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    Zenaida's Cafe

    4.8 (72 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    ZENAIDA'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Outside plants
    Tanya V.

    The plants are what got me here the food, service, plants, agua fresca, and good vibes are what's going to bring me back. I found this place on yelp and wanted to check it out . It's not easy to find a nice place to eat outside around here and this little cafe has made this little corner inviting and relaxing to sit and enjoy your lunch. I had the chicken pita it was good and really big it came with sliced oranges with Tajín, the perfect side. I had the pineapple agua fresca it was very refreshing. The lady that helped me was so friendly and helpful. I will definitely come back and recommend it if you're in the area.

    entrance
    Chana B.

    hidden in city terrace, cute lil spot. I tried the breakfast egg and ham torta, and it was fantastic -- perfectly balanced flavors, fresh bread, and a nice kick from the salsa. Free wifi, prepared fresh to order, i enjoyed my breakfast sandwich

    Everything bagel (toasted with cream cheese)
    Jess B.

    I ordered a toasted everything bagel with cream cheese. I got my food quickly and the people working were friendly. The bagel was pretty standard. It tasted very similar to a lot of other "everything" bagels I've had. The same goes for the cream cheese. The price is very reasonable and slightly cheaper than other options. I'd go again if I didn't want anything fancy or different.

    Outside seating

    This place is a vibe! The food was tasty (torta de milanesa) & the ambiance is so peaceful. Plants surround the seating area & there's a couple of water features that create a lovely atmosphere. Service was amazing, looking forward to checking it out again!

    Green juice, almond croissant and tropical milk smoothie.
    Christine L.

    Absolutely cute cafe here in city terrace. My green juice drink was exactly what I wanted in a green juice. Hubby got a tropical milk smoothie (effects of Hawaii lol) and an almond croissant. Everything was really good. Outside seating is really lovely with light jazz playing.

    Agua fresca de sandía and tres en uno jugo

    The food is so good and the ambience is beautiful. You're basically having lunch in a beautiful garden, tucked away in Boyle Heights! Plus, the service is great, they make you feel at home. And the salsa is amazing!!!

    Vivian L.

    Awesome little cafe that's locally owned. Their tuna torta was excellent. I could tell they freshly mixed the tuna and the assembly was neat, veggies super fresh ($11). The toasted bread was so light and delicious. Got a watermelon agua Fresca and they freshly made it too. So good and worth the $5. It's a cute homey space with a ton of hummingbirds flying around the feeder, butterflies, and plants outside. Love it and definitely will be back!

    "Feliz como la lombriz"
    Angel L.

    I love this little paradise. Took my friends amd we tried the "tortas de chorizo" OMG they were amazing. The lady attending the busines is really nice, I mena really nice , atmosphere is just so relaxing surrounded by beautiful plants. Highly recommended

    Zenaida's outdoor patio.
    Eloisa B.

    I forgot to update about the ginger ale -it was delicious. And it was a warm weekend so it was perfect. If she still stocks it, def a good drink with her sandwiches on a warm day.

    Michael S.

    The best small family own business I have been too. The food is amazing and very healthy highly recommend this place of your around and want to relax surrounded by plants. the environment and energy is very homey simply love it. Will surely be coming back

    Soychorizo with Jalapeños & Avocado (the filling of a torta!)
    Catrice H.

    Zenaida's Cafe in East LA is an oasis in the heart of the city. The food is fresh and delicious, and the peaceful vibes make it the perfect escape from everyday life. The patio offers a welcoming, relaxing space where you can unwind and savor every bite. What really sets this place apart, though, is the owner--she's sweet, personable, and gives amazing service that makes you feel right at home. If you're looking for a place to enjoy an early breakfast or an afternoon smoothie, make time to stop by on your next day off--your taste buds will thank you!

    Orange w/Tajin included with breakfast sandwich
    Zuly S.

    I grabbed a ham and egg sandwich and it tasted like your moms cooking (I would have added picture of the sandwich but it smelled so tasty that I ate it before taking a pic). Dulce was so super sweet! She packed me the sandwich with a side of oranges w/tajin and a brownie. Definitely check out this place and support your local mom and pop shop. Parking: limited

    Chorizo & Egg Torta and coffee

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

    One of the best tortas & fresh juices I've had.. hands down! Will be back over and over again

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    1 year ago

    Fresh ingredients in my sandwich. Made right in front of me and was delicious. I would recommend this location.

