Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cafe Buenos Aires

    4.6 (216 reviews)
    InexpensiveArgentine, Cafes, Empanadas
    Open 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Cafe Buenos Aires Takeout or Delivery

    Cafe Buenos Aires Photos

    CAFE BUENOS AIRES ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like Cafe Buenos Aires

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Buenos Aires

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Greater shot of the front counter, menu, and beverage machine
    Ryan B.

    Looking for a spot to eat breakfast, my friend recommended that way dine here as he highly recommended the food. Initially stood out to me was that there was no place for free parking. I literally had to pay a meter, which although wasn't horrible, to me was still inconvenient for this area of Berkeley. This place has a small, indoor dining area and a decently sized outdoor area, which could see about 30+ customers. I could tell that the patrons inside were regulars I'm more than happy to be at home. The menu options are pretty diverse, but at the same time limiting. Plenty of empanadas, as well as some dessert and coffee options. We settled on two empanadas, two coffees, a hot chocolate and a lemon bar. Flavor wise, everything was good. I can't say that it was spectacular, but definitely better than other hole in the wall places. My hot chocolate was foam at the top, which was a nice touch, and both empanadas were very flavorful. The lemon bar two was decent. I also appreciated the excellent service. However, I feel that the place is just too expensive. For the two empanadas, our drinks and the lemon bar everything came out it's almost $40. Those empanadas were over six bucks each and to make it worse if you're looking to get a meal out of it, you need 3 to 4 hands down to get full. The drinks also while good, weren't that good for the rates they're charging. As much as I liked the environment and quality of food, given most Berkeley options have no flavor at all, I wouldn't go out of my way to come back here. It's not that I don't think it's a good place, I just don't think it's worth the amount and inconvenience to dine here. Taking everything into account, I rate Cafe Buenos Aires a 3/5.

    Ted R.

    I've been on an empanada kick lately. It's been really fun because the East Bay has a few places to choose from. So of course I had to return to the one that's in my own neighborhood. The funny thing is that I go to Café Buenos Aires most regularly for coffee because I enjoy their lattes. I like the empanadas too, so this time I dropped by for lunch. Enjoyed my chicken empanada and accompanying chimichurri sauce. They have a really large selection of fillings and I've enjoyed the beef empanadas as well. The service is always friendly here no matter who is behind the counter. I like their Wi-Fi and they're always seems to be enough seating with window bar stool and table and the row of assorted tables they have indoors. They usually have a few tables outside too. Often with the choice of sun or shade. The café is located on the busy corner of Shattuck and Ashby so it isn't exactly quiet outside. But it is a relatively short walk from the Ashby BART station. They have a number of locations, but I haven't checked out any of the others yet.

    Chicken Empanada
    April L.

    Chicken empanada is pretty good with shredded chicken inside that was lightly seasoned, although it could be a little dry, there was a little sauce container that comes with the empanada to help. The sauce is flavorful and a little spicy. The cafe is cozy and has seating area available. The staff are friendly.

    Quynh M.

    Stopped by this cafe as I was intrigued by their selection of empanadas. They all sounded SO tasty, but I opted to go for the beef empanada and the spinach/feta empanada. Both were really good but the spinach/feta was incredible -- everything tasted so fresh, and love that this empanada had such a thin flaky crust with a nice bite to it on the edges. The dipping sauce was a nice touch and spiced it up which was very addicting. The cafe itself has plenty of space for seating and the service was nice and friendly. I definitely think this will be my new go to spot for empanadas... I got to try them all eventually!

    Love how they wrap them individually. They stamp them with the flavors of it and it is served with like a chimi-churi sauce.
    Norma L.

    I've driven by here several times on my way tonl work. This time I was working a middle of day with a 15 minute break. So wanted to bring something I could quickly heat up and eat. They have an assortment of empanadas in the display case of both sweet and savory. I settled on 6. 3 savory 3 sweet. Thr chicken one has fresh chunks of chicken and a little spice to it . I normally don't like pastry dough but this was light and fluffy. The zucchini one, I was pleasantly surprised. It has chickpeas in it. The Peach ones were gobbled up and was told they were good. I managed to have blueberry one and loved that not too sweet or with that cornstarch thickness. I will be back. Quick and healthy bites. Also good for bringing to parties or if you are hosting one.

    Nina M.

