Leche Cafe and Bookstore

Norwalk, United States

3.8

21 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 562-864-1764
Website:
lechecafe.com
Address:
11723 Firestone Blvd, Norwalk, CA, 90650
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1.2 miNorwalk
1.3 miNorwalk/Santa Fe Springs
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Delivery
No
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Bitcoin
Yes
Good For
Lunch
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Quiet
Alcohol
No
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
Free
Has TV
Yes
Waiter Service
No
Caters
No
Good for Working
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (Norwalk) 10:10 AM Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Leche Café and Bookstore. New on the block in Norwalk.

What are we?

Leche Café and Bookstore is a unique and intimate coffee lounge and dollar bookstore with Latin flair. We promote literacy and education by providing affordable books and a free tutoring program for the community. We encourage artists and fellow innovators to flourish and present their art by providing them with a venue to showcase their work.

We are a gathering place of knowledge, wisdom, culture, art, and open communication.

A «hub» for expansion.

Who are we?

A group of dedicated individuals with an eagerness to help the community.

Community, culture, creativity — Enlightenment.

History

Established in 2014.

Leche Café and Bookstore is a unique and intimate coffee lounge and bookstore with Latin flair. We serve the best 100% organic coffee and teas. Our paninis have become favorites among those who have visited us.

We promote literacy and education by providing affordable books and a free tutoring program for the community. We encourage artists and fellow innovators to flourish and present their art by providing them with a venue to showcase their work.

We are a gathering place of knowledge, wisdom, culture, art, and open communication.

A «hub» for expansion.

We are a group of dedicated individuals with an eagerness to help the community.

Meet the Business Owner

Jesse P.

Business Owner

High School Teacher for 20 years

Former Director at Large in the city of Highland Park

Former Title 1 Coordinator for the No-​Child left behind

Literacy advocate

Founder of Dollar Bookfair

Opened Leche Café in 2013 as a venue for talent and to promote the arts and literacy

Recipient of the Hearts in Education award

Started free tutoring program and free music classes for children in the community of Norwalk at Leche Café.

Leche Café and Bookstore — CLOSED also recommends

Dollar Book Fair

21

reviews

Books, Mags, Music & Video

Jesse P. says,

«We recommend this business because it promotes literacy by providing affordable books.»

Dollar Book Fair

28

reviews

Bookstores

Jesse P. says,

«We recommend this business because it promotes literacy by providing affordable books.»

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21 reviews of Leche Cafe and Bookstore

