Your TL;DR Guide on Where to Eat When in Los Angeles
Located in the San Fernando Valley (or just, the Valley as people in the area refer to it) is Studio City, a small neighborhood situated next to the usual tourist giants of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Burbank.
Most tourists won’t start off choosing Studio City as their intended destination. However, with a great location, you just may find yourself in the area and looking for fun things to do.
What is Studio City & What Makes it Special?
Studio City was named after the Radford Studio Center, a 1920s studio lot that saw the filming of many beloved classics, including Gilligan’s Island, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, American Gladiators, and Seinfeld.
Today, however, Studio City is also home to many of the Industry’s greats – both those on screen and those off.
Due to it’s prime location (near the major studios, but slightly separated from the usual hustle & bustle of LA), it has become a sort of gathering place for industry-hopefuls and industry-successfuls. Perhaps it’s because of this, Studio City is filled with a very special kind of energy – and one of the best places to experience that is at Aroma Cafe.
Aroma Cafe
What Makes Aroma Coffee & Tea Special
Like many others, I found something special about the vibe at Aroma Cafe. It feels so very full of the LA magic. Often dubbed “cozy,” “homey,” and “aesthetic,” this Studio City spot is often the site of friendly chatter, industry folks talking shop, and the occasional person (or two) filming themselves for their social media following. While it’s not a featured La La Land filming location, it sort of reminds me of the film – a little bit of hopeful wishes and little bit of “you made it to LA.”
Part of the charm comes from the cafe’s origins. In the 90s, Mark Gunsky (a restauraunt rookie at the time) decided to convert his residence into the coffee shop and eatery. Today, traces of this home-y feeling are everywhere – and can be felt especially strongly sitting in the backyard patio to enjoy that LA sunshine.
At a Glance
Address: 360 Tujunga Ave #5, Studio City, CA 91604
Hours: 7AM-9PM (Daily)
Price: $10-$20
Parking: Not the greatest – paid street parking available
Reservations: None; first come-first served
Know Before You Go:
Aroma Cafe is a well-loved local institution, so that means it can develop quite the crowd. Visiting during off hours (e.g. during the week or outside of usual meal times) you’re less likely to face long lines but there’s no guarantee it’ll be completely empty. That being said, there is plenty of seating and the line moves quickly. You should also expect street parking – I’ve lucked out and found things right up front, but I think that’s more an exception rather than an expectation.
When you first arrive, there is a front counter where you place your order. The cashier will give you an order number and from there, you find your seat. Everything else proceeds with normal table service – your meal, etc. will be brought to you.
What to Order
Now, usually when I do a cafe or restaurant review, I’ll include a few recommendations on what to order. However, in both my experience and reading what other visitors have said online, there are a wide variety of favorited menu items – all differing person to person. And, since this is LA, there are a variety of options and substitutions for various dietary considerations.
Most people visit for brunch or breakfast and will grab a breakfast sandwich or eggs benedict. I’ve also been there for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed the dinner menu options as well – as a cafe, their sandwiches live up to my expectations and are my go-to. I also highly recommend checking out their drink options. In the fall, an apple cider is one of my seasonal favorites but they also have an extensive menu of espresso-based and tea beverages.
Perhaps you are in the area for a studio tour, you were at Griffith Park for the day, or you were driving around looking for a new spot – whatever brings you to town, be sure to stop by Studio City’s Aroma Cafe. With that special LA-something it’s a fantastic place for visitors and locals.
What’s your favorite LA spot?
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