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Cafe Tropical

3.9 (772 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Updated 2 weeks ago

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Cafe Tropical Photos

Business Info

CAFE TROPICAL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe Tropical

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Reviews With Photos

Déanna W.

AMBIANCE I stopped by this place for a quick breakfast bite to go and was very pleasantly. It gave a relaxed neighborhood breakfast place vibe, one that'd have its regulars. The staff were welcoming and friendly. FOOD I checked out their bacon, eggs, and Swiss breakfast sandwich on coco bread which was perfectly seasoned. I'd never had the bread before and it was a delicious delight. It was soft and airy, fluffy and tasty. It paired perfectly with the sandwich and its aoli spread. SERVICE I looked around the place while I waited for my food. There were some handwritten notes and books to read if I was in the mood or possibly came alone. The food came out fairly quickly. I asked the chef if it was made with love and he said yeah. It tasted like it lol . I'll definitely be back to check out some other items on their menu. The friendly staff and feel of the place definitely warrants another visit where I can dine in and enjoy the experience even more.

Cardamom morning bun was very good.
Craig W.

This is a nice casual neighborhood joint. We came in the morning and ordered coffees and pastries. The pastries were good. The cardamom morning bun was particularly delicious. I wish I could describe the flavor of cardamom but I don't know how. But the flavor in the bun was subtle and not too strong. The ham and cheese croissant was fine. The coffees were well-made. I had never been to the "old" version of this place so I can only comment on the current place. It did not feel ultra modern. To me, it had character and a relaxed atmosphere. I am more than ok with that. Metered street parking can be rough around here and you might have to hoof it a block or two.

Guava Jam, cafe con leche, breakfast sandwich
Yoandra V.

I finally got a chance to check out Cafe Tropical. They have been all over social media for their cortado and their guava pastry. It was breakfast time. Upon entering, I was welcomed by two lovely gentlemen who kindly took my order. I got the following items: - Guava pastry: Other yelpers noted that it tasted better before the renovation because there was more of a guava and cream cheese ratio compared to puff pastry. When I tried it initially I did taste the guava and cream cheese and it was lovely. It reminded me of porto's. But after I read the other yelp reviews, I do agree that it needed more guava and cream cheese. - Breakfast sandwich: I'm a huge fan of crispy borderline burnt bacon. If its not borderline burnt, its going back. The cook made this sandwich to perfection. Everything about it was fresh, from the egg (omelette style with butter?) to the fresh bread and mayo. I wish it had a bit of tomatillo sauce but thats just me. - Cafe con leche: pretty much what it says in English - a latte. I wanted to try the cortado but in that moment, I was waking up so I got a latte. The seating here is limited as it gets packed very easily with people. But they do have both indoor and outdoor seating. I want to come back to try more items from the menu and provide an updated review, but for now. I'm giving Cafe Tropical a 4

My honorary balloon from back in the day
Michael M.

I love the Café Tropical for so many reasons, whether it's to stop off at a meeting and see friends, or have an incredible breakfast or a sandwich, or just bring coffee and baked goods home to a loved one. Danny is amazing. I've seen him help out a lot of people that had no money for coffee or food - and it may even be at the detriment of the profits, but that's just who he is a very kind hearted & generous soul. I've been coming to the café Tropical since 1996 and I still see some of the same friends that I saw back then when I venture in. Yes we all complain about gentrification and the prices of things, but employees need to get paid and leases need to be fulfilled. I'll spend extra money to go to a place where I know I'll appreciate the food and the ambiance and service and be appreciated and know that I'm helping out the community and not serving some chain store massacre situation.

Menu/front counter
Gabriela V.

Cozy little spot in silver lake. There's street parking along the side of the cafe and tables available inside and outside (just no shade outside so keep that in mind). Really cute interior space lots of natural lighting. Perfect for a quick meal and coffee. Service wasn't welcoming but wasn't cold either just very neutral. The cafe helado was very tasty. If you've ever had cafe de olla it has a very similar taste didn't need any additional sweetener. The pancake was so buttery and delicious! Breakfast sandwich had good portions. The pastries looked so good so excited to come back to give those a try. Had the location saved for a while and I love visiting silver lake so very glad I got to come by. There is limited seating inside but as mentioned above additional seats are available just outside the cafe.

Wonderful Protein Breakfast
Rene N.

I met some friends there who seemed to know everyone behind the counter but just realized everyone in the restaurant seemed to be in some sort of friendly conversation. I ordered the DANNY's BREAKFAST And asked for the eggs over medium - coffee cake and the gluten-free muffin all was delicious Great Hang

Cool bathroom art
Cristian B.