    5/5 for the fact there is a place with so many options when it comes to empanadas! 3/5 for the price - a little over $5 depending on which kind you get. I do think for what it is it should not cost $5, but then again everything costs an arm and a leg. Parking - there is street parking Service - nice guy who assisted and heated up the empanadas Inside - there are a couple spots to sit inside. This is a very chill/calm environment inside. You have people on their computers working and people having casual conversations. Flavor - 3/5 wish it was higher. I have now tried a number of different empanadas and must say I have had better. Apple Empanada - was ok a little too sweet Chicken Empanada - not bad flavor just missing something Spinach and Feta - my favorite must have Fugazzatta - just ok Bottom line - if you want a variety of empanadas to pick from come here. BUT keep searching. They have a variety but the flavors still leave me looking for another place.

    Nadav M.

    Service is nice. I seemed to be the only one and the only staff member there but he seemed to be very efficient. I went for the beef and chicken empanadas. Very warm and crispy when I got them. I ordered the chai latter, cold. The drink did take a while but was fresh and nice with the empanadas. The atmosphere is a little odd. Not many tables were out and a lot of boxes but that's fine. Place seems nice to study or any computer work. There's images of tango, political movements images, art, the calligraphy of the exterior is fascinating. AC Transit 18 stops on shattuck also not too far there's the 6 on Telegraph with a good walk enough to digest some yum Argentinian snacks.

    Empanada menu Jan 2024
    Jessica G.

    Been on a real empanada kick lately and one day my fiancé and I decided to go on a little East Bay empanada tour. Cafe Buenos Aires was stop #1. The cafe is located on the corner and there's some metered street parking available nearby. Super easy to find parking on a Saturday afternoon. It's not a huge cafe but it's got seating inside if you plan to stay awhile. They have a lot of different empanada options to choose from. We had to take a couple of minutes to look over the menu and decide. We ordered at the counter and there was some confusion about the Yelp check in offer but not a big deal. We went for a chicken empanada ($6) and a carne picada ($7). They're hefty empanadas so it feels like a fair price. Both were pretty good. I liked the flavor of the chicken one better especially with the chimichurri sauce. Along with empanadas, they also offer a full coffee/tea/drinks menu and pastries. Seems like a great place to meet up with a friend over a cup of coffee. Excited to try more flavors next time!

    ham and Ham & Cheese Empanada
    Emma C.

    Wanted to try a new cafe in Berkeley and settled on Cafe Buenos Aires. Parking was relatively easy, but we may have gotten lucky because street parking is super limited. Plenty of seating and not crowded as many spots in Berkeley are on a Friday morning. Service was fast and the person who helped us was very friendly! Tried the iced latte and a drip coffee (not pictured). The drip coffee was really good and strong! The iced coffee was just ok, didn't have a very strong coffee flavor. The menu has a lot of different options for empanadas, both sweet and savory. I tried the ham and cheese which was pretty good. Plenty of filling and the chimmichurri sauce that came on the side was delicious!

    House Made Chicken Empanada
    Joe V.

    The coffee was delicious and so were the empanadas! I definitely recommend the feta and spinach but the chicken and beef aren't that bad too! Not the best place to sit and eat due to the amount of flies that accumulate inside with the door open but I'd still go back to this place just for the empanadas.

    Stale & cold beignets
    Lakisha T.

    I went here after working a night shift. Thought I would have a lovely bite before heading to sleep and I was so disappointed . I have never had a cold/stale beignet in my life. Like don't even call it a beignet if you want to serve it like this ... chai latte is usually my go to and when I saw it on the menu I knew I must try as I didn't want to have anything to strong before going to sleep. It was literally just oat milk. No chai flavor at all. Will never go again and would not recommend to get these items... they are know for the empanadas ... I hope they don't serve those cold too .

    Iced Mocha
    Emmeline W.

    Some of the best empanadas we've had. We literally... Could not stop ordering. We would finish an order of two empanadas, look at each other, then sheepishly walk back up to the register. Repeat x4. They're that good. (as of March 2022) For COVID safety purposes, masks are required, hand sanitizer is provided, and tables are cleaned thoroughly. We parked in a nearby residential street and walked 5~ mins. The walls are decorated with local art and activist phrases. Display case also features other small biz. We saw the owner, Diana, chatting away with regulars and welcoming newcomers in. Really just a lovely environment she's curated here. Coffee was great! Our favorite empanadas were: - Chicken (as buttery and light as the dough) - Mushroom (very umami, super flavorful) We've driven past this colorful corner so many times and finally made a point to stop in-- undeniably worth it.

