50 Best Cafes near Lake Balboa

“The whole experience food service is professional and kind“

“The interior is beautiful and the drinks are great! However, a downside is the baristas they tend to hire have horrible attitudes. They tend to have stank faces and don’t say “please” or “thank you”. I normally don’t care and come here often but lately it’s been getting very rude. So watch out 😂“

“Great atmosphere, Hector was great!“

“Cool place to get Argentinean goodies... Gaby, the owner, is the best! My family loves her 🥰🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷“

“Ooh, what a lively place. It is a packed place even on a late Thursday morning, but the food is quite good.

I had the avocado toast with two poached eggs and it was tasty. I added a sprinkle of pepper and it was set to go. Definitely interested in trying the rest of their menu.

Cold brew was also nice although not too memorable.“

“Their Matcha Cream Top Latte is absolutely the BEST! Its almost like a matcha milkshake which tastes so so good! 🔥 highly recommend this place for matchas. It is a $8.5 drink, but I believe it is completely worth it! Not tried their coffee yet, but would say their Matcha stands out!“

“Tastes great, not expensive, good service“

“Been here twice with my daughter - Got my husband the chai tea latte and I got the day dream, both delish. Great service everyone’s been super friendly. I even left my phone the second time and the girl came outside to give it back to me before I walked too far. Will be back!“

“Love bringing my son here to play new games. Good menu and nice atmosphere. For solo or group work.“

“Can someone please answer the sunset blvd location’s phone ? I need to make an adjustment to an acai bowl placed with DoorDash before it gets made.

edit: Whata Peach personally reached out & made everything right. I do truly appreciate it & highly recommend to order in person instead of using doordash.
The food & drinks were still extremely yummy & the additional effort from Whata peach made this company climb higher on my list of places to visit while in LA. Thank you 🍑“

“This Bakery is Beyond amazing 👏 😍 They make fresh fruit smoothies :^) they have multiple milk options 😋 They offer fresh juices that are healthy, yet delicious. They have delicious sandwiches. Their homemade cookies are amazing 👏 They go above and beyond to make you feel at home 🏡 they have AC and it's comfortable. The bathroom was very clean and provides a sound blocking experience. I will definitely be coming back. 😌 Thank you all for providing us a healthy energizing breakfast!“

“Their matcha is definitely better than most if not all places in LA; the fragrance of the matcha tea flavour was nice and distinct thought not strong; still pretty creamy overall. The salted foam on the matcha spanner is delicious.
Their breakfast sliders were delicious, mostly because of the sauces and freshness.
Be prepared to wait in line 30-60+ mins on weekends, especially with the rhode collaboration happening this month. We waited just about an hour last weekend when the line ended right around the end of the block.“

“ube ,mango and guava roll is good“

“It was about time I wrote a review of this amazing hidden gem! We have been coming here for years, and I cannot explain how amazing everything about this place is. We have tried nearly every boba flavor on the menu & not one has disappointed til today! We have even tried flavors we thought we would not like and we ended up loving. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I wish there was more than 5 stars to rate because this business definitely deserves it. Customer service, quality food and drinks, amazing people! Chicken snacks are sooo delicious if you are ever near or local and have not given this place a try. Even if you aren’t local the drive is definitely worth it 💯💕 Super nice and amazing human beings at this shop that definitely serve the best Boba in the valley! I always make the drive because this is the only place we buy our delicious boba drinks 🙏🏻♥️
Pictures below include a delicious pineapple coconut smoothie w/ lychee and boba.
A grapefruit smoothie w/ boba & a strawberry smoothie! 🥰🙏🏻 & cannot forget to order the chicken snack!“

“Great espresso nice vibes“

“WoW , the food , the view, Supernice Crew . Worth everything ! We come back . / Swedish Guests“

“Friendly service... good for everyone’s and good taste drink. Love boba time drinks“

“Samos Cafe and Grip is an absolute gem! The food is consistently delicious, fresh, and full of flavor — you can really taste the quality in every bite. Whether it’s a quick snack or a full meal, everything is made with care and attention to detail.“

“Double edge coin. Hippies then conservatives in the same area. But you get a certain vibe from the area.“

“it was exactly what we were looking for and definitely will be back! Delicious fresh thoughtful food, something for everyone. As a vegetarian I was delighted at the options. I had the roasted cauliflower and yam salad and it was scrumptious. Not to mention they have outdoor seating in the shade which is lovely and they welcomed my doggies with a bowl of water and chunks of chicken! thanks!“

“Good breakfast. Hamburgers are great.“

“I love this place! Maybe one day, my state will have full recreation. For now, I will happily indulge while on vacation. Btw, their prices were LESS than what I paid for my medical. The staff was amazing and I hope I can come back again before I leave!“

“Their mocha is the best I’ve ever had. I always come here for it, and I really like the events they have, like unplug nights and challah bread making! It’s really focused on community and that comes through in their concept design. So happy UCLA has this place next door!“

“Nice place, cool atmosphere. The service was very good everyone was very polite. Coffee tasted funny, as if the machine wasn’t cleaned for some time.

