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Luz y Sombra Cafe

4.1 (44 reviews)
Open • 6:00 am - 5:00 pm

Luz y Sombra Cafe Photos

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LUZ Y SOMBRA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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Olivia C.

service was nice and attentive. they had a great playlist going. chilaquiles were super yummy, hot and fresh. the cafe de olla was a little on the sweet side.

Chicharrón y papas en chile sample
Carol C.

This was our first time here and what a cute little coffee shop! Walking in here feels like home. It's run by what seems like a family and we were welcomed and treated like such. Coffee 9/10 We ordered their biscoff cookie latte and their Spanish latte with an extra shot. I gotta say not a lot of coffee spots know how to integrate an extra shot without the entire drink tasting bitter but theirs was so smooth. The biscoff was on the sweeter side for my liking but it was still good. There were chunks of biscoff cookie that made the drink in my opinion. Their cold foam is very sweet and I think added to the overload of sweetness. Food 9/10 We ordered the El Conquistador (Burrito with chorizo, egg, beans, mexican cheese, and potatoes) as well as the Sol de Mañana (Everything bagel, sausage, egg, avocado and cheese). The burrito was a good size and included some tortilla chips. The bagel tasted home made but didn't have avocado. I ended up substituting the sausage for bacon. My bagel had lettuce too which was a surprise. Regardless, it was very tasty and would definitely order it again. We got to try a sample of their chicharrón con papas en chile and WOW!! DELICIOUS!! I'm not a big fan of chicharrones but this was so tasty! It was spicy and the papas were cooked perfectly. We were told they pair it with arroz y frijoles They also told us they have taco Tuesday specials from 4-8pm every Tuesday just outside of their shop. There was also a tray of fresh bread for us to try for free! Vibes/Ambiance : 9/10 We visited on a Friday morning and it was a bit busy. There were about 5-7 people there when we arrived but the service was quick. I presume the lady on the front was the mom, and she was wonderful. Very friendly and warm. We received our food from what I'm assuming is the dad and he was so sweet too. It's a small space but there are plenty of tables. The decor is a little lacking but they have two bookshelves in the back including some colors. While we waited, my toddler was able to color which is such a thoughtful touch. I always like seeing business cards in display in coffee shops because I think it shows a level of community in the owners values so it was amazing to see a whole table of cards out for everyone. Local, Latino-owned coffee shops are slowly coming to SELA and I think this is such a great option to try. Everyone is so friendly and we'll definitely be back to try other food items and drinks.

Cafe de olla & oro verde
Sage M.

I really wanted to love Luz y Sombra Coffee Shop, but unfortunately my experiences left me disappointed, mainly due to customer service. I've visited twice, and on both occasions I was not greeted or acknowledged when I walked in. The first time, there was no line and I stood at the counter for about five minutes while three staff members (an older woman, an older man, and a younger girl) ignored me. I would understand if they were busy with orders, but they were just standing around. A simple "Hi, I'll be with you shortly" goes a long way especially in your own shop. What stood out positively was a younger man who returned from his break and immediately acknowledged us with warmth and professionalism. He took our order right away and made us feel welcomed. That kind of energy really matters. As for the drinks, the Oro Verde was very good nice balance of banana and matcha and the café de olla had good flavor, though it leaned a bit too sweet for my taste. Offering different size options for the café de olla would be a great improvement, as I would've preferred a smaller cup. Food-wise, I ordered a burrito that was unfortunately very small and plain, and the tortilla chips served with it was tasteless. It felt like filler rather than a thoughtful side. Another moment that felt uncomfortable was seeing other customers who appeared to know the owners being warmly greeted and offered free conchas and donuts with their coffee, while that same hospitality wasn't extended to everyone. That inconsistency came off as unprofessional and unfair. I returned a second time hoping for a better experience, mainly because I liked the Oro Verde. Sadly, the same issue happened again: no greeting from the staff, and about five minutes passed before being acknowledged. The Oro Verde is a hit or miss, it didn't taste the same this time, and I also tried the Biscoff coffee, which tasted nothing like Biscoff and was overwhelmingly sweet I had to throw it away. Overall, this place has potential and some good drinks, but customer service needs serious improvement. Being acknowledged matters. A simple greeting makes a huge difference. I was genuinely excited about this coffee shop, so it's disappointing to leave feeling let down.

Kirenenko E.

