It was one of those hot days that just happened in LA. The type of heat that is not for Angelenos…read morebecause it breaks our 71 and sunny expectation that almost seems a clause we are provided with when our residence lies within the Golden State. So my plan to walk and explore LA's downtown was nixed. It neededa an extreme-heatcheck. Subsequentlly, I needed a place to chill and sip before my next scheduled thing began. I landed here, and it was cool that I did because I got a break from the heat and was expose to the chill factor of this place that kind of felt I visited my hipster bud while they were right in the middle of their modern and off-center Japanese decoration phase. This place resides within a modern shopping center. Those that have like a parking lot and around have small bussinesses. So mapquest might say one has arrived to the spot, but one must walk into the shopping plaza to find Kissaten Corazon. When I entered, first one passes a living room in a garage like situation. So basically when one enters, they enter via a garage door, and the garage area has to be passed to get to where the main coffee action takes place. The furniture in this area, is not patio furniture, by the way. It is like a coffee table with chairs that belong in like a dude's apartment, where the dude finally learned how to create a home space with furniture that he found from an eclectic collection of places. Thus, as soon as one enters one gets hit with funky-modern. We have cash, we have style, but no cohesion because cohesion does not belong to the young, only disordely mess that doubles as beautiful mixture of pieces that need a home. If one takes care to look at my pictures, of the whole experience, then one will understand that this place is a medly of concepts with a string-running along that when pulled vibrates to the twang of coffee house with Japanese and wine notes. I ordered my coffee and of course I irked the barista. So the menu (I clipped it) has a heading called tomodachi. It was my first time here and I did not know what that meant. The barista tried to explain it. And I was still confused. She was saying things but not really explaining that it was a coffee chain that supplied their coffees to this spot. So it was like having Nestle at the top of a menu and having different coffees from this supplier. I did not understand if she was talking about a machine or what cause at what point she made it sound like it might be a machine by calling it the roaster. But the roaster was the vendor. And to me a roaster can be a machine that roasts beans. Or did I stretch for the stars? It took like three of four questions to arrive at her understanding. In the process, she kind of rolled her eyes in mild exhaustion. But almost as the universe intervened, her cap said, "to be a learner, you've got to be willing to be a fool." And I was a persistent fool with my questions. But I got my appropriate answer. It is what it is. The coffeehouse had people with laptops. The next Interstellar or War and Peace might be written here. One will find others typing here, if one likes to type only when others are doing it too. There is a central picture of a cherry blossom branch behind blue. I wonder why the blue was not pink? Perhaps because my drink was pink, slightly, not like clearly. I got two drinks. The barista that I annoyed helped me pick. The first one was a strawberry drink. It tasted like a sophisticatd Nesquick that was coffee-forward. The Nesquick taste came from the strawberry flavoring. It was rich, sweet, and frankly, hit the spot that needed to be quelled by the outside heat. Easy to like, long for it because the place is not near my pad. I would need a specific trip to get this strawberry coffee and that will happen someday just don't know when. I also got a pour over drink. I cannot remember, which one it was. I did see another barista create the drink. As the pictures show, he used a non-electric pot and filter to make my coffee. The act seemed ceremonial and birth in a place closed to feudal Japan. I wonder if Shoguns drank their coffee a la pourover too? I also took a clip of different tea pots lined up. It was all so cute and spoke of tradition. Take the time to dip a bag of tea leaves into a cup being held by a doily. If not, then is one taking the time to see the world and its tea leaves? As I was there, there was a customer working hard to retrieve a 20.00 dollar refund. She was right. It was owed to her. She had called. And still they could not figure out what the problem was exactly. I wonder if the world was divided into those who would fight for their 20 bucks like this customer and the other half would be people who forget the 20 bucks, where would the percentage lie? Would people seek or forget? I would forget. I ordered two drinks and gulped one, and tasted the second to around half the way to understand this experience better not just get coffee when I needed a break.

