So I have a love hate relationship with with Salty Horse…read more Love: - vibes and decor - sift bakery goodies especially the cinnamon rolls - thick cut bacon - matcha options - Hawaiian cowboy latte - legit eggs Hate: - the long line during peak hours on the weekend - running out of cinnamon rolls at 10am on Saturday - prices are a bit high

I visited the Salty Horse on Saturday for lunch and it was a great spot ! This gem of a restaurant…read moreis seed oil-free, which is such a rare find and greatly appreciated. They're open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM, making it perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We started with the Avocado Toast as a starter, and it was delicious a must-try! The highlight of my meal was definitely the Cowboy Steak Frites; the ribeye steak cooked to perfection, topped with rich cowboy butter, and those truffle parmesan fries were a perfect pairing. For drinks, we started with Fresh Pressed Blueberry Mint Lemonade($6). It was refreshing and not too sweet. Before heading out we grabbed a Berries and Cream Matcha ,less sweet ($8.50) and a seasonal Banana Bandit Matcha. Both had great taste and were delicious. The outdoor seating area is a lovely spot for small groups. If you're looking for tasty food without the seed oils, Salty Horse is the place to go! I can't wait to return and explore more of their menu! One thing to mention is their parking is street parking but there was plenty of spaces to park .

My favorite hangout and work spot. This is where I come…read morefor-- well just about everything, at least 2-3 times a week! Coffee, tea, breakfast, a chill place to read, or a counter top to sit and focus on work. It's my default cafe spot. The staff are excellent, always on top of it and friendly. There is no obligation for anyone to remember my name or get to know me or my usual order, but they do and it's very much appreciated and noticed. They'll always take care of you and make sure you're happy with your order and your experience. They are always attentive and professional. Kitchen staff are *chefs kiss* really good at what they do. Always hot and fresh and work hard to get the orders out and at 100% their best. Never had a wrong order, even during peak hours. Met a few new faces here and it's nice to always feel like this is a community watering hole. If it's busy and the line is long they have iPads to help ease the flow of traffic. Parking is a bit tight but the valet staff do a pretty good job of regulating the flow and other people are usually pretty good about the 10 min parking. I love the turkey sandwich here and the eggs Benedict-- both are a weekly must for me now. Having worked as a barista myself at expensive/ritzy coffee houses-- this one beats them all for sure. 6/5 stars

I wanted to love this place because of all the hype, but as a matcha girl... the matcha just didn't…read morehit for me. My friend did really enjoy her churro latte and cinnamon roll pastry though, so maybe coffee and pastries are the safer move here. Service was a little mid. It was Mother's Day, so maybe the guy working was just overwhelmed or having an off day, but he definitely seemed like he didn't want to be there. The space itself is huge and honestly probably the best part. Tons of seating inside and outside, making it a great place to get some work done or just hang out for a while. The environment was calm and quiet, which I appreciated. I also loved the art pieces on the walls and all the plants they had for sale. They offer a lot of grab and go options plus merch, which added to the overall aesthetic vibe.

matcha was good but hojicha was genuinely so buns take this off the menu ive had good hojicha and…read morethis tasted like straight mud why even sell this?? still drank it tho #antifoodwaste its so bad tho get the matcha not this terrible concoction

I've now been to both The Nook in Costa Mesa and Torrance and I can confidently say... I get the…read morehype. At the Costa Mesa location, parking was a little tricky at first, but after circling we got lucky with a corner spot. The location itself is SO cute! It's right next to colorful barrel fountains, and on a sunny day it honestly felt like the perfect coffee outing. The line was pretty long and you are standing in direct sun, so just keep that in mind, but the service was quick and efficient once you order. Inside, it's small but really charming, with Sunny Angels hidden around and a very open, friendly vibe. My sister (who is basically a professional coffee drinker at this point ) got the matcha and said it was her favorite, which says a lot. I got the iced Spanish latte with oat milk, and it was SO good. Spanish lattes are my go-to, and this one had the perfect hint of cinnamon without being overly sweet. Even as the ice melted, it still tasted great, which is rare. The Torrance location was just as good! Parking was easier, the space is bigger, and the service was still super friendly and fast. My husband got the cold brew "Nook way" and finished it in like 10 minutes. He said it tasted like Golden Grahams cereal. Highly recommend both locations and especially the Spanish latte. Definitely worth the visit!

