Fresh Roast

This review is for the HK waffle only. I can’t say I love their waffles — I’ve had better elsewhere. But this place has the best ones in the area. The original waffle comes out very light and airy. It also breaks off really easily just like good HK waffles should. The custard one, however, came out a bit tattered. Some of the domes were already burst open, and others didn’t seem to have filling in them. But I get it, I can appreciate that a custard one is more difficult to make.
They have parking in the back, but it’s limited so I found street parking. I’ll probably come back again to try the waffles once more.

It was my first time here and I liked the overall ambiance of the place. I was here for a meeting and it worked perfectly with the 2 hour limit on the WiFi (a $ 3.50 drink is required for each 2 hour WiFi session, maximum 6 hours).
WiFi speed was pretty good (I was able to update my apps and upload pictures while still using Google sheets for the meeting).
Food was ok, but worth the price for the freshness & quality of the ingredients. It’s nice that they serve coffee/​drinks, snacks, and entrees too!
The décor is real nice with all the plants, though the fish tank was just a little bit of an eye sore for me.
Parking in the back is a 2 hour limit and can be scarce unless you show up at a good time. Otherwise there is street parking too.
Overall, it’s a very comfortable place for meetings, dates, but maybe not a good work from home place (due to the posted limits on the WiFi).

Great waffles! I recommend having the chocolate inside.
Also, they had a good boba, which were soft and chewy. The milk tea wasn’t too sweet-​just right– and served quickly.
Great service too. Definitely enjoyed hospitality experience and the atmosphere. Good place to relax and enjoy tea or coffee for a break.

Thanks to my negative experience at Tierra Mia I found this gem! I ordered the coffee lovers and it is strong but very flavorful, just like I like it. I like my coffee like I like my men :) The staff is delightful and friendly. I will definitely return to try everything on their menu!
Thank you Fresh Roast!

Their durian coffee is great if you like the taste of durian.
All of their coffee is really strong and good quality.
There are a bunch of interesting flavors and juices.
I am docking off a star because of their sad fish that they dont take care of.
There is alge all over the glass and the water is yellow.
The tank isnt even completely full with water.

Oh my, durian. You either love it or repulsed by it. I’m in the middle. It smells like jackfruit but tastes like overly ripened onions. I got the Durian iced coffee and it tastes like the latter.
The egg puffle certainly are another standout item, including the whimsical taste in décor. Very fresh, airy and crispy. Hopefully it stays that way heading back home since I got it for takeout.
The customer service was exceptional and friendly. Definitely come here if you want to try something new.

Love this place! This is not some fancy schmancy specialty coffeeshop, but the owner guy is very friendly and the coffee tastes great here.
My friend and I were in the area and this place showed up on my Unilocal search. It was one of few places that was open pretty late on Sunday.
I checked in and got a free filling for hongkong waffle. My friend got a pound of coffee that they roast/​sell at the store. The owner was helpful in picking out the coffee that she would enjoy. Originally we were not going to drink coffee so late at night, but the owner guy is a good businessman haha. We ended up sharing a cup of coffee as well. The pour over coffee did taste good with hongkong waffles.
My friend really loved the coffee she purchased from this store!
We will come back for sure.

Coffee/​juices/​Tea/​food: ⁴⁄₅ stars
They roast coffee and whole sale from here so their coffee is always fresh. They have Hawaiian, blue mountain, and even luwak coffee here. Try the siphoned coffee for kick if you haven’t. The latte is on point. The house blends beans used to be better years ago with a unique flavor but now it’s more like a normal flavor but still very good latte. The HK waffle is excellent. Snacks and sandwiches are very good. Noodles are just ok.
Atmosphere: ⁴⁄₅ stars
If you like eclectic old country look then you’ll like it here. Mom and pop kind of place. Friendly and relaxing where you can sit for awhile and forget the traffic outside. It could use a thorough clean up and freshen up.
Service: ⁵⁄₅ stars
You can get coffee/​food Togo or sit in. Friendly staffs that get to know you. Mom and pop will greet you by name so service is very personal if they are not busy. They have snacks, sandwiches, and food beside coffee and more fancy coffee.
Expense: ⁴⁄₅ stars
Prices are less than your local Starbucks.
Return: ⁶⁄₅ stars
I’ve come here for decades for coffee so that’s an achievement by itself.
You can see my bias in my rating do just come and support your local mom and pop coffee shop if you don’t want to see a Starbucks replacing it.

