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Perilla LA
Master Critic Review
Perilla LA
8.0
Chef Jihee Kim's banchan-focused daytime cafe occupies a 200-square-foot space in a hidden courtyard between Chinatown and Echo Park. The seasonal vegetable-forward menu features dosirak lunch boxes, made-to-order gimbap, and a rotating grab-and-go cold case of fermented Korean sides served on a garden patio.
Must-Try Dishes:
Doenjang Black Cod Dosirak, Avocado Ikura Rice, Fresh Gimbap
Scores:
Value: 8.5
Service: 7.8
Consistency: 7.9
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 8.3
Cultural Relevance: 7.7
What makes it special: Rustic Canyon alum's vegetable-forward banchan with garden patio dining
Who should go: Lunch seekers wanting fresh Korean sides and dosirak
When to visit: Wednesday through Sunday lunch, arrive early before sellout
What to order: Cod dosirak, gimbap, seasonal banchan from cold case
Insider tip: Enter through Centennial St behind Heavy Water Coffee Shop
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking on Centennial/College St - easier weekdays, can fill up weekends. Chinatown public lot 2 blocks away ($5 flat)
Dress code: Ultra casual - athleisure, jeans, whatever. It's a daytime cafe with garden seating
Noise level: Quiet to moderate - intimate 200 sq ft space opens to peaceful garden patio, easy conversation
Weekend wait: N/A - lunch-only operation (closed evenings)
Weekday lunch: No wait for ordering, but popular items sell out by 1-2pm
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Excellent - banchan-focused menu is 80% vegetable dishes, dosirak boxes have veggie options
Vegan options: Very good - many banchan naturally vegan, but confirm fish sauce/anchovy stock usage on specific items
Gluten-free options: Moderate - gimbap and some banchan contain soy sauce, but plain dosirak rice boxes work with select sides
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes for casual daytime dates - the hidden garden patio is charming and low-pressure. Skip if you want dinner/drinks vibes or need a fallback plan (limited hours, items sell out).
Can I get a table without a reservation? It's counter-service with garden patio seating (no reservations). Arrive before noon on weekends to secure patio seating and full menu availability - popular items often gone by 1:30pm.
Is it kid-friendly? Yes - outdoor patio, healthy options, casual vibe. Gimbap and rice boxes work for kids. Just note it's small (can feel cramped if packed) and lunch-only hours.
Best For
Better for: Healthy Korean lunch, variety of fresh banchan you won't find elsewhere, peaceful garden dining in a hidden-gem setting, quick quality grab-and-go
Skip if: You want evening dining, need Korean BBQ or full Korean table service, have a large group (space is tiny), prefer guaranteed menu availability over seasonal/limited batches