    5/16/22 Interior and counter service
    Lee D.

    Our favorite empanadas are still from Empanash from South Lake Tahoe. Quality/Quantity - We got the following Empanadas: 2 Beef - Wife's favorite. 2 Chicken - Good but not that much flavor. 2 Mushroom - My favorite. Filled with mushrooms. 2 Chorizo - Did not taste the sausage at all... Had a lot of beans. Vegan - Roasted Eggplant & Tomatoes - Good. Vegan - Kale Butternut - My daughter's favorite. She says the flavor was good and the crust was flaky. Peach Cobbler - Sorry, it did not taste fresh. Or maybe it is just not peach season. Sorry, all the empanadas (with the exception of the mushroom) were bean forward. I had a hard time tasting the difference between all the different empanadas. I am sure it did not help that I used the one and only chimichurri sauce for all. I did like the labeling/branding of the empanadas, see picture. It was helpful to know all the different fillings we got. All empanadas were a good size. Also offer catering. Also known for their coffee. Atmosphere - Small local business. Indoor/outdoor seating. NO restrooms, they asked us to go to Chevron across the street... They should at least offer wipes??? Since they offer dining in, there should at least be a hand washing station. Open 7 days a week until 4:30pm. Service - Counter service. Good, cleaned and sanitized our table before we sat. Price - $62.89 + tip. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 2018 and your new location in Emeryville.

    Empanadas for breakfast. Why not?

    See all

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of FoodLover F.
    43
    1532
    756

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dorian B.
    106
    60
    28

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Diana D.

    Diana D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Karla P.
    108
    11
    5

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Monica V.
    298
    25
    0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Robert J.
    55
    38
    10

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Diana D.

    Diana D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K W.
    3
    37
    0

    4 years ago

    No restrooms for customers. Beef and chicken empanadas were flavorless. The chimichuri sauce was too oily and the cortadito wasn't great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah J.
    180
    89
    2

    4 years ago

    Delicious empanadas! Also very kind and quick customer service. Clean café with plenty of places to sit both indoors and outdoors.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Diana D.

    Diana D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Diana D.

    Diana D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jesse J.
    470
    13
    1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Diana D.

    Diana D.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    So yummy and welcoming. Definitely coming again base on the staff and taste of the place

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    The empanadas were so delicious, tried multiple flavors. Will definitely be brining my family!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    The empanadas were incredible!! Amazing staff and food! Definitely will be coming back to support this local business !!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    The food never disappoints :) Such good service and good vibes. I recommend this place all the time!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    I LOVE THEM!! quality food with an amazing taste!! as a latin american myself i was so excited to find authentic food like this!! 10/10

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Diana D.

    Diana D.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ron J.
    2
    33
    0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Goph R.
    1
    76
    140

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rierie D.
    230
    38
    4

    4 years ago

    I literally just placed an order to have delivered to my daughter at work and she said everything was amazing!!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Diana D.

    Diana D.

    Thank you so much!!!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of RobD F.
    17
    136
    21

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Awesome empanadas and excellent coffee. Very good vibe there as well! Both their savory and sweet empanadas are excellent.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Monica R.
    394
    14
    1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 6

    Cafe Buenos Aires Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe Buenos Aires

    You might also consider

    elaichi co. - Rose Gingersnap cookie was the best of the three

    elaichi co.

    4.4(240 reviews)
    1.0 miDowntown Berkeley
    $$

    Phenomenal. I love the cozy, warm atmosphere and how it can be a place to work or chat. Decent…read moreamount of outlets to plug in laptops. I also appreciate that it doesn't close as early as most cafes! It does get quite busy so finding a seat can be tricky. Garage parking is nearby but there is street parking, which isn't always available. RECS: + Latte with banana cream (~$8.25 large) was UNREAL. Coffee was smooth and pleasant. The banana cream is so good, and I say this as a person who doesn't usually like banana flavored drinks or things + Banana chai einspanner ($8.25 large) is the actual menu item, so it has that delicious banana cream and also caramelized banana syrup. Great for a lower caffeine option, but I still prefer the latte

    Finally got to try Elaichi after seeing it on social media for so long. We live quite far but…read moreBerkeley but since we were passing by the area we know we had to stop by and try it. Came at around 4pm on a Sunday and the cafe was still so packed. Parking was a bit difficult. We had to drive around for over 10 minutes and finally found a parking garage. The chai itself was worth it though. My friend and I both got the karak chai, mine was cold and hers was hot. Both really good although the flavor came out better hot. The Elaichi bun was full of cardamom flavor and just a bit toasted was perfect complementary to the chai. Really wish we lived closure otherwise this would be a go to spot. Please open a location in South Bay!