The HK waffles with custard is so good! It takes about 5 – 10 min because it’s fresh, BUT IT’s worth it! I’ve tried it twice so far and the second time the waffles were over cooked. If only it was more consistent :(
Other than that, the service and everything else is great!
**don’t forget to check-​in for a free filling**

I’ve driven by here so many times and finally went in for a HK waffle and overall I was pleasantly surprised.
If you check in you get a free topping. I like the chocolate. It’s so good!!!
Their unique coffee drinks are very tasty but their fresh drip brewed are also special because they roast their own coffee here. They can do regular, decaf, stronger etc. whatever you wish.
They also have papaya milk shake, fresh juices with veggies and fruits, fresh lemonade and OJ, sugar cane juice, and even chai tea.
The last time I went the owner, a very nice Asian man, told me he also makes real food! No, not just the waffle sandwich or a croissant. He has a menu with beef noodle soup, phở, tea eggs. I just say that to inform the Internet but have yet to tried.
It’s a great place to relax and chat with friends or even play cards if you can find a complete deck. There’s also a seating area on a patio. The décor is super kitschy mix of Asian and Americana. You’ll always find new things to look at.
I am glad I found this place and I’ll definitely be back.

I got the egg waffle and durian coffee and my friend got the regular boba milk tea. The boba here is good – the boba was hot so we knew it’s fresh, and the milk tea is also not the powered kind. The egg waffle was delicious – light and airy! I got the original flavor, but there are many options available such as chocolate, coconut, durian, etc. I got the durian coffee because everyone on Unilocal talked about it, but honestly it was pretty gross in my opinion… I personally love durian, so I was okay with the durian taste, even though it didn’t really go well with the coffee. The coffee also had little bits of durian inside and I thought that was really weird. Not a fan of this at all, I barely drank half of it. This place also serves other food options like noodles, sandwiches, rice dishes, mango sticky rice, etc.
The biggest problem I had with this place is it doesn’t have AC! My friend and I came on a hot summer day and we literally felt like we’re in a street café in Vietnam or something (especially with the wooden and other cultural décor they have going on). We were sweating but it wasn’t anything unbearable because they had a few fans here and there. Not sure if they are being cheap or if it’s part of the environment… an interesting experience nonetheless, LOL.
Parking is street parking.

Durian coffee?! unique and delicious actually… who would have thought… durian chunks in dark strong coffee and milk. it adds flavor and a tad of sweetness. smells even more heavenly.
the eggettes were ok. crunchy and not much texture. they can fill it up with even more sweet treats.
the owner was very nice. great place to stop by if you are in the area!

Definitely try their half almond and half chocolate waffle, which are filed egg puffs. Coffee is good but pricy for a Vietnamese ice coffee.
Liked many photos are showing, you can smell durian inside the shop. It’s a bit mixed feeling within the shop; there were statues and figuring from Thailand, and sell Vietnamese and Chinese tea and coffee. I can only say this place is nice for a slow day to pick up a coffee.

