The best restaurants and cafes in my book are the ones that mastered the standards and then take it up a notch with a strong dash of culture. This is Lau Lau - an innovative and homey cafe that is located across from a Starbucks and is eating their lunch lol. The owner is half Chinese and it shows. In 2 trips we had the Mala Latte, the Coconut Curry Latte and the 5 spice Cortado. The Cortado is reminiscent of a Yemeni coffee - strong and rich with undertones of spices. The Coconut Curry is 'savory' in a pleasant way - the aromas of curry come through but the coconut foam contributes just enough sweet and nutty flavor to maintain a comforting flavor profile. My favorite drink was definitely the Mala! The chili pepper and sichuan peppercorns bring the heat but is not overpowering or overly spicy - just a nice warmth and a lingering finish, with honey balancing out the drink. It's really delicious! Shout out to the staff, especially Pixie who is usually at the cashier welcoming guests. So friendly and helpful with suggestions and just really into sharing the Lau Lau community and vibes with everyone walking through the door. Lau Lau is Austin at its finest and is most definitely worth a visit! read more

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There's limited seating but the inside is very cute and has Asian motifs but with a modern twist. They have interesting drink flavors but you could always opt for standard options. Got the Thai tea matcha and an iced latte with brown sugar syrup. Both were super good! Matcha quality and whisking was top tier, pairing well with the sweet Thai tea. The coffee was so smooth as well without being overly sweet! read more

Lau Lau - Thai tea matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

TLDR: good latte, limited seating, even more limited parking. I read from other reviews that parking would be limited, so I managed my expectations before arriving. When I got there, I checked the small shared lot in front and saw that there were no empty spots. So, I started to look for a spot in the neighborhood. However, there are a lot of signs that say that the only traffic allowed is residential traffic. So far, there are no signs, suggesting that you need a permit to park there, though. I found a spot in the neighborhood and then walked over to the café. After maybe 10 minutes, a table became available. I ended up ordering a latte and a pumpkin chocolate muffin. The latte was good but a little weak. The muffin kind of seemed stale, as if it had been made the day before. It crumbled instantly and broke off in multiple pieces when I cut it in half. Just based on the limited seating and limited parking, I wouldn't say this is a good place to WFH. It wasn't particularly comfortable, and I wasn't really impressed by anything I had. However, the employees were very friendly!! read more

Lau Lau - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Love their unique coffee/tea menu. I really enjoyed the Thai Tea Matcha. It has a nice natural sweetness without being overly sweet, which lets the Thai tea and the matcha flavor still come through. Smooth, balanced, and easy to drink. read more

Lau Lau - Ginger & Toasted Rice Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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WAIT, CAN I TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE LAU LAU REAL QUICK?! This is SUCH an amazing addition to the austin scene. fantastic flavors with thoughtful flavor combinations of matched to perfection. it feels like you're at a friends apartment, nothing pretentious here. just very good quality, period. your espresso pulls are created via a la marzocco machine. (iykyk) great local artisan gifts and local roaster beans available. stop by for one of their events and have a chat or just pick something up to-go. in a city full of "instagramable coffee shops" this one can talk sh*t and back it up!!! why so humble lau lau? you're THAT GURL, you're THE MOMENT read more

Lau Lau - lil zine - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Anyone giving Lau Lau less than four stars must be uncultured. Founded by Hannah Foy, Lau Lau doesn't just introduce Austinites to a touch of Asian culture--it leans all the way in. I've been to plenty of coffee shops, but none have made me more intrigued than a menu like this. I ordered the Fish Sauce Caramel Latte, which sounds intimidating if you're not used to eating fish sauce with everything like most Southeastern Asians. But to me, it tasted like a salted caramel latte. Honestly, if I were blindfolded, I might even opt for the Fish Sauce Caramel Latte because the fish sauce really gives it an extra umph. I'd also highly recommend trying the Asian pastries, which were seriously some of the best I've had. They're a bit pricier compared to traditional Asian bakeries, but that's supply and demand for you. Lastly, I loved the Asian décor. It reminded me of my own roots, which--like many first-generation Asian Americans--I've come to embrace over time. Seeing that representation feels long overdue and deeply meaningful. NOTE: parking is extremely limited read more

