Public Square has been closed since April after staff walked out and eventually quit due to unpaid wages. Unfortunately, this place was on the decline leading up to these events. It would usually take a half hour to get a simple drink order. Food that was previously wow turned into meh (I'm looking at you, shashuka). I don't blame the baristas. I don't think the business owners ever properly streamlined their ordering process / menu to get items out effectively. I hope we get something nice to replace this space. read more

This place gets a lot of hype for their scones, but honestly, that was the only thing special. They overall they are very expensive and service is slow. Be prepared to wait, or order a mobile order for pick up. Cleanliness...could be better. Looks clean from ground level, but if you look up the plants and ac vents are covered in layers of dust. Scones were fantastic but not sure that makes it worth the wait. read more

Public Square - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

My new favorite coffee spot! I'm currently in my pandan obsession era and this place does it RIGHT. I've already been back more times than I can count. So far, I've tried the pandan, the brown sugar, and the sesame latte all iced w/ oat milk and they've all been a hit. The pandan is easily my fave, but if you're trying the brown sugar and don't love super sweet drinks I'd recommend adding an extra shot to balance it out. The drinks are consistently good and you can tell they really care about the quality. It's one of those spots you keep thinking about and end up going back to without even planning it. Customer service was solid and there's plenty of seating, which makes it a nice place to hang out or get some work done. Parking was also easy, which is always a win. Highly recommend checking this place out especially if you're a pandan lover like me! read more

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This is one of my favorite spots in the La Mesa area. The staff is always warm and welcoming, and the entire café has such a cozy, inviting vibe. It's also very kid-friendly and a great place to read or study, with dedicated stools and seating designed for that purpose. I really appreciate their no-WiFi table concept, which encourages community, conversation, and being present rather than glued to a screen. One thing to keep in mind is parking, it's mostly paid street parking and can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. That said, it's still worth the effort. Their scones always look incredible, though this time I kept it simple with a latte, and it was absolutely delicious. I love the cute little "thank you" card they give out! read more

Public Square - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

It is hard not to give this place another five star review. I usually do not review a shop more than once, but during my second visit to Public Square I was transported right back to happy little coffee shop heaven. It almost felt like experiencing it for the first time again. I will not go into too much detail since my first review already covers a lot... This time we arrived about an hour before closing. They offer an afternoon happy hour from 1pm to close (4pm). Scones are $2, some lunch items like the tomato soup and carnitas sandwich are $2 off, and certain lattes are only $4. Last time I ordered a matcha latte with pandan syrup which was great, but this visit I wanted to try their signature pandan latte. My partner ordered the dark chocolate mocha latte. We also grabbed two scones with fig and honey butter and maple cayenne butter. You can check my first review for more details about the butter. The space was extremely clean and cozy. The interior has lots of greenery and warm lighting. I like that they rely on natural light mixed with softer yellow lighting. It makes the space comfortable whether you are studying, getting work done, or just winding down after a long day like we were. The barista at the register was incredibly kind. She was handling both drink making and the register while a steady line of customers kept forming. I was not able to catch her name but she maintained a great attitude the whole time. The person clearing tables and running food was also very friendly. We were given a number for our scones and they arrived in less than five minutes. They smelled amazing and tasted even better. Warm and fluffy with a slightly crisp exterior. Our drinks came out about ten minutes after ordering. The dark chocolate mocha latte was crafted really well. You could taste that slight bitterness from the dark chocolate but it blended nicely with the espresso. My pandan latte was refreshing in a caffeinated, comforting kind of way. I was curious whether it was more of a pandan milk drink or if there was espresso in it. I could definitely taste espresso but the drink still kept its bright green color which made me wonder if it might be a lighter roast. The pandan flavor adds this nutty, almost macadamia-like flavor that makes the drink creamy and really enjoyable. Overall this place continues to impress me. Great service, consistently delicious drinks and food, and a cozy atmosphere. I cannot wait to come back and try the carnitas sandwich next. read more

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Portions here are huge, so definitely come hungry. I had the chia pudding, and my sisters and husband enjoyed their meals. I did find the Not-So-Old-Fashioned Biscuits and Gravy to have an overpowering rosemary flavor. If you like rosemary, you might enjoy them. The breakfast sandwich was tasty, and I loved the Black Sesame Latte. They provide non-dairy milk, which I appreciate. Service was great, and the restaurant setting was warm and inviting. read more

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It's our first time here at public Square. We are each having a sandwich and tea and it is really very good. They serve breakfast all day read more

