C J's Cafe

"Pico Boulevard's favorite CJ’s Cafe is a reliable option for Mexican American and soul food diner fare. Find chorizo and eggs in the morning, super-sized wet burritos for dinner, and chilaquiles and fried chicken that are perfect for any time of day." - Cathy Chaplin, Eater Staff

"Pico Boulevard's favorite CJ’s Cafe is a reliable option for Mexican American and soul food diner fare. Here you’ll find chorizo and eggs in the morning, super-sized wet burritos for dinner, and seriously solid chilaquiles and fried chicken that’s perfect for any time of day." - Cathy Chaplin, Eater Staff

"The first thing you'll notice about the world-beating wings at CJ's is that they are some real plumpies—they look like those giant turkey legs you get at the carnival more than they do snack food. The secret is that these wings are broasted, or pressure-fried, which results in a thick, shaggy crust that clings to the chicken like concrete and delivers a ferocious crunch. And rather than a rainbow of wings flavors, this takeout storefront on Pico offers just one: Boss Sauce, available mild or hot, which tastes a mixture of buffalo and sweet chili sauce, with something else you can't quite put your finger on (honey mustard?). Either way, it's proof that sometimes one option is all you need." - Garrett Snyder

"Breakfast meeting at CJ’s Cafe on Pico. It’s like a diner. I’m a big fan of diners. I like hearing people’s conversations, the forks and knives scratching. It’s therapeutic. A diner, more than a restaurant, feels like people are being their true selves. At a restaurant you can present as someone else. At a diner, you have to be authentic. I get a couple scrambled eggs and some good ol’ breakfast potatoes."

Grub Street Diet: Darrell Britt-Gibson

"Maybe it’s because I only moved here 14 years ago, or because I found my own places to love (CJ's Cafe on Pico, Cindy's in Eagle Rock, the Norm’s on La Cienega)." - Eater Staff