I got the lychee tonic and it was exactly what I wanted on a hot summer day: super refreshing, easy…read moreto drink, and not bitter in the slightest. The only thing I would note is that the lychee flavor is not really there - I'd consider this a regular espresso tonic instead of a lychee-forward one. This didn't really bother me though, because I downed the whole drink My husband got the hojicha latte, which was smooth with a nice roasted flavor that didn't get lost under the milk. I also appreciated that they asked whether he wanted sugar at all rather than assuming a default sweetness level. It was actually his first time having a hojicha latte unsweetened, and he really enjoyed it. The space itself is pretty bare-bones, so I wouldn't necessarily come here for the super aesthetic cafe experience. But it's comfortable and functional - there's a row of bench seating with tables and chairs opposite it. The seats are actually padded, which makes it a nice spot to sit for a chat, or to get some work done. Street parking was plentiful when we went, and I believe there's also a small attached lot. There was also a baker set up on-site when we stopped by. They were selling things like salt bread and sandwiches, so of course we grabbed something to support them. I thought that was such a cute touch and would love to see more local cafes doing little collaborations like this.

PARKING in the back (free); two-ish street parking spots…read more We tried their cloudy and jasmine latte. The cloudy was a very interesting combination of pear and date, I believe, with overtones of coffee and undertones of tangy/sour-ness from the date. It was really... interesting, and not something I've seen elsewhere. Would recommend trying it, if you like chasing signatures and getting a variety of tastes, but it wasn't for me. On the other hand, we liked their jasmine latte a lot. Not only did it have that jasmine tea flavor, it was also a great latte in itself which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Tried the hojicha latte and it was delicious. Good balance of sweet and earthy roasted flavor with…read morethis tea. There is a lot of space and it has a very calming vibe. Plenty of places to sit and study/read/hang out. Lots of fun options on the menu but definitely have the basics. If you are not from around here, there really is one easy way(direction is heading south bound on Atlantic) to get into the plaza so keep your eyes peeled and don't miss the entrance. Otherwise I didn't find issues with parking or lines. Staff were nice. Would definitely come back to try this again when I'm in the area.

Nice vibe coffee shop in Monterey Park. Parking in the lot behind and streetside…read more They have a good assortment of coffees and teas. I went with their recommended Vietnamese coffee. It actually was quite strong as I desired when ordering Vietnamese coffee. But tasted more like a Viet coffee as a western latte, but did appreciate it with their almond milk as a lighter alternative. Staff were friendly. There's WiFi and a bathroom if you want to study, and water. They also have some pastries and small food items. Service is a bit slow, but expected given the mom and pop style.

Glad to see another coffee shop in Monterey Park, and such a cute one! Its clean, modern, and…read morecomfortable for studying/working. There is a good amount of seating and outlets, but it can fill up because people tend to spend several hours doing work. I've had their Chai latte, americano, and some other drinks. All were really delicious! They also have pastries and sweets from the case. I've tried their new butter mochi and didn't care for it though. The staff here is friendly and helpful as well.

Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab is a decent cafe with plenty of seating, making it a comfortable spot to…read morerelax or get some work done. Coffee - 3/5. The coffee was well-made - it wasn't burnt, overly bitter, or sour, so the extraction seemed solid. However, the flavor felt flat and watered down. It lacked the aroma, body, and rich roasted notes that make a cup memorable. Nothing really stood out, leaving it tasting more diluted than satisfying. Also, I don't think the barista could froth the coffee well. Instead of a nice velvety, dense froth, the froth was a bubbly foam (see photo). Food - 3/5. I visited around 9 a.m., but the pastry selection was surprisingly limited (see photo). The pastries also didn't taste particularly fresh; they had more of the texture and flavor you'd expect from pastries sitting out later in the day rather than freshly baked items you'd hope to find early in the morning. The café has a modern, hip vibe and a warm, inviting atmosphere. It's spacious, with plenty of seating, making it a pleasant place to spend some time. Overall, Smoking Tiger Coffee Lab is a fine neighborhood café if you're looking for a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a coffee. Unfortunately, neither the coffee nor the food left much of an impression. Nothing was particularly bad, but nothing really stood out either. While the ambiance is probably its strongest point, the coffee is just average.

