I would give this a 4.5 but I'll say it closer to a 5. Only negative points was the bukas na latte which had a super presentation when they grate the asin tibuok on it but the drink itself was mid. But...the adobo jalapeño cheese melt white different I'm still thinking about it here in California. The desserts were ok and I think I picked the ones that were ok, cuz there were a few of them that looked better. I recommend hitting this place up when in Queens! read more

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Very cozy and tasty Filipino cafe! Had the pandan pastry, adobo sandwich, and bukas na latte. The salt on the bukas latte was very interesting. I hadn't seen that used before, but I thought it paired well with the latte. The adobo sandwich was tasty as well, especially with the white sauce that it came with. It became quite heavy after a few bites. The pandan pastry was really tasty! Service was fast and friendly but lines get super long. Prepare to wait in line for a couple of minutes (10-15 min). Best for small groups (up to 3) but I've seen large groups come here and just chill/stand. read more

Bukas Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

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I rarely write reviews, but I was compelled to after the experience I had at Bukas Cafe - with that said... Unfortunately for me and my wallet, this cozy, unassuming cafe lives up to the TT hype and is worth the trip, even though Queens natives know that driving to / finding parking in Elmhurst is never fun. I got to try their Adobo Jalapeño Melt, Ube Eclipse, and Ube-Lat (by mistake; will elaborate on this later), all of which were v tasty. I esp enjoyed the Ube Eclipse, which was packed w rich ube flavor unlike other places I've tried. The drinks are on the sweeter side though, so just keep that in mind ~ I also wanted to give a shoutout to my server (Czar?) for being so accommodating of my mistake :') I ordered the Ube-Lat in a rush and didn't realize it was a milk-based rather than espresso-based drink, and he switched it for me w/o even questioning it. Overall, one of the best local cafes I've been to. I will def be back to try their other items!! read more

Stopped by for lunch on a Sunday and it was pretty busy the whole time. The inside is pretty cozy and small, so it's best suited for small groups of 2-3 max. There was a consistent line of about 5-8 people the entire time we were there. We waited probably about 10 minutes to place an order, and all the seats were taken but we managed to grab a table right as another couple was leaving. They currently have two sandwiches on their food menu - a jalapeno adobo melt and pimiento melt. For the jalapeno adobo melt, you can choose either chicken or pork (I chose pork) and it comes with a side of garlic aioli and extra adobo juice. It was tasty! The pimiento melt was more like a grilled cheese, but came with a side of condensed milk for dipping. Of the two, I liked the jalapeno adobo melt more. The drink menu has a lot of interesting looking espresso and latte drinks on it. I tried the Ube Eclipse, which was a fun blend of espresso, ube cream, and milk. I'd come back to try more of their drinks. They have a standard coffee menu too, with coffee from Devocion. There is also a display case by the register with Filipino pastries like pandesal and mochi from The Boiis co. One ask for the owner if you're reading this: please put a copy of the menu in the window / by the door so people can look while they're waiting on line! read more

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This place was absolutely amazing!! I had to wait on a line that went out the door on a Saturday rainy morning, but the wait was well worth it because i had one of the best ube lattes of my life!! It was the perfect amount of nuttiness, creaminess, and espresso. I also got the pork adobo jalapeño melt, which was amazing! It came with a garlic aioli sauce and a pork adobo oil sauce which was soo good. It was a lot of food so i packed the rest to go. It was packed indoors but the staff was still super attentive. I just wish there were more chairs like chairs along the big table near the door beside i was standing and eating for most of the time. But I will definitely be back. read more

