Chef Austin Jang and mother Katie opened 2nd St. Café in Little Tokyo’s Honda Plaza on November 19. Austin Jang is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena who promises to “serve each dish with heart and soul.” That means house-baked bread, house-cured bacon, salad dressings made with “regional ingredients” and stocks that take two days to prepare. He says, “We try not to cheat.”

Austin Jang personally makes the desserts on a daily basis, including “dirty cheesecake, a messy-looking cheesecake,” and L’opera, “a classic French cake with French butter, sponge cake, chocolate ganache, a dash of caramel sauce and strawberry sauce.”

Weekend breakfast features omelets and house-made bacon and sausage. There’s also eggs Benedict and salmon benedict and a “granola bar roll.” Austin Jang also promises plenty of vegan options.

Here’s a sampling of regular menu selections:

Appetizers
Crab Cakes served with spicy mango sauce ($8.95)
Extreme Antipasto Plate ($10.95) – sliced salami, Brie, sautéed Portobello mushrooms, artichokes and olives

Sandwiches
Goat Cheese Prosciutto ($9.95) with sun dried tomatoes, mixed greens, red bell pepper coulis
Good o’ Burger ($8.95) – 100% ground beef, hand crafted with a hint of garlic, grilled and served with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, house pickles, thousand island spread
Salmon Shitake ($11.95) – grilled blackened salmon, sautéed shitake mushrooms, mixed greens, light cream cheese spread

Pizza
Margherita ($7.95) – fresh Roma tomatoes, garlic chiffonade, sweet basil, mozzarella
Sausage ($10.95) – house made sausage, grilled onions, Provolone, bell peppers

Main Entrees
Coq Au Vin ($12.95) – chicken legs and thighs marinated and braised in red wine reduction with shitake risotto
Pork Braise ($12.95) – braised in specially made braising liquid (red wine and veal stock) until butter-tender, served with shitake risotto and braised red cabbage
Chilean Sea Bass ($25.95) – very lightly breaded and seasoned, pan fried with ginger soy sauce, served with shitake risotto and grilled asparagus

Pastas
Fettuccini Pesto Romano ($9.95) – fresh tomatoes sautéed in pesto, a touch of cream, mushrooms

Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 10:30 AM – Midnight
Friday – Saturday: 10:30 PM – 1 AM
Sun: 9 AM – 3 PM

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This entry is filed under LA Culinary Compass, Openings.