50 Best Cafes near Lake Balboa

“Today I got the corn matcha at 75% sweet and the mango sticky rice ube mochi and both were divine, great strong flavor of corn, creamy matcha, ube mochi was soft and not too sticky, mango was very sweet. Service was quick but not the most welcoming, girl at the register seemed like she was ready to leave.

I have been to this location half a dozen times and my only gripe is the weak welcomes and condition of their space. It seems like there is not a lot of attention to detail or care for their space, especially their plants, which makes it feel unclean and careless. There are some plants that are basically just poor little root balls. Top off your plants with soil, give them food and water, wipe down the leaves, chop off what is dead, and give the space life again!“

“Great atmosphere, Hector was great!“

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

“🍑 I stopped by and tried the Sweet Peach Smoothie from the Lawless pop-up, and it was absolutely delicious! The smoothie had banana, peach, pineapple, strawberry, agave, hyaluronic acid, and your choice of milk. Everything tasted fresh and the peach flavor was so good! 🥤🍑“

“Wish I lived closer. As a first time customer I got a drink on the house, and they have a utopic pay-what-you-can model for future drinks. The cafe is spacious, and it’s the perfect place to either get work done or chat with some friends—it doesn’t seem dominated by either group. The baristas are very friendly and clearly excellent at their craft. They use high quality espresso, and the brown sugar latte was divine.“

“One of the best boba places I’ve been too, especially if you’re a Csun student! The smoothies and boba drinks are delicious! 10/10 - the one I got was a mango smoothie with no boba and I highly recommend if your a mango fan!! 👏✨“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Food was good! We ordered the Crispy chicken wrap with curly fries and the steak salad. Both were good, I don’t like blue cheese and there was some in the salad.

I used to get their iced vanilla latte religiously almost everyday then I tried other places and realized Aroma’s lattes are very milk heavy and I can barely taste the coffee. If I get coffee from them it’s a cold brew now.

Dessert is delicious! The chocolate chip cookies are goey and have a crunch .

I love the location it’s beautiful inside and out. It usually gets packed and there’s a line you have to wait in, but we went in at 5pm and it was pretty quiet. Found seating inside no issues, tables were clean, bathroom was clean. Service was quick!

You can also place orders for pick up through Chow Now App.“

“Good breakfast. Hamburgers are great.“

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

“My husband and I stopped by for a late breakfast and were so happy we did. The food was delicious, the coffee was really good, and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. You can tell this place is made with a lot of love and care.We’ll definitely stop by whenever we’re in the area.“

“Love it me gusta mucho la amabilidad y tienen los chilaquiles mas deliciosos que e probado 👌😋😋“

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

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

“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!“

“The food was really good and so delicious. The flavor was fantastic and they have great options of coffee. This is one of the best coffee spot I go to. I stopped there and ordered the cappuccino latte sub almond milk which taste really great. The bacon cheddar quiche taste really great and so delicious too. It has nice flavor and taste so fantastic.
The place has nice setting with good ambiance. Nice customer service.“

“This place is amazing. I had one of the best tuna sandwiches of my life. The bread is so fresh and soft and the tuna salad has like chickpeas in it and it’s just so flavorful and delicious. I love coming here and I always get the Matcha too!“

“Absolutely loved my experience at AndSons Chocolatiers in Los Angeles! 🍫✨ The chocolates were beautifully made, incredibly fresh, and each one had such a delicious and unique flavor.

Everything tasted high-quality and luxurious without being overly sweet.

A perfect place for chocolate lovers, and definitely one of the places I’m happy I discovered during my LA trip. ❤🍫 Highly recommended!“

“This place is pretty amazing !!! They know all there products very good willing to help you find just what you are looking for very good service“

“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.“

“Omg! I was really surprised when I got there to have a cup of coffee,that the place has changed. The two ladies they’re there are amazing. Their food is excellent and I’ll tell you something. The coffee is from Italy best cup of coffee I have, I haven’t had such a good cup of coffee for a long time. I believe they’re from Bosnia, it is worth it, go have a coffee a conversation with them and a great meal.😊“

“Tastes great, not expensive, good service“

“La atencion la comida , el deporte todo muy bueno“

“This is the best and worth the wait. It's practically 2 servings so don't think it's expensive, it's perfect. Delicious sauces. Perfect. Guys are nice, too. I messed up and paid with the wrong app (use Zelle, NOT Venmo) and the owner helped to fix it right away. He didn't have to do that. These are good guys making good food. Support local businesses, support Cosmodrome LA!“

“The nicest people And the best boba on earth“

“Such a relaxing and pawsitive way to unwind for an hour! Thank you, kitties, for letting us share your world for a little bit. Sending you good vibes for your fur-ever homes to find you soon! (By the way, the staff here is AMAZING! Friendly and so knowledgeable about all the cats. Thank Yall for all that you do!)“

