- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Lazy Ox Canteen
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Gastropubs Canadian (New), Gastropubs [Edit]
241 S San Pedro StLos Angeles, CA 90012
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Little Tokyo
(213) 626-5299
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Wed, Sun 5 pm - 11 pm
Thu-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
799 reviews for Lazy Ox Canteen
Review Highlights
-
"This was the most amazing rice pudding." In 126 reviews -
"My favorite is probably the dashi marinated yellowtail." In 38 reviews -
"The pig ears were crispy, fatty perfection." In 59 reviews
Loading...
798 reviews in English
-
Review from Betty H.
Villa Park, CA
5/20/2012
came here for sunday brunch and had the ricotta pancakes, the fried eggs, and the turkey pork belly sandwich, all of which were really really good. The fried eggs and pork belly sandwich were amazing, though the latter was a little on the small/expensive side. It's tapas sized, so definitely order a few plates and get ready to share - my friend and I spit three plates and still had room for dessert. Definitely save room for the rice pudding with hazelnut cookie crisp. It's perfectly sweetened, not cloying, great ending with a cup of coffee. I'd definitely come back and try some of the other items.
Also, the service is stellar! -
Review from Kera U.
Monterey Park, CA
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Small, very small restaurant. Reservations are a good idea for large parties, esp on busy nights. Luckily, even though we had a party of 8 and showed up at around 6:45 PM on a Friday, we were seated very quickly. Don't ask me how that happened!
Unfortunately, we had my 1-year old daughter and were seated in the middle of the small room at a really high table with high bar stool chairs. She needed her own highchair, but against the table it was so low she was practically under the table, so that didn't work well. I can't hold that against the restaurant though because they did have other tables that would've suited the highchair, but those were all reserved for the smart people who made reservations. \=P
I wasn't impressed by the food. They all sounded fancy and almost unpronounceable, but anything I got just wasn't that good. Tapas generally are a pricey for their size anyway, but this is simple an overpriced tapas place that isn't worth the cost. The dishes all come out in whatever order they're ready, so it's best to share. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
For myself, I ordered the Roasted Baby Beet Salad with whipped goat and aged balsamic ($12.00), Roasted Japanese Eggplant garnished with bonito flakes and yuzu kosho crème fraiche ($8.00), and Polenta in creamed mushrooms and curry ($12.00).
RE: The beet salad
This was most comparable to The Cheesecake Factory's "beets with goat cheese" salad, although Cheesecake's is a little smaller and cheaper. However, I *love* Cheesecake's salad, but only liked the Lazy Ox's. I think I would've liked it more if I didn't have Cheesecake's to compare it to. The salad from Lazy Ox only had three ingredients (kinda boring): beets, the whipped goat cheese and sliced fig. The dressing was good, not overwhelming but the cheese had no flavor.
RE: The Japanese eggplant
This was four pieces of eggplant, sliced about 1.25" thick, topped with the crème fraiche and bonita flakes. I made the huge mistake of popping one full piece in my mouth. This dish was HORRENDOUS. I did not taste eggplant, yuzu kosho or bonito flakes. All I tasted was salt. I was so disgusted and upset that I actually ate it. I should've spit it out. My sister tried it because she didn't think that it could've been *that* salty, so she cut off a small piece and ate it. Her face completely twisted up like she just swallowed the contents of a salt shaker. I sent the dish back. No way any of us were eating that.
RE: The polenta
I ordered this to replace the eggplant dish. This wasn't bad. The consistency was good, not overly thick and it had just a hint of curry. It would've been better as some sort of dip instead of a soup (that's what I'm assuming it would supposed to be as it came in a small bowl with nothing but a spoon). It's a very heavy, savory dish that would've been best served with some bread or pasta.
My family ordered their fries, which I did like but that's because I enjoy really thick, fat fries. So that might not be that great to people who like shoestring fries (ugh!). Another winner was the lace battered surf clams with lime and caper-pickle aoili ($13.00). That one was delicious, similar to calamari but without the heavy breading or rubber chewiness.
The restaurant got noisy really quickly as people spilled in. It was slightly claustrophobic in the restaurant because the tables were all so close together and you had all the employees running around trying to fit through the tight, limited walk space as they tried tending to the tables.
The service was good. The busboys were constantly coming up to the table and clearing away the empty plates and they were good with the refills. The hostess was very sweet as well. Even though it's a small place, it's clean, organized and well-decorated with a good ambiance. Too bad the food just didn't measure up. -
Review from Ryan H.
