New American with Latin influence, Luminarias Los Angeles brings a lively social scene to Monterey Park, serving up delicious fare from brunch to dinner.
Perched between the beach and the mountains, Latin American-style bistro Luminarias Los Angeles is the perfect stop for excellent eats and quality service. Located in the heart of Monterey Park, this East Los Angeles gem serves decadent dishes and familiar favorites–whether you’re stopping in from brunch or hosting a fabulous dinner party.
Once a Mexican Mariachi dancing bar, Luminarias has undergone a total remodel, now complete with bright and light green interior, swinging booths and 360-degree views of the greater Los Angeles area. Both the interior and exterior have a familiar modern feel that instantly brings a sense of comfortability to the restaurant environment.
If you’re an early riser on Saturdays and Sundays, head to Luminarias Los Angeles for its recent addition–weekend brunch! There’s no better way to celebrate two days off of work than with flavorful brunch-y dishes and dreamy cocktails with an incredible view. Every chair will be filled–trust us!
Try something not-so-traditional for brunch. To start, rich and cheesy beef birria empanadas and refreshing crispy Brussels sprouts with Thai chili and young coconut are sure to be fan favorites. If you like seafood, you’ve definitely come to the right place; Luminarias’ raw bar features chilled oysters with ancho chili cocktail sauce and Peruvian-style ceviche with red snapper and leche de tigre for fresh, coastal flavors.
And make sure to carve in time to order charcuterie and grilled skewers for the table. Chicken, harissa shrimp, beef and Beeler’s bacon skewers are simply prepared, but packed with delicious flavor and plated with garden-fresh chimichurri dipping sauce.
Now to the main course–since no brunch is complete without plenty of breakfast and lunch plates. You truly can’t go wrong with the fluffy, thick-cut brioche French toast doused in cognac-roasted golden apples and Nutella-cinnamon maple syrup. But we promise you’ll leave happy with the fried chicken and waffles. A warm Belgian waffle accompanied by a half-jidori chicken–honey-roasted in sriracha glaze–is sweet, salty and cooked to perfection.
If you’re looking for more traditional fare, Luminarias serves up delectable eggs “bennys” sided with crispy patatas bravas and warm roasted whole tomatoes. Customary benedict lovers will enjoy the hanger steak benedict, but we recommend branching out and trying the crab cake benedict coated in vibrant and delicious chipotle hollandaise.
And for dessert–that’s right, dessert for breakfast–Luminarias has two fantastic options to choose from. Sweet and summery, the key lime pie served with fresh whipped cream is a tangy finish to any brunch or dinner. But you can’t miss the coffee-inspired lava cake prepared hot next to a side of house-made cookies and cream ice cream. It’s hard to beat!
As for drinks, the bar amazes onlookers with specialty cocktails served in a hanging glass and decked with fresh herbs and fruit. The Paid Vacation is a must-try–flavored with passion fruit puree and purple basil. And the Oopsie Daisy is a refreshing sip-worthy drink filled with tequila, elderflower and blood orange with a tart tajin rim. With an extensive bar menu and happy hour, you should definitely plan on trying one of their remarkable beverage creations.
Luminarias Los Angeles is worth the drive for the unbeatable views alone, but the creatively-crafted food and drinks will keep you coming back for years to come. Make sure to carve out a few hours because it will be hard to leave!
Luminarias Los Angeles is open Wednesday through Friday, 4 to 9 p.m., for dinner; happy hour from 4 to 6:30 p.m.; and Saturday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., for brunch and dinner.
For more information about Luminarias, visit luminariasrestaurant.com
3500 W. Ramona Blvd.
Monterey Park, CA 91754