My 2 Cents LA Reviews

I love this place after only visiting once a few days ago. The staff is all beyond nice- they all say "hello!" or "what up?" when you walk in and depending on which employees are there, they'll sing for you if you tell them it's your first time. The food was great and the restaurant itself is quaint. They also play the best music as you dine in.

The food is so good here that apparently they feel they can get away with the interminable wait. Both times I have been here, once midday and once on a Saturday night, it was the same- long line at counter to order, long wait for food- we’re talking over 30 min- and often it’s hard to get utensils and cups. The “cooler” holding Cokes is not cold. Often the AC is not on in the place. If they could rectify these issues the place would be top shelf.

This urban cafe serves a limited selection of tasty vegetarian and meat items. The décor is eclectic and the vibe is very East coast! The only downside is the concert-level music and parking, but definitely worth a try!

On Pico Blvd there are many boutique type of restaurant's and this is one as well. Do I dare call this CLEAN soul food with the SOUL taste? They even have gluten free and vegan options. YUMMERS! I chose the Shrimp and grits. I'm NOT a grits lover I have to add sugar, butter and make them into SOMETHING. Well with this dish you need NOTHING added. It was YUMMYTASTIC! In addition I ordered the oxtail taco's. ANOTHER YUMMERS! For dessert my friend had the German Chocolate cake AND peach cobbler. And YES he ate it ALL...okay hey don't judge him! He's like the dessert specialist and we've ran around LA for the best of the best. Well the German chocolate cake didn't meet the standard but he said the peach cobbler was EXCELLENT. Please when you see the prices...refer back to boutique restaurant. This is like gourmet soul food...and yes I would choose this over the typical soul food dishes. The flavor of the food was excellent and you can tell there was a lot of thought into making a perfect menu. We ordered Lemonade...skip it! For the $3 with three free refills it's not that yummy. You serve yourself for the drinks as well. When I think of yummy $3 lemonade I think of that mall chain lemonade spot quality. Keep in mind didn't come for the lemonade so yes! yes! yes! I still give this place a 5 stars. The customer service is WONDERFUL. Everyone is super friendly and they yell out a welcome when you come in. The food was served quickly as well. If you're an early riser PLEASE know this place opens at noon so you won't get early morning food. And it actually works since the items are more of lunch items. The staff did mention a Sunday brunch, didn't ask the time. It sounds lively. The parking isn't the best however, it's WORTH the fuss of the small lot or looking for street parking.

If you have not been to my 2 cents then you are missing out. The food is delicious. The staff is friendly and everything is made to order. The vegan spaghetti was so good and made with love. If you are in the Los Angeles area, you must stop and eat at my 2 cents.

If mother had cooked like this, I would have never left home. When I tasted the shrimp and grits I was stunned--so delicious. My friend's grilled snapper was also fantastic as were the sides. The staff is very attentive and really aim to please. Best of all is the beautiful and talented chef/ owner who came to our table and after listening to our raves, gave us all a hug (mom didn't even hug me after I mowed the lawn). I wish these people would adopt me so I could eat like this every day. Highly recommended.

My husband went here and encouraged me to go as well ... he knew I'd like it. Oh my gosh! What an amazing menu. It was hard to select the dish I wanted but I managed to hit the perfect one. I had the Fried Green Tomato Po' Boy with egg for brunch. It was accompanied by a lovely green salad -- yummy! Everything is fresh and the ingredients are not masked by one another -- rather complimented the entire dish. How creative and enjoyable. Be sure to taste the biscuits and honey. They are remarkable, they are not typical biscuits for LA but you'll recognize them if you are from Georgia You will place your order at the counter and will then receive a placard for the table. The wait staff delivers your order, provides glasses of water and serves any other needs you might have ... service was exceptional. This is a comfortable, casual place without a lot of frills. It reminds me of going to the home of a friend for a homey meal. They do not serve alcohol and we wanted mimosas with our brunch. Easy to do since they offer fresh squeezed orange juice as well as OJ blends. They even brought us a bucket of ice for our bottle of bubbly! We encountered only one problem. This is a very popular place and the little shopping center it is in has few parking spaces. So, you will likely need to search the side street for a place to park. This place delivers on great food and a laid-back atmosphere to just sit back and enjoy.

