Mai is an absolute gem of a local spot that has quickly become a fave go-…read more to spot for me! I've tried most of their menu offerings and can confidently say they're all equally good. The selection here is incredible, starting with their top tier matcha, both the matcha latte and the matcha with mochi toppings feature a rich, earthy, and beautifully grassy profile that isn't overly sweet. On the tea front, the black milk tea with unique barley burst boba is fantastic, while the white peach oolong iced tea offers the crispest, most refreshing pick me up. Their Vietnamese coffee is equally phenomenal whether ordered straight up or topped with their velvety banana or sesame creams! To top it all off, their baked goods are unbelievable!! The freshly baked croissants are to die for, with the chocolate and guava flavors standing out as absolute must tries. Parking is super easy bc they're located in a big plaza! They also have a reward system for frequent customers.

I got the phoenix oolong milk tea and a guava cream cheese croissant. This was around 1pm on a…read moreSunday, so I was glad they still had an assortment of pastries. The milk tea was okay. I think the tea flavor could have been stronger, but the texture of the boba was good. I did think it was a bit odd that my iced drink was served in a paper cup while my friend got the usual plastic cup. The croissant was delicious. It had a nice guava filling, but the cream cheese was thinner, more like a condensed milk consistency. Still very good, just different from what I was expecting. My friend got the iced cheese coffee with biscoff, which was pretty strong and tasty. The restroom was not terrible, but could have been cleaner.

I absolutely love this place. I come here at least once a week for my matcha strawberry with boba…read more It is phenomenal when I ask for 50% sweetness, it's authentic. Not too sweet, not too bitter. The service at this place is top notch! The workers are so sweet and hands the drink out to you. I love the atmosphere there! It's super cozy, a place where everyone can have peace and study. If I had a place to choose to study, definitely here!

I saw this place on Yelp and wanted to check it out since it's so close to my house. I'm glad I…read moredid! There is plenty of parking, and it's located in a small plaza, which makes it easy to find. The cafe itself is very spacious with lots of natural sunlight and a nice, relaxing atmosphere. The space is beautifully decorated, I love the art work on the walls. I especially loved the cute Vietnamese-style chairs. It feels like a great place to spend a few hours. There's plenty of seating whether you want to work, study, or catch up with friends. They also have a large variety of drinks on the menu, so there's something for everyone. I ordered the matcha. It was a little more bitter and astringent than I personally prefer, but that's just my taste. Overall, I really enjoyed the space and atmosphere, and I'll definitely be back to try some of their other drinks!

Vienna latte with no agave syrup pump was perfect for me. The cream added sugar already so it was…read morethe right amount of sweetness. Smooth and decadent. Chocolate bread and banana bread were delicious, esp when they warm it up for you. Staff were friendly and quick. Easy to park in the lot. Love how there's no more long lines.

Yum! Adorable coffee shop with such great vibes!…read more Parking was easy since it's in a small plaza. I came on a weekday afternoon so there wasn't any line but there were plenty of people sipping on their lattes inside and hanging out. I ordered the Vienna Matcha since it is their most popular item and I'm not from here so I wanted to try what they're most known for. The latte was so good! Not that sweet until you mixed the foam and even then it wasn't overly sweet. It was just right. The girl helping me seemed very sweet and kind and ready to answer any questions I had. Since I was on the road I wanted to also try one of their pastries so I got the mushroom croissant with cheese and that tasted so good especially warmed up. It was like having a mini pizza. I'm glad I got to try this spot!

I don't give 5-star reviews lightly, but Smoking Tiger Coffee & Bread on Western Ave in Gardena has…read moreabsolutely earned every single star. This place is a total gem, and if you haven't been yet, you are seriously missing out! Let me tell you about the star of my visit, the Matcha Cream Filled Croissant. Oh. My. Goodness. This thing is on another level. The croissant itself is buttery, perfectly golden, and incredibly flaky -- with just the right amount of crisp on the outside. But the matcha cream filling? Silky smooth, lusciously rich, with a beautiful earthy matcha flavor that isn't overpowering or too sweet. It's the kind of bite that makes you stop mid-chew just to appreciate how good it is. I honestly could eat three of these in a sitting. The Korean-American fusion approach to their baked goods is inspired and completely unique, you won't find anything like it anywhere else in the South Bay or in Gardena. Seriously Impressive, I paired my croissant with their Iced Matcha Latte, made with premium grade matcha sourced from Jeju Island, and WOW, this drink is stunning. It's vibrant, beautifully layered, and tastes as amazing as it looks. The matcha is bold and authentic without being bitter, perfectly balanced with creamy, cold milk. Not too sweet, not too earthy -- just absolutely perfect. It's easily one of the best iced matcha drinks I've had in a while. You can customize your milk choice too, which is a great thoughtful touch. This place is warm & welcoming: The staff here is attentive, friendly, and clearly passionate about what they do. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a smile and made to feel at home. The baristas are well-trained and knowledgeable, they took their time explaining the menu and made sure my order was exactly right. No rushing, no attitude, just genuine hospitality that keeps you coming back. Decor is absolutely Charming. The interior of Smoking Tiger is adorable and so well thought out. It's modern, clean, and stylish with a cozy Korean café aesthetic that feels fresh without trying too hard. The lighting is warm and inviting, the seating is comfortable, and the whole vibe just makes you want to stay for hours. There's both indoor and outdoor seating available, which is a great bonus. Whether you're catching up with a friend, working on your laptop, or just treating yourself to something special, this place sets the perfect mood. One thing that really stood out to me was how immaculately clean this café is. The tables, counters, floors, and display cases were all sparkling, it's clear that the team takes real pride in maintaining a clean and comfortable environment for every guest. A clean café is a happy café, and this one passes with flying colors. Bottom Line, Smoking Tiger Coffee & Bread is the real deal. Creative, high-quality food, exceptional drinks, warm service, gorgeous decor, and a spotless space, this place checks every single box. The Matcha Cream Filled Croissant and Iced Matcha Latte alone are worth the trip. Do yourself a favor and go try yourself. Miguel C.

