UCC Cafe

I gotta say, LA needs more casual cafes where one can get a quick bite that's either salty or sweet. UCC in Rowland, off Fairway in the Lee Hing Hwa plaza, is a lovely little spot. My mom stopped in for an afternoon snack after running some wedding errands (and getting facials!).

Masago over spaghetti with lightly cooked cuttlefish. This is the kind of thing that can be easily screwed up by un-fresh or overcooked cuttlefish, but UCC did a lovely job. It had a sweet seafood flavor without being too salty.

My mom had the Ceylon tea that came with the spaghetti, and I had some Sumiyama coffee. UCC has great coffee! They siphon drip everything, and this fragrant cup of joe was more sweet and smooth than even my beloved Peet's. My only complaint: $3.50 for a very small cup.

What's this for, you ask?

Dessert crepe! We asked for the strawberry sauce on the side. Their crepes were on the thick side, and it's not the season for fresh fruit, but I really can't complain about a blob of good vanilla ice cream and some fresh tasting strawberry topping.

A lovely afternoon snack for $22. Try getting that in West LA. Plus, the place is really chic and has free WiFi.