Photos by Aili Acone-Chavez

My friend Aili and I ventured to Downtown LA this past weekend on a research outing for one of my journalism classes. Little Tokyo was one of the destinations on our list and we decided to check out a cute cafe I discovered online called Cafe Dulce. Although the coffee shop offers traditional options like Americanos and lattes, I noticed this particular one stood out from others with several matcha and tea lattes. After perusing the drinks menu, I settled on a more unique option — a hot blueberry matcha latte.

I love any kind of matcha drink and have tried several varieties, so I've become very picky. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked my drink up from the bar, but the results were positive. The first sip of my latte exceeded expectations and delighted my tastebuds. My drink suited all the characteristics I dream of and require in a perfect matcha latte — velvety foam, smooth and hot milk, strong and smoothly blended matcha that doesn't taste too earthy, and a touch of sweetness from the blueberry flavor. I was a bit skeptical of the fruity notes when I originally ordered my drink, but it actually tasted somewhat like a blueberry green tea marble bread. Aili also appreciated the foam and matcha flavor.

Speaking of bread, the cafe has a wide assortment on the left side of register. I saw the display when we first walked in and instantly browsed through the options — even though I can't eat gluten products — simply because I saw a sign that said "ugly bread" and I wanted to look at all the interesting flavors. The case contained cookies, brick toast, roti, donuts in flavors like green tea, bacon, fruity pebbles, and well as bread rolls with odd names like dino churro, koko churro. Here is the complete list of flavors they rotate through.

Cafe Dulce additionally sells two breakfast food items — a breakfast burrito or sandwich — lunch sandwiches, and salads. View the full food menu here.

The staff was very friendly as well. One of the baristas personally handed Aili and I our lattes and asked us why we journeyed to Little Tokyo that day. We explained how we were journalists that hoped to gather information and interviews for our class project, and he wished us the best of luck in our endeavors.

I sipped on my latte for the rest of our trip around Little Tokyo and Olvera Street and constantly reminded Aili that we must return to Cafe Dulce the next time we trek to Downtown LA.