I have wanted to try Cafe Landwer for a long time. I never made it to the Century City location, so I was excited when Cafe Landwer Brentwood opened on San Vicente Boulevard. On the rainy night of Sunday, September 6, 2026, we packed into the car with my husband, our two girls, and my brother, and headed over for dinner.
Cafe Landwer is a casual Mediterranean café that is reasonably priced, serves great portions, and the food is fantastic. It also had plenty on the menu for my brother, who is vegan. Below is what we ordered, what I would get again, what I would skip, and a few things to know before you go.
About Cafe Landwer
Landwer has a long story behind it. It began as a coffee roastery in Berlin in 1919 and later moved to Tel Aviv, where it grew into one of Israel’s best-known café brands before expanding to the United States. The menu reflects that path: Israeli café classics, Mediterranean salads and bowls, shakshuka and big breakfasts, schnitzel, challah sandwiches, and a pastry case full of rugelach.
We went for dinner, but their brunch menu looks phenomenal. I definitely want to come back for brunch.
Dining Out With a Vegan
My brother is vegan, and it can be tough when we dine out with him. We need to make sure there is a substantial amount of food on the menu that he can eat, not just a side salad.
Cafe Landwer Brentwood had no problem here. Between the falafel hummus bowl, the lentil soup, and the fattoush salad, he had a full meal and still took food home. If you have dietary needs, let your server know so they can point you in the right direction.
Cafe Landwer Brentwood Has No Liquor License Yet
Keep this in mind when planning your evening: at the time of our visit, the Brentwood location did not have its liquor license yet, so there was no wine, beer, or cocktails. If a glass of wine is part of your dinner plan, check before you go.
Instead of alcohol, get the House Blend Tea. It was so good, especially on a rainy night. The mug comes with chunks of fresh ginger, mint, and a cinnamon stick infusing Landwer’s own tea mix (cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg). It’s perfect!
Falafel Hummus Bowl
We started with the falafel hummus bowl, served with Landwer’s freshly made pita. After all, my brother and I consider ourselves hummus connoisseurs. We make very good hummus at home, which makes us tough critics when we order it out. This one was top notch and very tasty.
The falafel was also just as good. Plus, the bowl comes with their freshly made pita and is easy to share. It’s also a great option if someone at your table is vegan.
Landwer’s Famous Schnitzel, Kosher Style
Next, my husband and I shared Landwer’s famous schnitzel. We ordered it kosher style and swapped the French fries for the housemade crushed potatoes, both at our server’s suggestion. Good advice on both counts.
Overall, this was a great dish. Plus, at $24, it can easily be split by two people.
Mediterranean Fattoush Salad
We also ordered the Mediterranean fattoush salad, and it was huge. The three adults split it, and we still took most of it home. However, it wasn’t a big deal, so I wouldn’t order it again.
Next time I want a vegetable on the table, I will try the Quinoa Lebanese salad, which looks interesting, or the Jerusalem salad.
Lentil Soup
As for my brother, he ordered a bowl of lentil soup as his main course. He eats lentils daily, and he enjoyed this soup a lot. Also, the bowl was huge for $10. Even though he has a hearty appetite, he still took some home.
The Kids’ Menu at Cafe Landwer Brentwood
Meanwhile, the girls ordered from the kids’ menu. The kids’ meals also come with a side of veggies and marshmallows as a sweet treat for finishing your meal.
First, Charlotte had the kids’ pizza and ate all of it.
Madeline, on the other hand, chose the kids’ pasta with alfredo sauce and didn’t really enjoy it. She wouldn’t order it again. When I tried it, it tasted like your standard pasta alfredo.
So next time, instead of ordering off the kids’ menu, we’ll probably get a second schnitzel for the girls to share.
Atmosphere and Reservations at Cafe Landwer Brentwood
Overall, Cafe Landwer Brentwood is a great casual spot to dine alone, with friends, for a casual date night, or with family.
