Paradocs Coffee and Tea

cozy and nice place!!!
Love the customer service & organic coffee

Do you ever get a craving for something? Maybe you do maybe your don’t. The other week I was having a craving for a «Double Western Bacon Cheeseburger» («DWBC») from Carl’s Jr. So what does that have to do with a review for Paradocs you ask? I’ll get to that in a moment.
It was my day off and one of the things on my «to do» list was to mail my sister’s birthday gift. The only problem was I left her gift at work. So like a good brother I made the trip over to work to pick it up and then stopped by the post office. Mischief managed. So I decided to solve the «DWBC» problem on my way home. The most convenient Carl’s Jr. was the one on Fairfax. While I was chomping away on my «DWBC» I was looking at my bookmarks and noticed Paradocs. When I realized where it was I knew it was completely fate. I was cosmically meant to go to Paradocs on this particular day. It was only a two minute walk from where I was.
From the moment I stepped into Paradocs I felt at ease, comfortable to the highest power even. Things are a little scattered inside. The tables and chairs are very re-​arrangeable. Extremely cozy I would say. I made my way to the counter in the back and looking inside the pastry case my eyes immediately locked on the Matcha brownie. It was about this time that the proprietor came out. I asked for one of the brownies and a latte, selected the small table close to the counter and settled in. In short order my brownie and drink appeared and I couldn’t have been more pleased. The texture, taste and sweetness of the brownie were absolutely sublime. Matcha can be challenging to incorporate into a recipe. The brownie had just the right amount. It captured the essence of Japanese green tea perfectly. My drink was supposed to be a latte but Taka san realized he had made me a cappuccino by mistake. I declined his offer to make me a new drink. Why waste good coffee? Having been to Zumbar in San Diego only two days before I asked about where he sourced his beans. He was a little cagy with his answer but mentioned they were indeed from the San Diego area. Excellent quality to be sure. Definitely not one of the proletariat local L.A. roasters.
One thing I didn’t exactly get about Paradocs. There was a list of the best coffee houses to work from in L.A. and Paradocs was on the list. It’s a great coffee house to be sure but things are a bit too tightly packed. I think most people would want a little more room to spend very much time working there. Especially if it was at all busy and crowded. The other reason it really shouldn’t be on that list is that this is the kind of place you should just hang out in. Take it easy. Forget about work. We all need to do that from time to time.
Oh, and one other thing. The prices are really extremely fair. No doubt. Other reviewers mentioned this. I totally agree.

Incredible experience here in Ethiopia town. The owner was helping us and very knowledgable and helpful to whatever questions we had. Many varieties of tea are available and of course wonderful coffee and espresso options. It IS a bit small, but size doesn’t always matter, especially when the taste is unforgettable. Tables sit two, but we moved two chairs over and squeezed four to a table. It’s not one of those places where you feel pressured to be silent and not enjoy your company. There is also some cool art on the walls that you can check out. Needless to say, superb coffee, superb tea, and an even cooler owner. You should definitely check it out.

My favorite place! The first time I went I got an iced chai to go, and my first sip stopped me dead in my tracks it was so good. Another time, my friend mentioned he felt a cold coming on, so Taka brought out a throat-​soothing tea and honey.

Awesome coffee and pastries at affordable prices! Great first experience at a hipster café in LA. Definitely left me with higher expectations of cafes in LA!

The food is clean, healthy and delicious — for very reasonable prices. Great breakfasts (omelettes, pancakes, homemade cereal) and lunches (salads and sandwiches) and dinner until around 8 pm or so. In addition to well prepared cuisine, the produce is always fresh and carefully selected. Swift, friendly service too. WiFi available except during lunchtime

Love this coffee shop! Great coffee and pastries at affordable prices! Their drinks are cheaper than the typical hipster coffee shops and taste on par if not better! I haven’t tried a lot of the drinks on the menu, but my go to drink is the Vanilla latte, which is priced under $ 4.
Aside from beverages, Paradocs also offers pastries that range from cookies to croissants that are baked fresh daily! I believe during lunch time, they offer sandwiches as well. I’ve tried several pastries and found them not too sweet, which I love! Definitely the almond croissant is a must-​try.
My only gripe is that they open at 8am, which might not be ideal for early commuters. Also, most pastries aren’t available upon opening.
Parking: Metered Street or Free parking on Sunday!