No registration required
Place rating: 3
Fontana, CA
Ambiance is nice. Lots of space and the music was not too loud for studying customers or conversationalists. The food was kind of bland. I have had tastier chocolate frappes than this watered down iced drink. Comparable to the price… it seemed kind of pricey to me for the quality I received.
Me and my friends were kicked out at closing time (even though the employees were still inside); I understand they needed to clean and close out and we were upsetting their end-​of-​the-​day process, but a little bit of more courtesy would’ve been nice.
Place rating: 2
Huntington Beach, CA
I wish I can rate this place accurately, but the reason for the 2 stars is that I came here on a Saturday at 11:00 for the first time and the place was closed. Wouldn’t be a big deal if I wasn’t meeting someone for a project here. Why so harsh though?
1. The place says it opens at 9:00 on Saturdays.
2. There was no sign/​explanation why they were still closed.
3. Very unprofessional or businesslike.
Not cool Leche.
Place rating: 5
Downey, CA
I’m giving this place 5 stars mainly because of the ambiance and service. This is a great spot for studying. Lots of space, friendly staff. There was a confusion with the type of drink my friend ordered. She thought the Chai Latte was just Chai tea with milk but it turns out it has coffee. When we let the server know, she replaced it with the Chai tea no problem. Great spot and I’ll definitely be returning.
Side Note: I ordered the tuna wrap which they serve with a wonderful strawberry, walnut, spinach salad and a café latte frappé. All was very good though a little bit pricey.
Also…I’m hoping they bring the book store side of it back but even if they don’t this is a great place.
Place rating: 4
Bell, CA
I’m only giving 4 stars for 2 reasons; 1. They didn’t honor the free cup of coffee with the Unilocal check-​in. The owner (seem liked it) said she never approved of that offer. That an «outside» source posted. Whatever. 2. The lack of AC makes it not unbearable to stay more than 5 minutes. Maybe they have it on low or off completely. If it was nice and cool like any other coffee shop, would definitely be worth the drive. The Food is A 4 stars. The coffee is nice and strong how I like it. The drinks really deserve 5 stars. My sister loved the chicken panini, nice and crispy. The side salad my 2 year old loved it. The pancakes were thin but delicious. The kids quesadilla was ok… not impressed yet the side apples had an onion taste either from the fridge or cutting onions and apples with the same knife. Overall, will definitely go back for the drinks.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
This is my go to place if I need to meet someone. It is usually quiet, there are plenty of tables, and it is a local small business owned by a school teacher and his very talented wife who runs the café. My kids love the books, we always leave with some treasure they found.
Now the coffee: For those of us who are lactose intolerant I will say this; don’t get the soy latte, it is just awful. Go with the horchata, it is amazing!
The tea is so much better than what you’ll find with chain coffee shops, though you need to be careful they do not over brew the tea. I asked how long had the tea been seeping (It was a black tea blend) and it had already been brewing for a while, if tea brews too long it leaves a bitter aftertaste.
In conclusion: good atmosphere, horchata lattes, and dollar books make me happy.
Place rating: 3
Moreno Valley, CA
Very cute décor and Spanish music playing in the background, and a bathroom soap named «orchid petals and mint water» (how lovely!), but the lack of ac is getting us close to leaving here as soon as I finish my sandwich (continue to read for its review).
Between the horchata and leche coco mocha drinks that we had ordered, definitely go for the horchata even though it is claimed that their leche coco mocha is their number 1 selling item.
As was the adjective that my beautiful lunch date just used for my sandwich– it was indeed nothing beyond «basic». I ordered a tuna sandwich, although the bread was of great quality, the sandwich was lacking flavor. Could have used more spice to in the tuna and the bread could have had more condiments to offset the dryness of the tuna. However, the salad that accompanied the sandwich was very delicious. Glazed in a vinaigrette with perfect subtlety, powdered Parmesan, crushed pecans, and cut strawberries– the salad was very refreshing, almost distracting me from the ac-​less environment I was enduring.
And now that both the salad and review have come to an end, I will be departing this «laugh, love, leche» & LAVA joint!
Place rating: 5
La Mirada, CA
Great place for lunch the chicken panini with fresh strawberry salad was delicious next time I need to try there horchata frappé with chocolate cake
Place rating: 4
Norwalk, CA
I had the horchata latte it was really good and the tiramisu was ok. Def will go back. The service was good I will be trying lunch next.
Place rating: 5
Artesia, CA
Great place to catch up with friends or, in my case, to study! This place is very big and has LOTS of different seating options (chairs, couches, benches). They have outlets everywhere too. My favorite part about this Café is their choice of music. I came during the weekend a couple times and they were playing music from Frank Sinatra’s time. It’s a nice change from all the other tea/​coffee shops I study at. Their music isn’t too loud either. The décor looks nice and artistic — different paintings and art work on the walls.
