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Ah, I remember when this subterranean space was an outpost for La Capra, a once sleek FiDi espresso cafe, but they departed years ago. I'm familiar with elaichi from their Berkeley location where UC students treat the place like an off-campus study hall. Despite feeling like an outsider, I still enjoyed the $6 Karak Chai for the cardamom flavoring they put in their hot drinks, so it should come as no surprise that the Karak Chai was what I ordered here. It's a soothing mix of Assam black tea, whole milk, and freshly crushed green cardamom that tasted even more refreshing over ice (Photo 9). I even indulged myself with the $5.50 slice of Pistachio Loaf Cake (Photo 10). It had the density of a tea-time bundt cake infused and frosted with orange zest. It was a bit heavy but pretty good with the iced chai. Seating here was not at a Berkeley-level premium, though I still found myself in the tundra section of the patio. CHAI / FOOD - 4 stars...uniquely spicy chai, dense cake AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...decent space, crowded with local workers SERVICE - 4 stars...dutiful TOTAL - 4 stars...worth a visit for the chai RELATED - Exploring the eastern side of SoMa? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/hl4K98J-hY
Surprising find in SoMa for a chai-instead-of-coffee experience. Large modern windowed space with outdoor seating as well. Friendly staff eager to help with suggestions. I tried the recommended traditional and strong Karak Chai with regular sweetness and it hit the spot - strong with just the right spice and sweetness. The pastries looked enticing and intriguingly offered subtle south asian flavors. There was an imoressively steady stream of customers for a Tuesday afternoon so Elaichi obviously has a bit of a following!
I love the Berkeley location but it is so difficult to get a table there (curse you, Cal Bear students, for hogging tables! Which is what I would do if I were them slash if I was in college...) I camped out at Elaichi's new SF location for work and told people to meet me here! I bought them chai and baked goods for work. Wifi is fine here--love the password (justachaiguy, I think..) They had some good seasonal drinks including a banana chai einspanner. I also enjoyed my mango salt bread! There's some nice "outdoor" seating which is actually in the office building here. Nice walkable, bikeable, transit-able location near Moscone and the Yerba Buena Muni Metro station. Service is attentive, kind, and accommodating. I'll be back!
Have been to their Berkeley location many times and was excited to see them open in the city. Looks like they have a lot more food options at this location which is great. The iced Karak chai was excellent. I wish they offered an unsweetened version so I could adjust to my preferred level of sweetness but their default version is not overpoweringly sweet thankfully. The aloo paratha was a perfect little breakfast pick me up too. Nice space overall and we'll be back to try more things soon
I love that a chai place has opened up near me, I'll be here all the time!! It's so hard to find good chai in the city and it's great to see it's getting the same kind of love as coffee does! I've tried their Karak Oat Chai and the Iced Oat Chai and they both hit the spot! I'm usually skeptical about oat milk being used for chai and end up sacrificing and just getting usual dairy milk but decided to give oat milk a go here and glad it lived up to usual milk chai!! They also have many food items that look so enticing, I tried the Aloo Tikki roll and the Mango Salt Bread and they were both yum. Will be trying a new item every time I'm here. The seating is good, it does get packed on weekends but they also have seating outside which is usually available. Overall highly recommend checking this place out!
I was recommended the original elaichi co. in Berkeley at the beginning of 2025 by someone at an SF Social Club event when I mentioned I couldn't find any good chai in the city. That was one of the best recommendations I ever received. The chai at elaichi co. became my favorite overnight, and now I exclusively buy their chai. Nowhere else even comes close to comparing with elaichi's quality. Recently, I found out via my Yelp recommended for you page that elaichi co. opened a new location in SF, so of course I had to come check it out! I stepped out of the SF wind chill into the bright, welcoming café and was greeted by the nicest barista. It didn't take long to order, since the menu is straightforward with only one page. I got the dairy-free hot oat chai, which was ready within only a couple of minutes after ordering, and it was the perfect warming treat. I would've gotten an elaichi bun to go with it, but unsurprisingly, they sold out in the early afternoon. They're just THAT good from what I remember at the Berkeley location, so I can't wait to come back earlier in the day next time to get my hands on one.
I enjoy chai so was excited to see this new spot pop up after walking by. I went in on a whim and bought a bag of chai which came with a hot karak chai. I perused the selection and brought it to the counter. The barista was stone cold and looked like he didn't want to be there. He also seemed impatient. It was honestly a disappointing experience. The chai had a good balance of spice, milk, and sweetness. The cardamom really came through. This is perfect on a cold morning. It seemed like a great spot to catch up with friends or get some work done.
