The food was really great with generous portions! The service was very good and the wait was reasonable.

Absolutely love the interior design with all the flowers. I've been a couple times, and the servers have always been sweethearts. He saw us trying to take pictures of our drinks, and lined them all up for this photo. Came with a bunch of girlfriends for Galentines and our server gave us little bouquet magnets! Also came on my dad's bday and they had a big firecracker-like candle. My favorite appetizer is their mushroom salad; it comes with a bunch of mushrooms hidden in the middle, and the dressing is a little sweet. Did not enjoy their uni pasta as it was grainy. Loved their drinks as it was aesthetically pleasing. I got the Dawn Violet Ade and they made a show of it by pouring the butterfly pea which was pretty. Would come back on special occasions. read more

GIWA - Dawn Violet Ade and more - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Wow. So from the outside you could never tell that the interior is breathtaking. Beautiful floral and pink decor. Only complaint is that though the seating is beautiful, the tables are tiny and uncomfortable. A must try is the struggle egg salad sando. Also the French toast. The coffee was meh but my friend loved her ube latte. I want to bring my sister here but let's just say with the prices it's a special treat place unless you're making that tech money. read more

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I had my eye on GIWA for a minute... been wanting to check it out ever since I saw the place in person while chowing down next door at Master Oh's. Also the glowing reviews are always a good sign as well. However I still wasn't sure what to expect; my homegirl didn't care for the food and da wahine was a fan. "At GIWA, we offer a unique brunch experience by blending California style with Korean cuisine, using fresh, seasonal ingredients. More than just a dining spot, GIWA is an enchanting space adorned with curated flowers and plants, bringing elegance and vitality to your experience. Whether savoring coffee, indulging in dessert, or sharing conversations, GIWA offers a cozy yet sophisticated retreat. We also specialize in group reservations, private events, and catering, tailored to your unique vision." - https://giwadining.com/about Good size venue with a variety of themes. It's bigger inside than it looks. The venue also doubles as a Florist as well. https://giwadining.com/flower-shop Parking can be challenging over the weekend. I ended up parking across the street and walking over. Even the additional parking in the back was full! Staff was friendly and helpful, service was wonderful. We had the pleasure of being waited on by Esther. We didn't have any reservations, I do recommend a reservation, the place was packed. We got lucky and were able to get a seat with only a 5 min wait. #KoreanEats: NON COFFEE: ~ Uji Matcha Violet Cream Latte - 4.5/5 Very well balanced; brilliant Matcha Latte. Not too sweet or too bitter. umami, herb, and creamy lavender | Ice only. ~ Rose Mirage Ade - 5/5 I love Rose flavor. This was one amazing drink, well balanced flavors with the right amount of sweetness. I wish this was cocktail. Rose, lychee, and lemon. GIWA MAIN DISHES: ~ Korean Pork Cutlet - 4.5/5 Generous portions. a perfectly crispy Pork cutlets served with cabbage salad, creamy macaroni, steamed rice, and house-made Tonkatsu sauce. Also came with a soup. make sure you are hungry! NOODLE & RICE: ~ Seoul Seafood Pasta - 5/5 That sauce tho... I would put that sauce on everything! Spaghetti in spicy tomato sauce made with rich seafood stock, with clams and shrimp. Delish! NEW MENU SPECIALS: ~ Creamy Uni & Tobiko Rice Pot - 5/5 A very unique dish; Flavor galore! Creamy, Umami, Savoury, crispy and hearty at the same time. Don't forget the Crispy rice on the bottom, it's the best part! We didn't finish everything, since it was a decent amount of food. Once Esther learned it was my birthday meal. She told me she'll prepare something for me! *‿* A few minutes later she came by with a Crown a fireworks candle and some Souffle Pancakes! happy belated to me! Mahalo Esther! She even asked me if I wanted that the birthday song... No thank!!! GIWA Dessert: ~ Souffle Pancake - 4/5 Soft and jiggly, cloud-like texture; Japanese-style pancake, airy inside and golden outside topped Madagascar Vanilla Cream. A very pleasant experience... I'll be back! read more

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Giwa definitely lived up to all the hype it's been getting lately. We stopped by for brunch on a weekend. Parking was a bit difficult as the whole plaza was packed and surrounding parking is blocked off for the other businesses. I would recommend coming early to find parking. Service was nice and accommodating as we had to roll in a baby stroller but the team made it easy to get seated. We ordered a bunch of different plates to share and would also recommend doing this to try as many things as you can. I'd definitely come back for the katsu and yuzu salmon croissant. read more

