Homegirl Cafe and Catering

delicious food! very impressed with the quality of ingredients and the dishes. they are very accommodating to vegan diet. i was able to get an egg brunch dish with the egg substituted out for tofu. my friend (not vegan) got the most amazingly decadent grilled cheese sandwich. our bellies were so happy, our plates empty.
besides the food being health/​earth conscious, i love that my money is going towards an awesome organization.
definitely recommend this place!

I have never been to the café but my mom brought me her leftover chilaquiles and even after sitting on the table for 1+ hours, I was blown away by its flavor. To be honest, I was kind of disappointed when my mom first told me she brought chilaquiles because I have never liked them. That’s why I had them sitting on the table for so long but finally my hunger and laziness brought me to try them. SO GOOD. Even though they were soggy (my fault) I couldn’t stop eating them! I could only imagine how they taste fresh. TRY THE CHILAQUILES! This coming from a Mexican girl who thought her whole life that she could never like them, lol!

I live the cause of what they strive for… not to mention their grilled chicken is mind blowing.

I just love the breakfast from this place the bacon omelette is the best I ever try :)

This place is FANSTASTIC! I ordered the Kale Grilled Cheese and the Green Chicken Posole! Lord let me tell ya… u talkin’ ’bout a flavor burst in your mouth! Like Heaven (I’m drooling just thinking about it) The food is so fresh and flavorful! The Kale was poppin’ and the cheese was on point (I could eat cheese on cardboard)! From one Homegirl to another Homegirl… your restaurant is ALL THAT! ÓRALE!

This place was very good. It was not busy at all on a Saturday. The green chilaquiles were the best also the quinoa blueberry pancakes were delicious

I REALLY want to give them 5 stars, but some of the meat was pretty dry, even the chicken molé! I heard it gets crowded at lunch so we came around 11am & they set up a table for 8 of us without a hassle. The staff was so incredibly nice & patient with our large group. They catered to our every need. (5 stars)
The cucumber juice had a tad too much sugar for my liking & I couldn’t really taste the pineapple that was supposed to be in it. (3 stars) luckily, it was free w/​check in!
I LOVE the idea of subbing tortillas with nopales (cactus) & they allow you to mix n match! However, it is difficult to hold the tacos without everything falling out so I had to eat em with a fork. The carne asada was the best– really good quality of meat (5 stars). The chicken & salmon were on the dry side, as if they were a day old & re-​heated (2 stars). The molé was really light while the salmon had an amazing green salsa to kick it up a notch (4 stars). The complimentary chips were also light, non-​greasy & crispy and the salsa had an interesting puréed orange texture (not really spicy). I only tried one powdered sugar cookie, which was scrumptious, and the other baked goods looked fresh & delish!
The interior was clean with sufficient tables & I also loved the colorful paintings displayed throughout the place.
Without a doubt, I’d still come back & support this business whenever I’m in the area despite a couple of the items I tried.

I really loved the food, but the service can use some help, I ordered the mole chicken tacos really delicious, I would eat there again, just need to work on the hostess attitude

Where the liberals come to eat.
A lot of these reviews start off with a disclaimer/​backstory of Homeboy Industries, but in case it’s not obvious enough: you are entering a café of reformed gang members. You will likely be greeted by workers with shaved heads and face tattoos.
I’m a little surprised I haven’t been here sooner. I’m constantly doing searches for breakfast and vegetarian spots. One of my favorite cafés, Holy Grounds, was the site of my first taste/​love affair with Homeboy’s coffee cake.
Before an afternoon Kings game, we decided to make it a day date, starting with brunch. (PS brunch+hockey=best date ever)
Our route to Staples takes us right through Chinatown.
I ordered Paulina’s Latte with soy– chocolate/​caramel. It was on the sweet side, but I had also just completed a cleanse. The boyfriend got the regular coffee and was pleased to find that it was flavored with cinnamon and orange peel. Upside down mango corn cake comes out right after our coffee drinks get served. The warm slice of cake came with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and a generous sprinkle of shaved fresh mango. Omg heaven. The texture of the cornbread was perfect. Perfectly moist with a good crumb and that bit of crunch from the cornmeal texture. Alone, it would have been a damn good piece of cornbread. As an upside down cake with the addition of mango and caramelized sugar– ohh snap, hold my purse so I can dance. I saved my half until after my meal. By then, the ice cream was the perfect half-​melted texture and that created a crème anglaise sauce that seeped into the cake. If I wasn’t on the way to the game, I would have gotten another slice to go.
Our food arrived quickly. Both plates contained huge portions of food. M’jas con papas with nopales. I counted 10 ingredients in that scramble. I ended up with half a plate of those flavorful Peruvian black beans. I couldn’t get enough of it. The boyfriend was torn between a couple of items, but went with the chile relleno grilled cheese, just for the sheer originality of the dish. I took a bite and it was better than what I thought it was going to be. Again, another generous helping of additional veggie ingredients.
Service was spot on. We were checked up on often and had ample time to make it to the game in time.
Street parking in front and the side of the building and a lot in back. Gold Line runs right above, but the Chinatown exit is a block away. Main entrance is on Alameda. When you walk in, Homeboy Bakery is to the right. There is a worker behind the counter in front for to-​go orders or you can wait at the podium to the left of the take out counter to be seated in the dining area.
Go. Support a worthy cause and enjoy some great food.

