Reviews for The Formosa Cafe

Had such a wonderful experience here at Formosa! I've been here before and loved it. I decided to come back to celebrate my birthday. They were extremely accommodating for a large party (8 people). My friends loved their green tea martini and food. Their entrees are great for sharing as well. Shout out to this place for being so awesome! Definitely will continue coming back here :)

Really great vibes, incredible fresh food that didn’t leave us feeling too heavy, and a beautiful interior. Some of the best tofu I’ve had in a long time. Noodles for the chow mein were so fresh. Crab ragoon dip was amazing. Bar in the back dining room was so cute. 10/10 love

The food ranks as some of best Chinese I've ever had. Orange chicken had my son's eyes so wide, you'd think it was his first time ever eating it. If my experience was normal: -Expect to wait awhile for seating or/and food -expect them to be out of many items. (It was about 6pm on Sat.when we were there)

Amazing ambiance and fantastic food!! I was blown away by Formosa and can't wait to come back. We sat in the train car and it was so cute. For food, the general tso's cauliflower and the tofu lettuce wraps were absolutely incredible. The dan dan noodles weren't my favorite (seemed like a bit heavy on fennel or something like that) but didn't take away from the overall experience. Such a fun dinner spot!!

YUMMY food and great atmosphere! Loved the tofu lettuce wraps. Good cocktails as well.

The decor was awesome. We loved the speakeasy Asian vibe. The food was fantastic. Walnut Shrimp and Kung Pao chicken for the mains. Amazing and plentiful. Tuna tar-tar for an appetizer. Excellent. Drinks were good. Service was awesome. We were there for New Year's Eve.

I don't even remember what I ordered because we let the waiter choose everything, and he absolutely nailed it. Every dish was delicious, the service was spot on, and the atmosphere made the whole experience feel special and memorable.

Came here for my birthday dinner and was pleasantly surprised! I mentioned that I wanted to come here because of the history and the vintage train vibes, but for all the history and kitsch, the food was equally as delicious. We started out by ordering appetizers, cocktails, then our mains, but our mains ended up coming before the appetizers and cocktails, which was slightly jarring since by then my face was actively being stuffed with fried rice. My whole crew enjoyed their drinks despite them being slightly tardy to the party. That was probably the only "negative" note of the evening. All of the food was delicious! The orange chicken was delicious, not as "orangey" as one would expect, but it had a complex flavor profile and other things going for it that made it interesting. The star of the show was the Walnut Shrimp. On the flip side, however, the appetizer vegetable dumpling wasn't this group's favorite. Finishing off, we also shared an order of the chocolate dumplings for dessert that was very, very reminiscent of an offering at a very well known Chinese dumpling house and were yummy as well. Throughout our meal, our waitress, Tamara was very attentive, warm, and funny. She really was the cherry on top of an already great evening. Overall, it was a great experience and my friends and I were all excited at the prospect of dining here again.

Just visited the Formosa Cafe for the first time the other week, and wow, what an amazing experience! Love the Hollywood history behind it. It's so romantic & "moody" in there, and I love the red ambiance and architectural details. The customer service was absolutely incredible from everyone, from the managers, to the servers & bartenders. Food was delicious. Performance was SPECTACULAR. Really a special place. The absolute HIGHLIGHT of the night was getting to see Day Mori , the magician, perform some incredible close up magic throughout the night! It truly put the dinner over the top, and was some of the best magic I've ever seen! Truly blew me away. Getting to see Day perform was SO special & such a treat, and it was very obvious that the rest of the guests in the restaurant were also enamored with Day's magic! What a star! Phenomenal performer & so sweet too. I'd return to just to see Day perform again! Also, I sat at the bar, and the bartender was amazing. Great conversation & also made me some unique drinks based on my special requests. One with cucumber & ginger beer, one with pineapple. Both fantastic. The best dish I had was the Steak and Broccolini, which was filet mignon beef, fresh broccolini, & caramelized onion. So delicious, and to make it even better, I requested a side of their chili oil, which was ADDICTING. If you're in Hollywood & want to visit a place rich with history and great food, you absolutely shouldn't miss visiting Formosa Cafe! Especially if it's a night that a performer like Day Mori is performing!

