South LA Restaurant Trio Opens Daytime Spot Where Lobster And Waffles Rule

The South LA trio known as the “Foodminati” opened a new daytime restaurant known as The Court Cafe on July 13. It’s full of savory dishes and a massive Instagram following that kept the place packed over the weekend.

The self-proclaimed “Foodminati” consists of Taco Mell’s Jermelle Henderson, Bleu Kitchen’s Calvin Johnson, and Keith Garett of All Flavor No Grease. The restaurant technically resides in Westchester, only a hop away from Inglewood and Ladera Heights. It’s on Centinela near La Tijera in the former Mama Joan’s Soul Food.

Since early 2019, the three tested a breakfast and lunch menu on willing fans, with dishes that resonate with the group’s South LA-style and some nods to soul food. There’s a taco omelette, waffles with brown sugar butter, three kinds of seafood paired with grits, and the crowd-pleasing lobster and waffles.

KCRW’s Greater LA first reported about the opening, and profiled the group last week. The Instagram stars are well-known for initially operating out of their homes before making the the jump to food truck or brick-and-mortar. They built massive followings by utilizing Instagram. Henderson opened his second Taco Mell location on April 1 in Lakewood, and Garrett’s All Flavor No Grease is stationed in Santa Ana’s Fourth Street Market, while his food trucks roam the Southland.

The collective says future locations include another for Las Vegas, plus a fish market in Lancaster. The Court Cafe is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Court Cafe. 5496 W. Centinela Ave., Westchester, CA

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