Mapaya

This place is so cute!
My friend was in town and he was craving crepes. After looking through Unilocal for some crepes in Santa Monica and not finding any that we liked I gave up and suggested that we get boba at Volcano Tea House. And as we were making our way there we drove passed Mapaya and saw the big CREPE sign on the window. So, we found a parking spot and make our way to this place. It’s very small and it can easily get warm in there with a few bodies. But the guy taking our order was very kind and sweet. Our crepes were very delicious! I would most definitely recommend this place. But just a heads up its CASH ONLY.

Very cool and interesting spot in LA. Flavor crepes are very yummy but I hate to say this but the Ice Cream crêpe is too expensive for what it is. It gets messy while eating and as cute as it is the fruit in the ice cream are not always the freshest.

Ran into this little crêpe shop COMPLETELY RANDOMLY. My friends and I were meeting a friend at coco down the street and walking back to my car I spotted this place and I couldn’t resist. IN MY DEFENSE I DIDN’T GET A DRINK AT COCO so I had room for a crêpe. I always have room for a crêpe, it’s probably my FAVORITE type of dessert.
Handheld harajuku crepes are my absolute favorite. I’ve been to a number of places and honestly most places are the same. Overpriced and mediocre quality, and I wasn’t sure if this place was any different.
It’s a small little spot, DEFINITELY SMALL. There were four of us cramped into the store and the place was pretty run down. I was captivated by the character crepes. The characters aren’t crazy but cmon it’s cute. It’s definitely still overpriced, my crêpe was $ 6 – 7 for strawberries, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, whip cream, and chocolate sauce. Everything was pretty average but the reason why it gets 4 stars is because of the crêpe itself.
THE CREPE BATTER IS SOOO DIFFERENT from most places. It has a slight hint of cheese in the batter and it makes it taste like those fluffy Japanese cheese cakes from the market, it’s yummy. Trust. It definitely caught my attention from the first bite.
The one worker was an middle aged Japanese man who was really patient with me when I was deciding on what to order and he even told me how to properly eat the crêpe which was cute. I’ll probably be back if I’m craving a Japanese crêpe and I’m in the area, but the price is a bit steep for what you get.
It is near the crazy restaurant street of sawtelle so parking is a bit annoying! Find a spot near coco and save yourself the walk, it’s right around the corner!

Let me just start off by saying that I have never been more excited about a food place until I tried this one. This place is truly wonderful and magical. The only worker is a Japanese man who takes his crêpe-​making and decorating very seriously. He is very sweet and polite, saying thank you in Japanese after taking our order and handing us our crepes. The prices are good and the food is great but the atmosphere can’t be beat. I ordered a strawberry ice crème crêpe with strawberries, whipped cream, and condensed milk. It was as delicious as it was adorable. This place truly made me so happy — everything about it reminded me of Japan. I look forward to coming back.

