Genghis Cohen Restaurant Inc

(323) 653-0640

740 N Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046 34.0845 -118.3614

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Neighborhoods: Melrose, Central LA

GENGHISCOHEN.COM

Hours:

Monday To Tuesday From 12:00 PM To 10:30 PM Wednesday To Thursday From 12:00 PM To 11:00 PM Friday To Saturday From 12:00 PM To 11:30 PM Sunday From 12:00 PM To 10:30 PM

Last updated 6.23.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Bar Menu

Restaurant Special Features:

Live Music, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Chinese

Bar & Club Type of Music:

Folk & Bluegrass, World, Rock & Pop

Bar & Club Special Features:

Open Mic, Specialty Cocktails, Live Music, Late-Night Scene

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Genghis Cohen Restaurant Inc

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – As the name implies, this live music venue and restaurant features a Mongolian-Chinese menu that caters to the largely Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. The '80s-inspired dining room is decorated with etched glass, black-vinyl booths and gray walls. This candlelit space serves as a nice way station before entering the bare-bones theater, where pew-like seating and folk musicians are the norm. After 10pm, the crowd is purely young Hollywood. –

Editor's Tips

Parking:
A free lot is located between the bar and the neighboring newsstand.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “like the restaurant atmosphere, and the option to listen to live music next door.”
  2. “The atmosphere is great and the food is excellent.”
  3. “The dining atmosphere is pleasant, and the wait staff are attentive and nice.”
  4. “We recently stopped by for dinner and a show, and really loved the atmosphere here.”
  5. “Great atmosphere”
  6. “Centrally located, it's a great location to stop on your way between destinations, though once inside you might not want to leave.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “made my way to the bar where a sloppy drunk guy, was telling the three other people at the bar, that he loves Jack and Coke.”
  2. “Part of a Chinese food restaurant, the bands play in a small room, where you can grab a seat and watch, or sit at the bar, and watch through a huge window, or watch from the TV moniters.”
  3. “The prices are very reasonable too, the bar makes a mean pina colada.”
  4. “Chances are there'll be a great restaurant or bar right on your doostep that you never notice from behind the wheel of your car!”
  5. “The classic chinese restuarant vibe, including excellent fruity drinks, spacious and comfy seating, and dim lighting was perfect.”
food quality
81.82000160217285% positive
  1. “They actually admitted to poor service and cold food.”
  2. “Anyway, go to Twin Dragons on Pico close to Robertson if you want good almost authentic Chinese with better prices and food !”
  3. “Always amazing quality dishes”
  4. “Great place to have a meal, and the music room on the other side is a good place to check out some local talent.”
  5. “The restaurant was only a quarter full, but my food was not ready.”
  6. “But the food is so good that we will go back.”
  7. “The food is great and the atmo is cool yet still kid-friendly.”
  8. “was so hungry by the time our food came out, which came out ten minutes apart; I actually ate the cold food.”
  9. “great place to get together with friends and enjoy a perfect meal.”
  10. “The chicken was fantastic too.”
  11. “Overall, I highly recommend this place - the food is top notch!”
  12. “My husband and I have been going to Genghis Cohen for the most wonderful Chinese food in LA since 1993.”
  13. “Part of a Chinese food restaurant, the bands play in a small room, where you can grab a seat and watch, or sit at the bar, and watch through a huge window, or watch from the TV moniters.”
  14. “Creative, fresh, tastebud-popping Chinese cuisine, beautifully presented, served piping hot by a symphony of wait-staff, busboys and owners.”
  15. “Finding good Chinese food in LA was a chore until I found Genghis Cohen.”
  16. “Wonderful food with many choices for the veggie dinner.”
  17. “We realy enjoyed the black peppered beef dish (a genghis favorite), and the crackerjack shrimp - which is sweet and spicy.”
  18. “The restaurant is cool and the food is fine but nothing to get extremely excited about.”
  19. “We complained to management cordially and they called us free loaders and said they were busy and that is why their service was horrible and their food was cold.”