So glad I made it to the grand opening and opted for the oat chai. Delicious, creamy, and the cardamom was not overpowering. I really like that the dairy alternative did not compromise on taste. I am definitely looking forward to the next visit and trying their lattes along with the baked goods.
This. Is. Great! Instead of visiting towards the East Bay and into downtown Berkeley, I would definitely come to the second location of Elaichi in SoMa. And instead of coffee, how about some karak chai for San Franciscans who haven't yet set foot in Berkeley? Of course, there's same cardamom pastries, some karak chai blend pouches, and some more merchandise. And this brand spanking new café space is bigger than its former. Same service like before, but contactless payment as always. I first made it there for a good cup of oat chai followed by a pouch blend during the grand opening. Hope even the Yelp elites can finally set their sights here at Elaichi in SoMa! (ÒwÓ)b
As a chai lover I was so excited to see this cafe opening on Tik Tok. The space is beautiful and open. I enjoyed their seasonal banana chai, I think the banana came through just enough to still let the chai shine. I don't drink coffee so I did not miss it on the menu. The elaichi bun surprised me the most, it was probably my favorite part. It paired so well with the chai, I definitely recommend getting it warm.
Got to try the Elaichi bun, chocolate chip cookie, and pistachio cake from Elaichi. All on the more dry side and would go well with coffee, but I wouldn't recommend on their own. The cardamom flavor comes through pretty strong if you are one to like that.
Elaichi is part of downtowns new Vacant to Vibrant program located on 3rd St. Besides matcha, Chai is my second favorite tea choice and Elaichi delivers. Ordered their popular must try Karak chai, this classic chai features strong hints of cardamom. No sugared drinks passing as chai here! If you love chai or appreciate good tea, check out Elaichi!
Great Chai, Great Energy, Great Alternative to Coffee Rating: Elaichi Co was absolutely buzzing, even on a Sunday. The space was packed, and the energy from both the staff and customers made it feel lively and welcoming. We ordered the oat chai and the Elaichi Bun. The chai arrived piping hot, so it was definitely something to savor slowly, and the Elaichi Bun was flavorful and delicious. A couple of things to note: the noise level can get pretty high since sound tends to bounce around the space, and seating is limited, so we had to wait a few minutes for a table to open up. That said, it's very easy to get to via public transit or Waymo, and the overall experience was well worth it. If you're looking for a great alternative to coffee and some truly excellent chai, Elaichi Co is definitely worth a visit.
I've passed by this new cafe a few times and tried their oat and regular milk chai, both of which were pretty good. There's some seating inside and outside the cafe, so you can leisurely sip on your drink while watching city life pass by. 5/5 The review is mainly covering their iced banana chai einspanner. I customized it to have oat milk, which gave it a creamy texture. The drink was cardamom forward and moderately spiced. Banana cream lent a subtle flavor. All in all, this was a refreshing take on einspanner coffee, I'd recommend it to any banana enthusiasts and those wanting a slightly sweet caffeinated drink. read more
1 month ago
Happy to see another cafe in the area serving chai and pastries, with space to work or catch up with people! FOOD & DRINK // + Karak chai: I got a 12oz hot chai. Strongly spiced; not too sweet IMO. I think I like my chai a bit sweeter/creamier, but that's just my personal preference. It did go well with the sweet Elaichi bun. Very hot when first served! + Elaichi bun: fluffy brioche interior, lightly crispy exterior from the sugar(?) sprinkled on top, strong cardamon aroma. Highly recommend getting it warmed. SERVICE & AMBIANCE // Seating available inside: five two-person tables, about 10 bar counter seats, and two tables that look good for chatting but maybe not working on a laptop. Some people were on their laptops, others were chatting with each other, and one person appeared to be taking a nap in front of their laptop. The music was a nice vibe; not too loud to be distracting. It's an open kitchen area, so the staff's chatter is definitely audible, but they all sounded like they were having fun working there! The cafe is connected to a building lobby that has additional couches/seating and the building's restroom slightly down a hallway. Service was quick and friendly. CLOSING THOUGHTS // I plan to return again to try more of their other drinks and pastries next time; the kashmiri chai sounds good. I also haven't seen a chai einspanner at other cafes before, so I'm interested in trying that if it stays on the menu - it's currently listed as a seasonal drink. read more