Bukas Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

YAY for Filipino Cafe!!! I was really excited to try this spot in Elmhurst! There's a wide selection of drinks that include Filipino ingredients like ube, kalamansi syrup, sikwate cream, and different salts, making them really unique. My partner and I tried two of the signature house lattes: bukas na and ube eclipse. The ube eclipse was really nice and the cream didn't overpower the drink with sweetness, and still allowed the coffee flavor to come through. The bukas na was really cool! The owner came over to the table and grated this artisanal tultul salt over the drink, from an actual block of salt. She also let us try the salt by itself. Sure enough, it tasted salty, but also had such interesting undertones that I haven't had before! There's only a few food options, including several sandwiches, and pastries that they outsource from other local Filipino bakers, per the owner. We shared the adobo jalapeno melt (you can choose either chicken or pork option). It reminded me of a french dip because it comes with adobo jus on the side for dipping, and the sandwich itself has this great crunch. You just know we downed that sandwich QUICK. As it is located in Elmhurst, the prices are refreshingly affordable (the lattes are only $5.50!! which you just cannot find in Manhattan these days). Bukas Cafe is a really nice space, and it has very friendly owners that were very passionate when speaking about their cafe and intentional menu items as we were looking through their menu. read more

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Tried this place on a Saturday afternoon per recommendation of my coworker. I got a Champorado and a Buko pie. The champorado was good, but I think I would have preferred the Bukas NA. They told me to take a sip of the cream first and then have the drink, and that's the order I did try the drink. I just found what they put on top of the cream didn't really dissolve into the drink so it was an odd chew while trying to drink my beverage. The Buko pie was amazing though. I got the one with the young coconut and had it that evening for dessert and loved it. I think I'll try to go by to try to the pimento melt and bukas na at some point because those seem much more my speed. The cafe itself is super cute inside! I took my things to go, but overall it would be a great spot to catch up with friends! read more

Bukas Cafe is a new Filipino spot in Elmhurst and it's already a huge hit in the neighborhood. My overall experience was a 4.5, rounded up to 5 for Yelp. The drinks were absolutely amazing, and the service was incredibly friendly and personal. That said, it does feel like they're still getting their bearings as a new business that's experiencing big success right off the bat. I stopped in on a Sunday around noon and the place was packed. The cafe is pretty small and there was a constant flow of people coming in, with a line out the door. Every seat was taken the entire time I was there. The owner was handling the register and making drinks, with one other person working on food. You could tell she was doing her best to keep things moving. Because the cafe and kitchen are directly behind the counter and the ventilation wasn't very strong, the inside did have a strong aroma that got smokey at times. It's not a big deal but just something to be mindful of, if you plan on sitting inside, your clothes will probably absorb the food and oil scents. It took about 40 minutes from the time I arrived to get my two drinks. I was debating between getting them hot or iced and while the owner recommended them iced, they actually ran out of ice. Both drinks were amazing hot though, so I didn't mind. You can really tell that each drink is a labor of love, from the coffee to the foam and toppings. For the bukas na, the owner came to the table and scraped tultul salt from the Philippines fresh from a block. The personal touch felt very meaningful and honestly made the wait feel worth it. The bukas na was my favorite--the perfect balance of light sweetness with a little saltiness, topped with cold foam. The ube eclipse was a close second, with a rich ube flavor that wasn't overpowered by sweetness. I also tried the caramel coconut donut, which was pretty good. It was a bit heavy, but the filling was very tasty. Overall, amazing drinks, warm and personal service, and clearly a lot of care put into what they're making. Be prepared for a wait and a packed space, but it's easy to see why Bukas Cafe is already so popular. read more

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Really glad I checked this place out just opened in Elmhurst and I stopped in on my way to Lidl. The vibe inside is super chill. Lots of plants, nice light, good music. Feels like a place you'd hang for a while, but it's pretty busy right now (good reasons). Sandos are legit. Don't sleep on the spicy chicken one and def don't skip the dipping sauces. read more

Bukas Cafe - Adobo Chicken spicy - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Elmhurst, New York

This cafe is so nice! It has a cool, cozy aesthetic inside with warm and friendly vibes from all of the staff. Their filipino drinks are tasty (Highly recommend the Ube Eclipse) and the Adobo Melt is crazy good- so jam packed with umami and elevated further by the au jus and garlic sauce. That sandwich is going to keep me coming back for sure read more

