Banana milk latte is a must! The employees are really sweet to EVERYONE. The spot is really quiet and they sell pastries as well. read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Banana Milk Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

Food was pastries in plastic . Not what I thought it would be. Thought they would have a big selection. But I had a honey cinnamon kind of scone it was good. I tried their match latte because they said it was sweet not so much I had to add sweetener. Service was great though very nice . It was clean and was great to just sit and hang out with my friend and have a good conversation. It might be good to try everyone has different tastes. But for me it was ok. read more

I've been here so many times and I've been to several other locations. This one is my go to as this is the only one near me. However, this is the perfect place to study and the perfect place to hang out/catch up. I've tried many of their pastries, mostly the savory ones and they're all delicious. I have tried their scones and their cookies but they are a bit too sweet for me. Their drinks are good as well but I do like their pastries more. Studying here is usually decently quiet. I've only come here in the weekdays to study so I can't speak about weekends, but it's always been a good place for me. There's lot of seating both indoor and outdoor. read more

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Cute place in Gardena! Plenty of parking (some up top and then more underground) and good amount of space inside the cafe as well. I tried their seasonal Hotteok Latte and enjoyed the seeds in my drink as well. Service was quick and the staff was friendly too. Good place to go when you have work to do and need a quick pick-me-up. I'd love to try their pastries next time! read more

I didn't come here for the coffee, I came for the ube scone! I had it at the Cerritos location before and loved it, so when I spotted this place across the street after grabbing coffee elsewhere, I had to stop in and get my ube scone fix. So worth it! My husband decided to buy a bag of coffee beans, and jackpot, they offer a free drink with bean purchases. And not just a basic pour-over like most places, they let you choose any drink! I picked the banana milk latte. It was okay, not my favorite ..the banana flavor tasted a bit artificial, but I appreciated the option. I'll definitely be back for the ube scone, that garlic cream cheese bread thingy, and to try another coffee next time! read more

Bomb! I'll be back and bringing friends! My bf and I went here after he picked me up at LAX. I wanted something quick before heading back home. We ordered the banana milk latte for him and a sweet corn latte for myself. We shared the mango passion fruit kouign amann, the sweet potato mochi and the jalapeño cream cheese spam musubi pastry! Loved that it wasn't too busy and we were able to sit comfortably in the back. Service was amazing and friendly. read more

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Very good coffee. I appreciate when baristas use quality almond milk - makes a big difference. Interesting variety of baked goods. +WiFi read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Baked goods - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

Great drink, Good Seating Space, Amazing staff and plenty of parking. Loved the Jeju Matcha Latte and Cold Brew! read more

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Picked up a TooGoodToGo order which contained a Turkey cheese and pate sandwich and a lotus biscoff and marshmallow cookie. The bag was ready when I got there so service was quick. I didn't see either of these items on the menu for pricing so I can't speak on value for ordering through the app. read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Turkey, Cheese and pate sandwich. Lotus biscoff and marshmallow cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

The inside was welcoming and spotless. My drink was the smoking Spaniard 10/10 the coconut espresso tonic was very refreshing even having espresso shots mixed in. Overall one of my fav coffee shops around the area of Gardena. read more

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Impressed by this place. Drinks were Korean inspired, unique and balanced. Really wanted to try the mugwort drink but I think they took it off the menu. I had the banana coffee and it was amazing not too sweet. The pastries looked delicious but I was too full from dinner to try. read more

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I found and stopped by this place because I needed a quick pick me up on the way home. Fun coffee shop and bakery located in strip mall in Gardena. They have fresh prepare baked goods available and there's plenty of seating inside and outside, where it looks like people study or work. The service was really friendly when I went there. I never actually been here before or heard of it, so asked for a suggestion. They suggested the Tiger Latte iced. By default, it comes with oat milk. I thought the drink was great and not overly sweet. A perfect treat for an afternoon pick me up. Really cool spot and I wish Ilived closer. I would love to hang out here and get a full experience. There's a lot of parking in the lot and on the street right outside the strip mall. read more

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Cute Japanese cafe. By the time I went, they were basically out of all their pastries. Coffee was ok but too sweet. Depends on what you like in the lattes. We got the smores cookie though and that was pretty decent. I would give it a 7/10 but overall the place is decent so round it up to an 8 if you want. I think I had the other location too, corn latte both times. read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

