50 Best Cafes near Lake Balboa

“The whole experience food service is professional and kind“

“They have a variety of drink options which seem very unique than the other boba/coffee shops. I got the pumpkin Vietnamese coffee and the ube milk, both were so yummy and the pumpkin foam was creamy and the pumpkin wasn’t too strong or artificial“

“This place is an absolute must visit! When we travel to LA each year we now have to make sure our hotel is within a stones throw of here for our coffee fix in the morning. The food and rhe service here are both phenomenal! Do yourself a favor and add them as a stop to your next WeHo jaunt.“

“Absolutely wonderful little gem! The mate is always perfectly brewed, goes well with so many different real fruit purees, but is definitely robust and delicious on its own. The empanadas are the best I've found anywhere in LA, and whether you're held to dietary restrictions or not, there are options for everyone to enjoy. There are an abundance of other goodies too, such as simple but tasty sandwichitos and a score of unique pastries to satisfy. All of this is wrapped up in a lovely, relaxed cafe environment with a kind, welcoming owner who really does make you feel like family. One of the best places in the Valley!

Vegetarian options: Vegan/vegetarian friendly empanada options

Dietary restrictions: Almond and oat milk options for drinks“

“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.“

“Most amazing Smoothie/breakfast spot!

To top it all off its family owned ?

Congratulations to the new location that opened up in Granda Hills.

Amazing owners.
Amazing staff.
Amazing atmosphere.

Thank me later ?“

“Chocolate chips cookies are amazing“

“ube ,mango and guava roll is good“

“Good breakfast. Hamburgers are great.“

“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.“

“Our go-to boba place! The owners are incredibly helpful and always remember us. They make a custom brown sugar drink for my boys that is delicious. The actual boba is always the perfect texture, and they have a really great variety of flavors and teas.“

“The Shadow is my favorite superhero and now my favorite latte. The tots are terrific as well as the spinach dip. The staff are warm and friendly. And I found a super cool new Sherlock Holmes game. And they even have live entertainment. Come for the games, stay for the food, and come back for whatever new event they have coming up. LOVE THIS PLACE“

“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!!“

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

“Tastes great, not expensive, good service“

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

“Didn’t get a chance to take a photo of my husband’s beautiful ajarski because it looked and smelled so good with that freshly baked bread. I was at first worried about my ribeye skewer because I didn’t specify the temperature but it was perfect. I’m surprised it’s not as busy because it’s also a great value! So good that why not get a bottle of wine :). A gem in this area.“

“Somewhat hidden but has lots of seating indoor and outdoor. Can't comment on the food as I only ordered coffee. Took awhile for the latte to be made even though I was the only customer at the time. Overall good experience and will try their food in the future.“

“I ordered the BIM bowl & OMGosh it was really, really good. My go to at Baked it Myself is the beet burger which is awesome & it'll be my lunch for 2 days but today I wanted to try something new & the BIM bowl was amazing. Thank you Baked it “

“The drinks are so thoughtfully crafted and their potato chips are done fresh! The worker there was kind enough to offer me a reccomendation and she was incredibly understanding. I'll definitely be going again for that drink and those potato chips!“

“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!“

“I needed a place to have good coffee and work and this place was perfect. Friendly staff and they are cool with you pulling your laptop out and working. The sesame ice latte was really good and not too sweet. I also enjoyed the blueberry matcha - the mix of mild sweetness and bitterness complement each other perfectly. The almond croissant was amazing with a wonderful creamy filling. I’ll be back.“

“Best breakfast sandwich of my life. I'm not exaggerating. I also love their salads (sesame ginger salad is amazing!) and smoothies. Everything is delicious with the highest quality ingredients. The owners are really sweet and hospitable. They go above and beyond to take care of you. Highly recommend.

Kid-friendliness: Great vibes for kids. It's my son's happy place.“

“Came here - it's great cafe and I see what the hype is about/why ppl rated it highly! It's a community cafe that feels like a nice purposeful place inside - the first time you visit, they'll let you have a coffee/drink on the house and then after that, you pay what you feel your drink and bill should be. They offer additional seasonal activities like art classes, creative things to do in this space - would def love to support it more and the coffee is great here! I got their seasonal/monthly latte: when harry met salty. Very good coffee! Hope this place sticks around and ppl support it! Can't wait to come back for another coffee or tea drink! If you go during prime time, there's a long line.“

“The night at Gasolina was wonderful. From the beginning to the end, service was excellent and the staff were helpful, knowledgeable and friendly, and the paella and all the courses delicious. I would highly recommend this restaurant. They never disappoint!“

“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.“

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

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

“This was our first experience here, the people are all great and very welcoming! The food was great and as we all know we eat with our eyes, and let me tell you the presentation was amazing! Even my 9 year old said "wow look at the way the food came out, that presentation is amazing". All the from a 9 year old, so it definitely made an impression on him. I had the cafe de olla and it was really good, not to sweet it was just right! The breakfast sandwich I had was on point and well balanced, the hash browns were some of the best I have ever had, cook perfectly with the perfect amount of salt and flavor. My wife had the chila quilles, and she thought it was amazing, she never finished her food and she finished it all, which goes to say it was amazing! My two boys had the supreme burrito, and they also said it was better than many others they have had, they had a smoothie to drink and they both loved it. All in all this was a great addition to the scv and we will be coming back her many times to try all the different things on the menu. We had a nice conversation with the manager Jose who is very helpful and a super nice person. Since our regular spot closed, we haven't really found that great place for replacement, and I think this is the place. With them being new they have some kinks to work out, as with any new business, but it did not affect the quality of the food which shows management cares about the business. Jasmine was very attentive to our needs, and got everything right and on point with refills and keeping us updated on everything, which also shows she cares (this is hard to find these days). Give this place a shot and you will not be disappointed.“

