I was strolling the promenade and wanted to try an unfamiliar coffee shop. I opened my Yelp app to see what coffee shops were walking distance and that's how I learned of Interstellar. It's a quaint cafe that blends hard industrial materials with lush greenery and easy lighting. I'm a plant lover so the trailing pothos vines wrapped around the ceiling above the counter instantly caught my attention. The space is edgy without feeling harsh, and on a Saturday morning it was peaceful and not overcrowded. With so many live plants, the space feels calm and grounding. I ordered the Orange + Maple latte with oat milk ---- a signature drink made with maple syrup, orange extract, and cocoa powder. The flavors are subtle and do not overwhelm the espresso. Overall, the vibe and espresso were perfect. I will definitely be back. read more

Interstellar - Lush greenery trails the counter space - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Quick coffee fix. I got myself a mocha latte and garlic Parmesan fries to go. Easy to order with attentive host taking the order in the early morning Sunday. It's a little dark inside but hence the interstellar vibe. I did see the waffles and other food items priced mid 25-30s. Looks delicious and will have to try another time. Street Parking is around the corner. read more

Interstellar - Mocha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Great little spot in downtown SM! You order from tablets from your table and the service is quick and friendly. The food was pretty good and I really enjoyed the orange cloud latte. Definitely on the pricier side so I might just come back for the coffee. read more

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Stopped by here after we went to Santa Monica, and they were able to seat our party of 6 instantly so we went with it. We were seated outside and it was very nice. The service was also very nice and friendly. You order through their tablet on the table which is pretty nice, I personally don't mind it and think it makes it easier so you don't gotta wave people down or interrupt them. Our group some mimosas / cocktails and they were delivered pretty quickly. The food came out soon after. I felt like the French toast was pretty ok, very normal, nothing special for a French toast but it was solid. This was my first shakshuka tho and it was very good, nice warm and filling. The menu was pretty Interestring with lots of American breakfast classics but then also had shakshuka and curry and Mexican dishes. Overall it was great! read more

Interstellar - French Toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Came here for an afternoon pick me up around 1pm on a Friday after walking around the promenade. It was not busy when we arrived so we were seated right away. Since my friend and I had just eaten, we just ordered a couple drinks. Upon walking up, the place had some outdoor seating and some indoor seating with a couple high chair tables inside. The vibes were very cute. Simple yet sleek. We loved the hanging plants. They have 1 all gender restroom for customers only that can only be accessed with a code via keypad. All the tables had tablets with touchscreens to see the menu with photos to order. Looking through the menu, the prices of everything seemed a bit steep but I can tell they use quality ingredients. I got a matcha latte with oat milk and my friend decided to try the sook (mugwort) latte. My matcha latte was delicious. You can taste the good quality matcha without any sweeteners. The sook latte was new to us and we were curious to see how it tasted. Our server was very kind to explain it and felt that if we liked matcha that we would enjoy the sook latte. And after tasting it, we really enjoyed it. It had a good earthy flavor with some hints of vanilla. My friend felt that she enjoyed it much more than matcha and wanted to know what brand of tea they used. The manager was kind enough to share that the mugwort tea was a blend that the house chef grew and put together themself so there was not a specific brand they used. The location is very close to the beach and the promenade so there was some transients outside walking around and parking can be tough but if you're in the area and looking for a cute cafe I'd recommend trying out this place. Also, if you do stop by, don't forget to check in for a chocolate molten cookie. read more

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Cute little spot by the pier! The interior is clean, has lots of pothos plants, and the small space surprisingly does fit a good amount of tables. There's also outdoor seating which looked super comfy! We stopped by hoping to grab breakfast, but their food was a little expensive so we opted for just coffee & hot chocolate instead. Wait time was very minimal! Both drinks were good and the quality of the cups were great. read more

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I recently went with my girlfriend and tried the chicken curry katsu. We both really the flavor of the curry and thought all the flavors blended together. The chicken was also crispy so that was very nice! It was a a cute restaurant and service was rather quick, but I can see how it would be awkward for a first timer going alone. read more

