South LA Cafe

Eddie was working on making drinks when I walked in. He said hello and let me know he’d be right with me. Once done he greeted me with a smile and was polite, helpful and I wasn’t sure what I wanted and he recommended me of his favorite drinks. His service was beyond top tier! He even told me about the food drive each Wednesday that the company does for the public. He was very enthusiastic about it. I’d recommend this coffee shop to others and even though I’m not a local I’d make the trip back over this way due to the great service and good vibes.

The coffee was good, I also ordered an avocado toast and a carrot cake, both were delicious. Very friendly staff, there’s some kind of deal with pins but I didn’t get it. Affordable prices too, not like a bunch of overpriced coffee shops in LA. I would definitely recommend this place.

June 2024 update: 3 stars to 2. They are incredibly slow despite no line. Owners seem nice from all the promos in the cafe, but on a busy day, he came in and was consistently barking orders at staff in a pretty rude manner, then went back with a nice tone to speak to customers. In their reply, they sought direct feedback, but I would not feel comfortable speaking with these owners given how he spoke to his staff vs customers. They have not demonstrated that they have taken the feedback from my review into account, nor have they made improvements to their business management. It's really a shame. Good neighborhood spot, but never a great experience. I have walked 80 minutes to get coffee because of how consistently bad experiences are from this cafe. Tldr; Worth checking out, more for the vibes and a good local spot than their drink quality or flavours. Seems like they're trying to invest in the neighborhood. Come here a few times a month. One of the only coffee shops within walking distance. Have tried their matcha, lattes, and LA Freeze. They're all just okay taste wise, but convenient morning treats before running to the bus. -Haven't yet tried their food, but it looks decent. -Good community gathering place and lots of outdoor seating. - Seems like they're training a bunch of new staff, so sometimes not enough attention, but getting there! - Toilets aren't the cleanest but good enough to use

Love visiting my local spots in south central! Came for the grand opening and now finally revisited twice in a month. Horchata Freeze for me all day.

What a lovely little coffee stop. Great coffee good vibes and has merch! It’s a cool spot to work and meet friends.

Just returned from my first visit to South LA Cafe and loved it! The atmosphere is relaxing and the customer service is outstanding. I ordered my favorite, iced mocha with an extra shot of espresso, made with oat milk and no whipped cream. The beans were roasted to perfection and the almond croissant I ordered was flakey and fresh. They also have avacado toast, breakfast sandwiches and other pastries that looked great! I will definitely be back!

The South LA Café is a beautiful oasis in south Los Angeles. It is an eclectic place where multi-ethnic, multi-gender, multi-generational clientele gather to meet, greet, and study one another. The café is not too far from the USC campus. The coffee cake and coffee were 10 out of 10 excellent. The music was cool and relaxing. The atmosphere was fresh like a good coffee shop should be. I noticed they had all the plants that create the biosphere for health and wellness. They have free Wi-Fi and merch that one can buy to support the mission and remember their visit. The South LA café has another adjacent meeting room if you want to do larger group meetings. The outdoor seating area is perfect for that cool breeze feeling. I highly recommend that you visit. The South LA Café is the beautiful dream of a couple who wanted to bring something nice to South Los Angeles that supports community and encourages kindness. The service was excellent, and the food and service were good. I’ll give it a 10 out of 10 for the overall experience 10 out of 10. The prices are good value.

We made a detour from going to a Starbucks. Actually, the Starbucks nearby had a crazy parking so we decided to search for a new place and thankfully we stumbled upon this cafe. There was street parking and luckily we found a great spot a few doors down. Walking towards the café, we were told that there were doing screenings for high blood pressure and I don’t recall the other screening. It was the cafe’s way of helping the community. There was a station set up for information about free services for mental health. I declined the screening because I already have a primary doctor but the fact that they do this for free for the community is so heartwarming. The inside of the café it was really cool. They paid tribute to Nipsey Hussle and the community. I ordered a iced chai and it was delicious. I’m glad that they have milk alternatives here. There was a variety of pastries. I got a croissant that was delicious. Prices were very reasonable in comparison to Starbucks and the like. If I’m ever in the area, I will definitely come back. The service was excellent and the bathrooms were clean. There was even a backdrop to take photos on the couch, they sold the merchandise like sweaters, T-shirts and other knickknacks. Next time I come I will definitely be buying a sweater.

I love South LA Cafe so much! It's always clean. The service is always friendly. Like, genuinely friendly and not "I work here so I have to be nice" friendly. The drinks are good and they have a solid food menu. In addition to this being a cool community space they also do a lot of work in the community which makes me want to support them even more. They are truly part of the community and when you want good coffee this should be where you go.

