Recently we at “Surviving LA on a Budget” went to explore a new dining sensation in Los Angeles. That phenomenon is the pop-up restaurant, also called a supper club. Some of you may have recalled one of these pop-up restaurants appearing in a popular Bing commercial. So what is a pop-up restaurant? A pop-up restaurant is essentially a temporary establishment that can be used to help aspiring chefs. Without worrying about the logistics of running a restaurant full-time, chefs are able to utilize pop-up restaurants to come up with interesting and creative plates for patrons. Since these restaurants are typically hidden, diners need to use social media to locate them, and “Surviving LA on a Budget” is all about social media! We recently went to one of these pop-up restaurants, KTCHN DTLA, for a weekend brunch.
Like other pop-up restaurants, it can be difficult to locate KTCHN DTLA initially. We eventually found out that it’s located inside another restaurant, The Gorbals, which is inside The Alexandria. Since pop-up restaurants are small, and their opening hours are infrequent, reservation on their respective websites are usually required. However, the bar and kitchen counters in KTCHN DTLA are available on a first-come, first-served basis for those without reservations.
After sitting down, we are greeted by one of the servers working that day. Probably because pop-up restaurants provide a more intimate, private setting due to their secrecy, servers were generally more helpful and friendly towards their patrons in my opinion. They often go out of the way to make sure you have a fulfilling eating experience.
Chefs use pop-up restaurants to experiment with new cuisine. Therefore, it is important to remember that the menu is never the same, and substitutions are discouraged. It is a journey for both the chef and your taste palette. As a result, the dishes that I’m reviewing today may not necessarily be the same as the ones listed in the future. I ordered the $18 short rib and polenta, which was the special for that day. I’m glad the chef didn’t try to hide the taste of the rib with seasoning because the ribs were really tender and flavorful! The plate also included two over easy eggs and a brioche, a type of breakfast roll. The brioche was so flaky and delicious that I felt like I was eating a croissant. Despite the image of a pig being displayed prominently on their website, vegetarians have nothing to fear. On that day, we were surprised to find out the majority of the selections on their menu were vegetarian-friendly and under $15! Golda ordered a habanero scramble with goat cheese, scrambled eggs, pumpkin seeds, and greens, and our friend Allie got a beet hash with a creamy Hollandaise-like sauce drizzled over fried eggs, greens, and roasted potatoes. The habanero scramble was surprisingly not spicy, and the beet hash was like a variation of the popular eggs benedict with fried eggs instead of poached eggs. Golda also ordered a drink made with fresh beets. I’m not a big fan of beets so I got the sparking orange juice. It tasted like an Italian soda except you could tell that the orange was freshly squeezed! Overall we loved their takes on brunch and their emphasis on vegetables.
Like most pop-up restaurants, KTCHN DTLA may only be around for a short time so don’t hesitate to check out this establishment. KTCHN DTLA is located inside The Gorbals at 501 South Spring Street, Los Angeles. There are plenty of metered parking, which are free on Sundays. Otherwise, you can take buses 2, 4, 16, 18, 20, 28, 33, 35, 38, 40, 42, 51, 52, 53, 55, 60, 62, 83, 92, 302, 316, 352, 355, 460, 701, 721, 728, and 733. It is also only two blocks away from the Pershing Square Metro Station. Please note that they are only open on Saturday from 10AM to 1:30PM and on Sunday from 10AM to 3PM and they only accept cash. Make sure to reserve beforehand. Please check out our Facebook page for more photos, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @SurvivingLA!
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What are some of your favorite pop-up restaurants in LA? Leave us a reply!
Until next time,
Steven
Surviving LA on a Budget 