“Great coffee and great service.“

“My family and I have been going to the Good Neighbor for over 20+ years, and always great food and excellent service!“

“Great coffee duh!!! What’s more needed to be said?“

“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“

“One of the best places to start your day with excellent coffee, food selection and Lovely staff.“

“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!“

“1st time there and food was amazing specially the churro 3 leches French toast.“

“First time here. An interesting menu, I ordered a goncho burger with fries - the portion wasnt big but the taste was there - homemade potato went well with their inhouse sauce and the burger had a good flavor of a sweet caramelized onions and melted cheddar. Very clean inside and very friendly service. Highly recommended to try at least once“

“Craving for a Decaf? No, it’s dangerous to dilute my caffeine. Let’s begin this new cafe adventure.

Cravings cafe is a cozy lil cafe in West Hollywood area at the lobby of Avaco Center building. They’re known for breakfast, paninis and Mediterranean kabob plates. Similarly, they serve coffee and tea drinks.

I came to grab some breakfast sandwich and coffee drink. Food was delightful as well as the coffee. Staff were nice and competent. Prices are fair. Atmosphere was inviting. Their indoor and outdoor seats were spacious.

Overall, it’s a nice lil cafe for coffee and breakfast. I recommend it.“

“At first I liked this place because of the coffee they make (and be aware this saying someone who loves coffee, was a barista, and tried the drink in more than 10 different countries around the globe), it's genuinely good, smooth texture of espresso blended perfectly with milk.
But now I love this place because of the people who work there as well.
So the story is this: I was going for my coffee closer to their close time, about 4:30 pm.
Unfortunately as I found out when I get there they were closing earlier today, from what I heard someone had a Birthday party.
And I thought I would end up without the coffee today, but the owner of the place was there as well.
We had a small talk with three of us and they gave me a free latte.
I was going for the coffee, but was given such a warm gesture to push through another , gray and cold day of November.
Thank you Daniel, and barista I hope your party will be fire today!“

“Really good breakfast sandwiches, worth the line in my opinion. Buzzer wasn’t working when we went so we had to go in and check. When we were lined up some band was taking up over half the sidewalk so they could film something, which was annoying but not Community Goods’ fault. Have tried their coffee a couple of times and not really a fan of it.“

“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.“

“deeeelicious matcha latte, lots of non dairy options for those of us who can’t do dairy (japanese soy was yummy), everyone who works there is hot, 10/10 experience. they even have a little designated parking spot in the plaza to make it easy to run in and out“

“ube ,mango and guava roll is good“

“This place is GREAT. Never found such a great quality of ingredients in the food in the US. These guys also make their own bread and buns for the burgers. The vegetables too taste as they are supposed to taste and the waiters are just the most kind people you could ever want. I had an avocado toast and egg this morning and it was so good. With egg actually tasting incredible. Then came back for a burger and it was just great: the meat was delicious and so the toppings. Amazing place.“

“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!“

“Love love this cafe ! Every time my kids have a dentist appointment we must stop by this place ! The service is amazing, the girls at the front are so sweet ! And the food is just unbelievable! I am now looking forward to these appointments haha !“

“Enjoyed our breakfast, very friendly staff, large portions, homemade bread and excellent service!“

“I came only to wash my chariot.

The little café stood quietly in the parking lot, humble as a forgotten village. I expected little. But the greatest treasures are often hidden from proud eyes.

Then came the Maracú Foam Latte.

At the first sip, I was no longer standing among cars and concrete. I was carried across mountains into the heart of Peru, where the breath of ancient forests mingled with golden fruit and the songs of forgotten civilizations echoed through the valleys. The passion fruit awakened something that had long slept within me—the courage of a warrior, the wonder of a child, and the gratitude of a traveler who had discovered a sacred oasis.

Many build great temples yet cannot create a drink worthy of remembrance. But this humble café has done what palaces often cannot: it has stirred the soul.

Golden Brown Café may appear modest from the outside, but within its walls lives craftsmanship, kindness, and flavors that deserve to be sung by poets. Should my descendants ask where I found one of the finest cups ever placed into mortal hands, I shall tell them: “Seek the little café beside the car wash, for greatness often hides in the most unassuming places.”

Five stars. I would march across kingdoms for another Maracú Foam Latte.“

“Great food. Went to lunch here and was wondering why I have never been here before . It is really good and the people that work here are so nice too. I was looking for a new pizza place and found one close to home. I will be back“

“We had very good coffee and a delicious sandwich. Free 2 hour parking right next to it. Highly recommend“