Fusion | Stoli The Foodie

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Royal/T Cafe is a restaurant/art gallery that celebrates Japan’s tea culture and is inspired by Tokyo’s maid cafes with the waitresses dressed in maid uniforms. A wide variety of teas are offered alongside Japanese influenced food with a California touch. The multi-purpose space is in a large warehouse with exposed trusses, wooden beams, industrial skylights and full-length wall display cases which create a unique vibe for the cafe as well events and art exhibits.

The five-year project is concluding and the Culver City space will be closing its doors sometime in Summer 2012. Fortunately, there will still be upcoming roaming special events, exhibits and pop-ups in the Los Angeles area. The venue’s final show, “The Art of Cooking,” will run April 27 through Aug. 1, 2012.

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Miru 8691 is currently my favorite Japanese/Korean fusion restaurant in LA, a gem hidden away in a nondescript strip mall. This restaurant has an extensive menu ranging from sushi rolls to noodles to bibimbop to tacos & burritos to burgers and more. While many restaurants that have such large menus generally have mediocre food, this place beats the odds and delivers something unique and delicious each time at affordable prices– there are happy hour specials all the time as well as great lunch specials. Chef Miru Jung and his brother Calvin put their hearts in each dish and pay great attention to presentation and detail. The decor is clean and chiq, definitely a bit kitschy with LV patterned booths, plastic white tables and colorful lighting, reflecting the hip fusion food. The music is great too, they play dance, techno and house. It’s one of my go-to places when I am looking for fusion sushi, comfort food or to try something new as there is always something more to discover on the menu. It’s all about the food here, the restaurant has a very laid back vibe. The service can be a bit slow at times, but I can tell the owners care about their customers so just come with a bit of patience because the food doesn’t disappoint. I’ve been here many times and want to share the variety of items I’ve tried in my visits.

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