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here with a small group with high expectations -- unfortunately they fell flat.
This place is definitely crowded, so it is still quite popular. Definitely best to call ahead for a reservation (preferably not the same day for a weekend).
Our server was excellent -- very friendly, attentive, and did a great job navigating the menu.
That said, the food that came out... was only mediocre. Without fail, all of the meat dishes were extremely overcooked. There were a few standout dishes (people really liked the tofu and the octopus), but overall the place just fell flat. It was at least partially saved by the beer selection (they also have beer flights, which is a nice touch).
This would probably be a 3 star restaurant if not for 1) how crowded it is and 2) the price -- unfortunately, the price tag did not warrant the quality of food. -
Review from Liz G.
Los Angeles, CA
The brunch was good, but it did not knock my socks off. The service was pretty stellar, and we were seated outside without a reservation on this beautiful Saturday afternoon without waiting a minute for a seat.
Our table shared the Lazy Ox burger, the turkey and pork belly sandwich, the jidori hen and the olives, almonds and fetta appetizer. The appetizer was delicious. Such good feta with an array of different olives and almonds. The jidori hen was very good, juicy and crispy on the outside. It had an interesting tangy taste that was perfect. The polenta on the side was a snore, though. The turkey and pork belly sandwich was pretty underwhelming. The pork belly itself was good, but take that away and you have yourself a bland and boring turkey sandwich. Thank goodness for the burger, which was deeelicious, juicy, and beefy. That was a total hit at our table. The fries with the cayenne aioli were also tasty.
I had a delicious ginger beer here that was better than the one at Wurstkuche! New fan.
Our server then talked wonders about the rice pudding. Skeptical at first (I mean, how exciting could rice pudding be?) I was pleasantly surprised and am a new fan or rice pudding! The rice pudding came with a drizzle of caramel sauce and a cinnamon crumble on top. It's not too sweet, almost breakfast like. Very tasty.
I want to come back for dinner to try their chalkboard dinners... -
Review from Vincent F.
North Hollywood, CA
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Staff was warm, friendly and very attentive. The manager made his way over to where me and my buddy were sitting and suggested some great plates of food. The wine list is well rounded and they had some great beers on the menu as well.
-
Review from Husam S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/16/2012
Where to start:
The wine selection was "okay" at best. The special - the rabbit legs, was underwhelming and under seasoned. The portions were odd: 2 steroid-mutant over-sided legs were lumped over a bed of al dente rice. Each plate was $42 - which is just silly at best for the execution, it was like eating a culinary school students first try at____________ (fill in the blank)!
For that price I expect GOOD food at the very least...not this cafeteria style half-slop. Too bad...such a miss!
The only saving grace was the panna cotta and even the port wine reduction wasn't that good.
The service was pleasant, but you had to wait quite some time for a drink. I would think that this sort of place is nice for a happy hour sort of adventure. Not a tasty meal for your money. (This is a wag of he finger - sort of place)
I think the place is nice, but I most likely will not come back. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Always has delicious food. Easily one of my favorite gastropubs. Everything comes in small plates which is perfect for sharing with your +1 or a group of friends. It can get very packed so make reservations before you go.
Although their menu changes, I love their bone marrow and pork belly w bacon. I was not a fan of their short rib, I thought the sauce was too sweet for my taste, but the meat was very tender.
A constant on their menu and an all-time favorite at the Lazy Ox is the rice pudding with caramel and hazelnut! It comes with creme fraiche and caramel and it is oh so divine! I always end up here when my craving for their rice pudding comes back!
I've usually found street parking, but there are paid lots nearby as well. -
Review from Ingrid P.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 5/7/2012
I agree, the grilled green cabbage is very bad. And it was repeatedly pushed on us by the waitress as delicious. (While she pushed many other things on us, despite having ordered more than enough food -- we left with three bags of leftovers).
I have been coming here a long time, and suspect they have changed chefs. Have they changed chefs? I'm disappointed.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
4/29/2012
The food here is absolutely wonderful. But be careful not to over-order. The plates are very… Read more »
-
-
Review from Emily S.
I had such high expectations for this place. I came here on the weekend for their brunch because Mikey suggested this place. Whatta Loser. You owe me brunch Mikey!
The brunch menu seems kind of small. Anyway, I ordered the pork belly and turkey burger ($12). You can get the burger with salad or fries and I opted for fries! The turkey meat that came on the burger was plain. It's similar to the quality you would get if you went to buy it in the grocery store. The pork belly was overcooked so it came out tough and crispy. The fries were good, and the sauce it came with was amazingly good.
