Description

Celebrated by Curtis Hanson in his masterpiece of film noir, 'L.A. Confidential', from the James Ellroy novel, the Formosa Cafe is a motherlode of City of the Angeles folklore. This Rococo hangout started out as a Chinese eatery but in recent years it has expanded the menu to include some Thai, Japanese and Korean dishes. The popular venue has been around since 1932 and a storm of protests by loyal patrons saved it from becoming a parking lot for the neighboring Warner Bros Hollywood Studios. Step inside this blast from the past and you enter a dark black and red venue with walls lined with celebrities mostly from the 50s. This is definitely a destination you have to know about. There is something about its appeal that defies description but Angelenos have had a love affair with the place since it first opened its doors.