  20. “The food is great.”
  21. “have been coming to Gengis Cohen ever since moving here several months ago and I can honestly say the food is superb every single time!”
  22. “especially recommend the Maine Scallops Hunan Style, the fried pork potstickers, the three flavor sizzling rice soup, and the Salt Shrimp in the Shell.”
  23. “This IS NOT authentic Chinese food but Americanized Chinese food.”
  24. “The shrimp was perfectly crispy and the sauce was great.”
  25. “You really wouldn't expect good Chinese food here.”
  26. “But, the spicy garlic lamb was good.”
  27. “Who would know that green beans could taste so good and hold their own as an entree.”
  28. “The atmosphere is great and the food is excellent.”
  29. “absolutely love shrimp - the shrimp friend rice was also excellent.”
  30. “The service is fantastic, the food is wonderful.”
  31. “This is hands down, the best meal in LA.”
  32. “The craker jack shrimp dish was tasty as well as the fried shrimp appetizer.”
  33. “I'm from NY where the best Chinse food is made and Genghis Cohen g.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Wonderful food with many choices for the veggie dinner.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “great place to get together with friends and enjoy a perfect meal.”
  2. “Great place to have a meal, and the music room on the other side is a good place to check out some local talent.”
  3. “Chances are there'll be a great restaurant or bar right on your doostep that you never notice from behind the wheel of your car!”
  4. “This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in all of Los Angeles.”
  5. “Genghis is a great place for showcasing bands.”
  6. “My favorite restaurant in LA”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “But the food is so good that we will go back.”
service
69.22999858856201% positive
  1. “My husband and I ate at Genghis Cohen tonight and it had to be the worst customer service ever.”
  2. “made my way to the bar where a sloppy drunk guy, was telling the three other people at the bar, that he loves Jack and Coke.”
  3. “They actually admitted to poor service and cold food.”
  4. “Great dining experience too - nice big booths, dim lighting, great staff!”
  5. “The wait staff is excellent and the owners are very personable and friendly.”
  6. “Creative, fresh, tastebud-popping Chinese cuisine, beautifully presented, served piping hot by a symphony of wait-staff, busboys and owners.”
  7. “and there are a lot of beautiful people there!”
  8. “The food is great and the atmo is cool yet still kid-friendly.”
  9. “The manager actually walked away from us with out offering any apology for such poor service.”
  10. “We complained to management cordially and they called us free loaders and said they were busy and that is why their service was horrible and their food was cold.”
  11. “The dining atmosphere is pleasant, and the wait staff are attentive and nice.”
  12. “The service is consistently good and friendly.”
  13. “The service is fantastic, the food is wonderful.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Part of a Chinese food restaurant, the bands play in a small room, where you can grab a seat and watch, or sit at the bar, and watch through a huge window, or watch from the TV moniters.”
  2. “Anyway, go to Twin Dragons on Pico close to Robertson if you want good almost authentic Chinese with better prices and food !”
  3. “prices are reasonable.”
  4. “The prices are very reasonable too, the bar makes a mean pina colada.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “was so hungry by the time our food came out, which came out ten minutes apart; I actually ate the cold food.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/21/11

fine for a few meals, then you run into HER!

by jolaca at Citysearch

you'll have a string of good meals here, but eventually you'll run into the manager woman who will totally turn you off and then you'll not want to come back again. remember reading this...cause at some point , you'll run into her and it will be all over.....read thru some of these postings and you'll see what I mean.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/11/10

yum

by STIXX6 at Citysearch

I love this place. The mooshoo chicken is to die for. I do think that later in the evening the music is to loud. you almost have to scream acrossed the table.

mmmmmm.. go eat. prices are reasonable. and there are a lot of beautiful people there!

