There’s about a gazillion places to get caffeinated in the City of Angels, but the Alchemist Coffee Project is extra special.
Good morning from Ktown
I recently spent a weekend soaking up the vibe in Koreatown, a neighborhood my grownup kiddo now calls home. We hit up some favorites and found a few new places to love, including an outstanding brunch-only restaurant in the hotel where I was staying. More on that in a second.
Alchemist Coffee Project was new to me, though I’ve been hearing raves about it for a while. This Seattle-based coffee snob was highly skeptical, though. And those prices? Is any espresso drink worth $6? That’s a latte.
The short answer’s yes. Especially if you stay for the show. The people watching on a Tuesday morning was riveting. A mix of casually dressed regulars grabbing-and-going and a few super stylish customers who looked as if they were running late for a photo shoot. Hollywood, after all, is just a couple of light rail stops away.
Alchemist Coffee Project proudly states its goal on its engaging Instagram feed: “We believe coffee shops are more than just the coffee offered. It’s the experience of the space, flavor and the interaction that makes your visit worthwhile.” Mission accomplished and no wonder there’s a line out the door.
I savored every minute of this scene at the Vermont store while sipping my well-made cappuccino, though I do wish they’d return to serving drinks in porcelain cups instead of paper. Difficult to get the full foam art effect without that large canvas provided by a wide-brimmed vessel. But so what? The best part of my morning was coming in hot.
The world’s best avocado toast?
The red-hot trend of mashing avocados on toast shows no signs of slacking and that’s fine but TBH, I’m a little bored by the movement. Or, at least I was until I tried the avo toast at Alchemist. Wow, what a memorable first bite. And then, it was so, so good I couldn’t stop until it was gone. Then I wished I’d ordered two.
The compelling, not-so-secret ingredient was a layer of fiery kimchi serving as a foil for the buttery avocado slices. It wasn’t overpowering. It didn’t demand attention, but it definitely got mine. I appreciate contrasting ingredients. The sweet and salty, hot and sour, crunchy playing off velvety smooth. Alchemist Coffee Project’s avocado toast checked off all the boxes, and it’s gorgeous, too.
Speaking of all things pretty, don’t you dare leave this place without trying something from the pastry case. Meanwhile, back down Eighth Street...
Brunch at H Cafe
This chill spot at the H Hotel is open only for brunch, a brilliant plan in a neighborhood clearly hungry for diner-type fare. We waited for a table on a Monday morning. On weekends, expect big crowds looking for a comfort food fix.
Because everybody’s doing Nashville hot fried chicken these days, crispy poultry is a best seller here. I got my fix as an add-on to the satisfying chilaquiles, the layer of saucy fried tortillas providing a fantastic nesting place for the nicely fried egg and surprisingly tender fried chicken. That feat was accomplished because the kitchen used boneless thighs instead of breast meat, which is often dry and bland.
The French toast sampler was another winning dish, especially the bacon-stuffed brioche. Though the Nutella and banana version was also excellent.
More in the lunch mood? They’ve got burgers and a BLT that takes a burrata turn. Next time, I’ll definitely try the spicy wing flight because the name of the dish is just so clever.
Like seemingly every restaurant in America these days, the waitstaff might be stretched a bit thin at the H Cafe. Yet, the restaurant’s come up with an excellent work-around, where guests call up a QR code and order online. The front-of-the-house crew stayed on top of the morning rush and kudos to the kitchen for getting orders out quickly. Exactly what you want in a diner, even an upscale version.