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Hands down the best coffee in town. Consistently excellent, thoughtfully made, and never misses. The food is just as good--fresh, well-executed, and clearly made with care. Great vibe, friendly staff, and the kind of place that reminds you why supporting small businesses matters. Support local--especially when it's this good.. read more

Public Square - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

4.5/5! Lively, homey coffee shop in the center of La Mesa. Coffee: 5/5 The sesame latte was wonderfully umami. 1/2 sweet was the perfect sweetness for me so I'd imagine 100% sweet would err on the sweeter side. Both the hot and iced versions were smooth and delicious. The baristas are clearly talented. Food: 4.5/5 The breakfast sandwich was solid, the focaccia bread tasted fresh and was certainly the highlight of the dish. Service: 4/5 Service was decent! I got the impression that the service lady taking orders was a bit overwhelmed. Ambiance: - Very lively - definitely on the louder end of coffee shops. The interior is nicely decorated and they have various merch/bottled drinks for sale. Parking: - Metered La Mesa downtown parking. Can be difficult on the weekends but you can dally snag a spot along the street. read more

Public Square - Sesame Lattes, iced and hot - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I have been making my own coffee at home lately so I have not been discovering new coffee shops but wow I will be back at this one again soon. I have really loved exploring the La Mesa area and it really has some great spots so it has turned into one of our favorites areas to walk around and discover something new. I was not super hungry when I was here but I could not say no to a scone with a flight of butter. You got to pick which flavors you wanted on the flight and the scone was perfection. I got a classic vanilla latte with oat milk and would definitely order it again. The staff here are truly awesome, so friendly and helpful which really sells it on the fact that I want to come back here again soon! read more

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First time visiting and it certainly will not be the last. I got the fresh scone with the honey and fig butter and my friend got the guava butter. They were but so good! I love that you can buy jars of the butter and they discount to refill the jars. I got a vanilla bean iced latte and she got the brow suga latte. Bother we're definitely delicious. The instead is so cute and I love the you matter mural. They are very inclusive of everyone. The baristas were very friendly and welcoming to call. Can't wait to go back and try other items read more

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What a cute coffee shop! You can tell it's a spot people love to work or study. The menu includes great coffee and non-caffeinated drinks, but also a breakfast and lunch menu. This time I went, I was super tempted for the grilled cheese and tomato soup, but wasn't super hungry. I decided to order a scone with three different types of butter. I'm obsessed with the butters! The scone was delicious but the butters were the real stars. We got the maple cayenne, fig and honey, and cranberry orange. I liked them all, but the fig and honey was hands down my favorite. My iced brown sugar latte was perfection. Definitely a place I'll continue to come back to whenever I happen to be in the area! read more

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I Stopped by Public Square Coffee on a Friday afternoon while checking out the farmers market. I ordered an agua fresca for my son and treated myself to a Buko Pandan both were delicious! It did take a bit of time for them to prepare, but honestly, totally worth the wait. You can tell this place has its community lots of regulars hanging out, folks working remotely and using the café as their unofficial office. While I was sipping my drink, one guy was trying to speak Tagalog to the barista (props for the effort!) and then launched into a full-on history and political convo only at a neighborhood coffee spot like this, lol. I'll be back for sure read more

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I've been hitting up all the trendy spots lately with my son, and Public Square in La Mesa is definitely a winner. This place is super hip and attracts a young, lively crowd. We went on a Saturday morning and it was packed, it seems like everyone had the same idea to grab coffee and scones here! Here is what we ordered: * The Scone: This was amazing. It has that perfect texture, crusty on the outside but incredibly soft and moist on the inside. Pro tip: You have to try it with their honey butter. It is so good. * Avocado Toast: Another hit. It comes on crunchy toasted sourdough with fresh arugula on top. Simple and delicious. * Hot Chocolate: Heavenly! It was creamy and rich, exactly the way we like it. * Matcha: This was on another level. Very cool and rich in flavor. Even though it was busy, the service was super efficient. You just order at the counter first and they deliver the food right to your table. Highly recommend if you are looking for a great brunch spot in the area! read more

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A lovely spot. Outdoor seating available and many tables with charging ports. Fantastic and beautiful food done quickly. Recommending the drench toast and the Changa latte. Well worth the trip. read more

