A Coffee shop that punches above its weight. A classy yet petite shop with pastry's and coffee you might only expect in Beverly Hills, located here in El Sereno with a faithful following. See ya, I'm going to li'l East for coffee:) read more

In my latest outing around El Sereno, I decided to stop by Lil East Coffee again. I had been a regular there for years since they first opened, and honestly, it used to be one of my favorite spots. The treatment, the attitude, the attention to detail -- it all felt genuine. It had personality. (And by the way, Amelia was always my favorite barista there.) After being away for a couple of months, I came back and immediately noticed the vibe had changed. The first thing I felt was that it no longer had the warmth that made it special. It started to feel like just another coffee spot in LA. Maybe I'm just getting older and appreciating human interaction more, but to me a great barista is almost like a morning bartender -- someone who sets the tone for your day, even through a small interaction. Lately, there are a couple of baristas there who, at least from my experience, come across very disconnected. No emotion, no warmth, almost robotic to the point where it feels uncomfortable. At first I thought maybe it was just me being picky, but one day I stayed for a while, drank my coffee there, and observed the room. Honestly, it seemed like most people were getting the same cold treatment. Maybe it's a generational thing. Who knows. What I did discover is that they also serve coffee at their wine bar around the corner, and strangely enough, the energy there feels much more welcoming. Sometimes all people want is a simple smile the world refuses to give them some days. I still appreciate what Lil East once was for me, but these days I'd probably avoid the coffee shop location itself. If I have the time, I'd rather grab my coffee from Lil Cans instead. read more

lil’East Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is a fun little grab-n-go stand with stools on the sidewalk under some umbrellas. The device is great, very friendly. I got the horchata latte and it tasted exactly like you would want a horchata latte to taste like. Definitely would recommend if you are in the Keith or hood. Street parking only, but we found parking across the street read more

Ordered an horchata latte lightly sweetened and was quite disappointed. Unfortunately the coffee was very sweet and extremely watery v. Creamy as a latte should be. What I got was a sweet horchata coffee with a splash of milk, not what I ordered or paid for. The line was quite long as well and the space is very limited, particularly with all the passerbys. read more

lil’East Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Yummy. The pastries are super unique and seasonal drinks are well thought out. Great neighborhood spot read more

lil’East Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Really wanted to like this spot but it was pretty ok for my taste buds. It's more of a grab and go spot, perfect for neighboring homes. Hospitality is through the roof which makes it much better, staff is really patient and friendly! Love that they don't charge extra for milk alternatives. Salted Maple Cardamom Latte -strong on cardamom with a hint of after taste of maple. I opted for oat milk which added extra creaminess. Coffee was strong and smooth, no hint of tanginess. Surprisingly not too sweet, perfect balance. Honey Houjicha Latte -really good, not grainy at all. I opted for oat milk in this one and it was perfectly creamy. Matcha Tonic (Passion Fruit Chia)- was lacking something, maybe it wasn't sweet enough? We added our own passion fruit flavored syrup when we got home and it fixed everything. Horchata Coldbrew (with whole milk)- not sure if it's because we opted to add whole milk it seemed off. You really only taste the milk and not much coffee present at all. We added a ton of cinnamon when we got home and it helped a bit. read more

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It was okay. The horchata late just tasted like rice water. Probably won't go back to be honest

Thank you to Amelia for the lovely hospitality. We had an incredible experience! Our first stop on the El Sereno Food Tour! They sold the passports, and we needed a midday pick-me-up, so it was perfect. I got their Elderberry Healer over ice, and my husband got a hot vanilla oat latte. My iced tea was refreshing, and it had a taste of ginger that I enjoyed. The latte was superb. It was balanced, not too sweet. The foam was creamy, adding a pleasant mouthfeel. The cost was $24.05 with tax and tip. We received a 15% passport discount, which was a nice surprise! The cafe itself is intimate, with space for only staff and up to 2 patrons. Not to worry, because there was plenty of shaded outside seating. The cafe has character and is quite inviting! We were able to get residential street parking. P.S. If you live close by or don't have to take the 5 freeway or cut through Elysian Park to get here, consider yourself extremely lucky, and I am jealous of you! read more

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So happy Lil east is bringing great coffee, pastries and a fun pop-ups to the neighborhood. I'm there several times a week.