Bukas is one of those places that feels like a neighborhood gem as soon as you walk in (once you get past the line!). Space is calm, surprisngly green, and thoughtfully designed. But the drinks, artisanal coffee drinks made with authentic Filipino coffee and imported salt--something I never knew existed--drinks are clearly made with care and they even salt right at your table. As someone who isn't Filipino, I really appreciated how the Bukas staff introduces flavors in a way that makes everyone feel welcome. Their pastry case also showcases local Filipino bakers, which is a really cool way give people a chance to try flavors and pastries they might not have even heard of. I didn't lnow what ensaymada was but damn, it's so good with coffee! Next time I need to try the cinnamon roll and they were sold out of the pandan pastry but I hear it's incredible. read more

New coffee spot in Elmhurst! This Filipino owned café stays true to its roots and serves a variety of Filipino themed drinks and food. The place is medium small and seating is limited, but the employees work efficiently and are very courteous! I got the Bukas latte that came with some shaved coconut salt and it tasted heavenly! read more

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This is my neighborhood spot! They opened up recently and we have been super excited to have a cafe in the area. Anna & the whole staff are the kindest people. They are working really hard everyday - the crowds grew lines before they even had a chance to work out the kinks. So please, be patient and know they will give every customer the same care & attention. My son is a toddler and loves their Berry Much drink. They have a kid friendly menu! I will die on a sword for the Bukas Na latte. LOL enjoy!! read more

I was excited to try this small Filipino-owned café and support a local business. The space has a cozy, welcoming feel, and I always appreciate seeing small businesses in the community. Unfortunately, the experience didn't match the vibe. Waited about an hour just to place an order, which is far longer than reasonable for a café setting. The drinks themselves were decent, but not memorable. Workflow can definitely be improved. read more

highly recommend trying out the adobo jalapeno melt! i personally got the pork option :) it was very tasty and would be back for it! i also tried the bukas na which is what they seem to be known for the most. if you like salted cold foam drinks, this is def up your alley! read more

Visited today. Waited an hour and a half before getting to order. They are incredibly kind people but can and should be running a lot of processes much more efficiently to reduce wait times. Coffee was decent at best. The space is cute but it's a little too cozy, especially with as large of a crowd as there was. Very possible that today was an off day and would be willing to try again soon! read more

The food was excellent. Service was commendable. Ambience was great. One of my favorites is Ube eclipse while my husband's fave is Bukas na- which tastes great... read more

Came here with a friend on a Saturday morning. I was really excited to try this café but ended up feeling pretty disappointed with the overall experience. Their signature Bukas Latte was delicious, and the special salt they grate on top is a cool touch. However, because they grate the salt individually and give an explanation for it with each drink, it noticeably slows down service during an already long wait. The matcha, unfortunately, wasn't great quality, and the added coconut cream made it feel overly heavy. They were sold out of the jalapeño adobo sandwich by the time we arrived, so we tried the pimiento sandwich instead. It was fine, but definitely not worth the $12 price. The sandwiches are cooked in-house, but the café is poorly ventilated, so you end up leaving smelling like smoke and grease. My biggest issue with this place was the extremely long wait and the overall lack of organization. The line to order was over an hour, and there was no clear distinction between to-go orders and people dining in. People who had already ordered were lingering near the entrance, which made it difficult for new customers to even get inside. While we were waiting outside, a large group cut in front of us and then tried to squeeze into a table despite the limited space (the café itself is quite small). They repeatedly asked my friend and me for our table because they felt entitled to it due to being a larger group. They were also going around grabbing extra chairs and carrying them overhead in a crowded space, which felt pretty unsafe. While the café obviously can't control how customers behave, I do think staff could have been more proactive in helping manage the situation, whether by helping coordinate seating or stepping in when the group was being disruptive. Instead, the staff seemed to focus most of their attention on accommodating that group, repeatedly checking on them while other tables (including ours) were largely ignored. For example, we weren't given forks for our dessert and had to flag someone down because no one checked on us. It's a shame because aside from these issues, the staff seemed friendly and the coffee drinks themselves were genuinely special. With better organization and crowd management, this experience would've been better read more