Only my second visit here as my travels don't always carry me in this direction, but I made it a point to come here to host my meetings this morning. Just like my first visit I was greeted warmly upon entering. The cheese danish is warm, sweet and tasty. This place truly is a gem. Located in a neighborhood that LA would want to forget about. These folks really are getting it right. Safe environment, WiFi, food and beverages all perfect for a break, a meeting, or more!

Cute spot in the heart of South Central, home to the real ones. When you know you know! The pastries are fresh and the music is a real vibe. The service is awesome and the people are friendly. The Matcha Freeze with a touch of Lavender was delicious! I can't wait to come back to try something else.

Good food and awesome variety of drinks that are light and healthy but leave you feeling full and satisfied. Very friendly service always and casual clean setting. Perfect lighting. I'll definitely come more often if they expand their menu.

My boyfriend and his coworker came here for a meeting. He really liked and suggested I come and try it. I am glad he did. We don't have many of these coffee shops in South LA. Coffee is really good I had avocado toast and empanadas. They source from Homeboy industries . They very reasonably priced. I'd much rather spend my money here than Starbucks. Support Local businesses.

Great service, food, and ambiance!! I will def return when in the area! I highly recommend their coffee; for it's smooth, flavorful, and has a great aroma!

Very cute spot with great customer service! The cashier was friendly and the barista did her thing with the coffee. I'm a huge fan of vanilla latte and I must say that the latte I ordered from South LA cafe is now in my top favorites list. I will be back to try other items such as the food & pastries! I love supporting businesses like this in the community. It's way better than spending money at Starbucks.

I finally have a good coffee shop in my neighborhood. It's my favorite spot to get coffee and their avocado test is good too. When you walk in the service and ambiance has a good vibe. The staff are people in my neighborhood who I might see walking or playing basketball in the park. This is a family own business and they give back with grocery bags, meals and lots of love. I really appreciate coming here. I can't wait to try the second location in Baldwin Hills.

Had the spring matcha and it's very refreshing. There is inside seating, but it's such a lovely day I sat outside. Outside seating has a tab on table indicating if it's been cleaned. Moved mine to dirty after sitting here so they know to clean. Much appreciated in a post-Covid world. I'm glad that a business that cares about community and provides support for community is also a really good coffee shop!

Service was great. Coffee pretty coffee. Adequate seating in and outside. Large painting of Nipsey. Black owned! Putting money back in the community... nothing more needed to be said

Great place and amazing people! I'm not a coffee drinker so not always a huge fan of a place that doesn't do "special" tea. But they were SUPER helpful on a hot day and, without me even asking, offered to make me an unsweetened iced tea. Partner got a horchata and was pleased. Met one of the owners and he was super kind too! Awesome vibe at the store and in that whole area! We'll be back!!

Went during their bloc party and their hot chocolate was really good we also had their chai latte with oat milk and I appreciate they had milk alternatives just wish there were vegan pastries!! Haha will def come for that hot chocolate with oat though!

Beautiful black own business. Very clean and always beautiful faces friendly faces when ordering. Coffee is great! Love walking to this corner shop. does have a parking lot and plenty of street parking. they have outside sitting that is perfect for our Los Angeles weather

I live so close to his coffees shop! I love this place, they have great coffee, great staff, and plenty of places to sit! Love the vibe as well! Super chill, calm, and quiet. I've come here to study and I love that I can focus!

Noticed this spot when the family went to Jack's for breakfast. It's really cute from the outside so after breakfast we decided to make a stop. It is the cutest spot on the corner that stands out! Inside the decor is very picturesque with lots of plants real and I think some fake ones(but you can't tell). There's one of those grassy walls that make for a great photo op. It was raining today; but there's a nice outside area that would be cool to sit at in the spring or summer or even when it's not raining in LA. Idk if they had an event; but there was no seating inside, except a bench in front of the photo Opp grassy wall. I'm hoping that's not the norm though. There's a huge picture of Nipsey, Cafe Apparel, and other items for sale. I ordered the Caramel Macchiato w/soy, hubby got the LA Freeze which is a frozen coffee drink, son got the coffee cake. Much better than Starbucks and I'd say the price is comparable. If I'm in that side of town, I would return. Parking sucks, so pack your patience.

I love the vibe at this cafe! They do great community work too! The staff and owners are very pleasant people! Their avocado toast is so delicious!

I really love the coffee here and I hate to leave only 3 stars. But it literally took 35 minutes for me to get my frozen blended drink! That's insane for any coffee spot. Maybe hire more workers or not leave inexperienced/new workers alone during busy times. I felt bad for the workers and I needed my caffeine fix so I waited lol my fault for sticking it out.