I ordered the BLT with applewood bacon that also came with a side salad. The sandwich was served on a toasted French roll which was so good! Better than some BLT's that I have ever tasted. I also tasted the fish sandwich which was fried to perfection. The restaurant is small but quaint and set up for family style dining for large groups. I have heard about this place for over a year, so it was definitely worth going to and I was not disappointed after all the talk I have heard about it.

This is a must see and taste destination in LA. Flavor is a lost ingredient in most establishments but not at my 2 cents. This is like a Broadway show with the food winning a Tony award. Make sure you talk with the owner she will put a smile on your face. If you are from Houston make sure you tell her. Also don't forget the sweet potato pie!

Not sure if that's the right spelling for the deep fried grits, or just how they manage to get perfect grits sticks, but they sure are good. Fun atmosphere, delicious food, it's a great lunch. And don't skip the peach cobbler, it's fantastic!

Not much ambience here because the space is small and tends toward the noisy (especially if they are playing music), so go early to have the place to yourself and enjoy the best thing on the menu which is SHRIMP and GRITS. They get the texture of the porridge just right. The shrimp are firm and sweet without being rubbery and the broth (chicken based) is delicious. I have heard good things about their veggie dishes but I only order shrimp and grits and whatever their dessert of the day is. Yum!!

If you want to try something completely different than go ahead and go to My Two Cents. My friend took us their and is a frequent dinner eater there. It is a very small, casual close knit establishment. Order at the counter, find a seat at a picnic style table. Wait for your meal to come out. Eat and enjoy! I had the seafood gumbo and grit fries ( yes, grits). The seafood this night was crab legs. Nice flavor and rich and filling. My friends and the BBQ chicken which he said was their specialty. One had the fried version and one had the grilled version - both good! It also has a laid back funky felling to it. Many neighborhood people there. Not for everyone tho...

The menu items are unique and all items are seasoned well. My favorites are the shrimp & grits, oxtail tacos, black eye hummus, and fried green tomato Po Boys. The atmosphere is live and friendly. The parking is limited so sometimes you may have to park around the corner. Pay attention to the hours because they open for lunch and then close for a couple of hours before they reopen for dinner.

This is a tiny restaurant right on Pico Blvd., on the side of a strip mall, but who knew it would be such a great find! Really great food, and the restaurant is comfortably casual. I've tried a little of everything on their menu, and my favorite is their fried chicken, and grits with shrimp. Their deserts are also AMAZING! Would suggest going with a group of friends, and having a casual and fun dinner! No reservations required, but the place does get packed quickly, especially after 6:30pm. Plenty of street parking, and there is a side parking lot that usually has a few spots.

Fantastic meal! Green tomato BLT po'boy was the best sandwich I have ever had. Service is very friendly!

The skinny: Parking- metered street Decor- eclectic Service- friendly Coke Factor- Mexican in the glass, 1L Food- delish I came here with a few girlfriends for dinner a few weeks ago. You order at the counter and then sit down at a table with a number. Drinks are in a cooler next to a delicious looking display of home made desserts. I ordered: Grit fries - like nothing I ever tried, crunchy on the outside and sort of soft on the inside. Needed the ketchup for a little zing Fried Chicken Caesar- great salad, not too weighed down with dressing, grit croutons (smaller version of fries) and a tasty aioli sauce for the chicken. Crack Cake- not all it was cracked up to be My friends ordered the po boy sandwich vegan style and liked it and my other friend had the shrimp and grits which she said was okay. My mom owned a restaurant for over 25 years and presentation is the key, I think this place would benefit from slightly bigger plates. The service is friendly and if you don't snag a private table there is a communal table to hang at.

I go here repeatedly. The food is fresh, there are items for vegans and vegetarians too. The food is reasonably priced and the chef/owner Alisea is warm and friendly. The only bad part is the parking situation.

I write a review about once a year, so usually for an out of the ordinarily good experience. A little slow at first -but everything is freshly prepared- and I was offered a nice chunk of buttery cornbread while I was waiting for my food to arrive: delicious grilled chicken (moist not dry like in a lot of places) with 2 sides (including a hearty black eyed pea stew with just the right hint of spicyness, served in a cute wood bowl). Service as super friendly and as attentive in the dining room as in the kitchen (where I spotted the chef/owner, which is always a good sign). I'll b back for sure to sample some of the other yummi-looking items on the menu...

