koreatown’s cafe heyri brings new meaning to the term “coffee house”
Have you ever had one of those “Only in LA” experiences, a situation so borderline parody that you can’t help but laugh?
In Koreatown — itself a miniature version of the same restaurant revolution occurring throughout the Los Angeles area — the neighborhood is filling up with barbeque joints, sundubu restaurants, and the omnipresent coffee house. Evidence of the extremely competitive nature of the K-Town restaurant scene abounds, with clever gimmicks to lure in customers popping up daily.
Sometimes these enterprising small-business owners break the mold, as with Cafe Jack, the Western Avenue establishment modeled after nothing less than the Titanic.
But with the recently opened Coffee House Heyri, the southern anchor of a mainly residential block, the owners took the term “coffee house” quite literally, tossing convention out the window of the two-story Craftsman home from which the cafe was fashioned.
A House Is Not a Home
Given a slight profile earlier this year in the LA Times, rooms upstairs allow for small gatherings (with table service), but knowing you’re dining in someone’s former bedroom is a little high on the creep factor — especially considering the house was in a run-down state before conversion. There’s got to be some old ghosts roaming around.
The best seats in the house aren’t in the house at all: Check out the cafe’s outdoor seating area, which has the feel of a backyard barbeque party in the Valley — in a good way. Think casual patio furniture, cabanas, heat lamps, string lighting and patchy grass surrounding a miniature pool and fountain (Entering the pool is strictly prohibited).
There’s no forgetting you’re in Koreatown here, though. Brand-new BMWs and Mercedes pack the valet lot out front; the glowing signs of the Korean banks on Wilshire glare from above; and friendly table service is quickly summoned by the push of a button.
“Home”made
A moderately sized menu shows off a smattering of lattes and teas, smoothies, Korean appetizers and desserts. At nearly $6 for a cup of regular coffee, it had better knock my socks off. It didn’t, but that’s okay — I come here for the sweet stuff.
Smoothies arrive in an oversized goblet, allowing for easy sharing. Try the Boston Bay, a mix of banana, orange and pineapple. On a subsequent visit, I decided to spring for the hot green tea latte, which tasted like a toasted cookie, if a little grainy.
Their Coffee Prince Waffle was demolished by my party in five seconds flat, a testament to the power of waffles topped by ice cream, strawberries, bananas and chocolate syrup. It’s a deadly combination.
Like many other Korean coffee houses in Los Angeles, the price point is high — too high for the product alone, so I justify it by “paying for the experience.” Crazy? Yes. But seriously, this experience can only be had in LA.
If you go: Table service is summoned by a push button at the table, so don’t just wait for the young waiter or waitress to walk by; free WiFi is available though not always in service.
Getting there: Three blocks east and two blocks south from the Wilshire/Western Purple Line station; $1.50 valet lot out front.
Coffee House Heyri
755 S Hobart Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90005
213-389-6138
Open 8:00am-4:00am Daily
cafeheyri.com
7 comments
Wow! This is why I love Koreatown. I used to live about 3 blocks from here and never expected a place like this to open where it is. This strip of 7th used to be lined with vacant old craftsman homes. I’ve noticed over the last year many have been cleaned up or demolished to make way for new developments – like the Hotel Emhurst.
I HATE this place. Took away all the street parking for all the residents on the street; thanks a lot
Nice to get a look inside and see what all the fuss is about… I normally have to pass by it on my way home every night and there is usually a mess of cars waiting to get in or cutting in front of my car recklessly. The most dangerous thing for me, though, is that I now know that that Waffle dessert is practically across the street from my building.
I love those buttons a the table. After you get use to them, you really wish every restaurant had them!
heyri is great… i love that they give you blankets
have you been to YELLOWHOUSE on Oxford, just north of 3rd?
I think its really great to chill and catch up with your friends .
The setting kinda looks like the cafe from the korean drama called “COFFEE PRINCE”. Theres a little fountain and i personally enjoy watching the view.