Interstellar - Katsu Curry - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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The food was so delicious! Simple ingredients but very bright flavors. The coffee was really good too, got an iced orange cream coffee (not pictured here) and it was amazing. Love the outdoor seating and view of the ocean too! Would definitely come back if I'm in the area. read more

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Quick pit stop before the beach. Chill vibes, kind servers. The food was fine, though nothing exceptional. I appreciated the option to add truffle slices to the dishes. Had the sunrise breakfast. The salad was quite good, and perfectly dressed. The scrambled egg was a tad overcooked but had a nice mild savory flavor. Crispy bacon hit the spot, too. read more

Interstellar - Sunrise Breakfast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Tasty molten chocolate chip cookie and matcha latte in a great location by the beach. Food prices were a little steep for a cafe, but options looked great. I was pleased with my matcha and enjoyed my cookie. The place was cute and a nice little stop for me. read more

Interstellar - Molten chocolate cookie and matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Had another wonderful brunch here! I love how the menu changes. I had the best shakshuka here! The beef bowl I'd pass on, but I wanted to note that the flavor of the shakshuka was so rich and delicious. The service was also quick and casual. The ocean view is stellar as always. read more

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Very disappointing dining experience at Interstellar. One of those places you have to order on an iPad mounted on the table which I dislike. Mostly due to if you want something additional you have to start all over again. The cost was absurd for the quality of the food. My wife and two grandkids rang up a bill of over $100. And one of the kids only had a bowl of fruit. No coffee or alcohol. The inside was nothing to write home about. read more

Outrageously overpriced bland food. We reserved a table and were warned that if we do not show up we would be charged 25 per person due to limited sitting. That should have been a warning sign. The place was empty when we got there. The prices were outrageously expensive. 24 dollars for a waffle with 3 strips of bacon and 2 eggs. 23 for an avocado toast. And it wasn't that good. Also half of us didn't get what we ordered because they were out of it. You order from a clunky tablet on your table that only takes up space once you've placed your order. We ended this disaster of a meal with a 40 dollar bill per person. Absolutely awful! read more

My friend and I went to Santa Monica for the day, wanted a lunch place. The restaurant is tiny with both indoor outdoor seating. Make reservations on Resy if you want a guaranteed table and time. We came on a Monday at 10:45 a.m. and all the tables were occupied shortly after we sat outside. Intrigued by the lunch menu, A little disappointed, our reservation time was still in the brunch hour. The menu is very different. Service was OK. We sat for a bit without a menu, got the attention of a women who look annoyed when I ask her for a menu. Jordy came over, service was a little better. We had to ask if they served alcohol. We ordered Bloody Mary's to start, which were delicious. Breakfast entrees ordered were the Breakfast Burrito and the Shakshuka. When the food came out it was hot. My Shakushuka was impressive and excellent. The burrito was OK, just that. I will say this place though food was good, the prices are really inflated, $19 for a burrito on a plate, that's it. Mine was $25. Was it worth a revisit at those prices? Sorry no. Atmosphere: cute and small. Service: OK. Food: good but $$$ read more

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Started with the spicy truffle edamame which was so incredible. We also got the popcorn chicken that came with a sweet and sour sauce and those were also amazing. the mentaiko pasta was linguini with parmesan, garlic, nori, and a poached egg. That was super good and pretty unique, I hadn't had something like that before. They have a lot of other asian inspired pasta dishes that I want to try too! We also split the Galbi bowl which was korean short ribs with mozzarella on rice. That was really good but I felt was a bit more basic, like i could get that anywhere. everything was really good but not super insane but I definitely want to try more! Their brunch menu looks fantastic. read more