South LA Café continues to be my go-to spot for my morning pick-me-up! Always so much better than the constantly burned tasting Starbucks coffee! I always enjoy the atmosphere from the small yellow tables outside to the chill, inviting vibe when you enter! And to top it off, the staff is always warm and welcoming! Lastly, make sure you grab two coffee cakes, one for the ride to work and one for later! Not greedy, just prepared! Lol #longlastingcustomer

Ordered a ice macchiato and a avocado toast . The coffee was not on point , meaning it taste more like sweet milk and is definitely not worth 6.05 . The toast was just ok . The best part was the great customer service !

One of my favorite coffee spots. I love that there is something so local to me. I've tried various items off the menu and my favorites are the iced horchata latte, Cinnabon latte, and horchata freeze. When I want a quick bite I always go for an almond, butter, or jalapeño/cream croissant. Service is always amazing and prompt. *Their iced chai and matcha could be better but maybe again it was the barista ?

So this place is a gem. First off there is always somewhere to park, it's on the corner. The staff is always very nice. The establishment is always clean and welcoming! Black owned. They do community food giveaways. Now on to why you're here the coffee. You can get traditional coffee and it's strong but really nice to the palate. It taste good, the avocado toast which can be made with cheese and tomatoes is always really good. So you can get a nice bite with a good coffee. It doesn't taste too sugary and you don't feel tired after drinking like some of the mainstream companies can make you feel. I highly recommend.

It was disappointing, but it was fine. First off, I'm not a Michelin Star coffee connoisseu, but this coffee is not great. I've had 3 of their flavored lattes (lavender, caramel, and Horchata), and they all taste like they use Torani syrups. I get they're a "mom and pop" shop, but I expect better tasting coffee for the price ($6 for a regular 12oz). I would strongly suggest they change roasters already. 3 chances in 4 years, and the taste still isn't anything captivating. Service is kind of slow. You can tell these employees have probably never worked at any other coffee shop before. Not a knock on them. We all start somewhere. Out of the 3 times I've been here, it seems like they're always in a rush when the shop itself is empty. I think the most people I've seen in there waiting for food and drinks was 5, not including myself. Needs work, for sure. I've tried 2 of their Croissants and 2 muffins, and yeah, these are not made in-house. They taste prepackaged. Costco muffins and croissants taste better, to be honest. These taste like Walmart or Target brand pastries. I'm not sure where they are sourced, but nothing exciting. The shop itself looks cool inside, but it does nothing for me. I'm really not there to admire the shop considering the location. It's been getting worse since covid, which is not their fault, but they would probably do better at a nicer location in LA. The gimmick begins to work against them when everything else isn't up to par. I hope this place improves considering they claim to do things for the community.

Cute spot in South LA. Cashier and the guys making drinks were so friendly. I love that it's black owned. They have a lot of options for drinks as well as pastries. I chose to just go with the house coffee. It has a nice taste. Not too strong. I also appreciate my coffee being hot when I got it. I like the vibe. The music is very chill. I will definitely be back!

I arrived at 11:00am for somewhat of a brunch. The cashier was very nice he offered us to provide us any information we may need before ordering. The ambience was very modern I love to see such a diverse staff. As far as for the time we were there it had a pretty much continuous environment with customers coming in and out. Food wise we ordered an avocado toast(with tomato,cheese and fried egg), coffee cake, french toast, iced tea hibiscus refresher and a hot chai latte with almond milk. The food was not bad it is definitely worth a try the only complain was the French toast and coffee cake were not as spongy as I would have liked (specifically in the middle). But again I went into the cafe pretty late in the day so it is on me. Regardless of that I will definitely be returning closer to the time they open so I can experience the food much fresher.

My favorite spot... It's like the coffee shop version of cheers lol the staff are so sweet they know my order now. I always get the avocado toast and a dirty chai with almond milk. Always so impressed with the hospitality the cleanliness and the merch! My man and I have all the hoodies ( ps they make great presents)

The South LA Café is a beautiful oasis in south Los Angeles. It is an eclectic place where multi-ethnic, multi-gender, multi-generational clientele gather to meet, greet, and study one another. The café is not too far from the USC campus. The coffee cake and coffee were 10 out of 10 excellent. The music was cool and relaxing. The atmosphere was fresh like a good coffee shop should be. I noticed they had all the plants that create the biosphere for health and wellness. They have free Wi-Fi and merch that one can buy to support the mission and remember their visit. The South LA café has another adjacent meeting room if you want to do larger group meetings. The outdoor seating area is perfect for that cool breeze feeling. I highly recommend that you visit. The South LA Café is the beautiful dream of a couple who wanted to bring something nice to South Los Angeles that supports community and encourages kindness. The service was excellent, and the food and service were good. I'll give it a 10 out of 10 for the overall experience 10 out of 10. The prices are good value.