The owner, Taka, brewed me generous pot of mint tea and brought out a freshly baked matcha brownie. As good as the hot tea was, it was the brownie that won me over. The brownie was moist and light, not too sweet despite the frosting on top, and had a matcha taste that wasn’t overbearing — it surpassed my expectations!
The place is very clean, menu has a great selection of coffees, teas, and food, including vegetarian (and possibly vegan too — I can’t remember) options. Taka is super nice and provides a great customer experience.
I got there around 3pm on a Monday afternoon, so street parking at the meters ($ 1/​hour up to 2 hours) wasn’t an issue, though I can see it potentially being a problem when traffic picks up.
It’s pretty cramped in there — only a few small round tables, a couple chairs, and one two-​person study table. I wouldn’t really recommend posting up and studying/​working there for too long. Most of the tables don’t have easy access to an outlet (if any). Plus, the tables are quite small and won’t be enough space for those who like to sprawl out books, notebooks, papers, and a computer. Only the two-​person table could be considered for that.
No issues with the wi-​fi and it doesn’t kick you off after a set period of time.
NOTE: I initially rated Paradocs ⁴⁄₅ stars because of table situation. However after proofreading my review, I thought it was unfair since I’m sure his layout is by design. Five stars for you Paradocs, though it comes with a disclaimer. That’s fair, right?

Great first experience.
The owner, Taka, let me choose the type of coffee I wanted to taste for my drip (basically a pour over). I ordered a medium roast but in the darker side so it’s not too acidic or tart-​y. And it came out so soooo good. I know it’s improper to use the term smooth to describe coffee but it just went down easy! And extremely smooth. That feeling that lattes give you but without the milk and sugar. Sometimes when the coffee is too dark or too tarty, it takes me a while to drink but this was really nice.
My boyfriend got the matcha green tea latte and I loved the hint of sweetness to it (I don’t like my matcha green teas too sweet). He also got the matcha brownie and that just went perfectly well with my drip coffee and his green tea latte.
Everything is fairly priced, it might be even lower than other coffee places.

Complete satisfaction! Best Americano ever! We had it black and it was so smooth and roasty sweet (super, super hot. Be careful). I’d be completely addicted if we lived closer.
Nice, courteous service in a modest setting. Great prices.

I’ve fallen in love with the most adorable, unassuming, cozy coffee shop. In fact, I first walked into a Starbucks (why…), immediately turned around, Unilocaled and found Paradocs, grabbed an über, and my decision was confirmed upon stepping into Paradocs. No soundcloud necessary today… greeted by jazz music and already I feel distanced from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding area. The drinks are prepared by the most friendly guy (I need to get his name) and you can tell it’s a total neighborhood spot — he’s greeted practically everyone coming in by first name. Wifi works great and I haven’t been kicked off yet (score!). Just finished up a delicious bowl of lentil soup.
Yup, I’ll be sticking around a while :)

Who would’ve thought that this gem of a Japanese owned coffee shop would be in the heart of little Ethiopia?! Don’t discount it’s humble appearance from the outside though — Taka the owner can brew coffee just as good as any of the hipster coffee shops popping up all over Cali that will charge you $ 6 a cup or more.
The prices here are very reasonable and their white mocha was probably the best I’ve had in a long while. The intensity of the flavors really surprised me — the white chocolate did not taste the least bit diluted, as is often the case with iced drinks. In fact, it kind of tasted like I was drinking liquid white chocolate; it was that bold.
There are definitely Japanese influences on the menu. For example, in addition to the traditional affogato, they also serve a matcha affogato. It is served with traditional, ceremonial hand ground matcha, not the instant powdery stuff that places like Starbucks try to pass as matcha. That being said, it def is an acquired taste, as Japanese matcha is quite bitter and doesn’t provide quite the same kick as espresso.
I’m also a big fan of their butterscotch roll cake. Yes, it’s simple and classic and I don’t know how to justifiably describe how good it tastes. You just gotta try it for yourself. The cake is so soft and the cream is so fresh; the fact that it’s homemade makes all the difference.
Big props to Taka on his kind service too. He will offer you water with ice on hot days. Can you get service like that at blue bottle? Don’t think so. Lol.

