The Killer Cafe, A Winning Experience

By Bryan Tsunoda on May 20th, 2015

The Killer Cafe has long been known for being a breakfast and lunch eatery in Marina Del Rey. Owner Kevin Michael recently made the strategic decision to extend the hours and become a 24 hour dining destination.

The Killer Cafe is right next door to its sister restaurant, Killer Shrimp on Admiralty Way. In fact, they share one of the only “Dock & Dine” access points on the coast of LA County with Killer Shrimp. Located between the Marina City Club and Washington Blvd on Admiralty Way, they feature a spectacular view of the marina: yachts moored in the harbor with palm trees silhouetting the blue sky. It’s a great place to forget about your worries.

Glancing at the menu, I was extremely surprised at not only how extensive it was, but many of the offerings had premium ingredients that I did not expect. For example, their French Dip uses prime rib vs. roast beef; their Beach Dog is made with a Hebrew National all beef wiener and their Killer Tots is made with Harris Ranch beef chili.

Some of their appetizers include:

Fried queso fresco

Fried queso fresco with marinara sauce.

Pork Belly Sliders

Pulled pork belly sliders with pickles, onion rings on Hawaiian sweet bread.

Killer Tots

Killer tots – Using Killer Shrimp spices, Harris Ranch chili, cheddar cheese and chopped onions.

Cross-section of the meatball sandwich

The meatball sandwich was made with homemade meatballs served on a fresh french baguette. It was layered with a generous serving of melted provolone & parmesan cheeses topped with their sweet marinara sauce.

Signature Killer Shrimp

French Dip Sandwich

I have to applaud the chef for using prime rib on their French dip sandwich instead of the ubiquitous and generic “roast beef”. Combined with french bread that was super crisp on the outside on soft on the inside and “au jus” made for an extremely satisfying experience.

Deep fried twinkie

When I was asked whether I wanted a deep fried twinkie, I politely declined. C’mon, isn’t that for the LA County Fairground? Really? I got arm twisted into trying it and I was pleasantly surprised that it not only looked appealing, it was actually delicious. It was reminiscent of a white cake with a crisp outside and topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

Peach Bellini

The Peach Bellini is made with pure peach puree and pinot grigio. This is the perfect summer drink to enjoy when you think about your upcoming vacation plans.

Whiskey Sour

The Whiskey Sour was perfect and ultra smooth.

KIller Shrimp Pot Pie

My dining partner ordered their signature Killer Shrimp Pot Pie. This is their famous Killer Shrimp with corn, carrots and potatoes topped with a puff pastry. I never heard so much “ooo’ing and ahhing” as he carefully savored each bite.

I love the fact that Killer Cafe has filled the void for a new high quality dining destination. What it means is that you can enjoy good food and reasonable prices at a beautiful location. Sounds like a winning trifecta to me!

* Items mentioned in this article were provided on a complimentary basis for the purpose of this review. This story was accurate when it was published and reflects the uninfluenced opinion of the reviewer.