I live nearby Luz y Sombra Cafe, visited the place to try out with a friend of mine and we ordered two drinks of the horchata, matcha drink and a plate of chilaquiles. The worker there was very friendly and patient when we were wondering what to order. Sat down and waited for our orders and they came out very quick, for us we just waited about five minutes for our food to be ready. The drinks were very good and not to mention the chilaquiles, they were so amazing and perfect for us. The place wasn't loud and gave off relaxed and laid-back vibes to just enjoy your drinks or meals. The only thing we didn't really like was that there were flies around like maybe one or two but that's not because the place was dirty, they just had the doors open for fresh air. Overall everything was good I would definitely come back again to this place.

Thai Tea

I've come here a few times & all the drinks I've tried have been delicious. Here's a quick breakdown on the taste profiles since everyone's taste is different :) Luz de Canela: sweet coffee with delicious horchata taste El Tesoro: sweet coffee with a strong banana flavor Biscoff Cookie (personal fav): bolder coffee taste with sweet foam & biscoff touch Matcha con Rosas: sweet matcha with fresh strawberry flavor Thai Tea: sweet Thai iced tea with slightly sour foam that balances out the flavors well

Horchata iced latte with abuelita cold foam
Jeffrey R.

I stopped by and asked for something not too sweet, and the barista recommended their horchata latte. They were absolutely right--it was perfect. Smooth, balanced, and not overpowering. I also liked that I could customize the cold foam; it's a small detail, but it makes a big difference. What impressed me most was learning that they make all their drinks and cold foams in-house from scratch. You can taste the care and pride they put into their coffee. It's rare to find a spot where the quality actually matches the hype. I genuinely wish them a successful business. The only area with room to grow is their bakery selection. Right now, it's mainly conchas and a few Costco-style pastries. If they invested in a stronger bakery lineup--croissants, quality danishes, or unique pastries--they could easily establish themselves as a South Gate staple and compete with bigger names like Tierra Mia. Great coffee, great service, and a lot of potential. I'll definitely be back.

Luz de Canela es good!
Tamara T.

Was working in the area and needed coffee and to logon to my laptop really quick. I didn't see any outlets, but they do have 4 tables with chairs so you can get work done or read a book (there's a book case with plenty of books to choose from). Only downside is there is no restroom, but I can understand why. I wasn't hungry at the time but the food looked good and this lady came out to hand out the orders and she looked like someone's Novela mom so I know the food is good. Got the Luz de Canela and it was good and was similar to horchata with the cinnamon. I was busy most of the day and the ice melted and it honestly tasted better watered down, I think it balances out the sweetness of the canela. My coffee was ready quick and the lady that made the food asked if I needed anything else and if everything was good in Spanish and I nodded yes, thank you. I can tell this is the neighborhood spot to meet up and gossip or hangout. They have one of those speakers that light up and they're playing fun stuff like Chamba by Fuerza Regida, El Plug by Tony Loya, Llorar by Los Socios del Ritmo, that Cu Cu song and El Rey. Totally beats going to Starbucks or a chain for the unique coffee and welcoming experience.

Menu
Maria G.

What an amazing coffee shop. I love that people are opening small business around our neighborhood and that our community is showing up to support. I went to try the coffee today with my husband and the food was so delicious and the coffee had a great flavor. It is a new place and it looks like it's family owned because the young man and his mom were the ones taking and completing the orders. It gives like a home vibe where the meals are freshly cooked and everything is made as you order. It does get really busy because it's new coffee shop and it's trending and everybody wants to try it. Just be patients while standing in line because once you get your food the wait time was so worth it. Everyone here was really nice and friendly. I wished them best of luck and I will definitely be going back for more coffee.

Right Vanilla latte with banana cold foam  Left chocolate milk with chocolate abuelita foam

Honestly really loved this place, flavors are so unique. Loved the environment. Workers extremely friendly, everything about this place is amazing !

Strawberry Matcha ( Matcha con rosas ) and Coco Puff Latte

The place was cute and had good music playing. I bought 1 strawberry match and 1 coco puff drink for 15.50 ( 1 size for drinks ) . The coco puff drink was an 8/10 (drank & rated by my boyfriend) and he said it could've used less ice and more coco puffs ^.^ the strawberry matcha was honestly not that great. Although I appreciate seeing the matcha hand whisked, the taste of the strawberry was just too much and it altered the taste all together. I couldn't tell if it was the cold foam or strawberry jam on the bottom that was just too overwhelming. I'd rate it a 5/10 due to the matcha not being that great, I'd suggest improvement especially for the price ! Also having more than 1 cup size would be appreciated, paying 15.50 to try 2 drinks is CRAZY

Oro Verde: Iced Matcha latte with banana foam
Vanessa J.

