Yala Coffee
3814 Sunset Blvd, Silver Lake, CA
Crema's Take
“Yala Coffee has earned a devoted following in Silver Lake for their exceptional matcha lattes and creative specialty drinks that lean toward the sweeter side, drawing matcha enthusiasts willing to make the trip just for a cup. The intimate space pairs quality beverages with excellent pastries like their zaatar and cream cheese danish, though be prepared for the cozy interior to run quite warm and service to move at a leisurely pace during busy mornings. Baristas here clearly care about their craft, making it worth the wait if you're seeking thoughtful, flavor-forward drinks in a charming neighborhood spot.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
I wanted to like this place so bad, but my last experience made me want to never return :( My friends and I visited in the morning on Valentine’s Day, so it was a little busy but not as crazy as I’ve seen it other days. I ordered the evil eye, and my friends and I were waiting for about 10-15 min for our drinks (as expected). We saw some drinks on the counter that looked like ours, so I went to check and see if they were ready. One of them had a receipt with my name on it so I asked “is that one for Lisa ready?” The barista with the dark pixie cut glared at me, and then very rudely scoffed “It’s not ready yet.” I was shocked, and when I turned around to go back to my friends, their jaws were all on the floor after seeing the interaction. Very humiliating :( When we finally got our drinks, the cream on top looked muddy even though we were expecting a single dot like the pictures. It still tasted good, and other items I’ve had there are good albeit on the sweeter side. I get that people have bad days, but that barista really didn’t have to do all that 😭 it honestly felt like she didn’t think I was “cool” enough to be there since I was dressed very casually…
This place is known for quality matcha and specialty flavors. Line went by quickly only waiting 8 minutes out the door. I will say, the atmosphere is nice although, the temperature in here is very HOT. The workers look red and sweaty. I feel so bad for them and that reflects on the way they treat the customers. Please do better for your employees!
Ran from home to echo park to Yala for this cup of matcha, supreme taste. The drink to me is a bit sweeter end of most other matcha drinks I’ve had at different stores but if this my second time visiting this shop and ordering the same drink, it prob mean the sweetness level is tolerable. Not as sweet as regular sugar added to any boba drinks. Service is always good and efficient. Not much seating in and outdoor but when it’s not super busy, you can easily grab a seat anywhere. Location of the shop is prime. Lots of other food shops nearby so having this location here is perfect!
Great iced americano and loved the interior. Took a bit of time for the coffee, but it was a little busy. The zaatar and cream cheese danish is tasty with a hint of sweetness
Fig & vanilla matcha latte and Yala latte had great flavor for those who enjoy specialty drinks, though a touch on the sweet side. The everything cream cheese danish was tasty. Baristas were great and answered our questions kindly despite the long line behind us. (We popped by on a Saturday around 11:45 am. Line had 12 folks but moved quickly, 15 min tops.) We live in the neighborhood and will probably be back!