Spoke — Restaurant in Los Angeles

This is one of the best cafés in Los Angeles. Top notch vegetarian/vegan/carnivore food, atmosphere, coffee, and a robust community of cyclists. Aside from having el río de Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciúncula as an attraction, they frequently host events like comedy, cycling meetups, holiday parties with music and special menus, etc. Also there's games, a children's playpen, table tennis, and an attached bicycle shop. It's 100% outdoor seating but they have an abundance of heaters and covered space for cold or rainy conditions. It's an all around good time.

I will say, if you're working class (such as myself), Spoke is all-around pretty pricey. BUT IT IS NOT "EXPENSIVE". Everything on the menu, food or drink, is excellent quality, extremely tasty, and well portioned. Expect to spend ~$30 on a nice breakfast for two with coffee. Lunch or dinner will be a bit more like $35-40 if you drink alcohol. As a result, I only end up being able to budget for food 2-4 times a year, but I get coffee at Spoke about once a week. I have also sipped at the tea drinks when friends order them and they are also fantastic. By contrast, most of the other local establishments are rip-offs and I can't recommend taking the time to try them (Wax Paper is one of the few good ones, definitely go there).

A few odd caveats though.

1. there's a dusty Honda motorcycle and (with records) that never get used just hanging around. Neither appear to be operable so I guess they're supposed to be decorations? The motorcycle would be nice if it got washed but the records are baffling and take up space. Both of these things end up lending it a "hipster" vibe in a really awkward, forced, way - especially since that's not the general feel of the shop overall. There's also a piano with a cool paint job from a local artist (that also does the paint job for the shop itself). It doesn't get played really but it feels more accessible than the records/motorcycle.

2. handicap accessibility is GREAT . . .but only if you can drive. If not, the nearest bus stop is about a 12 minute walk for someone with no handicaps. Bug the L.A. City Council about this.

2.5) Parking is BRUTAL. Few spaces with a 2 hour (heavily enforced) limit. It's best to bicycle, walk/take public transportation, or use a ride service. You're gonna want to stay a long time and shuffling spots is next to impossible. Even finding a spot for a motorcycle can be challenging as many of the spaces are single-length between residential driveways.

3. Not a place for pour overs. Like most full menu cafés they're way too busy to attend to the labor heavy process of a pour over. And it's often over or under extracted. I wish more places would stop buying into the "craft coffee" narrative of pour overs as being superior and eliminate it from the menu. It only hurts business in places that can't afford to have a dedicated, highly trained staff member to make a cup of coffee that is occasionally much better than drip. GET AN EXCELLENT CUP OF DRIP COFFEE, OR AN EXCELLENT LATTE/MILK...

Came here for a snack with a loose pedal and some friends and left with nothing but the knowledge that I won't be back.

Whatever you think about the vibe, I can't recommend a bike cafe that doesn't let people borrow tools (don't worry, you can buy them!).

Update: When I asked about this rule, the shop tech explained that people often damage tools and they are a business after all, so they can't be replacing tools willy nilly/letting people do service themselves when a shop tech could charge for it. A photographer wouldn't let you use their camera for free, the shop tech explained patronizingly, so why should a business where you bought a $13 avocado toast let you borrow a 85¢ tool? They explained that there was a stripped tool (free to use!) I could try to use but it didn't include what I needed so I ended up going to home depot to buy some cheap hexes wrenches. On my way back, I offered to donate the tool I bought (had an equivalent tool at home) to their free use tools. The tech declined, explaining that their boss wouldn't approve and that they were a small business that had to make money somehow. They then suggested I sit outside and help people on the path, which didn't quite feel like a sustainable solution.

Sad to see a bougie cafe trying so hard to capitalize instead of trying to be a community space but I guess it's a nice spot to go sit and see what s works has been...

Such an amazing environment to be in! Biker and dog friendly with amazing food selection! Perfect for a lazy weekend to sit next to some live music and active people taking a much deserved break. It is definitely a hipster capital but don't let that stray you, the vibe is perfect for all family members and pets alike. I typically go for the tofu scramble platter with mushrooms and the flavors are just out of this world! Could use a little less liquid smoke in the dish overall but their potatoes could be on a plate to themselves. Be prepared for a wait because I have yet to find a time when this place is not busy on the weekends (hence the 4 star rating). I typically eat vegan style when I can there but I give into the temptation on occasion of the smashed blackberry and goat cheese! I'll be honest, depending on who makes it, this dish can be hit or miss but the first time I tried it was pretty transcendent lol. The tempeh bacon is meh. Needs to be cooked longer or just on a hotter griddle to give it more of a crispy factor to it and once again just far too much liquid smoke on the dish. Ease up on the ingredient on all dishes that use it I think :) Waffle fries are fantastic and perfectly crispy! I also,for the non-vegan, highly recommend the...