The burgers here remind me of Umami as in Umami prices, but not Umami quality. I think I'll just stick to Umami from now on.
Parking: Not sure about the parking situation here, but we found a parking lot nearby which charged $3 for all day parking on the weekend. -
Review from raheela k.
Los Angeles, CA
5/3/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Wow. Such a HUGE disappointment. The food definitely came up very, very short from what we had expected based on the reviews. My first gripe with this place is the exorbitant prices for the portions. This place is more pricey with smaller portions and more average food than most similar places I've been to.
The food we ordered was average at best - we tried the beef carpaccio, which was probably the best thing we had. The crispy rabbit liver wasn't really crispy, and as someone who does eat liver, the texture was way off for me. The fried jidori had a nice crust and was moist inside, but flavorless. The oxtail was not memorable. Basically, average.
The only redeeming factor of this meal was the dessert - the butterscotch pudding and panna cotta were both very good.
But then - the server overcharged our cards by $10 per person (approximately $70 in total.) What a buzzkill.
Definitely don't waste your time here. -
Review from F G.
Los Angeles, CA
5/3/2012
This place is about 300 yards from the front door of my office, so it definitely is in the neighborhood and convenient for a weekday lunch, which we had today.
Ordered the L.O.C. fried Jidori hen, that comes with a lemon basil puree, mixed greens and polenta. Very good fried chicken, a wing and a breast, that was flavorful, especially with the creamy polenta.
Also ordered the caramelized broccoli with chile & mint, and the flame cooked asparagus with chorizo, herbs romesco and manchego.
The one gripe I have about this place is the inconsistency of the kitchen--both in the execution of the dishes as well as the timing. Our plates came out 15 minutes apart, leaving one diner waiting for food while the other had finished. It is an ongoing issue, and the waiter states that the food is served as it comes out. A few minutes difference is expected and can be tolerated, but this long of a wait is not acceptable for a professional kitchen attempting to serve lunch. -
Review from Míkéy L.
Los Angeles, CA
My entourage and I went to Lazy Ox for what we thought would be lunch...it was 1PM after all. However, Lazy Ox calls anywhere from 11 AM to 3 PM, brunch. Really now?
It was pretty busy on that hot Sunday and seating 6 is somewhat difficult for them. At first, the tatted, bleached haired server wanted us to sit outside in the heat with no shade. Really now? I refused her lame outdoor seating offer and said I wanted to sit inside to prevent any heat stroke to me and my entourage.
Several others in my group, including myself, ordered the pork belly and turkey sandwich. My first thought when reading the menu was that it would be a big sandwich, like you would find at any typical restaurant that serves sandwiches. When it was served, it looked like and felt more like a slider...if not slightly larger.
The sandwich I did enjoy. The turkey wasn't the pressed deli turkey (which I hate), but the turkey from a roasted bird. The pork belly was good to me. Crispy, slightly hard like filipino lechon kawali. Whoever likes soft pork belly is lame.
The fries were really good. Fresh cut, with peel, and crispy. The dipping sauce was very good as well.
Only thing I would improve about my experience are 3 things: 1) larger portion sizes for the amount paid, 2) have a hostess that thinks a little more about the comfort of her patrons and 3), not sit next to Emily S. b/c she eat all your fries! -
Review from Jason G.
4/26/2012 6 photos
Finally got to try Lazy Ox Canteen for a friends Bday this past weekend. Very small venue and crowded for dinner too. It was a big party that we had so I can understand the wait on the food to be prepared.
Overall the variety of dishes consist of small tapas; we ordered a little of everything off the menu and shared within our group. This place isn't going to leave you bloated that's for sure. Very small portions of food.. http://www.yelp.com/us..... literally 3 forks went into this and it was gone... lol, I did enjoy the Lazy Ox Burger though.. http://www.yelp.com/us..... very juicy and tasty with a side of corn and fries. You really have to have a knack for this type of food to really enjoy it I guess. I'm more a burger and steak kinda person so I cant really relate to all the dishes here.
Great ambiance though, place to enjoy a small meal along with some wine and beer with good company. I hear the brunch is good so I might try that next. -
Review from Elizabeth N.
Los Angeles, CA
Excited to come here because if BBE 30% off coupon I got. Went here on Sat for brunch and they have a pretty good selection of food on their menu. I didn't try their burger but I will have to.
I got the Vanilla Biscuit with salmon, egg and hollandise.It was very tasty and the vanilla biscuit added a sweetness that intrigued me. My boyfriend got the Turkey and Pork Belly Sandwich. He didn't enjoy it and he likes all foods. But I thought it was decent just not my first choice to eat.