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    1 year ago

    Zenaidas is a place for food as if you made it at home- simple and really that is that.

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    Picaresca Barra De Cafe

    Picaresca Barra De Cafe

    4.4
    (414 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Picaresca is hands down my favorite coffee shop in Boyle Heights! It's Mexican owned and you can…read moretruly feel the passion they put into everything they do. The owners are always welcoming, friendly, and genuinely make every customer feel at home. Their customer service is exceptional and one of the main reasons my family and I keep coming back. The food is amazing! Their chicharrón burrito is the best I've had, and the chilaquiles are always fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. Their coffee is just as impressive--they roast their own beans, make their own café de olla syrup, and you can even buy their coffee beans to enjoy at home. Every cup tastes fresh, rich, and authentic. I also love the atmosphere. The artwork throughout the shop is beautiful and gives the space so much personality. It's the kind of place where you want to sit, relax, and enjoy your coffee. Another thing I appreciate is that their prices are more affordable than many other coffee shops, especially considering the quality of the food, coffee, and service. My kids absolutely love coming here, and it's become one of our favorite family spots. If you're in Boyle Heights and looking for incredible coffee, delicious food, beautiful local art, fair prices, and some of the kindest people you'll ever meet, Picaresca is a must-visit. I can't recommend them enough!

    I've been coming to this cafe for a while now. But, every time I visit, I am constantly telling…read moremyself "yeah ima give myself a break from here for at least a week or two" because of the food OR the customer service, AND sometimes both. This last time might truly be the last time for me. This past weekend I went with my family to have breakfast and it was okay.. One girl who took our order was kind but there's this other girl who's usually always working there with short hair who always has this unwelcoming behavior.. Mind you, the ones who are in the front taking orders are like the "face" of the cafe and it'll reflect what kind of experience the customer will have. (Speaking from someone who has experience in customer service, especially in the food industry.) We ordered our food and found a table outside but it was dirty so I went to ask to ask the girl if she can give ME something to wipe down the tables. I don't have a problem doing so because it's just a habit of mine. She said that she'll tell someone to go outside and clean it. That short haired girl came out and cleaned our table.. the time we went was busy so I understand if they couldn't do their rounds of cleanups but even when it's slow, it's still not done and I don't understand? The cooks and baristas are obviously busy trying to take orders out, the least that some cashiers can do in the front is to communicate with one another to be able to cover both in AND out of the cafe.. Then, I asked for another salsa because I was given one and I usually always ask for another one and I'm never given problems over it or question about it but this time the SAME short haired girl with attitude asked if I wanted to swap it out for the one that's already on my plate? I was confused because I was never asked that before.. it made me feel like I had to choose one or the other because two wasn't the option It's salsa.. no pasa nada si me das dos.. I started questioning myself like am I tripping? But my family member was with me, witnessing everything, that she brought it up before I did. Mind you, our entire meal came out to $77... in this time AND economy, it's not that easy to just go anywhere and spend that type of money. So, when one does it, it's because we want to either treat ourselves AND our loved ones. The experience didn't feel like it was worth our money.. and c'mon, to be spending THAT much IN Boyle Heights is wild. Don't get me wrong, people in the hood also deserve a cool and calm ambience pero si se pasan with the prices and on top of that the customer service is mid? Also, can I mention about the dishes situation? Crazy how we spent $77 to put our own dishes in the bin? Not even Wingstop lets you do that!? Again, it's all about the customer service and the experience for the customer. Especially if it's the customers who are INVESTING hard working money into the cafe with every purchase. Now, there's only TWO other girls who are the sweetest and I wish I knew there names but they're the reason why I always give it another chance. Besides that, the customer service is always off. And the baristas gotta learn some customer service too. Smile and look up for once, it's really not that hard and making coffee isn't THAT serious. I've been off of social media for a while now but this place definitely brings in many "instagram" people.. so sometimes the atmosphere also feels performative and I've noticed it attracts that. I came across this place just by driving by and curious to wanting to try it but I also had some doubts beforehand. I gave this place multiple chances but it continued to prove me RIGHT From what I've seen, it doesn't seem like true Boyle Heights/East LA locals go to this cafe... the prices don't really cater to the community they're in! It caters another group of people for attraction and just another form of hipster It be the ones who are raza who exploit their own culture for money and attention because being and claiming brown culture is "cool" now. Don't get it twisted, the real ones see through it.

