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    Gremlin Garage

    4.5 (198 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Caramel Banana Latte
    Annie Y.

    Limited parking spaces. They are near auto shops, which fits their theme. They have plenty of indoor seating with tables. I ordered the Caramel Banana Latte, which has a nice balance of banana and caramel notes. Recommendation(s): - Caramel Banana Latte Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Limited parking spaces - Restrooms available - Plenty of indoor seating and tables

    Hannah N.

    Wow, what a great idea to have a coffee shop in the midst of auto body shops! I don't have my car serviced on this street, but I love how this is a hidden gem and that it's convenient for nearby clients waiting around. However, I came on a Thursday morning and parking was tough! Lots of cars in the small lot waiting for service. I nearly gave up but right when I was about to drive away, the first designated parking space for Gremlin Garage became available so I got parking luckily. It's such a cool space and vibe inside, and the barista was so nice. I ended up getting two drinks off their spring specials, the Kyoto Fog with vanilla instead of lavender, and the Puff Puff Pass. Both were great, but I prefer the Kyoto Fog more for the tea taste. The Puff Puff Pass was refreshing with notes of pandan and coconut water. I definitely finished my drink fast and noticed more ice than I'd have liked. Overall, cool idea for a coffee shop and good drinks!

    Horrible service staff was rude for no apparent reason I was getting some auto services done next door I was told by a white lady that if i wasn't buying anything then I can go ahead and leave what I don't get is there was other people that didn't have any coffee or seemed to not have bought anything either and she didn't tell them anything felt targeted. I've been here in the passed and had a great experience with a white male was welcomed in and ate my lunch had a coffee and left unfortunately it didn't go like that this time will definitely never be back!

    Burnt honey latte! Every latte should taste this delish!
    Yasaman J.

    If you are looking for an awesome coffee shop experience look no further and bookmark this place! The ambiance is so cool and chill. If you are lucky enough to have Mena as your barista, she is so friendly and kind right from walking in the store until you leave. Every barista should have this amazing customer service attitude. I told her that I don't like my drink too sweet so she recommended the Burnt honey latte and it was delicious! If you are in the area, check this place out. You won't be disappointed! Triple bookmark it!

    Seasonal menu
    Tina L.

    Their staff and vibes are nice. Thought there would be more seating but I like the comfortable seating area and lighting decor. There are several tables. I ended up creating my own vanilla double matcha - matcha latte with a matcha cold foam (because they ran out of Earl grey base as part of their seasonal menu so they let simply choose a different base). Good drink and not overly sweet.

    Burnt honey latte
    Anastasia V.

    If you're in the area and can find parking, please try out Gremlin Garage. It can be difficult to find parking sometimes as reserved spaces are limited and there is minimal street parking. Also, the coffee shop closes around 3pm every day except Tuesday (not open on Tuesdays). Regardless, I've only had good experiences here. The staff is really friendly, and every time I've gone there is plenty of seating available to get some work done or chat. My absolute favorite latte right now is their Burnt Honey latte. I randomly ordered it instead of my usual matcha or americano, and have only gotten this latte since. It's so good!! The coffee is strong and not bitter at all. The baristas make this latte good every single time. Just writing this review makes me want to swing by for a Burnt Honey latte right now.

    Graeme H.

    Yup! This place really exists. Take a look at the photos, now back to the review, now back to the photos, now back to this review. Is it fair to say that its mancave meets indy coffee vibes? In this case a picture is worth a thousand words. The shop is tucked inside an industrialist (mostly auto repair and custom shops) street filled with alleys. In one of the alleys lives this shop. Check the days and times the spot is open because the hours/days are indeed limited. The folks are super friendly, and accommodating. Where else do you get service as it should be, where you order your drink, take a seat and they bring it right to ya! There is a secret menu laying around somewhere (if you can find it). I've had the sparkling Yuzu Matcha here and its solid. Nice couches to relax on or tables to get a few things done on your laptop. Movies play against the wall. A small moto assortment of items and gear for sale. Dog friendlyish. Like other reviewers, parking is quite difficult. One time I had to park at Mitsua and walk (even though Mitsua parking security says you can't) and one other time I had no choice but to give up and go elsewhere because after five laps of driving around there was Ziltch, but the other nine or ten times i've frequented the place I've gotten lucky with it. Really and truly...a hidden gem!

    Cimarron K.

    Very cool atmosphere this place nails that masculine, vintage aesthetic. Think leather, motorcycles, vintage cameras, and typewriters. Definitely my kind of vibe.i have brought so many friends here to see how cool this place is. The staff is always friendly, and I've been here multiple times now, consistently a great experience. The espresso is excellent (5/5), and the yuzu espresso tonic is easily my favorite (also 5/5). It's unique, refreshing, and done right with the syrup and pulp from the yuzu. If you go, start with a straight espresso to really understand the quality of their beans, then branch out into a latte or one of their specialty drinks.I even picked up a bag of beans that they had for their espresso that day.