Super quick service, delicious latte and food!…read more I got a London Fog with Matcha and the turkey provolone croissant. The matcha in the London fog was a nice touch recommended to me by the cashier. It's a cute and quiet cafe with lots of chairs for waiting and a couple of tables for anyone wanting to sit down and study/ eat.

Leaflet Coffee popped up on one of my social media algos, and I immediately added it to my list…read moresince I loved their origami crane logo. (Who doesn't love origami?) The staff were welcoming and friendly from the moment I walked in. Normally, I'd order an iced latte, but it was pretty expensive at $7.45... Therefore, I went the adventurous route and had their recommended Furious George, an iced latte with banana and vanilla extract. Even at 50% sweet, I still find this drink too sweet. While the interior is a bit small, there was a bit of space even on a weekend afternoon. The curtains fairly mask the street and help set a more calming environment. On this particular day, I left my earbuds at home and was worried. Thankfully, their music erred on the quieter and calmer K-Pop, even including some of the 2010s hits. While I can't vouch for a specific drink, I would return here in a heartbeat for the vibes alone.

Adorable coffee shop with plenty of seating so it's a good spot for either studying or playing card…read moregames with friends! The baked goods seem to sell out fast but we got a few things. Our favorites were the veggie pizza croissant and the cardamom bun. The drinks were good, if you want something refreshing definitely go for one of the lemonades.

8/22/2026 First time…read morehere. Been wanting to drop by for some time now. ICHIGO MATCHA Really delicious! Just the right amount of sweetness and good strawberry flavor. Matcha flavor comes through, although there is more strawberry than matcha flavor. Still I enjoyed it. It was super creamy too, but I know some people may not like that. Matchas are made with Dona Matcha. MATCHA KINU This was similar to the Ichigo Matcha in texture. Heavy cold foam on top and lightly sweetened. Maybe because it was my second matcha cold foam drink, I was full and tired of drinking it. Matcha was good, but very creamy as expected. Matcha was quite mellow with very sweet matcha flavor, grassiness and very light bitterness. Still very mellow overall. Personally, I prefer the Ichigo Matcha over this one. AMBIANCE + SEATS Most of the seats were white boucle chairs and sofa. Metal tables. Seats were comfy, but dirty. One wooden table with wooden chairs for cleaner seats. There were a good amount of tables and seats. One unisex bathroom available. LOCATION + PARKING On Garfield + Main. It is along the street, so you will need to turn into a parking garage or street park. The best parking spot I found was on First + Main. Right across Days Inn by Wyndham and The Chicken Koop. Free parking. There were EV charging stations too. There is parking right behind Three Fields, but it is so tiny, I wouldn't recommend parking there. Plus, it would be difficult to get in and get out. It was so crammed in there. CUSTOMER SERVICE It was friendly, but the barista seemed a bit impatient as I was deciding on what to get as he tapped his fingers on the table. Then he tells me, "No, take your time." Sure, man. Would I come back? Of course when I'm in the area and when I'm craving for the Ichigo Matcha. It was delish!

tl;dr the Indonesian-influenced lineup of beverages and pastries is as tasty as it is unique; come…read morefor novelty, return for the quality Peter Then (aka Uncle Fung) is the mind behind the Alhambra staple (and Michelin Guide-recommended) Borneo Kalimantan Cuisine. Right next door, find Uncle Fung Coffee Stall, his daughter's tribute to her Indonesian roots. Here, relax in the retro-modern space and enjoy coffee and tea with an Indonesian flair. The vibe feels timeless. The paint-speckled brick walls and polished tiled floors starkly contrast the heirloom porcelain and framed Indonesian memorabilia. Small square tables and metal chairs are crammed into the narrow space. Close to opening, seats are plentiful, and serene pop blends with the espresso machine; later in the morning, the air is filled with chatter, and the queue stretches to the door. Of the drinks, our go-to has been The Putu, a pandan-forward latte that isn't too sweet. But don't sleep on the Indonesian pastries. I particularly enjoyed the Dadar Gulung, a vibrant green pandan crepe filled with sweet coconut. The scarlet, tortoise-shaped Angku Kueh is stuffed with an addictive mung bean filling. The Talan Ubi sweet potato-and-coconut treats tasted like fall. The Kueh Lupis, a sticky rice triangle with a side of palm sugar syrup, sports a spot-on Q texture, but is one-dimensional in flavor. Service is friendly and efficient. Pastries cost about ~$3-5, while specialty beverages run in the $7-8 range. The location is stellar (just steps away from the Alhambra Farmers Market), and the coffeehouse fare is uniquely crave-worthy. In all, Uncle Fung is a key member of Alhambra's specialty coffee scene, and it cracks my regular rotation.

