11/11 - Dirty Penguin, Chino Hills
The one thing that can bring people into a coffee shop (besides good coffee, of course) is a great cafe aesthetic. The Dirty Penguin, a little cafe tucked away in Chino Hills, California at 14708 Pipeline Ave STE C. Its location is not noticeable from the street, which may be hard to find for those not familiar with the area.
The white-tiled walls and neon pink signage are the first thing you notice upon walking inside. Potted plants line the walls and ceiling, and the overall atmosphere is cool. One could easily see themselves taking brunch-worthy selfies anywhere inside the store, or arranging their coffee order for the perfect Instagram story.
Now, onto the drink and food selections: Dirty Penguin seems to have mastered the ideal modern coffee shop menu, complete with food choices like Avocado Toast, Bacon Breakfast Sandwich, and a delightful Lavender Toast. The Lavender Toast, a personal favorite, is a slice of toasted sourdough smothered in a layer of cream cheese and topped with crumbled granola, dried lavender, and a drizzle of golden honey. It makes for the perfect breakfast on a lazy Sunday morning.
For those who are lactose intolerant or have milk allergies, they do offer almond or oat milk upon request.
Drinks here are high on flavor, low on disappointment. Their carefully curated menu is bound to have something for every preference. Let's review some of the hits:
Sea Salted Caramel: A caramel flavored coffee topped with Sea Salt cold foam, this drink is offered hot or iced and tastes like a warm hug. This drink would go well with their classic bagel with cream cheese.
Rose Teapuccino: This drink stands out for multiple reasons, and I'll admit I am biased towards drinks with floral flavors. But the Rose Teapuccino is refreshing and a little different from the norm. It is essentially a London fog tea, made with Earl Grey tea and milk, but the rose flavoring and the addition of dried rose petals topping the drink make it dynamic. A great choice for those looking for a non-coffee drink, and it comes hot or iced.
The Charlie Brown is a crowd favorite, as an iced latte with brown sugar and vanilla bean flavoring, topped with a rich mocha drizzle. This sweet concoction would be great with their avocado toast as a study-break treat.
The Dirty Penguin, much like other coffee shops I've reviewed on my blog, is a great hangout for anyone looking for a peaceful place to get work done, relax after a morning jog, or refuel while running errands. I regularly see groups of moms eating there with strollers in tow, chatting while sipping coffee, or students working on their laptops. Outdoor seating is sparse, and indoor seating isn't super friendly for large groups, but if anything it adds to the coziness of the space.