I've known about this place for almost 2 years, if not more, but finally decided to leave a review…read moresince I've been visiting very often these past months. Since my first visit, there's been many competitors opening around Gardena, but I find myself drawn back to this place because of the balance of spaciousness (there's actually places to sit whenever I go!), quality of products (the espresso shot is pretty strong and they have many beans to choose from), and best of all, price of their drinks (specifically the specialties). While I wouldn't say the prices are a bargain, it feels more reasonable than other local competitors. One thing I do miss is that 2 years ago, the pastries weren't individually wrapped. We used to have the option of selecting pastries with tongs, the typical experience you'd get when going to a bakery in Japan. Hopefully they would bring that experience back again! Until then, I'll keep returning for their quality drinks!

My friend recommended to try this chain. It was on my way to work one day so I stopped by. Plenty…read moreof parking at 07:30 am located in a cute plaza with seating all around. Service was lovely! So sweet and kind. Ambiance was a little loud, most people taking their order to go. I ordered an almond danish with an iced spanish latte and both were yummy. Recommend! I will definitely try their rancho location next time.

Great Demand, But Poor Convenience for Working Customers…read more I've had The Nook's mushroom coffee before. My best friend took me here on a weekend afternoon, and even then there was a line, although it was manageable and mostly stayed inside the shop. Because of that experience, I knew The Nook was popular, but I wasn't prepared for what I encountered on a weekday morning. I wanted to pick up a coffee before work, so I actually planned ahead. Before leaving home, I checked the mobile website expecting that, given the obvious demand, there might be an order-ahead option. Unfortunately, there isn't one. So I gave myself an additional 30 minutes specifically for parking, waiting in line, ordering, and waiting for the drink to be prepared. I figured that should be more than enough for a morning coffee pickup. I arrived around 7:30 AM, and as I walked toward The Nook from the south side of The Enclave, I could already see the line stretching out of the door and into the courtyard. I was honestly shocked. There were easily 15-20 people ahead of me. I decided to give it a fair chance and got in line. After 10 minutes, the line had barely moved. At that point, I walked out. I understand that popular businesses get busy, especially in the morning. But there is a difference between being busy and having a customer wait in a line of 15-20 people with virtually no movement at 7:30 AM, particularly when there is no mobile ordering or order-ahead option. For a coffee shop with this level of demand, I find the lack of an ordering system especially frustrating. If you're going to consistently have lines extending outside the business during the morning rush, there should be some way for customers who are trying to grab a drink on their way to work to order ahead. And that's really my issue: the customer experience doesn't seem designed for people who need coffee efficiently. If you're coming here on a weekend, have nowhere to be, or are willing to dedicate an unpredictable amount of time to waiting, you may have a completely different experience. But if you're trying to get coffee before work, I would strongly recommend accounting for significantly more time than you think you'll need -- or having a backup plan. I no longer work as close to The Nook, and I don't drink coffee after noon, so I don't have much reason to make a special trip. Unless I'm conveniently nearby and see little to no line, I won't be making another attempt anytime soon. The Nook clearly has a loyal following, but popularity shouldn't come at the expense of basic convenience. If the demand is consistently this high, the ordering process needs to catch up with it.

I don't know why I took so long to try Noon since it's walking distance from me!…read more I know we have a lot of options when it comes to treats in the South Bay Area but Korean bingsoo is in a class of its own. For me, regular shaved ice usually lacks enough syrup or the ice is too hard. I'm such a wuss, I know, but I hate feeling like I overpaid for a cup of ice. It has been brutally hot and today seemed like a great day to have some shaved ice. The cafe is located in a Korean plaza on Western and 154th. Smoking Tiger coffee is also in the same plaza. The cafe is on the smaller side but there's lots of seating and you can take your orders to go if you want. It's cashless and you take your tray and trash to the counter once you're done. The menu has everything from fruity flavors to Asian flavors like hojicha and injeolmi to Cinnamon Toast crunch. You can get an individual size or larger size to share. The interior is minimalist with vintage-looking posters of the business. They have WiFi and complimentary water. We ordered matcha and mango flavored bingsoo. Both had a tall pile of ice with ample toppings and more syrup layered inside the ice which I think is an important very often overlooked step. I can't wait to return to try out more flavors!