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THE BIG: Asian american fusion coffee shop located near the north of the Drag. Small interior with some seating inside. Small parking lot available, otherwise street parking. THE BLACK AND WHITE: I came here on a Saturday afternoon and it was surprisingly packed. There was a mahjong tournament happening, so seating was essentially nil. Lau Lau focuses on asian fused cafe drinks. Drinks like the chinese five spice cortado, thai tea matcha, mala latte, ginger & toasted rice cappuccino, and more. Ordering was easy as you walk in the door, there's the order counter with the baked treats. I ordered the mochi brownie and the five spice cortado. The five spice drink was alright. Flavorful but not sure if it warrants the extra money for a seasoning. Mochi brownie had a mochi center, which was different than what I was expecting with the entire brownie being mochi texture. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall I spent around $15 for a brownie and the cortado. Everything was just alright but if you're curious about an asian twist on classic coffee creations. I'd recommend coming here. read more

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We came in at 9:30am on a Sunday morning the weekend after Christmas and there's only one other person in the shop. We ordered a black sesame hot chocolate and a ginger & toasted rice cappuccino. On top of drinks, they also serve Asian baked goods, like pineapple buns and egg tarts. Their menu is so cute, and I love the creativity of their logo! While we waited for our drinks, we admired the beautiful stickers, trinkets and bags of coffee made by local artists and venders. The clean shop is beautiful, with traditional red lanterns and modern wooden tables and chairs. Since we were drinking our drinks in the shop, they were served in mugs. The black sesame hot chocolate truly tasted like if you incorporated black sesame seeds into hot chocolate. The ginger & toasted rice essence was pleasant in the cappuccino. The drinks were a good warm temperature in which you could consume immediately, you don't have to wait in order to avoid getting a burnt tongue. They had a station where you could get a free cup of water or add sweeteners to your drinks. By the time that we left around 11:00am, the shop was filling up with more people. We still had some cappuccino left, so we transferred it into a disposable coffee cup. There is plenty of parking in the parking lot. We decided to take a walk around the neighborhood right beside the shop. They have drinks like milk tea, and hot chocolate, so even if you aren't a fan of coffee like me, there is something you can try! I'm glad there are more shops popping up in Austin that are incorporating Asian flavors into other cuisines! read more

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I've seen Lau Lau all over social media and love what they stand for. They have a bunch of local small businesses supply a variety of baked goods. Their drink flavor combinations are also some of the most creative I have ever seen. I tried their Thai tea matcha and five spice cortado. The matcha was a miss for me bc both flavors just competed with eachother so it tasted like neither. The five spice cortado was good but I would definitely recommend getting it hot not iced. I stopped by during the Austin studio tour so the coffee shop was absolutely packed. I'm not sure if the lighting inside is always that dim but it seemed more of a place to catch up with friends and less of a coffee shop to work at. They have a tiny little parking lot out front so we ended up street parking a few blocks away. read more

Lau Lau - Thai tea matcha and five spice cortado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped by Lau Lau for a mid day pick me up and it was exactly what we needed. The space is small and intimate. Minimal, cozy, and they were playing great music. The person who took our order was super friendly and recommended the Matcha Honey Black Sesame Latte. So glad they did! The matcha was on the stronger side (which I loved), and the black sesame was such a unique twist. I'd never had that combo before and it worked really well. My husband got the Sage Miel, and it genuinely tasted like a warm hug. We also ordered the sesame balls with red bean paste, which were perfectly crispy and soft in the middle, and the baked BBQ pork bun was amazing. Super flaky with the most beautiful egg wash on top. Everything felt thoughtful, from the drinks to the food to the atmosphere. Already looking forward to coming back! read more

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This review is LONG overdue! Came here twice, once during their soft opening and just recently after months of them being open. Both times have been nothing but great! Everything we've tried thus far has been amazing. The old fashioned latte and the Chinese 5 spice lattes have been great seasonal/signature drinks! The shop is very cute, cozy, and relaxing. Seating is limited so keep that in mind when planning your visit. The folks here have always been friendly and provide great service. Nothing negative stands out. Lau Lau is a great, newer coffee shop in Austin and one that I recommend everyone come try. It'll easily become your next go-to caffeine spot. read more

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Lau Lau is the embodiment of a diverse community coffee shop and what I'd consider one of the top cafes currently in Austin. Hanna and Chris and their lovely team opened Lau Lau's earlier this year and have captured something special on the intersection of 37th and Guadalupe. There is a small parking lot that is shared with a few other retailers in the same center but it is often full. Luckily there is ample street parking off 37th street that is only a 1 - 2 minute walk from the cafe. Lau Lau boasts a strong selection of really unique coffee and non-coffee beverages, all featuring rich unique Chinese flavors, including a five spice cortado, a mala latte, and Iced Coconut milk tea. You can also get more basic staples like a Matcha, Chai Tea, or any other espresso-based drink, but their seasonal specials always hit just right. I start off most mornings now with a Black Sesame hot chocolate and have also experimented with adding Hojicha as part of their local collab menu. I've never had a drink I didn't love at Lau Lau, and it's become such a neighborhood spot that I often see familiar faces whenever I drop in for a late morning drink. Vibes are always 10/10 so don't hesitate to come join the Lau Lau community. read more