    Photos
    Inside seating area.
    Inside seating area.
    Breakfast burrito. Bacon, potatoes, egg, cheese.
    Breakfast burrito. Bacon, potatoes, egg, cheese.
    Machaca burrito

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    Machaca burrito
    Cafe Niña

    Cafe Niña

    4.5
    (37 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    As I was walking to my daughter's in-laws house from the nearby Metro station, I noticed a cute…read morecoffee home located right next to the East 4th Street pedestrian stairs that was clearly open and had an outdoor patio. So circled back with my son-in-law's brother, and had a good experience. CafeNina is located at the upper entrance of the 4th street Pedestrian stairs between Lorena and Concorde. These stairs were created in 1928, as a way to allow pedestrian connection between the elevated East 4th street and the neighborhood below. I've taken this many times, but as I tend to do when trying to reach a destination, ignored the journey until now. It opened in 2023 in Boyle Heights, expressing the owner's passion for coffee, specifically with Mexican flavors. I never went to a place like this before, so looked up how it is defined: the best term I could find was 'cozy family focused house-front coffee cart'. We came around lunch time so there were no longer any pastries. But the very friendly owner advised that most drinks were available. One page of the menu was devoted to various Matchas, so JM and I got the same thing: a large iced strawberry Matcha Latte ($8 each). One has the choice of dairy/non-dairy, so chose almond milk. There's a lovely backyard area with a few cafe tables, reminding me of someone's well appointed backyard. It's dog friendly, and we spent a couple of hours talking while enjoying our drinks. It got busier towards the end of our stay, and Simba was getting restless, so we made our leave. A definite place to consider if near the Boyle Heights area, and wanting to enjoy some coffee based drinks.

    What a hidden treasure! Parking is on the street and may be…read morean issue, but I was lucky and found one right in front. If you don't look for it, you'll miss it! It's right before the bridge. It's in a residents house, but the set up was nice and local. I was unsure what to get, so I asked what should I get? They said the Viva Latte and I got that. Very friendly and nice service! The coffee I got was delicious! I'm lactose and was pleasantly pleased of their oat milk option! Wish they had commuter hours, like early morning so I could get a cup before work, but I was lucky to be free today and grab a cup. I plan to go back again!

    Photos
    Mazapán and Lolita lattes (iced)
    Mazapán and Lolita lattes (iced)
    Cake pops!
    Cake pops!
    Cafe nina backyard

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    Cafe nina backyard
    Damo

    Damo

    4.6
    (138 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Einspanner, matcha latte, and hojicha latte!
    Einspanner, matcha latte, and hojicha latte!
    From Left to Right: Strawberry Matcha with Cream Top, Strawberry Matcha Coconut refresher, and Black Einspanner
    From Left to Right: Strawberry Matcha with Cream Top, Strawberry Matcha Coconut refresher, and Black Einspanner
    Matcha Einspeners (Less Sweet)

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    Matcha Einspeners (Less Sweet)
    Maru Coffee

    Maru Coffee

    4.3
    (724 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    Got princess parking right in front around 1:30 pm on a Tuesday so I can't say much for how it…read moreusually is at any other time. It was pretty busy for late afternoon but I took it as a good sign. My sister has been a bunch of times before and really wanted me to try their cream top but I don't drink coffee and they apparently stopped allowing modifications to their drinks so you can no longer add the cream top to the matcha latte. She got the cream top coffee and I got the matcha latte so I could sip the top of hers and drink mine and it was honestly so so good. I have no idea how they make their cream top but it's unlike any other I've tried. The matcha itself was also very smooth and great quality. Both drinks came out to just $13.50 total, which is amazing. Would come again!

    The matcha latte is superb-5 stars The service is fine, it's…read morecrowded but the line out the door went pretty quick. 4 stars The ambiance needs improvement. I get the Japandi minimalist design aesthetic but a lot of people would love to just sit down and drink their spendy beverage and there's just not enough seats for all the customers. I would suggest adding more benches along the North wall which is an entirely usable space as well as adding another counter along the window with barstools. For this, I have to give the ambiance 2 stars. I'd still come back for the exceptional matcha latte though!

    Photos
    Maru Coffee
    Maru Coffee
    Maru Coffee

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    Zenaida's Cafe - cafes - Updated August 2026

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