Lagu Cafe
Next to John Wayne Airport, it's the best Japanese tea shop you've probably never heard of
Some restaurants are odd fits for their locations, and Lagu Cafe is one of the highest on our “why there?” list. Located on the edge of a business park near John Wayne Airport, this tiny cafe is a sister company to Okayama Kobo, a bakery with 200 locations in Japan and one in Orange County near Disneyland in Anaheim. For food, it sells delicious onigiri rice balls (Yamitsuki seaweed, tempura crunch, and pickled red ginger, shown) and croissant roll sandwiches based on Okayama Kobo bread, occasionally also offering pop-up desserts from LA-based Japanese brands such as Omoi Pastry.
The highlights for us have been their drinks, including matcha and sakura (cherry blossom) iced coffee variants: Lagu was early to land complex Japanese flavor combinations, such as a strawberry espresso with sakura and salted vanilla milk foam, as well as floral matcha lattes with lavender or rose.
Lagu operates only five days a week during breakfast and lunch hours: From 8am to 3pm on Tuesdays through Fridays, then 9am to 3pm on Saturdays. Between its obscure location, somewhat challenging hours, and extremely limited seating – six or so people inside – it’s a very challenging location to patronize, but rewards guests with atypically well-made treats. At a different location, we’d likely visit far more often.
Stats
Price: $-$$
Service: Counter
Open Since: 2020
Addresses
17779 Main St. Suite J
Irvine, CA 92614
949.418.7023
Instagram: @lagu.cafe