Disappointing end to 15 years of loyalty. I have been a loyal customer of Coffee Tomo since 2011, frequently recommending it to friends. Sadly, that ends today. Over the last couple of years, the charm of this café has faded, culminating in a truly awful experience this morning. The solo staff member working today was incredibly discourteous. Because I had my leashed dog with me, she practically threw me out of the store. While she pointed to the "no dogs allowed" sign, I explained that I was only inside to order and planned to sit outside, something I have done on countless previous visits. After being forced to wait outside, my drink was left sitting on the counter for several minutes. The barista never bothered to let me know it was ready, despite the café being slow. To make matters worse, the beverage was poorly made, with coffee spilled all over the saucer. This isn't the first time I've experienced bad service here, but it will definitely be the last. read more

Coffee Tomo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I absolutely adore this place and have been going nearly everyday for about a year. The service is wonderful and it's easily the best coffee in Sawtelle. However, recently they've been playing AI generated music and it's very disappointing to hear. I would much rather hear one song on loop over and over again, than a playlist of AI slop. This coffee shop is so warm and cozy but the change in music really takes away from the space and makes me not want to come in. If you're cutting corners with AI, where else are you cutting it short? I hope this is something that changes because it is my favorite cup of coffee in town! read more

Coffee Tomo - Tomo Latte $7.00 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The Bottom Line: 4 stars: A nice eclectic spot for interesting and unique Japanese-inspired coffee drinks and snacks. Location 4 stars: In the busy Sawtelle area. Surrounded by many competitors and many great Asian restaurants and Japanese novelty shops. Parking can be a challenge. There are limited metered parking spots on the streets and many paid parking garages nearby which I would recommend. Parking on residential streets is at your risk only as they have complex rules about when the parking is allowed and when it requires a resident permit. You may get a ticket worth several trips to paid parking garage :D Venue 4 stars: Medium-sized facility with indoor and outdoor seating. Eclectic indoors with high ceilings, unique coffee roasting/grinding/brewing paraphernalia, and large woven burlap (aka jute) coffee bags, adorning the walls. Very unique! Food and Drinks 4 stars: Some very unique offerings, such as Red Bean and Sweet Potato Lattes, and a large selection of pretzels with interesting fillings, including Jalapeno Cheese, Red Bean Cheese, and sweet Potato Cheese. They are however limited on sandwiches and pastries. We had the Cold Brew Iced Coffee, the Sweet Potato Cheese Pretzel and the Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel, and all were great. Prices are on par with similar coffee places. read more

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This place was decent. It was quite busy the day I went so staff was just doing their job which was no issue at all. I tried the caramel toast and it was pretty good, very enjoyable. Although I tried the sweet potato pretzel with cheese and imo, I did not enjoy that at all. Besides that, the ambiance was very cozy read more

Coffee Tomo - Indoors - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place has good coffee and a good atmosphere, but other items are not worth the price.

Coffee Tomo is lightly tucked away from Sawtelle, but it boasts a good blend of nutty and bold coffee. Not dark enough that it is bitter, but not light enough that it lacks the "wake up" kick. I had my usual, the iced latte as is, and from paying to drinking, every part of the experience is enjoyable. Note that this location is quite small. In other words, it might not be the best spot to study or have deeper conversations. Other than that, Coffee Tomo is a solid grab-and-go location with excellent beans! read more

Coffee Tomo - Iced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Quaint cozy coffee shop with a delicious selection of espresso or organic teas. Red bean cheese pretzel yummmm! They play jazz in the background super cute place to grab a brunch coffee or get some work done. read more

Coffee Tomo - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Had the cheese jalapeño pretzel! Takes 5 minutes to make. Omg! So good, cheesy and fresh! Next time, I'll try the red bean and sweet potatoe pretzel! read more

Coffee Tomo - Jalapeño cheese pretzel! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came back to Coffee Tomo after 8 years and it is still just as amazing as I remember. The coffee is smooth, rich, and full of flavor. You can tell they care about what they do. But the real star for me will always be the sweet potato and cheese pretzel. It is honestly one of the best things I have ever tasted. Warm, chewy, slightly sweet, and so comforting. I have missed it. It feels rare for a place to stay this consistent over time, but Coffee Tomo delivered. This place will always be a favorite for me. read more

