Cafes near South El Monte

“Going local-origin for my next batch of pumpernickel bagels. Choco-latte and Nicaraguan chocolate down here are legit crazy awesome!“

“I am visiting from Massachusetts and THIS place is THE BEST for quality, portions, price and friendliness of staff!!! and also the nice location, seating options (inside or balcony outdoors!) sunny!..geat mountain view!..casual and super clean and organized! A+++++++ my 2nd day here in a row for breakfast and the coffee is EXCELLENT & large cups too! ❤️“

“one of the best places in los Angeles California“

“Their signature soufflé pancakes“

“Highly recommend. Service and food are both great!“

“Thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to the charming, highly-rated Hello You're Welcome café. They make and bake everything in house- you can even see the ovens. Really friendly staff with a slight hippie vibe. Some items were made with almond flour, like their giant chocolate chip cookie, so I had to skip them (allergic). I was pleasantly overwhelmed by a delicious gigantic frittata slice with bacon, onions, and tater tots inside. Togadachi coffee is really interesting: the beans were fermented with lavender. Extra sugar helped me adjust to the unique flavor. The wall full of retail items features coffee beans in VHS boxes, which is a first! I love their mugs and bought one to take home.“

“I found them from an IG food review, like many others. So when I went they were out of several menu items because it was such a great review. They ended up making me a build your own breakfast sandwich and it was delicious! I had turkey, eggs and cheese on sourdough bread. That bread was magnificent, so perfect! One of the best sandwiches ever! I went back the following weekend and got the same sandwich but on a flaky, buttery, delicious croissant! Which was equally great! I'm not really down with community seating, which is why I gave atmosphere a 3, but the staff is wonderful, great customer service and genuinely seem happy to work there. My sandwich was a little pricey compared to what I'm used to paying. It was almost $17, I usually pay between $10 and $13.“

“Stopped by Rabbit and Bean on Imperial Highway and immediately got the sense that this is a well established neighborhood coffee spot. It was busy, but not chaotic. The crowd felt like mostly local regulars who know their coffee, which is always a good sign. This is not a trendy or flashy café, but a clean, thoughtfully run independent shop that focuses on doing things right.

The space is aesthetic and well maintained. Pastries looked great, though I was not hungry this time. I went with the espresso tonic, even though they also had a yuzu matcha tonic that I have been gravitating toward lately. I needed a quick caffeine bump, and the espresso tonic delivered. Bright, refreshing, and well balanced.

My drink came out in under five minutes. We sat for a bit and watched the baristas work, and it was clear they know exactly what they are doing. Efficient movements, no wasted actions, and a calm, confident workflow behind the bar.

This has officially made it onto my list of solid coffee spots. A reliable place for good coffee, quick service, and a neighborhood vibe that feels genuine rather than forced. Definitely coming back.“

“I stopped by cause I was in the area and really wanted a Vietnamese coffee! I got the Vietnamese Coffee and Breakfast sandwich along with a free pastry because I spent over $10 (tip included). In this economy all the items here are reasonably priced and taste good! The cafe is clean and the staff is nice as well.“

“congratulation J&A's 25th anniversary! great food 🎉👍“

“es el mejor lugar los mejores cafes y postres ynoseles olvide llevar su rikisimo pastel selos recomiendo. está rikisimo todo“

“First time here and ordered their iced chai latte. The barista was very friendly and suggested I add honey vanilla syrup because their chai is more on the spicier side. I took her suggestion and the chai tasted great! I definitely could taste the note of spice but the honey vanilla helped balance out the flavors. They also sold various pastries that I’d like to try next time. The actual cafe is small but there’s some seating outside. Overall. I enjoyed my visit and is a place I recommend trying out!“

“Nice cafe, Portions are huge, Great service“

“very delicious food is always fresh the food is very good from sandwiches to bagels waffles smoothies cant forget the owners are very nice and polite always have the place clean“

“best place! been coming here for sometime. can't wait for them to open in altadena.“

“The Burlington Arcade is so gorgeous and mandarin coffee stand fits right in! While the storefront only allows 4 customers at a time, waiting outside doesn’t feel bothersome because you’re in such a beautiful space.