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I came to LA (and spent half a day in Santa Monica) for vacation and to visit my college friends who live in the area. We came to SM for some surfing and before we did that, we wanted to make sure we had some energy. My friend loves the MOVIE Interstellar and thought the pictures for Interstellar looked really good. We really enjoyed the food we got (see photos!). The ingredients were really fresh and I would be happy to eat here and each of the items we got again. The inside is small, and since the weather is really nice, we opted to sit outside. There were about 8 tables outside. It's really cute and we felt so bougie eating brunch here on a random weekday (also surprised there were so many people on a weekday morning - all 8 tables outside were taken). There is only one bathroom and sometimes during our visit, there were like 5 people waiting for the bathroom. The service was okay - I think she was the only one working all the tables so it was a little hard to get her attention at times. Also, the prices were a little steep. I think the overall VALUE is not quite a 5-star for me, and so between value and service, I took off a star. For people on the fence about coming, I would still recommend this place - I think the food will not disappoint!! read more

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Parking: Plenty of Santa Monica public garage parking structures nearby. Experience: We arrived around 12:45 with a group of 6. The restaurant isn't very big, but the hostess kindly made it work by combining 3 tables on the small front patio. Food: Everything on the menu sounded good and it covered all kinds of cuisine. I got the chicken katsu sando. it was really good but kind of expensive even for LA prices - $26 for a small sandwich. If you're looking for a good option near the pier, would recommend. read more

Interstellar - Chicken Katsu Sando - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

So, we totally came across this place through happenstance, and I'm so glad we did. Our hotel had a power outage, so instead of having breakfast there, we decided to explore the town and stumbled upon Interstellar. The place was small, but it had a fantastic design and a vibrant atmosphere. Despite not having a reservation, we only had to wait a short while before getting seated. We found a cozy spot at a table inside. I started my meal with a matcha latte. It was unsweetened but had a great flavor. Honestly everything on the menu sounded delicious, so it was hard to choose, but I ended up going with the french toast and fruit. I'm not even a huge french toast fan, but it was absolutely incredible and loaded with fresh fruit. It was the perfect balance of carb-y and refreshing, and was sooo good. If we had been here longer I definitely would've visited again to try out more of their menu! read more

Interstellar - French Toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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If you love hot, black, drip coffee, then you will find what you're looking for. Open at 8 am. read more

Interstellar - Drip Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Had the most incredible ricotta toast here! It's a quaint little coffee shop minimal seating area with great food options. Good: - Lots of food options - Good coffee and ricotta toast was great size portion - Cozy place for catching up and a modern aesthetic - Fast service Bad: - Expensive end Overall I was a big fan of this brunch spot! read more

Interstellar - Ricotta Toast with House Jam - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Cut and pasted from Yelp's "From The Business." "Interstellar: the space between the two stars. These two stars represent our two cultures, American and Korean." Quality/Quantity - Avocado Toast - Generous quantity. Well done. Personally I would have preferred a little less arugula. Fresh Ricotta Toast with House Jam - Jam was on the side which actually made the dish even better. We cut this into small pieces and ate it as an appetizer. Oyakodon - Over-sauced, but good flavors and good quantity. Had no left overs. Korean Galbi Bowl - Good flavors, but light on quantity. We could have eaten much more of this. Spicy Cajun Shrimp Bowl - 6 pieces of HUGE shrimp. Had to be at least size 16 or lower! Good flavors, slight kick. But again, over-sauced. Chicken Katsu Curry - Got two entrees of this; good to know our guests have the same taste, LOL. This had the most generous quantity. Dessert - Honey butter toast. Wow, you can really taste the butter in this dish. It was a hit. Glad we shared as it was a fairly good size. Atmosphere - Indoor/outdoor seating. Outdoor dog friendly. Cool modern decor, including the bathroom. Parking garages nearby, first 90 minutes free. But if you pass the 90 minutes, you are paying for the entire time! Service - Good. Except our dishes all came out as they made it. So fresh out of the kitchen, but because we have manners and waited for all the dishes to arrive before eating, the first dishes were cold by the time the last dish came out. My suggestion is to get a warming station and bring out the entire party's food at the same time. Price - Our guest paid again... This is the only person in my life that I can not out maneuver to pay!!! I do NOT think I have paid once going out with them. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2020 read more

