50 Best Cafes near Lake Balboa

“I stopped by this tea place to get my wife a drink since I was already in the plaza this store is in. I found parking just fine but parking can be hard to find depending on when you come. When I walked inside, all the workers greeted me. I look at their menu and called my wife. She said the passionade and fruit tea looked good but I should ask which one they recommend.

The lady working the cashier recommend the passionade so I got a large one and asked for light ice. The place isn't that big inside. They made my order quick and I went to the other side to pick it up. I took it home and my wife loved her drink. It wasn't too sweet or plain and they put light ice like I asked.“

“Great atmosphere, Hector was great!“

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

“I absolutely love this What A Peach location in Studio City! Their smoothies are always fresh and have some much flavor. Especiallyyyyy the “Peaches N Cream” was downright heavenly. Staff are always smiling, friendly, and super attentive — they remembered my usual order on my third visit, which really made me feel welcome. I’ll be back every weekend for my smoothie fix 🍑✨“

“We made a fun “tea party”
Play date here and they were very aware of their gluten free options. My Celiac is beyond sensitive where as my daughters is not as bad. It was nice to have them be aware of things. I got a salad, she had a GF cupcake with her friend. Parking was ok, lots of seating indoor and outdoor, pretty space.“

“This isn't a coffee shop. It's a communal space. The coffee is basically free if you think of your donation as more of a rental fee to be in this lovely communal space and have access to all that it offers. This place is ideal for making plans with business partners, writing scripts with friends, or just getting together for some time away from screens and computers. This place is tailored toward bringing diverse people together into one place to sharing ideas and stories with each other. As for the coffee and baristas both are fantastic. Cappuccino rocked me off my behind all day cuz I'm used to watered down crappuccinos from Starbucks. I love this place. This is where I bring friends that love good coffee and a peaceful conversation.“

“Good breakfast. Hamburgers are great.“

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

“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!“

“My bf & I have been coming here for going on 5 or 6 years now & aren't gonna stop bc this place is just that good & way better than any boba shop around!! The owners are very kind, sweet & have a great memory bc they know our orders by heart & other customers as well lol The drink I get too was bc I came to the owner asking him if he can make this drink I tried at a convention & he made his version which was wayy better. I love this place & will continue to recommend & show people 💗💗“

“Tastes great, not expensive, good service“

“The best thing about this spot is that you can take advantage of different offers up to 50% DAILY! Each day they have different brands included in the sale. For me, I don't mind trying new brands and new items so its actually a cool like test feature almost for me.“

“The matcha einspanner was nothing short of amazing. They use Rocky’s blend which is socially questionable since it’s not a Japanese brand and high retail pricing but who are we kidding they nail it with the matcha flavor profile: Asian American’s favorite-nutty and umami. And pairing it with the cafe’s cream foam makes the drinks creamy and just sweet enough! This was my favorite matcha drink in LA.“

“Excellent food and service! Absolutely perfect breakfast. Hot, delicious, HUGE portions. The best chai tea latte I've ever had it - it puts Starbucks to shame. The meal was esthetically a work of art (see photo). The menu said two eggs, but it looked like five. Great French toast - better than I can make myself. Needless to say, I highly recommend Joey's Cafe!“

“Everything here tastes wonderful. Whatever you order, you'll have a hard time finding a place that does that better. I live in OC but whenever I have business in the area, I make sure to pick up a drink and 1 or 2 pounds of coffee beans.
Also, I don't know if this is new or I was just not aware but they do teas too! Not really my thing but I had an iced mint tea the other day that was amazing 🤩
Oh and the people are awesome too lol can't leave them out 😁“

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

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

“This place truly feels like home. I absolutely love it here. The food is always incredibly delicious, and the people make the experience even more special. Hasija is truly the sweetest person, and everyone is so warm and welcoming. Every time I come here, it feels like I’m sitting down to a home-cooked meal surrounded by kind, caring people.“

“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!“

“Great espresso nice vibes“

“ube ,mango and guava roll is good“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“I have always passed by this cafe and wanted to go in. And, after all those years, we finally did it. Wow wow wow. Excellent all around. A shout out to mj, jackie and diana for an excellent and most warm service. Also, the two gentlemen that were cleaning and bussing the tables. The team works so efficiently and expeditiously, all while giving big smiles. Love this place and will be back. The food is delicious by the way.“

“had dinner at Samos Café and Grill, and it was a great experience from start to finish. The dinner menu was amazing—everything was flavorful, well-prepared, and thoughtfully put together. You can really tell care goes into the food.

