Matcha Latte w/ Oatmilk half sweet: tastes creamy, not as earthy as other matcha but the flavor is good Matcha Latte w/ Oatmilk and Vanilla Cold Foam: the flavors from the matcha and cold blends really well together. 100% is pretty sweet but I have a sweet tooth The drinks here are sweetened with vanilla syrup. Overall, I thought both drinks were really well made but at the time that I went, the wait was about 20 minutes since the place was so small. Keep that in mind! I would come back to try their foods! read more

Lagu Cafe - Matcha Latte w/ Oatmilk half sweet Matcha Latte w/ Oatmilk and Vanilla Cold Foam - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Love this little gem cafe in the business district of Irvine. This place makes me feel like I am back in Hawaii in an onigiri/musubi shop. The matcha drinks, onigiri, and mis are my go to orders. They are kind and it such a cozy spot to relax and grab a quick snack or bite to eat. This is my go to place! read more

Lagu Cafe - Sea Salt Taro Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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forever obsessed with lagu cafe. i was on the search for so long for a place that made simple good onigiri so that i wouldn't have to default to supermarket ones anymore, and this so far as been my best option. i found this place online a while back and my only gripe is the hours, because i can only fulfill my cravings on the weekend when it won't clash with my work schedule! it's best to go early in the morning (i like to place an early pick up time myself) to avoid a later crowd or any specific flavors from selling out. it's not a very big shop, so i would not expect to stay and eat inside due to the limited seating, but it does not take away from the overall shop vibes! they have a good amount of variety and options of food for you to choose from, and they never disappoint. the staff is always super sweet as well, and their matcha is deeeelish. highly highly recommend! read more

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We got the Matcha Rose Latte and Banana Cream Latte, and both were yummmy! Compared to other matchas lattes I've tried, nothing is like this one. The matcha here is very different from other places in a good way -- making this one of my new faves. If you go here, just expect to wait a while because the lines are long and it takes a while for them to make drinks. The space is also small, with only two tables inside. Would come back, especially to try their onigiris! When I visited, it seemed like a lot of people bought those too. :) read more

Lagu Cafe - Drink Menu - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came back to try the food menu! I tried the onigiri set, which lets you mix and match two flavors. The mentai mayo onigiri was fantastic and very flavorful. There was a lot of rice, but mentai is on the saltier side so I thought it was perfect. I also tried the salmon onigiri, but it was a little disappointing, the salmon was dry and lacking seasoning, the main thing I tasted with the sesame seeds. I would definitely repeat the mentai mayo, but try a different second flavor next time. As always I couldn't resist getting a matcha, this time I opted for a plain matcha latte instead of one of the flavored ones. While it was good, I think what makes this place truly special is the cream top that comes with the drinks, I would go back to getting the banana matcha next time! This cute spot is getting popular on social media, making the lines longer than before. I went on a Saturday at noon, and after the line and waiting for our food and drinks, it took around 40 minutes. It's located in a random corporate area, and only has two tables inside so you'll most likely need to take it to go. read more

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This cafe is so cute! My friend and I went during the 10% off uci student discount on a Thursday morning and it wasn't super busy. We waited about 10 minutes for 2 drinks and onigiri and went back to the car to eat because there are only 2 tables inside. We got a matcha latte and the honey lavender tea. They were both decent! The matcha latte definitely isn't the best ever but the matcha taste was there and the drink was a good sweetness. It tasted slightly like melted matcha ice cream. My friend got the pepper chashu onigiri and she said it was okay. She actually doesn't like pepper that much but I thought it was really good! We will definitely be back to try other onigiri flavors though! Ratings Matcha latte: 3.5/5 Honey lavender tea: 4/5 Pepper chashu onigiri: 3/5 read more

Lagu Cafe - Pepper chashu onigiri, matcha latte, honey lavender tea - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

The workers were very kind and greeted with a smile. They seemed to enjoy their jobs which promoted a positive atmosphere. The cafe is very small and unless you snag the one table to sit at, it is not suitable for dining inside it. The Banana Cream Matcha Latte was perfect for a semi-sweet matcha. The banana cream was rich and mouth-watering! I ordered the Mentai Salt & Butter which I absolutely recommend! It was savory and not too heavy. read more

Lagu Cafe - Banana Cream Matcha Latte and Mentai Salt & Butter - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