A small cute cafe to enjoy the quiet morning. The Apple design is cute. I enjoyed the atmosphere. read more

Coffee Tomo - Green Tea Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Came here to grab a quick bite and got the avocado toast and pretzel for the kids. The avocado toast is different then what I am used to - with greens and softer balsamic drizzle which added a really nice touch to it. Also got a sea salt pretzel and it was so good! Very crunchy on the outside and super chewy on the inside. The guy at the counter is very nice, we are not locals so don't know city etiquette and brought drinks in from other shops. He was kind enough to let me finish without tossing it. People camped in here to work so it's a nice and relaxing environment. read more

Coffee Tomo - Avocado Toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Love their tomo latte. My go to place for some good latte. All the other coffee places on sawtelle can't compare!

I got a latte and the art on top was cute. Unfortunately the coffee itself was not good. The flavor was bitter even when I added sugar. I ended up not drinking it. My friend got an Americano to go and hers was also bitter. She did not drink hers either. If you need sugar you have to ask the person behind the counter. When we visited there was a single girl running the entire caffe, she was doing her best but this was just one more thing she had to do. Honestly I felt bad for her because she was very nice and really trying her best. We got the Cinnamon sugar pretzel and I did enjoy that. Doesn't quite taste like a pretzel, but it was good. read more

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Cafe Tomo is a good coffee spot in Sawtelle. It is quiet and chill and the people that go there are usually focused on getting work done so the distractions are minimal. The tables in the shop also have outlets where you can charge your phone and laptop. I ordered the sweet potato cheese pretzel and it was alright. At $10, it's a bit pricey for a pretzel but it is in Sawtelle. The pretzel wasn't that flavorful but it is something to nibble at while getting work done. Parking at Sawtelle can be crowded but the neighborhood parking usually has openings. read more

Coffee Tomo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I don't know, maybe I had to try a different drink but the coffee was average. Had an Ice vanilla latte and it tasted watered down. 9 dollars for small cup too which I thought was crazy. The service was fast and friendly and the place is small with a few tables. One thing that stands out there is the different coffee bean bags they have on the wall which gives the place a nice vibe. Honestly, might give it another chance but my coworker hyped this place up and was disappointed. read more

Its my 12th time coming here. Guess you can say I'm a regular. :) Their drinks are exceptional. The sweet potato pretzel is to die for. I never knew what love was, till my first bite. The place itself is cute. The music is serene. The decor is earthy and really soothing to me. The service is great. Always attentive, nice and great. I recommend this coffee shop. :) read more

It was a pretty ordinary spot. Not bad, but not memorable either. The coffee was decent, and the service was just okay. read more

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Peaceful gourmet coffee spot in the middle of bustling Little Osaka. One thing that stands out are the fresh baked pretzels they sell here in various flavors, both savory and sweet. Another interesting thing is the drink selection, with many coffee and juice choices. The one drink that's their specialty is the Tomo Coffee, which is condensed milk and espresso, sort of like a sweeter latte. I just went for the normal latte, though. It's a casual spot, so I wouldn't expect high volume red carpet treatment from the baristas, but they're friendly enough and get the job done. read more

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Cozy, relaxing and welcoming place to drink excellent cappuccinos and read or talk. Very comforting vs. the brightly lit long-line so called coffee houses which cater to the matcha or iced drink crowd (BTW they serve these too). This place has been around for a while and I hope they survive despite people's changing tastes. read more

Coffee Tomo - Superb cappuccinos still served in real cups. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It kind of hidden off of Sawtelle but it's a small cute biz run by a man. Coffee is delicious and service is great. I enjoy supporting small business like this who are passionate about their craft. read more

Cool and comfy spot to wind down and enjoy a cup of brewed coffee. Coffee is great tasting and rich. However, teas were not as satisfying. They were not so much a priority in this coffee shop. A few pastries available were a nice addition to the menu. There was only one person who prepared the coffee and handled the cash register. The place didn't feel crowded which was nice. read more

