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    Mokja

    4.8 (18 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    MOKJA ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Mokja

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    Oxtail handle
    Daisy M.

    Taste: their oxtail hand pie is extremely tasty. The crispy outer layer is a really nice contrast for its filling, and the sauce on the side adds a little fun kick to it Their sweet corn latte (not pictured ) on the other hand is a little underwhelming for the concept. I would've liked a stronger coffee taste, it is milk based but the ratio was a little off. Location: perfect walking distance, the main entrance is closed so you have to go around the building through an alley. Service: great service, they took my order in such a timely manner despite being very busy on a Saturday morning.

    PBL&T
    Jessica G.

    Would have given 5 stars if we talked about taste alone and not considering the kitchen smell that lingered within the venue and unfortunately all over me post dining there (yep kinda deep-frowned). Service was amazing as they got the foods freshly made to order yet relatively short waiting time; besides all the attendants were so helpful. We started with their Brown Butter Jollypong Cookie, whose texture was more cakey than chewy, but serving good sweet and savory mix with the unique cereal flavor as well. We then got the PBL&T and Gochujang Short Ribs Onigiri, both of which got us sold! The PBL&T totally worth the price being huge and filling with thick juicy pork belly slices. The veggies were so fresh and the kimchi mayo sauce easily became the highlight. The onigiri had spicy hint but so good as well. It's prolly bigger than your regular onigiri and packed with toppings. Would surely come back but wished they'd get the exhaust system improved.

    Grain bowl with pork belly. Sweet corn latte
    Miori I.

    Highland Park's first Korean cafe/market is here, Mokja! It's located on York, tucked behind YiCha, so it's a little hard to find if you don't already know it's in the back of the building. But as soon as you walk through the clear doors, you're greeted by a delicious and overwhelming scent of garlic and coffee. If you weren't hungry before, you will be now! Shelves on the left are stocked with snacks, dried goods, sauces, and merch; to your right, there's a fridge full of bottled drinks, prepackaged food, and sides, plus the kitchen area. Walk straight and you'll find the coffee and pastry counter, and in the left corner, my personal favorite, a DIY ramen station. Mokja is the popular new kid in the neighborhood, so expect a line! If you come during a slow time, there are a few small tables in the middle and a tall counter along the left wall. Utensils, napkins, and water are conveniently self-serve near the ramen station. What I tried: - Sweet corn latte (espresso was solid, but didn't catch much sweet corn flavor) - Mayak egg sando (I've never met an egg sando I didn't like: fluffy, full of smashed and boiled egg goodness) - Grain bowl with added pork belly (great flavors, generous portion, worth the price) Friendly staff and good music round out the experience. I'll definitely be back soon to raid the fridge and snack shelves!

    Sign on Figueroa. Cafe in the back.
    Nikki B.

    Look out HLP - there's a new place in town and it's called Mokja, which means "Let's eat" in Korean. This Koren Café & Market is a sister establishment of Be Bright Coffee & YiCha. Founded by Chef Debbie Lee (YiCha) & Frank & Michelle La (Be Bright Coffee) this hybrid space combines a modern café, with a street food haven, and a curated Asia grocery market. Offerings include build-your-own ramen, sandwiches (Mayak Egg Sandos), specialty Korean dishes, grab & go Banchan, pastries, exotic lattes (Misugaru latte), and more. There is also a retail section with gourmet products from AAPI-owned businesses. I arrived an hour after they officially opened their doors. The place was packed. There are a few tables to sit at and a standing bar along the wall. The chefs were cooking up a storm. It smelled so good. While in line, I watched Frank skillfully prepare lattes with care. I wanted to try the Banana Matcha Latte but was on a time crunch so I got one of their signature pastries instead - Kimchee Cheese Biscuit. The girl at the register was darling. Keeping up with the pace with a smile. The biscuit was still warm when I got home, which is a few blocks away. The top and bottom were crunchy with a cheddar cheese shell. Inside it was soft, dense, & moist. It was so good and very flavorful. I could taste the cheese and seasonings. I do recommend. I'm going back tomorrow for that Banana Matcha Latte and most definitely another biscuit. *The entrance is in the back. Enter through the alley between Ave 58 & 57. Take the black elevator down to 1. *Metered street parking or metered parking in the lot.

