50 Best Cafes near El Cerrito

“drinks are always good and it’s never a hit or miss. i always get the same thing but it’s always good or better than the last time never a one hit wonder! the sandwich i got which was the turkey avocado sandwich was okay. a lot of avocado and onion but little turkey. i’m sure you ask for your specific topping preferences that wouldn’t be a problem. found out about this place a couple weeks ago and have been a regular ever since. my new favorite boba place ever since the first time i came. highly recommend! (the boba in the picture is the devil zang zang, if you like boba and oreo and don’t know what to try definitely get that. it’s also the middle boba picture on the window.)“

“the hot beverages & sandwiches 😋“

“A must-visit bakery in San Francisco! The croissants are perfectly crispy on the outside with a soft, elastic crumb inside. The cream puffs and canelés are definite must-adds to your shopping list.

The only downside? The coffee beans lack a bit of that rich aroma—otherwise, it would be a match made in heaven!“

“Simply outstanding! They have everything down right. Prompt friendly service, clean and comfortable seating, attention to detail, and most importantly, every bite of every thing is delicious. I can count on feeling 10x better after any visit here. Thanks so much to the team behind this operation 🙏🏻“

“One65 was an amazing discovery on our trip to San Francisco. Having spent the first half of our life in Montréal, Québec, Canada where it was hard to find a bad restaurant, we were absolutely amazed by this Bistro which looks more like a high end dining experience. The menu online & the photos attracted us to this location but we were amazed by the well timed service, the crisp white tablecloths, the table setting and the pleasant and calm atmosphere. My choices of charcuterie platter was perfectly sized; the chicken & the pork rillettes where a wonderful surprise. My husband had an onion tart with the crust as perfect as they get & which I envied. He loved his halibut, moist and tender and I raved over my grilled half lobster, so tender that I found myself munching on the shell parts as well. My bread pudding was not of overwhelming size & perfectly flavored. Don chose the Affogato (scoop of vanilla gelato « drowned » with a shot of hot espresso). We wanted to go back today but they are closed on Sundays.?“

“I just love this local Berkeley gem. Friendly, warm vibe where everyone is welcome. You can tell a lot of thought and care went into the place. The coffee is THE BEST, the pastries are amazing. From the coffee made with care and the super nice baristas to the comfy/welcoming/inclusive atmosphere, Bench Café has it all. My go to breakfast items are the Spinach Feta Empanadas and the Date Latte. P.S. the music adds a nice touch to the place.“

“Amazing burritos. Bomb.com“

“wonderful owners. good concept.“

“Petit Cafe is a hidden gem! The warm ambiance, delightful pastries, and rich coffee make it the perfect spot to unwind. The staff are friendly, and every visit feels like a little escape from the hustle and bustle. Highly recommend!“

“Sandwiches are fantastic! Generous portions of fresh ingredients made to order. Fully stocked pastry case with classic and specialty treats! Friendly staff, great vibe,, totally affordable menu. LOVE!“

“to be Black, supa queer in this hood, this space is appreciated! to be able to pull up for a latte, donut, breakfast sando or a fancy cocktail WITH my spouse, and kid in tow- always feels welcoming.
did i mention the coffee is fire?“

“Great food and coffee, great friendly service, but I wonder how they make money, because every table is occupied by Gen-Z pseuds with their regulation kit - MacBook, Airpods, phone, eco-friendly water bottle - sitting for hours on end spending very little on little more than a cup of their obligatory matcha.“

“I am sipping on Ethiopian spiced chai and munching on a croissant with turkey, egg, cheddar and avacado. This moment is perfect. Perfect taste and temperature. Thank you Jebena Cafe. You just earned a regular. May all black owned business thrive and when that happens, we will truly have earned a celebration of America's independence from its own past.“

“I saw someome make a TikTok about this place and immediately knew I had to add that to my list. I headed out to Berkeley on a Friday morning to try it out and I bought a friend who isnt a big fan of Thai and or Asian food. I was thankful to experience this style of northern Thai cuisine I believe the order Tanzie referred to it as. The hospitality and service was above average. I enjoyed all of my food and so did my friend. The pork jowl was agreed to be are favorite out of the all the dishes we tried. Very juicy , flavorful and just all around deliscious topped off with that crispy fried garlic. The brown rice over that soft scrambled "lava egg" was to die for paired with the savory tomato based minced pork that I ordered extra spicy of course. The star of the show that me and my friend both agreed on had to be the "prik nam pla" which I would describe as a sweet and spicy vinegar or fish sauce based dipping sauce accompanied by a nice punch of spice from the thai chili peppers. I dont have any complaints whatsoever and I will definitely be back.“

“The food was so amazing. Very cozy atmosphere. Nice little hole in the wall. I had the A5 avocado toast and my partner had the roast beef sandwich. Both were impeccable. Highly recommend. Definitely would come back again for breakfast. We also had the blended ice green tea matcha and mango passion smoothie“

“Vibes were immaculate, the drink I got was not.
I got an iced kinfolx latte which has cinnamon, nutmeg , brown sugar and organge zest.
I couldn’t taste any of that.
The espresso was very very strong so if that’s your thing you will like it!