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TL:DR - come here for the pretzels, not the coffee. Stopped by Thursday afternoon. A few customers had their items and I was the only person ordering at that moment. The cashier/barista was very kind and offered her recommendations. I went with a red bean and cheese pretzel as well as a tomo latte, together they were $17. As I was waiting, I saw 3-4 customers come and leave because the only girl working was busy making my pretzel in the back. I'm glad I got my order in but it's not a very good business practice to have just one worker occupied with making the pretzels in the back and unable to tend to customers. Maybe 10 minutes later my order was ready. The pretzel is hefty but honestly I wouldn't quite consider this a pretzel by shape or make. The dough and shape aren't anything like a pretzel BUT it was still well made with a fluffy interior and crispy outside. The filling with red bean and cheese is also delicious. I would forsure come back for a pretzel. Now here's where and why my review is only 2 stars - the coffee. You would think a coffee place would make coffee their priority over food. Here, it's the opposite. The Tomo Latte just as sweetened condense milk so I thought there couldn't be anything wrong with that. Well, I was the wrong one. The coffee was bland while also having a burnt taste. It also wasn't sweet. There was no sweetness or flavor from the milk. And for $7, that's absurd. If you're going to overcharge for a cup of milk and burnt coffee just to pay the high rent, at least put some effort into it. read more

Coffee Tomo - Red bean and cheese croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of my all time favorite coffee spots. The iced Tomo latte is my favorite. The coffee is strong, not too sweet and a hidden gem.

I've been drinking coffee for a long time and I've found a best tasting Americano. It was so good I bought some beans to make it at home. I regret just getting half a pound instead of 1lb. Fresh baked pretzel was also excellent. I'm definitely coming by again in near future. read more

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Coffee Tomo is a great place to grab some pick me uppers. Not drugs, guys! Get your mind out of there! Their espresso drinks are strong and their snacks are filling. Those pretzels are giant! The parking situation in Sawtelle is never ideal, but early in the morning, the streets are practically empty. The workers are so nice and friendly and patient. Lots of space inside and outside to sit and hang with friends. read more

Another new coffee shop to add to my list. I read about the "Tomo" latte before coming which is made with your choice of steamed milk, condensed milk & 2 shots of espresso ($6). I ordered it with regular milk & extra hot, of course:) Met my favorite sisters who ordered a home made jalapeño and cinnamon sugar pretzel that they were kind enough to share...all I can say is YUM!!!! *Plenty of metered parking in the area. *Baristas were not overly friendly The inside is small with plenty of tables. They also have outdoor seating which looked nice. read more

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I had a latte with an extra shot and a cheese and red bean pretzel. I enjoyed them both.

Popped in here recently while I was in Sawtelle. I wanted good coffee and the Yelp reviews seemed good. Sadly, I was disappointed. Their espresso is on the same level as Starbucks and I was a little disappointed. read more

I was in search of a study spot in Sawtelle when I encountered Coffee Tomo. They have abundant natural light peeking through their windows, a good number of seats for studying with other people, and a menu with both drinks and snacks. I have studied here a few times now and am already excited for the next time I'm back. Their chairs aren't particularly comfortable but I will definitely take it if it means I can sit to enjoy their menu. The staff are all very kind! My favorite things to order at Coffee Tomo are their sweet potato latte and sweet potato cheeze pretzel. The latte is sooo smooth and creamy and lives in my mind rent free. The sweet potato and cheese pretzel is the same. The outside becomes perfectly crunchy when they heat it up and the flavors go really well together. I haven't tried their other pretzels but think this will be hard to beat. I haven't seen sweet potato made like this at any other coffee shop or bakery before. Overall, this is my go-to study shop and will indefinitely continue to be, simply because I love these two items on their menu. I have a long year of studying ahead of me and can be found there again soon. read more

Coffee Tomo - Sweet potato latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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OWNER THREW US OUT WITH OUR SERVICE DOG. He waited until we paid and then told us no service or any other dogs allowed.

Didn't get to try the food just some tea, but the owner was very nice :) good seating space for a little studying.