Stuck between a 3 star and 4 star review…read more.. But I will give it a 4 star because the coffee was good.... Sooo, started with the parking situation. Can't park in the parking lot, or you will get towed. Signs all over the place that you will get towed immediately.... parking across the street by a park... dirt parking or anywhere on the area. Then cross the street, walk down 1 block to reach the place... OR watch out for traffic and jaywalk. (Dont recommend this, busy intersection).... Feel like they tried to make this spot look old.. Mixture of antique looking seats and chairs... Decor seems a lil off to me... 90s hip hop music playing... When I asked for pastries, I was told they have 1 day old pastries... YES 1 day old pastry.... so they dont sell?? Or could they be 2 days old instead of 1... oh and at full price, didnt mention half off... etc... Got a lemon ricotta bread... for being 1 day old, it was moist and just OK... not big on flavor... Coffee was good... no drip, only americano or speciality drip... Service was nice... no big interaction Just order, pay and they brought my coffee to me.... Will I go back.. nope!!... parking is a hassle and 1 day old pastries, is just not for me.... If you go... Enjoy ...

This place is right on the border of Downtown LA and Chinatown, and they have free parking…read moredownstairs as long as you validate. That alone is a huge plus because when do you ever find free parking on this side of town? You take the elevator up, and the space is really nice and modern with plenty of good spots to sit and get some work done. My biggest complaint is that even though they open at 8, the kitchen doesn't open until 9:30. I really wanted the breakfast sliders, and honestly, I almost wanted to hate this place because of that. But their matcha completely made up for it. I got the banana cream matcha, and it had a beautiful, vivid green color with the perfect balance of sweetness without being too sweet. It was seriously so good that I'd come back again. Just consider yourself warned: if you want anything from the kitchen, don't show up before 9:30.

Another day another coffee exploration. This time I ended up in the downtown LA area and was…read moreexcited to try Archives of Us. Parking wise - there was an entrance to turn into that leads to an underground area. Keep in mind if you go this way, there is two elevators that you need to take to get to the shop, which is located at the 2nd floor. When I tried to pay before leaving, I had some issues with my credit cards accepting the payment at the station. On the way out, there was a worker that was able to help. I went on a weekend at peak hours so it was expectedly busy. It was a particularly hot day so had to settle for their outdoor patio. There was a wait to order. American Express is accepted here. There were a few things I got during my visit. Banana Cream Tiramisu Latte was the drink option; it was sweet and felt like it balanced the coffee well. However, I didn't feel like it stood out enough to go out of my way for it again. Wagyu Egg Sliders and Poke & Chips were the food options that I picked. The drink came out within a few minutes but the food took ~ 20 minutes before they brought it out. Both of the food items felt okay and not anything special as well. The poke was slightly lower on the list because they use tuna; could have been better with salmon. Overall, it was a pretty meh experience. WiFi is available, so it could be a working spot for those that need it. Tables were dirty given the volume of customers they had. I wanted to grab some coffee beans and they were out of stock at the time. The initial atmosphere seemed nice, so perhaps I should consider coming back on a less busy day.

Fell in love from the literal second I walked in!!! Cutest shop with the best little wares. So…read morequick and so many cute flavors. Affordable and the regular matcha latte was exactly what I wanted. And they give you a punchcard. Instantly upgraded to my favorite coffee shop in the city. I wish I was closer but now I have a reason when I'm on the east side to treat myself. Management- the two guys working in the morning today between like 11a and 11:15a? Give them a raise!!! Best customer service!!

Home finds & trinkets + drinks!? I'm there!…read more I found this to be a very charming spot. Service was excellent and efficient given that the space is not the biggest but it gets the job done. Enjoyed a little oolong cold brew tea lightly sweetened & a hojicha latte. Tea was refreshing, a definite need for what I was looking for. Hojicha was perfectly roasted- nutty and comforting- not overly roasted at all!

Great coffee shop tucked away in Chinatown. Stopped in with the Black and Gold Running Club after a…read moremeet up at LA State Historic Park. The shop was not too crowded when we got there, but the staff did a great job to get orders taken and filled for our group without too much of a wait. Ordered a cold brew and croissant breakfast sandwich and both were excellent. Would definitely stop by again when in the area.

Why Chimney Coffee House? - Craving Thai fusion food…read more - Ample open space to study, ready, have coffee with a friend Would I come back? - Maybe, just think I picked the wrong items to try??? 4/5 FOOD - Grilled cheese Sammy not the same anymore - they use to have these crunchy things inside. However if you LOVE cheese its packed with it * BAE breakfast sandwich was good but nothing special WOULD WANT TO TRY - Breakfast burrito - Kyoto ice coffee 4/5 Service - Friendly and quick service from front of house to service 4/5 Parking - Depends on what time of day you come it can get busy especially with the market next to it 4/5 Ambience - Clean tables and location, they are pretty packed when we came

Came back to this place after a yelp event. I didn't purchase any food. There are many…read moreinteresting drink choices. The price is not that bad. The service was good. The ambiance is fine. Several places to sit. Parking is in a shared lot and it's free. By the way, that laxative drink that they offer doesn't work right away. Expect results the next day.

