Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café in Downtown Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo feels small, with just a few tables tucked inside a hotel, but it always draws a crowd! Lines often spill out the door as people wait for a taste. As you walk in to order, glass cases lined with sweet and savory buns tempt you to try each one. While the café serves excellent coffee, it’s the matcha that steals the show!
Let’s talk coffee (or matcha!). Don’t worry, coffee lovers—Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café has you covered with coffee and espresso. But if you’re looking for something special, their signature drinks are mostly matcha. Their specialty drinks include Matcha Sea Salt Coldbrew, Sea Salt Taro Latte, Matcha Rose Latte, Matcha Latte (you can’t go wrong with the classics), Banana Créme Matcha Latte, and Kobo-jicha Latte. I ordered the Matcha Rose Latte, and this drink did not disappoint. Even months after visiting, I still dream about it!
The café serves freshly baked buns, each one filled with a choice of delicious fillings. Each bun feels like it has its own little personality. The two most popular are the Koba Kuma and the Chocolate Emoji. I went with the Chocolate Emoji: a sweet-filled bun with dark chocolate and vanilla bean custard. The Koba Kuma, another fan favorite, is a bear-shaped bun stuffed with vanilla bean custard and cream. Some of the Chocolate Emoji buns are decorated with fun Super Mario motifs, like the iconic mushroom and star, which adds a playful touch!
Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café warmly welcomes guests at three locations: two in California and one in Hawaii. Okayama’s California locations are in Anaheim and Downtown Los Angeles, with the Downtown LA café situated in the Little Tokyo neighborhood. For those living or heading to Hawaii, their café is conveniently located in Honolulu. If your next adventure takes you to Little Tokyo, remember that Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café is open every day from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.!