Elisa Hoyos and Leo Abularach had plenty of opportunities to take their popular coffee shop, Picaresca, beyond Boyle Heights.
Offers came from places like Pasadena and the Westside.
But to Hoyos and the team of owners, growth wasn’t about leaving their roots. “The Eastside is our home,” she said. “More than anything, we wanted something that is going to be on the Eastside of LA, preferably Boyle Heights.”
That commitment is reflected in Picaresca’s newest location, which softly launched this week inside a brick building on 8th Street near Olympic Boulevard, formerly home to the Tio Pepe Mexican restaurant.
The Picaresca team saw potential in the space. It’s in an area with few coffee shops. “We kind of fell in love with the concept of Tío Pepe being a community restaurant. It had a lot of charm,” Hoyos said, adding that they’re keeping the restaurant’s sign to honor its long legacy.
Picaresca’s newest location is offering coffee, pastries and specialty plates like a blue corn masa waffle topped with fresh fruit with a side of café de olla syrup. The grand opening is slated for February.
Picaresca first opened its doors on Soto Street during the pandemic. In 2024, the coffee shop moved to 4th Street and Evergreen Avenue, where it has become a staple in Boyle Heights.
Their coffee, such as their drip and café de olla latte, as well as their burritos and chilaquiles, have attracted residents in and outside the Eastside. Social media videos have also expanded their customer base. Some customers come from outside LA County.
But to the Picaresca team, the shop’s role in the neighborhood extends beyond food and coffee.
A bulletin board in their cafe highlights community events and organizations. They’ve held a “Noche de Poesía” in honor of Día de Los Muertos. They host pop-ups with local artists and chefs. Residents can also find “Know Your Rights” pamphlets and red cards at the shop. Posters and prints against ICE raids are often available at Picaresca, which has also sponsored a Boyle Heights youth soccer team.
“We really love our community and from the moment we opened our doors on Soto, the community and our customer base is very loyal,” she added. “Boyle Heights has really embraced us.”
As Picaresca continues to grow, Hoyos says the mission remains unchanged.
“The goal of serving good quality coffee to our community, it stays the same.”
How to visit:
Address: 3578 E. 8th St., Los Angeles, 90023
Hours: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday
Find them on Instagram: @picaresca.cafe
Andrew Lopez contributed to this report.
