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Cafe Gara

4.4 (55 reviews)
Open • 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe Gara

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Homer S.

It can fill up quickly during peak hours, smaller groups can usually find a seat by sharing the larger communal tables. Ordering is a breeze via their self-service kiosks, and the staff are welcoming and efficient. Their delicious Breakfast Banh Mi and the incredible Vietnamese coffee topped with rich Ube foam were my favorite. It's a wonderful spot, and I will most likely be coming back again!

Salted Coffee (Iced only)
Alena K.

Solid Vietnamese coffee shop. The salted coffee is a Vietnamese coffee with salted cream foam. Not too sweet and nicely strong coffee. I will say that it's pricey tho. The small coffee that I got was 7.44$

Twice Matcha (7.75)
Victor G.

Cafe Gara opened 5 months ago in a vacated space. Newly renovated. Lengthy space with plenty of tables. Street parking can be iffy. Less traffic during Spring break @U.C. Berkeley. Opened by 3 siblings as a popup. Now a brick & mortar. Usually line extends to door. Spring break so line isn't long. Ordered on kiosk. No major issues. Was able to order after glancing at menu behind counter. Drink ready in minutes. Offerings: Viet coffee classics, coffee classics, signature lattes, teas & refresher, mocktails, artisan foam, breakfast, lunch & snacks. Sips: Twice Matcha (16 oz) oat milk: 7.75 -matcha stronger than usual. Drink didn't dilute. Probably ordered less ice. Easy sipping. Better value than other places. -passed on Viet coffee as it's usually iced. 4.5 stars Worthy! Quantity: the usual Quality: pretty good.

Salted coffee with Pandan foam
Kathy N.

I've been dying to check this place out as a Vietnamese girlie. I'm usually a basic traditional Viet coffee drinker but opted for the salted coffee with Pandan foam. There is a small fee for to go orders so I dined in. It was definitely packed during the weekends and definitely gave the garage (ga ra in viet) feeling with all of the conversations flowing! I sat at the counter and for some reason I didn't hear my name or order being called so I sat there for a little over 20 minutes until the staff asked me if I ordered anything and gave me my drink that's been sitting on my counter . It was also a bit confusing because if you dined in on the kiosk it asked you to grab a number stand and it seems like you do pick up your drink orders at the counter but the food orders gets delivered to your table. I definitely think they should invest in a second kiosk to help with the congestion by the door during peak hours. Anyways, as someone who loves sweet drinks I thought the drink was perfect and would most likely comeback. There are gender neutral stalls in the back. Plenty seating and communal seating but can get full quick. Loved the aesthetics of the place.

Front area
Keshneel K.

First time trying this Vietnamese coffee shop in Berkeley! Service was fast and easy using the kiosk. Just a heads-up, they do have to-go fees, so keep that in mind when ordering. There's also a lot of seating inside, making it a nice spot to get some work done or just chill and catch up with friends. I ordered the cà phê sữa đá with pandan foam. It wasn't as strong as I usually like my coffee, but it still wasn't bad at all. Overall, a nice spot to check out if you're in the Berkeley area and looking for Vietnamese coffee!

Jacqueline D.

I'm always on the lookout for new cafes, especially ones that have matcha and hojicha in their menu. Immediately as you enter, the space opens up to a wide bright and open space with an incredibly chic/minimalist design. But wait, there's more...beyond what you see are two more rooms as you venture further in with lots of seating and multiple bathroom stalls! To the right of the back room is an area with typical low stools/seats as you'd see in Vietnam. Not be confused as a children's only seating area(which of course it could also be used as) but it's for adults as well! Now let's talk drinks, I am a sucker for anything matcha and hojicha, but I decided to order the salted coffee as Cafe Gara's roots stem from the Vietnamese culture. I ordered my drink with light ice and THANK YOU staff for respecting that modification, it's too often that I get a cup full of ice when I ask for light ice. My drink came with salted foam on top, which was so smooth and creamy, it perfectly pairs with the strong sweet Vietnamese coffee that is the base . As I was enjoying my drink, I was fortunate enough to meet and have a brief chat with Daniel, one of the siblings who own the cafe. It was clear there is a lot of labor and love that went into the R&D of this establishment, I appreciate the sourcing of coffee beans directly from Vietnam. I will definitely be back to try many other items on their menu. Welcome to Berkeley Cafe Gara, well done!

Interior
Emily X.

I thought this place was going to have a small interior based on the outside but there's so much space that extends to the back! It's a perfect place for studying or work from home and it's located on Telegraph Ave. Ordering is straightforward on a self-serve kiosk. I got the basic viet coffee with pandan foam. I loved the coconut shreds on top and the taste of the coffee was strong. The pandan foam had a nice flavor and wasn't overpowering with the coffee. Also, the viet coffee wasn't too sweet! My boyfriend got the salted viet coffee, so I was able to try that too. I liked his drink better than mine because the saltiness brings out the coffee flavor and the foam added the right amount of creaminess. Overall, this place has a spacious interior and solid Vietnamese coffee. I would come back to try their food options and to try their other drinks.