Lau Lau - Black Sesame Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Hot new spot alert! Love the ideas and flavors of coffees that this shop has. Asian influence meets trendy drinks! Long line on a Saturday morning but went pretty fast. Got a thai tea matcha - couldn't really taste the thai tea but was a beautiful drink. Also tried an egg tart and sesame ball. Good fix of asian snacks. read more

Lau Lau - thai tea matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Lau Lau has been popping off as a new spot lately so I had to try. It's a coffee shop with a Chinese flair - both with drinks and their pastries options. They have five spiced and old fashioned latte that sounds interesting. I just had the thai tea matcha which was good. 8/10. The pastries were pricy, $4 for a small egg tart and $7 for a BBQ pork bun. I know its Austin pricing but thats way higher than what those normally cost. It was busy on a Sunday afternoon and the light inside is dim so fitted more to talking and chilling for short amount of time. Overall good, and I am curious to come back to try the other flavors. read more

Lau Lau - Thai tea matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Incredible! Saw all the good reviews and figured we should check this place out- we got a hot Chinese five spice cortado and iced sage miel both delicious. There's plenty of indoor seatings for studying or chatting with friends. The decor inside is SO adorable, love the whole vibe. The staff were very friendly and helpful! The service was quick. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

Lau Lau - Sage Miel latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Lau Lau is new-ish, maybe open a month or so. Still no large signage and parking can be a little tricky since they share the lot with a bunch of other businesses. It's also a small shop inside, maybe half a dozen tables and a window counter, so it may fill up fast. The vibe was pretty relaxed and service was friendly. The menu is way more interesting than your average college-area coffee shop. The five-spice cortado piqued my interest and they also have high quality matcha. What really caught me, though, were the pastries. It's not every day you see Chinese-inspired options at a coffee shop: scallion Swiss biscuit, matcha biscuit with strawberry jam, sesame balls, plus a few others rotating through. They've got the usual alt-milk lineup (oat, soy, coconut), so everyone's covered. Overall: five stars. read more

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I got the Thai Tea Matcha with Oat Milk and there was no charge for milk substitute! I also asked for less ice so that's why the cup wasn't filled up. They have very reasonable prices especially in Austin, only $7! For my drink, I think the oat milk was a bit too sweet so it overpowers the thai tea syrup flavor a little bit, but you can definitely taste the matcha. It was a bit hard finding the place since it wasn't on Maps, but you just have to look for the place using the suite number (#106). The owners were so nice and attentive. I went on a weekday morning, so it wasn't too packed. I will definitely be back to try other drinks :) read more

Lau Lau - Thai Tea Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

I love all the drinks here and how creative they are with the flavors. A go-to for me is the thai tea matcha. It has the matcha flavor balanced with the vanilla flavors of the thai tea and there's absolutely no bitterness. It's super nice inside but would get there early since the parking lot is kind of small. read more

Lau Lau - Thai Tea Matcha. Sage Miel Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Lau Lau is the most unique coffee / tea / matcha shop in Austin. Quality service by the nicest baristas who know your name. The ambiance is peacefully lively with Chinese American themed pastries and amazing drinks. They source local coffee beans from Superthing coffee, and their Tea selection is top notch. read more

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I've been here a couple times now and love their different seasonal drinks! So far their miso corn iced latte has been a fav. They have lots of different food items as well from around town and a cute little section of Asian artists work as well as different foodie items. Get the black sesame butter, if you know you know! They are also super friendly which is always a plus read more

Lau Lau - Matcha Thai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is such a cute little Asian-inspired coffee shop near The University of Texas, and I came during their grand opening week so they didn't even have a Yelp page yet! Lau Lau is owned by the sweetest couple, and I love that they even have pastries from all over town. I ordered their Thai Tea Matcha, and I thought it was okay. The flavor wasn't as strong as I would like it to be, but I appreciate that they have a really interesting menu. I would definitely come back and try some of their other drinks and pastries, and I noticed a lot of people working inside. It makes for a great communal space to chat or to work, and the vibes are great! read more

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Lau Lau is so good and honestly deserves way more recognition. I got the matcha Thai tea and the biscuit with custard and both were hella authentic. Tasted like the ones you get from your grandma! The flavors were spot on and it actually made me feel like home. Such a cozy little spot that more people need to know about. I'M A HUGE FAN!!! read more