While they do have citrusy flavors on their menu, much of their focus is on serving Chinese coffee among classics. I got the gui hua latte (which only comes hot) and it really grew on me, with the complex flavor combination of coffee, slight spice, and florality. Their Vienna latte was smooth and rich while their honey yuzu fizz was bright and refreshing. There are a couple of tables in the walkway, but I wouldn’t count on doing work here or staying for a long period of time. Parking is pretty easy in the lot, though!“

“almond and hazelnut butter!!!“

“Such a cute coffee spot with great attention to detail! One of my favorite things is that they can customize the cold foam with any logo or design you want, which makes the drinks feel extra special and perfect for photos. The coffee itself was smooth and delicious, and the presentation was amazing.
Their pastry selection is just as impressive. We tried a few desserts and they were fresh, beautifully made, and tasted as good as they looked. The food menu is also worth mentioning—everything was flavorful and well-prepared.
The atmosphere is cozy, stylish, and perfect for catching up with friends, working, or treating yourself to a coffee date. If you're looking for a café that combines creativity, great drinks, and amazing pastries, this place is definitely worth a visit!
☕🍓🥭🥐 Highly recommend the custom cold foam drinks and pastries—you won't be disappointed.

Loved!!!“

“I enjoyed the good quality, quick service, and ample seating area. Was a good place to work and my drink was refreshing. Bubble waffle with ice cream was a super treat. I’ll be seeing a lot more of hop cafe in Arcadia.“

“Muy rico desayuno auntentico de Guatemala,servició excepcional empezando por la cajera y terminando con los meseros mi primera vez en este lugar y wow 10/10“

“Porto’s is always a great spot for sweets, especially their birthday cakes, which are some of the best. The food is also very tasty, and I really enjoy their coffee because it’s always well made. The service is very attentive and friendly. The only downside is that it can get quite crowded, especially on weekends when the lines are long.“

“I came from out of town and happened to stay at a nearby hotel—so glad I found this place! The food was so good that I ended up coming back three times during my stay. Everything I tried was delicious, and the experience was consistently great each visit. Definitely a spot I’d return to!“

“I stumbled upon this place while driving from LA to Las Vegas and searching for breakfast. We came all the way from Maryland for my birthday weekend, and this has been the best food we’ve had so far on our trip. Everything was amazing—from the coffee to the buttered bread served at the table. You can really see and taste the homemade care put into every dish.

I had the home fries, and you could tell they were hand-cut from thinly sliced potatoes. My friend ordered the veggie omelet—my God, it was so good. I had the pork chops with home fries and eggs, and wow… if only you could taste this plate. Don’t skip the homemade salsa they bring to the table—absolutely incredible. I highly recommend this place. 10s across the board.“

“The service was excellent, staff was very friendly and welcoming. The ice cream was phenomenal. Definitely recommend trying this place. Reward program or repeat customers. We tried Matcha swirl and were beyond pleased. I tried Matcha ice cream inside Haven city from a different location and was so dissatisfied. I threw it away and tried this place and loved it. Very reasonably priced and a lot of unique options to try. This place is great…. Had to come back again lol“

“I went to try their coffee and scones since I've passed by them so many times and saw that they had scones on their online menu. Today, a staff member told me they don't carry scones, which was disappointing. So, I got a cinnamon twist and an iced crème brûlée. Tasty food and friendly staff, but the ambience was just average.“

“Excellent service, sweet ladies, great prices & a humble atmosphere�“

“I attended a private event at Arcane Cafe on Saturday. The maids were super sweet, though definitely busy seeing to everyone. The event went over the allotted time and, though it was very late, they were very understanding and didn't try to rush us out of the cafe. At this event, you paid for a afternoon tea service. I have attended MANY afternoon tea events--at restaurants, afternoon tea cafes, and hotels--and Arcane Cafe's afternoon tea had some of the BEST food I've ever had for tea, but they gave you so much! Everything was absolutely delicious and presented so nicely. It was such a fun event, the maids were gracious hosts, and I would definitely go back again by myself (even though it's a bit of a hike from my home).“

“Republik Coffee is as solid as it gets. It has good food, good coffee, and a good ambiance, which makes it a great hang out spot.The breakfast burrito, an almond danish, and a hazelnut cappuccino. It's not a large breakfast burrito, but I felt like all off the ingredients were good quality. The danish was good,and the cappuccino was solid as well.“

“What happened to Georgette and her husband and Dimitri Georgette's brother?“

“The place had delicious food. This place had many people coming in and was crowded during brunch time. I can see why so many people come here. The drinks and food are excellent but the seating was a bit of a challenge since it was quite noisy.“

“Love the ambiance. Great food. Great service and excellent drinks are served at the bar. Great for an intimate dinner or for a special occasion.“

“I ordered a Spanish latte frap with an extra shot of espresso and tasted nothing like coffee. I asked staff if they did put the extra shot of espresso said they did but felt they weren't really trying to resolve it really, i just wanted them to either remake or get a different coffee,but other coffee was good hazelnut iced latte.“

“Excellent food at a reasonable price. We are in Pasadena for a wedding and just had breakfast at the Cordova Cafe my wife absolutely loved the lox and bagel. And I had the Cordova breakfast burrito it was excellent. 10/10“

“A modern take on the classical interior design, located at the back of the mall. Plenty of seating for all to sit and enjoy your meal with a drink with classic music played in the background.

