By Caroline Hsu
During May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month to coincide with two crucial milestones within Asian American and Pacific Islander history. For one, the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843 after being rescued by an American whaling ship. Furthermore, Chinese immigrant railroad workers helped complete the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, highlighting the month’s significance to our history and our contributions and impact in the United States.
As UCLA students, we’re lucky enough to live in a place with prevalent Asian and Asian American influence inside and outside of Westwood. For many students, Koreatown is a hub for amazing food, weekend outings, and is even considered home for some members of the Bruin community. Koreatown Los Angeles obviously has some of the best Korean food in Southern California, but a lesser known fact is that some of the best cafes can also be found here!
During AAPI month this year, I made it my goal to travel around Koreatown and try the best matcha and lattes from four of Koreatown’s best spots. Each cafe is significantly different from the other in terms of their specialities and atmosphere. Most of these cafes are small businesses, all are AAPI-owned, and as a self-proclaimed matcha snob, I can confirm that they all live up to the hype. Though AAPI month is quickly wrapping up, I strongly recommend all UCLA students to venture down to Koreatown at least once during their undergraduate careers if you’re able to, and definitely give these places a try!
DAMO Tea House
Damo Teahouse (310 W 8th Street) gets its name from the Korean word (다모), which roughly translates to covetting tea. Freshly new to Koreatown, Damo quickly rose to becoming an instant hit and is famously known for their Einspanner lattes and Cream Top Shaved Ices.
Einspanner Iced Coffee and lattes were originally derived from Viennese coffeehouses, where hot espresso was served with cool whipped cream. Though there’s many variations on how to make it, South Koreans add their own twist by adding ice cubes, milk, and whipped cream and implementing more Asian flavors. It’s perfect for the summer time, and DAMO has several different variations — matcha, strawberry, hojicha — which are all phenomenal.
Damo is most well known for their Matcha Mango Einspanner and their Cream Top Mango Shaved Ice, which is a bingsoo covered in sweet and juicy mango slices and the most beautiful whipped cream you’ll ever have. As someone who famously hates whipped cream, I found myself licking my spoon and bowl, tempted to even go back to order a second one. Their drinks aren’t too sweet, but are bursting with flavor and are made with the highest quality of cream and fruits. I’d definitely put them at least in the Top 3 of best matcha lattes I’ve ever had in my lifetime thus far, which says a lot.
Damo also serves traditional Korean snacks such as dagwa and mugwort waffles and traditional hot tea and fizzy drinks. It definitely is on the more pricier side (around $7 for a drink), but it’s worth the occasional or one-time splurge. In regards to the atmosphere, Damo has stark white walls and an extremely minimalist and modern interior. If you get here early enough to snag a table, you can definitely stake out here and study throughout the day.
Some menu items that I have personally tried and recommend include the following:
The Matcha Mango Einspanner, or the “Cream Mango Matcha Latte.”
The Cream Top Mango Shaved Ice
The Hojicha Einspanner
Strawberry Einspanner
Damo’s hours vary depending on the day, and make sure to check their Instagram account (@damoteahousela) for updates! When they run out of matcha, they close the store.
MemoryLook
Memorylook (2881 W Olympic Boulevard) took Koreatown and Los Angeles by storm. From its opening, it’s been a huge hit with its einspanner lattes and amazing pastries. What makes this place stand out is the flavors that they offer, and the way they make their einspanners; the cream top is uniquely fluffy and light, and their matcha flavor is incredibly high quality and rich and deep. On top of that, their pastries are ridiculously well-made, pillowy soft, and a slightly crisp and crunchy exterior. You can’t go wrong with anything you order here; but be ready to wait in a long line unless you’ve come right at the opening. In regards to the atmosphere, Memorylook has a beautiful outdoor patio that is perfect for studying, and has plenty of seating indoors to talk with friends or to charge your electronic devices which contributes to its popularity. I’d argue that their pastries are better than a lot of renowned bakeries I’ve tried in the past, and I’d definitely come back just for their strawberry cream donut.
Some menu items that I have personally tried and recommend include the following:
Matcha Einspanner
Vanilla Einspanner
Creme Brulee Donut
Sweet Potato Pastry
Strawberry Cream Donut
An average drink from Memorylook comes out to around $7.00. Though it’s currently closed due to construction, follow their Instagram account (@_memorylook) to stay updated on its awaited reopening; you’ll probably find me there on the first day of the cafe being back.
Yeems Coffee
Yeems Coffee (3033 W 6th Street #107) is nice and cozy, nestled in the corner of a strip mall. You’ll find grandmas and students alike flocking here for their famous Vienna Latte. The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming, and are welcome to help you if you’re overwhelmed by the menu or wanting to try something out of your comfort zone. I originally came with the intent of trying their Strawberry Matcha Latte, but tried the Vienna Latte after talking to the cashier. Yeems Coffee’s Vienna Latte haunts my brain every night, and every weekend I am tempted to go back to Koreatown just to try it again. It’s decadent, dark, rich, and full of bolstering flavor, and the cream top blends harmoniously well with the espresso. What makes Yeems Coffee so special and stick out is their homey ambience that makes drinking coffee — whether alone or with friends — a comforting experience no matter the day or time you’re there. However, there is not much seating or parking available, so I would recommend grabbing a drink and heading somewhere else, like the Koreatown Library, to study. Yeems Coffee also serves a variety of toasts and pastries.
Some menu items that I have personally tried and recommend include the following:
Vienna Latte
Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte
Buttercream Latte
Lilikoi Tonic
An average drink from here comes out to around $6.50, and Yeems Coffee is open from 7:30 A.M - 6:00 P.M from Monday through Saturday, and 8:00 A.M - 6:00 P.M on Sunday.
Cafe de Mama
Oh, man. Cafe de Mama (1102 S Western Avenue) is truly one of a kind. There’s a lot of cafes in Koreatown, but Cafe de Mama is quickly on the rise and continues to be a standout with their unique drinks and flavor offerings. They pride themselves in handcrafting every single beverage, “just like Mama used to make them.” Though Cafe de Mama does offer einspanners, their drinks are special for their Korean flavors and their mochi in their lattes. You would think that mochi wouldn’t work in a coffee, but something about the slightly sweet and sticky substance in the bottom of the cup is addicting and goes perfectly with the not overly sweet coffee. They’re most well known for their Injeolmi Mochi Latte, which is inspired from injeolmi, a Korean rice cake with a subtle peanut butter flavor. Their Black Sesame Cream Latte is also truly something beautiful. The black sesame comes into the drink with the cream top, and is so nutty, rich, and subtly sweet. It’s something that can’t be replicated anywhere else, and their inclusion of mochi in lattes is both genius and successful. Beyond just drinks, Cafe de Mama also offers croffles, tonics, and fruit milks!
Some menu items that I have personally tried and recommend include the following:
Injeolmi Mochi Latte
Black Sesame Cream Latte
Green Herb Mochi Latte
An average drink from Cafe de Mama comes out to around $7.00. They’re open everyday from 8:00 A.M - 8:00 P.M, but holiday hours will vary!
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