With delicious food, excellent staff, and enticing ambience Formosa is a true treasure of the Los Angeles dining scene. I love the Chow fun, the brussels sprouts, and pretty much everything else on the menu. This historic Hollywood landmark exceeded expectation of its already excellent reputation

Formosa Café felt like we stepped into a time capsule of Old Hollywood and a vintage Chinese restaurant, which is exactly the sort of chaotic charm I can appreciate. THE FOOD. - Xiao Long Bao "XLB" Soup Dumplings. Handmade which is why they need about 15 minutes to prepare. The wrapper is tender and the pork is savory from the rich broth. Pro Tip: poke a hole at the top of the dumpling and let the broth out (prevents from the dreaded "juice explosion"). - Chinese Chicken Salad. Crisp, refreshing, and surprisingly bright. The wontons bring the crunch, the tangerines bring the pop. - Chinese BBQ Pork. Tender, delicious pork with sweet, crispy skin. The pork arrives whole & uncut, locking in the juices until you're ready to break into it. A side of steamed bao buns (6) and mixed vegetables come with this dish. We decided the most appropriate thing to do was to make tacos! Definitely the highlight of our meal, highly recommend. THE DRINKS. - John Wayne's Hat. Sweet with cinnamon and smoky undertones. - Sichuan Fogcutter. Vivid, punchy citrus with a bitter finish. It comes in a cat-shaped cup for added cuteness. THE PARKING. Street parking or underground (for a fee). We did underground parking and didn't have any issues finding a spot close to the restaurant. THE VERDICT. Iconic and steeped in Hollywood history, Formosa Cafe has stood the test of time; welcoming movie legends and everyday patrons alike, all under one storied roof. Additionally, the food's thoughtful flavors, fresh ingredients, and consistent execution make it a restaurant worth re-visiting.

Fun atmosphere. Loud and bright. Good vegetarian Chinese food options. Paid parking lot below. Fun drinks.

Delicious Chinese food with unique menu items all delivered in a fantastic old school Hollywood atmosphere. From the pictures on the wall of the great stars of the past and the booths where Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Burt Reynolds hung out, you can feel the history and reminisce about the past. The boa, lettuce wraps, scallion pancakes, fried tofu, and chicken salad all were excellent choices. They also had great drink choices. The only downside was that parking was in a paid parking lot and the restaurant prices were very high.

With the history of this place I was expecting decent to ok food but I was happily mistaken. Everything was fabulous and the fries cauliflower was the absolute best I have ever tasted. The service was attentive, the atmosphere was iconic, and the food was top notch. Must vist!

This place was really cool! You must go! We met up with a friend of ours who lives in LA. Turns out not a lot of people come here and when they saw our pictures and food, they wanted to come. It’s such a cool atmosphere and the food is delicious. Bathrooms are nice and clean.

The moment you Step into the Formosa Café you’ll feel like slipping through a secret door into 1940s Hollywood. It is a legendary establishment originally opened in 1939 they have served every celebrities from Marilyn Monroe to Frank Sinatra slide into its red vinyl booths. Their food is a satisfying fusion of classic Chinese-American comfort with modern flair. Standouts include the crispy shrimp toast, Formosa fried rice, and the General Tso’s cauliflower. The service is very friendly, attentive, and often sprinkled with a bit of Old Hollywood storytelling if you’re lucky. You get the sense that everyone working here is proud to be part of something special. I’ll definitely would recommend it to everyone.

Choice place to enjoy Chinese food and friends. The interior has an authentic Chinese theme and the lighting is kept low. We ordered a variety of appetizers and dishes to share. Everything we ate was delicious. Our waiter was excellent and attentive. Very much enjoyed dinner here.

I used to come to Formosa back in the late ‘80s and ‘90s, and walking through the doors again felt like stepping into a time capsule of Hollywood’s golden era. This place has seen it all—countless movie stars, musicians, and industry legends have passed through, leaving behind an atmosphere that’s both nostalgic and electric. I sat in the Elvis booth, surrounded by history, imagining the days when Sinatra, Bogart, and Marilyn Monroe were regulars. The walls, covered in vintage photos and classic memorabilia, tell the story of an era when Hollywood glamour was at its peak. Ordered the fried rice—absolutely delicious—and soaked in the ambiance of a place that’s been an institution since 1939. So happy they saved this legendary spot. If you love Old Hollywood, Formosa is a must-visit!