For dessert, we finished with the famous rice pudding. I really liked it but it didn't really taste like rice pudding for me.
I would suggest that Lazy Ox get their parking validated for the lot next door because there is only street parking around. I would make a review a 3.5 just because it was good but I'm not sure if I would have paid that much for the food. -
Review from Michael R.
La Habra, CA
4/30/2012
We stopped by Lazy Ox before the Dodgers game last Friday and I have mixed feelings about this place.
While the service was great and attentive. Their food came up a bit short.
Corn Soup - had a nice corn flavor to it but I would of enjoyed it more if it came out some what hot. Room temperature soup kind of killed it for me.
Chicharrons (happy hour menu) - was crispy and tasty.
Burger - our server told us it comes out medium rare (which I always get) but sadly it came out well done. The fries were pretty damn good though.
Brussels Sprouts - might of been the best dish of the night. Very nicely paired with the Parmesan cheese.
Bone Marrow - barely had any marrow, and wasn't really of fan of the horse radish foam.
I'm willing to come back because I know the food would of been a lot better if their execution was cleaned up. -
Review from mrs h.
Los Angeles, CA
5/3/2012
Burger is TOP NOTCH. Asparagus with Chorizo & Manchego is DEVINE!!! (yes, I used the word "devine"). Pig Ears were gross - I like mexican chicharones but this ish had a weird smell and the texture was a little too slimy for me. PASS. Shortrib sandwich was solid. Oh yeah, can't forget about the fries - sooo good.
Definitely don't leave this place without trying the rice pudding - as good, if not better, than the burger. -
Review from Elliot K.
Chino Hills, CA
4/27/2012
ok so i came here with my mom a while back. We came at night and honestly i was a little scared because the location of this place looks kind of ghetto (at least to me) but once i was inside it was really nice. Not too bright, a bit small, but very friendly service.
So what we ordered. fried Rabbit liver,lazy ox burger, and the palenta.
Rabbit liver: decided to stray from my comfort zone and give it a try. Not that i didnt like the taste when i take the first bite but the texture and the aftertaste was something that i personally did not enjoy.
Lazy ox burger: pretty good burger. Kinda small but not a bad burger
Palenta: dont know much about it and hadnt tried palenta before but it was pretty satisfying. I enjoyed it
LUCKY ME! My mom knew one of the chefs who work here and he gave us a complementary dessert. Rice pudding and a pine nut cookie with butterscotch pudding.
Rice pudding: TO DIE FOR!!! it was hands down one of the best ive had.
Pine nut cookie: omg......the cookie....is just....SOOOOOO......GOOOOOOOOODDD!!!. I was close to tears when my cookie was gone.
Overall this restaraunt is AWESOME! especially for me because i read a lot of things that i have never tried before. Definitely will be coming here again in the future! -
Review from Jennifer A.
Los Angeles, CA
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
We had their:
1) pig ear "chicharon" with pickles, radish & horseradish
2) beef carpaccio with marinated pecorino, pickled shallots & mustard oil
3) 10 oz. niman ribeye steak w/ fava bean puree & bone marrow
4) anson mills polenta w/ creamed mushrooms & curry
5) braised rabbit leg with tomatillo, avocado & chile
6) egg plant appetizer
7) caramel pudding w/ cream
& we were still hungry!
My f-a-v were #1 & 2! -
Review from Karina T.
Los Angeles, CA
I would give this place 3.5 stars but I put down 3 for the slow service despite the fact that it wasn't packed. I noticed that the waiters here are very "hip" and that they have quite a lot of tattoos. Hmm, just an observation.
We were told that the restaurant serves the food tapas style, meaning it'll come out as it is ready, and not all together. So we ordered brussel sprouts, the 7oz laxy ox burger, and the slow cooked rabbit. We were expecting to get the brussel sprouts quite fast but that took about 30 minutes for it to come out. But once that was out, the 2 other dishes came out relatively quickly.
The brussel sprouts were alright. They weren't too salty or bland but it wasn't strikingly good. I loved the lazy ox burger though. The meat was soft, juicy and tender. I changed my side from french fries to a salad, and that came out pretty well too. I had a bite of my friend's slow cooked rabbit and the meat just melted in my mouth. Yes, it was that soft. However, this isn't a restaurant that I'd be dying to come back for. -
Review from Stella K.