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My friend and I have wanted to come here for the longest time ever, but we have not had the time to come out all the way to Santa Monica. It's not too far, but definitely not close with all the heavy traffic I had to face to get there.   Anyway, we finally got to try it, but it was for dinner. My review might have been different if I had a brunch experience, but it was for dinner, and I did not like it.   Interstellar is Korean-fusion, and I get that. But as Korean, their food was nowhere close to actual Korean food. We started off with truffle parmesan fries and some popcorn chicken, and we shared a main dish, which was a creamy mentaiko because they did not have the uni pasta that we came for.   Overall, every dish was a bit too salty. I get it because of its neighborhood, and most of the people dining there were neither Koreans nor Asians, but it was so salty. Korean food in general isn't too salty and overpowering. I drank so much water because of this. The fries were thin shoestring fries and were crispy enough with a hint of truffle oil and minced garlic, but again, it was too salty.   Popcorn chicken--I don't know what to say. It was literally about 6 to 7 pieces of small chicken pieces served with sweet chili sauce. I was expecting sweet and spicy sauce for the KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), but it was the sweet chili sauce you get when you get eggrolls. With that said, the sauce did not go well with the chicken. It was not good at all. I would not order this.   Then our main entrée, Creamy Mentaiko, was decent. Linguini was a bit overcooked to my taste, but out of three dishes, this one was the least salty. The sauce was there but not enough. The vodka sauce was pretty good, topped with a generous amount of thinly shredded seaweed.   I did not really enjoy the food here as much as I had hoped. Ambiance is warm and cozy. It's not too spacious but has about 5 to 7 tables very close to each other, so there is not much privacy either. Not to mention, these girls sitting next to us were so loud that my friend and I could barely hold a conversation with each other.   Our server was kind and attentive; the food was definitely not impressive; the location is a bit far for me, so I don't know if I will come back. If I do, I will probably come for their brunch, which most people seem to like. read more

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Had the Sweet + Spicy Chicken Katsu Burger Spicy. Korean sweet + spicy sauce, panko chicken breast, melted mozzarella, butter. It was delicious. Excellent balance of sweetness and a small amount of heat. Also had the seasonal orange coffee. Very unique. Service was very friendly. Although the new guy forgot that I ordered two dishes. So I didn't get to try the branzino. Oh well. read more

Interstellar - Burgers - Sweet + Spicy Chicken Katsu Burger Spicy. Korean sweet + spicy sauce, panko chicken breast, melted mozzarella, butter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Came here for breakfast with 2 friends and loved it! This is suppose to be a Korean-fusion spot but their breakfast menu seemed to be more influenced by other cultures. We tried: + BREAKFAST BURRITO: yum! Love everything in it but was a tad bit salty for my palate. You can add hash browns inside or on the side for $2 which we did - super good. + FRUIT & BERRIES WAFFLE: very delicious! Made with almond flour and topped with a ton of fruit. Loved the whipped butter, maple syrup & compote they had with it. + AEROCANO: this is their version of an Americano but steamed with a velvet foam on top. I liked this take(; read more

Interstellar - Fruit and Waffles - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Great food in a great location in downtown SM! I would love to eventually try their lunch, but only had a chance to try breakfast. Note that will only serve you breakfast until 11 and after 11 you can't order anymore breakfast, so just be mindful so that you're not disappointed! Food - breakfast burrito is very egg heavy but the salsa inside of it was very tasty. The waffles seem to be the star dish here - they were cooked perfectly and came with fresh berries and all the condiments! There are not too many options for vegetarians outside of the waffles, unless you remove the bacon on the breakfast burrito or breakfast sandwich. I also tried the Bloody Mary, which overall was good but definitely is heavy on the pulpy side. Service - very average service, they will definitely try to upsell you so be mindful! Food came out quickly Ambiance - small, casual, outdoor and indoor seating. read more