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This place has been on my must try list for a while, and let me tell you why I give it 3 stars. Ambiance: its actually really beautiful in here, very instagram and trendy vibes if you want to come here with some girlies for a cute brunch spot with aesthetically pleasing dishes. BUT please note, on 4/16/26 there was an inspection by the health department and noted cockroaches in the kitchen and also in the dining area... I ate here a 4 days before the inspection report came out, so i am docking a star from this not knowing if my food was cooked near questionable sightings. Food: pricey, but taste wise is not bad. I got the golden chicken and croffle and this was actually good. the chicken was huge and the portions were generous. the croffle was flakey and thick, paired with fruits and their syrup. Also uni pasta was good, sauce was thick and umami. the flavors were there but this dish was $34, so a bit on the pricey end Souffle Pancake: $15 each, quite pricey for the size, but these resemble the japanese fluffy pancakes. I got to try the regular one with fruits, and then the one with matcha cream. This was a good try, but not sure if I would order again! Overall not a bad experience, except for the inspection report from the health department read more

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Really popular spot, the line moves fast and the service is very attentive. It's on the higher price side. Really nice interior. The uni pasta was good, and the uni itself was solid quality. The scallops were a miss. They tasted frozen and had a less appealing texture and flavor. The French toast was a highlight. Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and the salty butter paired really well with the sweet dip, though we didn't need nearly that much butter. One note on timing. The pasta came out about 15 minutes before the French toast. If you are sharing it works, but otherwise one dish might get cold or you finish one well before the other arrives. read more

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Saw all the hype for this place so came on a Saturday around 2:30, the wait was about 30ish minutes even though we were second in line. But not bad because I just went next door to the bakery and got some salt bread. Anyway I shared a bunch of items with my friends, the matcha souffle pancake, sausage omurice, uni pasta and black sesame french toast. Souffle pancake was okay it was mildly fluffy and not too sweet but didn't have much of a wow factor. I've definitely had others before and the matcha wasn't too crazy either. I would probably not get this again. Sausage omurice was good but mostly tasted like barbecue sauce. Also wasn't too wowed by this dish. Now we get into the good stuff. Uni pasta was very very cream and super flavorful, I couldn't decide if this is my favorite or not. I typically don't love uni but I felt like it went beyond just uni seafood flavor, the garlic, the sauce was just perfection. Black sesame french toast was not what i imagined. I thought it was gonna be another overly sweet toast but it was the perfect amount of sweetness and had the nuttiness from the black sesame! It was crunchy from being fried but soft and gooey on the inside. It was also very unique!! read more

GIWA - Sausage omurice and uni pasta - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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2nd visit this time, and I think most of the dishes were 3/5 or worse. And despite it being dinner, which is not their forte, they tried kicking us out 1.5 hours into our dinner despite the waiter disappearing for a long while. At 1.25 hours into our dinner, he just interrupted to tell us that 2 people were going to sit at the end of our table. This is NOT the type of establishment where you expect that you'll need to suddenly share your private table with 2 others. When he told us we needed to leave, we were already sitting around waiting for the check. He could have just brought it, but instead, he told us "were coming up on time" and "sorry but we did tell you you had a 90 minute limit." Actually no, it doesn't say that when you reserve via Yelp, AND I called twice to adjust the reservation and they didn't mention it then, either. Also, online it said their corkage is free, but they charged us $30 AND never poured the wine for us. The food was 3/5, service was 1/5. In total, it's still 2/5 for dinner. Don't bother. read more

I came to Giwa for a birthday brunch with some girls, and I felt so taken care of during the whole experience! The servers were so friendly and attentive. I especially want to give a special shout out to Jason for making my birthday so special with the mimosas for my girls! The whole vibe was so romantic, perfect for any celebration. Food was absolutely amazing and came out quickly as well. We loved the omurice, which was perfectly savory and tangy with a hint of ketchup. The katsu was crispy and delicious, too. Highly recommend both items! read more

GIWA - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

I came here Mother's Day weekend and was happily satisfied with all parts of my experience here. I'll tell you why. Aesthetically looking places are popular but often lack flavorful filling meals. That is not the case here. My SO and I came before the crowds and were seated right away. We got our menus and were ask to order on the kiosk in front of us. It being my first visit I had no idea what to go for but a girl loves a good steak so I went for Jeremy's Steak and the Creme Brûlée French Toast and my SO went for the Korean Beef Galbi Platter. I also ordered an Einspanner latte. Everything came out as it was ready. My SO enjoyed his Galbi platter and was full after eating most of it. My steak was prepared how I ordered it and was delicious with the green sauce that came with it. I'm glad it was on the side and not on top of the steak in case it wasn't a flavor match for me. The steak had good flavor and was infused with the rosemary. The rosemary really overpowered the steak so that was not a flavor profile for me. The potato's were crispy and delicious with ketchup and hot sauce. The corn was a nice touch. Good flavor and a unique addition to the dish. It was very filling. I almost didn't have space for the French toast so but I make space because I always like something sweet. The French toast was fluffy and delicious. Fresh fruit and the cinnamon syrup just added to the overall sweet and flavorful treat. My coffee was also flavorful and creamy. The food was hot and freshly made. The space is beautiful. I love how it was put together. The service was good as they were alert to refill our waters and bring whatever we needed. The staff were attentive and welcoming. Menu had something for everyone. I definitely would return again and explore other menu items,drinks, and flowers. read more