My favorite local spot, I love the iced oatmilk vanilla latte. Their in house syrups are incredible! There may be a line, but they are so fast it doesn't matter. I live 3-5 min away and can be back within 11 min! read more

lil’East Coffee - Store from sidewalk view - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Cute little coffee shop. This was our first time visiting. We were on our way to a film shoot early in the morning, and got there before they opened, maybe around 6:50 am or so. We were running a little late and in a hurry, so tried to see if they would let us in a few minutes early. A young woman was in the shop setting up and preparing to open. She said no, we had to wait until they opened. Street parking. Because it was so early in the morning, we were able to park right in front. We each ordered coffee and a pastry. It's a tiny little shop but cute with a nice ambience. Coffee is good, and pastries are good too. We took our order to go, after fixing our coffees at the outside cart, with cream and sugar etc. Service was friendly and efficient and we enjoyed both the coffee and pastries. I would recommend it! read more

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This location is such a hidden gem! First time I went was for their pumpkin matcha and im so sad it was a seasonal drink as it was soooo good. I had their tomato peste croissant which is really good especially warmed up. Second time i had their Spanish latte and it was okay, tbh kinda had a sour taste, not sure if the milk was bad but would come back to try their other matchas. Service is great here, although they get packed they are so fast and super friendly. read more

lil’East Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Lil East Coffee is giving tiny, vibey, blink-and-you'll-miss-it energy. No indoor seating, just a few cute little outdoor spots. Think "coffee date with your coolest friend" but make it sidewalk chic. The staff is super sweet, the branding is cool, and I wanted to be obsessed. I got the horchata cold brew and sadly... it was giving iced water with a cinnamon memory. My husband had the hojicha which was decent but not life-changing. We've had better. That said, I'm rooting for them. The vibe is right, the people are kind, and I'm absolutely down to come back for a second shot. Maybe it was just a weird batch day. Also... parking? Rough. Prepare emotionally and maybe spiritually. read more

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This upscale little hole-in-the-wall coffee spot is across from El Sereno High School and miles from the next coffee shop, so it's no wonder why this is the locals go-to spot for a sweet cup of caffeine and some carbs. True to its name this place is "lil", like it's so small that you might actually miss it while you're driving by. So keep a look out for the black and white sign that spells out COFFEE. You see folks busting U-turns on the two-way street just to snag a street parking on a Sunday...not just because we all know that residential parking is tight, but the coffee is just that good. (Have no parking fear, because on weekends you can park near the high school.) But first coffee...my first sip of my iced horchata latte with a slash of oat milk on top made me scream "Wow! That's strong!" Then I proceeded to grab an eco-friendly (plant-based?) straw to stir and delightfully indulge in my drink. (Note: Rarely do I get iced coffee, even on hot days, but today was what felt like record-breaking temperatures outside and, yes, this drink was refreshing). I paired my caffeinated beverage with a slice of coconut carrot cake (more like a bread loaf slice). It did not disappoint with its rich flavors - both fluffy and chunky texture that easily crumbled apart by even looking at it. Seating is simple. Nothing fancy, like their double-sided menu near the cashier. You can pull your own stool and find a corner of the sidewalk under an umbrella to chat with a friend. This is ideal for your on-the-go coffee orders. If you decide to get fancy though, you can buy a bag of coffee beans and other giftable items Happy sipping! read more

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Wow great drinks even for the kiddos there are 2 cool options! A much needed coffee place in this neighborhood. Parking ugh. Get the El Sereno Food & Beverage Passport here! read more

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Visited this place on Saturday with my boyfriend as we were in the neighborhood and wanted to grab a quick coffee. The customer service was great and welcoming, the place itself is so pretty and parking is easy! They have a lot of options to choose from for drinks, we got the salted maple syrup iced coffee and the dulce de leche iced coffee. The ladies working were sweet and helpful when it came to recommendations. Overall, the coffee was great and so were the vibes read more

lil’East Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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What a gem. Service was wonderful and The Woodsy drink I got was delicious and aptly named.

Had been following them on social media for a few months and finally made the drive. I show up and the place is empty and 3 baristas standing around chatting around. As a first time customer I had no idea how to order or what to order. No one made the effort to suggest anything of tell me about the menu. I ordered and the service and coffee were nothing special. Probably won't be back. read more

Loved the hojicha latte, but it's pricey for the neighborhood. Cute set-up with plants, etc. read more

lil’East Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'm not a coffee person so I rate cafes based on their matcha and other teas. For the neighborhood, their matcha and hojicha lattes get the job done but the flavor is on the weak side. There's another El Sereno cafe whose matcha lattes are just plain terrible, so this is better by comparison. Service is good, they remember my usual order. I just wish they were more friendly to community organizations. I know a nonprofit that went to ask for a coffee donation for an event (which is extremely common and the cafe can write it off) and they said no. I think El Sereno deserves nice things but any new business like this needs to think about which part of the community they will be accountable to. It remains to be seen if they are just a gentrifying force. read more

