KTCHN DTLA (Los Angeles, CA)

KTCHN DTLA
The Gorbals
501 S Spring St
Los Angeles, CA 90013
Dining date: 4/21/13 and 10/26/13

When I think of brunch options in downtown Los Angeles, there aren’t a whole lot that come to mind. Especially without a lengthy wait. There are a number of options that do fairly standard brunch fare, but KTCHN DTLA stands out for its unique twists on traditional egg, potato and toast-based dishes.

Technically a recurring pop-up restaurant, it’s currently open on Saturdays and Sundays inside Ilan Hall’s The Gorbals restaurant. I tend to prefer windows and natural light for brunch, but the setting here is markedly different. Located in the back of the lobby of historic the Hotel Alexandria, its windowless dining room focuses in on the open kitchen.

I’ve been here twice and this post captures both visits. A full bar is available, clearly a big plus for any brunch spot.

Apple N Caramelized Maple Onion Biscuit

This came out pretty different from expectations; whereas this wasn’t a traditional biscuit, a biscuit dough crumb topping sat atop a hot apple and onion mixture. More savory than expected, I wouldn’t say anything stood out about this dish.

Sun Dried Tomato Scramble fresh tomatoes, caramelized onions, scallions and smoked Gouda, home fries, brioche

A relatively simple dish, creamy eggs were complemented by tomatoes and onions. A bit of cheese added richness to each bite, while the home fries – crispy outside and soft inside – were quite good. I had no complaints with the portion sizes.

Thai Curry Pork Scramble red curry pork scramble topped with mustard greens, lemongrass ginger crunch rice, home fries, brioche

This was probably the best thing I tried, again centered around the creamy eggs. There was a nice balance of Thai curry flavors, contrasted by some bitter greens on top. The crunchy rice was a difference-market, being flavorful and providing a lot of texture. Again, the home fries made an appearance.

The eggs dishes came with a side of brioche. They were somewhat dense and didn’t have a whole lot of flavor on their own.

Fried Chicken and Corn Bread French Toast

This sounded like a must-order – crispy, juicy fried chicken was well-done, paired with an interesting corn bread french toast. A little bit denser and dry, I’m not sure it lived up to ‘highs’ of the fried chicken.

Tres Leches French Toast strawberry compote, granola, whipped cream, brioche toast

This french toast was a little better, definitely more moist. Fresh strawberries were a fresh, sweet complement.

Over both visits, KTCHN DTLA was a little hit-or-miss. It’s not high on my list of places to return to, but it presents a decent option for a slightly non-traditional Western-style brunch downtown.