MAPAYA, a hidden gem in Sawtelle Japantown! This homey, tiny crêpe shop is one of my favorite mom-​and-​pop shops and one of the few shops that serves authentic Japanese style crepes in SoCal. Mapaya is located in this awkward nook that’s actually right next to Balconi Coffee Company. I love coming here for my after-​work treats, and luckily, this shop is open pretty late throughout the week. I usually get the matcha ice cream crêpe with strawberry, banana, whip, and nutella, and it’s probably the most expensive order on the menu. It’s about $ 12, but I don’t care. I basically get what I pay for, and it’s totally worth it. The owner Masa’s crepes are quite magical: his crêpe batters are soft and chewy, yet those hidden corn flakes add the unique crunchy texture to it, which surprisingly creates a whole new crêpe experience. His crepes totally reminds me of the crepes I used to eat in Harajuku, but it’s nice that he also adds his originality to them! Masa’s ice cream crepes come in these ADORABLE character faces… how can you say «no» to them?! His cute character crepes always cheer me up, especially after a long, dragging day at work. On my lucky (lazy) days, I come here to eat my dinner and my dessert. haha. For the savory crepes, I really like the ham & cheese crêpe.
It makes me upset seeing these mean comments that Mapaya doesn’t deserve, and I see that Unilocalers are mainly complaining about three things. First, Masa’s English. Friends, Masa is a hard working Japanese immigrant whose first language isn’t English so just be kind and patient! You know he tries his best, and his cheesy English jokes are quite endearing. Also, to the people who assumed and wrote that Masa is mean: have you tried having a conversation with him? Probably not. Because if you actually have, you’ll immediately know that Masa is one of the sweetest chefs who loves his job. Just because he speaks (super) loudly in his second language, it doesn’t mean that he is unkind. Second, the price. Friends, let me teach you a helpful foodie lesson: MOST small family owned shops are «pricey» compared to the chain stores. Besides, I think the prices here are just as similar to any other crêpe shops in SoCal, so why are people whining about it? Don’t expect Mapaya to be fast and cheap– this mom-​and-​pop shop emphasizes on quality and authenticity. Third, the service. Friends, Masa is the ONLY ONE working so CHILLAX. Of course it’ll take time for him to take your order and make your crepes! No one else is there to help him; it’s basically a one-​man show.
Next time when you are craving for desserts in Sawtelle, why not try Mapaya? Support your local mom-​and-​pop shop! Masa makes his crepes with his heart and creativity, and no wonder why his crepes looks and tastes phenomenal. I’m that one girl who used to go crêpe-​hopping in Tokyo all the time, and I’m happy to say that I LOVE Mapaya! If you are willing to spoil yourself with some delicious Japanese crepes, this is the shop to go!
The bottom line is, friendly service, cute presentation, incredible Japanese style crepes, and happy tummies. Eating at Mapaya will make you smile. Would recommend this crêpe shop in a heartbeat! :)
Btw, cash only~

After dinner in the Culver City area, I finally decided on Mapaya for dessert even though I’m not the biggest fan of crepes. I came here for the character crêpe, which is an ice cream crêpe stylized with toppings like strawberries and boston beans to look like a cute animal/​cartoon character.
We walked in right before closing to this incredibly small and incredibly kawaii dessert shop staffed by a Japanese man on the older side. Awards from dessert competitions and certificates for miscellaneous other things ID’ed him as the store owner, who was clearly (and rightfully) not thrilled to see two people walk in minutes before closing time.
We were about to order a character crêpe, talking about what animal we should pick, judging from the many customer photos on the wall – I was going to ask for a cat – when he piped up, «You don’t choose. I choose.» Surprised, my boyfriend and I agreed to let the man do his magic and simply ordered the toppings we wanted: vanilla ice cream, strawberries, whipped cream, and caramel syrup. Because the toppings cost extra on top of the $ 4 crêpe, we ended up paying around $ 7 for one crêpe. Kind of pricey, but I thought it was worth it.
I’m actually not sure what animal he ended up giving us, but it was cute so it didn’t really matter. After I was done cooing at it and crying that I couldn’t eat it because it was too cute, I ate it. And it was delicious. The crêpe was crispy and warm, and with the ice cream it was one of those long-​sought-​after desserts that wasn’t too sweet, but was still perfectly tasty.
I will grant that it’s not one of those places that you’re always craving to go to (which for me is still Salt & Straw on Larchmont), it’s more of a one-​time experience. If I’m in the area again, though, I will definitely come back.

Awesome tiny spot near Sawtelle on Olympic. They serve Japanese crêpe or burrito, however you wanna look at it.
We came here for desert so we got the crêpe with chocolate ice cream, whip cream, strawberries, and bananas.
At first I was eating just the ice cream with the fruit, the. I decided to eat the ice cream likes burrito, that’s when it was an amazing experience.
They make their ice cream crepes look like cute animals, so it’s fun for the kids or for adults who like cute animals, like my wife.

