Korean Cafe Near Me? What to Order at a Korean Café

If you have found a Korean cafe near me and wonder what to order, start with one signature drink and one dessert: an einspänner (espresso under thick sweet cream) or a nutty misutgaru latte, plus a croffle or a bowl of bingsu to share. Korean cafés mix espresso-bar classics with flavors drawn from traditional Korean ingredients, like roasted grains, toasted soybean powder and yuja citrus. This guide explains what each menu item is and what it tastes like, so you can order with confidence.

We focus on the menu here. For the story of how coffee became such a big part of life in South Korea, read our article on Korean café culture.

Korean Cafe Near Me: Quick Menu Cheat Sheet

Coffee Drinks on a Korean Café Menu

Americano

The everyday order in many Korean cafés is an Americano, often iced, even in winter. Expect a clean, simple espresso-and-water drink that lets the beans speak.

Einspänner

The einspänner is a Viennese-style drink that has become a Korean café favorite. It is usually espresso or a strong Americano under a thick layer of lightly sweetened cream, served hot or iced. Sip it without stirring at first, so you get cold cream and hot, bitter coffee in the same mouthful. Our article on Vienna’s classic coffee drinks covers the original.

Dalgona coffee and dalgona flavors

Dalgona is a Korean honeycomb toffee made from melted sugar and baking soda, a nostalgic street snack that got a new wave of attention after appearing in the Netflix series Squid Game in 2021. The name was also given to whipped coffee, the fluffy instant-coffee foam over milk that spread around the world in 2020, because its color reminded people of the candy. On café menus you may see dalgona lattes topped with crushed toffee. Make the whipped version at home with our dalgona coffee recipe.

Cream lattes and flavored lattes

Many Korean cafés offer lattes topped with sweet or salted cream, or flavored with vanilla, caramel or seasonal ingredients. Look for the house signature drink, which is often the café’s pride.

Grain, Soybean and Tea Drinks

Misutgaru latte

Misutgaru is a powder of roasted grains, often including barley, brown rice and beans, traditionally mixed with water or milk as a quick drink. As a latte, it tastes like toasted cereal and nuts, with gentle sweetness and a slightly thick texture. It is a great order if you want something cozy without caffeine. Some cafés also offer a version with an espresso shot.

Injeolmi drinks

Injeolmi is a chewy rice cake coated in roasted soybean powder. Cafés borrow that toasty powder for injeolmi lattes, shakes and bingsu. The flavor is warm and nutty, a little like roasted peanuts, and often comes with small pieces of rice cake on top.

Yuja tea

Yuja (also known by its Japanese name, yuzu) is a fragrant citrus. Korean yuja tea is made from thin slices of the fruit preserved with sugar or honey into a marmalade-like syrup, then stirred into hot water. It is sweet, tart and very aromatic, and a popular choice on cold days. You may also find it iced or as a yuja ade with sparkling water.

Other teas

Look out for jujube tea, ginger tea, citron and green tea lattes. Roasted green teas are popular too; our hojicha latte recipe shows how to make a toasty tea latte at home.

Desserts: Croffles, Bingsu and More

Croffle

A croffle is croissant dough baked in a waffle iron, giving you crisp, caramelized ridges outside and buttery layers inside. The idea did not start in Korea, but it became a café staple there. Toppings range from simple sugar and butter to ice cream, fruit, cream or red bean.

Bingsu

Bingsu is a shaved-ice dessert, usually made from frozen milk or a milk mixture shaved into fine, snowy flakes. The classic patbingsu comes with sweet red beans, often with rice cake pieces. Modern versions feature mango, strawberry, injeolmi powder, matcha or chocolate. One bowl is often big enough to share.

Other sweets

• Macarons in Korean cafés are often extra-filled and colorful.
• Castella and roll cakes are soft, light sponge cakes.
• Cream-topped breads and seasonal cakes are common in the display case.

How to Order Like a Regular

1. Pair contrasts. A bitter einspänner or Americano goes well with a sweet croffle; a sweet misutgaru latte pairs well with something less sweet, like plain toast.
2. Ask about the signature drink. Many cafés have one they are known for.
3. Share dessert. Bingsu and large cakes are meant for the table.
4. Check sweetness. Some cafés can adjust syrup or sweetness; ask if you prefer less sugar.
5. Go caffeine-free later. Grain lattes and yuja tea are good evening choices.

Korean Café Menu FAQ

What is the most popular drink in Korean cafés?

The iced Americano is a staple in many Korean cafés, while signature drinks like einspänner and cream lattes are popular specialty orders. Seasonal and grain-based drinks rotate onto menus throughout the year.

Does misutgaru latte have caffeine?

Plain misutgaru made from roasted grains does not contain coffee, so a standard misutgaru latte is generally caffeine-free. Some cafés add an espresso shot, so check the menu or ask.

What is the difference between bingsu and shaved ice?

Bingsu is a type of shaved ice, but modern Korean bingsu is usually made from frozen milk shaved into very fine, fluffy flakes, rather than plain ice. It is typically topped generously with red beans, fruit or powders.

Is yuja the same as yuzu?

Yes, yuja is the Korean name for the citrus called yuzu in Japanese. In Korean cafés it is most often served as a sweet preserve stirred into hot water.

Recreate Korean Café Drinks at Home

Many of these drinks are easy to try at home with good coffee and tea. For an einspänner or iced Americano, use a bold espresso-style blend like our 6 Bean Blend. For roasted, toasty tea lattes, try our Hojicha powder, or a bright green Matcha. Every Feel Espresso coffee order is roasted 1–5 days before delivery.