While Hollywood glamour, beautiful beaches, and iconic landmarks seen in film and television might be the first things that come to mind when thinking of Los Angeles, the tea scene of Southern California is steadily making its way into the spotlight. Among the picturesque, palm tree–lined streets and bright city lights of the famous metropolis lie four diverse tea venues for tea lovers to discover.
Chado South Bay
1303 El Prado Avenue • Torrance, California 90501
chadotearoom.com • 424-757-5222
Reena Shah and Tek Mehreteab, proprietors of the award-winning Chado, have been transforming the Los Angeles tea landscape for decades. Reena and her late husband, Devan Shah—a notable figure in the tea industry—began selling tea out of her parents’ garage in 1990 and dreamed of one day being able to open a space where people could gather to enjoy their teas. Since then, not only did they open one tearoom, but four locations (Hollywood, Little Tokyo, Pasadena, and Torrance), each with their own unique character, that bear the company’s name. The word “Chado” is derived from the Chinese words cha (“tea”) and tao (“way”) that together translate to “way of tea.” The name, like the mantra of the owners, is evocative of the peaceful nature of tea and the countless ways it has enhanced lives for centuries.
The newest and largest store under the Chado umbrella is their South Bay location in Torrance, California, which opened in February 2017. “I live in the area, and there wasn’t a tearoom in Torrance,” explains Tek, who joined Reena in the business in 1999. “We decided to scout out the location, and we found that since the location is huge, it took us about six to eight months to finish it in its
