BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A MILLION IN THE AREA >>>

Neightborhood: Korean Town, Lakewood

Address/phone: 3615 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, 253.584.0999

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday

Noshing/Sipping: Five sandwiches including the delicious Rancho Californian with ham, precisely cut tomatoes, precisely cut cucumber and precisely torn lettuce stacked high between two slices of white bread. Other food items include frozen yogurt with choice of toppings and assorted bagged pastries. Typical espresso drinks represent plus frappe, Italian sodas, tea and Boba tea.

Standard Cup o' Joe: $1.70 for 12-ounce drip

Bean Source: Seattle's Best Coffee

Crowd: Mostly Korean including many Korean businessmen in suits

Soundtrack: Korean pop music including what sounded like the Korean Olivia Newton John

Bonus Points: Wacky Korean TV shows, assorted American games, assorted Korean magazines, and black mesh-like screens for privacy.

WiFi: Yes

The House:

Stepping inside Miro Café I'm immediately reminded of the coffeehouses in Vancouver, B.C. - that modern, international feel. Flip open a Dania catalog to the circular glass tables with black high-back chairs for an idea of Miro's furnishings. With the exception of the windows, the walls are completely covered in off-white protruding vinyl - think padded cells of a mental ward, only a modern take with patches of red surrounding coffee cup art. Low, square-cut velvet couches in front of coffee tables create two sitting areas.

After 10 visits to Miro Café, and even though I'm the center of attention until I sit down, I feel welcomed every time. And every time I step back outside, I dream of being on Robson Street.