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Giwa lives up to its reputation with its breathtaking decor. As you settle into your table, you'll be captivated by the stunning floral arrangements, ombre pink curtains, and elegant chandeliers that adorn the restaurant. However, our experience fell short in terms of service and food. We were disappointed to find that many of the items we had hoped to order, such as the highly-rated Dutch Baby, were unavailable on a weekday. The menu had been significantly reduced, leaving us regretting our decision to dine there. We overheard another table excuse themselves before ordering, suggesting they had forgotten their other plans. It seemed like they shared our disappointment. The service was also lackluster, and we felt the servers were indifferent to us. They took our drink orders and then handed us a tablet to place our food orders, but that was the extent of their attention. They didn't bother to ask us if we had any questions about the menu or anything else. To add to our frustration, our food arrived much later than expected, even though the restaurant was not nearly full. My daughter's Creme Brulee French Toast came out first, but my Croque Madam was delayed by at least 10-15 minutes. This was particularly disappointing. The food was well presented, but the portions are on the smaller size, probably insufficient to fill someone with a hearty appetite. My daughter even left some of her Creme Brulee French Toast as she said it had an "eggy" taste. So for us, this visit was a bit of a miss. read more

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The decor and ambience is excellent. There is a lot of floral decoration in the front. The restaurant is open, spacious and bright. This place serves Korean-American fusion dishes. Their food is not only pretty, they're also good. Their drinks are very colorful and exellent. Everything is made for pictures and are instagram-worthy. The dishes that stand out are Golden Chicken & Croffle and the Mixed Berries Souffle Pancake. They are both delicious and excellent. Will definitely order them again. Pretry much we ordered: - Egg Benedict with Yuzu Smoked Salmon Croissant - Lemon Garlic Lobster Pasta - Golden Chicken & Croffle - Southern Sunrise Scramble - Mixed Berries Souffle Pancake - Crème Brûlée French Toast - Einspanner Latte - Strawberry Matcha Latte - Uji Matcha Violet Cream Latte Parking is tight with a small parking lot shared by other restaurants and bakery. Luckily you can park on the parking.. Removing a star because as soon as we sat down, the waiter came 3 times within 10 mins to rush us to order. Please give us a break to read the menu, especially for first timer. Feel like they're rushing us to eat and want us to get out of there, so that they can sit another party. It's really annoying. We just want relax, figure out what to order and enjoy, but unfortunately they kept rushing us. read more

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Came here for a Sunday lunch. Called in advance to see how long the wait was since we had a big party of 12 and was told the wait was about 40 minutes, which wasn't too bad. Our party headed out there and waited. Time passed by and we moved up the list, but by this time it was about 1:30pm, where we waited a bit over an hour. We checked multiple times on our place in line was told we were soon. There is a bakery next door and eventually we were in line for the salt bread that came out at 2pm! We were told the table was finishing up and was dwelling, but we were able to order our food in advance so that when we were seated, it'll come out quickly. The owner came out and apologize for the wait and offered us a free drink on the house. She saw that we were celebrating a birthday and made it special by making us somaek (beer + soju), which she mentioned that she does not do during brunch time and only dinner, as the brunch atmosphere was more elegant. She made it very lively for us and suddenly we all forgot how long we waited and was enjoying a good time. Onto the food -- Everything we had was delicious. I ordered the Ebi Shrimp with Egg Salad Omurice and it was a good size portion for a person. I also got to try the uni pasta, which was nice and creamy. A friend got the souffle pancake and it was nice and fluffy and sweet. Overall, we had a great time and forgot how long we waited. Food was delicious and we cannot wait to come back for the dinner menu. I highly recommend reservations though for large parties. There is parking in the front and back for those who cannot find parking, otherwise there's a bunch of street parking a block down. read more