Discovered South LA while on a hunt for LAUSD coffee cake. It's good flavors are there but nothing like the original fresh out of the oven. Coffees were yummy and my daughter enjoyed her avocado toast. Customer service was nice, cut spot open and airy. Totally coming back.

One of the best coffee shops I've been to. The owners are super friendly and greet everyone who enters. I went on a Wednesday when they were doing a food distribution. I love how they give back to the community. I has a latte and it was delicious. There's plenty of street parking available.

Such a beautiful shop in the heart of LA I've been on a coffee binge lately and have made it my goal to try more local places; Last weekend was South LA Cafe. I was amazed by how nice the cafe was. Very spacious and cultural throughout. Loved the decor and merchandise in store. I still want to go back for a hoodie! Ok, the menu is pretty solid in terms of options! There's hot, cold, blended/smoothies, and food to order. Pretty much, a one stop shop. I ordered a caramel cold brew and my mom a pineapple smoothie with oat milk (which was soo good). I wanted to give 5 stars badly but I must admit that I was a bit disappointed in the flavor profile of the coffee. When I think of cold brew, I imagine strong and flavorful, and this was quite the opposite. It was a bit on the watery side sadly and I didn't get much of the caramel flavor either. So instead of being soo disappointed, I took my moms advice and went back to try something else prior to this review. I got a caramel macchiato with an added shot. It was better but still not strong in coffee profile. I would love to know what type of coffee they use and I'm sure that will better help me understand the mild profile. Overall, I would definitely go back if I am in the local areas and to support Black business.

This cafe is really lovely. I go to the Kaiser location more but did visit this location. Lots of space to hang out including outside. Love that theirs markers to mark off which table is clean. I love their empanadas aswell. I love the horchata latte iced however I wish the coffee was stronger. It's very weak and doesn't wake me up. I'm hoping they are able to make a stronger brew or something!! Will come back for empanadas

Got an iced caramel latte today and it was amazing! Friendly staff! Will definitely be coming back new favorite coffee shop in the area.

Nice and cool. Friendly staff. Tasty avocado toast worth the price. Additional pastry and really good coffee! I'm not from area but I'm willing to deviate from route to grab a cup of horchata latte!

The lattes are so good! My fav is the iced horchata latte and the Cinnabon! The vibe here is top notch and the service is even better. They aren't overpriced and this is a great place to sit and vibe and get some work done if you are in the area. Highly recommend to all my coffee heads!

I love this place!!! The employees were pretty nice and accommodating. The outside seating was super pretty and the drinks were great. They were able to accommodate my order which I truly appreciated. Parking is best in the neighborhood and then walking up, if you're stopping by or just sitting down to eat+have a coffee. It is black owned and woman owned so I enjoyed supporting those that support me! Definitely check it out!

I believe in supporting local business, especially those that give back to the community. So when my friend told me about South LA Cafe, a family-owned coffeeshop that supports and fosters community engagement and connection, I was eager to check it out. South LA Cafe is a fairly large coffee shop with great ambiance and energy, inpiring artwork and decor, warm and welcoming staff who provide wonderful service, and a cute and clean outdoor dining setup. They also sell alot of cool merchandise from local vendors. And of course, the drinks and food are fantastic! I loved my vanilla latte, which was rich and smooth. And the Avocado toast with cheese was an unexpected combination that ended up being one of the best and most flavorful Avocado toasts I've ever had. Overall, South LA Cafe is a true gem of a coffeeshop and I look forward to returning (and trying their coffee cake which looked absolutely amazing)! This was stop #15 in my new Yelp adventure/ coffeeshop chronicles.

I happened upon this place as I was on my way to the freeway from a work-related visit. Their building sign caught my eye which prompted me to pull over and check it out! It looked different from other cafes. I was pleased to have a short but great experience. I didn't buy any food but there is avocado toast, bagels, and other pastries. There is a great variety of drinks, both hot and cold coffees, lattes, and teas. I got the iced horchata latte. Great and friendly customer service. I believe the owner was present at the time and he was engaging and kind! The decor is on the spot and reflects the community in terms of empowerment and inspiration. What I felt being in there was seeing how black is powerful and inspiring! There is good space all around. The noise level is average and the music is great! Seating is available both inside and outside for individuals and small groups. Restroom is very clean. Parking is available in next door plaza or just right on the street. There is available merchandise to purchase such as long sleeves, shirts, hats, and baby onesie! They also have buttons available (for free?) and encourages the customer to help the community. I didn't see any mugs which I would've purchased but I might've overlooked them, but perhaps, in another visit when I have more time to sit. Overall, location is good and I will come back again!