    The menu behind the coffee counter...
    Marc D.

    I LOVE MOKJA!!! ...and it seems like everyone else does too based on the crowd I saw on a Sunday afternoon. What is Mokja? It's a combination unique coffee house / hip casual Korean café / Korean food market where everyone from customers to staff seem happy to be. Shelves are stocked with a combination of hard to find Korean snacks, hip products from local businesses, and housemade Korean food... which is fun for me as a fan of K-dramas who wants to try everything I hear about on tv... ...speaking of which, they have the coolest ramen station where you can pick from a variety of instant Korean ramyeons, add toppings and hot water to instantly enjoy on the spot! Their coffee drinks use Be Bright Coffee beans, which I love and they have so many unique offerings, like sweet corn latte! I had the Omija Sparkler which might just rival my beloved Espresso Tonic for the crown of Favorite Drink! Mokja is a GREAT addition to an already cool stretch of Highland Park and from what I hear, it's owned by the same crew that runs the Korean gastropub Yi Cha, which is next door. Welcome to the neighborhood, Mokja!

    Menu

    This place serves Korean comfort food and great coffee. Their Egg Salad Sando is bomb! The braised oxtail hand pie is a must-try, the outside of the pie is so fluffy and the inside was flavorful! For drinks, their sweet corn latte and matcha latte were good too ! The cafe is very spacious , bright and welcoming, they even have an elevator for ADA access,making it very convenient got people like me who use a walker or wheelchair. Love this place !

    Natalie W.

    I got the oxtail hand pie to go - highly recommend! It was so flaky and buttery and the filling was a delicious mix of meat and veggies. I saw the snack shelf on the way out, so I'll definitely get something from there next time. Also excited to try the ramen! The cashier was so kind and helped me choose what to order.

    Mayak egg salad sando
    Evakitty ..

    Everything we ordered was delicious! The egg salad sando was a pleasant surprise, especially with the beautiful soft-boiled egg. The oxtail hand pie was also excellent. The pastry had a unique flavor and paired perfectly with the filling. Definitely would come back to try more.

    George C.

    Fun cafe with great food and good service. The place is large and airy with limited seating. Large parking lot in the back. Recommend oxtail hand pie, it was delicious. We also had the Seoul style breakfast plate with sausage which was excellent too. Generous amount of spam in the musubi. For ramen, you pick a package, choose three toppings and go to the cooking station to make your own ramen. For drinks the Misugaru latte and Omija sparkler were both very good. Sweet corn latte was just a small hint of corn and the cappuccino was on the watery side. Employees were friendly and helpful. Happy this place opened up and we will be back in the future.

    PBLT

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    Jeff’s Table - The "Jeff's Special" (Reuben)

    Jeff’s Table

    4.3(257 reviews)
    0.1 miHighland Park
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    One of the best Cuban sandwiches I have ever had in my life…read more Took me a second to see where the actual spot was only to find it tucked away in the back of a liquor store. Not much room to sit there but plenty in the front on the street.

