In recent years, Koreatown has cemented itself as the city’s cafe capital, yet even many locals haven’t explored the full range of its offerings.
Most people who venture to Koreatown for coffee don’t make it past Wilshire Boulevard. It’s understandable — the corridor is dense with options and easy to navigate — but it means many of the neighborhood’s best cafes go unnoticed.
Koreatown’s cafe boom has no single epicenter. From 6th Street to Olympic Boulevard, new cafes have quietly taken root across the neighborhood.
So The LA Local went looking. Below are three beloved gems spread across Koreatown worth the detour — each one a reminder that the neighborhood’s best coffee culture isn’t always where you’d expect to find it.
Cafe Mak
612 Shatto Pl., Los Angeles
Late-night cafes have become a major fixture in the scene, but Cafe Mak was there first. Founded more than 22 years ago, it remains a haven for students and writers chasing deadlines.
From the outside, Mak looks like a small, forgotten cafe from the early 2000s. Inside is another story. The space spans more than 3,900 square feet and feels closer to a 1950s haunt than modern-day Los Angeles — which is exactly how owner Justine wants it. She still counts the interior as the cafe’s main draw.
On any given night, booths fill with open laptops, study groups stake out tables in the library section, and gaming clubs run long campaigns on the covered patio. The cafe plans to build on that community energy with events starting in April.
Cafe Mak’s culture alone makes it a standout, but it has also built a following around its Korean-style coffee and large batches of French-pressed tea, which regulars tend to order by the hour.
Somemore LA
717 W Olympic Blvd., No. 106
Somemore LA is a master class in style — which makes sense, given that the owner and founder Jed Jeong started out as an architect. The cafe is draped in pastels and modern kawaii aesthetics, right down to its drinks, which arrive in plastic cups with teddy bear ears, heart straws and ice cubes.
At first glance, Somemore can seem like it’s just another trend-driven cafe. That impression doesn’t hold. The teddy bears and a handful of viral drinks get customers through the door, but the space has real personality.
The back wall is lined with napkins covered in drawings left by regulars, a tradition kept alive by a fully stocked art station near the entrance.
On most days, you can find Jed himself behind the counter. More than anything, Somemore was built to be a feel-good gathering place for Koreatown.
The claw machine is just a bonus.
Yeem’s
3033 W 6th St., No. 107
Yeem’s is deceptively unassuming. The shoebox-sized cafe has just three tables and a limited menu compared with most spots in the area. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in character.
Its reputation comes down to two things: exceptional matcha and a genuine sense of community.
Yeem’s is family-owned by Koreatown locals, and it shows — from a generous spilled-drink policy to the baristas behind the counter.
The location was discovered through word of mouth, and much of its customer base grew the same way. Even after Yeem’s went viral for its signature foam tops, the cafe has held onto its down-to-earth feel.