WHEN: Sun @9am and Sat @10am WIFI: Didn't work for me for some reason. When I came back the second the time it did and Wifi password is coffeetomo300 Sawtelle is so empty and quiet during this time on a Sunday. Everything is closed except for coffee shops like Tomo, which I wanted to check out for the first time. This small mom n pops feel and look kind shop seem to be known for their pretzels, which I did not try yet. I wanted a spot out of the rain to do a bit of work and reading. They have a parklet outside to sit and several tables inside. On a sunny day there's a table outside for 4 right at the entrance with an umbrella. TIP: Avoid sitting by the exit next to the window. There's a lot of fruit flies and they will get into your food/drinks! I know there's fruit flies behind the counter too because I hear the electric fly swatter zapping a good amount of them! Also since I sat by the window there are no outlets for charging. Anyway, they are graded A so perhaps everything is fine and sanitized. I see lots of people come and go, some some stay to do work/schooling. Anyway, here's what I got. HOT TEA - $4.50 The staff were so nice to let me know I can have more hot water. So what is did was make a few trips back to the counter for my refill of hot water! They have one gender neutral bathroom and it was clean. Overall this place was fine, and was much better the second time. Sure the tea may be pricy for what it is but the location is great and it has everything you need for a cafe to work at. I made the mistake of sitting by the window. I sat outside in the Parker the second time and it was nice on a sunny day. There were just 2 tables but plenty of seatings. I'll have to try one of the pretzels next time! read more

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Coffee with oat milk was excellent, you wil like it if you are a hard core coffee drinker , the pretzels are v good too , coming back

This review is regarding the owner (?) man at the register taking orders. He was extremely rude. As somebody who had never been to Coffee Tomo before, I can't possibly be expected to be familiar with the items on the menu. My friend wanted a Vietnamese Coffee, so I went to buy it for him. I heard that the Tomo Coffee was very similar, from previous Yelpers' reviews. When I went to the counter, I wanted to confirm if this was so. So I asked "Is the Tomo Coffee basically Vietnamese Coffee?". The man said not a word to me, and coldly pointed to a sign taped on the plexiglass between us. The sign indicated the ingredients in Tomo Coffee: Coffee + Condensed Milk. As someone who isn't super familiar with Vietnamese Coffee, I had no idea if this was confirmation or not. I decided to just trust the Yelp reviewers and went forward with it. "Okay, let's go with the Tomo Coffee," I say, even though I never got my confirmation from him. He asks me what milk I want in it. I say "Skim Milk", which is what my friend had requested. He asks me if I want "Fat Free Milk." I responded "No...Skim Milk." This resulted in him being frustrated and accusing me of not knowing what I want. I apologized and said this order was for my friend, and he had requested Skim Milk. And he told me to text my friend and ask him to confirm. Like wtf??? (I would later find out that Skim Milk = Fat Free Milk, but as someone who hasn't had dairy milk in over a decade, how was I supposed to know that? Shouldn't the BARISTA himself know!?) Anyways, I just say yes, let's go with Fat Free Milk, even tho I was unsure. I was just uncomfortable because he was getting very rude and aggressive, and I wanted to get out of there ASAP. I'm just shocked at the lack of patience and customer service. The store wasn't even busy, I was the only person in line, so it wasn't like I was holding up everyone or anything. The coffee was probably good and whatever, but because of this man's attitude, I will NEVER be coming back. What an awful experience. read more

Came here right after my ramen run. This is a small coffee shop and there are signs that you are not allowed to bring outside food in here. I ordered the caramel iced coffee with oatmilk and it came out to $8 for 16oz. It's a shame that they only have 1 size. I still don't understand that everywhere you go, there's an upcharge for non milk items like oat/almond milk. Why are they charging me $1 for these substitution the drink they are making is not using any of their milk, but I am being charged for this. The only reason why I got oatmilk is because I am lactose and cannot consume dairy. I think coffee shops should offer non-dairy for the same price as the dairy one. Anyways, the coffee was of high quality and not like what you get a Starbucks. A definite upgrade from that place. read more