Being born and raised in South Gate, I love giving new local businesses love. I decided to stop by this morning and was greeted by morning smiles and kindness. I was given a moment to check out the menu and decided to go with something unique, given I usually tend to go with black coffee or plain lattes . I saw the Oro Verde latte and decided to go with that. I got some morning pastries as well to go. A cheese danish , a cinnamon muffin and some oatmeal cookies. My latte was made to order with fresh ingredients. The banana foam is made fresh each morning and overall the drink was full of flavor, and the smoothness of the banana foam was on point! It was a delicious sweet treat and I'd recommend this drink for those that are in need of something special for the start of your day. Overall, I really enjoyed the space and the wholesome atmosphere. I look forward to coming back and encouraging everyone to come and enjoy Luz y Sombra Cafe as well!

Mazapán Latte
Karla O.

Great drinks and food! Tried the mazapán latte. Not too sweet. It's the perfect balance. The owner was there and chatted with us while working. Very friendly and down to earth.

I got a matcha and they topped it off with cajeta cold foam. It's worth trying but also I do prefer my matcha sweet so I don't mind the double sweetness

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30 days ago

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1 month ago

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19 days ago

my daily coffee best everrr just wish they had a large option the cups seem too small i need more

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2 months ago

Food & Drinks were a 10/10 , delicious food and the coffee is very flavorful , also love the atmosphere , positive vibes! Highly recommend!

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5 months ago

Loved the iced coffee ! Service was fast and there's was a good amount of people and the place was great !

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Coffee and Chisme - Cafe de olla with cold foam

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4.1(232 reviews)
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Food was amazing, me and my friend split the peach cream waffle and the chili chipotle panini and…read morethey were both delish. The panini was my favorite, i was so crunchy on the outside but the inner bread was somewhat soft and the inner chicken was amazing. I got their hazelnut coffee latte with oatmilk and out of several coffee shops ive had, I have not tasted anything like this. The flavor was a good blend of sweet and coffee bean savory. It was really great, I was surprised. Service was outstanding, the owner was super welcoming and sweet. It felt like a cozy little nook at home. Staff checked in to see how we were doing and if there was anything we needed. Me and my friends felt very welcomed.

Honestly less than mid, I asked for light milk and extra ice and an extra shot.. they gave me light…read moreice and extra milk and the coffee was not strong at all. Cold foam tastes like egg. And the time we waited for two drinks was 28 minutes from the time we got in line, (with no one ahead of us in line) not worth it at all The girls were friendly but they were not efficient in service. They advertise chisme in form of little post it notes but you can't actually write any chisme in yourself. They might have run out of post it notes but who knows. The coffee shop was pretty and low lit which I appreciate but it was very small and felt kind of cluttered. They have outdoor seating tho. Paid $18.58 just to toss my coffee in the trash.... Im a bit of a coffee snob so please take this review with a grain of salt.

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Patria Coffee Roasters

Patria Coffee Roasters

4.8(497 reviews)
4.1 mi
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While driving home, we noticed this coffee shop and I'm so happy we decided to stop by!…read more Coffee 8/10 We ordered an iced cafe de olla and a quad Ibarra mex mocha. Both were soo flavorful. I will say, the cafe de olla is very spice forward. I taste a lot of cloves and star anise. A bit different than others I've had but I really liked it. The mex mocha was smooth and rich. I did see that their slushies are highly rated and now that it's getting hot, we'll def be back to try them! Food 10/10 They don't have food items on their menu but there are baked goods! We ordered a cream croissant looking muffin and a chocolate chip cookie. Both were warmed up and were absolutely delicious. Vibes/Ambiance : 10/10 We came on a Friday morning and it wasn't too busy. There were people working there as they have free wifi and outlets. The decor and vibe is cute! They have art on the walls, pictures, plants, community flyers/events, and statements that make you feel safe and at home. The staff is so friendly and welcoming too! There is a little parking lot right next to the shop and we didn't find it hard to find a spot. There is a park next door so I can imagine on the weekends, parking might be a bit tricker. Loved that we found a local gem like Patria and will def be back!

Parking in the little lot next to the shop was difficult to find on a Saturday morning (11-12pm)…read morebut check down the street, adjacent to the park. Menu is simple with the classics (espresso, americanos, cappuccinos, and lattes) and some speciality coffees like the Ibarra Mex Mocha. Prices are pretty reasonable - especially for the quality. It was busy when I went in so wait time was about 10-15 mins after ordering. I also bought one of their syrups - not really sure how much I paid for it but maybe about $15? That was a little pricey but the taste was good too. A little heavy on the spices, but I prefer it.

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Patria Coffee Roasters
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Luz y Sombra Cafe - coffee - Updated May 2026

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