Truly love their drinks here!! Can't go wrong with green thai tea or regular thai tea…read more However, they recently said they stopped serving pandan boba, which is my favorite topping here. It's so unique, I wish you will bring it back! I'll update my review to 5 stars if you do...

Damo has quickly become one of my favorite spots in the Arts District. Their premium matcha is…read morerich, smooth, and balanced without any bitterness. You can really taste the quality in every sip, and it's clear they take their sourcing and preparation seriously. The minimalistic interior is also a plus for this location. It's a great space for studying, catching up with friends, or just taking a break. It's a spacious interior with much more seating compared to the Koreatown location.

8/4/2026 3 1/2 Stars…read more First time at Damo. MATCHA EINSPANER Very creamy matcha. Matcha flavor is there, but it's not distinct matcha where you can taste the nuances of the matcha flavors. The cream top does make it very creamy and it does mask majority of the matcha flavor. It did taste like a dessert drink. It was enjoyable though. COLD BREW VANILLA Weirdly sour and smoky flavored cold brew. Slight floral flavor too. It was such an odd combination of flavors with the vanilla cold foam. The lingering aftertaste was not good either. It's neither this nor that. Would not recommend! FINANCIERS Their financiers are made by a local bakery called Musk. It seems their financier flavors are changed often, so no same flavors are in rotation. Sausage & Parmesan - The almond cake's vanilla flavor with the sausage and salty parmesan was a unique flavor. The almond cake was nice and spongy. It did take a bit of time to get used to the savory flavors with the almond cake. It's like a breakfast in an unexpected way. Nutella - Buttery almond cake with nutella and roasted hazelnuts. Enjoyed it! I think Nutella fans would like it. Mugwort + Fig - Buttery in the beginning and it ends with a good, medium-strength flavor of mugwort. Fig was garnish on top, so you barely get it. However, I like that they added the sweetness of the figs with the earthy bitter mugwort. Overall, it was uniquely delicious and mugwort was the star. Yuza + Apricot - A tad sweeter than expected due to the outer brush of yuza aka yuzu simple syrup. Loved the chewy apricot on top. It really brought a lovely fruityness to the financier. The yuzu flavor was there alongside the butteryness of the almond cake. All the financiers were done well! Delicious! Recommend trying at least one when you're at this location. Not sure if their financiers are offered at their other locations. CUSTOMER SERVICE It was good. Not terribly friendly, but still answered my questions. Staff were all busy making the drinks. AMBIANCE + SEATS Really large space with rows of tables and chairs. It was strange walking in and seeing various tables and seats to one side and it almost looked like a cafe used as office space. Seeing all the people sitting down on their laptops or talking, as though they're having a casual business meeting there. It was just strange. The tables were mixed wooden tables and chairs. There were long benches too for people waiting for takeout orders. The large space felt so roomy, I get why the tables were all taken. PARKING Street parking is available, yet when I was there in the early afternoon on a Tuesday, it was packed! The only place to park was the paid parking lot right across from Damo. Parking was $5.00. I wouldn't recommend parking elsewhere outside of that street, as it is a sketchy area and lots of homeless encampments around the area. Would I return? Not sure. I like the large, roomy warehouse space with lots of tables to sit in, but the cafe being in a sketchy area gives me hesitation. Not in love with $5.00 parking too. One of my drinks was good, but the other was bad. The only thing I loved was the financiers.

I love Minon cake for their custom cakes. This place is my go to when I need a cake for an event…read more I just ordered a custom cake for my sister-in-law's wedding. My SIL wanted a simple cake and it came out exactly how we requested. For flavors, we requested matcha on the top layer and strawberry on the bottom. Everyone loved the cake!! They especially loved that the cake wasn't too sweet and tasted very fresh. Definitely give this place a try if you're in need of a custom cake! Their prices are pretty reasonable too!

When looking for an excellent cake that's artfully crafted and delicious in flavor/texture plus…read moreingredients-- look no further than to Minon. And, as an added bonus, the drinks here from iced teas (the whole range : green, black, matcha, etc., etc ... ) plus great espresso -- whoa, Minon gets it right again. And, if you're on your cheat day, treat yourself to a pastry -- your taste buds will bring you much joy!