I ordered an espresso with honey. I know that might be unusual, but I really enjoy that. And almost all coffee places I go are able to do that for me. The barista here was cold and reserved, and made me an espresso that looked very good, but gave me a lecture that I don't quite remember about why honey is bad in coffee and they don't carry it. Instead of just telling me they didn't have honey or couldn't do that for me, instead he argued at me why I was wrong for trying to order it and wouldn't let up... I put the coffee down and walked away. It felt really bad to be treated that way, like I was wrong and crude for what I had asked for... and maybe he was just having a bad day, but I will never go back here. I'd rather go to someplace where people are a bit kinder. read more

Saw this place as we were leaving Tokyo Japan Lifestyle across the street! We had just finished lunch down the street and I still needed my coffee for the day. We were trying to decide on if I wanted real coffee or some kind of boba coffee but we decided to try this spot out since we were already in the area! The ratings and reviews of this place were nothing but good so it helped me decide! We headed over and the place was poppin! Tons of people inside this tiny hole in the wall. All tables were filled and they weren't going anywhere. Seemed like a popular spot for people who were studying or trying to get work done since majority were on their laptops. Luckily we were only second to place our order. They have a small and easy menu to look at which is helpful in deciding what to get. I usually just like to get a basic iced hazelnut latte but they had a sign at the cashier that said to try their Tomo Latte which is just a regular latte with condensed milk. It made me think of a Vietnamese iced coffee which is one of my favorites so I went for it! I got it iced and it came out immediately. It was perfect. I love a perfectly made, basic iced latte. It wasn't too strong or too sweet. Perfect creaminess and ice amount. I definitely want to try their iced caramel latte next time and maybe some of their other ones! IG: @ammysalamii read more

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It had been quite some time since my last visit to Sawtelle Japantown and during this visit I discovered Coffee Tomo as one of the few coffee options available. Coffee Tomo appears to have another location in Irvine as well. [Parking]: After all these years street parking is still the only option in this part of the neighborhood. However, an alternative option is parking at One Westside Shopping Center aka Marshalls/Marshalls parking structure (11250 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064) just one block away from the shop. The structure offers 2-hour free parking. [Menu & service]: As I approached the counter at Coffee Tomo, I couldn't help but feel a bit foolish when I asked the staff what the Tomo Latte was, only to have them point to the sign. It turns out that the Tomo Latte is essentially a latte with condensed milk. I was initially hesitant, but I decided to give it a try anyway despite my previous experience with condensed milk that tasted overly sweet. *** Tomo Latte (hot $6): To my surprise it turned out to be better than I thought. The foam had a nice aroma and the latte itself wasn't as sweet as I had anticipated. The drink had well-balanced blend of espresso, milk, and condensed milk as well subtle and unique aroma. *** Personally Tomo Latte is one of the better flavored lattes I have had in the past few months. The coffee shop a great pit stop after having a meal in this part of the neighborhood. P.S. - Outdoor benches are available, but please note that there are no outdoor tables provided (only indoor tables). read more

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The man at the counter is very rude... we came in at around 4:50 pm ish and he kept pestering my friend about what she wanted to order (even though i already ordered). He also proceeded by saying that she had to order to sit down at the table (which made sense but we came like 2 minutes ago). My friend also told him that she needed to think about what she wants first. Even when I was ordering, he was just standing there, sighing like he did not want to be there. I just came in and said one second (i was skimming the menu, it was my first time here). I will never come back here... the iced americano was mediocre by any means... there is no need to be that rude ($6 in total for a small Starbucks sized coffee). read more

Coffee Tomo - iced americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Los Angeles, California

If you're looking for a coffee shop to grab a quick cup, catch up with some friends, or even get some work done, Coffee Tomo is a great option in Sawtelle. They play pretty calming music that fits the vibe of their coffee shop (dark wood seating, coffee bean bags on the walls). It's decently loud though, so keep that in mind if you get distracted by that. There is a good amount of seating, but I noticed it starting to get crowded later in the day, so potentially come early if you want to get some work done here. There is only some outdoor seating, but they keep the door open to keep air flowing for COVID safety. The baristas are also masked, which helps to keep everyone safe as well. They have wifi, which is a bit slow, and I didn't notice any outlets so you wouldn't be able to work/study here for very long. read more

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