Tried the Kopi Susu here! It was good, but honestly, I don't think it's worth driving an hour just…read moreto try, especially for $8 for a small cup. The café itself is really cute, though. The decor and presentation make for some pretty photos. If I'm ever in the area again, I'd probably come back and try one of their pastries or another drink. Kinda small standing and waiting area, there's a few tables that were full when I went. The drinks seem to lean pretty sweet, so just something to keep in mind if you prefer less-sweet coffee. Overall, good, but not a must-visit for me.

Decided to switch things up and order a sesame cream OG with boba and 60% sugar. It hit the spot…read moreand was just sweet enough! Service was super quick like always and although it was quite busy, it wasn't hard to find a table (after waiting a minute or two) to post up at to get work done! I love that it's open until 10pm for a focus study session. I usually get their signature milk tea, but so far everything I've had here has been so good! (Their WiFi is also great!)

The Tea or Not Tea is the question. Let's dive into this new tea adventure…read more The Tea is a popular local tea shot in Monterey. They are located in a shopping plaza on Atlantic avenue. Their tea drinks are compendious. Staff were competent. It was my first time here and was impressed with their tea drinks. I had an Avocado smash smoothie and Mango pomelo sago. Both were very good at an affordable price. This tea shop is welcoming and relaxing, Overall, I enjoyed their drinks. I recommend it.

No notes! Always quick, highly recommend getting the app to order ahead and they tell you how many…read moredrinks are ahead of yours! My go to is the crisp grape boom and when it's in season the green grape one. If you can't find some street parking there's an underground structure.

Their drink options are a bit different but pricey…read more I've tried the King Jasmine Guava but I wouldn't get it again. It had little bits at the bottom that I couldn't identify and did not enjoy. It made the drink feel grainy. The liquid itself was nice. The guava flavor was light but fit well. The Coconut Mango Boom was better. Closer to a smoothie and quite refreshing.

The store has street parking in front and some indoor seating. It's not very big, think meant to…read morebe more of a takeout spot. I tried the mulberry oolong less sweet with brown sugar tapiochi. It was sooo good. Everything about it from the tea to the tapiochi. It was a nice chewy texture. The staff is very nice. They answered questions. They gave a milk tea sample that was also very good.

Finally got to try Torotea! My expectations were really high after hearing all the hype and it…read moredefinitely delivered. Their milk is super creamy and pairs extremely well with their teas. I personally think their regular sweet is a little too sweet for my liking so definitely get less sweet if you like Asian sweetness levels. I love how the deep tea taste still comes through with the super creamy and high quality milk. I read online that they do some sort of blend I think their stand out is really their Brown Sugar Tapiochi! I loved the agar and chewy like consistency however it was hard to get through the straw. Definitely must try torotea!

The pastry is absolutely delicious! Hojicha flavor is my favorite!!! Macha is also good!! The staff…read moreis polite and helpful

Browned in San Gabriel has some of the most unique cream puffs I've tried! What I love most is the…read moretexture of the outside, it's different from a regular cream puff. The shell has more of a crisp, slightly crunchy texture that gives each bite a really nice contrast with the soft, creamy filling inside. The fillings are smooth and flavorful without being overly sweet, which I really like. They also have a great variety of flavors, so it's fun to grab a box and try a few different ones. Definitely not your typical cream puff, and that crispy outside texture is what keeps me coming back!