Count me in as a big fan of Homegirl Café and related Homeboy Bakery! Three events led my wife and I to Homegirl Café:
First event, PBS has a TV series, I’ll Have What Phil’s Having!”. The series stars Phil Rosenthal and follows his search for great food around the world. In his segment on LA Phil highlights Homegirl Café, link below:
A second factor in wanting to visit Homegirl Café is that during every visit to LA we see it from the Metro line. Homegirl Café is located very near the Metro Gold Line stop in China Town. Wife and I travel around LA using Metro line day passes so it’s very helpful having our destination within easy walking distance of a Metro stop.
And then the third factor in wanting to visit Homegirl Café, desire to help society. As you are probably aware, Homeboy Industries (link below) was founded to give «at risk» men and women an opportunity to learn skills and gain employment.
Upon entering the café, wife and I were warmly greeted and led to a nice booth. Each service staff member we interacted with was very polite and friendly. Ah, and then the food! Wife ordered the Chilaquiles and I ordered Scrambled Eggs with Nopales. Both meals were over the top delicious! My only regret is not knowing in advance the size of the meals. Wife and I could easily have split one dish and been full. But now we know, and I’m a big fan and look forward to returning to both Homegirl Café and Homeboy Bakery!

Based on a reference of a friend, a couple friends and I tried the Homegirl Café. The place is a training facility for ex-​gang men and women working to build skills for a better future.
The first thing you notice once inside, is the colorful Mexican artwork by grade school teacher and artist Jose Ramirez. We took a peek at the baked goods, which are made fresh daily in the on premise bakery. We were offered a tour of the new facility an spoke with a few of the guys making breads and cakes. We then sat at our table and looked over the menu of exotic sounding meals. I chose the three tacos combo: 2) carnitas with apples and tomatillo salsa (the apples were a nice twist on the regular taco), 1) rajas (grilled poblano peppers) with mushrooms and cheese (amazing).

The mission statement for Homegirl café is that of a great and worthy cause ! My daughter read a book on how Father Boyle started his mission and was far more interested than anticipated, we decided to have brunch there last Saturday.
Arrived around 11:30 am and waited for about 10 minutes before we were seated, which we were told, as soon as we walked in. Café décor is modern and decorated with paintings from local artist. Cleanliness is an A+ for being located in the Downtown/​Chinatown area.
As soon as we were seated, we were told briefly about the portion sizes and some distinct ingredients in some of the dishes. I WISH ALL RESTAURANTS WOULD MENTION THIS KIND OF DETAIL !! It kept us from over ordering or having an unexpected flavor creep up on us. Having known this, we ordered the following:
* Machaca con Huevos: Strips of beef scrambled w/​3 eggs, onions, tomatoes & peppers served w/​Morita salsa on top of a bed of fresh spinach. Choice of toast or tortillas * beans or potatoes $ 11. Perfect size portion, fresh and delicious !
*Chilaquiles — HUGE Portion good enough for 2. Choice of salsa, crispy chips,& add 2 eggs any style for extra $ 3, topped w/​cream, cotija, onions & cilantro & served w/​potatoes or beans. All the flavors married well together and the chips stayed crisp under all the topping goodness. $ 11
*Chile Relleno Grilled Cheese — Nommmmm… Roasted pepper, sliced onions, a mexican chesse blend & tomatoes nestled between two slices of toasty sourdough bread, was like a warm hug on a cold Saturday morning. Served w/​a house side salad & what tasted to be a cilantro based dressing. I don’t know what tasted better, the sammie or the salad. Salad was a spring mix that had julienned mango & jicama… with that dressing… KILLER !!!
Everyone was super friendly and polite and service was on point. Will be back for sure to try some of the baked goods at the Café.

This review is for the catering portion of Homegirl, as we used them for our recent wedding a few weeks ago.
My husband and I chose them after reading about them on a wedding blog, and finalized our choice once we also understood the rehabilitation aspect of their organization. It was a big bonus for us, to know that the money we were spending on a wedding necessity was also going back into a pretty awesome program. From the start, their coordination staff was pleasant and consistent in their communication, often answering me within a few hours of an email or phone call. The menu was thoroughly vetted and combed over to ensure we had enough food, and all of our guests were accommodated (they have a bunch of veggie options).
On the day of, we couldn’t have been more pleased. They were there on time and set up for our afternoon start. Our guests loved the food, and made it a point to tell us so. The ladies that were there from Homegirl to set up/​look after the food were so sweet and nice as well. Again, many of our guests would go on to tell us how wonderful they were. And that’s pretty much all you can ask for, really great quality food and service with a positive attitude.

