A Hip Spin on Tradition
We learned about Pine & Crane after doing a Yelp search of restaurants in the Silverlake area and then got recommended by a good friend to go check it out. We just had it for the third time this afternoon and here’s what we have to say
The first time we had Pine & Crane, we went for dinner on a weeknight and waited in line for 20-25 minutes. Their waiting system is different than most restaurants in that you line up and wait your turn to order and then get seated. Most days and nights, you’ll find yourself in a line out the door and around the building. We ordered the zha jiang noodles, beef roll, spicy shrimp wontons and sea salt jasmine green tea (per Yelp’s recommendation). Every dish was tasty and served in a relatively small portion. The sauce in the zha jiang noodles is very savory with a hint of sweetness and the noodles are chewy and springy. The beef roll is pretty standard and a little bit more on the oilier side. We know we had the spicy shrimp wontons but can’t remember much about them. Probably good but nothing special. We usually get our Taiwanese fix in SGV and have to say that the flavor and authenticity of the dishes at Pine & Crane are on point; however, the main difference is definitely in the price. Given the area that Pine & Crane is in, it’s to be expected that portions are smaller and prices are higher.
The second and third time back at Pine & Crane was good but it lacked the wow factor that we experienced the first time. The second time, we had the same dishes as the first time plus dan dan noodles, minced pork over rice, potstickers and the scallion pancake. When we thought about why these experiences felt different, we concluded that the one thing Pine & Crane lacked was innovation. This is not to say that every hip second-generation owned restaurant should have their own innovative or experimental take on traditional cuisine; however, it feels like the only thing that sets Pine & Crane apart from traditional Taiwanese spots is price and location. Given that one of us lives in Pasadena, it’s hard to justify going to Pine & Crane when we can get the same exact, if not better experience in SGV for cheaper.
With all this being said, we get what Pine & Crane is all about and appreciate the kind of establishment they run. It’s a trendy Taiwanese restaurant that has made Taiwanese cuisine accessible while still retaining a sense of authenticity behind every dish. The food they serve is delicious in its own right, but reviewing Pine & Crane strictly based on tastiness and flavor, it gets a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It simply lacks the “fuck, this is delicious” feeling you get when you’re at a seriously dank place. We will definitely keep coming back here, and Pine & Crane is totally worth checking out if you ever find yourself in the Silverlake area, but don’t expect a transcendent experience.
Pine & Crane
1521 Griffith Park Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