But the vibes and the baristas were great!“

“A real local spot near Union Square. Eric and his family have made a great place for grabbing breakfast, sandwiches, and coffee. Great prices, and many locals come here that you can meet and chat with. My goto place for lunch, morning coffee, and small bites to eat. Also, the Vietnamese sandwiches are the best I've had in the city.“

“San Francisco’s most hidden gem“

“Kind of an old school hole in the wall. Hidden inside a building past the security desk, so blink and you’ll miss it. Has a surprisingly compelling menu (haven’t tried the food but offerings), but I got a very tasty fruit smoothie that was made with real fresh fruit, and I added boba and honestly it was some of the better boba I’ve had in SF. Service was super friendly. Looking forward to coming back next time I’m nearby.“

“Local, family owned & operated new coffee shop with delicious coffees - alt milk options available (almond, soy, oat) chai & matcha lattes, tea, pastries and more focusing on the individual experience and quality served in a welcoming and friendly environment. Just hop in Varney Alley off of 3rd near the Shell gas; you won’t be disappointed!“

“Highly recommend Best coffee in San Francisco ☕️“

“True gem! Super friendly chef and great (!) food for only $15. I wish I found this spot earlier, but it’s very hidden. It looks like a lobby coming in, but just follow the food scent.

The brownies are absolutely worth the calories!!“

“Cool drinks, yummy baked goods, awesome staff, sweet vibe. A real neighborhood joint with lots of great choices, including not just bona fide Vietnamese phin coffee, but also vegan and caffeine-free options. They also have boba, pudding, and jelly add-ins, with coconut, pandan, ube, and black sesame items. Just do it :)“

“I loved this place, their sandwiches are huge and quality far exceeds the price, making it as worthy as it gets for lunch. Everyone was sweet and serviceable, loved this place, will continue to go pretty often! Had the Goodfella, delicious.“

“This place has amazing empanadas and good prices. Also the guy running it, I'm assuming the owner, is super friendly and made my first time going there all the more memorable! We also tried several different empanadas and would recommend every single one.“

“Café Córdoba is hands down my favorite coffee spot in Oakland! It’s this small, family-owned place that just feels like home every time I walk in. The people who work there are super sweet, and you can tell they genuinely care about their customers. The coffee? Always amazing—rich and flavorful, just how I like it. There’s something special about the vibe here, like you’re part of their family. Whether I’m grabbing a quick coffee or hanging out for a bit, I always feel welcome. It’s definitely a little gem in Oakland that I can’t get enough of!“

“My brother sent me the gold leaf fig dark chocolate dipped for Christmas. They were the best I’ve ever had.“

“One of our favorite places to grab coffee and a bite! The staff is really friendly and the cafe itself is cozy and comfortable. It's spacious and there's plenty of parking across the street, sound the corner, and they have 15 minute parking out front. Highly recommend the white chocolate mocha and chicken El Fuego sandwich!“

“Second experience was much better I've gotten chicken curry twice and it was good. TY!
Updated rating to 4 stars.

First experience 0 stars - I want to start off by saying that the service and atmosphere is 5/5 stars.

But the food on the other hand was a diff story, I got the "one order chicken teriyaki plate white rice" it was a 2 star at best, If not 1.

Chicken had an alarming taste, I would describe it as "old" or "plastic" taste, as well as the look of it, dark spots, definitely not seem fresh.
The rice was slimy and also had a strange taste that I could only describe as "plastic" or something.
Super unenjoyable, idk if I got a bad plate because I do see people line up like crazy for this spot. Nonetheless this was my experience I'm just hoping I don't get sick.🤢“

“Five bright stars, Lissa darling!“

“Absolutely love this place! Incredible atmosphere wonderful place to go with friends or family and the food is fantastic! Highly recommend checking this out if you’re in the neighborhood, there’s not that many places like this left that really give a great family experience!“

“This was my first time eating here and I’m so impressed with the portions, prices and customer service. The owner/ manager I believe, is so friendly to everyone and I’ve never been to a small establishment that keeps checking on the customer about how the food is etc. I will be coming here instead of my usual trips to Peet’s coffee or Starbucks!“

“Kudos to the crew at Thornhill Cafe. Thank you for always taking good care of me. I love your green smoothies. They're refreshing and just make you feel good and your breakfast bagels are awesome. It's my favorite place to stop when I'm working in the hills of Oakland. Doesn't seem to matter how many people are in there. You still get us in and out in no time. You're the best!!“

“I have been going to Tay Tah cafe for years. Their Breakfast Energizer smoothie is my go-to lunch meal and my husband loves the Banh Mi sandwiches. We are so lucky to have this wonderful cafe in our neighborhood! The owner and employees are super friendly too!

