Mix n’ Munch Open at Last

Over six months after a "Coming Soon" sign was posted in a Mission Street storefront, Mix n' Munch Cereal and Grilled Cheese Café opened on Oct. 2.

"We didn't want people to lose interest but we are lucky that it seems like everyone is still really excited," said co-owner and South Pasadena native Heather Apraku. "A lot of it was the County of Health Department and we loved them, but it took a while because you have to get everything approved, get things changed and then go back and pay for more checking. We were opening our first restaurant and had to convert the whole place so when you're adding a whole kitchen there are a lot of rules. Some of it was just a learning process."

Mix n' Munch's concept offers the childhood staples of cereal and grilled cheese while allowing customers to customize with a menu of classic and unique mix-ins and ingredients or choose a tested-and-approved Mix n' Munch creation. Grilled dessert sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, oatmeal, tomato soup, tater tots, potato macaroni salad, marshmallow cereal treats and more are also on the menu.

"This is fantastic, great, perfect" said local Frank Minero of his Mix n' Munch Breakfast Sammy with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and a fried egg on shepherd's bread. "This is a gourmet version of what I might make at home. The bread is toasted perfectly—crisp on the outside but still soft inside. I would give it a 10 out of 10."

Minero felt the potato-mac salad could be improved though, saying it was bland and would be better heated.

A steady flow of customers lingered, even causing a 15 to 20 minute wait  for food at one point, though no one seemed to mind.

"I think it's great that kids have a place to go by themselves," said South Pasadena resident David Beadle, who was there with his wife and kids and enjoyed a custom-made grilled cheese with cheddar, apple and ham on wheat bread. "That's why we came to South Pasadena; so that kids can have fun and be safe."

Apraku owns the café with her husband Abraham and her sister Kimberly Lee and Kimberly's husband Bryan Woo, all of whom attended local schools.

"Community is really important in the city," said Apraku, whose parents still live in South Pasadena. "We are a perfect place because kids and adults like this food, especially kids, and this community is all about the kids. We've gotten so much positive feedback from the kids and the schools. We thought it really fit the whole vibe."

Although cereal restaurants have succeeded in other states with places like Cereality and at least one has come and gone in Southern California, Apraku says she and Lee had the dream to open a cereal bar since they were kids because Lee loves cereal, but they never seriously pursued the idea.

While earning a Masters in Communication Management at USC, Apraku decided to write a business plan for the restaurant for her thesis project. After Apraku graduated last year, the four decided to give the concept a try and found the current property in February.

"At the beginning of the business plan I thought we need to have something else like substantial food that is not completely random," said Apraku. "I've always loved grilled cheese and I will always make it. I thought they melded well because they are classic comfort food that reminds you of your childhood."

Each month, Mix n' Munch will hold a "Bowl of the Month" competition where customers can create, name and vote on a cereal creation and the one with the most votes will be featured that month.