Service is great. I had their horchata latte — yum! This place is a must try!
Place rating: 3
Norwalk, CA
Strong point, the coffee is really good! Great variety of teas. AMAZINGLY service. Big open space. Small book section with books for sale. They don’t rush you. Free wifi. GREAT FOR STUDYING. Open mike night on Fridays.
Come for everything but the food. Was let down when we found out they do not make their own pastries, none the less, the cookies we bought were not good. Dry, kind of chewy, and well, just not good. As my mom put it, «they’re better as decoration than dessert.» Haha
Place rating: 3
Downey, CA
I like coming here because it’s spacious and not as loud as Starbucks. The unlimited wifi always works and rarely lags. Drinks are tasty and I’ve liked all the ones I’ve tried. It’s obviously a bit pricier than the commercial shops but the drinks always taste good.
I was here one Sunday morning and noticed that the workers were putting out Porto’s pastries for almost double or triple the price. I thought it was poor taste for them to re-​sell these pastries and to be putting them out in such a way where customers could see what they’re doing.
All in all, nice local spot but I won’t be trying any of the food or buying pastries here.
Place rating: 1
Cerritos, CA
This place is a waste of time. I liked the atmosphere at first.
I’ve been here before. Their coffee and drinks are just okay. Nothing great, literally average. Can get more and better quality from Starbucks or seriously anywhere else. I come back to give them a second chance. But again. Mediocre.
They also don’t take Amex apparently, even though they have basically the newest kind of iPad-​like cash register system which everyone else who has it. Whatever.
With maybe 2 people ahead of me, and like I get if its fresh, it’ll take a little while, but 30 min waiting for a sandwich? You must be joking! Average food with a tiny SLIVER of chicken that ISNT worth the price or about $ 8. Even Earl of Sandwiches has better quality for a cheaper price. Lord. Awful and definitely won’t be back.
Place rating: 5
Whittier, CA
First time here and I absolutely love it. Staff is excellent and helpful. The Horchata Frappé is amazing
Place rating: 1
Norwalk, CA
Two things killed the experience before I even ate my food: the Unilocal deal and the «book store».
Unilocal deal: I had to argue with 2 different employees before they honored the «$ 12 voucher for $ 10» that I purchased from their Unilocal page because supposedly an outside party posted that deal on the café’s Unilocal page. So if you are duped into buying it as I was, be prepared to argue your case to have it honored.
«Book Store»: the selection looks NOTHING like the Unilocal photos lead me to believe. Almost all of it is sectioned off by curtains leaving only a few book shelves with dime store novels on them that you can pick up from any thrift store. Totally not even worth looking through them. When I asked why the books are so scarce in a supposed café and book store I was told that the owner doesn’t make enough money from the books and is therefore looking to phase that part of the store out. What a joke.
I only give them a star because the breakfast burrito I ordered was decent and so was the coffee. Otherwise it was a severely disappointing experience.
Place rating: 5
Paramount, Estados Unidos
Orchata!
Place rating: 5
Covina, CA
First timer today. Great food! Salad was perfectly dressed. Not too sweet, not too dry; Fresh. The panini was also tasty. Not a fan of veggies, but they gave it a nice crisp, and combined well with the melted cheese. Last, but definitely not least, would be the horchata latte. Amazing finish! Definitely would come back.
Just a side note: we want more books! & in order :) lol
Place rating: 3
Los Angeles, CA
Good drinks, free unlimited wifi, spacious, and an ideal ambiance for studying. I also appreciate that they’re not overly crowded like the commercial coffee shops.
The iced horchata latte is a must! If you’re in the mood for something warm, the Chai tiger is nice as well.
Food is okay. Ordered the chicken and the tuna paninis to go. Salad is good but a little overdressed with vinaigrette. I recommend the chicken over the tuna for more flavor. Nothing too special about the paninis since they’re all the same, just a different protein, so you’re not missing out if you haven’t tried one or the other. They’re still good though; I just wasn’t overly impressed.
Looks like they host a few events on their stage some nights that might be worth checking out.
Come for the drinks, stay for the studying. Plus, cheap used books! Who can argue with that?! *Don’t forget, 10% off with Unilocal check in!
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
This review is based on my first time coming here today; my opinion will most likely change (for the better) once I visit again.
Upon first glance, the café appeared very cute and quaint. There was a lot of seating available and the lot had sufficient parking. There were book shelves upon entering and the decorations were very cute (in my opinion).
I came on a Friday night with the intention of doing a bit of studying before heading to the movies. I was tired of going to Starbucks so I decided to look for something different. Thanks to Unilocal,I was able to discover this place. It was pretty much exactly what I was looking for, so I was pretty excited. This was my first time here so I didn’t know there would be a live performance going on at the time (around 7:30). I don’t know how often there are performances or anything like that, but it was a little disappointing (since my intention was to study).