Vegetarian options: Breakfast Energizer smoothie is delicious and filling.“

“I had the elephant chai and it was delicious service was good, the peace looked funky, pricing was ok Unfortunately it looked like there was maintenance or renovation work being done and I was there at an odd time, but generally it looks like it could be quite pillar and cool.“

“Opa Cafe absolutely crushed it at the Alif Summit! They took care of everything from the gorgeous wooden serving trays to the perfectly curated halal meat and cheese boards. The fresh fruit in the morning was such a nice touch, and the evening sandwiches and salads were exactly what we needed after a long day. Everything was fresh, beautifully presented, and constantly restocked. So glad we had them, they even helped us at the end with bussing and trash - even though that wasn't part of our contract. full service!! and I’d bring them back in a heartbeat for future events!“

“This family run cafe is the best. Get the Bibimbap!! If you eat in they’ll even do it stone pot style.

Vegetarian options: Any of the tofu specialties or sandwiches.

Kid-friendliness: They are the best with my kid. I delivered next doors so they’ve known him since day 1.“

“Love this place. It’s always good and fresh. The Nutella/ strawberry 🥐 croissant is yummm, a must have.“

“Another incredible restaurant in San Francisco. The Mole here is one of the best we've ever had, full stop. The portions are immense, and I can say that this is full on "home cookin'". I also want to point out how patient and gracious the staff was with our questions, and our broken spanish. Breakfast here is really a treat!“

“اكل حلال اسعار في متناول اليد تعامل قمة في الذوق“

“Cafe RX is an oasis in the Presidio. The food is fresh and delicious, the serving sizes are generous, the prices are reasonable and the staff are so friendly and kind. There’s plenty of seating inside and outdoors. Recommend ordering before noon or after 1pm to the avoid lunchtime rush. I highly recommend:
- drink: spicy chai
- lunch: nicoise salad
- breakfast: soy chorizo & eggs with toast“

“The Best of the Best with the owner making the rating of her shop a 5 star! Yes, Michelle is very kind appreciates all customers walking in to make their order. What's even convenient for many of us who needs distraction as we wait for our order, there is a lotto scratchers machine. If your feeling lucky like I did... spent $30 on 1 scratcher and won $100. True story. I recommend their Avocado smoothie. The best Avocado smoothie in the Bay Area. I don't care and don't wanna hear it. Don't waste your money anywhere else. Go to Tapioca Cafe. Michelle makes the drinks better than her associates behind the register. She just knows how to make it. She's in the Boba game for over 10 years. Her donuts are made in house , not her house but at the shop very early in the morning. She's there all day every day and has the best kindest heart you will get to meet. Very professional, clean store. I could go on but I do have to mention that she is very Humble for a business owner. Mostly she could be seen in the back making sandwiches and washing the dishes and utensils that customers and associates have used. Her associates are just as hard working as she is, which I really don't mind tipping them in the tip jar every time I pay them a visit for my yummy taro smoothie. If you mention to her in question "Who's got the Best of the Best Avocado smoothie?" That's the secret 50% off . It only works at lunch and has to be mentioned before making your order at noon up to 30 mins after that, forget it. You'll get the... are you slow look. Don't take it personal, she gives me that look all the time then she breaks into her natural smile.“

“What a cute hidden gem here in SF! My boyfriend and I happened to stumble across this adorable Café as soon as we got off our flight to visit here. I would absolutely recommend and come back here! Super unfortunate that there’s nothing like this on the east coast!“

“Good and plentiful breakfast choices! Fresh OJ. Friendly service. Clean as you go.“

“The mushroom tofu spring rolls are something worth writing about! They're quite flavorful, yummy, and light. It's a perfect on-the-go meal, and such a reasonable price. And the service was great! I'll be back to try their other vegetarian options.“

“Gran Milan is THE place to get the most delicious foods on the planet!!! I recently ordered mini sfogliatelles, cannolis, (3) meter long pizzas n wonder focaccia bread to make sandwiches and their famous olive bread sticks!!! Thanks for the beautiful foods and service!!! I highly recommend Rufo’s place for your next catering! I haven’t seen sfogliatelles outside of NY!!! Love this place!!“

“Een klein zaakje achter het Hilton hotel. Ze accepteren alleen cash. Ze hebben heerlijke verschillende donuts en muffins voor een goede prijs. Daarnaast kun je belegde bagels krijgen die ze ter plekke vers maakt. Ze zijn heerlijk. Prijs tussen de 7 en 10 dollar, ligt eraan wat je voor beleg kiest.
De plek ligt net op de rand van waar veel daklozen verblijven waardoor de sfeer wat minder prettig aanvoelt. Maar de verkoopsters zijn erg vriendelijk en behulpzaam.“

“I was encouraged by all the other reviews here to try Cafe Dolci, and I must say I was not disappointed! True to what other reviewers said, the food is delicious and very reasonably priced, the coffee is strong, and the service is warm and hospitable. There were even some free apples and apricots which were grown in the owner’s garden. I strongly recommend the bacon/egg/cheese sandwich on the English muffin! I will definitely be going back.“

“Great atmosphere. Clean and pleasant. Great place to have meetings and/or study. Really comfortable booths and open seating. Plugs at tables. Great selection of foods and drinks. Had a green iced tea and a black iced green tea that were great. Breakfast sandwich was wonderful too. Not greasy or heavy but it was a large portion.“

“The best place ever. Love them ❤️ 💕“