My sister came across this cafe on TikTok! We decided to grab lunch here today as her summer break has started. We got the following based on other Yelp reviews - *Salmon onigiri * Takana Mentai * Matcha Rose Latte * matcha sea salt cold brew I don't think you can go wrong with any of the onigiris! There's a right balance of rice and filling that I delighted in. I appreciated the pickled vegetables on the side as well. The drinks are well made and whatever you are craving, get it, and try it. I think the team does a great job of exceeding the expectations for whatever flavor you are craving. The seating is quite tight - only two small tables enough to seat two. If the timing is right, you'd be able to grab seats so I pray you do if you are seeking to! Thank you for the food and drinks! God bless you! read more

Lagu Cafe - *Salmon onigiri * Takana Mentai * Matcha Rose Latte * matcha sea salt cold brew - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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I got takeout from this place. It's so cute! Not enough people talk about their onigiri. I appreciate that this place has more onigiri options than some others. I love that there's an option that has both vegetables and protein in it. Onigiri with pickled vegetables and cod roe: 8/10. One of the better onigiri I've had because the rice was flavored with pickled vegetables throughout. The cod roe was delicious inside and went well with the vegetables. A bit on the smaller side for the price, though. Sencha: 8/10. Underrated pick. Everyone talks about their matcha but their sen-cha is excellent. It's lightly sweetened but a lot of the green tea flavor comes through well. They brew it themselves, from the looks of it, because it had tiny bits of tea leaves in it. I like it that way A bit pricey but I would come here again read more

Lagu Cafe - Sen-cha, iced - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Tried a couple of their onigiris and they were all delicious. Super tender fillings and definitely filled us up until lunch and then some. There's only two small 2 person seating inside the cafe, and I saw most people were eating out of the trunk of their cars. Got the rose foam matcha and the banana cream matcha. The drinks were great but I've had better. Matcha was good here but it was on the lighter side, wished it was stronger. Banana cream had little nilla cookies crumbled on top which was really cute! Thick and creamy but not as banana-y as I would like. Rose foam had the best delicate rose flavor that balanced well with the matcha. read more

Lagu Cafe - Banana Cream Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Lagu cafe gets very busy during the lunch rush. I ordered some sandwiches and matcha cold brew for a 12 pm pick up online only to find that they had ran out of bread. Although the staff refunded me, I waited in line to place another order for the pepper chashu and mental mayo onigiri. For those ordering online, I would recommend ordering outside of the rush hour so it more accurately reflects their inventory or ordering before 11 am. In addition, if an item goes out of stock, it doesn't let you place the order, but I find it frustrating that it also does not tell you what item in your order went out of stock. The sea salt matcha cold brew was very smooth and strong, and paired nicely with the salty matcha foam. Once mixed, it gave a creamy savory taste to the drink. The onigiri were good, but had to be eaten quickly as the seaweed gets rubbery. I would come again to try the sandwiches and drinks, but pass on the onigiri. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I visited Lagu on a Thursday around noon. There's a parking lot right outside the café, though spots are a bit limited. The workers were nice & we only waited about five minutes for our orders. I got their melon matcha latte with coconut milk, & my friend got the banana matcha latte--both were delicious. We can't wait to come back to try more of their drinks! read more

Lagu Cafe - melon matcha latte + banana matcha latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

/)/) ( . .) ( づ not the biggest fan of their onigiris filling wise. Portions pretty big but didn't like the fillings inside. Filling could be bigger tho, it was too much rice. I had the salmon one which were dried salmon flakes and not like salmon meat pieces. The spicy mentaiko was okay, so was the pork belly but didn't really hit. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Lagu Cafe. Been eying this spot for a long time. This review is for their matcha banana latte. For using monin syrup which I don't like. It was actually pretty good. Slight artificial flavor but not too bad. Very balanced and good. Matcha is very high quality making it work. I do like the crumbs of wafer on top also. Next time I do want to try a regular matcha so I can really get a good feel for the quality read more

Lagu Cafe - Excellent Banana Cream Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Cozy shop with the best banana matcha I've ever tried! The workers are friendly. My only wish is that it was open later!

This spot is super tiny. Only two tables which comfortably seat only 2-3 people each. I got everything that was vegetarian on the food menu which wasn't much but still good for a snack. Shiso Konbu (3/5) - pretty bland even with the konbu Yamitsuki (5/5) - really delicious and I loved how gingery and flavorful it was. French Toast (5/5) - bread was flaky and fluffly, almost kind of crossaint like. Not super sweet but still delicious. Banana Matcha (5/5) - definitely too rich to get on the regular but I loved the banana flavor in this! It balanced out the matcha well. I'm still happy there were not 0 or 1 but actually TWO vegetarian/vegan options for onigiri. So hard to come by. read more

