On a cool summer night, a couple sit nestled together in patio chairs under the twinkling, colorful lights outside AboutTime Cafe in Koreatown. The couple, Ruby and Melvin, are cozying up on the patio off Wilshire Boulevard.
The cafe’s cat, Mouse, ambled over to the couple before they sat down and stole Melvin’s first choice for a seat. He didn’t want to ruin the vibe, so he let the cat stay.
“I wanted to sit with the cat, but he insisted that I sit with him,” Ruby said with a laugh about her boyfriend.
It’s just one of many scenes playing out at the two-story cafe located on South Berendo Street near the Wilshire/Vermont Metro Station.
The cafe sources its beans from a nonprofit that provides job opportunities to unhoused people, providing them training and one-on-one mentorship in Lancaster.
It’s a long ways from Koreatown, but the principal is vital to the shop’s ethos. Owner Minji Cho opened the shop in 2023 and takes pride in where their beans come from.
“We support and stand with the Lancaster company not only with the quality of their coffee – which is ethically sourced – but also the meaning behind giving people a second chance for bettering their livelihood,” Cho said.
Ethically sourced beans
AboutTime appeals to Gen-Z, Gen-X and everyone in between with its homey vibe, a third space that feels like a study hall.
Polaroid pictures of customers hang on the wall and beautiful lights hang from the ceiling, while the strong aroma of coffee beans and pastries waft through the air.
Cho greets customers with a warm smile as she takes orders at the register. Mouse, roams around the cafe greeting everyone and lavishing in the affection regulars give her.
Embracing the Koreatown community is a big part of About Time’s philosophy since it opened in October 2023. Cho said the coffee shop’s name was inspired by Lizzo’s 2022 self-empowerment hit song, “About Damn Time.”
Cho’s grandparents and parents inspired the cafe concept. Before opening her coffee shop, Cho tested coffee beans, looking for the best fit. Family friend Martin Chu introduced Cho’s mother, Mimi, to roastery Caster Coffee, a social enterprise under the non-profit Street Company.
The non-profits co-founder Jesse Lee said that it was not a tough sell to convince Mimi to partner with Caster Coffee.
“After hearing our story, she just made the decision. About Time will buy coffee from Casters. A very quick decision,” Lee said.
Thanks to the partnership, Street Company was able to expand and hire counselors and mentors with their company.
Cho and AboutTime support Street Company because both businesses stand behind giving people a second chance, while becoming an accessible community space with more than just coffee and matcha. It’s a welcoming space where every patron has their favorite aspect.
Hard to find these days
Cho grew up in Koreatown as the oldest of 6 siblings and has always loved coffee – she even got in trouble for drinking when she was 13.
Growing up, her parents worked in the food industry for decades and at 17-years-old, she joined the industry when she got a job as a barista, which lasted for about 5 years.
Customers work, socialize, or just relax and take in the aroma.
The most popular menu items are also Gen Z-friendly, like the corn latte, a viral TikTok drink on its own, but About Time’s version also has a lot of popular videos about it. The flavor and texture are unique – like an atol de elote from a street vendor, but cold with a rich, creamy flavor. Then there’s the crème brûlée donut with a hard sugary hard-top cooked to perfection. The popular pastry crackles with flavor.
The cafe also hosted a Valorant-themed cosplay meetup over the summer with menu items inspired by the popular video game. And the cafe also doubles as a performance space, with stand-up comedy nights.
But like any good neighborhood cafe, AboutTime’s appeal can also be much simpler.
For regular customer Subir Das, he just wanted a place to meet with a friend and catch up at the cafe..
“There’s the open concept, so it’s easier to talk. Even if you sit over there or wherever, it just feels very open,” he said. “The drinks are good. They’re nice at the front, always. I don’t feel old here. It’s hard to find that these days.”
AboutTimeCafe
3287 Wilshire Blvd
Phone: (213) 340-9070
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