Is this possibly the bougiest coffee shop in L.A. (bougie defined as pretentious)? Yah, it's…read moredefinitely in the running. The patrons include bicyclists whose bikes cost more than my car, folks driving Porsches (the bougiest car of all imho), lots of performative tattoos, and more athleisurewear than I've seen in my life. And this is in Cypress Park, which to me is most famous as the location of my favorite King Taco (not bougie at all). So, is gentrification happening here? That's a big yes. When the word "elevated" gets used to describe menu items, that's a dead giveaway. And yet....that Mascarpone latte is a work of art. Per their website, it's a "Tiramisu inspired drink layered with espresso, mascarpone cheese foam, and muscovado milk." It's just as good as it sounds. And honestly, these days, $8 was a bargain. Shocking how many young people were up and ordering their custom drinks at 7:30 am on a Sunday morning. I'm guessing the line gets really long on weekends. So order early! Five stars for creative drinks and free street parking.

Was able to revisit LOQUAT COFFEE a few times since my last review. A couple of times with…read morecoworkers and another couple of times with fam. In each and every visit, I know I am boring, I ordered the same thing - CORTADO. The benefit of being boring and visiting several times is that I can definitively say that they churn out consistently GREAT cortados. I was able to finagle some of the following as well: - HOT LATTE. Not "watery", or should I say "milky". Strong and creamy. - FONDRY KOUIGN AMMAN. Sooo good. Of course. And without the Fondry line. Staff is always awesome. Parking looks challenging but I've never had a problem. There was always space for me to sit and down my bean drug.

Heavy Water Coffee was a great experience. I had a single-origin cortado that was balanced from…read morestart to finish, with a silky texture, great body, and a clean finish. The milk complemented the espresso without covering it up, allowing the coffee's character to come through. It was a well-executed drink that showed real attention to detail. The staff was genuinely friendly and welcoming, and I had the chance to meet the owner, who was incredibly knowledgeable about coffee. After talking with him, it was clear he cares about sourcing high-quality beans and getting the most out of them. That passion shows in the cup. I'll definitely be back.

I had been looking forward to trying this spot but must admit I was pretty disappointed with this…read morevisit. Given all of the coffee competition in the area, I was expecting a higher bar. Pro: a good amount of umbrella/covered outdoor seating on the back patio, which has a relaxing ambiance. Cons: the baristas were not super friendly. Barely acknowledged me when I walked into the shop. It's extremely small so it's not really ideal to sit inside. I ordered a cold brew with a non-dairy cream top, and the "top" immediately sank to the bottom in curdling chunks. The cold brew itself wasn't bad but they really shouldn't serve that cream top. Maybe I'd return to try something else if I happened to be in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way.

I don't typically stray from my usual drip or pour over, but I happened to be in the area and…read moredecided to give Tilt Coffee a shot -- and I'm so glad I did. I went with their Iced Cloud Cinnamon Foam latte, and it did not disappoint. The latte is infused with maple-flavored milk and finished with cinnamon, and the combination is absolutely delightful -- ice cold and bursting with flavor from the first sip to the very last. What really sets Tilt apart, though, is the staff. They go above and beyond for every customer, and you can genuinely feel the care they pour into their craft and their service. Whether you're a coffee purist or just looking to try something new, Tilt Coffee is absolutely worth a visit. They just earned a new fan!

Tried Tilt Coffee for the first time today while I was in the area…read more The shop is a very small coffee bar tucked between a few buildings, so there isn't a dedicated parking lot, but street parking was easy enough to find (for reference, I came at 11am on a Sunday). Seating is limited, though they do offer a few outdoor tables and a bench inside while you wait for your drinks. The service was great. The employees were friendly, welcoming, and the overall atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable. As for the coffee, it unfortunately wasn't my favorite. I tried the Cloud Latte and found it a bit too thick, lacking the smoothness and flavor I was hoping for. I also tried the Cinnamon Cloud, which was smoother but still tasted fairly bitter to me. Coffee preferences are subjective, of course, but the flavor profile just didn't quite hit the mark for me. That said, I enjoyed everything else about the experience and would be willing to come back and try a few different drinks from the menu. The service and ambiance were definitely highlights of the visit.