We try to make it a habit to eat at restarants that are unavailable to us in Kansas. My Two Cents certainly fits that description. The restaurant is unqiue and initmate in its decor. The menu is equally execeptional while paying homage to wonderful soul food traditions the chef (and I presume owner) adds an intresting twist to modernize the dishes and somehow lighten usually quite heavy meals. We had the grit fries, mac and cheese, greens, ox tail tacos and the turkey meatloaf sandwich. Phew, plenty of leftovers. Friendly and informative staff, do yourself a favor and stop in for a visit.

I ordered the first time shrimps and Grits. The Grits were to dies for. The next time I ordered Cheese Grits and Fried Catfish . So good, I went back to get the same same they closed. Fantastics Eatery!

First off the staff is great. Even if seems a bit forced the collective greeting is great. Had meatloaf sandwich with slaw & salad. Cakes are excellent. cookies delicious. Everything fresha nd well executed. Overall a hidden little gem in a barren wasteland of Pico Blvd.

This is a funky corner spot that has been getting some attention lately. This place is a gem! The food is great, The service exceptional. The ambiance is cool.

Great food and service but waaaay too noisy. Partly because of a table of loud diners but mostly because of the restaurant's piped music. My wife will visit again the next time we are in LA but will bring our noise-cancelling headphones. Ecco-friendly plates and bowls are a nice touch. Prices are reasonable. Lots of healthy menu choices.

I enjoyed this restaurant's different style. The food was VERY tasty. It was like a new twist of flavor on foods you've had before. We had the cookie cake (I order dessert first!) Very rich and quite delicious. We also had the fried catfish and I have to say that the breading was like nothing I'd ever had before. It was so light and savory! Finally, the market veggies were another new and zesty spin for your mouth. I actually went back and ordered an additional side order of the veggies. That's how delicious they were. I mean, I'm not a big vegetable eater, but the flavor on these veggies will have you eating veggies that you might not even be able to name!! I really enjoyed this little spot. The people were very friendly and with food this delicious how could it not be a wonderful and enjoyable meal.

Chef Alisa's take on Southern cooking is healthy & delicious. Oh the grits. We eat in & take out. Careful you might trip over a celebrity

Great gem in an area where I never go. Who knew southern soul food was so good? This is what you would eat in a southern US state, but with an elevated touch to it, just because we are in LA. tasty and light, I almost licked my plate.

First time eating here and I enjoyed every minute of my visit! When a restaurant gives you great food, customer service and makes you feel very welcome, you can't help but want to tell everyone about it. I'm not sure how I discovered My Two Cents, I just know I had it saved in my Yelp collection. It's a small but homey space where you immediately notice the dessert choices. Great marketing because everything looked good. I settled on the shrimp and grits; my sister ordered the grilled pork chop while my other sister ordered the fried catfish (with dirty rice as her side). We also wanted to try the oxtail tacos; unfortunately, something happened and they were unavailable, so we tried the fried green tomatoes instead. This is soul food, but not the typical soul food found in most soul food restaurants (no shade to those spots, it's just that I can make that kind of food at home). Which is why the following happened: I ate the entire bowl of shrimp and grits. All of it. I only left some grits behind because I ran out of the shrimp and sauce. I only eat with people who let me try what they ordered - seriously. If you don't have friends like mine, then get some new friends. The pork chop was not dry. I repeat, it was not dry. And that is saying something. Sitting atop plantains, the agave jerk sauce was a great compliment. The catfish was fried perfectly and wasn't overly breaded or greasy, which often happens with fried catfish. But the dirty rice? It was soooooo different than the dirty rice I've eaten before. I want to say it was made with quinoa. Whatever it was, it definitely tasted delicious! Back to the desserts. They were very tempting, so I took home a slice of German chocolate cake. I wanted to like it because it looked so good, but I didn't like it; however, my sister did, so it didn't go to waste. I think the problem was the desserts weren't covered, so this may have dried out the cake. A cake cover would definitely help! Ended up chatting with the chef/owner (she's that in that order). The whole staff just had great energy and were very warm and personable. Go eat here. Spots like this are gems that need support.