Garden Grove, CA
5/6/2012
me definitely thinks not.
several things that i didn't agree w. here at laxy ox.
1. the very small portions for dishes that are meant to be shared
2. grilled green cabbage? very bad
3. the burger? way too greasy & oily. it is not the best burger in LA
4. biscuits w. gravy? it was way too heavy. made me feel sick the rest of the day
5. asparagus? good flavor. i think it was the best dish out of the bunch.
6. turkey & pork belly sandwich. i think this one was also one of the acceptable dishes we sampled.
7. the servers & hostess's could care less attitude.
mmmm definitely won't be back. -
Review from James M.
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
We get lunch from here once in a while and even though there's so much hype about this place, I haven't really been too impressed.
Usually just stick to either the turkey and pork belly sandwich or the Lazy Ox burger. Keeping it simple. I've noticed that they don't have a lot of their veggie dishes like roasted Brussel sprouts or other sides that would go well with the meal yet it hasn't been removed from the menu. On one occasion we asked to order 4 dishes and they didn't have any of those available, so we asked her what they did have and we were finally able to complete our order. Keep in mind that the order was placed just before noon so it's not like they sold out for the day.
Had to check out the hype but did not live up to it... -
Review from Ji-In L.
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
2.5. It was okay. But for the price it should've been way better than okay. We tried a bunch of dishes to share including the short ribs, grilled octopus, eggplant, corn soup, hamachi ceviche, some fancy fried chicken, and some fancy ham on bread. There may have been more but none memorable. The best things was actually the eggplant and I am a carnivore. The hamachi was tasty too but hard to mess that up if you have good fish. The most disappointing thing was that all the meat was unforgivably over cooked and dry. I love octopus but no one likes dry rubbery octopus. Yuck. I'd only go back if someone really wanted to but I see no point when there are so many great restaurants to try. It was kind of a fun vibe but we were sat at a really awkward table in the back that was uncomfortable. Overall, there were a bunch of really fun and interesting dishes on the menu but they failed on the execution. And, they ran out of bone marrow. :(
-
Review from Rbaby T.
Los Angeles, CA
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I like it, can't say that I would come back though. The space had a very weird feel to it and the food was an interesting mix of tapas. What I didn't like was that we spent $60 per person (excluding drinks) and I didn't walk away satisfied with the meal/evening.
They get points for simple yet tasty dishes though... -
Review from Jannice A.
Los Angeles, CA
3/27/2012
How the hell I racked up a $300 bill here for 3 people is beyond me. We each ordered 2 rounds of wine and 5-6 plates. I stil left here hungry.
$20 for the cheese plate was a COMPLETE ripoff. Try Mignon.
Everything else was also mediocre, including the rice pudding. The coffee however was really good but beyond that, Lazy Ox is not my kinda place. I prefer Gorbals or Baco Mercat.
With a full house on a Thursday night, the service sucked. mostly everyone here is an older crowd (more $ i guess) and really awkward first dates. My waitresss came to us twice, with only the bartender asking us for more rounds I live 2 blocks from here and I won't ever come back. The asian Hostess was pretty hot though! -
Review from Leslie P.
3/20/2012
Three of us grabbed seat at the center communal table on a busy Saturday night. We were advised to shared six plates, so we did as we were told. Each of us picked two: crispy surf clams, crispy rabbit livers, lamb cheeks, creamy farro with hazelnuts, Lazy Ox burger, and spaghetti squash (http://bunnylovebaker....).
The clams, served with aioli, were okay; the ratio of clam to fried batter were not in my favour. The rabbit livers were very...livery. It wasn't bad, but as most liver is, it's a little heavy, and I can't eat too much of it. However, the radicchio, apple, and hearts of palm balanced it out a bit. The lamb cheeks were tender, and had a sweet & tangy sauce. The farro with hazelnuts was my favorite. It was al dente, creamy, crunchy, cheesy, and the flavours was amazing. The burger was an eight ounce patty, with butter leaf lettuce and sandwiched in brioche bun. This was okay, but it's because I'm not a huge fan of burgers in the first place (with the exception of Father's Office & Umami, of course). The spaghetti squash, sprinkled with cheese, was my second favourite dish.
Food was good, with my favourites being the farro and spaghetti squash. I would come back just for these two! The other dishes were not as memorable, but I still enjoyed our meal here. -
Review from John H.
Azusa, CA
4/4/2012
Okay I decided to get in on one of these really popular trendy places called the Lazy Ox Canteen. Located in/near little Tokyo, it's a small sized restaurant that serves up seasonal dishes with fresh ingredients. I happened to go with a few people, so that gave me the opportunity to sample a few different things.