    Photos
    elaichi co. - Kadak Chai

    Kadak Chai

    elaichi co. - Outside

    Outside

    elaichi co. - 5/4/2024 karak chai + elaichi bun

    See all

    5/4/2024 karak chai + elaichi bun

    CoRo Coffee Room - espresso con panna

    CoRo Coffee Room

    4.4(244 reviews)
    1.8 miWest Berkeley
    $$

    My CoRo Coffee Room rose latte with maybeck blend (dark chocolate, citrus, marshmallow) was off the…read morechart good. Worth way more than the $6.75 I paid. The nice barista explained that the coffee menu changes frequently. The single origin coffees cost $1 more. She said it gets really busy, but I got there at just the right time to order without waiting in line. Free Wi-Fi with seating inside and out. The plentiful availability allowed me to find a seat on the sidewalk that allowed me to catch a few rays with my latte on a sunny day. Such goodness. Lots of folks there working on their laptops inside. A mom happily nursing and some folks lost in conversation outside. There my soul received the sweet caress of a perfectly balanced rose latte. Great coffee and good vibes in West Berkeley.

    We came on a Sunday late morning and there was a line out the door. Luckily, the line moved fast…read moreand the counter is close-by the entrance of the cafe. We ordered an iced mocha and two of their pastries. I thought the coffee tasted pretty solid, it wasn't too sweet and the pastries was really good. The baristas seemed friendly, there were a lot of regulars that was able to skip the line because the barista knew their orders already (no shade!) There are plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors. It's super cool that they roast their own beans in-store.

    Photos
    CoRo Coffee Room - Coffee date with my love

    Coffee date with my love

    CoRo Coffee Room - The seating area

    The seating area

    CoRo Coffee Room - Latte and cappuccino

    See all

    Latte and cappuccino

    Mind Coffee - Earl Grey Cream Cloud ($8)

    Mind Coffee

    4.5(253 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Mind Coffee is one of my favorite coffee shops in Berkeley - it's easy to miss unless you know…read morewhere to look. I came here recently for a pick-me-up while I was walking near campus. It was an unexpectedly warm day, so I stopped in for an iced caffeinated beverage. I was indecisive when it was my turn to order, so the barista recommended the orange blossom matcha sparkler. This sounded intriguing and refreshing, so I decided to give it a try. My beverage was prepared about two minutes after I ordered it, and I was immediately refreshed after the first sip. The orange blossom flavoring was very subtle and provided just the right amount of sweetness and floral essence to counter the matcha's bitterness. The fizziness made this a perfect drink for a hot day. I've tried Mind Coffee's espresso on a prior visit, and I can now say they succeed in both the coffee and matcha categories.

    I was absolutely stunned when I first walked in. Mind Coffee feels like you're immersing in an art…read moregallery, apple store, forest, and a craft shop all at once. We ordered an Americano, the Earl Gray Matcha Einspanner Latte, and the Sakura Matcha Mindspanner Latte. The presentation was gorgeous, from the cups to the cream. The Sakura Matcha Mindspanner was definitely my favorite all around. The hint of sakura combined with the bold matcha was a very fun flavor experience. I think sadly, in the Earl Gray Matcha Einspanner, the matcha overpowered the earl gray. The flavor was there, but it was extremely subtle (don't get me wrong, I'd definitely get it again). Also, their espresso is unmatched. It really reminded me what a good espresso shot should taste like. The staff here were super friendly right off the bath. Even though there is an ordering kiosk available, they still went out of their way to greet us and let us know that they are there to also take orders and answer questions. I was also a bit bummed that they were sold out of their Orange Blossom Latte. I feel like it would taste like an orange creamsicle. They were very reassuring that it's a regular menu item and that I can hopefully get my hands on one before it sells out for the day next time! I can't wait to see what they come out with next!

    Photos
    Mind Coffee - Pour Over

    Pour Over

    Mind Coffee - Peach Matcha Frizz with Yuzu Cold Foam ($8.25)

    Peach Matcha Frizz with Yuzu Cold Foam ($8.25)

    Mind Coffee - Hojicha camp coffee

    See all

    Hojicha camp coffee

    Cafe Buenos Aires - argentine - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...