Mon-Sat 7AM-9PM
Sun 8AM-5PM

Sky's Tacos is not your normal taco place. At all. We ate there last night and we stuffed ourselves (for your benefit of course). Located in an area on Pico Blvd. that is trying to make a great comeback from being downtrodden. They have many new restaurants, theatres, and great boutiques that are just stepping up the area. Literally a facelift for an area that was starting to look like it was on it's last leg. Surprisingly Sky's Tacos has been in the same location for 15 years or so and is part of this "surgical" procedure of bringing in good business.

Why are Sky's Tacos not your normal tacos? Because they're doing there own take on mexican tacos by adding some soul to them. That's right...soul tacos. Don't get me wrong, they're not trying to make Mexican style tacos and failing. They're making tacos their way. I say this in full confidence by the fact that they have "Authentic Taco's" on their menu and they 're just that...super traditional. Tiny corn tortilla with some meat, cilantro, a little onion and some sauce and no lettuce. Very tasty and hey, for $1.50 you score a small victory for your stomach and pocket. But on to what makes them different. Their famous tacos are hefty! Two average tortillas house the monster which can be filled with beef, chicken, turkey, veggie, carnitas, shrimp, steak, or lobster! (By the way, the shrimp tacos are what everyone raves about.) Top it with lettuce and there Sky Sassy sauce that's both sweet and spicy. It' a very unique flavor and just its own. It's like cajun but not at all cajun. It's flavorful and has just enough spiciness to give appropriate heat for ya. They also make fish tacos and you have your choices with that of mahi, salmon and tilapia. Salmon tacos...yummmmmmy. Now they also have burritos but we didn't get to have any due the fact of wanting to really sample as many tacos as possible on there menu. They were hefty as well (from what we saw on other people's plates) but even more so obviously than the tacos. On a side note, they're having a special right now on crawfish tacos that are monstrous...packed to the brim with crawfish and sauce and just man...so good!

This cute place is owned by Barbara Sorrel (husband of jazz bassist Charles Sorrel) and her recipes are perfect for being off the beaten path. The price is not rockbottom for the items but you get a good amount of food and something different which is always welcome. To finish off, have some of their fresh, made her home kitchen, cheesecake...some of the best you'll taste in a while. I personally would go here just cause the food is good and I like to support a scene that is making a comeback. Without you and me eating there the area may start slipping away again. So this Sunday, after church go on in and get some tacos that are not your normal everyday tacos.

Free Drink Refills: No
Average Entree Range: $1.50 to $6 (they have full plates that run a little more but you decide for yourself)