I tried their 7 oz burger which was pretty good. It's always good when a place uses fresh meat. Their fries were good too altho they only give you a few. Tried the octopus, the albacore, the steak. All of these were really good. Of course I always find octopus too chewy for my taste but the octopus lovers there said it was good. I was really impressed by the fresh veggies prepared so skillfully like a piece of art.
The beer selection was small but nice. A good range of tastes. There are lots of wines on the menu and I tried a couple of those and they were good. The server knew the menu well and described each dish to perfection. The service was very attentive.
All in all I would frequent this place if I lived closer and was a lot richer. I figure we spent around 50 plus per person in the group and that was really just with 1 drink. The food was good, service great. The only complaints I would have is that the prices are ginormous and the atmosphere is really loud.
Definitely a place to try at least once tho. -
Review from Michelle G.
Los Angeles, CA
Updated - 3/19/2012
So my first review ever Started with Lazy OX - and I feel, after a year its only right that I comment again - Especially given the new Head Chef, and I think... a new GM?
I've been in plenty of times recently - I'd venture to say maybe 20 times over the past year? Not as much recently until last week. The service is hit or miss. Some nights AMAZING, others so so. That's what loses the star for me.
There used to be a blond hostess nights that I LOVED. She always started everything off wonderfully, always had a recommendation for what to start with, and really made my visits personal. Shaina, or Shannon, I think she may have left bc i haven't seen her in recent visits. I met the new hostess Kayla the other night - shes super sweet so if you see her, shes great too. I think the first 5 minutes of being in a restaurant are the most important - that's the difference between feeling welcomed... and just another number.
Anyways on to the food! - A lot of similar dishes to what they had before. The cauliflower is GREAT - worth every dollar to get me to eat my veggies. The short ribs are wonderful. Its tapas style so you mix and match. The yellow tail with orange is smaller but also OH SO GOOD! The new head chef can be seen both in front of and behind the counter in the kitchen cooking, and it was neat to watch him work with his staff.
For two people I'd suggest getting one Entree sized dish, and 3 smaller ones.
People comment on the size and food, but I've had almost everything on the menu and as long as the servers help you pick out the best items - you really cant go wrong. The only time I've left hungry is when I ordered a bunch of smaller dishes and didn't really have an entree sized one. I'd pass on the asparagus tho - not much excitement for the price.
One comment about eating here - It can get LOUD!
and I mean really loud!
Sit outside if you care about this, or come for lunch or brunch.Listed in: Best Service Around (mostly in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/7/2010
So i finally joined the ranks on yelp with my first review! Actually I'm about to review all my… Read more »
-
-
Review from Rob W.
3/19/2012
I've only been here for lunch and enjoy the casual outdoor seating and friendly pseudo-quixotic staff.
And i haven't really been frequenting a ton, so limited on the menu. Ordered the burger, which was a very tasty juicy burger with a real good sauce. Also have ordered the pork belly turkey sando, which was slightly bland in comparison. I like all the "veggie" sides that i've had here too.Listed in: Burgers
-
Review from Peter L.
El Monte, CA
3/15/2012
Came here last night with a friend for dinner and had a blast. We started of the night with a glass of beer and a red. I got their Avery. It is a dark ale with this funky taste that I'm not use to. My friend got a glass of wine, can't remember what she ordered.
The appetizers came next:
1. Beef Carpaccio - very fresh meat. It came with pickled shallots, marinated pecorino and pea shoots.
2. Carmelized Cauliflower - cook to perfection. not overcooked or undercooked. just right.
3. Fried Pork Skin (Chicharrones) - very crunchy and it came with a white dipping sauce.
4. Ceviche - it was mixed with mango pieces and a red sauce. I knew I should've written the name down
We paired the appetizers with a sparkling white.
The entrees:
1. Rabbit - can't remember the exact name of the dish. I haven't had rabbit for probably over 20 years. The meat tasted a little like chicken. It was garnished with some veggies.
2. Braised short ribs - my favorite dish of the night. it was so tendered. When you put a piece in your mouth, literally, it just melts. A must-have if you ask me.
We paired the entrees with a glass of red.
After a long busy day at work, this is how it should end. Good food, "stress re-leaving" drinks, great service and awesome company. -
Review from Peramelon P.