First time at this highly rated and raved about location! We were cafe hopping and landed on Lagu Cafe. Honest review: incredible matcha, terrible onigiri, decent salt bread sandwich. Banana Matcha: 9.5/10 one if the best Ive ever had! Strawberry matcha: 9/10 Tuna mayo: 2/10, basic with no flavor other than salt bomb. Mentai onigiri: 1/10 I literally couldnt taste anything not even salt. Very flavoress. Salmon onigiri: 0/10 there was literallynonly dry salmon as the filling, bot mixed with any mayo or flavoring. Tuna cheese salt bread: 7/10, pretty good tuna filling with cheese fo this one, and the salt bread was the shinning star to bring it together. All in all this place's drinks are incredible but they need to work on their food because that is the part that's overhyped on instagram. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

I've been here a few times and always order the banana creme matcha latte and matcha rose latte. I've tried the onigiri set which was decent and a great snack option. On one of my visits, there was miscommunication but they were able to make me the correct drink I wanted. The cafe is pretty tiny with a couple tiny tables. There is plenty of parking available. read more

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Came here on a Wednesday morning at 7am right at opening, and there were already a few people waiting outside for the doors to open. I just ordered the matcha cold foam cold brew, and it took a few minutes to get my order, even though there were several people in front of me in line. Inside is very small and simple, no frills, just a couple wooden tables and chairs. The matcha cold foam coffee is so good, I ordered it half sweet and it was perfect. They make their foam with a caramel sauce which makes the cold brew just the perfect amount of sweetness. Cute little cafe for a good and fast pick-me-up! read more

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The tuna mayo was much better than the salmon in my opinion. Banana matcha was alright, nothing great but still good. Creamy but I wish the matcha flavor was a little stronger. Small shop but large parking lot. read more

Lagu Cafe - matcha sea salt cold brew Banana Cream Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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A cute small cafe with delicious food! I went around 1pm on a Tuesday and was surprised to see so many people there! The shop is smaller than I thought so most people were waiting for their orders outside. It eventually cleared out and my order came out afterwards. I ordered a banana cream matcha latte and a smoked salmon sandwich. The banana cream was so good! It compliments well with the matcha and I love the toffee bits. The smoked salmon was also very good. Overall a great experience, would definitely come again! read more

Lagu Cafe - Smoked Salmon Sandwich - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Finally had the chance to try this coffee place. Had been once and didn't realize it was closed . So we stopped by again. As soon as we arrived we saw a group of people waiting outside and that is a great sign. My daughter had been here once and really liked their matcha. She ordered the banana matcha and i tried their strawberry latte( not sure the exact name) . I had a sip of my daughter's matcha and it was so good! My drink took me back to my Childhood , it tasted like a duvalin ( a Mexican candy) . I wanted to try one of the sandwiches they sell but unfortunately they were sold out. The coffee shop is very small they only have a small bench for you to wait for your drinks, that's is all. I will be back to get that drink again. I am so glad I got to finally try it. read more

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I was looking for something delicious yet filling for a quick lunch and found this spot on Yelp. It is located in one of the business plazas near John Wayne Airport so there is plenty of parking at the front. Lagu cafe is a quaint Japanese store that sells onigiri and drinks as well as some merchandise/japanese goods. I saw frozen meals (in coloration with popular Japanese restaurants such as Tsujita LA and Shin Sen Gumi) as well as goods straight from Japan (matcha powders, and yuzu/black sesame/red bean spreads). I decided to get a bento box which came with 2 onigiri, miso soup, edemame, and karaage chicken. All for $15! The onigiri was so good; the rice was perfectly seasoned and not mushy. And karaage chicken was made with chicken thighs and incredibly moist and flavorful. I'm a huge fan of the variety of onigiri flavors to choose from and that it's more than just salmon and mayo. I got the tanaka mentai which is pickled mustard greens- it reminds me of my childhood. The uma-kara spicy cod roe which paired so well with the plain rice and seaweed. I also got a banana matcha latte. The matcha was nice and creamy, and subtly sweet with the banana pudding flavor from the cream on top. Will definitely be back at this cute cafe for a quick filling lunch and matcha fix! read more

Lagu Cafe - $15 Bento box (2 onigiri, chicken karaage, edamame, miso soup and pickled veggies) - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Cute shop with limited seating. Most people got to-go orders or just ordered drinks. I ordered onigiri for lunch, tuna and chashu pork. Both were yummy. Staff is so nice. Will have to come back to try their matcha lattes. read more

Lagu Cafe - Tuna and Chashu Pork Onigiri - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

