Kings Road Cafe Review: Is This $6.50 Iced Vanilla Latte Worth It?
I’m not even gonna lie… that iced vanilla latte at Kings Road Cafe was GOOD AF.
They are celebrating their 30th year in business. Which is pretty damn good by LA standards. Fun fact: I used to frequent this place a lot and have their brunch. Back in the day, it was legit. Per the menu, it looks like it still is — at $15 you can get a pretty reasonable brunch, which in LA is a STEAL!
The food was bomb then, and though I didn’t get food this time around, I peeped their insta… and it still looks bomb. What I didn’t realize is that Kings Road Cafe isn’t just another coffee spot — there’s real history behind it.
The owner’s approach to coffee actually comes from his grandfather, who used to make a rich, full-bodied “cowboy coffee” by feel — literally using his hands to judge the texture and temperature. That focus on depth, density, and fullness is still reflected in how Kings Road makes their coffee today.
On top of that, the founder was influenced by San Francisco’s Italian coffee culture in the 1960s and later trained in small-batch roasting and blending. Since opening in 1990, Kings Road Cafe has been roasting its own signature blend in small batches, with each cup made to order.
So yeah… that latte isn’t just a latte. There’s actually some craft behind it.
Like, one of those drinks that hits perfectly when it’s hot as hell outside. We had just come down from Runyon, sweating, tired, and honestly a little delusional (maybe, a lot lol — it was hot AF)… and that cold vanilla latte?
Exactly what I needed.
My friend, Patria burst her Runyon 🍒
Super refreshing, smooth, not overly sweet — just right.
I think it came out to around $6.50, which sounds crazy at first… but when you think about it, that’s actually on par with — if not slightly cheaper than — Starbucks. A grande iced vanilla latte at Starbucks is typically around $6–$7+ depending on location , so honestly… not mad at it.
If you’re doing Runyon and need a post-hike treat, this is the move.
Cold drink. Good vibes. Solid reset. BT
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