Public Square - Drench toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

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We came to try the coffee drinks, but would come back again for the food. The upside: Very Friendly Service Excellent Food Cool atmosphere Great prices Lots of outdoor seating Nice downtown location in La Mesa The downside: The wait to get coffee was like none I've ever experienced. We were told up front that the wait for our iced lattes would be 20 minutes. We wanted to order food too, so we're fine with that. However, our food was long gone before we ever received our coffees. At 30 min. I went in to check on our order (food had arrived by then) because we were sitting outside and thought maybe we hadn't heard our name get called at 20-ish minutes. Was told politely and apologetically that our order was up next & it would just be a couple minutes...15 more minutes (45 total now) and our coffees were finally received. The coffee was very good but honestly no coffee is amazing enough to wait 45 min. for, especially considering late morning on a Thursday. The place was busy but not too packed to find seating and there were maybe only 5 people in line to order when we arrived. So, while I would not come back for coffee unless the place looked fairly empty, I would definitely come back for the food. The sugar scone that was highly recommended and the butter flight of all 6 flavored butters was as fun to try as it was delicious. My daughter had the signature breakfast sandwich and it was really good as well. We would definitely come back for either of these 2 food items any time...just might need to get the coffee elsewhere on the way. Giving 4 stars overall because of the wait on coffee, otherwise I'd give it a 4.5. read more

Public Square - Sugar scones with flight of flavored butters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Cute little thoughtful cards that come with your order. Our go-to is the brown sugar latte and pandan latte. The tomato bisque is also a must try. Nice cafe to come chill or study. read more

Public Square - Brown sugar latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

The Pandan Latte is 5 stars and worth a try if you're in the La Mesa area. This latte was balanced perfectly with sweetness and served at the right temperature. The barista made this latte photo worthy and she had great customer service. The atmosphere had an incredible vibe and I'm definitely returning. read more

Public Square - Pandan Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Public Square is a cool coffee shop in the heart of La Mesa. They have quite an extensive menu of drink and food items, and I appreciated seeing their more interesting and unique options. All of the staff were super friendly and willing to answer any questions you may have. There was also a good amount of seating. I visited on a very busy Saturday morning, so the service was pretty slow, unfortunately. However, don't let that deter you from trying this place out. I think you'll be impressed with the menu offerings, and will most likely find something you've never tried before. read more

Public Square - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

They were closed on Thursday April 23, 2026 - reorganization? I was looking forward to the scones and flavored butters. Giving a hopeful five stars, as I will try again when they reopen. read more

My first time here. Great spot to meet up with folks for coffee and quick bfast. I went with the hot pandan latte, chia seed pudding (grab from their fridge), and the scones with the 6 different butters to share. Came in on a weekday around 10:30 am and was told that it will be about 15 mins for my drink and 20 minutes for the scone but surprisingly, both came out faster than anticipated. The pandan latte was pretty good but as I was drinking it down, I can taste the sweetness. I should've mixed it but was too busy admiring the artwork. The chia seed had a good ratio of berry compote and granola. The main star were the fresh out of the oven scones and the flight of butters. The scones were soft and moist as described. Perfect of sugar and powdered sugar on top. Re: the butter, my favorite was The PB Ube followed by the blueberry. The butters do melt fast so don't let them sit there for too long. If you are looking for a coffee shop, this isn't it. Please be patient. Also, watch out for the parking meters. They are pretty strict around there. Make sure to feed enough in your meter or you will get a ticket. read more

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I guess this review updated without me actually updating it. My bad: but I have to say I have been coming here since they opened & as long as they never get rid of the classic breakfast sandy & Black Sesame Latte I will continue coming here! They have delicious latte options but I frequent the aforementioned and the Chaga Latte (sugar free with mushrooms) .. service is always fast unless everyone else decided to come because welp the secret has been out. But, use the app order online and grab it at the window continues to be a viable option that I heavily suggest at congested times! It's quaint and cute inside, but the bathroom is the same from opening... I don't use it anymore. read more

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Everything was so good here! We dropped by at 1pm on a Saturday for a late brunch, and there was a bit of a line, but it moved quickly. The dining area was filled. We ordered the pandan latte, dark chocolate mocha latte, 6 scones accompanied by a flight of 6 types of flavored butters, the not-so old-fashioned biscuits and gravy, and coffee carnitas sandwich. The food took about 15 min to arrive, but the drinks were ready about 6 min after we ordered. The pandan latte was perfectly balanced in flavor and was just sweet enough. The pandan was present but not overpowering. Would definitely come back just to try the iced version! The butter flight accompanying the scones was such a fun touch, but we made the mistake of eating outside in the blazing heat. Though melted, the butters were flavorful all paired well with the scones. The cinnamon and blueberry butters were my favorite! The biscuits and gravy were my favorite part of the meal. The gravy was thick and savory with small bits of sausage and a hint of rosemary. It paired well with the biscuit and egg. Most definitely coming back for this classic dish. Presentation was great. Friendly staff. Parking was surprisingly easy. Look forward to coming back. read more