Right next to Balconi, my Sawtelle coffee joint of choice, which is lucky. Often times I’ll get lunch in Sawtelle, take a nice food-​coma-​beating walk down to Balconi, grab a coffee and order a nice warm crêpe from Mapaya. Tiny and extremely cute place, probably the closest to getting a homemade crêpe you’re likely to find in LA. (I once took a few buddies here and we basically filled the place up!) The décor is very welcoming – a wall of pictures of happy customers, frilly embroidering over the window, a homemade, colorful store sign.
The store owner runs the whole place himself, so you get to relax as he makes your crêpe fresh on the spot. I’m actually not the biggest sweets person, but something about the banana-​nutella-​crêpe is just right for me. Probably it’s the warmth of the crêpe itself, plus the perfectly crunchy-​soft texture of it as it collapses in your mouth. It really feels like you’re treating yourself to dessert – the crêpe is quite big and substantial and chewing on it while waddling home with your full stomach is something like a decadent pleasure. I’ve also tried the smoked salmon crêpe here for a light brunch, and it was delightful as well. Friends of mine have gotten the ice cream crepes, which are beautifully decorated and from what I could tell from the bites I stole, quite tasty as well. Whenever I’m looking for a cozy place to cap off a day in Sawtelle, Mapaya is always there for me.

I came here because I was attracted by these cute character crepes from all the Unilocal reviews. The place was very small with only 2 tables. The owner was very nice and offered to make whichever animal I chose for my character crêpe. I ordered the «pig» style crêpe with strawberry ice cream and customized its ears with the strawberries. The price was not posted on the wall. It costed me $ 8 something, and the store is cash only. It was not expensive but not cheap either. The crêpe looked very cute that it took me a while before I started eating it. It tasted decent just like any other crêpe. If I crave for some cute crêpe next time, I would go back.

Literally a hole in the wall place. I would have missed it if not for the visit to Balconi next door. The space inside is also extremely small — a bit disorganized but has a homey feel.
We tried the strawberry banana crêpe ($ 7 plus) which was okay. Yes it’s cute but I doubt we will go back anytime soon, especially considering the plethora of dessert options in Sawtelle.

Cutest little dessert shop!!!
Came here for some ice cream after eating at the Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle Annex around the corner. I love crepes and I love ice cream so I had to try this place. I was also lured in by the cute animal faces the shop owner makes out of the ice cream toppings.
They don’t have many choices of ice cream flavors to choose from but they have the basic’s which was good enough for me.
I got the green tea ice cream with strawberries and condensed milk all wrapped inside a crêpe. Everything complimented each other very well but I probably should have added some nutella or something. I love that the shop owner gets creative with his work. Definitely made my experience here more enjoyable.
Shop is extremely small but they still have a small seating area available. If I’m ever in the area again, I would definitely come back for some more.

A small shop off the main road of Sawtelle Blvd. the inside seems to be a makeshift store with handmade menus posted on the wall, and apparently it also sells jewelry too. But i didn’t let that detour me from trying it out.
You can order a cream crêpe, savory crêpe, or ice cream crêpe. You can create your own ice cream crêpe with choices of ice cream flavors, toppings, and fruits. I got green tea ice cream, chocolate syrup, whip cream, and bananas. Each of the ice cream cream also include corn flakes for no extra charge. He even makes the ice cream crêpe looks like an animal!!!
A nice change from boba and shaved ice in the area!

The crêpe was soooo cuteee! I tried the banana nutella crêpe with strawberry ice cream and it was just okay, but since it was very cute, i gave this place 4 stars lol! Anyway, their crêpe is instagram worthy!
The location is hard to find because the address leads us to a complex, but mapaya is actually located at the outside part of the building. This place is very small and located next to a coffee shop. And CASH ONLY.

This store is out of place. It’s located within the vicinity of hipster coffee shops, popular ramen places etc. However, it has its charms. Mapaya is humbly decorated with pictures showing their happy customers and their cute desserts. It’s an endearing creperie that should be well recognized.
The crêpe ordering process starts as:
1.) picking out the ice cream
2.) the additives
3.) the sauces
It’s French cuisine, that’s manipulated to be street food. Faces of bears and other woodland creatures are created to give that Instagram worthy factor.
Overall, it’s a rather unknown shop. The decorations may not be modern but you gotta give it up to the mom and pop shops. SHOP SMALL, and you won’t regret it.