Came here for a nice lil bevvy and that is what I got This place is located in a little plaza with other small businesses. There is a lot of parking! The cafe is very open, lots of seating. There is lot of baked goods that you can pick from. Kinda like 85 degrees where you can take a tray and select. They have a wide variety to select from. I tried cream cheese garlic bread. Omg it was sooo good and very garlicy. I got it warmed it so it was even better. I also got their hojicha latte And my husband got their Spanish latte. both were so good! And made to perfection. I will definitely be coming back to try more pastries! read more

Pretty chill coffee shop, I've been to many of the locations (Buena Park, Whittier, Brea, etc.) Most of the time when I come here there's always seating so that's a plus. Most people come to work on stuff, study or chat. The music is never too loud. They have cool pastries and good drinks. One huge plus is that they added pour over coffee to their menu. Ground level parking is usually pretty tight, so park underground in the lot, you can't miss it! My only con is that I wish the drinks were slightly cheaper read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Inside seating with my pour over cup. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

Great service, very friendly and kind. The space is amazing for getting work done. I knocked out 2 hours of work very comfortably and with access to an outlet. I ordered the sweet corn latte which did a great job waking me up and tasted just the right amount of sweet. Nothing to sugary. The garlic cream cheese bread was honestly the star though. Fluffy bread and flavorful filling. This was a very addictive treat that ill probably be getting regularly. The early grey cookie was infused with the taste of the tea perfectly and again, the trend of my reviews for what I love NOT TOO SWEET! Definitely going to be a regular here. read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Cream Cheese Garlic Bread and Earl Grey Smore Cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

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Ordered the Spanish latte - hands down delicious! Loved it so much so will be back. Service was friendly and helpful. Ambiance was pretty, clean and spacious; lots of ppl were there to study. read more

The good: I tried the corn latte, matcha pistachio croissant, mugwort choco latte, passion fruit kouign aman, Earl grey cookie, cinnamon scone, and speculoos type marshmallow scone cookie. They sell their own coffee beans. The corn latte was creamy and has a beautiful and eggy color. My favorite pastry was the marshmallow scone cookie. It was chewy with a slight crunch on the outside and had butterscotch chips. The interior is spacious with a lot of seating options. There's also a sectioned off outside space. I loved the cute mini pastry trays with bear drawings and the tissue paper with cute characters as well. There was a lot of cute Asian art on the walls. The bathroom was spacious. Their selection included a lot of savory pastries. They also sold merchandise like a coffee tumbler. The pastries are self serve. The bad: My corn latte was iced but I expected it to be hot. The mugwort latte was too bitter and herbal for me. The corn latte was brighter and more acidic than I would've liked. There was no baby changing table and no high chairs. The interesting: The server offered a to-go wax bag for my pastries s even though I was dining in. I think she underestimated my family's ability to eat pastries. The server said the mugwort latte could keep some up. The aesthetics and decor inside are similar to the neighboring stores Oncle's cake shop and Podong tea. read more

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Got the ice matcha with cream foam top! Cute little store for work and coffee / matcha. Come early before the pastries run out. Free wifi and decent seating for work. Would be back to try the special menu! read more

Great coffee spot to work from when you just want to get away from the house. Also a great place to grab coffee and yap with your girlfriends and talk about life. read more

Smoking Tiger is one of my favorite spots to study and hang out with friends! The space feels super open and spacious thanks to the high ceilings, and they've made it really convenient with outlets on most sides of the tables along the walls--perfect for getting work done without stressing about battery life. Their hojicha latte is one of my go-to drinks, rich and comforting, and they also have a great selection of pastries to snack on. I love the graphic design and overall Asian-inspired aesthetic--it gives the place such a cool and modern vibe. Definitely a must-visit café! read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Hojicha Latte, Chai Latte, & Sweet Corn - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

Food This was a quaint little korean coffee shop in a strip mall with other korean stores. I like coffee so we decided to check this place out. I got the cold brew and told them to add a splash of almond milk, and my sister got the hot tiger latte. The cold brew itself was pretty good. The coffee was nice and smooth and I got to try a bit of the tiger latte and it was good as well with just the right amount of sweetness from the brown sugar. Service/Ambiance They also have a variety of baked goods that you can pick up, but we didn't try but they did look good, would definitely try them next time I come back. The staff was nice and accomodating in my request of adding almond milk and service was pretty quick. The ambiance of the place was also nice and chill for a coffee shop, and overall I would recommend and I would come back again read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Cold brew and tiger latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

I had the jeju matcha and it was pretty good i would def get it again. it has a certain taste i can't put my finger on