The friendly people (Alisa, the owner, talked to the people at each and every table) were just the beginning. The variety of Southern food on the menu made it difficult to choose. However, I had the fried green tomato BLT po’ boy and it was excellent. It took me back to the days when my Mom picked the green tomatoes from the garden, sliced them nice and thick, breaded them with her own recipe and cooked them perfectly...they did the same at My 2 Cents. It is a very small place with limited seating but I did see people doing carry-out. It was nice to be welcomed by everyone in the place as a "first timer" with a round of applause. A friendly, affordable place in LA....what a treat.

The food and ambiance was great. The staff was very friendly and helpful in suggesting things on the menu. This was my best meal while visiting LA. As soon as I left I wanted to go back!

The owner/chef makes delicious, healthy, and organic meals. She caters to all palates, including vegetarian and vegan. If you don't see something he may just whip it up. My favorite is the shrimp and grits, and German chocolate cake. My daughter is a vegan And her kale salad was delicious. I go as often as I can.

This place is amazing Everytime I’ve been! ALL of the food is amazing and there are several Options for vegetarians and meat eaters alike! I’ll be going back Everytime I’m in LA

The menu here is perfect for meat lovers, vegetarians, and vegans. The owner is always there and very friendly. The food is delicious, no matter what you get. My favorite is the shrimp and grits and gumbo. My favorite dessert is the chocolate/German chocolate cake. The place is small so I get take out a lot. They're closed on Monday.

Ok, you need to stop here for the experience of this place and the people who work here. Super positive vibe with great music. It's a place of celebration. After the joyful welcome, the food was a bit of a let down. It's really overpriced for what you get. I ordered the shrimp and grits, and the chicken and waffle. I saw someone on the sidewalk as I was walking in eating the same items and It looked really good. The chicken on his plate had three large pieces, mine however had something akin to little pieces of Popeyes chicken that were dry and mostly batter--it was difficult to find the meat. The shrimp and grits had super small pieces of shrimp nothing like some of the pictures I've seen on yelp, but it did have good flavor. The bill came to over $60 for three of us. It's getting 3 stars because of the great staff deserve a 5, but for value it gets a 1.

We came here on a busy sunday noon, seatings were limited but as you move through the line to order, tables starts clearing so don't be intimidated by the crowds. Please don't take tables for your party when you juat walk in, people who just ordered should have priority on seating!!! The chicken waffle is top notch and the sides are also delicious and filling, you won't leave hungry. The people who work here are enthusiastic and make the place feels like a huge family dinner!!! After my meal the waiter introduced himself and ask if I was satisfied with the food. He asked for my name before i left and wished me a good day. I was more than imoressed. Would definitely come back again.

For the casual diner who doesn't mind spending a bit for a tasty meal. Small place so it's possible to not find a seat, maybe 30 seats total. Go early. A funky groovy vibe inside with loud music and open kitchen. Order at the counter and the food will arrive to your table. The food quality is outstanding! Local organic ingredients and an unbelievably creative menu that starts in the South and ends in an explosion of flavors. Many gluten free and vegan options available. Whoever came up with these dishes is both steeped in Southern cooking tradition and has a really inventive brain. It's not easy to put a modern twist on classics, either through new flavors or converting to vegan ingredients, and make them just as good as the original. Bravo! I had the turkey meatloaf sandwich - a party of meatloaf, apple, vinegar coleslaw, and sauce - and the black eyed pea stew. Both excellent and recommended. A beautiful (tremendous!) selection of desserts as well. Just my 2 cents.

We visited on the weekend and enjoyed the Sunday buffet. Over the last year we have been in Los Angeles three time and we are constantly looking for a different dining experience. On the next visit, rather than a different restaurant, it will be the same--my two cents! our recommendations: shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and please do not forget the chocolate bread pudding. You will not be disappointed. Get there early these popular dishes quickly disappear.

Chef Alisa, Tanya, and Jasmine all helped our 60+ person event go so smoothly! Can't recommend them enough for catering. Please don't skip the mac n cheese balls or the vegan sweet potato cake -- amazing!