I've had coffee from here a few times, I'm usually on the go but this time I was able to sit and enjoy my coffee inside. Such an aesthetically nice looking coffee / cafe spot! The folks who work here are always friendly .good coffee!!!

Nicole R.

Such a nice bakery with good vibes. Got a guava and cheese with a cafe con helado and it was perfect. Service was helpful and friendly and everything is reasonably priced.

Phoebe C.

Really liked this place! The Chilaquiles breakfast burrito was stellar. Really liked the vibe inside too.

Outside
Carolina C.

A cafe truly for the community. I can tell there are a lot of regulars here and the employees seem to really enjoy the atmosphere as well. The food is delicious - I tried their breakfast sandwich which was made with coco bread (made with coconut flour). It was so soft and paired incredibly well with egg yolk of the eggs & aioli. I tried a bit of the orange juice - which you can tell was freshly squeezed - and the café helado made with condensed milk. They also have pastries (chocolate chip cookies, guava tart, donuts etc.) I would definitely recommend trying this cafe :)

Cold brew and a chicken pastelito covered in the hot sauce
Justin R.

I come here every Wednesday, as someone who comes from Cuban decent and has been to Cuba, this place brings me a lot of joy. All the employees are supper great, wanna talk, and include a smile. These are some of the pastelitos in LA, and the sandwiches are top tier. I have zero complaints about this place. There is a coffee shop every 50 feet on this block, but this place stands out..

Inside
Andrew H.

Great cafe on Sunset with coffee and food. Service is great and has a decent amount of seating. Tried nearly all their pastries and had no complaints. Flaky crust and rich filling for all. Had a cappuccino and really enjoyed it. Pricing is pretty good, considering the area. Parking is tough.

Art

Aw man, the whole team is just exotic and fabulous. I literally can't go a morning without stopping by for my scrumptiously delicious cold brew -- or my favorite, the cortadito, made only by DJ Toks. I'm not from LA, but this place has become a true safe space where I can let my German Shepherd roam and sip coffee in peace. The food? Incredible. The chilaquiles burrito jumpstarts my day -- and occasionally inspires me to actually show up to work. The croissant lets me dream of Paris. I haven't been, so this is as close as I get. And the donuts? Filled with seasonal fruit and pure joy. Thank you to the whole team for changing my life. Highly recommend.

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5 months ago

If cheers were a coffee shop! Best coffee, bakery and vibe! The owners not only saved cafe tropical, they are consistently improving it!

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5 months ago

Love this place. Staff treat you like family. Be careful with the cold brew though, Strongest in town.

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Girl & The Goat

4.4
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Very inventive menu without being overly pricey. Portions are also nice. Service always on point…read moreexcept sometimes you have to wait to be seated even with a reservation. However, they are very apologetic and sent out a free scoop of ice cream. Pickled pepper blueberry cornbread: 4.5/5 Grilled corn: 5/5 Wood fired broccoli: 5/5 Grilled dorade: 4.5/5 Goat empanadas: 4/5 Pork belly noodles: 5/5 Mango sticky rice: 5/5

The food was so delicious and the vibe was so fun that I completely forgot to take pictures; that…read moreshould tell you everything! We came as a group of 4 and ordered our way through the menu: Chickpea fritters: a table favorite! The chickpeas were soooo deliciously crispy. Pickled pepper blueberry cornbread: cornbread is usually hit or miss for me, but omg... probably the top cornbread I've EVER had. Spicy handroll dip: sooooo yum! My second favorite dish of the night. Pork belly noodles: the star of the evening! So delicious, and the pork belly is cooked absolutely perfectly. Goat empanadas: good but not super memorable for me personally, though half our table really enjoyed them. Roasted carrots :solid, but a dish we'd probably swap out for something new next time. Mango sticky rice: didn't have high expectations, but I was very impressed. Sweet without being overly sweet, and the sticky rice was absolutely delicious. Would 100% get again. S'mores : I didn't try this one, but my table loved it. Service was great too, our server gave us awesome recommendations. Can't wait to come back!

