Kitchen Mouse

Quality and presentation of each plate is always on point. Hard to chose a plate that is better than another they are all good. Of the pastries the fonuts really stand out– moist and guilt free! And the veggie sausage patties are unforgettable. A little overpriced and the service staff is unfriendly which is unfortunate but really great food every time we stop in.

The gluten-​free pancakes are amazing. I’d like to try other stuff but I can’t resist the pancakes!

Growing up in neighboring Lincoln Heights, my friends and I would often take the RTD to spend last day for a fun day (Sunday) in Highland Park. We’d mostly walk around window shop, catch a movie at the ancient Highland Theater and stuff our faces with fiddy cent tacos from a stand or two or three.
Some of us would hike the hills up Peanut Lake to take in the magnificent views. Others preferred to hang out and be seen on York. At the end of our fun day we’d all meet up at Fashion 21, the original store of the retail giant Forever 21. This is the OG store from 1984 and is still in business today! Who knew that in a mere span of 30 years the owners of this fashion knock off shop would amass a fortune of 5 billion dollars. That’s billion with a B. Yah.
These days we visit Highland Park by way of Metro and no matter the day’s agenda, our first stop is always Kitchen Mouse. I adore this wonderfully quaint spot. So great to see they’ve expanded as the old space was much too small. Every time I come here I feel like I’m visiting my quirky aunt Erica in her idyllic cottage home and I’m about to have the best meal ever.
We have had most items on the menu and can honestly say everything is delicious. From the donuts and pancakes to the hardy Moros cakes and the Buffalo Bowl, it is all good because it is all fresh, made with all real ingredients. Everyone’s opinionated about their faves and mine’s the Chilaquiles. I never understood the appeal of tortilla chips drenched in enchilada sauce until I had it here and now I crave chilaquiles all the freakin’ time.
This is perhaps the best vegetarian restaurant in LA, along with Elf/​Dune in Echo Park and Crossroads on Melrose. SunCafe takes the bronze, although I’ve yet to try Gracias Madre and want to mention Gadarene Swine, where the food is mostly pretentious with very little substance. Some say not unlike its owner (currently a Top Chef contestant) but that’s another review for another day.
Today I get to relax in aunt Erica’s airy sun lit kitchen and enjoy the best chilaquiles with a Kitchen Mouse named Mikey in my old stomping grounds.
Today I have come full circle and it feels so good.

Great great breakfast/​lunch find in Highland Park– I’m not a vegan, but I have to say that the food is fantastic. Quality is great and the presentations are amazing. I recommend the Moros Cakes (= The only downside is that the waits are usually pretty long during rush, even after you order your food. However it is a great place to have brunch with your friends, so the waits won’t be too bad.

This is really great vegan food. Whoever came up with the dishes actually has taste and understands texture, quality, and presentation. Gluten free and vegan food is the best food for you possible, and its great to enjoy all these amazing dishes.
Please expand your hours, and add more items to your menu!!! your food is too good to limit your business. I know you guys do catering mostly, but you could make just as much if you expand your restaurant!
Delicious!!!

I had the moros cakes today with an over easy egg on the top. It was a pretty tasty meal, with my only gripe being that the portions are a bit small. I’d ask for two eggs and a side of avocado to round it out. The wait is a bit long, but they’ve just recently expanded and I’d assume they’re adjusting to the new pace of things.

Met up a friend for lunch around midday Friday. I wasn’t feeling very well so I ordered two vegan donuts (lemon and raspberry), a peanut butter and jam cookie, and a hibiscus tea. The vegan donuts were amazing. They were moist and delicious, but alas, ended too soon. Next time I come I’ll be buying a dozen to take home.
Very pleasant, well-​lit ambience. This location is tiny and can get crowded quickly, so it’s not recommended for large parties. Luckily, it seems that they’re expanding into the location next door.