Seems like this spot rebranded since the last time I've visited a few years ago! They still make…read morerefreshing bingsoo and also have tiramisu, banana pudding, and other specials. There is a parking lot onsite. We came on a Friday evening since they are open later than some other dessert shops and it was so busy! We tried the sweet corn and mango bingsoo. Service was friendly. Bingsoo was refreshing but in the corn one, we didn't love the texture from the chocolate chips and in our mango, the chunks were very big and we just wished it was a bit more bite sized. Overall a great spot and we like it! Lots of seating which make for a great date or spot with friends.

We visited Junia Café around 10:30 am on a Saturday and it was quite packed. Seating was limited,…read morebut we were able to grab a table pretty quickly once one opened up. We originally wanted to order the Matcha Grey, but were disappointed to find out they no longer serve it. As an alternative, the staff recommended ordering the regular Matcha Latte with Earl Grey syrup for an extra $1. We tried that along with the Jasmine Matcha Latte. Both drinks were good, but I personally preferred the Jasmine Matcha Latte. The Earl Grey Matcha Latte was a little too sweet for me, while my partner preferred it because they felt the Jasmine Matcha Latte wasn't sweet enough. It really comes down to your sweetness preference, but the matcha quality overall was solid. There isn't a dedicated parking lot, but there was plenty of street parking nearby, especially along 166th St. I'd come back to Junia Café to try some of their other drinks and possibly their coffee next time.

Really wanted to like the drink because the baristas and the ambience were all 5/5 …read more Conceptually, the mocha grey latte sounded delicious: mocha (double shot espresso) + earl grey syrup. Unfortunately, the chocolate part of the mocha was too overpowering. The more subtle bergamot and smoky notes of the earl grey were completely subdued by it. Eventually, it just tasted like chocolate milk :( For $7, I almost feel like I paid for an upcharged mocha. If I have a chance to revisit, I would love to try something else.

Probably the greatest coffee shop addition in the South Bay area! I'm always stopping by for myself…read moreor the office bc it's truly our fave. I've tried their banana matcha (top tier), strawberry matcha (has real strawberry bits ), coconut matcha, ube matcha (seasonal), biscoff latte (off menu). All so very good! They also have many pastry options to complement your drink. All the workers are nice and are always hustlin to get the drinks out with a quickness since the line tends to be long during peak hours. Unfortunately no online ordering still due to said long line. Aesthetically pleasing and love their music choices. A definite must in Torrance!

I got to try an iced matcha latte with almond milk at the POV Husband pop up. I was genuinely…read moreimpressed by the quality of the drink despite how busy they were. The staff members were all friendly and provided great customer service. I would definitely come back for more matcha the next time I'm in the area.

I only had a Tiramisu Latte but it was perfect!!! Not too sweet and the perfect balance of flavor…read moreand coffee. The girl taking my order was dyper friendly and knowledgeable of the drinks, such a great experience coming here. Plenty of parking and places to sit in a very relaxed atmosphere. Totally recommend

Such a cute and surprisingly spacious coffee shop! It looks smaller from the outside, but there's a…read moreton of seating inside with outlets, a restroom, and free parking, so I can definitely see myself coming here to study or catch up with friends. I tried the Tiramisu Latte Cream Top, Matcha Cream Top, and Matcha Latte with Tiramisu Cream Top. The last one was my favorite! Such an interesting matcha + tiramisu/coffee combination. For food, the egg, bacon and potato skillet was SO good fresh, and the yogurt plate was simple, refreshing, and really generous with the fruit and granola. Overall, really cozy atmosphere, good food and drinks, and a great place to actually sit and stay awhile. :)

Had the chance to stop by The Boy & The Bear, and had a great experience! We tried the mango matcha…read moreand iced mocha, and both were delicious during a hot day! Service was really quick too. They have their own parking lot, which made it quick and easy to find a spot. There was a lot of tables inside for people to sit and enjoy their drinks or do work!

I came here while I was waiting for my car to be serviced at Toyota, and I'm so glad I did. Not…read moreonly is the staff incredibly kind, but the food and coffee are delicious. You can also tell that a lot of care and thought went into designing this space. I'm obsessed with the blue tile and the perfectly coordinated retail wall. While I was here, I saw such a wide variety of customers, which I loved. You can tell everyone is welcome and that people genuinely feel comfortable spending time here. Lastly, I wanted to shout out the two employees working on 7/31 around 8:00 a.m ("BigVee" & a gentleman with longer hair who made my avocado toast) They were both so friendly and welcoming. It was early, so I would've understood if they were still waking up, but they were both bubbly, kind, and made my morning a little brighter. If a manager sees this, please let them know how amazing they are!