The best part about this place is the mission. Helping former, and at risk gang members by providing a job is quite awesome. The food here is pretty great too! I’ve had both the chile relleno and kale grilled cheese. Both of these are large helpings, a little greasy with generous amounts of melty cheese. I love the salsa that comes with the chips, and it’s good enough to dip the sandwich in. Anyway, a great lunch spot! There is a parking lot, but it can get a bit crowded.

Still a fan of this place, but I feel like back in my younger days, I was far too liberal with my five star reviews. The place is still really good, just not five star worthy. If you have to choose between breakfast and lunch, I would choose breakfast. The M’jas con Papas is delicious. I had it with the pork chorizo and breakfast potatoes. My friend had the chilaquilas and chose green sauce and this was also very good. I’d choose the former over the latter but you won’t be disappointed with either. When I came for lunch the last time, I was disappointed with several of my favorites being taken off the menu. For those of you who’ve been going here since the beginning like I have, you can feel my pain! What happened to Artemisa’s Pasta (best pasta dish ever) or Sara’s Drink or the roast beef sandwich that had apple in it? Those were some of the best items on the menu! However I’m glad they still have the Manoy’s Sandwich and the green potion drink. Another thing that’s missing, is some of the original workers that made the dining experience awesome.
In the last few years I’ve felt that Homegirl is still really good, just not as great.

We took a tour of the Homeboy Industries facility and came to have lunch at the Homegirl Café in the same building. Nice menu of Soups, Salads, Tacos, Sandwiches, Dessert, but you can buy from the adjoining bakery section if the menu dessert doesn’t please.
I ordered the 3 tacos for $ 10:
1) White Fish was grilled not fried for a more healthful accent. The fish was not over-​cooked so it stayed soft & moist w/​a delicate scent of the sea. White crema fresca dressing that tastes a bit like crème fraiche w/​a nice scattering of Cotija hard Mexican cheese to add more of a fermented dairy flavor. Nice crunchy jicama & cabbage slaw.
2) Carne Asada small slices of roast beef that was cooked to a nice moist, soft finish. Dressed with chopped tomatoes, cilantro, purple onions.
3) Rajas had sautéed button mushrooms, red bell peppers, sliced onions, ‘sweet’ pasilla chile slice, crumbles of Panela cheese, cilantro.
1−3a) Downed the 3 tacos with a specialty drink, Angela’s Green Potion made of mint lemonade & a dash of ultra pureed spinach. Although I would have liked to have a bit of Vodka in this pleasant potion, it was a good pairing adding an agrodolce gastrique to clear the palate between bites.
I went to the Homegirl bakery counter & bought a Leche Flan or crème caramel. The size was just right… not too big since this is a rich eggy, creamy dessert topped with a burnt sugar caramel sauce. Nice way to end the meal on a sweet rich note.
Note: Homegirl Café does catering & has its own garden to supply some of its fresh produce and composts any waste. They are also eco-​friendly using compostable plates, etc.
Our waitress was helpful, efficient, considerate, professional. I actually ordered the Cucumber w/​pineapple, lime drink, but when I finished it, I mistakenly thought at the time that there were refills so I asked to sample Angela’s Green Potion instead. She graciously offered to give me a glass at no charge without mentioning there were no refills. So kind & generous of her to do so. Later when I found out there were not refills, I left a bigger tip to make up for the difference. Small kindnesses are so appreciated. Homegirl Café is a worthy place to patronize, but this act makes me want to come back so I can give back. I rarely give 5 stars, but Homegirl Café deserves 5+ Unilocal stars for all the good it does by hiring people in need and nurturing economic independence so important for the creation of a stable community.
«We are located on the corner of Alameda and Bruno in Chinatown,
across the street from the Metro Gold Line station and three blocks north of Union Station. Customer parking is directly behind the café, and there’s street parking, as well.»
Hours:
Monday: 8 am to 1:30 pm (we close early for staff training and curriculum)
Tue-​Fri: 8 am to 2:30 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 3 pm (kitchen closes at 2:30)
Sunday: closed
We offer free Wi-​Fi. Just ask your server for the password!
Phone: 213.617.0380
Catering: 213.300.5044
Email:

I was blown away going into this place, after reading the book, tattoos of the heart. I finally got a visual walking into this place. Me and my wife did our mission for a week in East LA with two other people in our church shepherd of the hills and worked with intervarsity ELAC bible ministries. It was a treat going here, place is nice and clean and staff was courteous, service is fast and food is delish. Don’t let the gangster appearance fool you, these people are making a difference in their lives by staying out of trouble and getting their life back together. We ordered angelas green potion drink which is very refreshing, i had a side order of seasonal rice and chicken breast. My wife had the three tacos for $ 10 which are the carne asada pork carnitas and red mole chicken. Keep it going homeboy industries!

