Archives Of Us

⛾ orange mint matcha (seasonal)、matcha einspanner、matcha canale、wagyu slider

aesthetics were on point🙂‍↕️ the drinks itself were not as impressive as i was hoping. though the orange mint matcha was interesting, it was a bit sweet, and the einspanner cream texture was a bit off. wagyu burger didn’t seem too special, but we did enjoy the canale! another con would be the expensive parking :( i do love the vibes for a yapping or working sesh tho

The cafe occupied the second floor of an apartment building at the hear of Chinatown. Worry not, they had very clear directional sign to guide you finding the cafe. The attendant said they're still working with the apartment to figure out parking validation so for now, it's pretty easy to find a parking spot in the building but it costed $3 for first hour and $3.5 incremental per 15mins.

The space was huge and super convenient, providing both indoor and outdoor options. As they're still 1 week old, food menu was still limited to Canele, available in 4 flavors; vanilla, chocolate, matcha, and earl grey. The stocks ran out pretty fast but I was quite fortunate to get one of the last few pieces. I tried the matcha one, which was pretty good, but slightly less buttery then I expected. It has that perfectly crispy skin and gooey center. Tad pricey being at $5 for the size IMO.

Their signature drinks were the einspanner, available in coffee and matcha. However, I was more intrigued by the Madagascar Vanilla latte, given some reviews said their housemade vanilla was great. First sip and I could tell the coffee was superb, being aromatic and bold. It featured slightly acidic flavor, which I typically dislike, but this one seemed to be an exception. Milk substitution was available at extra charge.

I could see myself coming back for sure, especially I really appreciated the extremely warm service delivered by every single attendant and barista. Be prepared that it might take awhile to get your order ready, but I thought it's kinda understandable given they just recently opened!

Great vibe and presentation of the place. It also seems like a good spot for working or studying. There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor covered seats. However, there seems to be a lack of outlets so keep that in mind.

Parking is available and is validated for only the first 30 minutes. In fact, the line was so long when we went in that we still had to pay $4 to leave the spot. Which is kinda a bummer imo, especially for some $$ coffee.

Overall not bad if you’re paying for the hype. However, I don’t think this will be a spot to justify myself coming back often as a local.

As someone who is picky about their matcha, this is perhaps one of the best matchas I’ve had in los angeles. I’ve lived in Japan for a bit, tried many of the famous matcha places in la & nyc, but I could really feel the matcha powder they used was high quality. I tried their signature einspanner this time and it was beyond phenomenal, but I would like to try the matcha tea with just water next time to really taste the thick flavors.

The ambience too, added to the great experience, with the chic black and white interior. The accessibility to wifi and spacious desk also allowed many people to come and work/study.

Last but not least, the staff’s hospitality is top notch. I visited on a weekend and the cafe was very busy, but all of the staff welcomed each customer with genuine smiles.

Overall, this is one of my new favorite cafes in la, and will make multiple visits!

Loved everything about this place!
The Einspänner and vanilla latte were so smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced — just delicious.
Everything we tried: salad , noodles, mini burgers and pasta were super tasty!
The terrace and overall vibe made it even better.
Everyone working there was so friendly and welcoming.
Highly recommend — definitely coming back!

Good drinks, polite baristas, not the vibe I was hoping for.

First thing was the elevator that led to the second floor. Was nervous about pressing it, did a double take. I think it’s the only way up. No key needed.

Place itself was nice and casual sort-of, young professional, very asian. I felt underdressed. And kind of… underprepared? Idk. Would have worn a button down, not a layered t-shirt. The baristas were all handsome, which didn’t help. Lol. I loosened up while chatting with a friend. Didn’t quite feel “comfy” tho. Maybe the design was just too modern? Can’t put my finger on it.

Matcha was pretty good. Solid. wifi is by the counter.

PARKING: Parking was very bad. There is a paid lot right there. I “cleverly” parked in the garage by Starbucks and Chase Bank. FYI it is only free if you go to the hotel-hosted stores. (And it’s camera-monitored.) I ended up paying, like, $10 for 5 hours. My friend found free parking by Philippe the Original.

Amazing matcha. Lovely presentation and service. Most people were working though. Big balcony area. Parking in the basement floor was not bad but came out to $3 after validation.

Banana cream top matcha is to die for. The space is minimal and a good working space. Very kind service here as well

great for working & high quality coffee

nice atmosphere for working, i like getting the matcha/hojicha with pistachio milk!

Archives of Us reminds me of some of the restaurants and cafes you find inside the city areas of Tokyo. Integrated within the city itself, but designed and curated to still be apart from it, Archives of Us feels like a space perfect for studying, working, and just vibing if you have the time and you're a local while as a tourist or passerby it's a neat stop by as you continue on your itinerary.

Design - Private but Open
Located just on the boundary of Chinatown and inside the new shopping plaza under new apartments, Archives of Us has its own separate entrance utilizing an elevator to get you to the second floor. This simple detachment allows Archives of Us to have a private space in such a public location.

The interior has exposed concrete, ventilation ducts, and wiring to give the industrial design that's currently popular whilst integrating soft tones of wood, stones, and simple plants in the same space. It makes the interior feel less brutalist by incorporating nature where it can. In juxtaposition, the exterior is a large balcony space with planters of leafy plants on the perimeter to provide semi-private screening as you look out into the city. Though you're close enough to people's apartments where you can snoop on what they have on their balconies it provides enough privacy where they can't look at the TikTok's you're watching.

Drinks - Matcha & Espresso
Archives of Us has a reputation for its matcha. Like so many places these days they proudly utilize ceremonial matcha for their drinks (although ceremonial grade doesn't mean it's good for lattes but that's a whole different story for a different time). They also do Einspänners, cream lattes, and more traditional drinks like flat whites. All these come in one size, ensuring a consistent taste for each drink. Although I did enjoy the banana tiramisu cream latte I had I don't know if paying an average of $7.50-$9.00 is worth the price. The quality of the ingredients can be tasted so it's up to you to decide if that price is worth paying.

Food - High Quality for Simple Design
Following the same rhetoric as the drinks, the food they serve here aren't complicated but they do have a high standard to their ingredients. The Wagyu Egg Sliders is executed well with toasted Hawaiian rolls, perfectly cooked Wagyu beef patties, and a hand chopped egg salad between them all. The egg salad part especially feels like the same type of flavor you would get if you got an egg sando in Japan. The ingredients taste great and as a simple recipe it is executed well. However, for the price of $17 you might be looking for more than "simple done perfectly". If you're looking for a kick or accent to their food you'll have to look for outside sources. I recommend asking them for condiments like their salsa they use for their breakfast burritos.

Their breakfast burrito also falls under the same umbrella of well executed with simple ingredients. I especially loved how fluffy the eggs were and the ratio of potato to all the ingredients was fantastic.

Final Thought
Archives of Us can be seen as a hip location you have to try because of all the buzz and hype you've heard of or it can be seen as a place to make your own if you're a local of the area. It can be considered both overly hyped and a well loved secret. Whatever perspective you see it as what is unarguable is Archives of Us is quintessentially LA and you can love it or hate it for it. Try it for yourself to see where you stand.