Nice chill spot to sit down and study, catch up with friends, maybe a meet up spot for your first date to get a feel for each other. Went here for breakfast with my wife and friend. Order at the counter and sit anywhere that's open. Staff was nice. Got the fried chicken and croffle to eat and an ice chai latte. The food was delicious. Fried chicken was crispy and juicy. The maple syrup had a nice kick to it so it was just regular maple syrup. The croffle was crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Wife got the bulgogi sandwich which she said was amazing. Will be coming back here to try more stuff on the menu. You will have to bus your own table, so make sure to clean up after yourself. read more

Café Etoile - Fried Chicken and Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Delicious! Yes, that's the only word you need to know when it comes to Café Etoile! I thought parking was going to be a challenge, but thankfully I was able to find a spot in the shared parking for the café and Trader Joe's. Walking in the restaurant was just buzzing with busy tables and happy campers enjoying their brunch. You order at the counter and you pick your food up at the counter. For me, that's not necessarily an issue, however, seating is pretty crowded, and people tend to hover around and already tight space both ordering, and picking up their various food and drink orders. The menu has a variety of wonderful items, including some vegetarian items, and the restaurant seems to be open to making some alterations with orders. I did find that they were pretty light, handed with condiments on their sandwiches, and I did need to go up and ask for extra mayo for one of our sandwiches that was definitely fairly dry. The hot chocolate was super tasty, and it definitely was one of those moments where I wished they had refills ! The food is super tasty, and the prices are reasonable not only for the area, but for the food offerings. Definitely a place to check out for either breakfast, brunch, or lunch. They generally close around the early afternoon, and currently do not offer dinner service. read more

Really cute place for brunch and studying! It's one of my favorite cafes in Berkeley. I ordered the Bacon and Egg Croffle and Cappuccino. Really delicious Croffle and cappuccino. My friend ordered a brownie cheesecake and steamed oat milk. I tried the brownie cheesecake and it was really good. If you are going to Café Etoile to study, make sure your electronics are charged. There aren't many chargers in the cafe. The atmosphere is pretty lively. Perfect for people who like to study with some background noise and things going on around them. It is on the pricier side but definitely worth to check out! I can't wait to try more items on the menu! read more

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Get the croffle! It's a croissant and a waffle! Omg sooo good!!! The crunchy sweet exterior w.the soft interior of a croissant, how did they come up with this!!! It paired so well with the bacon bc it's salty and can't forget the runny egg! The inside is cute with plenty of seating. Tables had fresh flowers. Service: You go up to the counter and place your order. The young man at the front needed to be more, "on it". When he saw us come up to the counter , I was expecting him to say something along the lines of," hey what can I get started for you", you know. But no. He just stood there looking at us, no words. No hello. Poker face. that was sooooo awkward for us. He said they'd call out our order. We wanted to sit outside so I told him how long it'd be so we could come back inside incase we didn't hear. He was like, 10 min but if we're not busy we'll bring it out to you. Ok? I truly think they should call out your name and not the food, what if multiple people ordee the same item. Also we were outside so we couldn't hear! They should come up with a better system. Restroom was out of toilet seat covers and it was barely 11am! They have a key for the 1 restroom and this stuff grosses me out bc tons of people touch said key and not everyone washes their hands. So I washed my hands, grabbed a paper towel to grab the key and returned it. read more

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New gem in Berkeley! It's right next to Trader Joe's so that's how I discovered it. It's a good alternative brunch spot if you don't want to deal with lines at places like Berkeley Social Club or La Note. Also a good coffee place for studying/working, though I cannot speak of their wifi situation. They have plenty of shaded outdoor seatings on the sidewalks if you don't mind seating next to the street. Service was friendly and efficient. They brought the food and drinks to our table. We tried the croffle and it was delicious! It's supposed to be a croissant and a waffle combined. They served it with savory options like chicken croffle and bacon & egg croffle, or sweet option like cream & berry croffle. The cold brew was nothing special but it does the job. Overall, I recommend giving this place a try, for the food or the vibe! read more