I was craving HK waffles and decided to pop in here for my afternoon snack. I got the HK waffle with almond and chocolate filling and Tapioca Thai Boba.
The HK waffle itself is huge! It covers my hand, and cost is $ 4.50 and Unilocal Check in — I got a free filling for the HK waffle. My waffle was pretty good — a lil burnt, but still edible. Just wished the filling was a lil more. I only tasted the almond crunch about two waffle shells in. Otherwise, I tasted more chocolate.
My Tapioca Thai Boba ($ 4) drink was on spot! The bobas were generous, soft and chewy, and the Thai Tea tasted a bit medicinal in the beginning, but once the iced melted, it tasted better. Refreshing and not overly sweet. You can tell it’s Vietnamese crafted — strong! I was energized through out the day, lol!!!
They even got Civet Coffee here (see my Tip), but I didn’t get it, lol!
Service here is sweet and friendly. My order was placed with Jimmy the Owner, and then his employees took care of my order. The girls brought me my waffle and food, and also took care of throwing away my finished plate. Adorable and kitschy décor — definitely has a homey fill like parents hoarding old school stuff, but I dig it :) Small parking lot in the back that limits you to 2 hours parking, and you can stay here for 3 hours (small joint, and wants to make sure other people have a chance to hang out here too). The ambience here is very chilled and relaxing — great for catching up with friends or doing some work or studying. They also got tables and chairs out front of the shop and behind outside the shop.
A nice treat to enjoy and definitely worth coming back to try out their other yummy food and drinks.

If you’re craving for some Hong Kong egg waffles, this is the spot to get it. They make it fresh to order and have different fillings to try! If you check in, you can get a free filling! I ended up getting the chocolate one. It comes out hot and crispy! If you’ve never had one, it’s similar to eating a crêpe in bite size form!
P.S This place reminds me of a grandparents house. It looks like a collection of random things throughout the years.

They have the best hangover broth because one spoonful of the beef noodle soup cured my migraines right up.
This place is super hole in the wall looking and plastered with a lot of unmatched décor including: license plates, potted over-​towering plants, kinky signs, and Buddha statues.
I freaking love it.
And the service oh man, I’ve never felt so much like royalty. I had my laptop and notebooks all scattered on a small table. As soon as my noodles came, I had three people tend to me at once, offering me sauces and condiments, placing an extra table next to me for my laptop, readjusting everything to make sure I had enough room. I was so surprised that the employees here had such great attention to detail and cared so much about keeping their customers comfortable. It was so wonderful…
I also ordered the matcha green tea Hong Kong waffle and I got to say, it matcha’d to its standards. Ha ha ha! You know I’ll be using that one again.
There’s a unisex bathroom and WiFi with purchase. :)

This freaking hot and crunchy Hong Kong Waffle.
It is SO GOOD. How they get the batter so perfect? The waffle is hot, thinly crunchy outside and moist and hot inside. Food porn at its highest.
I tried both the regular which is very plain, and slightly sweet (PERFECT) and the Durian waffle. The smell was very noticeable but not upon eating. They average $ 4 – 5 a waffle so it is not cheap but so worth it. Your breath will smell pretty ‘duriany’, deal with it. This waffle is much better than Tasty Gardens.
They roast their own coffee inside and the place is funky, with ancient coffee machines throughout. Definitely needs TLC but clearly they don’t give a F about fixing the place up. It is true that sitting outside can smell liek cigaretees (push the holders away). I prefer the front seating with the numerous plant shading.
The sugarcane drink was very good too except it wasn’t as cold as it should be.
I will come back for the other fillings for waffles. Check in with Unilocal for one free filling OR 50 cents off your bill.

In honor of National Dessert Day, my LA Unilocal friends (Yuri, Tim, & Chel) and I checked this place out. It was our last get together before I got on the plane back to Hawaii… I think they wanted to make sure I had sweet memories of them and my epic LA vacation…
My sweetie, Chel, treated me to a Durian Iced Coffee and HK Waffle.
(Note: I was so excited because I thought HK = Hello Kitty! Sadly, HK = Hong Kong. hahaha!) We got half of the waffle filled with taro and the other half filled with durian.
In Hawaii, HK Waffle = Egg Puffs. This filled one (from San Gabriel) had better taste because of the filling. Other options include chocolate and almond. It also seemed moister, but still retained the slightly crisp outer layer! yum!
The Durian Iced Coffee was okay — until the owner grabbed my drink and said that he could make it better. I pleaded with him that it was alright and insisted that he not pour it down the drain. He fought back and took my cup to the sink where I feared the worst… he opened the cover… then… he took a spoon… and scooped out the ice… Then he got another spoonful of light yellow matter… and dumped it in my cup! I was frantic — like — what are you doing to my drink??? He mixed it, covered it, and gave it back to me with a rascal smile… I took a hesitant sip… WOW! It WAS better! There was less of a bitter coffee flavor and MORE creamy, rich durian flavor! Mmmm! (Keep in mind that I only started to eat durian this year because of Unilocal.You can like it, too!!!)
So, this place is rather fun! I read friends’ reviews: Joe P., Kevin L., Annee T., Tiffany C., and Joseph A. Everyone seems to like it! I agree about the unusual décor. There was a real coffee roaster on the premises and there are waffle irons for rent on a day to day basis! How amusing!
I like places, people, and food with character — this shop has all three elements! Five stars! I would return!