Korean cafes have the best pastries and coffee! I was absolutely obsessed with this place's iced lattes and huge pastries! The Smokin' Spaniard and Tiger Lattes were brewed perfectly and had just the right amount of sweetness. Highly recommend both of these! They also have a wide variety of pastries such as nutella croissants, cookie croissants, and lots of different savory and sweet breads! The croissants were my favorite, and I loved eating them with my coffee. They're located in Gardena off of Western Avenue, and I highly recommend stopping by if you want to try a new Korean coffee shop! I'll definitely be back for the Smokin' Spaniard latte since it had great hints of cinnamon and chocolate, which is my ideal drink! read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - IG @snacks_with_steph - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

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Everything looks good, but the taste didn't match. I would give Smoking Tiger another chance in case it was me who just didn't order the right things. The hallabong mocha called out to me when I saw it on the menu, and I should of asked the staff member how sweet it was. In general, I never order lattes or sweet coffee drinks, but the orange was interesting that I thought I would give it a try. Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed, the drink didn't look like the pictures and tasted much sweeter than I expected. I also got the nutella croissant which wasn't as flakey and buttery as I hoped, also the nutella inside was a bit thicker and overpowered the croissant. The pros about this location is that there is plenty of seating; however, the electrical plugs are very limited. read more

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Meets expectations, average study spot, not the highest coffee quality, but their unique specialty coffee and wide variety always gets me excited to return to this spot. From best to least: * fireplace latte (can be hot or cold) - the hot is pretty delicious, a bit too sweet, texture is a bit watery and it is VERY cardamom forward. * corn latte (can only be iced) - mix well!! Or else the coffee itself will be very sour and watery. After mixing, the nutty Korean corn flavor was quite enjoyable. Not sure if I would get it again but I did enjoy this for the novelty. The Tiger Latte is known to be their most popular latte and I've been meaning to try this but after realizing I could only get it as an iced latte AND after having this corn latte be super sour, I might not be in a rush to try their Tiger Latte anymore. * cappuccino - lacked the fundamental layers. Only severed in a to go cup. A bit sour but not bad. Wouldn't get again. Bakery is super cute and delicious. They are a bit on the heavier side in terms of bread choices but that's okay because if you eat less or share it's the perfect portion and delicious. I'd come back here over and over again for their bakery options. The coffee is nice and I'd get it again but only if I'm in the area. read more

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the croissants here are absolutely beautiful and sooo delicious! had the chance to try the matcha and the nutella croissants and will definitely be coming back when i'm in the area. service here is very friendly and patient, the coffee options are very unique so i took some time to decide but they were nonetheless cheerful and happy to answer questions. it is pretty quiet in here so if you plan to study or do work that doesn't require meetings, this might be the perfect spot for you! read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - nutella croissant matcha croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

This is where coffee lovers can unite for the banana milk latte and tiger latte!! It's on- my caffeine meter is exploding. So glad to see good coffee shops in Gardena.. Today's order Banana Milk Latte and Tiger Latte- Curiosity was the driving force behind the purchase- I like bananas and I like coffee - so why not try the banana milk latte, I figured the taste would be good, and boy was I right!!! Think banana pudding meets coffee- very flavorful with the flavor of banana throughout the coffee and topped with vanilla foam. Chris The cashier told me the Tiger Latte is the most popular- i like Vietnamese coffee and the tiger latte reminds me of that strong coffee flavor sweetened with sugar or simple syrup!!! If you ever want some unique coffee stop by the great choice. Thanks Chris for all of your suggestions. Oh I forgot they have refrigerated chubby cheesecakes I have to try that next time... they look adorbs and delish!!! read more

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Great study spot! Wifi was fast and reliable, music is not too loud and bathroom is clean - I stayed here for about three hours and it was great for productivity :) workers were efficient and kind I tried the iced Sweet Corn Latte (5/5) not too sweet, great level of sweet corn flavor (reminds me of turtle chips), and smooth espresso. Flavor might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it - very unique! I also tried the Spicy Sausage Croissant (4/5) not too salty, crispy pastry and good flavor from the corn and sausage combo - I decided to go savory but I want to try their sweet pastries next time! read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Spicy Sausage Croissant (4/5) and Sweet Corn Latte (5/5) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

I'm already a fan of the Cerritos location of Smoking Tiger. While hanging out in Gardena, I suggested we swing by for some of that delicious Chai Latte. I like to order it with almond milk and the flavor always hits the spot. I don't know what it is about Smoking Tiger but they have become my favorite place to order Chai Lattes. Hubby ordered a Red Goblin (strawberry yuzu lemonade) which had bright, fruity flavors. I wish I had taken more sips before he gulped it down because it was delicious! I would not hesitate to order this again on a hot day. This location shares a private lot with other small businesses and it feels like it has smaller square footage than the Cerritos location. But the bakery section is smaller and the dining area is bigger with the tables more spaced out. There was only one other customer in the dining area when we arrived on a Saturday at 4:30pm. A few more customers popped in to order drinks as we sat there. This spot is significantly quieter than Cerritos but the friendliness of the staff is pretty consistent. Something new at this location that I haven't seen (yet) at the Cerritos location, purple lids for the hot drinks! My favorite color :) read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Chai Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