West Hollywood, CA
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came here after watching chef Perfecto on TV announcing the Paella day so we made a reservation on Friday night to try his famous Fideua (squid ink noodle made in a a paella pan). Before the main dish we tried different appetizers like: callos, boca bits (roasted skin pig), the yellow tail with mango and piquillo pepper ( I am sorry but I can't remember the name) was awesome!!!
All the tapas were great and the Fideua with Santa Barbara prawns.. mmmm I am still dreaming about it
The atmosphere was trendy and the music rocks (The Ramones, The Pixies, etc a very good rock & roll selection). The wine list is decent too but the highlight in this place is with no doubt the high quality ingredients and the twist that the chef makes to the menu everyday! Definitely we will come back!!! -
Review from Kevin C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/30/2012 Seated via OpenTable 6 Check-ins Here
Lazy Ox is always amazing. They have a great wine list and truly superb food.
The staff always have great recommendations.
The creamy polenta and the rice pudding are both just incredible.
Lazy Ox is one of our new favorites. We hope to be regulars there! -
Review from Sirsa S.
Los Angeles, CA
4/1/2012
I love Lazy Ox. The hamburger there is the best in the city. It blows Father's Office out of the water. It takes a lot for me to ever eat the bread which accompanies a burger, and I must say that at Lazy Ox it would be a huge shame not to enjoy the incredible brioche-style bun with their juicy delicious burger.
Equally delectable are the spicy shishito peppers. Awesome beer selection, down to earth and vibe. It kind of feels like a "foodie" place inside, when you feel like everyone in there is aware how tasty the food is and is enjoying their quality meal. Enjoy. -
Review from Akiko Y.
Los Angeles, CA
2/23/2012
Should have listened to the Yelp-ers...
The hostess Kayla's (the young lady with blonde hair and dread locks) attitude from the time I made the reservations, and up to the time we left the restaurant was just unnecessary and rude.
If that wasn't enough, the way she spoke to us was very unprofessional, so much that we saw ourselves out of the empty restaurant before getting seated.
Before we left, we asked to speak with the manager to which she answered he was in a meeting and she didn't know his last name.
The bartender was on the other hand, very sweet, and made our 3 minutes of drinking our beverages at the bar enjoyable before Kayla interrupted.
Needless to say we won't be going back. -
Review from Jared H.
Toluca Terrace, CA
3/20/2012
I have been here 4 times and each time has been great. Nice staff, great food... what more to ask?
The atmosphere is great. Most of the dishes are smaller "tapas" style and they have lots of veggies. It's great for sharing and trying a little bit of everything.
They also have happy hour with beer and wine specials and some food.
I would definitely recommend. There's a nice outdoor area for when it's warmer. -
Review from Anthony N.
Playa del Rey, CA
***Lazy Ox Canteen's brunch and lunch leave me wanting more; I think I will have to try them for dinner to see if I enjoy this one as much as other small plates places like Son of a Gun, Animal and Ink***
Lazy Ox Canteen is a small plates place with a global focus (very noticeable in the ingredients and their flavors). I have only tried them for brunch and lunch and the experiences have been mostly positive. This last experience, however, was a little on the average side.
Lazy Ox Canteen has expanded their brunch menu so that there are a lot more small plates available. Unfortunately, most of their items tend to be on the non-protein side. We tried several things. Here is the rundown.
(Crispy surf clams with aioli and lime) This was good. The clams were moist and meaty while the batter was crunchy but still light. The clams had a good flavor as did the aioli.
(Polenta with creamed mushrooms and curry) The curry flavor was not that strong, but the overall flavor of this dish was very good. I liked the mushrooms as well as the braised greens. The polenta was very creamy and good.
(Grilled asparagus with romesco and cheese) The asparagus was thin but good. It was tender and not too bitter. The romesco was okay and the melted cheese was a light flavor.
(Green bean salad with greens, radicchio, apple, crispy pork belly) This dish was very acidic (way too much vinegar). The salad was fresh (and the green beans had a good crunch), but the dressing kind of ruined it. The pork belly was very crisp, but since it had so much fat (and very little meat), it gave off kind of a burnt flavor.
(Brussels sprouts with pecorino, hot chorizo and pickled onions) Like the green bean salad, this was way too acidic (too much vinegar). The brussels sprouts were cooked well enough, but they were still bitter. The chorizo was kind of lost with all that vinegar.
(Buttermilk biscuit with pancetta gravy) The biscuit was a little overcooked and dry. I was not a big fan of the gravy, which was not as creamy as I would have liked (it was a little too greasy and the flavor was not as smooth as sausage gravies I have had).
The staff was pleasant though service was a little inattentive at times. The food did come out at a quick pace. If you are looking for a leisurely brunch, you may want to space out the ordering a bit.