“Great coffee and great service.“

“Los huevos Rancheros, chilaquiles divorciados, en si toda la comida es riquísima, excelente servicio, amplio estacionamiento! Y muy limpio.“

“Imagine an extremely clean place, where the food is excellent and the service is perfect?! It was incredible to find this place. The ladies treat everyone extremely well, it seems to be a family business that makes you feel at home.
I recommend it 100%. A million times better than those famous sandwich and salad shops. They deserve all the recognition❤️“

“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?“

“The nicest people And the best boba on earth“

“Lemon Zest consistently delivers delicious food with the convenience of easy app ordering. Their new location on Reseda is beautifully designed, creating a great dining experience. The portions are generous, offering excellent value for the price. My two kids love the beef lule kebab plate—it’s big enough for them to share, with leftovers to spare. As someone who eats mostly vegan, I really appreciate the variety of plant-based options. I’ve tried the falafel plate, falafel wrap, veggie wrap, and several appetizers—all have been flavorful and satisfying. Highly recommend!“

“After I upgraded my coffee setup, I realized that the store-bought beans just weren't cutting it. So, I decided to check out some local roasters and found The Coffee Roaster. Their website keeps a log of when each coffee is roasted, which is super helpful. I recommend letting the beans rest for at least three days after roasting. While the prices are listed per pound, you can actually buy a quarter pound if you prefer. I grabbed some Ethiopian and Java beans since I wanted a medium roast with lower acidity. I just brewed the Ethiopian coffee with my espresso machine, and wow! The first thing that hit me was the floral aroma. It had low acidity and a really fruity flavor. I'm totally hooked!

I couldn't find any info on pulling espresso shots on their site, so I chatted with Steve. He suggested using 18 grams of ground beans to get 36 grams of coffee at 200°F in 25-30 seconds. I really hope they add that info to their site soon.

For my espresso, I grind 19.5 grams of beans and pull 42.5 grams of coffee at 198°F in 30-32 seconds. I'm excited to experiment with a 1:2 ratio and maybe try slightly higher temperatures!“

“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.“

“The halo halo is really very tasty.“

“First visit today! Loaded up the freezer with pies. Their pie pastry is spot on. Yum!!“

“What time is it? It’s BOBA TIME!
Not only is the menu amazing with something for everyone but I love the atmosphere, vibe, ambience & employees. Everyone here was so nice and helpful. I got the Oreo pistachio frappe with coffee jelly ???? love love love definitely coming back!“

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

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

“Wow! They shipped really fast, and I was able to get it right before Thanksgiving. The quality is superb and hands down the best chocolate I have ever had. I was able to make a special request for certain flavor preferences and they really honored my wish.
5-stars all the way.“

“The staff is very fast and friendly. I like ordering at the kiosk but a few times I did order at the counter. I never have to wait a long time for my order. Everything is always perfect. I personally recommend the Galaxy with boba. One of my go to drinks.

Parking: Lots of shops so spots fill up and the lot gets packed. Sometimes it's easy and other days it's not. 50/50“

“Very good Lattes, excellent staff and service. Great variety of Toasts. Great addition to the Tarzana neighborhood. Hope the come to Pasadena in the future“

“vibrant convenience in an exotic location . i had the falafel . vibrant in pink and green hues . conveniently close nestled in the topanga canyon . only four stars because they should list on the menu that the falafel is baked , like thats a whole different ball game of the genre .

Vegetarian options: many green tings“

“Great Italian breakfast in Beverly Hills. I like what i ordered. Matcha Chia Pudding is so satisfying, simply wholesome dessert. Chai latte is just right, not too strong not too sweet. Fritatta is delicious. The Paninni is tasty. The ambiance reminds me of little cafe in NYC. Service is great and fast.“

“The gentlemen who run this Blue Food Truck are very nice and clearly proud of the high quality food they turn out. The food here out of this BLUE TRUCK is exceptional. Absolutely delicious I look forward to treating myself - and you have to wait 15 minutes while they make it but so worth it because everything is made fresh and wow.... Absolutely 5 stars. Have tried the chicken shawarma and beef shawarma - absolute heaven. (side note: I made the mistake of also trying the competing newer red shawarma truck parked behind it. Advice - stick with the Blue truck! But hopefully not on a day I go lol...)“

“Tried this place out this morning for the first time, the two people working up front were so kind, helpful, and despite a busy line of customers, continued to deliver amazing service and a great attitude. The breakfast burrito was awesome and so was the coffee. Great way to start the day, will def be back.“

“This place is a diamond hidden in crunch gym. Ok I really bad on meal prep but here the food amazing and affordable. This is week two of me ording and I will definitely be my go to for meal prep the staff is amazing and friendly. Food portions are perfect and taste Amazing you can definitely tell they make everything fresh and by hand the taste is like it’s from a 5 star restaurant love them“