The first thing I experienced when I walked in was the carelessly haphazard "service", which boiled down essentially to them understanding what I wanted to consume in exchange for my money. I ordered the banana crème matcha latte and they didn't ask me anything about the level of sweetness or milk substitutions. When I got the actual banana crème matcha latte, it was way too sweet, like they probably added pumps of syrup into the drink, and I remembered that I'm trying to avoid whole milk because I'm minimizing saturated fats in my diet, but this latte most likely came with whole milk. There were two tables inside and one of them was open but they were placed so close to each other that I think the people at the other table didn't want me sitting at the open table, so I went outside with my latte, took a couple of sips, and threw away the latte into the overflowing trash can just outside the store. Overall, terrible lack of care and concern that permeates across all three of the grading factors of food, service, and vibe. I will not be returning here. read more

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The sandwich was alright. Bread was delicious but overall tasted like an overpriced costco hot dog. Way too expensive for the size and quality. The drinks were solid! Wish the banana flavor was a bit more prominent but overall super good drinks. Overall would come back for drinks. Not for food! read more

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Japanese cafe for matcha onigri and sandos! What to get: Drinks: sea salt taro and matcha with iced foam Onigiri: pepper chashu, mentai and yamitsuki you can mix and match 2 onigri per order! the plaza is a small industrial square but there's free parking you can also order ahead for easy pick up! Not much space inside for working it's more of a grab and go but the service was really efficient and nice! read more

I was so excited to try onigiri's here and while I liked that they were smaller, I wouldn't say they're the best I've had. The tuna is canned? and I normally prefer raw tuna inside. I did love the kimchi and pork filling surprisingly, but what really gives this place its 3 stars was the banana bread matcha... delicious! read more

Lagu Cafe - onigiri and Banana Cream Matcha Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

While on the road me and another person was craving a matcha. Lagu was on the way so we decided to check it out. I was impressed by the many different versions of matcha they had. They had a seasonal melon foam matcha, matcha sea salt cold brew, and a strawberry sakura latte. Besides matcha, they also had different types of caffeinated drinks including organic teas. If you are hungry, Lagu does have sandwiches and bento boxes. But they are known for their house made onigiri. Yum! I only wanted a drink so I went for their popular banana cream foam matcha. I got it less sweet with oat milk and it was perfection. The banana foam went well with my matcha surprisingly and the matcha part was really good. The person I came with also got the same thing and enjoyed it. I definitely want to come back and try their rose, lavender and melon version now. The inside of this place is really small and there's like two small tables. It's more of a grab and go type of spot. Also it can be hard to find this spot since it's like a hole in the wall with a bunch of business offices. Parking is easy though. I'm glad I found a good matcha place in this area and can't wait to be back. read more

Lagu Cafe - Outside - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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The smallest, hidden cafe amongst a bunch of office buildings/suites. They offer lots of snacks and pastries too. I love their onigiri combo: comes with choice of two onigiris and a side of pickled veggies. sea salt taro: 8.8/10. My favorite taro drink EVER !!!! less sweet is perfect and the flavor is so delicious and addicting read more

Lagu Cafe - sea salt taro, matcha cream latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

ehh it's alright. i feel like the drinks are a little overrated but i did like the onigiris. i think the rose matcha and taro drinks are ok, taro was better than the rose. all in all, it's a really small place and the line is always long, but it's close to uci so there's a lot of students. the service was good, mainly student workers probably from uci as well. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

OVERALL : I've been going to Lagu for years now and they never disappoint. The shop is super small with only about 2 tables, but always cozy and friendly. More of a takeout than dine in spot. They're essentially a Japanese deli and their menu is pretty simple with several types of onigiri, bread/sandos, and coffee/matcha. Pricing is not bad either at $7.50 for an onigiri set, although the breads for the same price can seem pretty pricey. However the bread is well worth the cost, especially the mentaiko one! I didn't get it this time, but def craving it for next time. PARKING : Located in a business plaza where local shops can rent out small shops to run their businesses (not busy) with a shared parking lot -- very low-key but the store is clearly labeled so you won't have an issue locating it! FOOD/DRINKS : Onigiri Set (can mix and match) - 2 Onigiri and pickled vegetables per set: - Salmon - Mentai Mayo + - Tuna Mayo - Pepper Chashu Banana Creme Matcha Latte - banana matcha latte, topped with banana white chocolate foam and Nilla cookie crumbles -- def a sweeter / milkier matcha drink bc of the banana flavor profile, but it was really pleasant for an afternoon treat! The banana went really well w the matcha and the nilla cookie crumbles added some texture to the drink read more