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You can never go wrong with this place. Atmosphere, food, dessert, service--everything is just on point. They have separate menus for breakfast/lunch and dinner, and all of them are fantastic! My absolute favorite is the Mentaiko pasta from the dinner menu, and the orange maple coffee is a must-try! What makes this place even better is their dog menu, so I can always take my dog with me. It's a wonderful spot for both humans and furry friends. Highly recommend! read more

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Heard so many things about this place and it has random hours that I wasn't able to make. Had a random weekday where I was able to make it there for brunch. The menu wasn't too special. We got the breakfast burrito and chicken & waffles. While it was good, it was pretty standard to me. This is a small spot so it gets full quick! Make a reservation if you plan to come read more

Interstellar - Chicken & Waffles - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This was undoubtedly the best restaurant that we ate at on our most recent trip to LA! It was recommended by a local friend, and we were able to get reservations for brunch on the same day. The service was stellar before we event arrived. I was impressed that the restaurant even called us before our reservation to see if we wanted to switch to indoor seating because it was a bit cold out. When we got to the restaurant, we were seated quickly, and they accommodated to us bringing an extra person. Service was quick, and they handled many orders and additions perfectly. The Korean Galbi bowl was phenomenal. The portions were great, and the meat was well seasoned and tender. The rice was also cooked to perfection. We ate in complete silence, because of how much we were enjoying the food! read more

Interstellar - Gimbap Korean Galbi Bowl with poached egg - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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While the ingredients were quality, the actual preparation was nothing to write home about. But the service definitely needs work. They close in between lunch and dinner at 3pm. But I felt like I was getting kicked out at around 2:30. Nobody actually told me to leave but they gave me the check (didn't tell me to take my time with it), they asked my too many times if I was done with my food (I wasn't) and then they started my putting chairs up. I would maybe go back for some espresso no where near their closing time, but otherwise pass. read more

Interstellar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Interstellar isn't just a restaurant, it's a culinary experience. If you're looking for thoughtful, beautifully executed food steps from the Pacific, Interstellar delivers every time. Yes, you're in Santa Monica, yes, it's not fast food, but for the quality, creativity, and flawless service, the prices are incredibly reasonable. From the perfectly balanced katsu curry to the standout lattes, every dish is prepared with care and precision. The staff is warm and professional, and the experience is smooth from start to finish. Easily one of the best hidden gems in LA. read more

Quick recap: - Food: Good - Portion size: Average - Service: Table service - Environment: Hipstery nice - $: High - Perks: N/A Overall? Good food. Average portion. High prices. Nice people. Fast service. More details: Went there for lunch on a Saturday and had the greek salad ($16), the chicken waffles with egg ($23+$2) and the side of fries ($4). Everything was good, nicely presented and came out fairly quick. The price point is a bit high, in my opinion, aside for the fries (i.e., a club sandwich is $27 and a burger $23). But the staff is nice and helpful. read more

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The best part of our breakfast was our server. She was very polite and did a great job. We had a lot of other issues however. There were two of us for a 10:30 Sunday brunch and the restaurant was not very crowded. They brought out only one of our dishes, and then the other one 12 minutes later. Having each dish come out so far apart really made it hard to have the meal together. The host and the food runner also could slow down a bit. He was really just throwing the food on the table for ours and all the other tables around us without a smile or convo either. We ordered Caramel Lattes which had a good flavor but for $6.75 it came in one of the smallest cups I have had for coffee in a long time. Even smaller than the water glass. When the entrées did arrive they weren't as great as I had hoped. Parking in this area is very tricky given its proximity to the water. You're only options will be metered street parking or a parking garage, which is what we chose to do. It's $7 for 90 minutes right across from the restaurant. Interstellar is also overly expensive. Our bill came out to be $80 after tip and that's just with two coffee drinks and two dishes with no extra sides or additions. I chose to start the meal with a Caramel Latte, and as mentioned it was good in flavor, but tiny in size. For entrées, we chose the Loco Moco and the French Toast and Eggs. The Loco Moco burger patty was pretty good although everything else was just OK. Not great, but not bad. The French Toast itself was one large piece of bread, which was a bit dry, but still pretty good as well. Nothing was a true stand out or made it very memorable. I feel I was expecting more given how close it is to the water. It was not a bad experience, but given the staggered meals coming out so far apart and just the overall quality, I would not recommend nor do I plan to be back. There are just too many other better options close by. read more