The staff is friendly and fast with their service.

I ordered the White Chocolate Hazelnut Latte which was rich, smooth and creamy, and not too sweet.“

“The best popcorn chicken in this area and the best boba milk tea for a decent price. It has been my regular over 10 years!! And shout out to shifu and fangjie(the owners) thank you for serving the neighborhood for so long and the best food as always.“

“I was blown away by the kinds of latte art this cafe can make! I got scared to invest in it however. Still - the drinks were so good. Nice and cozy place to grab some lattes or bubble tea :) I appreciate the team spirit that’s shared by the servers. The themes bring joy. Thank you all, and God bless you all+!“

“We had a wonderful cozy experience headlined with a delicious Turkey Cranberry Sandwich. My partner had a Chicken pesto which was scrumptious. The new owners are very courteous and took extra time to ensure we had everything we needed, even giving us a complimentary Cinnamon roll. The environment and location is as sweet of a neighborhood experience you can find in the LA area.“

“Cute lounge spot. Would be nice to come with a friend and play some games while we catch up over boba. Didnt try the food so not sure how it is but the cookies are huge! They have smoothie bowls and treats to grab on the go. Tried the caramel toffee milk tea, I haven't tried it yet, and I must say I do like it. I love a caramel, and there's just enough in here without it being too sweet. It's mixed well.“

“A cozy artfully Japanese anime curated coffee shop with instrumental music playing lighly in the background. This place has ample seating and is a great place to lounge around and enjoy your coffee with a small meal.

The staff is friendly, fast and attentive with their service.

I ordered the Lotus Latte hot and it has a beautiful presentation and tasted rich, creamy, and not too sweet.“

“wow first time here food was excellent. very nice customer service 👍💯.can't wait to come back 😀“

“Very nice store I went in Tuesday about 3:34 and one of the guys helped me that he had tattoos I don't know his name fantastic service. One of the girls are slender had an attitude I said hi and she just told him brush me off and appreciate that very nice story by the way“

“This might have been the best coffee I've had in years and I like a good cup of coffee if you've read any of my other reviews i get very irritated at places that charge a lot of money for bad coffee and this place made the best half calf iced latte that I have ever had plus they bring in French pastry that is really excellent so I thought it was perfect and it's extraordinarily simple bear walls bear concrete floor chairs and tables I mean it is a perfect coffee shop nice music playing the vibe it was retro and I loved it“

“Simple and delicious food, with a wide range of coffee and a variety of food to try, perfect for coming here with friends!“

“Beautiful inside, extra special food flavors (I LOVE the Lemon Mascarpone Pancakes!!) and of course, the main attraction, Dots has the most delicious cupcakes anywhere!! Pick any flavor at all and it will become your new favorite!! Please go so that Dots Cafe & Dessert Bar can stay in business forever for me to enjoy!! 😁💕💕“

“Delicious coffee all around and talented / professional baristas! So glad South Pas has this gem of a coffee spot ✌️

My go-to is a hot red eye or a double shot. the espresso here is always on point and consistent. My wife and mom both love their house-made almond milk (which i agree is very delicious - i make my own almond milk at home but can never get it to taste like two kids), so an iced almond milk latte is their usual pick.

The baristas here have solid pacing and know their craft. Even when the line gets long, they take their time to get each order right and never rush the process, which shows. The espresso is consistently smooth / flavorful and never bitter, which is why i keep coming back!

two kids has a nice family friendly neighborhood vibe. you can for sure hang here for a bit, but it’s definitely more of a “grab and go” coffee shop, as seating is limited and it’s a “laptop free zone”. there’s no restroom inside.

i definitely enjoy bringing a book and reading with my espresso every once in a while, as it’s a bright space, they play good jams, and it has a nice modern aesthetic.

highly recommend this spot“

“The food & service is always on point“

“best chow mein ive ever have and good service 👍 10/10“