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Matcha rose latte was good but a bit too sweet and milky to be my favorite. The onigiri has soo much rice as well. I enjoyed their tuna mayo sandwich and preferred that over the smoked salmon sandwich ! Pretty small location and you see everyone just waiting outside but not too long of a wait. Nothing crazy but i love that they do have food options here. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

Truly a hidden gem! It's tucked in a random office plaza near John Wayne Airport. It's a small cafe with 2 small tables. It seems to be structured more as a "pop in, pop out" type of place. I wish I took more pictures of the interiors but I was very warm and the staff carried on that cozy energy too. Definitely emulates a hole in the wall cafe in Japan All the drinks were good, on the sweeter side. The cream tops were balanced. The cold brew weren't too acidic which was a huge plus. It kept me alive for a whole convention day! The onigiris were a little dense and a decent meat to rice ratio. The salted bread was a fluffy and crispy texture. So good! Can't wait to try their other items next time~ read more

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Lagu Cafe is always a good idea. I always find myself here if I want something quick and easy. I usually opt for the onigiri and karage combo because it's the best deal imo. It comes with your choice of 2 onigiri, karage, edamame, miso soup, and some pickled veggies. I recommend trying their Takana Mentai onigiri as one of the options! I will also sometimes get one of the breads. Their bread comes from Okayama Bakery in Anaheim and is so good. Their drinks are also solid! Same drinks as Okayama. I usually get the Matcha Sea Salt Cold Brew but definitely wanna try their Banana Matcha one of these days. This place is a hidden gem. It's located in a small plaza that doesn't get too much foot traffic but I think it's perfect for a place like this. read more

Lagu Cafe - 2 Onigiri & karage combo (with a side of edamame, pickled veggies, and miso soup [not pictured]) - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

skip the food, come back for the banana matcha latte ‍ i been wanting to try lagu! i went on a wednesday at around 12 pm and there was a bit of a crowd. i got the banana matcha latte and my friend got the melon matcha. the melon matcha was super sweet! you could only taste melon tbh so if that's what you like then by all means. the banana matcha is on the sweet side as well but it was pretty good. i'm not gonna lie, i was not a fan of the onigiri. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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Good quality onigiris with fluffy rice that is well seasoned. Only a few items on the menu a it not too difficult to choose - the cashier said tuna mayo and salmon are their most popular. I didn't go Gaga over my mentai or salmon but I thought they were fine. Line can be long on a weekend so be prepared to wait. Service is quick. Small parking lot. Only two small tables to eat inside so be prepared to eat them elsewhere. read more

Lagu Cafe - Salmon and Mentai Mayo - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

LOCATION: Main/MacArthur (really close to SNA) PARKING: Parking spaces in front of small businesses, but not hard to find WHAT WE ORDERED: * Hoji's Harvest ($5.50) * Strawberry Sakura Latte ($5.50) * Hojicha Latte ($5.50) I'm glad I FINALLY got to try Lagu, as their short hours made it hard for me to find time. All their drinks looked enticing, making it difficult to decide on which one to order. Hoji's Harvest was a seasonal fall item (this is a very late review). The Strawberry Sakura Latte was light in flavor and was aromatic and floral without being overpowering. The Hojicha Latte was nutty and a bit powdery and not too sweet. The drinks were beautiful, but in terms of taste, they weren't out of this world. Don't get me wrong - they were all delicious, though. I'm itching to come back to try their other popular drinks. I wish I got to try some of their small bites, but now I have a reason to return! read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

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I placed my online order while I was at work and noticed it stayed stuck on "confirmed" for 45 minutes without any updates. I tried calling the store five times to check in, but got no answer. Eventually, I decided to just head over in person to see what was going on. When I arrived, there were only about five people in line. While I was waiting, I called the store again and saw the cashier decline the call while actively taking new orders on a tablet. When I asked her why she wasn't answering the phone, she told me she was too busy. I understand it can get hectic, but being too busy to provide an update on an order that's been pending for 45 minutes, or to answer a quick call seems unreasonable. I really hope the owner is made aware of this situation. read more

Lagu Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California

My boyfriend came home with two lattes for me to choose from - the cold brew with matcha foam or the strawberry sakura latte. Honestly it was hard to pick which one I liked more because they both were so good! The cold brew with matcha foam had a deep rich flavor, a little bit chocolately. The strawberry sakura latte was sweet without it being overpowering with also a hint of floral. You can tell their coffee is good quality! read more

Lagu Cafe - Strawberry Sakura Latte - Cafes Near Me - Irvine, California