The best pancakes in town and they happen to be vegan and gluten free! Seriously, they are so good, you see individuals ordering a whole plate and finishing it themselves.
Drool on this, light and fluffy pancakes with blue and black berries, toasted coconut, and maple syrup. You can choose to add coconut whip for an extra $ 2. It is worth it. Watch me whip, watch me… music influences…
Buffalo Bowl — I love the tangy sauce, I can eat it all the time without getting sick of it. Their house made vegan sausage patties are good stuff, too.
The House Chai Tea is flavored so well, the spices are a stand out compared to what I am used to at your common coffee shop. It is warmth, comfort, and the joy of Fall/​Winter in a cup. Is that possible? Yes, I think so.
This place is charming, but a bit small. Don’t be deceived by the long line though. The wait is not too long and you have to order before you get seated. Sorry, no lounging or reserving tables, people.
On the bright side, I am looking forward to the expansion. They are already working on it next door!
With the expansion, I hope they also extend their hours!
Parking — metered available, not enforced on Sundays. Yay.
Kitchen mouse, niece approved. She is about 14 months. We love the pancakes!

Been coming here pretty regularly for a few months now. Everything is really tasty. My fav is the Avocado TLT (Tempeh, Lettuce, and Tomato).
HOWEVER, I’ve noticed over that time that the people working here seem to be MISERABLE with their jobs. Super annoyed by any simple request, barking at you at the register, dropping your plate off with a scowl…
Are the employees treated poorly or do they just hire sour people?
Whatever, just gimme my food. 2^nd best veggie option in the ‘hood after Amara Kitchen, where everyone is lovely.

I’ve wanted to try this place for a really long time and I finally had the chance to visit today. I knew that KM was a small place but I didn’t think it’d be a very big issue. but it is.
ambiance: very, very noisy. the café echoes and although there are a dozen people at most in the place it’s not the calm, casual brunch vibe I expected. It could be because they are remodeling but I don’t think so. also the whole place is smaller than a bedroom.
after waiting in line for 10 minutes it was finally my turn and the nice lady at the cash register told me their machine went down and now its CASH ONLY. i specifically checked online before I made my drive to their small café that they take card. My bank is 2 miles away from KM one way, and even though there’s a «bank down the street» (as the nice lady recommended), its Chase and they wouldnt let me withdraw.
needless to say, I was extremely disappointed with how noisy and unprofessional this place seemed. I’m pretty sure this isn’t the first time their credit card machine went down as no one else behind me seemed surprised by the news. also, even if i did successfully order (at 1:20pm on a thursday) there would have been no seating for me (party of 1) anyway.
suggestion: wait until they finish remodeling before coming here, it seems like they bought the spot next door and are knocking down stuff to connect the space. i would love to go back and try again. 1 star for my overall first impression (location, ambiance), and 1 extra star for the nice attitude of the employees. maybe i’ll add more stars next time when they give me a chance to order first.

the colonial project that was once highland park is now a sad display of (portlandia-​esque) white folks relocated from the midwest swooping up long time people of color owned business and turning it into idiotic overpriced and useless eateries. LA is known for the phenomenon, so it should be no shock. except when you pay $ 8.50 for a parfait that consists of 4 bites in a glass thats too small even for water. it’s downright rude. add to that, the fact that not one person working (the front at least) is from the neighborhood, so not only is the business not meant for people of
color to patronize, it’s not meant to create new jobs for people of color. as friendly and sweet as they may be, it’s not well-​meaning; it’s the new guard of highland park, and it’s clueless. this review applies to any white-​owned business opened in highland park since 2010.

Amazing! The food is fantastic. Order the breakfast tacos, they’re a must. This place is absolutely adorable! Love the vintage rustic vibe. Every table has fresh flowers, which automatically makes the dining experience more pleasant and lovely. The place is on the small side, however there didn’t seem be anyone waiting too long for a seat. Customer service is very friendly and helpful. Parking is a hit or miss, street parking on Figueroa can be sparse depending on the time of day.