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Public Square has the best specialty coffee I have tried. Each cup is perfection. Today I had their matcha and it was just the right blend of sweetness and tartness. The atmosphere is great to do work in. The music is never too loud and it's usually something calming and not crazy. The workers are always friendly and welcoming! read more

Public Square - Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Visited Public Square while I was in town visiting my sister and absolutely loved it. The area is great, the vibe is so welcoming, the food is incredible, and the service was wonderful all around. The sesame iced latte was amazing, I can never find one anywhere, so seeing it on the menu genuinely made my day. But if I'm being totally honest, my sister's pandan iced latte completely stole the show. I'm still thinking about it. So, so good. The scones were unreal, I could've eaten a dozen without hesitation. The different butters are such a fun and thoughtful touch. And the breakfast sandwich? Dynamite. The bread was soft and pillowy on the inside with the perfect little crunch on the outside, but the chipotle aioli was the real MVP. I'll definitely be stopping by every time I visit from now on. read more

Public Square - Housemade Sugar Scone & Butter Flight | Signature Breakfast Sandwich | Pandan Iced Latte | Black Sesame Iced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I stopped by this modern coffee shop because the ambiance caught my eye. I ordered an iced ceremonial matcha with pumpkin cream cold foam, but after the first sip, I immediately regretted it. The drink was overly milky with almost no matcha flavor at all. The only redeeming part was the pumpkin foam, which is the reason I gave 2 stars. I've had great matcha before unfortunately, this wasn't one of them. read more

Public Square - Iced Matcha with pumpkin spice cold foam - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Such a cute place! Love the live music on Sunday mornings, it's actually what drew us in to try it. The line does get somewhat long and we had to wait about 20 to 30 minutes for our food. With the way that it's set up it didn't seem like a long wait, being able to just sit and chat and listen to the music filled the time. The food was amazing!! Will definitely be going back!! read more

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Came recently with a friend. We just ordered some coffee drinks and sat outside. Staff were friendly and the cafe now seems better set up for work/study/ casual chat. They improved the layout and ambience since my first review so I'm updating to reflect my last visit. read more

I had ordered their chai latte with black sesame syrup and half sweet to try and mimic a drink I've had at one of my other favorite coffee spots in sd. It was alright, the flavors clash too much with eachother so there's not much balance between the two. Probably won't order this again, but glad I tried! The pandan latte, however, is really great! You definitely get the smoothness of the pandan and the smoothness of the espresso balancing really well with eachother. Beautifully crafted drink! The ambiance is really cute and cozy! This cafe is definitely a spot for people to study or work. Services was great and awesome, the person taking my order was super patient with me even with making a bajillion adjustments to my chai latte. Service awesome! Ambiance awesome! Drinks great! read more

Public Square - pandan latte and chai latte with black sesame syrup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Yes I gave this place 5 stars and here is why. They had me at their scones! Executive summary: Service:5/5 Quality:5/5 Food:5/5 Depth of menu:5/5 Good for groups:3/5 The quality and flavor of the butter that comes with the scones is Michelin level! If you takeaway one thing from my review is get here early on the weekends. It gets crowded here because great coffee sells itself! Inside is kind of small but the coffee is artisanal and the scones and butter are made in small batches. The quality of the black sesame is my go to drink and the scone flight is delicious! Baked fresh every day and even good the next day. There is milk alternatives offered here and there is an app you can order your drink ahead of time, minus the scones. You have to order in person. I've had the breakfast sandwich here is three words, de-li-cious! If it's your first time coming here then I recommend getting a flight of scones and a latte. They are dog friendly and kid friendly. You can meet a group of friends here just get here early the real estate get filled quick on weekends. read more

Public Square - Cinnamon scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

This coffee shop has such a cool vibe and the food smells so so good. I didn't have any food this time around but I have in the past and remember it being very good. I tried the dark chocolate mocha today and I was a little disappointed. It honestly just tasted like chocolate milk. It wasn't as dark or coffee forward as I was hoping. Probably my fault, I noticed after I ordered they use two shots per latte, I usually add a shot at coffee shops to lighten the sweetness and bring the coffee flavor forward. The service was a little slow but it was a Friday right before the farmers market, so that is to be expected. Either this place is worth a visit. read more