Definitely a big surprise inside this location!
Decided to stop by for a quick coffee and ended up being taken in by all the flavors and aromas of good coffee. This shop is really close to our place and even though we don’t come as often its a top spot to visit for caffeine. The owner Taka is super friendly and very helpful and knowledgeable about the coffee he serves.
Parking isn’t terrible but also isn’t the easiest but street meters are usually available. Also, don’t worry about parking «far» from the shop because there are other little stores to visit on your way to getting your caffeine fix.
The back to the actual coffee, I got the ice vanilla latte and it was perfectly made. I like the sudden bitterness yet sweet finish to it. It wasn’t overwhelmingly sweet but just the right amount.
I would recommend stopping by if you are in the area. They have some seating if you want to relax for a bit too.

Sugar-​free vanilla latte, iced. Oh, dear goodness. This is by far the best iced vanilla latte I have ever had – and trust me, I’ve had many, due to an expensive coffee phase I once went through. I got it with a combination of skim and whole milk (to imitate 2% milk), and from the first small sip, I could tell that the rest of the pick-​me-​up would just really pick me up. The coffee/​milk proportion is just perfect, and add the sugar-​free vanilla – MMMMM MMMM.
Seriously. Amazing.
Oh, and the dude is really nice, and kept telling us that he could remake or alter our drinks if they didn’t taste right – tell me that’s not great service.
The environment is also quiet enough for study/​work, which is another definite plus. Just make sure you feed the meters!

I really like the more laid back, chill coffee shops. The ones where they are frequented mostly by the locals. This is that place. The baristas know your name, you’ll run into someone you know from the neighborhood and the coffee is always fresh.
Parking is easy or you can choose to walk a short distance and enjoy the neighborhood.

Excellent experience, delicious coffee, super-​friendly service. This is a quaint shop with an impressive variety of coffees and teas. The owner, Taka is friendly and makes you feel welcome. I will definitely be returning. Hipster coffee shops in the area that are too cool for school need to take a lesson from Taka. They don’t hold a candle to this place.
Make one visit and you’ll see why there is such an unbelievable number of glowing 5-​star reviews.
You’re welcome!

I have to give it to the owner Taka! You can tell he is a hard worker and he loves what he does which is brew some good coffee and provide excellent customer service. He makes you feel so welcomed in his coffee shop and even though it’s a bit small it’s never too crazy busy.
The coffee is delicious and so far I’ve gotten the affogato and iced lattes and every time I am completely satisfied. This coffee shop is not far from where I live and I’m so happy that we can just come here for a fresh cup of coffee!

Great coffee shop in a location that needs it.
Now i have a place to go after getting my grub on down the street. Run by a wonderful husband and wife team. Seating is pretty nice inside.

My friends brought me here for a pre-​dinner dessert/​snack. Boy was I in for a treat! Taka, the owner, is so nice and talked to us about the different voices available, which were all listed along the wall as you walk into the coffee shop. I really like the look and feel of this place and would have loved to spend more time here :)
We ordered an affogatto to share and a chocolate chip cookie. Apparently the affogatto uses homemade gelato and the espresso is perfectly brewed. It’s served beautifully separately with a wooden spoon so that you can pour the espresso. Shot over the gelato yourself. This is certainly the best affogatto I’ve EVER had!
The chocolate chip cookie was just a little something extra I wanted to try and I didn’t expect a whole lot out of it… it blew my mind! I typically like chocolate chip cookies, but without the chocolate chips because I don’t like the harder texture that the chips bring. However, the cookie itself was amazing and the chips seemed like they were still a little melty so it just disappeared into my mouth. Oh my, definitely one of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had!

Paradocs is a charming little café tucked away in the heart of Little Ethiopia in the Mid-​Wilshire neighborhood of Los Angeles. It’s been a welcome refuge from the summer heat, as well as relaxing retreat from the hustle & bustle.
Location: East side of Fairfax Avenue & South of Olympic Boulevard.
Parking: Street only.
Environment: Staff is friendly & genuinely want you to enjoy your drink/​food, consult with them for recommendations. The interior is decorated in warm tones, is spacious, charming & cozy; outdoor seating includes bistro tables & chairs w Faifax parkway views.
Food: Sandwiches for carnivores & herbivores, pastries, hot & cold drinks. I love their specialty coffees & perfectly brewed looseleaf teas.
WC: One stall for all, clean & spacious.