What can I say… there aren’t many breakfast/​brunch spots that impress me. I guess most places just don’t put too much love into preparing the 1^st and most important meal of the day. Ive grown disenchanted w/​the typical breakfast consisting of omlettes, bacon. roasted potatoes, and ho hum buttermilk pancakes. Walking in I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was that it was 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, I was a bit hungover, hungry as hell and in the mood for some delicious breakfast food to recharge my batteries. Fortunately there was not a long wait or even a wait at all… I came at the right time. In this case the late bird gets the worm too. I could imagine how quickly packed it could get in here. Very small and quaint place.
I love that most of the dishes are vegetarian and vegan. Although they do serve egg dishes. I ordered the Mikey’s Chilaquiles which was a well balanced and filing meal. The enchilada sauce in the dish was rather tasty, black beans were perfect, tortillas nicely crisp, the cilantro «cream», vegan cheese and the saurkraut tied all together. However, they need to add a little more sauce and cheese… it would turn this dish from an «8» to a «10» real quick! I added a side of eggs. Also, tried the pancakes (oat, buckwheat and corn vegan, gluten-​free pancakes w/​Vermont maple syrup, berries and coconut). These were delicious! Oh and how can I forget… the dirty chai made w/​their house vanilla chai w/​almond milk and sweetened w/​maple syrup. Really appreciate that theu serve their lattes w/​almond milk. Nothing worse than going to a café and have to ask what alternative milk options they have just to get a salty response about it. Well not here because KM knows whats up! Plus, I got it extra dirty w/​no additional charge. How lovely is that?
Very friendly staff who are attentive. I’m definitely coming back here again and again…

Kitchen mouse is the kinda place you start waiting in a line for, and really want to leave after like five min. It’s small, crowded and the line literally moves sooooo slow. But if you are a patient well experienced bruncher and can
hold it through, you may have one of the best breakfasts in HLP. Be prepared to wait almost 45 minutes after you order to get your food though.
Okay so aside from me obviously implying this place takes a long time (because God it does) the food is great. So great that even though I waited 45 minutes for one of the simpler things on the menu, eggs avocado toast and veg patties, I was a vry happy bruncher. Everything here is just really tasty, even their toast is delicious! Their veggie patties are phenomenal, please order a side of them with any plate you decide on. Recently tried their huevos rancheros plate. Solid 100. Good place, long wait.

If you’re so incredibly hungry that you could eat a cow, please refrain – or rather, don’t. Do yourself the biggest favor and come to Kitchen Mouse instead.
A vegetarian and vegan friendly eatery in Highland Park, Kitchen Mouse reminds me of a homey and quaint version of Sqirl. There is an immense amount of attention paid to detail to ensure that flavors and textures are not only compatible, but also married beautifully. Forgive me and my memory if I’m slightly off, but I believe I ordered the Morro cakes, which came with three black bean and rice patties served over a shmear of pesto, and a side of slaw. All of this was drizzled with a delicious chipotle «cream», which, needless to say, was fantastic. The flavors melded so so damn well together. The pesto helped to cut through the heartiness and savoriness of the patties, while the vinegar-​y slaw added just the right amount of crunch and a zing to provide both flavor and textural contrast! I can definitely understand why the dish is one of the more popular items on the menu… I came as close as a civilized being could to licking the plate clean – and this is coming from a carnivorous carnivore.
I so badly wanted to keep this spot a secret, but we all know that secrets don’t make friends. So there you go world, and you are beyond welcome!

Sometimes I like to pretend that I’m a vegan and that I’m overly-​conscious about what I put into my body, so I’m grateful for places like Kitchen Mouse that offer me faux-​meat options and dishes so packed with delicious veggies that you almost forget that you’re actually carnivorous.
The place itself is tiny and seats are hard to come by if you’re coming during a busy time/​day, but the décor is seriously adorable. Reminds me of how I would imagine a southern caucasian grandmother would decorate her kitchen.
Portions are great and very filling. Also, the cookies are a little TOO good. I can’t help but get at least a few of them whenever I come in ;(

I live nearby and was looking for a neighborhood joint to have breakfast with the family. I’ve always passed by it but never thought much of it… until I stepped in and felt like I was in a café in silver lake. I really believe this area in the next 10years will become the new «silver lake». Anyways, back to the food:
Pancakes (the BF): texture threw me off bc none of us are vegan but by the en of my meal I really enjoyed it
Breakfast tacos (my dad): didn’t get to try them bc he devoured them! He’s super picky but the fact he liked them means it’s BOMB!
Bagel (me): I really enjoyed my meal! The bread was soft and came with avocados and scrambled eggs
I’ll be back to try other things on the menu! Happy I found a neighborhood gem!