GIWA - Ebi shrimp with egg salad omurice - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Came here on a weekend for brunch with the girls. The parking lot was full and they had a guy directing us where to park. Once inside, there was a waitlist. I think we waited half an hour or so? There's a flower shop inside that you can take photos in while you wait, very cute! You order through the kiosk and the entire place is very cutesy and got great vibes. I had the rose mirage ade, which was fun in that it changes colors. Quite sweet though. My friend had the ube latte, which she liked. We split the black truffle sando, pork sausage omurice, and creme brulee french toast. Everything was really good and the right amount of food for the three of us. My favorite was the french toast, due to my sweet tooth. Service was friendly and prompt. Would come again! read more

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I had higher expectations given the great reviews. The decor was just fine - kind of flowery since they sell flowers (!), but pleasant. The service was disappointing in the sense that the food took a long time to arrive (more than half an hour) and my dish came significantly later than my wife's, which just throw off the meal because either you're keeping the other person waiting while you eat alone, or you're rushing to eat your meal so it's not very relaxing. While I don't think meals need to arrive exactly at the same time, they should really come within 5 minutes of each other. My disappointment was also on the food itself, which (to me) was just average. I do normally like bulgogi very much, but this just wasn't special in any way. The bell peppers were a little soggy, the meat wasn't very flavorful. It was fairly expensive for what it was, and there just wasn't that compelling flavor that comes with the best versions of your favorite dishes that makes you want to eat the whole thing with enthusiasm. The drink, though also expensive, was actually quite good though, but not enough to make up for the rest of the experience. Personally, I wouldn't really come here again on my own, though if a group really wanted to, I'd tag along. read more

GIWA - Inside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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We decided to stop by for brunch here before heading to Great America, and I'm so glad we did! The place is absolutely adorable--honestly one of the cutest brunch spots I've ever dined in. The ambiance alone already made the experience special. I ordered the basic platter to share with my 3-year-old son, and it turned out to be more than enough. Everything on it was delicious--from the buttery croissant to the savory sausage, crispy potatoes, and beans. It was simple but done really well. I also tried the chicken and waffle, which was good, and I really appreciated how nicely everything was presented. The highlight for me was the soufflé with mixed berries--so light, flavorful, and just perfect. Definitely a must-try! The only downside was the long line. It gets pretty busy, so I highly recommend coming early before you get too hungry. Overall, such a lovely brunch experience and totally worth it! read more

GIWA - The Basic Platter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

WOW. Such a picturesque and inviting atmosphere! Best part is? You can have brunch all day AND purchase flowers! We walked in not knowing what to expect but were quickly and kindly greeted by staff and seated. The menu is expansive and everything sounded so good. The Pandan latte was light in flavor (didn't taste too much coconut) and the Biscoff latte looked pleasing - my friend enjoyed her drink! We limited our options to the uni pasta and the Korean pork cutlet. The pasta was al dente (PERFECT!) and it was very creamy. How my friend put it, which was extremely accurate, it tasted like the sea. It wasn't bad! But it tasted just as it sounds, and it was creamy. The pork cutlet was super crispy, and I loved the macaroni salad that came along with it. While we wanted to move onto dessert, we didn't have room :( which is why it's incentive to be back next time to try it all! read more

GIWA - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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3.5 We can't bring your own cake. Why dont you charge cake cutting fees? Service: you get special firework candles for birthday celebrations which I love Food is good. Too restrictive for reservations time to be 5pm or 7:30pm even on Sunday read more

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GIWA in Santa Clara was such a great spot to celebrate my birthday. It's a newer place I saw on TikTok, and my cousin suggested we come here for a birthday lunch together. I'm really glad we did because it definitely did not disappoint. The space is beautiful inside, from the decor to the overall atmosphere. Everything felt thoughtfully designed and made the experience feel a little more special. The worker we had was amazing, super helpful and patient while we were trying to decide what to order, which I really appreciated since the menu has a lot of good options. We ordered the Crème Brûlée French Toast, Lemon Garlic Lobster Pasta, Creamy Uni Pasta, and the Kurobuta Pork Sausage & Truffle Honey Egg Sando, and everything was honestly so good. The French toast was rich and satisfying, the lobster pasta had a nice balance of flavor, and the uni pasta was creamy and indulgent without being too overwhelming. The egg sando was also really good and something a little different that everyone enjoyed. It is on the pricier side, but for the quality, portions, and overall experience, I didn't mind it. We shared everything between about 7-8 people, and everyone left feeling full, which says a lot. I do wish I had gotten a drink since it was my 21st birthday, but that just gives me another reason to come back next time I'm in town. Overall, it's a really nice spot for a special occasion, and I'd definitely return. read more