Eh. Cuteness factor is definitely 5 stars, but to drive here from where I live… not worth it.
This mini store, or shack, is in a plaza facing the road next to Sawtelle. There is paid underground parking which you pay for, but can get crowded at peak times (ex: when theres banquets in the building). There are literally two tables in the store, a cashier’s counter, and some empty bookshelves. The shop looks very rundown to say the least.
Anyway, I wanted the animal crepes. You choose a flavor of ice cream (strawberry, matcha + .50 cents, vanilla, etc.) for $ 3.99 and then you MUST add toppings in order for the owner to make a face. Each fruit topping is like $ 1 so it adds up real quick…
I ordered the matcha + banana + whipped and it was good. Not too sweet and the crêpe skin was perfectly thin and crispy in the right areas.
TBH though, $ 13 for 2 mediocre ice cream crepes is a tad too much. Don’t think I’ll want to come back -.-
Forgot to mention… NO RESTROOMS! I had a heck of a time begging the structure parking attendant for a restroom key and the restroom itself was all the way in the back of the building…

I love the crêpe cake
It’s $ 35 and takes 2 – 3 days to make but it’s so worth it
It’s really delicious and everyone loves it!

Cute little crêpe place with fair prices. Cash only though. Your choice of flat or cone-​shaped crepes. Very little seating but they do have a table outdoor. I didn’t expect the cute heart-​shaped ham on my ham and cheddar cheese crêpe! What a delightful surprise. I thought the crêpe would taste buttery and spongey. The taste itself was good but nothing I would crave.
They validate for 45 minutes. I would go back to try a dessert crêpe.

My friend and I were in the mood for some ice cream and decided to try this place out. It’s a cute, little shop — very «kawaii» and small! There were 2 tables to sit at inside and 1 outside. The store was decorated with hints of pink and polka dots. The décor and menu of this place actually looked a little run-​down; however, don’t let that stop you!
The menu was a little weird to read, especially for the animal crepes. We were confused because we wanted one thing, but the man kept telling us that it would be extra money or something. We ended up getting the animal crepes. I got the rabbit one with matcha ice cream (extra + 50 cents). The ice cream itself is pretty good, considering that I wasn’t in the mood for any of the other flavors. The crêpe is thin and delicious. Aside from fruit, there is nutella and whipped cream on the inside. I thought the crêpe was pretty good and enough to satisfy my crêpe cravings.
In my opinion, they’re a little pricey. But you know they’re made fresh because the little old man makes it right in front of your eyes. He is also very nice! And the crepes are super cute for photo opportunities hehe. By the way, you should park in the structure and get your ticket validated… which is what we should’ve done because we got a parking ticket from running out of time at the parking meters :(BEWARE!

The cutest little shop in sawtelle with the sweetest man running it! If you are a bit confused on how to order the owner will notice it and will help you right away! When you order a crêpe you can either have it on a plate or in a cone. I ordered it in a cone so that he could make a cute little cartoon for me. The crêpe comes out warm and flaky and a very good fruit to crêpe to ice cream ratio. It gets a bit tricky to eat in the Cone so after a couple bits I asked for a plate to eat.

CASH ONLY
pro: family owned, nice man at the register, tasty crêpe
Con: pretty expensive. My strawberry/​banana plate crêpe with condensed milk add on and NO ice cream was $ 8:50 ish? That’s pretty steep for a cash-​only establishment.
They offer cute animals but ONLY if you order with ice cream. You can’t pick your animal. The guy surprises you with one on your crêpe.
My crêpe was tasty with good whipped cream and nice layering of fruit. The crêpe itself was the way I liked it with a nice, crunchy, flaky texture. Cooked in front of you.
I love family owned establishments and love to support them. I think everybody should try this place once to support a local business. However, for the size of my crêpe and the price I don’t think I will be returning!