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It's one of my favorite spots to relax and grab something special. Their corn bread/mochi is always fresh, soft, and flavorful, and the Green Goblin drink used to be my go-to order. Unfortunately, I haven't seen it on the menu during my last few visits, which was a bit disappointing since it was one of the best and most unique drinks they offered. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the service has always been kind. I hope they bring back the The Green Goblin, because paired with their corn bread/mochi and matcha croissants made for the perfect treat. read more

This is a cute coffee shop in a plaza with parking above and below ground. The staff is super friendly and there's plenty of seating on the inside with both small and large tables. It's a great spot to do some studying or some remote work. I ordered a chai latte with almond milk and the total was $6.75, which is fairly reasonable. I wanted to like the chai but for some reason, the chai and almond milk combination tastes exactly like the chai mix from Trader Joe's, which I've had many, many times. It's not bad for a chai mix but I expected a different and better taste from a coffee shop chai latte. To each their own as it seems some reviewers really enjoy it, but it just wasn't for me. Overall had a good experience though so if I'm ever in the area again, I'd be down to grab another latte to try. read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Interior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

How awesome that's there's a Smoking Tiger in the South Bay! This whole plaza is *chef's kiss* Great drinks, yummy bread, and cheese cake! They're known for their coffee of course, but I also like their yuzu lemonade that comes with a classy dried orange slice. This is our new frequent coffee spot! read more

Must try the sweet corn latte. I love trying new drink combinations and this caught my attention. The latte was so good. The espresso that they used is the Rose of Sharon and its fruity notes complimented the corn milk and corn cream of the latte very well. I also got the Korean honey oats with oatmilk which was really good too. It's misugaru (grain latte). From the bakery section, I got the last Korean cream cheese garlic bread. They offered to toast the bread which was really nice. Drinks were made quickly too. The cafe has a nice modern study vibe with gentle background music. There is free wifi and ample outlets. I can see people meeting up to hang out or do work here. It's nice and I hope they will consider opening a shop in norcal too. read more

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This coffee shop is so chill. A great place to hang out and study! Come with me. Highlights of the menu: 1. Sesame drink - no caffeine 2. Smoking latte 3. Seoul mocha 4. Round croissant 5. A cute postcard read more

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We stopped by for the viral cream cheese garlic bread, but it was sold out by noon. Instead we got the matcha pistachio croissant and the ham salt bread with mitsugaru (a rice latte drink). Everything was delicious. Service is very Gardena speed, but there's a lot of seating and it's a cute cafe. Please open a location in West LA! read more

Yesterday on New Year's Eve, my friend and I found this quaint little café. Quiet. Quaint. Quirky. Practically the dictionary definition of "Q." It was 7 p.m., so the place was dead--probably because everyone else had plans (mind you, I was invited to an event that started at 7pm, but I didn't want to show up so early and be the only person there, so I had to kill time...which is ironic because even if I went to the event at 7, I wouldn't have been the first one there). Jose, the barista, was an espresso wizard. Like that green and pink wizard from Wicked, except with coffee (I've never watched Wicked). He took one look at us and recommended the tiger latte, iced. The man knew! (I think he knew I was Bengali and our national animal is the Bengal tiger...but idk tho). The drinks took a while because it was just him and his coworker holding the line, but hey, #patiencebuildscharacter (not me tho, maybe for my friend that tagged along). The verdict? The latte was bold, beautiful, and...burnt. Tragic. Like sipping on the ashes of a dream. I was sad. #Hurt. But also impressed by how something could taste good and burnt at the same time. Didn't try the pastries--they were probably on curfew--Would I return? Yes. Am I bringing a fire extinguisher for the next latte? Maybe. read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Tiger latte or whatever idk i forgot but it's iced tho! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

Banana latte is EVERYTHING!!! the staff was super friendly too we will def be coming back! read more

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab - Banana latte, matcha latte, vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Gardena, California

Love the drinks and pastries here. Tried it from Too Good To Go app and even those day old pastries were so good.

One of my favorite coffee shops!! They are super creative with all their menu options. A few of my favorites are the fireplace latte, tiger latte, and a seasonal one--goguma latte! read more