Katherine Z.

Gara has quickly become one of my favorite cafes in Berkeley. As someone who spends a lot of time studying, I prioritize ample seating, plenty of outlets, and a cozy vibe. The cafe is spacious, cozy, and has a super chic aesthetic. Their lunch specials are also an amazing deal: wings + sweet potato fries for $11 or a banh mi + Vietnamese coffee for $14. For drinks, we got the salted coffee, ca phe sua da with black sesame foam, and fruit tea. The salted coffee is their most popular drink for a reason--I could drink it every day. Smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. I was also pleasantly surprised by the Fruit Tea, which came with basil seeds, lychee, jackfruit slices, mango syrup, and coconut water. It was incredibly light and refreshing, making it a perfect summer drink and one of the most underrated items on the menu. For food, we tried the crispy chicken tenders & pandan waffles, pork banh mi, and Nuoc Mam chicken wings with sweet potato fries. The clear standout was the chicken and waffles. The pandan waffles were drizzled with condensed milk and syrup, while the sweet chili glazed chicken added the perfect savory contrast. The wings were also fantastic, packed with flavor from the fish sauce glaze. As someone who's picky about sweet potato fries, I was happy to find these perfectly crispy rather than soggy. The banh mi was solid, and I appreciated the extra pickled daikon and carrots on the side, though the other dishes were more memorable. Between the amazing study vibes, great drinks, delicious food, and affordable lunch specials, Gara has earned a spot among my top Berkeley cafes. I'll definitely be back for another study session and a salted coffee. Too bad they close at 3PM, but if anything it motivates me to get my day started earlier!!

Salted Coffee (Iced only)
Emma N.

I got the large salted coffee, which was really delicious. The salted cream top was really good, and the coffee was really rich and had a tasty roasted flavor. This is my favorite coffee I've had, and I was really impressed. The interior is cute and spacious, and my drink was ready in 2 minutes.

Coffee
Charles Y.

Pretty solid cafe sua da, nice and strong. A little sweet so its good to do less sweet for a stronger coffee taste

Cute cup for the small coffee
Gabriel T.

Stopped by Cafe Gara and really enjoyed it. I had the cà phê sữa đá with black sesame cold foam, which was really good overall. Personally expected just a little more from the coffee itself, but the flavors still worked really well together. The ube snickerdoodle was absolutely delicious and easily one of the highlights. All the pastries in the case looked amazing, and the whole spot had a nice cozy feel to it. Definitely a place worth checking out if you're into creative drinks and good pastries. FYSA, it was very packed with college students on a Sunday afternoon so be prepared for a wait but the line tends to move fast. The cà phê sữa đá is made in a batch so those drinks will come out quickly.

Kathy V.

I always like to treat myself to a good coffee, and Yelp came through again when I was looking for a new spot. I stumbled upon Cafe Gara and it turned out to be quite a gem. I saw a fellow Yelper's review and immediately knew this place would be good and it didn't disappoint. I ordered the café sua with black sesame foam and oat milk, and it was so good. They also had panda mochi and an ube croissant, which were amazing. The space itself was very spacious and comfortable, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. I feel so lucky to have found this spot, and I'll definitely be going back again soon.

Matcha Latte w/ black sesame foam, oat milk ($8.50) + Cà Phê Sữa Đá w/ hōjicha foam ($8)
Cherylynn N.

3.5 STARS When it comes to coffee, Viets don't play. Cà Phê Sữa Đá is rocket fuel that will keep you pumped all day and all night like Jessie Spano: "I'm SO excited!!". Perfect for nearby UCB students... Three siblings started GA.RA as a Viet coffee pop-up in their garage and in February 2026, soft opened their first brick and mortar in Berkeley. GA.RA = garage in Vietnamese. Robusta beans are harvested from their uncle's farm in Vietnam and roasted in small batches in Sac. M E N U Drinks: Viet classics, espresso drinks, tea lattes, and mocktails - Foams: Matcha, ube, pandan, black sesame, and hōjicha - Alternative milks available - Sweetener: Simple syrup, agave, and another I can't remember Food: Pastries, cookies, yogurt, salads, bánh mì, cơm tấm (broken rice), wings, fries, and more. Self-serve water. Bus your own tables. D R I N K S * Matcha Latte w/ black sesame foam, oat milk ($8.50) - Request strong matcha flavor - Request lightly sweetened w/ agave I love my matcha lattes strong, and one of the owners was kind enough to accommodate that request. Unfortunately, the drink still tasted like iced milk, maybe it's the matcha they use. The black sesame foam was the highlight, rich and nutty. * Cà Phê Sữa Đá w/ hōjicha foam ($8) Not mine but I had a sip to taste - bold, sweet, and creamy with a roasty creaminess from the foam. S E R V I C E Friendly, upbeat staff. They're still working on their flow. My drink got lost in the mix so it took over 30 minutes to receive. They were very apologetic and gave us a voucher for a free drink on our next visit. A M B I A N C E Huge community cafe with ample seating, lounge area, outlets, and WiFi. Perfect for laptop campers or yap sessions. There's even a kid's area with toys. Multiple clean restrooms. Overall, GA.RA is a great spot for UCB students or to work remote. Hope they consider offering a decaf version of cà phê sữa đá for those that don't want to look like they're on booger sugar.

