[Los Angeles] Sqirl (2)
Categories: Bakery, Breakfast/Brunch, Specialty Store, Café, American (New)
Address: 720 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, 90029 (Silver Lake)
Hours: Mon - Fri 6:30 am - 4 pm
Sat - Sun 8 am - 4 pm
Date visited: October 2013
Price: ~$12-15 per person
Verdict: A MUST!!! My kind of "happy food."
www.sqirlla.com | Yelp | (323) 284-8147
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My friend who was visiting town wanted to grab breakfast on a Thursday morning. “8:30a.m.,” he said. My goodness. Hm, alright, I thought to myself, Sqirl it is.
If I have to rise early from my pristine bed, then wherever we’re going to eat better be damn worth it.
I mentioned in my previous review that Sqirl is an indie, very hipster “toast and coffee” sort of place. It’s located in the not-so-scenic area of Silverlake, and the storefront itself isn’t fancy either. I’m sure that when my friend arrived, he either must have thought he entered the wrong address or that I am crazy for bringing him here. I guess from the outside, it really doesn’t look like the type of place you’d take a visitor. But let me tell you, I think he left with a more-than-satisfied tummy and smile.
At 8:30 in the morning, the place was already packed.
Of course I wanted coffee. I ordered the regular drip, in which they serve in a cutesy glass jar. You also get a small porcelain cup to help cool the coffee down when you want to drink it. The coffee was smooth, light and perfect the way it was. It need no milk or sugar, although diluted cane sugar and milk are available if you want it (also served in beautiful glass bottles).
Drip Coffee ($3.5)
Cute coffee, milk and cane sugar glass jars
I didn’t get to try their quintessential Kukuho Rose Brown Rice Bowl last time, so I knew I had to get it this time. There are two versions:
Regular: Kokuho Rose Brown Rice Bowl with sorrel pesto, preserved meyer lemon, lacto fermented hot sauce, black radish, French sheep feta, and a poached egg ($7.5)
Vegan (“The Stella”) – greens & radish instead of the poached egg/feta ($9)
I ordered The Stella. The simple, comfort-food ingredients were very well harmonized. The light and tangy lemony-flavored pesto was blissfully infused with the rice, and hit the spot perfectly. I’m not used to eating rice this early, but this dish was thoughtfully crafted and not heavy at all. It was quite refreshing, in fact.
"The Stella"
My friend ordered the Burnt Brioche Toast, house ricotta, seasonal jam ($7).
It looks fabulous and although I didn’t try, I can tell from the look on my friend’s face that it was good.
Burnt Brioche Toast, House Ricotta, Seasonal Jam
Inside of the Burnt Brioche Toast
Happy Halloween!