Ah, I remember when this subterranean space was an outpost for La Capra, a once sleek FiDi espresso cafe, but they departed years ago. I'm familiar with elaichi from their Berkeley location where UC students treat the place like an off-campus study hall. Despite feeling like an outsider, I still enjoyed the $6 Karak Chai for the cardamom flavoring they put in their hot drinks, so it should come as no surprise that the Karak Chai was what I ordered here. It's a soothing mix of Assam black tea, whole milk, and freshly crushed green cardamom that tasted even more refreshing over ice (Photo 9). I even indulged myself with the $5.50 slice of Pistachio Loaf Cake (Photo 10). It had the density of a tea-time bundt cake infused and frosted with orange zest. It was a bit heavy but pretty good with the iced chai. Seating here was not at a Berkeley-level premium, though I still found myself in the tundra section of the patio. CHAI / FOOD - 4 stars...uniquely spicy chai, dense cake AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...decent space, crowded with local workers SERVICE - 4 stars...dutiful TOTAL - 4 stars...worth a visit for the chai RELATED - Exploring the eastern side of SoMa? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/hl4K98J-hY read more
3 days ago
Surprising find in SoMa for a chai-instead-of-coffee experience. Large modern windowed space with outdoor seating as well. Friendly staff eager to help with suggestions. I tried the recommended traditional and strong Karak Chai with regular sweetness and it hit the spot - strong with just the right spice and sweetness. The pastries looked enticing and intriguingly offered subtle south asian flavors. There was an imoressively steady stream of customers for a Tuesday afternoon so Elaichi obviously has a bit of a following! read more
I love the Berkeley location but it is so difficult to get a table there (curse you, Cal Bear students, for hogging tables! Which is what I would do if I were them slash if I was in college...) I camped out at Elaichi's new SF location for work and told people to meet me here! I bought them chai and baked goods for work. Wifi is fine here--love the password (justachaiguy, I think..) They had some good seasonal drinks including a banana chai einspanner. I also enjoyed my mango salt bread! There's some nice "outdoor" seating which is actually in the office building here. Nice walkable, bikeable, transit-able location near Moscone and the Yerba Buena Muni Metro station. Service is attentive, kind, and accommodating. I'll be back! read more
Have been to their Berkeley location many times and was excited to see them open in the city. Looks like they have a lot more food options at this location which is great. The iced Karak chai was excellent. I wish they offered an unsweetened version so I could adjust to my preferred level of sweetness but their default version is not overpoweringly sweet thankfully. The aloo paratha was a perfect little breakfast pick me up too. Nice space overall and we'll be back to try more things soon read more
3 months ago
I love that a chai place has opened up near me, I'll be here all the time!! It's so hard to find good chai in the city and it's great to see it's getting the same kind of love as coffee does! I've tried their Karak Oat Chai and the Iced Oat Chai and they both hit the spot! I'm usually skeptical about oat milk being used for chai and end up sacrificing and just getting usual dairy milk but decided to give oat milk a go here and glad it lived up to usual milk chai!! They also have many food items that look so enticing, I tried the Aloo Tikki roll and the Mango Salt Bread and they were both yum. Will be trying a new item every time I'm here. The seating is good, it does get packed on weekends but they also have seating outside which is usually available. Overall highly recommend checking this place out! read more
I was recommended the original elaichi co. in Berkeley at the beginning of 2025 by someone at an SF Social Club event when I mentioned I couldn't find any good chai in the city. That was one of the best recommendations I ever received. The chai at elaichi co. became my favorite overnight, and now I exclusively buy their chai. Nowhere else even comes close to comparing with elaichi's quality. Recently, I found out via my Yelp recommended for you page that elaichi co. opened a new location in SF, so of course I had to come check it out! I stepped out of the SF wind chill into the bright, welcoming café and was greeted by the nicest barista. It didn't take long to order, since the menu is straightforward with only one page. I got the dairy-free hot oat chai, which was ready within only a couple of minutes after ordering, and it was the perfect warming treat. I would've gotten an elaichi bun to go with it, but unsurprisingly, they sold out in the early afternoon. They're just THAT good from what I remember at the Berkeley location, so I can't wait to come back earlier in the day next time to get my hands on one. read more
I enjoy chai so was excited to see this new spot pop up after walking by. I went in on a whim and bought a bag of chai which came with a hot karak chai. I perused the selection and brought it to the counter. The barista was stone cold and looked like he didn't want to be there. He also seemed impatient. It was honestly a disappointing experience. The chai had a good balance of spice, milk, and sweetness. The cardamom really came through. This is perfect on a cold morning. It seemed like a great spot to catch up with friends or get some work done. read more