Café Etoile - Bacon and Egg Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Best Cafe Latte this side of Berkeley. I usually take my coffee black, no sugar and so a latte is my weekend treat. It's nice to find a cup that lets the simple flavors of Coffee and steamed milk shine. Ordered the croissant french toast and it was topped full of berries, very good! Probably not the place to order kimchi bowls as the rice was cold and the texture was not pleasant. Will stick to the French inspired items next time. read more

Café Etoile - Kimchi Bowl with Bulgogi, Ham and Cheese sandwich and croissant French toast. Yummy mid day feasting! - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The food was amazing! Chicken was juicy and flavorful, the croissant waffle was exactly what I was expecting. My friends enjoyed their avocado toast and kimchi fried rice bowl...we also enjoyed the iced matcha latte & iced caramel latte. I would definitely come back! read more

Café Etoile - Chicken/croiwaffle, kimchi fried rice w/bulgogi, avocado toast, berries and cream croiwaffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Best fried chicken and Waffles in Berkeley arguably than 900 Grayson. Took me forever just to use their syrup and wow. Good enough to Yelp about it read more

This is a cozy yet bustling cafe next to Trader Joe's. It's difficult to find street parking, but you can park in the Trader Joe's garage for free! I love all the different food options I've tried (especially the Cream & Berries Croffle), but I haven't had the best experience with drinks. The matcha latte is super powdery, and if you ask for sweetener, they just drizzle some honey on top of the foam (so it's not blended well into the latte). The cafe is a casual vibe, so you order, sit down, then pick up your dish when it's ready. I had no issues the first time I came, but it was a little chaotic the second time because half the customers had buzzers and the other half didn't. Buzzers were going off constantly *and* an employee was shouting orders really loudly when they were ready. It was a bummer because the cafe otherwise feels serene with soft music in the background. Also, this is a small note, but the seating area isn't very ADA accessible. You should be fine if you sit at one of the larger tables near the entrance. Otherwise there are a bunch of small tables in the back, and it can be difficult to navigate the space. read more

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The café is casual. You order before you sit down. After ordering you're given a pager that will buzz when your food is ready. Service was fast. The chicken croffle was delicious! The chicken was crispy on the outside yet still tender and juicy on the inside. I highly recommend ordering it! The iced matcha latte unfortunately was one of the worst I've had. It tasted as though it had been made in a hurry and not whisked properly because the matcha powder was poorly incorporated into the liquid. The milk to matcha ratio was also off. Overall, the food was great but I'd pass on the matcha latte. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

This restaurant was on my want to go list for a long time, finally went for breakfast. Very basic and simple restaurant, but the overall environment makes you feel comfortable. You need to order and pay at the counter. We ordered Chicken croffle egg and bacon croffle and black coffee. Foods ready within 10mins. They were delicious as what we expected, especially the chicken it's so juicy and super tasty. Surely, this place will be on my Revisit List. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle, Bacon and Egg Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Super solid food. I came for brunch and everything I tried was delicious. Their sandwiches are amazing, and I really enjoyed the croffle and chicken dish. The staff was friendly and the food came out pretty quickly. There are plenty of tables, and the space has a casual, relaxed vibe. Definitely recommend checking this place out. read more

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Food was absolutely divine. I got the Chicken & Croffle (croissant waffle) and an iced matcha. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle; Iced Macha Latte - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

We decided to walk from our hotel to have coffee Saturday morning. We enjoyed it so much we decided to have lunch with my son and friends. They all enjoyed que quality and location as it is walking distance from school. As we are driving back home, we came to have lunch before our journey home. This is a very busy place as they are only open from 8-3pm. They have outside sitting and in side as well. Every very clean and organized. Menu is not big, but perfect to satisfy anyones tastebuds. read more

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What a cute French little breakfast spot. I would have given 5 stars but it's super hot in there so one star less for no flow of air buuuutt the food was really good!! We got the fried chicken and croissant waffle as well as the croque madam which was yummy, great coffee as well. Definitely recommend it and maybe sit outside on a warmer day:) staff was friendly too but you order up front anyways:) read more