GIWA - Kurobuta pork sausage & Truffle Honey Egg Sando - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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GIWA gets a solid 3 stars from me! This place is clearly popular -- so much so that our brunch reservation turned into a 3 PM seating due to our party size of 6. Even with the delay, it still felt like the perfect spot to celebrate our cousin asking her friends and family to be part of her bridal team. The staff was very attentive and stayed on top of everything. Drinks came out quickly, and the food followed at a pretty good pace considering how busy they were. Now for the honest part -- while everyone else in my group really enjoyed their meals, the food just didn't quite hit for me personally. I ordered the loco moco, and while the presentation was beautiful, the flavor was a bit off for my taste. My husband ordered the spaghetti... and as an Italian, that's already a no for me lol. That said, I would absolutely come back for the ambiance, drinks, and the super cute photo area they have -- it's such a fun touch and perfect for special moments like ours. Even though the food wasn't my favorite, the overall experience and vibe definitely make it worth visiting. read more

GIWA - Spaghetti - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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The restaurant was beautiful, full of flowers and aesthetics. Unfortunately, service and food both left some things to be desired. We made a reservation for 5:15pm, when we arrived, the host was not at the station and all the staff that passed by just looked at us and walked away. The entrance was filled with groups waiting for the host to come. The person who took care of us was nice, however, either the restaurant was understaffed or the staff simply move around with no sense of urgency, we were given a tablet and we decided to use that instead of waiting around to place an order. Food came out suspiciously fast - I'm just gonna leave that here. The seafood pasta was extremely salty and the lobster was overcooked - it struggled to get out of its shell. The Uni pasta was not very hot, and while there's not something wrong, it also didn't leave an impression except for it got a bit sickly at the end. The cheesy stuffed hamburg was ridiculously small for a $31 entrée. The potato purée and the gravy were both extremely thin and there was no visible cheese inside of the hamburg steak. The best thing was the prime rib - the glaze on it was on the sweeter side but yummy nonetheless. Overall, unfortunately, it was style over substance and I don't believe that I'll be returning. read more

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4 stars for the dining experience, but -1 star for the parking headache you'll experience if going at peak times. PARKING: Shares parking lot with 3 other businesses. Some people risked it and either made their own parking lane in the front lot behind the actual spots where there was ample space or they risked it parking in the adjacent lot that had signs everywhere saying it was for their business only. There's another lot in the back, but it was also full at the time. Just make sure you allot some time to wait for parking. ENTRANCE: Once you walk in it's visually and aesthetically appealing! They also have 1/4th of the restaurant space dedicated to their floral arrangements that you can peruse while you wait. It's cute but the prices are not cheap. FOOD: - Egg Benedict with Yuzu Smoked Salmon Croissant: Not too salty, good taste overall. Appreciate the whole croissant. Unfortunately no runny egg moment as it was cooked through fully:( Arugula salad was not bitter. - Lemon Garlic Lobster Pasta + Scallops: Scallops were cooked well, but an addition that is unnecessary unless you really want it. Wished I tasted more lemon. Garlic wasn't too overpowering. Lobster was delicious! Good serving size. - Soufflé Pancake with Madagascar Vanilla Cream: TIP- order this at the beginning because it has a 30 min prep time* This was my favorite dish. Great taste, beautifully balanced with the Madagascar vanilla cream. I'd order it again, highly recommend! DRINKS: - Biscoff Cream Latte w/Oat Milk + 2 espresso shots: super yummy but it obviously is a sweet drink. Kudos to our waiter for asking the barista if they could modify it by adding more espresso shots. Solid barista skill. Loved the biscoff cookie in it. I'd also order this again! - Madagascar Vanilla Latte w/Oat Milk: Vanilla flavor wasn't too strong. Compared to the Madagascar vanilla soufflé pancake...I couldn't tell this was specifically Madagascar and just regular vanilla if that makes sense. 3/5, nothing special, but it's exactly what it is. OVERALL: I highly recommend this place. It's beautiful, service was great (and busy, as it should be), food and drinks were good and I still have some other plates I'd like to try. Just be aware of the parking situation. Great for dates or large groups- make sure to book your reservation if possible! read more

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We had a great time celebrating a joint birthday here! We ordered: *Jeju Young Tangerine Tea Pot *Espresso Soju Martini *Yuzu Ginger Mule *Gochujang Glazed Bossam *Creamy Uni Pasta *Korean Pork Cutlet *Korean Fried Chicken *LA Galbi Omurice The bossam is served table side. All the dishes were good, the Uni Pasta was our favorite. Service was good, our server made made sure to check on us and refill our drinks. We enjoyed the complimentary souffle pancakes for celebrating our birthdays here. read more

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Giwa is a beautiful restaurant, filled with floral decorations and high energy. Staff here are friendly and attentive. I came here on a Saturday with a good friend, and I was on the waitlist for 20 minutes until I got seated. They utilize the Yelp Waitlist, and there is a staff who checks the waitlist periodically. We got the Chicken and Waffles, and the Creme Brûlée French Toast. We also ordered a Matcha Cream Latte and Vanilla Iced Latte. The heart shaped straws are very cute! Parking is challenging, but the food is worth the wait! I will be coming back. read more

