Mokja Opens Korean Market-Cafe in Highland Park With Debbie Lee and Be Bright Coffee
Chef Debbie Lee opened Mokja at 5715 N. Figueroa Street in Highland Park on August 7, combining a Korean market, cafe, self-serve ramen bar, grab-and-go counter, and Be Bright Coffee program from 8 AM to 6 PM daily.
Mokja is now open in Highland Park, bringing chef Debbie Lee's Korean market-cafe concept to 5715 N. Figueroa Street. The name means "let's eat," and the room combines a cafe, retail shop, coffee bar, self-serve ramen station, and grab-and-go counter.
Lee, who also operates neighboring Yi Cha, built the project with Frank and Michelle La of Be Bright Coffee. Mokja is open from 8 AM to 6 PM daily, with current offerings posted on the official menu and @eatmokja on Instagram.
What to Order
The rotating food menu includes a mayak egg sando on milk bread, a braised oxtail hand pie, Korean Cobb salad with gochu shredded chicken and crispy pork belly, daily kimchi and banchan, KBBQ ssam plates, and a self-serve ramen bar.
Be Bright's coffee program brings Korean flavors into drinks such as a Sweet Corn Latte with condensed milk puree and a Misugaru Latte finished with mixed-grain cold foam. Pastry chef Dara Yu handles desserts, including a yuja cha ice box pie.
Market Shelves and Community
Mokja's shelves carry Korean pantry goods, cookbooks, house merchandise, and products from AAPI-owned brands. The 1,400-square-foot space has a small seated cafe area and standing bar rather than a full restaurant dining room.
The team also plans to use the market for pop-ups, cooking demonstrations, and K-beauty classes, extending the concept beyond breakfast, coffee, and grab-and-go food.
Go hungry, but treat the shelves as part of the point. Mokja works best as a choose-your-own stop: coffee and a mayak egg sando now, banchan for later, then a lap through the pantry goods before leaving. The Sweet Corn Latte is the order when plain cold brew feels too responsible.