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Cute new cafe in the Berkeley area. Came by on a weekday morning and there was plenty of seating available. Staff were very friendly and menu is up on the wall (food choices on clipboards and beverages behind the cashier). Of note, there are some food choices that are only on weekends so just be aware. It's an interesting combination of Korean and French. Got a latte, berries and cream croffle, and a bacon and eggs croffle. Latte: decent, very milky but a decent balance. Comes in a mug if you're sitting down and at least on the menu it says refills for $1.5, didn't take advantage of that and not sure if it would only be for tea/drip coffee instead of espresso based drinks. Croffles: interesting but not in a bad way. It is more like a soft waffle that pulls apart in layers (if that makes any sense). Interesting chewy texture and pretty sweet. Personally I would reorder the berries and cream. I'm generally not a sweet and savory combination person and the croffle part is a bit too sweet with each bite of the bacon and eggs croffle for me. The whipped cream on the berries and cream croffle is amazing and worked well with the overall dish. Overall can take or leave the latte but would probably come back for the berries and cream croffle or to try out more of the menu. read more

Café Etoile - Egg and bacon croffle (closer) berries and cream croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Holy moly this place is awesome best cafe in Berkeley me gusta everything was so good and everyone was so nice and it's my go to breakfast spot with my wife read more

If you're looking to start your mornings in Berkeley, you're in for a treat if you visit Café Etoile. Everything is super affordable about $15 or less if my memories serves me right. My friend and I wanted to try a new spot. The food is 10/10, DELICIOUS! The café drinks, not so much but they look pretty! I got a chai latte and my friend got a caramel latte but she didn't really taste the caramel she said. My chai was fine, not too sweet We got the croissant French toast and breakfast sandwich. I got a side of bacon and egg. The one thing is, you order and go sit, this is not a traditional restaurant where there is a server or waitress seating you. Seating is first come, first serve if you're hoping to dine in. It can get pretty loud too, but overall it was a really great experience and I love a good breakfast spot! read more

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Came here for the breakfast sandwich! One of my favorite in Berkeley. I got the Bacon for only $10! The people were really nice and good came out fast! There are lots of tables and outlets, perfect place to do some work! read more

Café Etoile - Breakfast Sandwich - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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came here on a sunny tuesday morning with my ol' gramps and had a jolly good time. cafe etoile has a nice ambiance and speedy service, making a great study spot! ok food review time: a-tier: chicken and croffle: i really enjoy the classic chicken and waffles combination, so i was really excited to try this. it was definitely really tasty, but it fell a little short of my expectations, as the croffle was a little difficult to cut. b-tier: pistachio latte: would've liked the pistachio flavor to be a little stronger, but it was alright overall. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here for Sunday brekkie before a TJs run. Wasn't crowded, lots of seating, friendly service, and delicious breakfast sandwiches. I had their turkey biscuit breakfast sando - either my mouth is too small or the fresh baked biscuit was too thick. Not complaining tho, I finished it all along with a large coffee and didn't eat again until almost dinner time. Another plus for being a block away from a really good Hawaiian bakery, reviewed that too. Pros: Friendly service, good coffee and delicious biscuit breakfast sandwiches. Cons: Nothing comes to mind. read more

This place is by far my favorite cafe from a food quality and deliciousness stand point. I usually get the kimchi fried rice with bolgigi. It has such a great flavor. I just wish they had some couches so I could just chill out all day with coffee and a good book. read more

Café Etoile - Salmon Avocado Toast with an egg - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Café Etoile is such a great spot to grab coffee and a quick bite! Food is made fresh to order and the coffee will definitely wake you up. Great service! I recommend getting the breakfast sandwich or the Spicy Chicken sandwich. read more

Pricey but tasty. You order at the counter and find yourself at some of the longer tables by the front, or the high tops, or regular tables, or maybe a few of the comfy chairs (I believe!). Plenty of seating both individual and communal. This location has had a hard time finding a good business to call it home, but I think Cafe Etoile is it. On a Thursday mid morning, it was packed with students typing away at their comps, sipping on lattes and enjoying their croffles. Speaking of croffles, seemingly the croffles and other breakfast items off their extensive and delicious sounding menu are the most popular. I went lunch style and it was really good, but I for sure want to revisit for more breakfast forward food. I ordered an almond milk latte. Not the smoothest, it was on the bitter side. Not sure what beans they use, but not gonna lie, not my most favorite latte. But the food made up for it. I wasn't expecting freshly griddled bulgogi in my sandwich. It made the wait time longer than expected... I expected 5 minutes and it was closer to 10, but worth it for fresh cooked meat. Impressive. My bulgogi sandwich was great, not super heavy on the protein, and I think a bit more sauce could go a long way. The veggie sandwich with roasted eggplant was also delicious, but at $14.50 plus $2.50 for avocado, it was a bit pricey. Both sandwiches were filling, but mind you both were bready. Everything was fresh and delicious, but again, but maybe the price point was a little high. Maybe add a bit more substance to the sammies, or add some chips, a fresh dill pickle, something? But, alas life is expensive. Overall, I can see why this is a fan favorite. Not much like it in the area, everyone working there was SO NICE, and plenty of space for you, your study crew and all yo' computers. read more