A matcha heaven new at Costa Mesa. We tried four drinks…read moreand they were all great! Pink coconut matcha is matcha cream with coconut water Yuzu matcha uses high grade Kyoto matcha power Black sesame latte Banana hojocha latte Shop also offers pastries including freshly made cookies We tried Matcha croissant Ube cruffin has ube cream filling Love the decor and all the Jelly Cats toys. Staffs cleaned tables right after customers left. Plenty tables inside this cozy place.

Menu has been revamped! I like how the Pistachio Latte is not too sweet, but the pistachio flavor…read moregot a little lost once it met the coffee. Would love a bit more nutty punch to really make it shine. Staff are warm and smiley, happily offer recommendations, and quickly make drinks. The interior is aesthetic with lots of guests studying. Looks like a promising refresh for the cafe ~ I just need that pistachio to speak up :)

I usually love coming to sidecar because of their delicious donuts but I was very disappointed…read morewith the service I received today. It was 10 min before closing & idk if the girls were just rushing to close down but one girl in particular had an attitude. There was a miscommunication / misunderstanding with the girl who took my coffee order (I had assumed the seasonal banana latte came with the foam as pictured & because she didn't ask if I wanted the foam, I didn't ask for it more-so bc she asked if I wanted the brittle on top). When they handed me my drink it was a plain banana latte with no foam or brittle. I was ignored when I tried calling for the barista until another girl followed up - however this girl had an attitude. She told me that I must not have ordered it since they ask at the register if I want foam with brittle. Explained they didn't ask. Instead she just said "sorry I'll let them know for next time". And walked away leaving me with my drink as is. Didn't offer any sort of resolution. I walked in and asked they could charge me extra for the foam. The same girl with the attitude remade my drink and handed it to me. No thank you, no sorry, nothing. First time experiencing this kind of service. Not sure if the girl is new but saw someone else share a similar experience couple days ago. Wish I would have asked for her name!

Sidecar never ever misses and they have me hooked with their seasonal flavors. They have the best…read moredonuts, and I'm not even a donut person. I specifically LOVE their cake donuts. I could go on and on about them... seriously. This time we had to come try their collab with Cake Picnic, which was the golden hour grey donut. Let me tell you, it was bomb.com. The orange flavor was phenomenal and I have no notes. We also got the strawberry donut and hot chocolate with almond milk, both obviously very good as well. It was my first time getting the hot chocolate and I was honestly surprised with how yummy it was. It was not too chocolatey and not too milky. It was the perfect balance and the perfect pairing with the donuts.

Sarah was great. She was very friendly and recommended me a drink that was great when I asked for…read moreher advice. It was my first time and she made sure it was a very welcoming experience. Will definitely be back.

I decided to check this place on a whim since I was in the area! And this place didn't disappoint…read more They don't play about their coffee. Stepping in, the cafe has a lot of seating and I can see how it'd be nice to study in. I ordered Kashimiri Chai and the drink was so light and the cardonom really shines through. Their banana pudding is DIVINE, it is on the sweeter side but it's homemade and you fs tell! They also make their syrups in houseee! I tried the House chai but I ended up prefering the Kashimiri Chai! I'll def be coming back for more since the staff kept raving about their coffee. Sarah and Patrick were the sweetest! Service was top tier, so friendly! and they gave me reccomendations based on my taste. I wasn't familiar with the menu and they gently guided me through my questions.

Stopped by In-Sit Coffee and tried the new Cloud 9 series, specifically the matcha with Biscoff,…read moreand honestly I really liked it. I'm pretty picky with matcha because a lot of places make it either too sweet or too earthy, but this one was balanced really well. Smooth, creamy, and flavorful without feeling heavy. The Biscoff topping was a really nice touch too. Also wanted to shout out Eugene and Sean. Both were super welcoming and easy to talk to, and they took the time to explain the new series they launched instead of just handing over the drink and moving on. You can tell they actually care about what they're putting out. The whole place has a really clean aesthetic and the drinks look just as good as they taste. Definitely one of the better coffee spots I've been to lately and I'll for sure be back to try more from the menu.