What a neat place! A coffee house that roasts it’s beans on premises. Came here after having a wonderful lunch with Joe P. at Boston Lobster. Located on San Gabriel Blvd. & Broadway. There’s parking on the streets close to the front entrance or go through the alley & park in the back. There’s an entrance in the back where the patio seating is. There’s also patio seating in the front as well with coffee plants surrounding you. BTW, you can purchase live coffee plants if you like.
Go up to the counter & place your order. The menu is extensive for the drinks. You could order smoothies & Teas apart from coffee. Now, I found out that they have a secret Menu! MSG Free Phở! There’s other items on there like fried rice, chow mien, & wonton soup.
Another popular item there is the HK Waffles. Funny looking things that are soo good! Many flavors to choose from but I like Durian! Oh yeah! It’s not for the faint of heart. A smell, texture, & flavor that needs to be getting use to! In fact, this will be my second time enjoying the Durian Waffles!
Meet the main man, Jimmy. He’s very knowledgeable in the coffee beans, roast types, flavor profiles, & has access to the world’s most expensive coffee… Civet Coffee! What’s a Civet Coffee (AKA, Coffee Kopiluwak) you may ask? Only found in Southeast Asia. A type of «cat”(looks more like a weasel to me) that only eats the ripest berries & then poops out the coffee bean since it’s not digestible. People then collects the beans (yes, scrounge around in poop) then roasts the beans. Somehow when the berries passes through the digestive system makes the most flavorful & robust cup of coffee! I have yet to try!
The seating area inside has tables, chairs, & some comfy arm chairs. Take a seat & the nice staff will bring you your drinks & snacks. The coffees were flavorful, the smoothies is very thick & creamy, has lots of flavor (not watered down). The Waffles are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside with lots of fillings. Best eaten there.
You could order roasted whole beans or ready made coffees bottled (similar to how Lee’s Sandwich sells their coffee) and they will ship your order. So far, this is the only place I’ve been to that has tons of Durian stuff! I will definitely come back!

I was visiting my pal Tiffany L in SGV, and she wanted to show me her hood. After lunch at Boston Lobster, we ended up at Fresh Roast for a HK waffle and café sua da (Vietnamese iced coffee w/​condensed milk). We were pleasantly surprised to see that the special HK waffle of the day was durian. The two coffees and waffle came to $ 14. FR is on San Gabriel Blvd & Broadway in San Gabriel.
First of all, the waffle was excellent. I have had HK waffle before, and this version was perfect. It was light, airy and the durian was sweet. The last time I had durian it was raw, and I didn’t care for it: 5 Stars. On the other hand, the café was just OK. It was a nice contrast to the savory food we had earlier. However, it wasn’t as good as some places in GG or Westminster: 3 Stars.
Regarding the ambiance, it was very eclectic. There was a lot of old things like typewriters, and new things as well. Nonetheless, it is a comfy coffee shop: 4 Stars. Likewise, the service was very good. The servers were friendly, and the waffle came out quickly: 4 Stars.
I look forward to coming back to Fresh Roast the next time I am in SGV. I liked the durian more than the last time I had it, and it is warming up so an iced coffee is ideal.