Starbucks — Restaurant in Los Angeles

It's sad, but out of all of the Starbucks locations I've been to all over the country including in airports, malls, etc. This is the only one that I have ever truly been disappointed with. I've gone to this location several times to give it a few chances, but each trip whether I go through the drive through or actually walk in something with my order goes wrong. I'm not sure if it's the management or that they seem to frequently have new employees with a quick turn over... but their knowledge of the menu (today I tried to order a London Fog Tea Latte which not only is a common coffee house drink but also literally on the regular Starbucks menu) and the woman who took my order had to check if it was something they make. She then got back to me and said "Sure! We do have that!" I got to the window and they simply handed me an Earl Grey. Halfway right, but nope. Not what I asked for. Similar situations even with more normal drink orders such as a Carmel Macchiato or even a Flat White have been significantly incorrect during previous visits. One of my colleagues was actually served ROTTEN soy milk in her drink and was told "Huh that weird, we're sorry that happened!" When she called to let them know... my question is how do you not notice curdled, chunky liquid coming out of the carton when you're making a drink? Personally I feel as though this particular location brings the entire Franchise down a notch. As they say, "you're only as strong as your weakest player." I am forever a Starbucks customer, I have had a Gold Status for several years, but this location has disappointed me too many times for me to continue to be a...

Review: Alfredo the Thirst-Defender at Starbucks—Where Drinks (and Dreams) Hit a Wall

Let me set the scene: I enter Starbucks, thirst blazing like a cosmic supernova, ready to indulge in the mighty Trenta size. Because, let’s be honest, sometimes a Venti is just an appetizer for the emotional hydration I require.

I make my request—straightforward, harmless:

“Could I get this drink in a Trenta?”

Cue Alfredo, the self-proclaimed “manager,” stepping into the role of hydration’s final gatekeeper. With a poker face that could stop a solar flare, he says:

“Sorry, I can’t do a Trenta. Dietary guidelines and nutritional value.”

Hold up—did I wander into a nutritional boot camp by mistake? I’ve snagged this same drink as a Trenta at countless other Starbucks locations. So why is this one special? Why is Alfredo special?

Naturally, I ask if he’s the manager. He confirms:

“Yes, I am.”

Suddenly, my quest for a Trenta is met with a corporate denial from the top. I’m all for guidelines, but my body, my choice, right? Your job, dear Alfredo, is to serve the beverage, not to guard me from my own caffeine aspirations.

When a “Supreme One” (yours truly) is denied a large dose of sweet, iced hope, it doesn’t just create thirst—it sparks a scroll-worthy saga of frustration. Now the world knows this Starbucks is where epic refreshment requests go to die in the name of “health guidelines.”

My advice to Alfredo: Next time, let the drink flow. Nobody ever became a hero by rationing a cup of joy.

—Samuel Medina Supreme One of the Trenta Realm Scroll Wielder, Sip Seeker, and Unbothered but...

I try to avoid single use plastic and asked for a paper cup instead, and it seems this created some confusion on a previous visit and they gave me the wrong size. I didn't have time to wait for them to make it right that day so the barista said next time I came they'd give me the bigger size. When I returned I mentioned this when ordering but the manager said since it had been over a week since it was promised he couldn't honor it. Of course I was disappointed since I had never been told I needed to return within a week.

I go ahead and order my new drink at room temp, but it ends up coming out hot. I let the barista know about the error - I checked my receipt and it did in fact say room temp - and requested ice cubes to cool it off at which point the manager offered to remake my drink. For that, the drink I had would've been poured out and wasted so I asked again for the ice cubes to be added to my hot drink instead. I found it quite odd how the manager refused to upsize me as had been promised (the cost difference would've been $0.30) only two minutes later to offer to make me a second drink, with the catch of course that the first one gets thrown out. His customer service made no sense businesswise and missed the mark for me.

I would have accepted him making a cold version to add to my hot version (there was room in my reusable cup), but that would've effectively upsized me which he clearly wasn't willing to do, rather he preferred to entirely waste the drink they already made to give me a new one of...