I've always loved Lil East Coffee, which is why this is disappointing to write, but unfortunately I won't be coming back. The same employee has taken my order multiple times on different days, and every interaction has felt rude and uncomfortable. Even her tone of voice comes across dismissive and unwelcoming. At this point, I've gotten the same vibe at least 5 times in a row. I'm not sure what her name is, but she was closing today. I work in the restaurant industry, so I completely understand that everyone has hard days. But after enough interactions like this, it starts to feel like more than just a bad day. I genuinely enjoy the coffee, which is why I continued giving the shop chances, but the service experience has outweighed that. The shop has so much potential, which is why it's disappointing to leave feeling uncomfortable as a customer. Hospitality is a huge part of why people return, and I genuinely think this employee would benefit from retraining in customer service. read more

I really wanted to love this place, especially since it is right in my neighborhood. The coffee itself was decent and well made, but the overall experience felt disappointing. The baristas came across as standoffish and disconnected, and I did not feel especially welcomed as a customer. I tried to make friendly conversation and asked a bit about the shop and its connection to the community, but the responses were very brief, which made the interaction feel a little closed off. I fully understand that people have long days and service work can be exhausting, so I tried to give grace in the moment. Still, for a neighborhood coffee shop, warmth and connection matter, and that piece felt missing during my visit. The coffee was good, but the overall energy stood out more than the drink itself. I hope this was just an off day, because I would really like to feel more comfortable supporting a business in my own community. read more

A local neighborhood gem near where Doughbox used to be. They serve $2 drip coffee next to $7 espresso tonics. The pastries are outsourced and can be hit or miss but they know their coffee. Parking can sometimes be difficult since it's street only and near a school so just make sure to time your visit read more

Best Iced cappuccino horchata this side of Huntington Dr. !!! Actually best cafe on this side of town read more

lil’East Coffee - Zach Nestle Pratt of Ah Um Studio- check out his furniture. - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing little coffee shop! Let me begin by saying that I immediately loved the tiny shop. Place is very small but they do have outdoor seating ( two small tables and about 6 small chairs) . I got the tonic latte which had coffee, tonic water, splash of orange juice and rosemary with an orange wedge. This drink is 10/10. Super refreshing, highly recommend it. The service was great. I didn't know what to order so the cashier was very helpful AND patient in answering all my questions and helping me choose a drink . Paid about $5 for a very good size portion drink which blew my mind. Will definitely be returning to this place to try all their other drinks. read more

lil’East Coffee - Tonic latte - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Lovely, friendly cashier who explained what syrups they had, if they were homemade, etc. She made polite conversation about the French music playing in the background. After getting insight, I ordered the iced mocha since it can be my "go-to" for seeing how coffee forward or balanced a coffee shop is with their drinks. Wonderfully balanced, coffee still came through and nice, chocolate flavor was more prominent. The mocha mixture doesn't completely dissolve (may be cause I got it iced) so just something to note if texture is off putting for some. I didn't mind it. Atmosphere was cute and outdoor patio seemed good to chill for a minute or two. I was on my way to work so I didn't utilize it. Street parking was OK too. Overall, nice experience, good coffee, and would go again! read more

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The baristas are GREAT! Parking is a bit challenging and the Saturday morning line can be a bit long but this is a cute little place and the coffee and pastries are delicious. This place is located on a busy street. I drove past it the first few times that I came because there was always traffic behind me and when school drop off is in session especially. If you are willing to brave it it's totally worth it. The coffee is always consistent and pastry choices on point. There is not much seating outside so it's more of a grab and go. If you are expecting something else, find another place. I got an iced american and an espresso macchiato. Those are my go tos so they have to pass the test and they did. I will fly by often! read more

Service: friendly. Coffee: exceptional. Pastry: yummy. We came at a good time. My husband had the lil' Aussie and I had a latte.

Cute little spot in the El Sereno neighborhood in LA. It is a small little space with a couple of seats outside, but nothing inside. Staff was very friendly and it has a nice inside aesthetic! Creative menu of signature items as well as normal coffee things. Ordered their Golden Hour (added a shot) and Americano. Good flavor on the Golden Hour and the Americano was just okay. It tasted better as it cooled down. Drinks weren't amazing, but good. They do not accept cash. read more

lil’East Coffee - Golden Hour - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Was in El Sereno for a work purposes and had time to kill, so why not try a local coffee shop?And it was a lovely little (and I mean LITTLE) coffee shop! The service was splendid, the coffee was just PERFECT, and I am so glad we decided to take some beans home with us so we could have a taste of Lil East at home. Seriously, give this place a visit, you will not regret it! read more

lil’East Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Love Lil East! I've been a frequent customer since early on. Jocelyn and the baristas are all great. Friendly and knowledgeable about coffee and the neighborhood. They have excellent pastries and many of their syrups are made in house. The drinks are creative and consistent. Prices are about what you'd expect for a specialty shop, pretty fair given the price to import coffee has been majorly impacted recently. They're also a multiroaster, so their bean selections are always on rotation. They often carry some great options too; Camber, Brandywine, etc. They often do pop ups on the weekends, supporting other local business in NELA. This has become my local coffee spot. After 10 years in the specialty coffee industry this is where I always bring my friends and coffee colleagues when they're on this side of town. read more