The French toast was perfect. The sandwich was ok, I didn’t like it my husband found it good. So let’s say average?“

“They have the most amazing soups! Healthy and delicious! Plus they have amazing customer service!“

“I have been going to Porto's since the 1980's..the one in Glendale. How elated I was with having them being in Northridge where I live. The food is terrific and the lines go fast due to a tremendous quick system they have. The catering for parties has never let us down and people you have invited that never have experienced Portos are thrilled. The cakes are delicious. What I do miss is not having the individual cake slices for purchase so you can experience the taste. They only have the neapolitan, Parisian, and carrot for slices. I've seen the menu change over time and do miss some of the items.“

“Garcia brothers Cafe is absolutely amazing. The staff is very attentive. The food is killer. The atmosphere, ambiance is amazing. Absolutely my favorite Cafe.“

“Such a wonderful, cozy and friendly staffed café, serving up some of THEE BEST smoothies, sandwiches and donuts in the San Fernando Valley! You owe it to yourself to come check them out because, TRUST ME, you will NOT be disappointed 🔥💯♥️“

“Love this place. The drinks are amazing. I've yet to try the pastries though.

The staff have always been very friendly. A small shop with intriguing photos of the Valley in the past on the wall.

They roast their own beans in the morning right in the front of the shop.“

“The nicest people And the best boba on earth“

“I have been looking for quinoa all over LA. This place serves it and it is very good. The mix has just the right amount of dried sweet cranberries and a few chickpeas. It was perfect. I had a salad with tuna avocado and egg salad. I was able to sub the egg salad for tuna which was very nice of them. They gave me a fork full of a mayonnaise free tuna they had prepared on the way out which again was a great experience. This is the kind of place that you feel cares and you'd want to keep going back to. A+++“

“Avoid coming here on weekends (especially Saturdays and Sundays). The staff is too few, and the number of orders is overwhelming. Expect long wait times, confusion, and a bit of chaos.
The drinks are good, and the quality is consistent — but weekend service is seriously understaffed.
Weekdays are much smoother, so if you want a better experience, come then.“

“The halo halo is really very tasty.“

“The building itself is a work of art. The outdoor landscape is also carefully designed. There are so many exhibits that you need to have enough time to explore. You can also start from the West Pavilion, where you can see more familiar works. This is an art museum worth visiting many times.“

“Great place. It is very trendy for a good reason, high quality matcha.
Very nice people - staff and patrons.
Excellent location, great area!
Amazing patio. Really enjoyed the ambiance.
Parking is definitely an issue but worth the effort
It is a very popular neighborhood for shopping and strolling after or with your drink.“

“Great coffee and great service.“

“Lovely spot to grab coffee ☕️ or eats! Had a surprise breakfast 🍳. Delicious 😋. Built my omelette, crazy good! Vibe is chill & relaxing. Server cool, but not chatty. Shoutout to Ruth the cook 👩‍🍳 🧑🏾‍🍳, definitely a favorite.“

“amazing cool fun and exciting experience“

“I love Cravings’ food and the fact that it has so many options to pick from. Their menu has a great variety, it’s quite impressive. Shane and his wife are very friendly and provide a great service. I have ordered meals from daily lunch to catering food for the office and the food is always delicious. I highly recommend this place. Prices are accessible too.“

“All I can say is that I’m completely floored by my experience with andSons. I recently ordered the chocolate and coffee pairing, and it was nothing short of remarkable. When I bit into the passion fruit bonbon, it felt like the first time I had truly tasted passion fruit. The quality is off the charts — you can taste and feel the craftsmanship and dedication poured into every piece of chocolate.

My favorite was the s’mores; I especially appreciated the way the textures evolved throughout the confection, making every bite interesting and indulgent.

As someone who loves fine things, I really admire how thoughtfully every aspect of this brand is executed. Having worked for Steinway & Sons for years, I have a deep appreciation for excellence, and discovering andSons reignited that same passionate feeling I have for those who perform at the highest level.

Well done, andSons.“

“Even though I’ve only had gf toast and coffee here, I’ve been telling everyone about this place. Thought and care are the key vibes I feel. The mild, full-flavored coffee is worth the trip for me.“

“They sell Green Eggs and Ham!

Believe it or not! It’s an incredible dish too! They scramble pesto with eggs and give you a few slices of delicious ham and some fruit too! Loved it!

Had an iced latte as well and it did not disappoint!

Their chilaquiles are amazing too and not overly spicy! I highly recommend Joey’s!

I enjoyed the service. Simple good service.

The restaurant is a gem in WeHo which can often be over the top. People here seem to be chill. Grab a seat by the windows and watch the beautiful over the top people walk by! Great people watching!

Speaking of over the top - the prices here aren’t. Food is great and reasonably priced here!

The restaurant has a nice minimalist look to it.

Meter parking.“

“Nice cafe with very tasty and reasonably priced, quick and fresh to order salads and sandwiches, in addition to coffee and smoothies.

My chicken breast and honey mustard sandwich was just $10 and took less than 5 minutes to make. It was the perfect filling tasty snack while I was on the go.“

“In one word - WOW!!
Super tasty, amazing atmosphere, great prices, amazing and warm service! Everyone is super nice and welcoming.
Food was delicious!!!
We will definitely be back for more!
If you don’t visit you are definitely missing a one of a kind experience!!“

“Great pies, even better real Coffee!“

“Great pies, even better real Coffee!“

“Great 🌮 in a beautiful setting!“

“Seriously delicious shawarma served up here. I love that they toast the pita wrap on the grill. The meats are tender juicy and flavorful and the pickled veggies and sauces are on point. This truck deserves great business. I hope they stick around!“

“Great place to have a good boba and they also have some good food in their menu. Good service too and friendly staff.“