By 
I’m so excited to finally talk about a restaurant that I’ve been wanting to try for a very long time: La Copine.
Located on Old Woman Springs Road, a desert highway that connects Yucca Valley and Lucerne Valley, La Copine looks straight off of an American road trip postcard. The Joshua trees, the two-lane road, and the vastness of the landscape make La Copine a true oasis in the California desert. Add a vintage car in the mix and you’ll feel like you’re in a movie!
Let’s start with the backstory. La Copine was founded in 2015 by Claire Wadsworth, who was in an all-girl punk band, and Nikki Hill, a chef. When they met, the two of them were living in Philadelphia. In 2019, they were interviewed by Bon Appetit:
Claire: “We had been living in LA for a few years, and we had just gotten married. It was Earth Day, and it’s free to get into the national parks on Earth Day, so we decided to go to Joshua Tree. We’d never been. So we went to the park, walked around Pioneertown, saw a double rainbow and a lightning storm, found the Integratron, and that was it. We knew we were moving to the desert. Joanne [the owner of] the Integratron told us about the restaurant. Two weeks later we were buying it. The previous tenant literally handed us the keys and the lease, said, “Well ladies, it was really nice doing business with you. Call me if you need anything. If I were you, I’d get myself a shotgun,” and walked out the door.”
Nikki: “The idea of La Copine came about because we always wanted to recreate the night we met, so we started doing personal dinner parties for friends. We knew we wanted a name that was a little feminine and French, and “la copine” came up. It means girlfriend, but it’s also a casual meaning for girlfriend. So it’s not like, “We’re lovers!” but it also could imply that.”
Ali Wadsworth, Claire’s sister who at the time of the interview worked as a host at La Copine, said: “When celebrities come in, we make them wait. But even the people who are pissed that they have to wait, as soon as they sit down and eat, they’re the happiest people in the whole world. Everything Nikki makes is going to be the best, and everything is going to be sent out with love.”
When I went to Joshua Tree for the first time in August 2022, the restaurant was closed because Nikki and Claire were on vacation in France. This time, I came back for Easter weekend.
Most restaurants in Yucca Valley are located on 29 Palms Highway, Yucca’s main street. But La Copine is off the beaten path, which makes it even more alluring.
While I was on my way to La Copine from LA, I thought I would just stop to have a short meal before heading to my Airbnb. But I was in for a rude awakening! When I got there, I was struck by the amount of parked cars. “Wow, this many cars on a Friday?” I thought to myself. I walked out and made a beeline for the host stand. It was about 2pm. The host told me to write my name on the list, where there were about 9 parties ahead of me. “It will be like an hour,” she said.
Thankfully, I had had a pretty hefty breakfast in LA, so it’s not like I was starving. While I waited, I marveled at the amazing outfits of the servers, which were all female, and some of the diners: cowboy boots, flowy dresses, jumpsuits from Big Bud Press (my favorite clothing store in LA). It was desert fashion galore, and despite being Yucca’s most popular restaurant, the vibe was very unpretentious. I also gawked at a beautiful outfit on a woman wearing silk Gucci track pants and a gorgeous leather jacket. It was like watching a fashion show!
There was a waiting area in the back, where it was shaded and you could take your drinks before they called your name. Here, there was also a shop called Teocali, which was inside an RV and sold premium vintage leather jackets from Mexico.
After browsing, I decided to go back to the parking lot area so that I could see all the people checking in.
Thirty minutes in, more people kept swarming the front desk to give their names. Some people were turned off the hour-long waits, others were straight up turned away about two hours before they closed, which was at 4 pm.
A group of ladies in their early 40s with a reservation were turned away. “What?” One of them said incredulously. They went back to the parking lot area. “Honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it… why don’t we double dip, go shopping and grab a sandwich?” Their leader wouldn’t let it go and spoke to Claire. “We’ve had reservations for one month!” Apparently, when the first two girls had given their name, the whole group wasn’t there to be seated. “What?” she said again. They ended up getting in anyway and the girl thanked Claire.
Another girl, a blonde French model-looking type with her mom, went up to the host stand. Both were wearing athleisure clothes. “It will be about an hour”, the host said. “An hour?” said the girl. “I’ve been trying to get a reservation through the website, but it was impossible.” The host said that it was through text message… Then after speaking to her mom in French, she turned to the host and said, “Ok, put us down on the list”.
Two girls got out of their car. One of them asked me how long I had been waiting to get a table. “An hour. But you can try. Tell the host”. She replied, “It’s ok, there’s like 11 of us”. The other girl was already on the phone telling her friends not to come.
After what seemed like 80 years, a server finally called my name and I was sat at the counter. Claire was the one who took my order that day.
I had seen a salad on Instagram that looked super appetizing. When I showed it to Claire, she gently put her hand on my shoulder and said, “We don’t have that on the menu anymore.” La Copine’s menu seasonally rotates, so keep that in mind if you see a dish on their Instagram feed that really catches your eye. I asked her what salad I should get instead. She pointed with her pen to Salade Copine. “I recommend that one. We’ve had it on the menu since day one.”