6 months ago
So glad I made it to the grand opening and opted for the oat chai. Delicious, creamy, and the cardamom was not overpowering. I really like that the dairy alternative did not compromise on taste. I am definitely looking forward to the next visit and trying their lattes along with the baked goods. read more
This. Is. Great! Instead of visiting towards the East Bay and into downtown Berkeley, I would definitely come to the second location of Elaichi in SoMa. And instead of coffee, how about some karak chai for San Franciscans who haven't yet set foot in Berkeley? Of course, there's same cardamom pastries, some karak chai blend pouches, and some more merchandise. And this brand spanking new café space is bigger than its former. Same service like before, but contactless payment as always. I first made it there for a good cup of oat chai followed by a pouch blend during the grand opening. Hope even the Yelp elites can finally set their sights here at Elaichi in SoMa! (ÒwÓ)b read more
As a chai lover I was so excited to see this cafe opening on Tik Tok. The space is beautiful and open. I enjoyed their seasonal banana chai, I think the banana came through just enough to still let the chai shine. I don't drink coffee so I did not miss it on the menu. The elaichi bun surprised me the most, it was probably my favorite part. It paired so well with the chai, I definitely recommend getting it warm. read more
Got to try the Elaichi bun, chocolate chip cookie, and pistachio cake from Elaichi. All on the more dry side and would go well with coffee, but I wouldn't recommend on their own. The cardamom flavor comes through pretty strong if you are one to like that. read more
Elaichi is part of downtowns new Vacant to Vibrant program located on 3rd St. Besides matcha, Chai is my second favorite tea choice and Elaichi delivers. Ordered their popular must try Karak chai, this classic chai features strong hints of cardamom. No sugared drinks passing as chai here! If you love chai or appreciate good tea, check out Elaichi! read more
4 months ago
Great Chai, Great Energy, Great Alternative to Coffee Rating: Elaichi Co was absolutely buzzing, even on a Sunday. The space was packed, and the energy from both the staff and customers made it feel lively and welcoming. We ordered the oat chai and the Elaichi Bun. The chai arrived piping hot, so it was definitely something to savor slowly, and the Elaichi Bun was flavorful and delicious. A couple of things to note: the noise level can get pretty high since sound tends to bounce around the space, and seating is limited, so we had to wait a few minutes for a table to open up. That said, it's very easy to get to via public transit or Waymo, and the overall experience was well worth it. If you're looking for a great alternative to coffee and some truly excellent chai, Elaichi Co is definitely worth a visit. read more
This Berkeley based chai spot has made it's way to SF! They have a menu of different chai options and pastries that pair so well together. The indoor seating is cute and fills up fast but the outdoor spots are just as cozy. They'll be having a grand opening event on May 2 so stop by and check them out then if you can. Service was very friendly! read more
the banana chai einspanner was amazing :") it kind of tasted like a creamy banana chai smoothie and you could taste the chai. you would love it if you like sweeter creamier chai! there's plenty of seating, free wifi, and merch as well read more
5 months ago
Really enjoyed my visit to Elaichi Co. in San Francisco. The space is beautiful and has a really welcoming vibe, the chai was genuinely excellent, and parking was surprisingly easy which made the whole experience even better. You can tell the ownership really cares about the experience they create for customers. Definitely a spot I'd come back to. read more
3 months ago
5 months ago
The space itself is really nice and cozy, and I was excited to try their chai because the smell of the cardamom and spices was amazing. Unfortunately, the drinks and desserts were just way too sweet for my taste. I ordered a 16 oz chai and honestly regretted getting the larger size because I could only drink about a quarter of it. I really wish they offered a "less sweet" option. I also tried the pistachio cake, but again it was extremely sugary and didn't really taste like pistachio at all. We only had a couple bites and couldn't finish it. On top of that, my drink was forgotten at first while the staff seemed distracted chatting, and I had to go back to the counter to remind them about my order. Once I mentioned it, they made it right away, but it was still disappointing. Overall, cute place and great aroma, but the sweetness level and service made the experience miss the mark for me. read more
3 months ago
2 months ago
5 months ago
the karak chai was amazing, they usually have a great selection of snacks but we went a bit late so they were out, much better than any other coffee shop, the lady at the front was super nice, and the vibe of the place makes it a great place to work, there are tons of outlets. also one of the few places with late service which is great! read more
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