Dirty chai latte was spicy - definitely one of the best chai lattes i've had in the bay. Anything with their croffle, any of their breakfast sandwiches, croque madame and their eggs benedict are awesome! Great place for brunch and my go-to for out-of-towners visiting the area. read more

Café Etoile - Dirty Chai Latte - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Chicken and waffles are chefs kiss. Typical service not to long not to short. The ambiance was typical morning brunch place

Great little spot. Food is amazing. Service was great; employee was super friendly. Definitely will visit again.

Chicken egg Benedict croffle was insanely delicious! Presentation and taste on 10. Great service, quick, and the space felt like a cozy cafe. read more

Café Etoile - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food was fresh and fast! Got the breakfast sandwich with avocado and the egg was so fluffy and the bread used was so pillowy. The service was fast and the staff were friendly. Definitely recommend for a quick cheaper bite. Will come back soon! read more

Café Etoile - Breakfast Sandwich and Spicy Chicken Sandwich - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Give me my croffle and get out of my way!! No, but seriously lol, these are dank. Cafe Etoile opened right next to the Berkeley Trader Joes and has a fun brunch menu with some unique Korean fusions. I had to go with the sweet n savor chicken n coffee and mix it with the fruit medley croffle for the fruity goodness. Every bite of the croffle is glorious lol. It takes me back to childhood and reminds me of eating fried desserts at the fair. The portion sizes are just right, so you don't leave feeling like you need to nap your day away. There are also some simpler menu items like breakfast sandwiches and egg plates, so there's something for everyone. read more

Café Etoile - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here for breakfast and food was delicious!! The chicken is super tender and it came out pretty quickly. The breakfast sandwich bun was perfect not soggy. The service was fine no issues. I will add It's not a sit down restaurant where someone takes your order. It's a cafe so you go up order and pick up food when your buzzer goes off. There is plenty of tables for you to enjoy your food but you must buss your own table at the end. Overall good food I would come back. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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whenever i go up to norcal, i always make sure to stop by here at least once. the food is always so delicious and the vibes in here are chill. i was so happy to come here twice this past week! their chicken and croffle is the best chicken and waffle variation ever. the breading on the chicken is so light, similar to popcorn chicken, and having a croffle instead of a waffle makes the meal feel less heavy. the presentation is beautiful as well. i highly recommend this cafe to everyone! read more

Café Etoile - salmon bagel sandwich and chicken croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Very cute cafe, brunch, and dessert spot! I am a big fan of croffles but don't know of many places that offer them, so I am very excited that Cafe Etoile has them on their menu. Cafe Etoile is located near the Trader Joe's on MLK Jr Way. The space isn't huge but there is still a lot of seating. I can't speak on the parking situation, but it is only a 10 minute walk from the edge of campus and is close to public transportation. We came on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't too crowded. The service was very friendly and quick. The menu has plenty of brunch items, baked goods, cafe drinks, and bingsoo (very exciting!!!). We ordered the bacon & egg croffle, croque monsieur, morning bun, pumpkin spice latte, and house-made lemonade. The food was really tasty. The meal was light while still being filling. The croffle was crisp and sweet, which was nicely complemented by the saltiness of the bacon and egg. Would love to come again to try more items. Definitely recommend that you check this place out if you're hungry in the area in the morning or early afternoon! read more