Always happy to support El Sereno businesses, so I was excited when I learned about this new spot! Nestled between several homes on Eastern, Lil East Coffee is a tiny cafe that garners great attention -- and for good reason! The times I've driven by it, there was always a crowd gathered around it. When my friend and I decided to check it out, that was no different. The workers here are friendly and super willing to share recommendations. When asked if I wanted my matcha sweetened, I said yes but was unsure with what. The cashier recommended sweetening it with cereal milk so I took his advice Iced matcha latte -- 10/10. A lovely pick me up with the perfect balance of earthy and sweet (thanks to the cereal milk!). Would definitely swing by here again the next time I need my matcha fix :D Parking can be tricky. Lil East is on a major street and it's all street parking here, so you'll have to face the possibility of there being no spots available or rushing to quickly get into an available one before traffic rushes in read more

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Nothing great and nothing terrible to say about this little shop. We don't have a lot of coffee shops like this on the eastside, so I'm happy to see them popping up. There isn't any inside seating, but there are a few tables out front that create a nice vibe. Parking was easy on the street. The barista recommended the Brown Sugar Vanilla latte as their most popular, so we tried iced and hot versions of it. It was pretty good, no complaints. A little sweet for my taste, but my wife thought it was perfect. I could tell the espresso was made well and of good quality. We also tried the carrot cake loaf and the spinach and feta danish. They were both good, not great. I'll definitely return to try some more drinks on their menu and explore the pastry options a bit more. read more

Service was quick and easy. I got a matcha latte with Brown Sugar Vanilla bean syrup and it was perfectly balanced in sweet and earthiness. I will definitely be returning. read more

lil’East Coffee - Iced Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Discovered this place when it popped up on my Insta an hour before closing. Rushed over for my daily fix and made it in time. Parking is available on Eastern but you may have to drive past it and turn on Lombardy to find a spot, especially when school is back in session. This coffee joint is super cute and the owners are very delightful. This is the type of place El Sereno needed to get it on its way to being like Highland Park. Hopefully this will be the beginning of other similar businesses finding their way to the community. As I couldn't decide on a drink, I had the owners decide for me. They picked a matcha latte based on the fact that I like sweeter drinks and prefer lattes. Matcha would not have been my pick but I am always open to trying what is suggested when I'm undecided. I had the latte warm and with oat milk. It tasted like a matcha latte, nothing extraordinary. I also got a morning glory muffin. I had never had one of these before and if you like carrot cake like I do, this is a must. The pastry choices all looked good; however, they're not made in-house. Definitely get a pastry to go with your coffee. Since the matcha didn't do it for me, I just had to order another coffee. I went with a hot horchata latte with oat milk. In this drink, I could tell that the coffee beans definitely were not your run of the mill beans; however, just like the matcha, the drink, as a whole, was missing something in the flavor. I'm not a barista so all I can say is that the flavor of the drinks need to be perfected. Once you try them out, you'll understand. This joint definitely has potential though and it did attract customers. Lastly, there were stools to sit around on but no tables. The addition of some tables would be helpful. read more

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Delicious coffee and the barista was very kind to my girlfriend and I. So cute and close to beautiful hike, we will be back! read more

lil’East Coffee - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Cute little coffee spot. The dulce de leche and vanilla latte were good. The space is small, there's a little spot to order and you wait for your drink outside. There's a few stools outside to sit but it's more of a get your drink and go. Also the street is kinda busy and there's only street parking but it's a cool spot to grab coffee or matcha if you're in the area. read more

The Tonic is my absolute favorite! The OJ and fresh rosemary give it a unique little twist. I tried the apple cider chai from their Lil Fall menu today and it was delicious. Staff have always been very welcoming. Drinks come out fairly quickly. They don't have food other than a changing spread of baked goods available. However, they do have food vendors pop-ups every once in a while. It's a small space, there's a little walk in to place your order and a pick up window. Seating consists outdoor small stools under plenty of shade. Street parking only. read more

lil’East Coffee - Fall Selection of drinks - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I got the horchata cold brew and I liked how strong it was. I love that it's a small space, just picked up my coffee and left. No muss or fuss. The barista was so calm and pleasant. The parking isn't ideal but I found parking pretty close to the cafe. It is on a busy street and you'll have a 90% chance of having to parallel park. Im hoping I'll have the chance to try their pastries next time. read more

lil’East Coffee - Cold brew - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Taste wasn't bad, but...I ordered an unsweetened hojicha latte ($7) and was charged for a honey hojicha latte with no honey ($8) read more

lil’East Coffee - I ordered an unsweetened hojicha latte ($7) and was charged for a honey hojicha latte with no honey ($8) - Cafes Near Me - Los Angeles, California