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Zinc Café & Bar

Zinc Café & Bar

4.0
(2.3k reviews)
3.8 mi
$$
Full bar
Happy hour specials

I want to update my review about the location of Zinc that I wrote over a decade ago. Since my…read moreinitial review, I've continued to come to this restaurant. It remains a unique addition to the neighborhood, as well as a good place to grab some interesting dishes. Since the opening of this particular business, the Zinc chain has opened in a few other locations. Those locations are much newer in not only their establishment but their design. This is not to say that this is still not an interesting, well-designed business, but, with time, it has become a little bit rundown. I hate to say it, but that is the truth. This location could really use an update and perhaps a deep cleaning. I was, in fact, kind of surprised at the condition of this business, for example, on the way towards their restrooms. From my opinion, it needs an clean up and an update. Also, the litter that surrounded some of the outdoor tables where I was sitting at my most recent visit was very surprising. This is just something to keep in mind if you're coming here for your first visit. In terms of what they offer for food, though it has evolved a bit over the years, they still have a great, heath-based menu, with some very interesting choices. For all of you vegetarians and vegans out there, you will, for sure, be able to find some tasty food to eat. Once upon a time, this restaurant was impacted with tons and tons of people. It was constantly full with people either going to the bakery and/or sitting down for table service. Shortly past their opening each day, there would be a line of people waiting for service. This seems to have changed, however. Meaning, if you're looking for an interesting place to eat, with some good dishes, at the far Southeast side of DTLA, near the lofts district, and you want a place without a long wait to get a table and/or your food, this may still be your place to go.

This was, without a doubt, the worst experience I've ever had at Zinc. I've been coming here on and…read moreoff for the past four years and have never experienced customer service this bad. We started with coffee. My boyfriend ordered a mocha, and I ordered a salted caramel latte. His drink was fine, but mine had absolutely no flavoring. As a former barista, I could immediately tell it was just a plain iced latte. I politely asked the waitress if they had forgotten the syrup, and she insisted, "There is syrup in it, but I can ask them to add more." I knew there wasn't any syrup, but I didn't want to argue, so I said, "Sure, please add more." A few minutes later, the manager came over and told me they actually didn't have salted caramel. So I asked if I could just get a regular caramel latte instead. She then told me they couldn't make that either because they were out of caramel sauce, the very reason they couldn't make the salted caramel in the first place. So why hand me a plain iced latte and tell me it had syrup when you knew you didn't even have the ingredients? Why not simply come back and let me know you were out and ask if I'd like something else? Instead, I was given a regular latte at the price of a flavored one (plus they later charged me for the syrup they never even added). For context, I had originally ordered a dirty chai, which they also couldn't make. So that's two drinks they didn't have, yet no one thought to communicate that before serving me something completely different. When I told the manager I'd look back at the menu for another option, she responded, "Okay... are you going to tell the waitress what drink you want?" I just looked at her, confused, and said, "Well... yeah?" How else was I supposed to order a replacement? The interaction came across as unnecessarily rude. Then it was time to order food. My boyfriend ordered the truffle burger, and I ordered the French toast. The waitress came back a few minutes later and said they couldn't make the French toast. No problem, I told her I'd also have the truffle burger. She acknowledged it, wrote it down, asked how I wanted it cooked, and what side I wanted. I ordered it medium-well with fries. So both burger orders were sent in at the same time. About 20 minutes later, the food arrived, but only my boyfriend's burger and an extra side of fries that we never ordered. At that point, we didn't even bother saying anything about the fries because we were trying to avoid making things more difficult. We waited another 20 minutes (even though it was so slow). My boyfriend finished eating, and my burger still hadn't come out. Finally, we asked for the check and requested that my burger be removed since it never arrived. That's when the waitress told us I had never ordered a second burger. I was honestly speechless. I reminded her that she had taken my order after telling me they couldn't make the French toast. She had written it down, asked how I wanted it cooked, and asked what side I wanted. Her response was that she thought I meant only my boyfriend's burger. That explanation made no sense because my boyfriend's order had already been taken before she took mine. It honestly felt like we were being gaslit over something as simple as ordering a burger. To make matters worse, after we paid and were finally leaving, I looked at the receipt and realized I had been charged for the salted caramel latte that I never actually received. We had to go back yet again. Thankfully, a different employee, not the waitress or the manager helped us. They were friendly, understanding, and quickly corrected the charge. I'm not sure if management has changed, but this entire experience was unnecessarily frustrating from beginning to end. Everything that could have gone wrong did. Honestly, I should've taken the "B" health grade posted on the window as a warning. We ended up walking over to Blue Bottle next door for coffee instead, and I'd absolutely recommend going there if you're looking for a place that actually values customer service. After four years of coming to Zinc, this experience has me seriously questioning whether I'll ever be back.