    tl;dr the signature reuben highlights an otherwise hit-or-miss array of elevated deli classics…read more Jeff Strauss hasn't always been a hit chef (he started his career as a writer for Friends), but you wouldn't know it based on the excellent eats at his eponymous Jeff's Table. This "sandwich speakeasy" is tucked in the back room of a Highland Park liquor store, but the ambitious deli lineup includes some of the city's best sandwiches. Outside, you'll see a worn neon sign reading "Coldest Beer in Town". Walk through the slightly worn beverage displays, past stacked cases of Liquid Death, industrial fridges of local IPAs, and ceiling-high shelves of liquor and spirits, to the cramped sandwich operation in the back. A letterboard menu is organized on the off-white plaster wall, underneath a neon sign depicting the red cartoon table logo. Additional sandwich specials are doodled onto a tiny chalkboard behind the checkout counter. Maroon metal patio furniture is organized underneath sweeping umbrellas along the muraled brick exterior out front. The best of the sandwiches are total bops. The "Jeff's Special" Reuben features the perfect ratio of uber-rich cheese, melt-in-your-mouth pastrami, and panini-pressed rye; I only wish the meat itself packed some more seasoning. The Dirty Baby was just as satisfying. The decadent one-two punch of gouda and turkey salad more closely resembled a hearty bolognese than a deli sandwich. The thick-cut challah admirably withstood the 20-minute drive home. Other items were less memorable. The Hainan-Style Turkey Salad was slapped onto a dull hamburger bun-esque roll. While I enjoyed the diverse crispy textures, from the fried garlic to the arugula to the cucumber, the turkey salad itself was mostly flavorless. Similarly, the Thai Peanut Mac Salad was exciting in texture but plain in taste -- the celery was more prominent than the green curry aioli. The service was extra friendly, and the sandwiches run $15-16 each, relatively affordable by LA standards. While some of the sandwiches could compete for the title of best in LA, other dishes were duds. I won't go out of my way to schedule a visit during Jeff's Table's limited lunch hours, but I would certainly pay them a return visit if I'm already in the neighborhood.

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    Bub and Grandma's - Crab sandwich

    Bub and Grandma's

    4.0(446 reviews)
    2.5 miGlassell Park
    $$

    Great food here. You've probably driven past and seen a modest line of people waiting. I wish I…read morecould say that the line moves quickly but it simply doesn't. Is it worth waiting in line for more than 15m? Absolutely not. But again, the food is great. Street parking though is always tricky depending on the time of your visit. Bacon Egg and Cheese - For a breakfast sandwich, it smacks. I wasn't so certain about the bread ratio but I was so wrong-- the roll is perfectly soft, and the egg, bacon, and cheese come together perfectly. No real notes here. Sausage Egg and Cheese - If you like sausage, get this one. But if you're undecided, just go with bacon. I'll get myself a blood orange donut every now and again. They're priced a little high but I would say that you certainly get what you pay for.

    Although I personally believe this is a really nice place and the sandwiches are very good, I want…read moreto give my very personal opinion in regard to the sourdough bread they make. I also have to emphasize that making bread is not as simple as it may seem, especially with sourdough but it could definitely be improved. I bought a "house bread" that claims to contain a percentage of rye and to have a tangy flavor profile. However, the final product seems to me more like an over-fermented loaf than the result of a well-balanced sourdough process. When a sourdough starter is allowed to mature too far and begins to run out of available food, its acidity and fermentation byproducts can become more pronounced, often producing a sharper, more acidic or alcoholic aroma. If that overly mature starter is then used in the dough, it can contribute to an excessively acidic and over-fermented final product. This also seems to be reflected in the crumb. The crumb is neither particularly uniform nor well-developed in a three-dimensional sense. Instead, there are large, irregular open areas concentrated along the edges near the crust. This can be consistent with excessive fermentation and uneven gas retention, although other factors such as shaping and dough tension can also contribute to this type of crumb structure. If the starter being used is rye-based and additional rye flour is incorporated into the dough, fermentation can become more active and the dough structure can behave differently from an all-wheat dough. Rye also has a significant effect on gluten development and gas retention. For that reason, the fermentation schedule needs to be adjusted accordingly, and the dough should not necessarily be subjected to an excessively long cold bulk fermentation. Perhaps the process being used for these breads is something along the lines of feeding the sourdough starter approximately four hours before mixing the dough, preparing the dough, and then placing it directly into the refrigerator for an extended cold bulk fermentation. If that is indeed the process, it could certainly produce a more pronounced acidic profile. However, if the fermentation is allowed to proceed too far, the result may be an over-fermented loaf with excessive acidity and poor crumb structure rather than a well-balanced sourdough bread. In my view, the goal should not simply be to maximize acidity. A well-balanced sourdough bread should ideally combine acidity with fermentation-derived aromas, good dough strength, even gas distribution, and a well-developed crumb structure.

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    Mokja - coffee - Updated September 2026

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