Regardless, I was not leaving without giving the place a fair shot. I ordered a small Chocolate Mexicano ice blend. I had tried this drink at Tierra Mia and I really liked it. This drink here was also pretty tasty. I got my drink and decided to sit for a while and enjoy the performance. I guess they were still doing a sound check so I didn’t get to see very much. From what I did see, though, I enjoyed it. Everyone was friendly and more than willing to help me out and advise me.
I stayed only for about 20 minutes and decided to leave so I could study elsewhere. I do intend to come back another time to actually see the study atmosphere of the place and try some food. So for now, I will give 4 stars for the potential it has and the opportunity I am willing to give it.
Place rating: 5
Norwalk, CA
I love this place!
I have come here a couple of times just for Coffee and just recently I had their turkey panini that comes with a salad… O.M.G! So good! Of course I also had my usual choco mocha latte (I think that’s the name) that is my favorite thus far.
We came early at open time & I think the owner attended us. She was very nice made us feel like we were at her kitchen, making everything good with love. That is the main reason I give this place a 5 star. My mother in law got the breakfast burrito which comes with a bowl of what looked like yogurt with fruits and oatmeal. She very much enjoyed it too. Also she got a large hot Mocha latte with a perfect large mug My mother in law was very impressed as if they knew how she liked her mug.
The only thing that I don’t like is the parking, but oh well once I’m in here I forget.
What I look forward in seeing is more latte art I’m a fan. Perhaps some board games too? To be open earlier? Either way I still love this place.
Place rating: 4
Los Angeles, CA
Yes! Horchata latte here is on point. When I had my first horchata latte at Tierra Mia a couple of weeks ago I was bummed there wasn’t somewhere closer serving up such a delicious drink. THIS PLACE is the answer! Delicious horchata latte, it was comparable or better.
I also ordered the breakfast croissant and florentine cookie — which was also amazing.
Lots of space in this place and filled with books and comfortable seating in a nice quiet setting.
The Breakfast sandwich was delicious! — Egg, Ham, Cheese, Mayo in a croissant served with fresh fruit with coconut shavings. I’d go light on the mayo or skip it next time. The sandwich itself was perfect.
I’m only saying this to be helpful, I was so happy with the fruit salad and the variety of fresh fruit that was in it. I was a bit disappointed when I bit in though. Perhaps using the same knife or storing it close to the onions in the fridge caused this, but the fruit had adopted the flavor of whatever was on the knife before — it literally tasted like onion. I’d store the fruit in an air-​tight container in the fridge or dedicate a knife just to cutting fruit.
Yes it takes a little longer for the food but this is a family ran operation and the food is freshly made. They’re not popping pre-​made sandwiches into a heater like some of the bigger coffee shops names, they’re making it FRESH. That’s worth the wait in my opinion.
Finally, this was the only thing that TRULY bugged me about this place… they don’t open until 10am. Wtf? I know its a family ran operation but someone needs to start getting up early and opening shop! By 10am I’m already on my 3rd cup of coffee. I wanted this Horchata latte to be my first of the day. 10am is waaay too late in the day for a CAFE that serves COFFEE to be open. Again, just my opinion.
Finally, Ive had florentine cookies before but this was for sure the BEST one I’ve had. Not too chewy like some of the others I’ve had from other places. This one was crisp and just slightly chewy. I like that.
Overall I’ll definitely be back.
Place rating: 5
Pico Rivera, CA
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, COFFEE, BOOKS, and HOSPITABLE PEOPLE !! My sister had told me about this place since we both have an insatiable love of books and reading and knowing that I also have an immense coffee addiction, she new this would become a favorite of mine.
Service is just amazing and the owners make you feel as if you are at home. They make you feel so welcomed as soon as you walk through the place and are very accommodating and won’t find listening to your request. WONDERFUL !!
Coffee and drinks quite AMAZING and DELICIOUS !! The honey latte was wonderful with just the right amount of sweetness and it tasted so smooth and just perfectly hot !!
They have salads and sandwiches and will definitely be back during the day to try their food but whatever people were ordering looked delicious and savory !!
NOW THE BEST PART the amazing selection of used BOOKS !! Love Love Love the great bargains of used books can’t beat $ 1.00 !!
They have lots of room, sofas, and tables were you can enjoy your coffee and a great book or if you need to study the place is ideal to get your thinking hats going. And they have music playing and if you really need to concentrate the owners will lower it at your request, now how great it that.
The owners really created the ideal place for people like me and I just love it !!