  • Pros: food
  • Cons: music is too loud.
1 Star Rating: Poor

10/13/08

Headed down hill with no brakes.......

by WestsidePetey at Citysearch

This place used to be good. Not anymore. It started about two months ago when I went to pick up my staple of Spicy Cliantro Shrimp and the BBQ Pork Loin. I was told on the phone the wait would be 20 minutes, so I showed up at the 30 minute mark. The restaurant was only a quarter full, but my food was not ready. I tried to chat with the older Chinese woman behind the counter, who I know to be the owner, by saying "Lots of take out tonight?" She scowled at me and responded "Everybody complaining tonight. You want you food cooked, right?" She kept mumbling and walked back into the kitchen. I chuckled thinking, wow, she's had a bad day. Mine was just beginning. I made my way to the bar where a sloppy drunk guy, was telling the three other people at the bar, that he loves Jack and Coke. Good for you, pal. Lucky for me, Grumpy Lady emerged from the kitchen with my food. I pay. I drive home. I open my shrimp container and to my horror there was a chunk of 6 or 7 shrimp that were frozen. Coated with cilantro and jalapenos, but frozen solid. I know it's Chinese food, and I know it's a tough economy, so I can partly forgive them for using frozen shrimp. But to blatantly serve it still frozen? No excuse. I called to inform them of how their dish was served and I was left on hold for 10 minutes. I called back and Grumpy Lady tells me they got new frozen shrimp and it doesn't melt good. HUH? DOESN'T MELT GOOD? I decide to go back and show them what they're serving. At this point Grumpy Lady is gone, so I'm forced to wait for the owner.( Denny or Dennis?) I head to the bar again and I felt like I was at Club Loser. Whining, miserable, drunks. Be afraid! The owner finally meets me and he looks at the shrimp and says "You want your money back?" He NEVER apologized! He was just numb and that's the problem. The owners are burnt out and don't care. Sad, cause it used to be good. AVOID!

1 Star Rating: Poor

09/15/08

What happened to Genghis Cohen?

by lawriter99 at Citysearch

My wife and I were loyal Genghis fans from '99-'07. We went back in '08 and what a shock! GC used to be wonderful. Creative, fresh, tastebud-popping Chinese cuisine, beautifully presented, served piping hot by a symphony of wait-staff, busboys and owners. But that was then. This time, an anniversary dinner for my inlaws, the place was barely lit (did they forget to pay the bill?). An owner we've known for years wouldn't look us in the eye. We soon knew why. The food looked and tasted like it came from the frozen food aisle at Costco. The dry, brittle spareribs (once so succulent) were the worst I have ever had, anywhere. The chicken, scallops, beef and vegetable dishes had so little flavor, character and texture we could barely tell them apart. And the service? Our entrees arrived over a 15-minute span. Everything was stone cold. When we asked the "waitress" about it, she snapped "What you want?" One long-time associate stated the obvious: "It's not the same." One thing that hasn't changed at Genghis is the prices. At premium cost for substandard fare, we felt cheated and depressed. Needless to say, we won't be back.

  • Pros: The news stand next door is great
  • Cons: Sad to see a once-great restaurant go bad
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/04/08

Always amazing quality dishes

by delyte17 at Citysearch

I have been coming to Gengis Cohen ever since moving here several months ago and I can honestly say the food is superb every single time! The wait staff is excellent and the owners are very personable and friendly. I recommend the Shrimp and Leeks!

  • Pros: Ambience, free parking

The Details on Genghis Cohen Restaurant Inc

Place Categories:

  • great chinse food
  • cold chinese food
  • great place
  • favorite chinese restaurant
  • poor customer service
  • especially recommend salt shrimp
  • great dining atmosphere
  • best chinese
  • nice wait staff
  • enjoy perfect meal
  • fantastic service
  • creative tastebudpopping chinese cuisine
  • cold everything
  • very reasonable prices
  • worst spareribs
  • great dim lighting
  • nice barmaids
  • cool atmo
  • fantastic chicken
  • favorite haunt
  • realy enjoyed black peppered beef dish
  • really cool performance space
  • perfect classic chinese restuarant vibe
  • excellent fruity drinks
  • excellent shrimp friend rice
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