pandan chicken waffle

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Ask the Community - Cafe Gara

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Amazing, and I wish we had one of these shops back home in San Diego. I love the vast selection of…read moredrinks, including a seasonal menu with inspiration drawn from Palestine. We tried several of the specialty lattes and were into them all. Particularly memorable to me was the Jaffa Orange latte. I had to order a pourover here and loved the experience. The barista was very precise in brewing and explained a bit about the coffee before serving it to me in an elegant glass. I got the pink bourbon from Palestina, Colombia that had notes of pink lemonade and rhubarb. It was well brewed and tasty but my sense is that the beans for pourover could be roasted lighter to get more of the fruit flavor out. I was really looking for a juicier pourover and feel like they have the right bean and the right brewers, just need to roast the coffee a little differently. It's a bit nitpicky though, because honestly, it was the best pourover "experience" I've had in the Bay Area, by far. I think this is also one of the most beautiful coffee shops I've visited. The art is very thoughtful, and the shop is clean and organized. It feels cozy. I can't wait to come back here.

Lovely, brightly-lit, and cozy cafe. Beautiful murals throughout the store. Decent amount of…read moreseating and the baristas were all really friendly and patient. The menu is pretty extensive, and everything sounded so delicious. We settled on the "Blackberries in Napa" summer mocktail, which they were able to make with oat milk (although whipped cream was still made with regular). It was the perfect cold beverage for a hot day in Berkeley. Right mix of bitterness from the espresso, creaminess from the blackberry whip, sweetness (and the slightest pinch of earthiness) from the blackberry-sumac jam at the bottom, and refreshing from the mint leaf at the top. The dried black mulberries were a nice touch also. Would love to come back and try everything else and support this Palestinian-owned business more often!

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Service and baristas on bar were…read more Good coffee selection and always bringing in fresh flavors.

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1.9 mi•West Berkeley
•$$

This place is fairly nondescript in the side alley or accessible from the front through a…read moreclothing/gift store? That, however, shouldn't detract from the personalized experience you'd likely receive with how small the coffee bar is. If you're expecting something more permanent this coffee shop is more like a temporary coffee cart that has roots in the back corner of this gift shop On the whole this place despite the hidden location has folks very much eager to bring specialty coffee to anybody interested. They have a large selection of relatively high end coffee in the likes of Geisha from Panama and Ethiopian coffees. Additionally, they're the only place I've ever seen across the US that is showcasing any coffee grown in China which is nice to see as that allows more exploration into how the terroir affects the taste of coffee For my first time here I came with a small group of coffee enthusiasts so we tried a selection of their Alo Main Station (notes of Sweet Orange, Bergamont, and Peach Oolong Tea), Finca Santa Maria (notes of Cherry, Mango, and Berry Jam), and Lerida Loma Washed (notes of White Floral, Mandarin Orange, and Longan) Each cup was uniquely different from each other but arguably the most enjoyed was their cheapest option in the Alo Main Station at $9. Each cup seemed completely different and may seem pretentious to say but they did have sweeter notes that you'd be very unlikely to taste from your well known coffee chains. This place definitely caters to the coffee enthusiasts in a way where even my group wasn't quite near the level of but it had a great atmosphere, nice outdoor seating, and staff who were very passionate about their craft If anything, I would probably come back as they do elevate coffee for those who are unaware of coffee coming from China but that coffee doesn't need to taste bitter, burnt, or chocolatey. The cups here were more like tasting a mellowed fruit juice but it just happens to be coffee. That said, unless you are eager to try specialty coffee this place may seem overpriced as their pour overs are between $9 - $25 which heavily differs from most other coffee shops. Having Masterpiece provide a glimpse of the specialty coffee scene within the Bay Area is still a welcome blessing as it has a similar vibe to specialty coffee shops you'd experience in Asia

I'm old fashion and typically love a classic latte or black coffee but decided to be adventurous…read moreand try the Kuro. Since my husband was doing an iced Shiro, I went with a hot version of the Kuro. We both got whole milk rather than oat milk. While I loved both options the Kuro was definitely my favorite and did not disappoint. There's some seating options outside to enjoy your coffee and tons of vintage items to browse through inside while you wait for your coffee.

Photos
Masterpiece Coffee - Slow bar counter seating

Slow bar counter seating

Masterpiece Coffee - Kuro (barista recommends getting the Kuro iced & Shiro hot!)

Kuro (barista recommends getting the Kuro iced & Shiro hot!)

Masterpiece Coffee

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Cafe Gara - coffee - Updated November 2026

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