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Been here 2 times and enjoyed both visits. New popular spot for Korean brunch/ dinner fusion. I would say I like their dinner menu a little more. Well executed and lovely aesthetic presentation. Emiliano is always so helpful and nice. For brunch, I got the eggs Benedict with smoked salmon & pandan latte w/ oat milk. I wished my potatoes were crispier. I didn't feel so heavy after eating my croissant dish. My friends all seem to enjoy their dishes. Have to go back to try their omurice fried rice. My friend raved about it. For dinner, my friend and I ordered a lot of items to try! la galbi omurice -- 9/10 cheese lava burger -- messy but good 9/10 seoul seafood pasta -- packed with flavor! 8.7/10 creamy uni pasta -- if you like uni it's rich and creamy 8/10 giwa prime long rib -- big portion! Eat it with the omurice cause it does get salty. 8/10 black sesame latte -- loved it uji matcha cream latte -- decent mango mimosas x2 -- cheers!! This place is such a cute spot for girls date, large parties, and also family kid friendly. I can't wait to go back with my friends! read more

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Korean fusion, cute spot, what more can you ask for? Good service. I think that this place is Instagrammable to the T, but the service here is just ugh! I did not really feel welcomed, aside from the mandatory greeting at the door. Once we sat down, our sever poured us water and didn't say anything. No introduction, no nothing. After what seemed like forever, he finally came back to us so we could order. And it just went slowly downhill. My biggest issue is that everything came out at once.. and out of order. We got one drink (we ordered two), the first appetizer, then our three main courses, and then our last appetizer all within 5 minutes. And finally our last drink. Not to mention the small table and gargantuan plates. I understand that we ordered everything at once, but is it so crazy to assume that it would have been coursed out without having to tell them to course it out? We were served a potato leek soup, which we did not know was part of the entree, since the person who brought it out did not say anything, nor did we have any plates or bowls for sharing. Was a bit confused by this. Food, however, I thought was really good. Everything was fresh, uni pasta wasn't fishy, Wagyu was cooked perfectly. Molten cheese tonkatsu was big and juicy. Back of house knows that they're doing. Front of house, not so much. For $200 for 2 people, I would expect more attentiveness and warmth. We had to hand our empty plates to staff walking by, which itself is not an issue, but the fact that there was no awareness... As a side note, I think the tablets at the table (which not every table has) takes away from the beautiful interior, an eyesore really. Would I come back? Maybe. But the service was just so mediocre. It was a turn off really. I've been seeing it all over my feed and I want to love it, but the service was just sad. Might come back for brunch, hopefully the vibes are better then. TLDR: Service: 5/10 Food 10/10 Overall: 7.5/10 read more

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If you're looking for one of the cutest brunch spots in the Bay Area, Giwa definitely fits that nicely. The place is covered in flowers and soft, dreamy decor, which basically is engineered to make you feel like you accidentally walked onto a fun Pinterest board. The food and drinks lean heavily into the aesthetic too. Everything is colorful, neatly plated, and extremely photogenic as if it was designed with being photographed in mind before flavor even entered the conversation. Even the menu is super visual, which makes ordering feel a bit like flipping through an Instagram feed. There's also a drink bar that runs like a mini Starbucks, where baristas are constantly pumping out drinks. It's efficient, but also adds to the whole experience. And then there's the crowd. At one point, it felt like everyone was in the middle of a photoshoot with their phones out, angles being tested, drinks being rotated for optimal lighting. It's not just that people take pictures here; it's that the entire place seems built for that exact purpose. Less "casual brunch," more "live content production set." Overall, Giwa is fun if you're in the mood for good food and don't mind dining in what feels like a TikTok backdrop. Just know you might leave with more secondhand screen time than actual conversation. I'm guilty of this for the benefit of Yelp sharing. One note about parking. The parking lot near the restaurant can get packed and tight. Best to park on the streets if you can, just to avoid any issues with your car getting scratched or dented. read more

