Cafe Dulce: USC Alum James Choi & Dulce Favorites

By: Karla Leung ‘22

Dulce Founder James Choi graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Accounting ‘05, then went on to work at Ernst and Young. Whenever he had the time, Choi would help out his mother at her Swiss Chocolate shop in Palo Alto, but pursued accounting at Ernst and Young to financially provide for himself and his mother. However, when his mother started battling ovarian cancer, she wanted to follow her dream of starting a bakery in Little Tokyo. Neither Choi nor his mother knew how to run a bakery, but Choi agreed when his mother got a business partner on board. When his mother’s bakery business partner dropped out, Choi decided to put in his 2-week notice at Ernst and Young to open their first Cafe Dulce in Little Tokyo in 2011. A few years later, they opened another at the USC Village in 2017.

During the opening of Cafe Dulce, Choi’s mother sadly lost her battle with cancer. But despite the hardship, Cafe Dulce has grown to be one of the most popular cafes in Los Angeles. Choi attributes the success to his mother’s love and the mission of hospitality that he channels into each Cafe. Following his mother’s dream, Dulce has captured the hearts of the communities it resides in.

Today, Dulce is a favorite among USC students, with daily lines out the door, and serves as a popular study spot. With a colorful selection of treats, wonderful selection of music, and a great atmosphere, most students don’t know that it was started just a few years ago by a USC student — just like them. Choi’s success and his mother’s dream continue to live on at the USC Village. 

Here are some of my favorite treats from our favorite cafe:

Breakfast Burrito

A criminally underrated pick. This burrito is filling, packed full of fresh eggs and tomatoes, and is a great to start the morning.

Blueberry Matcha Latte

This one sounds kind of weird, but it’s one of the yummiest lattes you can get. It’s creamy, a little sweet, and the best thing for your daily caffeine buzz.

Maple Bacon Donut Hole

Sweet and salty. A bite of pure pleasure. Always surprised how much bacon there is per donut hole. Honorary mention to the fruity pebbles donut hole.

Strawberry Jam Donut

Extremely tasty. The strawberry is unblemished and the jam is sweet, with the donut perfectly balancing the flavors.

Green Tea Roti

Extremely fluffy, full of flavor. The green tea roti is a peculiar baked good, something you won’t see anywhere similar in LA.

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