Good food, great atmosphere and they even deliver. Vees Café has it all. Small and cozy this coffee shop offers tradition coffee shop fare such as chai teas and espressos as well as food with a Mexican twist, such as their spinach tortillas and green sauce. There are also hot and cold sandwiches that you can eat with a delicious smoothie or freshly squeezed juice, even veggie juice. Their wide selection of coffee and teas guarantees that you’ll go home happy. They have loose tea leaves as well if you’re looking for something more natural. As if that’s not enough, they even have milkshakes.

It’s artsy and you might see people playing guitar or looking through their camera lens. It’s a relief to find a coffee shop that’s not geared towards yuppies or dinks. True to its artsy nature they offer vegan options as well. Want soy milk? No prob, your wish is their command. Green and down to earth, they’ve got friendly service and value their customers. They even have those punch cards that will get you a free drink.

Don’t forget dessert. After all, coffee shops are just as famous for their pastries, cookies and other sweets. Their red velvet cupcakes are absolutely divine. The only downside is that on weekends they close a bit early. Yet it’s for a good cause, they want the staff to be able to go out and party. Life doesn’t get much better than that.

Vees Café
www.veescafe.net
(323) 931-8337
5418 W Adams Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Mon-Fri 7am to 8:30pm
Sat-Sun 7am to 8pm

If you’ve never had pho, you have no idea what you’re missing. Putting ramen to shame, pho is a hot Asian noodle dish that’s a meal on its own served with a bit of lemon to give it a kick. Served steaming hot and smelling delicious, you’ll be ready to risk burning your tongue to try it. They’ve got the standard eggrolls that you can order as well as a three-color drink.

Prices are pretty low, so you won’t have to keep a running total in your head. A large only costs 50 cents more than a small, so you’re better off ordering a large. If you can’t finish it yourself, go with a friend and split the costs to be even more cost efficient.

Bamboo décor adds to the peaceful environment, however, due to its popularity, the wait staff will be hurrying between the kitchen and the tables, serving and bussing food and giving people their checks. True to its nature, service is fast, no sooner have you ordered, taken a sip of your water and your waiter is back with a steaming bowl of pho so you can chow down.

Pho Pasteur
(626) 292-5888
8821 Valley Blvd
Rosemead, CA 91770
Mon-Sun 9am to 9pm

Coffee shops are sprouting up all over the place and it seems like the bigger chains such as Starbucks are taking over and making coffee shops the same across the board. Aroma Coffee & Tea is a nice change from that. Originally a home which was converted into a café, it retains that homey feeling, complain with a beautiful backyard where you can take your high tea. With 15 years experience, they’ve perfected the art of service, sweets, and drinks that will make you want to come back and try the different things they have.

Fresh is the key ingredient here and with breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes combined, you’ll have over 50 dishes to choose from. The salads vary from traditional to exotic, such as olasslo oobb salad which has chicken, bleu cheese and a variety of veggies. As if that’s not enough, you can add extras to any salad and create is just the way you like it. If you’re looking for hot sandwiches, such as paninis and melts, you’re in luck. That’s just the lunch menu, there are many more dishes to choose from on the breakfast and dinner ones.

It’s a popular place, so either go when it’s not crowded or be prepared for a chatty café experience. Your best bet is to go with a friend or two, they can scope out a table while you order. By the time you get your food, you should be able to find a good place to sit. If that’s not an option, you can always get your food to go and have a picnic in a park.

Aroma Coffee & Tea
www.aromacoffeeandtea.com
4360 Tujunga Ave
Studio City, CA 91604
Mon-Sat 6am to 11pm
Sun 7am to 10pm

American diners became popular years ago and while many of them have died out, a precious few have stayed open and Nat’s is one of them. For more than three decades, they’ve been serving up delicious homemade American dishes and have even branched out to Mexican and health food. With special kids’ meals and servers that know how to talk to children, you can’t go wrong.

Breakfast dishes include scrambles, fruits, cereals, hot cakes, French toast and waffles. If it’s lunch you’re looking for, you’ll find burgers, soups, salads, and sandwiches galore to choose from. As usual, dessert is often the best part of the meal. They’ve got a couple of set pies to choose from and desserts that change often enough, so be sure to ask your waiter for some recommendations. They even have dinners available, but as is often the case with diners, there isn’t much selection. That being said, if you’re at Nat’s for dinner, you can choose from chicken, fish, turkey, or meat dishes.

The décor is typical of a diner, a bit gaudy, but happy nonetheless. As with most diners, their hash browns and coffee are pretty good and always ready. They’ve got a number of daily specials to choose from as well as their regular meals. They’ve got more than a few loyal customers who keep coming back for more and whether it’s the food or the service, or a combination of both, Nat’s Early Bit Coffee Shop sure hits the spot.

Nat’s Early Bite Coffee Shop
www.natsearlybite.com
14115 Burbank Blvd
Van Nuys, CA 91497
(818) 781-3040
Mon 6am to 3pm
Tues-Fri 6am to 8pm
Sat 6:30am to 4pm
Sun 7:30am to 4pm