We went here after a workout and it seems right before it got pretty busy. I got a strawberry…read morematcha and my friend got a matcha cloud 9. The cloud 9 has a cold foam on top and she made it a banana foam. We enjoyed both of our matchas and took some to go. There isn't a ton of seating since it's a smaller coffee shop, but as people come through some seating opens up. Most people came in for pick up. Overall, service was great and the matchas were too! We would come back again.

Drink :5/5 Barista service: 5/5…read more Ambiance: 5/5 I recommend it Plenty of space Has private parking space

The store is really cute when I walked in. They had a mini board games for people to play and many…read moredifferent chairs and seating available for customers. I got the Matcha latte with no sugar and whole milk. It was decent nothing I would write home, but it was still pretty good for six dollars. In addition the staff are friendly prepared my drinks in about 3 to 5 minutes. Parking can get busy in the lot due to other restaurants

I have been a huge fan of this place since it was rebirthed from Dietrich's coffee. I was sad to…read moresee the former place go, was super excited to see that it had not died completely. This is one of those if you know you know places. With so much corporate coffee out there, it's nice to find a place that really takes pride in small batch coffee. Parking can be slightly challenging, as this is a very busy strip mall. But if you're lucky you can get a parking spot right out front. Inside is warm and inviting, great friendly staff, who know their stuff and are willing to make suggestions. Plenty of seating options both inside and out, and on Spring and summer days the outside is definitely happening. To be honest, I have never had anything bad here. I always like to try the different baked goods and everything has been on point. Their coffee drinks are second to none, and I just can't say enough good things about this. I think if I was to open a coffee shop it would be just like this. You can't beat the people, the prices are reasonable, and the service is top notch. Bottom line? If you are in the Southern California area, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, or Balboa, this is your go-to place.

Decided to treat myself to another cup of coffee while I was in the area. There's not many coffee…read moreshop roasters around me, so I was really excited to try Kean Coffee. Parking: Free parking lot. They're located in a busy plaza, so finding a parking spot can be a hit or miss. Ambiance/Environment: They have a small space with a decent amount of indoor and outdoor seating. I visited on a Sunday afternoon, and it was very busy. All indoor and outdoor tables were filled. Great spot to get some work done or a simple coffee date. Service: The cashier at the register was nice. Throughput was quick & efficient after ordering. They also sell their own coffee beans. There's a great selection of pastries and parfaits for a quick breakfast. Drinks: I love their story of sourcing and roasting their own beans. They offer a great range of coffee. I'm a latte girly, so I decided to try the Caffe Napoli Latte. This had hazelnut and white chocolate. It was definitely on the sweeter end, but wow this tasted amazing! Even though it was sweet, the espresso still came through. Pricing: They have four different sizes - 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz, and 20 oz. Prices are as expected. I'd definitely visit again when I'm in the area!

My first impression of the cafe was that it looks and feels like a quaint house. When I walked in,…read moreit felt like I was in a house from a coming of age movie. The baristas were very kind and welcoming. I saw lots of seating and also peeped seating outside as I looked for the bathroom. The bathroom was very clean and beautifully decorated, which I really appreciate in a coffee shop. :) I ordered the rosemary caramel latte hot and a morning roll. I closed my eyes for the first sip and was so happy about how smooth the foam was. The rosemary flavor came through first, then it was softened by the sweetness of the caramel. It paired very nicely with the slight orange flavor of the morning bun. I am usually a sipper but I drank it quite quickly, which is usually a good indicator that I absolutely love the drink. I was tempted to stay for longer, but had to go because the parking lot has 5 minute spots. I will definitely be back for more! :)

The Neat One with housemade vanilla syrup: 3/5. This was an ok iced latte. Kinda milky, almost…read morebland, but I did taste a subtle vanilla flavor. It wasn't super sweet, though I would've enjoyed it more if it had more flavored syrup and/or a stronger coffee presence. The barista who took my order was chipper and patient. Since straws were apparently behind the counter since they haven't gotten around to restocking the self-service area, I requested one for my iced latte. Those straws weren't individually wrapped, so it grossed me out when the barista handed one to me with her bare hands. It's a cute shop with minimalist, modern vibes. Barely any parking there, so we parked a block away and walked over to its little nook. They also sell a variety of roasted beans, and we liked the Pantan Sinaku Indonesia beans from Dune Coffee Roasters. If I were to come back, I'd try the Shakerato, as it seems to be consistently crowd-pleasing.