Restaurants are a dime a dozen. We find them everywhere on LA. And nonprofits are plentiful, but most do not accomplish direct results on their clients.
But this is not the case with Homeboy Industries and Homegirl Café. As a social worker, I have researched this place. I’ve also have talked to clients of the agency. Both of which give me such a great feeling about this place. Homeboy transforms lives every single day. I have bought their baked goods at my local farmers market and donate everytime I do so.
On my list was Homegirl Café. After coming here twice (breakfast and lunch), I could honestly say I will continue to come back every single time I am in the area (and maybe sometimes when I am far away). The quality of the food is superb. I have not tried anything that has been short of excellent. The fish, soups, salads, sandwiches, flavored waters, pastries everything is great.
Add to all this the fact that the individuals preparing your food, serving you and ringing you up are all Homeboy clients who are eager to make your day great is the cherry on the sundae. I love this place and I am sure you will as well.

This is SUCH an excellent cause!
I read up on their organization after stopping by their bakery downtown LA and fell in love with this cause and what they stand for.
Father Greg Boyle started Homeboy Industries in the 80’s and has helped so many gang members get off the streets and find real jobs and learn how to live regular lives again.
Working at their bakery, farmers markets, events and fundraisers, a great cause to support, made me happy to see how successful they are.
We stopped in for some items from their bakery which is fantastic and just got something to drink here.
Great service, stop by and support a wonderful cause!

Wuz up homegirl! Yup, came here with my homie for Saturday breakfast the other week. We got there at 8:30 am. You figure a breakfast eatery opens up early. On Saturday’s, this restaurant opens up at 9 am which is fairly late.
We were seated and provided with menus promptly. Right away we asked for regular coffee. They also have a house coffee that has a blend of cinnamon and dried orange peels. Regular coffee was strong which is what I needed.
The Saturday brunch menu is filled with Mexican breakfast dishes with a gourmet twist. Menu consist of chilaquiles, m’jas con papas, torta, pancakes, crepes, cornbread, salads and breakfast tacos.
I ordered the machaca con huevo that comes with traditional braised shredded beef, scrambled eggs, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and warm morita salsa. It also came with Peruvian beans and house potatoes. This dish was fairly bland. Lacked sodium! The beef wasn’t shredded nor braised. It was more like sliced up skirt steak. Eggs were cook well though. Veggies were fresh. The morita salsa was mild. Overall, would skip the next time around. I also ordered a side of corn tortilias.
Service was great and very friendly and metered parking along Alameda very easy. Though the food was just okay, it’s all about what this business does for formerly incarcerated men and women who want to change their lives. This place provides opportunity. Not too many business give hope and this place does. So, kudos to you, homegirl and homeboy!

Homeboy Industries ist eine Einrichtung, die es jungen Menschen, die auf die schiefe Bahn geraten sind, ermöglicht, ein neues Leben ohne Kriminalität zu starten. Im Homegirl Café arbeiten also hauptsächlich Frauen mit einer kriminellen, bzw. Gangvergangenheit. Aufmerksam geworden auf diese Einrichtung bin ich durch Jamie Olivers Buch ‘Jamies Amerika’, in dem er die Homeboy Bakery vorstellt.
Im Speisenangebot des Homegirl Café stehen diverse Frühstücks– und Lunchmenüs, sowie Salate, Sandwiches und Desserts.
Wir waren zum Frühstück vor Ort und haben uns ein typisch mexikanisches Frühstück bestellt: Meine Frau hatte Nopales (Rührei mit Tomaten, Zwiebeln und Koriander, schwarzen Bohnen und Tortillas), ich hatte Revueltos (Rührei mit Zwiebeln, Tomaten, Paprika, Pilzen und Spinat; dazu schwarze Bohnen und Tortillas). Beide Gerichte wurden mit frischen Zutaten und frischen Kräutern zubereitet und waren total lecker. Sie waren so groß, dass wir sie kaum aufessen konnten. Dazu gab es den üblichen Kaffee mit Refill (erste Tasse war normaler Kaffee, zweite Tasse war mit Zimt). Die Bedienung war aufmerksam und freundlich und sehr bemüht uns den Aufenthalt so angenehm wie möglich zu machen.
Die Preise waren völlig in Ordnung, für 2 Personen fielen gerade mal 20 $ an. Diesen Laden kann ich uneingeschränkt empfehlen.