We had the good fortune of connecting with Valencia Iskandar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Valencia, what makes you happy? Why?
Fashion, experiences, and creativity make me happiest. Fashion lets me express myself and connect with people, while new experiences give me perspective and inspiration. And when I have the space to pour my creativity into something, that’s when I feel most alive.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
MORI HAUS is a brand new pop up-forward café concept rooted in serving handcrafted artisanal Greek yogurt bowls and specialty coffee with a focus on community and seasonal flavors. It was born out of my biggest passions — food, aesthetic, and creating memorable experiences that bring people together. As the biggest yogurt connoisseur of all time, I’ve tasted every kind of yogurt out there and create bowls than I can count… so I figured, why not perfected my own Greek yogurt? And yes, she’s gorgeous!

From there, the vision grew. Started from making casual social contents to taking it more seriously along the way. I knew I wanted MORI HAUS to be a something that creates a moment worth remembering. The journey hasn’t been easy. I started with random home café pop-ups to finally launching a whole new brand and debuting it during our first public pop up. From long prep days to gradually higher-volume events and last-minute hurdles — every challenge taught me to adapt, simplify, and keep things running smoother each time.

We’re still small and just getting started — but we truly believe in the community we’re building.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting LA for a week, trust me — as the biggest foodie in LA, I’d be snagging those reservations weeks in advance.

We’d kick things off with brunch at my go-to spots: Courage Bagels, Bluey’s Kitchen, The Maybourne Beverly Hills, or Bub and Grandma’s. After fueling up, we’d stroll along Melrose, because let’s be honest — what’s more quintessential LA than grabbing some Community Goods matcha while you’re here?

One afternoon, we’d grab fresh sushi from Yama Seafood and head over to Barnsdall Art Park for a sunset picnic with a view

Night outs are when I really shine — I’m a big dinner person, so I’d take them on a culinary tour of my absolute favorites: Cento Pasta Bar, Majordomo, Crudo e Nudo, Pizzeria Sei, Donna’s, Iki Nori, Dudley Market, Carmel Melrose, Dunsmoor, Chi Spacca, Petit Trois, and for a splurge, Sushi Sonagi. And of course, no trip is complete without visiting my second home —Surawon Tofu House. We’d wrap up the night at my favorite DTLA bar, Death & Co, with the best fried chicken to pair with.

Midweek, we’d take not one but two mini getaways. First, a relaxing road trip to Santa Barbara — staying at the stunning Rosewood Miramar Resort, having dinner at my favorite Spanish restaurant Loquita, and making a must-stop at Tondi Gelato on the way back. Then, we’d head down to Carlsbad for one reason and one reason only: to get the best broccoli of their life at Campfire.

To end the trip on the sweetest note, I’d make sure we stopped by Petigrain Boulangerie and Fugetsudo — because you can’t leave LA without the best pastries and the best mochi in town — so they’re fully stocked for their flight home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be standing where I am right now without my mom and my grandparents. Their endless support—whether loud or quiet—is what keeps me going through every high and low.

My mom is my best friend, my biggest supporter, and truly my day one. She’s always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself, and that kind of love is something I’ll never take for granted..

My grandparents have shaped the core of who I am. Their values, their warmth, and the way they live life with love and intention is something I know not everyone gets to experience — and I feel incredibly lucky to have that in this lifetime.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/morihaus__cafe/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valenciaiskandarr/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valenciaiskandar

Other: https://www.instagram.com/nomzwithus/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.