Yala Coffee

The Sand Coffee Tradition Comes to Life at Yala in Los Angeles | Eater LA

"Valley dweller or not, I’d jolt myself out of the usual coffee routine for this small but mighty Studio City cafe, where Iraqi influences from the owner’s family history bring sand coffee to life—brewed on hot sand with extra-fine grounds and served in sometimes irreverent forms. Inside, I found personable service, mercifully free and fast Wi‑Fi, and coffee and pastries that beckon a revisit. Order the Evil Eye, a cortado-sized sand coffee with a drippy brown sugar rim and a pupil of grounds; if I’m skipping caffeine, I go for the invigorating Marrakesh mint tea or the homemade sour cherry soda with organic limeade, sour cherry syrup, and sumac. Don’t miss the pastry case’s gargantuan pistachio croissants and savory za’atar-dusted flatbreads, and the Antico affogato—a take on the classic Italian dessert made with Antico Nuovo’s pistachio ice cream and Yala’s sand coffee—makes an ideal afternoon pick-me-up. For extra flair, make your drink even more Instagrammable with a cream top ($1) or crème brûlée top ($1.50). I like it for high-octane weekday mornings for laptop warriors and leisurely weekends for local couples and families." - Nicole Fellah