Chifa — Review by Tastemade
Los Angeles, United States — Peruvian-Chinese fusion
Chifa is a beautifully designed Peruvian-Chinese restaurant in Northeast Los Angeles run by a multi-generational family that blends their cultural heritage with modern aesthetics. The menu features authentic family recipes including standout soy sauce chicken, char siu pork with natural ingredients, and dan dan noodles that showcase the fusion of Chinese, Peruvian, and Taiwanese influences. The restaurant itself is a work of art with curated details from fashion-inspired design to designer figurines, creating a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere that proves Chinese food can be both delicious and sexy.
What was great: Soy sauce chicken slow poached for 40 minutes with herbal soy sauce, char siu pork made with natural sauce without dyes or corn syrup, dan dan noodles with nutty flavor and balanced kick, meticulous restaurant design with thoughtful details like wave-patterned forks and fortune cookie-inspired lighting, family recipes passed down through generations
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
The culinary experience at Chifa is deeply rooted in family tradition and multi-generational cooking. The soy sauce chicken is a standout dish, slow-poached for 40 minutes and served at room temperature with a herbal soy sauce recipe passed down from the owner's mother's village in Zhongshan, Canton. The fragrant, delicate chicken is so beloved that people reportedly drive from the San Gabriel Valley just to eat it. The char siu pork takes a creative twist on the traditional Chinese restaurant staple by using a sauce made from scratch without artificial dyes or high fructose corn syrup, a conscious decision made to provide healthier options for the family's children. The famous dan dan noodles, the restaurant's number one seller, come from the father's recipe that originated in China, traveled through Taiwan, and was made for the family throughout their childhood. The noodles deliver a balanced kick of heat complemented by a nutty sesame flavor that never becomes overpowering.
The Experience
Walking into Chifa is stepping into a meticulously curated space that feels like stepping into high fashion mixed with Asian heritage. The restaurant features French lighting fixtures designed to resemble fortune cookies about to be finished, custom wave-patterned forks that most restaurants would never think to detail, and shelves displaying sculptures by artist Charlie Mai featuring Chinese porcelain dolls from the 1950s and 1960s dressed in Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci. The owners created a line of candy jewelry inspired by the mother's jade collection, imagining couture ring pops. The entire design philosophy centers on making Chinese food feel sophisticated and sexy while maintaining the warmth of a family table inviting guests into their world. The atmosphere balances Latin-based cultural warmth with the traditional structure of Chinese family values.
Value & Pricing
While specific prices are not mentioned in the transcript, the restaurant's accessible nature and family-run operation suggest reasonable pricing for the quality and thoughtfulness of the dishes served.
Notable Moments
Why can't Chinese food be sexy?This question encapsulates the restaurant's mission to redefine perceptions of Chinese cuisine. The owner humorously shared that when the restaurant was first completed, someone said it looked like a strip club, which the designer's brother enthusiastically endorsed as exactly what was intended. The mother, who originally opened a Chifa restaurant in Lima, Peru in 1975, explained that she had to immigrate for her children but never changed her family recipes, maintaining authenticity across continents and decades.
The Verdict
Chifa is a gem that transcends being just another restaurant. It's a celebration of family heritage, culinary integrity, and design excellence. The restaurant succeeds brilliantly in its mission to present Chinese food in a fun, sophisticated, and unapologetically modern environment while honoring the authentic family recipes that form its foundation. This restaurant is perfect for anyone seeking genuine Chinese-Peruvian fusion cuisine presented in an environment that feels as carefully considered as high fashion. It's equally ideal for design enthusiasts who appreciate how every detail from furniture to lighting to decor serves the overall vision. Chifa proves that ethnic food deserves to be celebrated and presented with the same prestige and thoughtfulness as any haute cuisine establishment.