#groundwork coffee

Okayama Kobo Bakery, which has a location in Japan, opened in Anaheim last December. They make their baked goods with 100% Hokkaido flour. The Japanese flour gives their pastries and bread a lighter texture. The bread is handmade, additive and preservative free, and baked fresh daily.

Score: 42/50

Food: 4/5 – It’s not my favorite Japanese bakery but the pastries are good. I recommend the salt & butter rolls – the light, airy quality of the dough is evident and the crust has a light crunch. They have baked donuts, French toast, sweet and savory buns, croissants, and sandwiches.  

Coffee: 4/5 – I didn’t have any but they have espresso drinks. They use Groundwork Organic coffee which is local and decent. I like the imported Kimino Yuzu soda – it’s like lemonade and not that sweet.

Wi-fi: 5/5 – Free, secure, unlimited. Ask for the password.

Ambiance: 5/5 – Super adorable in a Japanese way. Look for the giant hanging baguette outside the shop. They worked with a local artist to come up with adorable mugs and stickers.

Noise: 5/5 – The music was calming. Customers were quiet.

Plugs: 3/5 – There are a few outlets

Parking: 4/5 – Two hour free parking in the parking structure with validation. Free 90 minute street parking if you can find it.

Comfort: 3/5 – The metal stools aren’t comfortable and the tables are pretty small.

Bathroom: 4/5 – One restroom, nicely decorated

Art: 5/5 – They collaborate with artists.

Tips: They also own the beer place, so you can sit in there too (it’s connected to the bakery). Prices are surprisingly reasonable.

I do like the setting of this coffeehouse. It’s an old train depot for the Southern Pacific Railroad. They kept the character of the building when they converted it into a coffeehouse. It’s also spacious and laptop camping friendly. But a lot of people come here to talk too, so bring headphones.

Score: 34/50

Food: 5/5 – Pretty good, on the pricey side for a coffeehouse. They have a case of pastries, toasts, sandwiches, premade salads (made fresh daily in their Venice kitchen), breakfast burritos, breakfast tacos, hash, etc. Brunch is served all day. The Daybreaker ($6.50) was a nice English muffin breakfast sandwich with a fried egg, kale, slice of tomato, cheese, hot sauce and a strip of bacon.

Coffee: 4/5 – Organic, decent. They roast their own. Expensive. They also have juices, kombucha, water, sodas, etc., in a refrigerated case.

Wi-fi: 5/5 – Free, unlimited, secure. The password is on the receipt.

Ambiance: 5/5 – Lots of character since its an old train depot.

Noise: 2/5 – Loud music outside, quieter inside unless people start talking

Plugs: 3/5 – Plenty inside, none outside

Parking: 2/5 – 1-2 hour street parking, some meters. It’s easiest to park on a Sunday when the meters aren’t in effect.

Comfort: 3/5 – The outdoor patio area is covered but the chairs are uncomfortable. There are some communal picnic tables in the middle and smaller tables around the side. The inside is better but the chairs aren’t comfortable either. One of the picnic tables is warped and not completely flat on top.

Bathroom: 2/5 – There’s a restroom code on the receipt. The one restroom was pretty rough – lots of graffiti, no attempt to make it nice

Art: 3/5 – Some art for sale on the walls (oil paintings)

Tips: Ask about the reward program. Order at the counter, get a number and they’ll bring your food to you. They sell coffee and coffee accessories. The shop is very close to the North Hollywood Red Line Metro station.

“Laptop Campers Unite!”

I do like the setting of this coffeehouse. It’s an old train depot for the Southern Pacific Railroad. They kept the character of the building when they converted it into a coffeehouse. It’s also spacious and laptop camping friendly. But a lot of people come here to talk too, so bring headphones.

While the food sounds and looks pretty good, it is on the pricey side for a coffeehouse. They have a case of pastries (croissants, cake slices, Danish, cinnamon rolls, cookies, muffins, scones), toasts, sandwiches, premade salads (made fresh daily in their Venice kitchen), breakfast burritos, breakfast tacos, hash, etc. Brunch is served all day. Some of the breakfast items were $11-$12. They have juices, kombucha, water, sodas, etc., in a refrigerated case. Order at the counter, get a number and they’ll bring your food to you.

* The Daybreaker ($6.50): This was a nice, hot English muffin breakfast sandwich with a fried egg, kale, slice of tomato, cheese, hot sauce and a one strip of thin bacon. I wasn’t amazed but it was better than average.

* Coffee: They roast their own beans and the coffee is organic. It’s also expensive given the quality (good, not great).

It seems like a good place to camp, read a book, or talk to someone since it’s spacious with free wi-fi, a bathroom, outlets, etc. The music is loud, especially outdoors.

The outdoor patio area is covered but the chairs are uncomfortable. There are some communal picnic tables in the middle and smaller tables around the side. The inside is better but the chairs aren’t comfortable either. One of the picnic tables is warped and not completely flat on top.

Ask about the reward program. They sell coffee and coffee accessories. The shop is very close to the North Hollywood Red Line Metro station. Parking could be a challenge during the week.

4 out of 5 stars

When it comes to cold brew, I am okay with seeing double. // @groundworkcoffee