Café Etoile - Menu - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came here for brunch by myself on a cloudy Saturday morning at 10an. Seating was maybe 80% full, ordering was quick and easy, and food came out within 20 minutes. This is a counter service place so you get a buzzer when you order. I got the bacon and egg croffle which was excellent. I didn't realize the croffle would come with some caramelized sugar and really liked the savory and sweet combination of the dish. I also had a toffee latte which was not too sweet. The ambiance was buzzy but pleasant. I was able to park across the street on a residential block without much trouble. Would definitely recommend this Berkeley institution! read more

Café Etoile - Bacon and Egg Croffle, toffee latte - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

I think I found my new favorite café!!! I really like everything I got - the food and drinks were all delicious. The hot matcha latte was especially perfect on a cold day. I was also able to try a Croffle for the first time and I really like it! The plain one with syrup was crispy and sweet. There are many seating options, but when I came by on a weekday morning, most tables were full. I would definitely come back for its unique selection of drink and food options and the ambiance! read more

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I stumbled upon Cafe Etoile while in Berkeley, and my friend really wanted to try their Fried Chicken & Croffle. Admittedly, I've had a croffle before and wasn't too impressed, but decided to try it again. I'm definitely glad I did! The portion was massive for the price ($13 + tax), but more importantly it tasted delicious! The fried chicken was crispy and savory, and paired well with the chewy and sweet croffle. The hot honey sauce that it came with was great - a little sweet and spicy. Overall, I could see myself eating here again if I was in the area. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and Croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

From GREAT Food Awesome Service And the vibe you NEED to get away from your day but still be PRESENT, this hidden GEM (in my little world) is the perfect place to study, meet up, take that cute person to grab a coffee My wife and I just wanted to get away and have brunch WITH NO KIDS!!! I was not let down! Chicken & Croffle - WHY has this not been even considered a hype? The best waffle alternative that deserves it's own lane in the Breakfast / Brunch World. Love the home-style Long REAL SOLID WOOD Tables wrapped with matching set wooden chairs. The lights are perfect with the natural sunshine ... lessens the strain on your eyes, doesn't feel hot, and creates that warm and calm feeling. Gotta check this place out!!! ‍ First impression Vibe Eats Staff read more

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Berkeleyside Nosh had a list of restaurants serving good chicken and waffles a week or two ago and Café Étoile's chicken and croffle was mentioned, croffle being a mashup of a croissant and waffle. The café is in the building that houses TJ's and has been open since May. The decor is sort of industrial and attractive. There's one gender neutral bathroom which is spare but functional. You need a key to get in. The key is at the ordering counter. Nina and I met here for lunch today. There are a variety of tables, all well spaced. I arrived first and chose a two-top. We looked over the menu, although I knew I wanted the chicken and croffle and she chose a turkey and avocado sandwich on what looked like multigrain bread. You order at the counter, pick up your food when it's ready and bus your dishes and other detritus when you're finished. They have a good variety of teas to choose from in addition to coffee and other drinks. We both had tea. They added almond milk to my Earl Grey at my request. Nina had a decaf vanilla tea she really liked. It's hard to say how long a wait there was for our food because we were talking. It seemed like a reasonable wait to me. When our food was ready Nina took a photo of my chicken and croffle because it was so impressive. She didn't take a photo of her sandwich although it looked great. Taking photos of our food is not something we ordinarily do. You can see the chicken and croffle below. It was delicious, not too sweet despite the dusting of powdered sugar on the croffle and the syrup to dunk bites in. I gave Nina a bite and she liked it a lot. I did too and was glad I ordered it. The teas were very good. There's a lot to explore on their menu and there is a case of pastries that looked tempting. read more

Café Etoile - Chicken and croffle - French Near Me - Berkeley, California

Chicken and croffle are sweet and savory. The waffles with the berries was a refreshing sweet treat. The matcha was too bland for me. I tasted more milk than anything. They dont have any high chairs or boosters for children - not really family freindly. Parking includes street parking or park in the trader joes garage. Service is very quick. read more

Had the breakfast sandwich with bacon and I also had hot chocolate. The presentation of the food was great and it was also very heavy. The breakfast sandwich has a lot of egg making it great for a brunch meal. Everything was great! read more

Café Etoile - Breakfast Sandwich, Hot Chocolate - French Near Me - Berkeley, California