Ocean Cafe

First, the food is amazing. Grilled cheese seems simple but a thick slice of cheddar on sourdough never tasted SO good.
Second, super friendly staff and great service.
Third, it was fast and perfect for our occasion.
It’s in an office building (go downstairs) and the ambience includes a few shelves of kind of a convenience store, but we loved it.

The food was very delicious. I’m sure many are thrown off by the ceiling, the darker lighting, and the lack of ambience. It is not a fancy date location. However if you’re looking for good food and this is a great place. You go in through the main entrance, and off to the right are the stairs down to the basement and it will be on your left.

Really good kimchi tacos and miso soup, both freshly prepared. Also the friendly cashier is a dime =) Will be returning whenever back in Santa Monica (for both the tacos and the cashier heh)

Small little café in the basement of a high rise. The place looks clean but dark. It is a Korean flared eatery. It has breakfast and lunch foods that do look good and have a decent price point.
We had the breakfast sandwich with sausage that was done well. The breakfast burrito we had was really good. It had a little spice with the pico de gallo the added in the burrito.

The bibimbap with bulgogi was super delicious. I am so happy they have this item on the menu! $ 10.90 including tax and they give you a lot. The sauce too tho. So darn good… Order ahead so you don’t have to wait.

Love this café! Everyone is so nice, and the owner always wants to give me the best food possible. At breakfast she makes sure I get the eggs/​hashbrowns she just cooked etc. Love the bimbimbop, the prosciutto panini, tuna sandwhich, and the miso soup.
Place is a bit expensive but so is everything in the area :/​
Recommend this place! They are always trying out new recipes too

Very average juices and super average coffee don’t get the name fool you, I seen the reviews and come for a quick green juice and coffee but very disappointed with what they call juice.

Had the kimchi pork tacos for breakfast! Very good! The breakfast burrito was so-​so. Not much flavor — needed salt.

Was looking for a breakfast place and found this place from Unilocal.
Located in the basement of the US Bank. It’s a total hidden gem.
The location is big and you can eat here or get it to go.
I had to order the kimchi burrito and the bibimbap bowl over brown rice.
They have breakfast sandwiches. Burritos. Soups. And coffee items.
They also have regular sandwiches which feature Boar’s Head
The cashier was so sweet and lovely. I told her that it was first time so recommended the Kimchi Burrito.
They sell sundries here.
The Kimchi burrito was so good. Be sure to get some side Korean hot Sauce. It was different to have Korean with beans but it went well.
The bibimbap bowl was perfect just the right amount of rice with veggies and some pork. So good.
I definitely will come back and reorder both items.

I had the most delicious turkey basil panini but I ordered wheat bread and with avocado /​SO delicious! But best of all was the customer service from Nichelle — what a little DARLING! So beautiful and sincerely helpful and welcoming — will DEFINITELY return! This is in a basement in the talk financial building on Ocean and Wilshire but what a find! I got a flyer in the mail or never would have known about them!

With limited breakfast options in the area, (fast food Mcdonalds, vs sit down giant breakfast Jinkys), Ocean Café is the perfect blend! Great bagel breakfast sandwiches! It’s inside the tall white building on Ocean Ave, kind of underground, so slightly hard to find the first time around.
Call ahead if you don’t feel like waiting a few minutes :)

I like this place. Super friendly staff, great prices, and simple food. I had the breakfast burrito, and they let me substitute a avocado for bacon, no charge. Just $ 5.50 and it was tasty, filling, and made w good ingredients.
Not fancy atmosphere but if u r going to be out in the sun all day it’s a nice place go retreat for half an hr.
And keep in mind this place is in one of the most expensive areas in town… Go into the lobby, look for the windows, and head down a flight of stairs. Not hidden but u need to know what to look for as it’s in a basement.
Finding a meal for $ 5 is a good deal. Haven’t tried their lunches but that could be good too.
Open mon-​fri 7 – 4, breakfast til 10:30. One block away from the new bike share program — can’t wait to try that.

Delicious, delicious, delicious. I tried tacos and a burrito. Nom Nom. Btw, kimichi was top notch. Fermented just right. I wish they served panchan since it is Korean owned and they have Korean food items on the menu. Definitely coming back. Staff was very nice and friendly and a pleasure to talk to.

Breakfast Burritos!!! YES!!! They are so delicious, and the people who work here are extremely nice. Love it!

It’s 9am in Santa Monica and you want KIMCHEE TACOS?!
Done and done.
The tacos are TINY but the flavors pack a punch. Korean spicy pork, kimchee, cilantro, green onions and salsa served on double corn tortillas. So worth the $ 3.50 price!
This place is located at the basement of an office building so it was a nice find considering all the pricey breakfast spots along the promenade. Thank you Unilocal for saving me!

Located in the basement of an office building this is not a place with tons of atmosphere, but the food is fresh, tasty and affordable. A great lunch spot if you are taking something to go and tired of all the super pricey options on the promenade!
The salad bar is fantastic and I have heard they have a great breakfast bar as well.

I had a meeting with my colleagues after 20 years at this shop. I told them I will bring 10 people and when I walked in the table was ready.
The service here is great and the staffs really helpful. I am happy with their service and staffs are very friendly.
Definitely I will come back again.

Got to check out what may have been a really overlooked spot for some great breakfast sandwiches. We were hesitant to try this being a little corporate office market looking thing, but the cashier was the friendliest person we ever met and assured us it was worth it. Girl was on point. We didn’t spend too much and got some big awesome breakfast burritos and egg and cheese on an everything bagel. Perfect fuel for the long bike ride we were about to take. if you work around here or want a quick bite while you’re visiting seems like its even great for lunch too.

Ocean café is a hidden Santa Monica treasure! Located in the basement of the office building at 100 Wilshire, it’s super convenient if you’re staying at the fairmont hotel across the street and want a quick bite for a reasonable price. They serve a variety of sandwiches, salads, drinks, and snacks — and sell Boar’s Head products, which are always great! I had a turkey and provolone sandwich here — the veggies were fresh, they toasted the sandwich, and I even had the option of ordering a half sandwich, which was perfect for me.
The staff is also super friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend ocean café, and can’t wait to go back myself!

I have been on a tireless mission to find the best kimchi burrito in California and completely struck gold (surprisingly not in SF) at Ocean Café! Not only is the owner one of the kindest women I’ve ever met, but the quality of food and service are unmatchable.
If you know anything about Korean food, you’ll know that it’s hard to match a Korean mother’s recipes so I am ecstatic to have found this place.
Not only did I have THE best kimchi burrito of my life (and trust me when I say I’ve tried many — SF, San Diego, LA, etc.), but there are KIMCHI TACOS too?
I’d highly recommend this place if you like salads, sandwiches, and especially if you want to try a modern twist on Korean food. I’m still blown away and can’t wait to have it again!
I dare you to try it and tell me it’s not the best you’ve ever had: D.