I walked in here yesterday, a quiet Sunday afternoon, on my way to the airport. The two guys who were working the front of the house immediately said hello and welcomed me. I went to the counter to order and the guy behind the counter just smiled and showed me the menu and I just had a feeling that said YES. The brunch menu looked so good but my eye went to the friend chicken sandwich at the bottom of the menu and I asked him about it. He said he ate that first when he started working there and didn't stop for quite a while. Guess what? It was the best damn chicken sandwich I've ever had. I added bacon cause I'm like that. The bbcue sauce? Oh hello! Come to daddy. That stuff is so so good. And as someone who managed restaurants for many many years, this is what welcoming friendly excellent hospitality looks like - this place here! YES. They say hello in a big way and if you're new, you'll hear some noise. When you re leaving they'll say goodbye in a big big way, too. I'm telling you, this place has got something beautiful going on. I can't wait to get back to LA to try the waffles. Thank you MY TWO CENTS!

The Crispy TURKEY Meatloaf. The Catfish. The Beet Salad. The 7 Cheese Gluten free MACARONI!! All extraordinarily delicious. The staff are so personable. The desserts special. Gotta go back!

It's tough for restaurants during COVID, especially if they only offer outdoor dining and takeout at this time, however, this one gets it right. Great friendly service, fast delivery of food, and delicious offerings. We enjoyed the absolutely perfect shrimp & grits, fried green tomato BLT, and grilled BBQ chicken. The highlights were the braised greens and coconut sweet potato crumble side dishes. Highly recommend!

If you like southern style food/cooking you'll love this place. Its located in the heart of L.A and has a very homey vibe. It's on the small side inside but there are outside tables as well. The food is excellent! I had the shrimp & grits which was great. My daughter had the fried chicken breast which was very juicy and tasty. The dessert was divine! They have a lot of vegan items on the menu and they also do a Sunday brunch that is very affordable.

This is a new spot friends had recommended that I try. So, a friend and I went for lunch. We had heard rave reviews. From time we ordered with the woman at the counter, who was less than cordial, to getting our meal...it was not good. I ordered the fried chicken meal with greens. My friend ordered the fried chicken sandwich and a lemonade. The chicken just had no flavor. I am not a salt and pepper shaker type of person...I grabbed the salt from her. They greens were just ok. We did notice the owner and her kids around helping out. They seemed to be genuinely lovely people and friendly. The food was just not our cup of tea. Food is subjective, so I take it as a miss for me and my friend. Street meter parking in front.. A small area out front to seat outside. Dining room has some individual tables and 1 communal table.

We read a lot of reviews on this place and it is exactly what it proports to be. Simple dining with good southern style food. The pork chop main was good but my gf didn't like the grit in her dish- thats not blaming the food, just not her thing but worth a try. No booze here but they do have soft drinks. All in all it was good but wouldn't rave about it.

Great soul food in non pretentious environment. I eat the Turkey burger awesome. My daughter the shrimp with grits. Beautiful. Go there if you want to taste something special

Love this place... Very warm and friendly staff... The food was incredible!!! The atmosphere was relaxing/casual ... I had the shrimp & grits with a side of fried green tomatoes. Delicious!!!!!!!!!! My first time ever trying either, I was impressed to say the least!!! Shout out from Oklahoma to the owner. Thank you for a great experience!

It's your southern comfort restaurant. Shrimp and grits, terrific. Fried green tomato BLT, ridiculous good. Run!!!

A popular neighborhood cafe with soul food reconceived for today. Friendly vibe, totally unpretentious, very tasty. Vegan options actually available!

This place 💃💃💃our group ate here while on a layover in LA. The service, atmosphere, and food was exceptional. I had the shrimp and grits whaaaaattttt!!! My group loved their food. It was 13 of us from CT, MD &GA and everyone loved it. That says a lot from my girlfriends 😆 Continued blessings &success Fiji bound crew from CT

This place was AWESOME. Best little secret in Los Angeles, CA. The Shrimp and Grits Gumbo, OMG. And the Chicken, Greens and Pecan and Coconut Yams. The music was great and the Master Chef and staff made sure we we taken care of. That is what I call Customer Service. I rate this hidden treasure with a twist 4 out of 4 helicopters!