Prices were not too high for a small plates place. Several of their plates like the green bean salad and the crispy surf clams featured very generous portions.
Lazy Ox Canteen has a very inviting decor. It has a dark contemporary gastropub feel like Culver City's Father's Office. They also feature an outdoor dining patio that usually gets a lot of sun during the day.
Lazy Ox Canteen's brunch menu is getting bigger, but I think I still need to try them for dinner to get the best that this restaurant has to offer (their dinner menu sounds much better than their brunch and lunch menus). I am not sure if I am going to like their dinner though considering that based on the dishes I have had here, I have enjoyed similar bold small plates places like Animal, Son of a Gun and Ink more. Still, I think I will eventually get over here for dinner given their strong reputation.
Parking is available on the street by meter.Listed in: Ranking Jonathan Gold's 99…, Ranking 2012 James Beard…, Ranking 2011 James Beard…, Best Waiters And Waitresses In…, Ranking Downtown LA Lunch…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
5/19/2011
***Similar to Animal and Waterloo & City, Lazy Ox Canteen utilizes good quality ingredients to put… Read more »
-
-
Review from Susana C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/2/2012 1 photo
Delicious food!!! I never write reviews on Yelp but this place is definitely worth one! I was there for dinner and returned for a Saturday brunch. I loved everything I had: beef carpacio, fried fish appetizer, ham & melon, aubergines, burger, cod cassolet... And amazing desserts!! The chef Perfecto Rocher makes the most amazing rice pudding and chocolate fudge I ever had. Will definitely go there again!
-
Review from Carla F.
Los Angeles, CA
5/3/2012
I love this place. Food is great and very unique. Corn soup, grilled octopus are very good. It is a bit loud and the tables are too close together but the food makes up for the atmosphere.
-
Review from Catalina U.
Venice, CA
5/2/2012
I have never written a review before but I came to check the other reviews on lazy ox and was sort of surprised about some of them, so I feel I have to counterbalance for my current favorite place...
Ive eaten dinner here three times since the new spanish chef is in charge and every time has been better than the previous one. Being Spanish myself I was really curious about the spanish touch, but although some dishes are spanish-inspired I have to warn you: this is NOT a spanish place.
Ive tried things here that Ive been thinking about for days (the arzak eggs, for example: perfect egg over italian truffle and an incredibly smooth sort of potato paste and some chorizo taste. The okra dish, I dont remember what it had exactly... the crispy chicken skins - yes, chicken - with a yougourt sauce to dip in... ufff).
If you appreciate the difference between this food and the regular restaurant around the corner, youll love it. If you dont really care that much ans you are just looking for an easy dinner, youll probably wont enjoy much and will find it overpriced (I dont say this in a patronizing way, theres just people that is not into this kind of stuff and thats totally fine. There is also people like me that pray for this place to open! I actually find this place extremely well priced for what it has to offer).
Definitely not a place for people that are only interested in having a quick bite or comparing burgers (although the burger is amazing). However, if you are really into food, and know what you are doing, this is the best place in Los Angeles. -
Review from Vicky L.
Los Angeles, CA
3/10/2012
uhm.. overpriced for tapas style food. I think there's much better places in LA for the same price. I came here with a group and we ordered a bunch of stuff on the menu.. that I don't remember. I also decided to be a weirdo and ordered sake of all the drink options. The sake was pretty smooth, if anyone was considering to order this :)))
The memorable dish was the lazy ox burger (with cantal cheese & green peppercorn mustard). I heard it was comparable to the Father's Office burger but I'm biased towards the FO burger. -
Review from Che L.
North Wales, PA
3/26/2012
I came to this spot six times in the last month or so... I am hooked!
First came the burger, I had to... It was rated the best burger in LA 2011 in some ranking so I had to check it out... Little did I realize how amazing the rest of the menu was. My recommendation is to come a little early on a week-night. When its less crowded grab a seat at the bar. The bartenders here love what they do and will almost always hook you up with a crazy sample of a beer or wine (A Hungarian red? yup) and often they just came by and "topped off" my IPA.
Since the first visit, I don't do the burger, was it tasty? yup. is it the best thing on the menu? not by any stretch of the imagination. Go and order something you've never eaten before and be sure to get a couple of grams of truffle to throw around =9
I never forget a place that shuts down my foodie snobbery, and its been awhile, but you won me over Lazy Ox. I love you... I want you inside me...
Read more reviews for this business:
Spanish (1)
