Aroma Bakery and Cafe

There are way too many places named Aroma something in Los Angeles and just be careful to look at the description and address before assuming it is the Aroma you are looking for. Instead of a restaurant, it could turn out to be a pet store.

This Aroma is a big Israeli cafe bakery that started in Encino and is still enormously popular amongst the Israelis. They wait in line to get in and lounge and relax in the comfortable patio in the parking lot that somehow feels relaxing. You do feel that you are in a different country.

They serve vegetarian, fish, and dairy but no meat at this location. Even though the food is tasty, I went infrequently because it felt limited to too many ’bready" items(pizza, bagels, pasta, zataar bread, etc…), some selections of salad, and indifferent fish.

The new Aroma that opened in Hollywood a few months ago has less of an Israeli feel because there seems to be less Israeli customers and even staff but it is a good replica of the original in Encino. There have been complaints of rude servers but I’ve been there with Israeli friends and have always been treated very well. I haven’t gone by myself or with non-Israelis. The restaurant itself it big and bright with a bakery display case. The outside seating still feels more indoors with the covering and the whole place feels comfortable yet trendy. It is also open late so perfect for the late nighters.

Israeli food is mostly a mix of Mediterranean, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern food since people came from all over the world to live in Israel. This cafe reflects the mix of cultures including touches of Asian and Mexican with an offering of fresh chopped salads with hot crispy fried halomi(Israeli goat cheese) or crispy fried eggplant avocado rolls on top; pressed sandwiches with vegetables and cheese; sea bass skewers; couscous; salmon filled phyllo dough; Ahi tuna tortilla with carrots, avocado, and cucumbers; matzoh ball soup; Asian noodle salad; burekas (pastry stuffed with all types of filling); and soups and much more on the newer menu.

I haven’t tried any of the beef and chicken dishes because there are so many other delicious meatless dishes and they make huge flavorful and many ingredient salads that I love to eat there. I am also a little scared of eating meat in a place that specializes in veggies and fish.

One dish no one liked was a salmon fillet with fingerling potatoes and bbq vegetables were just eh. Potatoes were cool and hard and the fillet was tiny, crusty, cool, and bland. The bbq vegetables were pretty good since they tend to do vegetables well. But the Boulevard salad and other non meat items such as Jerusalem Bagel toasts were tasty and fresh. Zaatar(flat thin bread with seasoning and herb spread on top) was too crunchy and hard but the soft cheese Labane was tart and flavorful.

Their desserts in general are strongly flavored, rich, and pretty tasty but everyone really loved the 3 small souffle with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream on the side. The souffles are vanilla, chocolate, and halva flavored and very very rich, creamy, decadent, without being overwhelming or cloying. The halva is a unique taste and very good. They used to do one big souffle and now the smaller 3 takes it to dessert heaven level. They also serve strong coffees and espressos that go well with the dessert and aromatic fresh mint tea. They also serve limo nana made with freshly ground mint leaves, refreshing and different. There are many drink options including shakes. They have paid valet parking.