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GIWA is located in the plaza next to Milldang (bakery) and Mister Oh's. The parking lot gets really packed so you'll likely find yourself parking on the street or in the neighborhood. They work on the Yelp waitlist system but it gets a little hectic at the entrance with people waiting for their tables and people waiting to put their names on the list. There's also a floral shop within the restaurant behind the "check in" counter. I wish they were a bit more organized because there was no one behind the counter. A staff member was bouncing between checking people in and bringing tables their tabs. At first glance this place seems very "here for the vibes and photos" so I was skeptical about their food but they proved me wrong! What was ordered: + Creamy uni pasta - this was our party's favorite dish. The pasta was cooked well, perfectly al dente, and the sauce was packed with umami flavor. + Yukon potatoes - we ordered this as a side and it was roasted well as it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. + Hash brown - also ordered as a side and fried equally well, crispy with a good potato ratio as it was a fluffy hash brown! Think double the fluffiness of a McDonald's hash brown without the oozing of oils. + Korean pork cutlet - the pork was still pretty tender and it had crispy breading but sauce was a bit odd to me as it was on the sweeter side and had a gravy-like consistency. + Golden chicken & croffle - I'm pretty sure they used dark meat for this dish and it was delicious! I wasn't a huge fan of the croffle but the chicken was great and had a sweetness to it. The service was decent. We ordered on an iPad and the food was brought out fairly quickly. There wasn't much interaction with the servers aside from the food coming to our table and us asking for the check. Would come again, especially for the uni pasta! read more

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First time here it's like Asian fusion brunch restaurant. You have all the classics of brunch items but with an Asian twist. You can also buy bouquets here. It's very pretty inside with lots of floral decorations. They have high chairs available and the tables are nicely spaced apart so you can bring in a stroller if necessary. fluffy pancakes "sold out" on the ipad but I saw a table that came way after us served with the pancakes. chicken waffle -wasn't too bad, a bit too much breading though Korean palace benedict -delicious but the bread was a bit like a flat croissant. loco moco with rice Ok, patty wasn't juicy HK style black sesame french toast -ok but a surprisingly salty even with the creamy syrup drinks They have so many caffeinated and decaffeinated drinks including ube/matcha latte, black sesame, pandan espresso etc. -all tasty and not too sweet ambience -very instagramable with lots of floral decorations -great to go with girlfriends, birthday celebrations etc but pretty loud inside long wait during peak time especially for large groups like most restaurants read more

Came here for an early lunch on Monday with my husband. They're already pretty busy a little after 11am. Parking in the front was full, but they still have quite a few spots available at the back. We're seated promptly at one of the tables against the wall. The table was a 2-top directly next to another 2-top, arranged kind of like a 4-top. I wished there're was at least a small gap between the two 2-tops. The place was beautiful. Since it's also a flower shop, there're fresh flowers everywhere. Service was friendly. Our drinks came quickly. I ordered a hot black sesame latte, which looked wonderful. I could smell the nice black sesame aroma as soon as I brought the mug close to my mouth. Even though the black sesame taste wasn't as strong as the smell, there's still a decent amount of black sesame. It was creamy and nutty, and I had to stir my drink a couple times while I was enjoying it to make sure the black sesame didn't deposit at the bottom. It would have been perfect if the drink was more hot. My husband's iced ube uji matcha cream latte looked pretty and he enjoyed it as well. On the other hand, our entrees didn't come together and they took way too long, long after we already finished our drinks! My uni pasta arrived after 30+ minutes since we ordered, and my husband's classic bulgogi took another 10 minutes. Since we're trying to catch a movie right after lunch, my husband had to wolf down his piping hot dish, and couldn't fully savor it. Anyway, I liked my uni pasta a lot. The uni on top was fresh, cold, and refreshing. The sauce was cheesy, creamy and really delicious. Would love to come back, when we're not in a time crunch, to try other drinks and dishes, especially their soufflé pancakes. read more

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[Food] - Busan Rosè Tteokbokki ($23): A delicious mild spicy and creamy rice cakes and fish cakes. I quite liked this because the flavor isn't too heavy. - Fried Calamari ($17): Slightly crunchy with 2 savory sauces, one tomato and one tartare based. Decent to try once but I don't think I'd order it again. - Creamy Uni Pasta ($34) added scallops (+$8): A blend of fresh sea urchin and white wine folded into Uni cream sauce, garnished with crisp nori. I tried some of my bf's and it definitely is yummy but I personally wouldn't be able to eat the whole thing myself since it does get heavy after a few bites. - Seoul Seafood Pasta ($38): The spicy tomato sauce tasted amazing because of the seafood stock they added. Clams, mussels, shrimp were all cooked perfectly. Love dipping the fresh crunchy baguettes into the sauce and topping it with seafood! Would order again! [Service] - Attentive, friendly, helpful - Shout out to Bella for being an awesome host! [Ambiance] - Pretty, casual, and fun - They also have a floral shop inside [Overall] - Would love to come back especially for their Seoul Seafood Pasta and to try their other dishes! read more

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Fried chicken was very good. Definitely a place for taking photos. The egg dish was meh with small sausages. Rice was ok. Coffee drinks were also good. The food does not stand out but the service was professional and friendly. Lot parking can be a challenge. read more

