Breakfast at Aladdin’s
At the corner of Hope and 12th sits a 47-year-old family-owned restaurant with no concrete menu and an impressive loyalty base. I spent a Wednesday morning at Aladdin’s with Cyndi, the owner, and some of her regulars.
Between South Park’s newest hotel rooftops and the bustling restaurant scene at LA Live is Aladdin’s Café and Coffee Shop. A confidently unpretentious entrance, you might miss it if you’re not looking for it. Locals will tell you it’s the only place you’ll feel like you’re getting a home-cooked meal. While the food is among the best in town, truly, it’s not even the best part about this place. It’s the type of neighborhood joint you didn’t think existed outside of sitcoms. Upon stepping in I was warmly greeted by Cyndi and ushered to join her at a table with her long-time friend.
While Cyndi is helping guests, I chat with her friend about the rise of DTLA over the years when she introduces me to another guest. Breakfast in hand and briskly heading out the door he tells me, “This is my morning counselor session,” and disappears off to work.
Cyndi once again takes a seat and tells me about how she took over the business from her dad, Rodel Corletto. After studying international finance and business at Cal State Long Beach and spending some time in the corporate world, she realized she was happiest working in the family business. Originally from El Salvador, her dad was working at a burger joint a block away when he bought Aladdin from a friend and kept the name.
South Park was mainly comprised of factories then, mostly apparel, and they served breakfast and lunch to local factory workers as well as lawyers from the neighboring financial district. Back then, they were located across the street before downtown began re-developing and they moved to their current location. Her father now splits his time between El Salvador and Los Angeles.
As she’s telling me about the history, she’s simultaneously helping guests, and introducing everyone by name. Seated at one table is a group of security guards after their night shift, next to them a man who had just finished up at the gym, while at the counter is a man in a suit.
Meanwhile, our table had grown by one more person and conversation was lively. When it was time for her friend of 20 years, who I was seated with, to go to work he told me, “I’ve never met a happier person in my life than Cyndi. She makes the place.” His seat was immediately snatched up by a friend of hers who said, “A lot of people call her mama. She’s the best part.” It’s clear that Cyndi and her father have an organic way of bringing the wonderful diversity of downtown together in ways we rarely get to experience, especially for a meal.
So, what’s actually on the menu? They offer chicken, beef, and pork worked differently every day. Not wanting to be restricted by my unfamiliarity as a first timer, I requested a burrito “dealers’ choice,” no meat if possible.” Days later, I’m still daydreaming about the chile relleno breakfast burrito at least four times a day. Oh, and on Wednesdays they serve barbeque ribs!
Aladdin’s Café and Coffee Shop, 1150 S. Hope, is open Monday through Friday from 6am to 2pm.
By Aileen Coyle