The service was just as impressive. The staff was welcoming, attentive, and made us feel comfortable the entire time. What really stood out was the chef coming out to greet us, explain the dishes, and talk about the ingredients and preparation. That personal touch made the meal feel special and showed how much pride they take in their food.

Overall, Samos Café and Grill is a fantastic spot for dinner, great food, great service, and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Definitely a place I’d come back to.“

“Yummy! I had the Impossible Burrito with avocado. I was afraid it would be too spicy or greasy..sooo not the case. It was so delicious 💕 The flavor was multi-layered, surprisingly outstanding and it had some crunchiness. I will definitely be returning soon. The bonus is the staff that was welcoming and most helpful.“

“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.“

“Came in on a Saturday. There was a bit of a wait but the line moved quickly after we ordered. I tried the Strawberry Matcha, and my friend got the Matcha cloud with vanilla added, which ended up being the perfect balance of sweetness. We both loved our drinks and the staff was very helpful!“

“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.“

“Overall, a good place. The only feedback I have is that sometimes staff is too talkative, to where it feels they’re taking too long to make orders. But the pistachio and almost croissants are soo good. The coffees are great and at least the staff is friendly.“

“Great coffee and great service.“

“amazing cool fun and exciting experience“

“There was a tiny bit of confusion looking for a menu but after that it was a great experience. I ordered the Mediterranean sandwich meal and the sandwich itself is so delicious. I appreciate how they scoop out the bread and make it crunchy and add more filling.“

“I just have to give a huge shoutout to Sariah, who always makes day run so much better! Every time I walk in, she greets me with such a warm and genuine smile that it instantly brightens my day.
Sariah is also super efficient and knows how to handle even the busiest times with ease. She remembers the regulars and their favorite drinks, and I’ve honestly never had a bad cup from her. I’m always amazed at the accuracy of my orders. I love how she makes the whole experience feel more personal like asking questions about my day so far and if I have any fun plans.
If you're ever in need of some good conversation along with your coffee, Sariah is a great person to chat with. When I go with my friends, after we leave, we start to rant to each other how genuine and kind she was. My friends and I absolutely adore her personality and especially her coffee!
Highly recommend stopping by and you’ll leave with a great cup of coffee and a smile on your face if she serves you!“

“I come here literally every day! Great food, clean place and very kind people. They greet their regular customers by name and already know my order. Prices are great and low compared to everything else in the area. Wish I could give 6 stars :)“

“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.“

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

“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+++“

“I haven’t felt this good in a long time. Ferrarini Beverly Hills truly feels like a little corner of Italy — it even reminded me of Venice. The staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming, the food is delicious, and the drinks are crafted with real skill and professionalism. A perfect spot to relax and enjoy the Italian spirit right in Beverly Hills“

“Nice place to chill, nice back patio too.“

“My favorite place to get coffee. Have a few specialty drinks I toggle between that are my favorites. They have some unique and delicious muffins and a chocolate chip cookie to die for. I think the cookie is gluten-free....but you wouldn't know. Its so tasty. Was so happy to find this gem 7 years ago and have been going there ever since“

“The nicest people And the best boba on earth“

“The halo halo is really very tasty.“

“Loved this place! Found it my accident when visiting the Commons for the first time. People were so nice. It’s decorated beautifully and so many options of treats for my limited clean diet. I got the Maui bowl and it was absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to go back. Awesome place!“

“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 🔥💯♥️“

“Finally got a chance to try this historic cafe, and it was worth the wait! Delicious coffee and super friendly service. Every time i’ve tried to come in the past, it was closed, so just call ahead to ensure they’re open. I will def be back!“

“Our baby loved the acai bowl! 10/10 Will definitely come back to see the full video of his experience please visit @landino2021 on IG ~“