We made a reservation for 6:00 pm, but it wasn’t needed. It wasn’t busy that Sunday night of Labor Day weekend, though it was raining hard, so I imagine a lot of people stayed in. Reservations are available, and it never hurts to make one.
What I’m Ordering Next Time
We will definitely go back to Cafe Landwer Brentwood. Here’s what’s on my list:
- Brunch. The menu looks phenomenal.
- The schnitzel, kosher style, again, plus a second one for the kids to share.
- The Moroccan fish.
- The schnitzel challah sandwich. I know I’m going to love it.
- The Quinoa Lebanese salad or the Jerusalem salad instead of the fattoush.
- Rugelach for dessert. We skipped dessert this time, but the Nutella rugelach looks amazing. Actually, all of their rugelach looks amazing!
Dessert at Go Greek Yogurt
We passed on dessert at Landwer because we had heard good things about Go Greek Yogurt, the shop directly below Cafe Landwer Brentwood, and wanted to try it.
First, I tried their Greek yogurt, and the sour cherry and chocolate were phenomenal. In hindsight, I should have ordered one of their classic Greek yogurt bowls. Instead, all of us went with frozen yogurt.
The kids and my husband chose vanilla and chocolate and topped theirs with sprinkles, organic gummies, and chocolate chips. My brother and I shared the Greek honey frozen yogurt topped with almonds. In the end, everyone enjoyed it.
A word of warning: it gets expensive quickly. That’s because frozen yogurt is sold by weight at $1.35 per ounce, and toppings are $1.29. For example, the cup my brother and I shared came to about $14, and it was not very big. Next time I’ll skip the frozen yogurt and go with the Greek yogurt.
Quick Need-to-Know: Cafe Landwer Brentwood
- Location: 11677 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles (Brentwood), in the same shopping center as Perse. See Landwer’s locations page for hours and menus
- Cuisine: Israeli and Mediterranean café. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner
- Price: Reasonable. The shareable schnitzel is $24 and a large bowl of lentil soup is $10
- Alcohol: No liquor license at the time of our visit (September 2026). Order the House Blend Tea
- Vegan-friendly: Yes. The falafel hummus bowl, lentil soup, and fattoush worked for my vegan brother
- Kids: Kids’ menu available. Meals come with veggies and marshmallows
- Reservations: Available on OpenTable. Not needed on our quiet, rainy Sunday at 6:00 pm, but worth making on busy weekends
- Must-orders: House Blend Tea, falafel hummus bowl, schnitzel (kosher style, with crushed potatoes)
- Skip: The fattoush salad and the kids’ pasta alfredo
Quick Need-to-Know: Go Greek Yogurt Brentwood
- Location: Directly below Cafe Landwer
- Best bet: The Greek yogurt. The sour cherry and chocolate are standouts. Try a classic yogurt bowl
- Frozen yogurt pricing: $1.35 per ounce plus $1.29 for toppings. Watch your portions
- Our favorite frozen yogurt flavor: Greek honey with almonds
Would We Go Back to Cafe Landwer Brentwood?
Yes, definitely. The food was fantastic, the prices were reasonable, the portions were big, our server gave us good suggestions, and my brother had plenty to eat. Get the hummus, the schnitzel, and the House Blend Tea. And I’ll be back for brunch.
Read More on Culinary Passages
Cafe Landwer is surrounded by some of our favorite Brentwood restaurants, all within a few minutes of each other. If you are planning a night out in the neighborhood, these are worth a read:
- A New Lens on Persian Fine Dining: Our Evening at Perse, in the same shopping center as Cafe Landwer
- Telefèric Barcelona and Bacio di Latte: A Kid-Free Night Out in Brentwood, tapas followed by gelato just down the street
- The Ultimate 90049 Playdate Dinner Hack, featuring Katsuya and Bacio di Latte in Brentwood
- Sora Brentwood: An Honest Review
- Neighborly Kitchen in Brentwood: What to Order for a Family Sunday