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Oh my goodness I've been here on two separate occasions now and I love this place first. I came here for Valentine's Day dinner and another time for brunch if possible I do recommend getting a reservation but for the brunch occasion I waited probably 45 minutes for a table of five on a Saturday without a reservation. The inside is SUPER cute with floral decor all over. They even have a section to do DIY bouquets/custom order. Brunch Black sesame latte +espresso- 5* sooo good and creamy. Not too sweet and nice amount of black sesame flavor. Better than some other black sesame lattes i've had in other cafes but it did take some time for it to come Uni pasta - 5* also amazing! Creamy garlicky Uni sauce over perfectly cooked spaghetti. Honestly had a lot of Asian pasta places. I worry about them over cooking the pasta, but this was perfect. It had just enough sauce and rich seafood flavor too and cheese Creme brûlée French toast- 3* the flavors were those were good but I kind of hoped for something crunchy. It was reminiscent of a cinnamon roll but more custard . Maybe im just not a big fan of sweets, everyone else seemed to really like it. Dinner Seoul seafood pasta-4.5* this was good and had some nice spicy kick and LOTS of seafood. It had nice depth of flavor and kept me wanting more. Not too heavy. I probably could've licked the plate. Bossam wraps- 3.5/5*- I thought the flavors on this were really unique. We had some vietnamese nuoc mam sauce, korean ssam jang, and also another one. -1* for the texture because for sous-vide meat I'd expect it to be a lot more tender, and also I actually prefer the traditional bossam with a bit more bite. This was like lukewarm in the middle, not tender enough, but also not enough bounce. Food was incredible, service could be a bit better, you can order on the tablets, but the waiters were so busy and didn't refill our water. read more

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We recently came for Friday lunch with a group of 10 and had a table to ourselves. Once our entire party was present, we were seated with little wait. We were given 2 iPads to order from, which I think is a new system since the last time I came more than half a year ago. Staff was very friendly, attentive and quick. Bc of the size of our party and some of the group ordered soufflé pancakes, the food did come at different times but that was all good, bc we were able to share. Food looked fantastic and tasted pretty great too! I ordered the creamy uni pasta, which came with a thinner sauce than I remember but I think was better for the entire dish (I didn't feel like I over-ate and didn't feel like I was overwhelmed by too much creaminess/oiliness). I also took a few bites of the eggs Benedict with yuzu smoked salmon and that was delicious! I think I would order that next time. We had a great time and would come again! read more

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Giwa's cuisine now tastes like mediocrity. Be warned that the quality took a massive fall since their soft opening a year ago. I was once blown away by the quality and presentation of the food. I'm sad to say that present-day Giwa is a shadow of its former self. I used to recommend this place, but I no longer can. In the past two weeks, I've tried the tangerine tea, napolitan pasta, loaded burger, yuzu salmon benedict, chicken and waffle, and omurice. The benedict in particular is much worse than it used to be. The burger is extraordinarily average, and the napolitan pasta tasted like a ready-to-eat TV dinner. It's sad that Giwa seems to have relied on its old reputation and stopped caring about maintaining quality. With so much demand, I suppose there's little incentive to improve. Still, I would much rather pay more than get this. The service here is also notoriously bad, which I never really minded since I've always believed food over service. However, with the food being what it is now, a pleasant meal with good service is the least I can ask for, and you won't get that here. The service is brusque, and our table was rushed to leave before we had even finished eating. We asked for more time, but they came back and put boxes on our table anyway, even though it was already full, which made it even more cramped. I hope the chefs and team at Giwa can dial back time and return to what initially made them so special. They truly were a standout gem in the bay area, and they could still be if they continued to prioritize their own craft. read more

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Had the pleasure of coming here for a birthday celebration and the impression was so pleasant! The ambience was absolutely amazing and beautiful. The service was outstanding our waiter was very friendly and informative with the menu and Chef specials for the day. The food OMG was so good! The Lava Burger delicious and the Korean fried chicken with that amazing sauce was amazing. Definitely recommended! read more

GIWA - Cheese Lava Burger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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This place look so beautiful. The workers here are nice and friendly. The restroom needed some attention. This place really love roses. Got to try some dishes family style. The LA Galbi Omurice was so good in flavors with the sauce not being salty, but the kalbi sauce was kind of salty. US Wagyu Steak with Cheese Dip was so good that the steak melts in your mouth with flavorful of goodness. Cheese-Stuffed Hamburg Steak was so delicious. Everything in that plate wasn't even salty at all. Souffle Pancake here is one of the best I've ever tried. It's so fluffy and it doesn't taste eggy like another place I tried. read more

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