Public Square - Dark Chocolate Mocha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Public Square - Review I tried the brown sugar latte (regular milk), a dirty chai, and an oat-milk cappuccino. The total came to around $20. Overall, the drinks were decent, nothing memorable, and the brown sugar latte tasted a bit watered down. Coffee quality alone falls around a ~3.5-4/5~ for me, though it may have just been an off day. That said, Public Square stands out because East County simply doesn't have many great craft coffee options. San Diego has amazing coffee overall, but East County is more limited, and this is easily the best spot in the area. There's plenty of room to work or study, and the neighborhood is cute and walkable. Overall, I'd rate it a 4/5, but for East County specifically, it's a solid 5/5. Definitely worth visiting and I'm being highly critical as a coffee lover. read more

Public Square - Brown sugar, dirty chai, cappuccino (smaller cup) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This is favorite coffee drink in all of San Diego. I don't even live near La Mesa but i'll go out of my way to get their pandan coffee. I definitely recommend! read more

Public Square - Pandan Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Nice quaint restaurant! The staff (his hair was in a bun) who got our order was great. All the recommendations he made were excellent, like the chili oil on the avocado toast and the butter flavors. The food was also really good too, some I liked better than others. Definitely try the scones with whatever butter flavors you're interested in. We got cinnamon, pumpkin, and fig+honey. I personally liked the cinnamon, my mom liked the fig+honey. Drinks were okay. I got hot chocolate that might've been too rich for me, so next time I might add the vanilla that was recommended on the menu. My mom's coffee took a while but she ended up not really liking it. The carnitas sandwich was okay in my opinion. I ended up liking my mom's avocado toast more. Was packed with much more flavor. I would stop by here again to try other menu items. Overall good experience. Parking can be difficult since it's paid street parking and we had to park quite aways out. Also, unfortunately flies really like the place. Had to do a lot of shooing away at the flies lol. Restroom's decent with a lot of funny signs. Utensils, napkins, and sauces are self-serve at a little station near the cash register. There are also designated bins for trash disposal and dishes. read more

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This spot is adorable in downtown la Mesa/Such a cute place!!! Plants, graffiti art and great vibe- they even offer gluten free gf scones which I'm so grateful for! I got a decaf Americano (which is often hard to make and get right but loved it!) and a gf scone with cinnamon butter Was good! Highly rec! read more

Public Square - Devoured gf scone and decaf americano! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Omg I love EVERYTHING about this place and wish it was more central and not out east. While the cafe itself isn't that big, there is a variety of seating indoors and outdoors including comfy couches and pillows so that you can spend some time chilling here. The workers here are very friendly and get the drinks and food out quick. They answer any questions you have about the menu so kindly & can help make good recommendations. The scone flight here is phenomenal. I'm not a big fan of scones but the ones here are SO fluffy and they come with amazing variety of butters if you get the flight. My favorite butters are the fig & honey and guava. The other butters are good too but those two take the cake. I've also tried their avocado toast, French toast, and pandan latte which are all also just as amazing. Surprisingly their hummus is decent which I was not expecting from a non-middle eastern place. Their pandan latte and scone flights are a must! Overall amazing food & great vibes read more

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I was so excited to come try this place since I saw they had a black sesame latte. And it did not disappoint it was delicious! The barista here knows what he's doing and he was pushing the drinks out pretty fast! And the lady at the register was super friendly and sweet!! Overall such a nice place. I'll definitely come back here. One thing I noticed is in the middle of the layout be careful walking by a few people almost tripped from the big center area. read more

Public Square - Black sesame latte on the right. Brown sugar latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

Stopped by on Saturday around 4:30pm to grab a drink and a snack, but they were out of scones and the pizza menu didn't start until 5pm. We decided to wait it out--and glad we did! The pizza looked like it might be heavy and thick, but it was surprisingly light, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. Definitely worth a try if you're here on a pizza day. We came back the next morning for their scones and butter flight (a favorite of ours), and it was just as good as always. The guava butter was amazing! Service was courteous and quick both visits, and the ambiance is lively and fun. We'll definitely be back! read more

Mostly excellent service. I had just one off experience but other than that their scones are addicting and coffee delicious!!!!! read more

Public Square - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California

I absolutely love public square! It's my go to spot when visiting the SD/ La Mesa area. The food is fresh and delicious. The service is always super nice and quick. My favorite breakfast is definitely the biscuits and gravy with a matcha latte but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The place is so vibey and fun. Can't wait to go back! read more

Public Square - Housemade Sugar Scone - Coffee & Tea Near Me - La Mesa, California