    Peach ring tonic in front, Kyoto fog (lavender) in back. Seasonal special
    Jannet C.

    Go in through the garage, not the front doors if that makes sense! Following a recommendation from my friend, we decided to get a morning pick me up at Gremlin Garage. The ambiance is chic and relaxed, spacious with plenty of seating for studying or hanging out with friends. We had their seasonal specials, the peach ring tonic and the Kyoto fog with lavender syrup. Both drinks were flavors I haven't had before and felt crisp, flavorful, and refreshing. I definitely will be coming back

    Katarina R.

    This is such a good coffee place! It's super vibey in there. The crowd was chill and the cashier was very patient with me. I got the burnt honey latte, so simple but so so good. The espresso was so tasty. She recommended me the spinach cheese croissant for a snack and it was the best croissant I've ever had. Just as good as some too bakeries I've been to around the world. Will definitely be back!! Will definitely come again!!

    Caramel banana latte
    Yasin A.

    Stopped by Gremlin Garage for the first time and had the Caramel Banana Latte, which was absolutely delicious. The flavor was unique, well-balanced, and one of the best specialty lattes I've had in a while. The customer service was just as impressive--everyone was very welcoming, friendly, and made me feel right at home from the moment I walked in. The shop has a great atmosphere, a clean and inviting space, and you can tell they take pride in both their coffee and customer experience. I'll definitely be back to try more from the menu. Highly recommend checking this place out if you're in the area!

    Burnt honey latte and caramel banana latte
    Brittany T.

    HATE when I find a coffee shop that's so stupid good I know I'm gonna be back to spend lots of money there. In this economy though, Gremlin Garage is an OC coffee shop that's well worth the $8 charge for a specialty latte for a few reasons: 1. The ambiance is excellent. You can tell someone put a lot of thought and care into curating the pieces in here. It's like a coffee shop that is lightly themed like an auto shop? Given its proximity to the auto shops nearby, this makes perfect sense and adds just a little bit of whimsy to the coffee experience. There's also plenty of seating for lounging, working, whatever. It's a great space. 2. The service was excellent. The cashier took the time to walk me through the menu when I told her it was my first time and even offered my doggy a pup cup with a little treat in it. So sweet! I love kind humans. 3. The coffee is so good and these flavors are unique, which is genuinely hard to achieve in a coffee saturated city like Costa Mesa. One of their signatures is a burnt honey latte. I ordered this and found myself having to physically stop myself from chugging it. It was that good. My husband got the caramel banana. I know banana is pretty standard these days but the addition of the caramel just elevated it a bit. He's not really a fancy coffee person and he loved this one. 4. Dog friendly! My pup enjoyed getting to come with us and enjoy her pup cup and the staff loved her. For me, this is a mark of a truly dog friendly spot, versus just dog tolerant. My only nit (and I'm sure they're well aware of this) but parking SUCKS. There's like 4 spots and on a crowded weekend even the street parking fills us. That's why we arrived as early to opening as possible but when we came by a few weekends before we just had to drive away because we couldn't find a spot. It would be great to procure a few more spots.

    Valentina L.

    Tucked away in a business area near Mitsuwa...this spot was absolutely a hidden gem. Went on a weekday morning and it was not crowded. The people were very kind and welcoming. I got their Mango Sticky rice matcha and their winter special white chocolate raspberry matcha. I like the white chocolate raspberry more. Love the theme and interior. They have a hidden secret menu which they give you a hint on where to locate it! Would definitely come visit again.

    Burnt Honey Latte

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    6 months ago

    10/10 every time !! Service is always amazing! Will forever be a go to place. Love the vibe the place carries

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    4 months ago

    Cute place but matcha was not good. Coffee is probably better to get here. Place is a little hard to find and parking can be tricky.

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    10 months ago

    The drinks are yummy, staff is friendly, and the shop is cute and clean! I will be back again!

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    1 year ago

    Good. Offer, tea and snacks in a very cool auto themed spot. Took my daughter and we both loved it.

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    1 year ago

    Great Gremlin drink. It was delicious and it's a spacious place to catch up with friends or even relax.

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    Page 4 of 5

    Ask the Community - Gremlin Garage

    Are they dog friendly?

    They serve pup cups and I've seen people in there with dogs on leash so I'd assume yes.

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    Review Highlights - Gremlin Garage

    Stopped by Gremlin Garage for the first time and had the Caramel Banana Latte, which was absolutely delicious.

    Mentioned in 22 reviews

    Read more highlights

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