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Distrito Catorce

Distrito Catorce

4.2
(46 reviews)
4.0 mi

Distrito Catorce is a gem in Boyle Heights that delivers on all fronts. The food was outstanding!…read moreFresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, with authentic flavors and quality ingredients that stood out from the first bite to the last. The ambiance was welcoming and the art was tasteful. What truly elevated the experience was the service. The staff were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, making us feel genuinely welcomed throughout the meal. They were quick to offer recommendations and ensured everything was perfect without being intrusive. We ordered the tostaditas de atún agua chile negro, beet salad, carne asada taco and Al pastor taco and watched the World Cup game. Distrito Catorce combines exceptional food, a great atmosphere, and top-notch service. It's the kind of place that leaves you planning your next visit before you've even finished your meal. Definitely plan on coming back to watch more World Cup games.

I knew heading into Distrito Catorce that I wanted to see three things . The closing art exhibit,…read morehear the live band, and finally try Chef Jonathan's menu. It was basically a grand slam. To be honest, I was already biased because his Smorgasburg pop-ups were consistently good. But Distrito Catorce is different , it's like art. My favorite dish was the tacos de papa with salsa macha. The crunch of the potato taco riding into the salsa macha and crema felt like home, but with some extra pop. His salsa game is on point. The scallion salsa on the ribeye taco was also gas. Lastly, I really dug the tostadita de atún. It hit perfectly on these hot summer days. Low-key, I still want to try the El Rey de Noche. Tacos de beef trompo are starting to hit LA, and dude was ahead of the curve making picanha-brisket tacos de trompo. Service is smooth too. The servers are helpful, and solid at the bar. Overall, it's a cool spot with a menu that feels unique to LA.

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Manuela

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4.2
(2.3k reviews)
3.4 mi
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We were going to the Obscure Bar in the Arts District for the 6 cocktail we had no clue what at 8pm…read moreand while I had walked past this beautiful restaurant a few times roaming around the DTLA arts district, I had never actually eaten at Manuela's. This restaurant is set in the Hauser and Wirth art Gallery complex and since we got there early we toured the front gallery with an incredible assist from a docent named Michael who pointed out the most incredible pieces and steered us to the gallery at the back of the complex behind Manuela's. Both galleries are worth exploring. However, back to Manuela's. Our very friendly server sat us on the large wraparound patio and after my explaining my celiac issues and getting some guidance on their incredible menu, we shared the following after my friend ordered a delicious Sangria while knowing as a lightweight and cheap date I would be having 6 cocktails later, I ordered the Ta Ta Tatiana- Watermelon, ginger, honey, lemon, mint, bitters: Cast iron cornbread, cultured butter, wildflower honey Kusshi oysters, Nantes carrot mignonette Arugula, emerald beauty plum, goat cheese, spiced pecans, aged balsamic Hokkaido scallops, brown butter-bacon vinaigrette, mustard greens The oysters came out first and had a delightful and unusual carrot mignonette. Small and not like Louisiana Gulf Oysters, they were fresh and delicious. Next came the Arugula salad that was tart and tasty as well as a generous portion. The cast iron cornbread was ridiculously so good I joked that I would just order two of them next time. This joint actually makes their cornbread without flour which is sadly rare for me so not only was this a gluten free treat, it was light and just melted in blissful corn flavor. Last came the scallops in a brown butter bacon vinaigrette with mustard greens that was so perfectly prepared these might be the best scallops I've ever eaten, which can sometimes be dicey. With the sauce they could have served blackened, sautéed asphalt and it would have tasted good. Well done to Manuela's all around.

My girlfriends hosted my baby shower sprinkle at Manuela in the Arts District, and I truly couldn't…read morehave asked for a better experience, especially it being most of our first time there. The outdoor space was absolutely beautiful and the perfect setting to celebrate with my closest friends and family. We did a family-style brunch, and let me tell you, they did not miss. We started with the arugula salad, Louisiana shrimp aguachile, and cream biscuits. Those biscuits? Listennnn. Order them. Fight over them if you have to. lol They were THAT good! For the main dishes, we shared the French toast, chilaquiles, and shrimp and grits, along with house-made bacon and butterball potatoes. The French toast and bacon were my favorites by far. My goodness. I am still thinking about them. The shrimp and grits were also perfectly seasoned and packed with flavor. What made me laugh was that our group is usually very chatty. There was so much talking, catching up, and laughing. Then the food arrived and suddenly all you heard were forks and spoons hitting plates followed by a bunch of "mmm," "oh wow," and "girl! you've got to try this." That's when you know the food is doing its job. Our server was amazing and took such great care of us. Everything came out smoothly, and we never felt rushed. Between the beautiful setting, incredible food, and being surrounded by people I love, it was one of those afternoons I'll always remember. I'll absolutely be back, and those biscuits and French toast will be the first things I order.

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Now offering Wine & Beer for takeaway and delivery.  Visit our website for more details.  manuela-la.com
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Cast Iron Cornbread, Steen's Butter
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