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ADORABLE inside. The dishes were so cute. Loved the art on the walls and the mix of seating arrangements. Went at 8am and there was already a line forming and seating got filled up pretty quick. We got the strawberry matcha scone, red miso furikake scone, black sesame hot chocolate, and ginger rice cortado (I forgot the actual name sorry). The scones were very moist but lacking flavor. The matcha one was like 1% better because the jam added a little something my friend said both flavors tasted the exact same, which I agree with. They were moist and very bready tasting but at least you'll have a coffee to wash it down. Good enough to try once but not reorder. The drinks were good! Black sesame hot chocolate had a veeeeery subtle black sesame taste, so don't be scared to order. The ginger cortado also had a very slight ginger taste, nothing like the strong flavor I was expecting. The only rice taste was the rice grains sprinkled on top. I wanted more flavor in everything. I'd come again though, I LOVE the creativity of their menu and am curious to see what else they come up with, and how their drinks/baked goods evolve in quality. But please put some chili oil on the scones or something, they need it TBH I value creativity and aesthetics so much, that's the reason I'm giving them 5 stars. Also the parking lot is tiny and dinky so be warned. read more

Lau Lau - Strawberry matcha scone, red miso furikake scone, black sesame hot chocolate, ginger seasonal drink - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

An awesome little spot with some pretty good matcha! Great for meeting up, studying or working. The people are also so sweet and amazing. I'll def be returning read more

Lau Lau - Iced honey matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nice vibes inside the cafe. It felt very inspired by Asian culture and I could feel what the owners were going for. I got the Sichuan peppercorn latte but unfortunately I didn't taste the peppercorn at all. I even tried mixing it but the taste was hardly noticeable. The baked items and drinks in the cafe are cute and are Asian inspired but I would like the taste to be stronger in my latter otherwise it feels like I'm just drinking a normal latte. Be warned that there isn't too much seating inside and the parking lot fills quickly. They were selling flowers inside which was quite interesting. If I am back in Austin, I may try this place again due to the unique menu but the one drink I had was very mediocre. read more

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Love the Thai tea matcha! I also tried the sesame hot chocolate and it wasn't too sweet (which is perfect). The meat in the char siu pork bao was really good, the bun had a top layer of sweetness I'm not use to but it was still really good. The person taking our order was super friendly. There were a lot of seating options inside. Cute decor too! read more

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I stopped by Lau Lau during the Austin Studio Tour, which meant they were hosting some artists and authors within the cafe. I thought it was really cool how they were engaging with local art, and I even bought an art piece from a vendor. As for their food and drinks, I ordered the thai tea matcha and an ube tart. The matcha was the perfect amount of sweet. I would say it is more thai tea forward than matcha flavored. I liked it a lot and can't wait to come back and try more of their unique menu. According to the barista, the ube treat was only there for a limited time, which is so unfortunate. It was one of the best pastries I've had in Austin. I 100% recommend snatching one up if they have them in stock. The cafe itself is very cute, but it was crowded the day I went due to the vendors. On a normal day, I bet it's a great place to sit down. Looking forward to coming back. read more

Lau Lau - Thai tea matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

* 4.5 stars * 5 stars for the matcha latte. 4 stars for the inside vibes. 3 stars for the parking lot. Best matcha I've had in Austin. read more

Great staff and delicious coffee. Got the ginger and toasted rice. Had actual toasted rice on top which was a nice nutty textural addition to my latte read more

Lau Lau - Ginger and toasted rice latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

The matcha is as good as everyone says. Prepared traditionally, the matcha is delicious. Almost as good as Matcha from Japan. The menu is a bit quirky and I'm not sure some of those latte flavors will ever get a second try but it's a fun shop with fun things. There was a line when we arrived and we had to wait ~15 to order. The shop is in the corner and it's hard to see their sign (so keep looking if you don't immediately see it). read more

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Food: the intrigue items for Lau Lau are the Fish Sauce Caramel Latte and Five Spice Cortado. They are unique, eye-catching, and make you think, 'How on earth can this be a good idea?' But I assure you, it is and trust me on it. With five spice seemingly becoming the next hottest flavor in cafes (Mu has it too), Lau Lau is ahead of the game and is off to a great start. I tried the Fish Sauce Caramel Latte and while the flavor wasn't overpoweringly that of fish sauce (which is kind of a relief), it was a nice smooth coffee made with lots of attention to detail. Service: Because I came during the soft opening, it was packed, but it didn't stop the baristas from showing the utmost care to my order and questions and keeping a level head amidst the line going out of the door. Ambiance: The feel of the cafe is a combination of "I can work here quietly by myself" and "this is the cool place to have a book club meeting." There is a good amount of seating options with a good source of natural lighting for those that want to work and chat, with mood lighting on the other side. One thing that I would note is that the music was pretty loud when I went, but I attributed it to the bare walls (which causes sound to bounce). However, this was during opening week, so it might be something that they are still working out. read more