Salade Copine
This is La Copine’s signature salad. It comes with house smoked salmon, lettuce, radishes, capers, verts, a poached egg on top, and drizzled with a mustard-herb dressing. It was so fresh and you could tell every ingredient was very well thought out. Flavor-wise, I would have skipped the capers, which have a very tangy flavor and pack a big punch. The house smoked salmon is also predominantly salty. These two make a great pairing on toasts or bagels, but the capers overpowered the fresh flavors from the rest of the ingredients, along with the dressing. At one point, I scooped the capers to the side to get a better appreciation of the dressing and the rest of the salad. I’d order it again, but I would request no capers.
Fried Jidori Chicken
From the deep variety of flavors to the different textures, the Fried Jidori chicken is a must-order. It’s a burst of spicy, sweet, savory and tangy. The skin was cooked to perfection. The combination of the blackening spice and the sweet honey with the crunchy texture of the skin was pure heaven. Underneath the chicken, there was a corn and basil remoulade, which was so creamy and paired very well with the crispy fried skin.
My tongue was slightly burned from the spice, but I did not really care in the slightest because it was that good! The coleslaw was a very smart choice to pair with the chicken because it helped cool the slight burning sensation from the spice. This was my favorite dish. Stellar presentation and execution.
I was so full that I did not order dessert.
After I had my meal, Claire nicely asked me how everything was. I told her that I loved it and that I was planning on coming back on Sunday. “Ok, if you are, let me get your name so that you’re on the list!. Sorry for the long wait. Holidays are incredibly busy, and we’re a small team.” she said apologetically.
I asked if they had a breakfast menu, to which she replied, “It’s the same menu, but I really recommend the Gallette.”
Fast-forward two days later, I went back. This time, I showed up 30 minutes early. I was the first one to arrive. About 10 minutes later, more people showed up. Claire welcomed us and directed us to the waiting area.
About 3 minutes after I sat, a blonde girl called my name. She sat me at the same counter as the other day, which I liked because I could get a full view of what was going on outside. All the waitresses recognized me from two days prior and welcomed me back.
Here’s what I ordered for breakfast.
Galette Complète
I heeded Claire’s advice and got the Galette, which is a savory French buckwheat crepe. I’d never had a buckwheat crepe before, but it’s a staple in French cuisine.
The texture of the crepe was very crispy and incredibly satisfying. The pile of pea shoots were excellently seasoned, but in my opinion, not necessary. The poached egg on top would have sufficed and I think the visual presentation would have been better. For the fillings of the galette, Claire and Nikki use Gruyere, a cheese from the Swiss Alps and French ham, which was delicious. Nikki is so well versed in European cuisine and it shows!
Below is a picture of the Galette they offered in late 2021/ early 2022. As you can see, they’re constantly adding twists to their dishes!
Since I was about to head back to LA that same day, I wanted to go all out, so I ordered one of their small plates: their housemade english muffins, which come with butter and date jam.
It was so good. By looking at the pictures, you can appreciate the homemade quality of the jam. It was deliciously sweet and decadent! The muffins were so soft, yet crunchy and crispy at the same time.
So… is La Copine Kitchen worth the wait? Absolutely. Nikki and Claire have created a beautiful culinary destination in the desert. Not only do you get to experience California’s amazing seasonal produce, but Nikki’s culinary background will also make you appreciate French, Deep South cuisine, and other Asian-fusion dishes you’ll find on the menu.
Would I drive from LA just to go to La Copine and then drive back? Yes!! Besides the scenic drive to get there and food, what won me over was the restaurant’s atmosphere. You’re enjoying delicious food while looking out into the desert, surrounded by an eclectic mix of people that are all gathered in this remote area. I definitely had a one-of-a-kind eating experience. It’s also reasonably priced. I don’t know if you can appreciate the pictures, but the portions are big enough to share!
At La Copine, you’ll also be listening to their amazingly curated Spotify playlist, which is perfect for driving through the desert! Click here.
If you’re planning a trip with someone else to Joshua Tree and you want to try out La Copine without waiting too long, make a reservation by texting the phone number provided on the website (Click here for details). They even have a separate number for international text messages! Walk-ins are accepted, but I would show up as early as possible. It’s about a 25 minute drive to get to La Copine from Yucca’s main street, 29 Palms Highway — the distances in the desert are no joke! I would hate to be turned away and drive another 25 minutes back to find another spot, especially if I was hungry.
Update 2024: I’ve gone to La Copine a handful of times this year and wow. The consistency in the quality of the food and the amazing service never disappoints. If La Copine were to be in Los Angeles, it would not at these affordable prices. This is why it’s become one of my all-time favorite restaurants.
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 11 am – 4 pm.
848 Old Woman Springs Rd, Yucca Valley, CA 92284