I’ve had this place bookmarked for a long while and I finally had the opportunity to visit Kitchen Mouse twice within a month from each other. Cute café in Highland Park. Both times I went for brunch and it had quite a crowd. On that first visit, I was worried that we’d have to compete for seating. But after we ordered at the counter, the staff sorta moderated which customers were waiting for tables and directed us (and other customers) to tables as they became available. On my second visit, there were a few tables open so we just sat ourselves.
The menu is small but everything sounds delicious! Also, almost everything on the menu is vegan. There are a few egg dishes which are obviously not vegan but other than that, no hidden ingredients that require a bunch of questions. Between my two visits, I’ve had the opportunity to taste the following:
MOROS CAKES — I love a plate with a lot of color! This had a vibrant purple from the serrano slaw with red cabbage, a bright green from the cilantro chutney, and a splash of orange from the smoky chipotle cream. All of which made flavorful compliments to the black bean & brown rice patties. Very tasty stuff!
PANCAKES — I don’t even like pancakes. My friend ordered these and gave me a bite. Omg, these were SO GOOD! These gluten-​free pancakes are made with oat, buckwheat, and corn and topped with berries and coconut. Great fluffy texture and tasty maple syrup too!
BUFFALO BOWL — I remember that I enjoyed it but in all honestly, I don’t remember much else. I don’t even remember if I was wowed by the dill cashew or buffalo sauces. Perhaps that means I wasn’t gushing over it like I did with the other dishes. But what I can tell you is that with all the black beans, collards, yams & brown rice, it was a hearty dish for sure.
I’ve also had a few of their cookies. They’re pricey and tiny but I was in a «treat yo’ self» kind of mood. I’m glad that I was because they were pretty yummy!
…PB & J and Pine Nut
…Peanut Putter & Chocolate Chip
One last thing I’d like to mention: When I walked in with my friend on that first visit, she was a bit shocked to notice that we were the only minorities in the place. Usually that wouldn’t throw me off but her shock was coming from a very honest place. She grew up in Highland Park, lived in the area for a long time, and witnessed the gentrification happen over the years. She never thought she would walk into a restaurant in Highland Park and realize she was the only Latina. If I was her, I’d be shocked too. But she laughed it off and we enjoyed our brunch :) For the record, we never felt as if the staff or patrons made us feel unwelcomed or anything. The staff was super friendly and helpful! My friend’s statement was purely an observation.

As a new mom I am always scoping out places to see if I can take my baby with me. I last ate here yesterday and had the tacos with scrambled egg add on and stumptown coffee with almond milk (latte). My friedn had the buffalo bowl which looked tasty. My tacos were good but the salad it came with was spectacular.
The small space is not good for strollers so bring your baby in a carrier. The bathroom has a table that opens up that can be used as a changing table though I question the safety of it for bigger and squirmier babies.
It is usually very crowded but tables open up rather quickly. Hovering and giving people death stares usually helps speed things along. On the flip side if you feel like hogging a table to gab for hours with your friend I don’t think this is the best place to do it without feeling guilty for taking up prime real estate on the weekends. On the weekdays it should be better.

Highland Park is one of those slick little neighborhoods on the come up that I keep hearing about more and more. Kitchen Mouse is a perfect example of what makes hoods like this so great: a unique menu and location with character, run by enthusiastic people looking to bring love to their neighbors.
I kind of stumbled onto Kitchen Mouse, I was in the area and searched «vegan» on my Unilocal app (of course) and this place popped up. Thirty seconds of cruising the menu let me know I was in for a treat and after my visit I can say I was definitely not disappointed. My girl and I knocked out two of their open face sandwiches:
Avocado TLT: maple tempeh, cherry tomato, dijon aioli, and herbs
Tempeh Reuben: sauerkraut, chipotle aioli, cashew cream, and seared tempeh
Both came with little side salads, both were perfectly tasty. Check my photos, making my mouth water again. We also snagged a side of their house made mushroom and brown rice «sausage» patties and they were so savory, an awesome treat.
I spoke with a woman working there, maybe a manager or something I don’t know, and she was so all about their food it got me jazzed just to be there. What a great little spot for vegans, meat eaters, and everyone in between. It was packed on a Saturday brunch time, so prepare thyself. The wait is worth it though.
Next time I’m around the way Kitchen Mouse will definitely be on my agenda.