I felt right at home on my first visit, sipping my Five Spice Cortado next to framed artwork of a bowl of noodles that says 'Eat the Rich.' Rarely are my interests so aligned. This place is very easy to miss. Lau Lau is in the same parking lot as the Domino's Pizza. I thought I was in the wrong place because there isn't clearly marked signage on the building (yet) and the name is only listed on the door. I forgot all about that after I entered into this welcoming café and community space. The staff were all friendly with a 'your cool friend happens to be a barista' vibe. The menu had unique fusion beverages like Mala Latte and Thai Tea Matcha and baked goods from other local spaces featuring sweet dim sum staples like egg tarts and sesame balls. The seating options were a mixture of lounge, table, and bench seating along the window. The corner and wall with the lounge and banquette seating doesn't have much natural light (instead has dimly lit red lanterns) but works if you're wanting a more intimate vibe. The music plays at a medium level, not too loud to answer an impromptu work call. The playlist on my day was a mixture of R&B, hip hop, and some jazzy beats. The acoustics inside are pretty good. Even with people talking, it is contained and not bouncing off the walls. Even though I don't live super close to Lau Lau, it's a worthwhile destination, and one that you feel like you want to support. Even though Austin has Sa-Tén and Paris Baguette, cafés and community spaces grounded in Asian-American experiences are so rare. Ever since leaving the Bay Area, I had come to accept that I left the prevalence of my Asian or Asian-American culture along with it. Being here calms and nourishes me. Of course you can easily enjoy this place without thinking about any of that or if none of these apply to you. All are welcome, except maybe billionaires. read more

I went during their soft opening. They ran out of the pastries that I wanted to try so I'll have to go back another day (but good for them for getting more business than they expect!) The door/sign is not super well marked so it did take me a bit to find it. It's at the back of the strip mall, next to the bins. There is a parking lot, though not a huge number of spaces to be shared by the lot's shops. Still, having any parking spaces at all is a big bonus. Anyways, heading in. The place is super cute and the owners are very friendly. On a weekday morning, there were several student types with the laptops working in here, which is great. So far I've only tried the Thai Tea Matcha, and it was very good. The quality of the matcha is excellent (earthy, deep green, hand whisked), and who wouda thunk it, the two flavors meld smoothly. read more

i like that chinese cafes are on the rise in austin. i went during their soft opening and loved it. they do unique asian inspired drinks such as the thai tea matcha, fish sauce caramel latte, and five spice cortado just to name a few. i got there around 2 pm on a saturday and their pastries were almost all sold out. however, i still got to try the thai tea matcha which they hand whisk. they definitely do not skimp on the matcha, so vibrant and earthy the thai tea didn't overpower the matcha which is a rare find. i can see this place becoming really popular really fast, and i'm excited to come back and try more read more

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For a soft grand open they were super busy. The service was very friendly! It was very crowded so we didn't get to just sit and enjoy the atmosphere but we could tell others were. They were sold out of their pastries so will have to try them next time! We did enjoy our iced latte and matcha thai tea. read more

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Love this place! Great vibe and even better coffee. We ordered a coconut latte and a regular latte as well as an iced americano. All got thumbs up from us. Wonderful customer service. read more

Beautiful spacious coffee shop with Viet inspired drinks and matcha drinks. My friends and I tried the egg coffee latte, pistachio latte, and the strawberry matcha. We loved everything and thought that bc the coffee was so incredible, we'll probably stick to getting coffee here. The egg coffee latte was so very strong and creamy but in the best way - something I would get if I'm *really* need that punch and get some work done. The pistachio latte was perfectly sweet and balanced and probably be my go to on the daily. Gosh we're all still dreaming about their drinks and wish they would come to Dallas!!! read more

The service is great and fast even when busy drinks were delicious. Parking was bad for this small shop that is so busy. But still recommend. read more

Lau Lau - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Super cute coffee shop near UT. The space is very small, so is the parking lot. The parking lot is a shared lot with other businesses so it can get tight. The coffee though was amazing, but a little pricey. The service was quick and friendly. I will be back. read more

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Such a lovely staff and creative menu. Drinks came out so yummy, cannot wait to be back! read more

Lau Lau - Foy's Old Fashion - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Austin, Texas