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Dear Yelp Community, First time visiting this month. Overall, great! I would say I was expecting more of a coffee shop feel, but found this venue to feel more like a (tiny) cafe. Still nice, though. Friendly staff. Enjoyed my cortado break. Continued well wishes. Sincerely, Anna read more

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I had high hopes via the reviews but sadly Interstellar missed the mark. Anyone who has the stones to offer a $30 burger better bring it, but they did not. The sauce on the chilaquiles was very good but I would have appreciated two eggs instead of one. The garlic parm fries tasted stale and looked like some fell out of the bowl on the way from the kitchen. Spicy bloody mary had the taste & texture of salsa. They were very busy and the ambiance resembled that of a day club. Our server was absent; but our back waiter was very kind. We would and will go to Mel's diner 10/10 times. I'm happy we didn't come for a special occasion. read more

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Chilaquiles here are very well presented but at least to me, missed some of the umami with the very best of them, even with avocado added. Decor is somewhat worn brick, black-finished wood, and lots of greenery, felt like a cross between the old school Third Street Promenade and the newer vibe of a brand-new/recently-opened restaurant, but without the polish of the high dollar newly renovated places. And the branded mugs for tea were a nice touch. read more

I had been wanting to visit Interstellar for brunch after hearing really good things. Was recently in Santa Monica around dinner time, so thought it'd be worth coming by for dinner. We were able to snag a reservation earlier that day. The location is accessible, and I like that they had outdoor seating as well. My friend and I got the Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings to start and then opted for the Branzino Ochazuke and Black Truffle Kimchi Fried Rice. The wings were so juicy and crispy -- a really solid appetizer. I'm a huge fan of ochazuke, and really liked their rendition. The branzino was very soft and buttery. I think my favorite dish was probably the fried rice though. The truffle flavor didn't really penetrate the whole dish, so not sure if it's necessarily worth the pricepoint, but this was very hearty rendition of fried rice and I loved that it was serves in the hot skillet. read more

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I came to grab a sando as a to-go brunch I can have at the pier. The katsu sando was juicy and delicious, and the bread was fluffy and buttery. read more

Interstellar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I've been to interstellar twice now, both times for brunch and both walk in. The food overall is good, and something I'd recommend if I were meeting a friend in Santa Monica and they wanted something asian inspired. Items ordered: ~ Katsu sando - As other reviewers have stated, this is hugeee. Bread is nice and soft and the katsu is crispy. Pretty good but def share. ~ Shakshuka - I usually default to getting this since I love shakshuka. I think that it could have a little bit more interest in terms of textures and I wish the cheese was meltier instead of a harder layer on top, but good flavor. ~ Ochazuke - I remember it as being good but not particularly memorable. read more

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The service was great over at Interstellar as always the people are very nice I recommend to anyone looking for coffee and breakfast Thank you! read more

I work in Santa Monica. Most mornings I'm at work I come to this little spot for coffee. Sometimes a full breakfast. Laura is always there and she is really nice and personable! The owner is mostly there too. Great conversation! The coffee is always made perfectly and the atmosphere is such a great vibe to start your morning. Whether you live here or visiting! It's open early (8/8:30) so you can come relax and then get your day started! read more

Interstellar - My coffee and the amazing philodendrons!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Santa Monica, California