Community Goods

Community Goods is a victim of its own success—or maybe just a victim of the internet. Like wild gazelles descending on a watering hole, the influencers of West Hollywood come to this small coffee shop to drink matcha lattes and be seen. Show up on weekends, and the line wraps around the block. It’s a sight to see and also a little dumb. But 23-year-olds in head-to-toe Chrome Hearts don’t care. (If Hailey Bieber loves it, so do they, lines be damned.) All that aside, we shouldn’t point fingers at celebrities because the coffee, matcha, and food options at Community Goods are quite good.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

For being a perpetually busy shop, the baristas keep up. The standard espresso drinks like americanos and lattes are on par with other trendy shops in the neighborhood, and their in-demand matcha concoctions taste like real tea rather than expensive cups of green oat milk. If you’re the type whose personality is ordering “fun” caffeinated beverages, there are plenty of those, too: cream-topped einspanners with bitter cacao powder, zippy espresso tonics, and a simple but just-sweet-enough vanilla bean latte. You should order food, though, because it’s the best excuse to wait in line here. 

If you want something to nibble on as you people-watch, Community Goods has solid breakfast sliders made with sweet hawaiian rolls, bacon, and a wedge of soft-scrambled eggs. The lunchtime sandwiches are massive, though, so you’ll have to put your phone down and use both hands. The options are turkey and the tuna, and our vote goes to the tuna. It’s served on a chewy, forearm-sized ciabatta roll, and the creamy tuna salad is topped with snappy pickled jalapeños, heaps of lettuce, and, most crucially, a big handful of crushed salt and vinegar chips.

Don’t like crowds? Head to Community Goods on weekday mornings or early afternoons. The teenagers will be in school, so they can’t borrow their mom’s car to camp out in line. During those quiet hours you can appreciate what Community Goods really is: a cool place to hang out with good coffee and even better sandwiches.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Breakfast Sliders

These small eggy sandwiches come in orders of two or four and are best when you add on avocado and bacon for $2 each. They don’t skimp on scrambled eggs here, which are cooked soft and spongy, and the housemade hot sauce adds a nice vinegary kick.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Turkey Sandwich

This is a turkey sandwich with the personality of a good Italian sub. The smoked turkey slices are laid on thick, the fontina cheese is sharp, and there’s punchiness from pickled shallots. The best thing about this sandwich, however, is the housemade basil aioli that softens up the tough baguette.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Tuna Sandwich

The biggest influencer bringing you to Community Goods should be this tuna sandwich, which is one of the best in LA. The ciabatta bread is chewy but not tough, so the fillings don’t spew out the sides on the first bite. The tuna salad is generous with mayo (not a problem for us), contrasted with crunchy shredded lettuce and—in an act of pure middle school lunch genius— a layer of smushed salt and vinegar chips.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Pistachio Toast

Prepare to get pistachio butter in places you didn’t think possible. The housemade spread is sticky and runny like melted Nutella and tastes similar to Nutella, too. The one-inch-thick sourdough is sturdy enough to carry all of it, though. The addition of vanilla sea salt flakes and honey and olive oil drizzles are extra in a good way.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Banana Bread

This is a very moist, very spongy slice of banana bread that’s gently toasted at the edges. It’s fine on its own, but you should be more excited about the tart, highlighter-yellow passionfruit butter on top.