If you haven't figured it out by now, your girl is not afraid to put in some miles for good food, good drinks and impactful businesses. So it was only a matter of time before I brought y'all with me to one of my favorite spots, South LA Cafe. Owned by Joe and Celia-Ward Wallace, South LA Cafe is on a mission to build community through coffee, culture and connection. After decades of living in a food desert, the LA natives decided to start the cafe to bring fresh, affordable and healthy options to their neighborhood. The cafe offers delicious options you'd find in other neighborhoods but with pricing that is affordable (y'all, TWO slices of avocado toast for $5...it's serious)! On this particular visit, I ordered the avocado toast and a seasonal latte, the Barry White (blackberry and white chocolate, YUM). Joshlynn, one of my favorite baristas, was behind the bar and I knew I was in good hands! While I waited, I wandered the shop and did some impromptu shopping from the featured local vendors (Nitz by Nat earrings are my fave). Joshlynn called my name to let me know my order was ready. The avocado toast was HUGE and my latte was DIVINE. Aside from the delicious and affordable offerings in the cafe, SLAC goes above and beyond to uplift, celebrate and support their community. They host a weekly grocery giveaway (this will be their 113th week) and monthly health fair, providing health screenings and education, Covid tests/vaccines/boosters, Care kits and access to other needed resources for those who need it most. Interested in learning more about South LA Cafe? Check them out on Instagram OR stop by their shop and see the magic for yourself! Until next time... Your sister in caffeine and carbs, M

Warm and delicious bread, variety of coffee, lots of events for the community. Beautiful place.

A nice cafe in South LA. Decided to check out their coffee after a bike ride. Plenty of options and seating.

We were riding our bikes during the cicLAvia event that blocked off Western to car traffic. It was my 400pm coffee break time and what a nice way to end the day at this cool coffee house. I ordered the largest iced coffee brew and it sure hit the spot and it had a good flavor to it. They have an assortment of South Central labeled merchandise for sale and don't forget to support your local mom and pop shop.

Amazing service and ambiance. Love the growth and consistency. Staff and crew are awesome and the care put into the drinks are great. Love the avocado toast. Highly recommend

Great coffee spot! I had seen some friends post about this coffee shop so I decided to give it a try. And I am so glad I did. I ordered the south LA mocha freeze and it was refreshing! Perfect for the hot weather. The owners seem like a lovely couple and they seem to help the community a lot so that is wonderful! I even received a free pin for being my first time there, and it won't be the past. Parking: there is a lot of street parking, you won't have to walk far.

My boyfriend and I love stopping here. The coffee is really good and we like ordering the coffee cake as well. I'd definitely recommend stopping by and trying this gem. There is always a ton of people whenever we pass by. There is a lot of outdoor seating but unfortunately as others have mentioned the parking situation is one thing that sucks. Sometimes it's hard to find parking in the area but it's definitely worth it.

First time here and almost cried. This cafe is evidence of pure human evolution. No color lines! Besides the vibe the the oatmeal cookie was so good! The espresso was fresh and the prices ....fair!

I seen this coffee place since 2020, I used to go by church around there . It caught my eyes because it isn't your local neighborhood coffee shops in south central. I've always wanted to go since I saw it during the COVID pandemic. I love supporting my local latinx and black owned coffee shops! I live by gentrified LA near echo park , silver lake and Korea' town coffee shop . This year I have set out to explore smaller coffee shop and support them . I was so eager to go yesterday . The barista with blue hairs was the sweetest . They made feel welcomed . I love what they do . She was explaining to me that the every Wednesday they give back to the community. Free grocery., I order a lavender latter drink . Like my sister said it was bussing ! The first sip was mind blowing . I wanted to chug in the first sip . It had those aroma taste that I can't explain . You need to try to understand what I'm talking about .

Friendliness, ambience, delicious helpful pleasant clean bathrooms. Love it love it. Love it. I'm a Tea drinker.

The ambiance in the cafe is always so calming and the staff is super friendly! The coffee is absolutely amazing!!

The place is closed Not cool Please update on Yelp and google I drove 15 minutes thinking I'm going to have the best coffee in town

Black owned! ............... Woman Owned! .............,.,,,,,,,,,,,,............. Family Owned ! ...... Community Owned !