Loved the ambience and offerings at Kaafi! I have been mostly making chai at home to limit drinking my sweets, but the weather was just right and I succumbed to the temptation of having an iced beverage. I asked for the least sweet option and to my delight, learned that I could have their masala chai unsweetened. It was just black tea, milk and spices! A winner. There was a good amount of pastry options and I had a hard time deciding but ultimately landed on the chicken and cheese samosa, and the handmade rusk cake. The samosa was warmed up and served with a chutney sauce and a green (cilantro?) sauce. I liked them both but gravitated mostly towards the green sauce. The cheese addition was great in the samosa. It was my first time having rusk cake and I thought it would be soft, but the texture was biscuit like. Great flavor, not too sweet. I liked it with my tea. Next time I may opt for a slice of the tahini loaf. Staff were sweet and the service was leisurely, which I actually appreciated because what's the rush? Happy I gave Kaafi a try and will be back. read more

Kaafi - The offerings - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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HOW can you effectively run a NYC coffee shop with ONE person working on the weekends in a major neighborhood?????? The coffee is good, people are nice, BUT PLEASE HITE MORE STAFF!! read more

Cute cafe with tons of indoor seating (they have a side room in addition to the main service area), perfect for small groups. Efficient and friendly staff. I got a chicken and cheese samosa which was served with a fruity, jammy, sweet sauce and a loose green sauce. The fruity one was fantastic and complimented the savory filling perfectly. The green sauce had great flavor but unfortunately was so watery it literally just ran right through the samosa LOL. Docking a star bc the samosa was heated up for dine-in but the interior was still cold and the exterior could have really benefitted from being crisped up further. read more

Kaafi - Chicken and cheese samosa - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

This cozy Pakistani cafe was the perfect place to catch up with a good friend. The interior was super cute with nice lighting and serene ambiance. I tried the Alu (spicy potato) and Chicken with Cheese Empanada, as well as the Rose Coconut Cake. The Empanadas had perfectly flaky and crispy exterior. The Potato filling was well seasoned with a bit of a kick, but not too much. Chicken and Cheese filling was a wonderful combination and quite flavorful. Rose Coconut Cake was delicious! The pretty pink Rose frosting was sweet, delicate, and floral, while the cake was moist and tender. Prices were pretty reasonable. I would return to try more of their sweet treats and Brown Sugar Cardamom Chai. read more

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This place was a vibe. A really good one. It has some soft music playing and people using their laptops some enjoying their coffee together and just relaxing. I think it has such a relaxing ambiance to the place. Now my chai oat milk was so strong I had to get a little cream to lighten the taste just a bit along with it being piping hot I enjoyed it. The two cookies I decided to have with it also was a delight. I would definitely return for another occasion to enjoy some good authentic chai along with trying that Maple Matcha, this day it was just too cold for it. I say give it a visit. Service is great, the customers are all relaxed, the bathroom is clean and plenty of space to just enjoy some downtime. Two thumbs up and Happy Yelping! read more

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This is one of my favorite spots in Harlem! It's such a cute place with a lot of space to work. I love their drinks and they also have really great food and pastries. The naanwich is delicious and super filling. Right now they have their winter drinks and the date chai is my absolute favorite right now! Highly recommend and the people there are super nice and friendly. read more

Kaafi - Butter Chicken naanwich - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

I had a masala chai and chicken samosa. I enjoyed both, along with the hospitality. They have free wifi as well, so you can get a bite to eat while crushing your to-do list read more

Kaafi - Chicken samosa - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

The staff here js always really friendly. They are busy often because people in the neighborhood want to patronize the business. I love chai so this place is right up my alley. I enjoy their teas but sometimes I'm unsure of how sweet a tea is going to be on its own. Overall I enjoy it and will definitely be back! read more

Pros: Cute cafe Friendly staff Reasonably priced Interesting pastries Cons: Dry & stale pastries read more

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Everything in here taste sour and old. I let the server know and he called me a black bitch. This man is in the middle of Harlem, a predominantly black neighborhood with no respect for Black people. a friend of mine went here a few days before and they refused to serve her if I would've known I would've never went to this old rotten place. It also smells like a dead mouse was in there. Will post a picture of the man who did this in the next post. read more

Need a cozy spot to hang out? So nice to see KAFFi Cafe open on Lenox in Harlem! I tried the 12oz Americano ($5.50)--bold, smooth, and full of flavor (though I'm still curious where their beans are from ). Heard their Masala chai is a must-try, so that's on my list for next time along with their pastries, which all looked super tempting. A great new addition to the neighborhood--perfect for coffee lovers and chill vibes! read more

Kaafi - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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Love this tea/coffee shop. Beautifully decorated with wonderful drinks, pastries and other small bites. They have another room in which they have live music performances and other events. Service is polite and efficient. read more

Kaafi - Kashmiri chai with pistachios - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Lovely people and cute vibe! Their coffee and chai menu is amazing. They made me something off menu and didn't charge me a limb. Highly recommend the rusk with a hot beverage. Goes really well - dunk itttttt! I also tried the dahi Bhalla. Very nicely made, very homely. The bhalla could have been softer but you know bad days happen. The yogurt was wonderfully seasoned and spiced. I'm definitely coming here many more times. read more

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Kashmiri chai is really good and you can adjust the sweetness. The food isn't the most authentic but it's a mild version of most Desi dishes. Chole chaat and dahi balle chaat were really good and the chole felt clean with the salad accompaniment. Parantha and chai were my favorites. Gorgeous place to hang out or get work done while vibing to Desi beats and admiring the decor. read more

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Stopped in on a really cold day and got two kashmiris (pink chai) and a masala chai. Felt really welcomed and the tea was lovely.

I love kaafi so much that I almost want to keep it a secret. The staff is insanely kind and the ambience is cozy. I've had almost everything from their menu by now and not a single item has been anything short of delicious. read more

My friend wanted an ice coffee so we popped in and We were impressed with their Pakistani inspired menu offerings. He hadn't planned to order food but when we saw they have a limited food menu it was worth a second look. They sell both street food nibbles like samosas and naanwiches. My friend got the daal naanwich. It came with all the fixings - chips and three sauces. For a small cafe I was surprised to see they actually have substantive plates. My friend really enjoyed his sandwich and chai. For $12, I thought the naanwich was very reasonably priced. Overall, this is a nice cafe with friendly service and good casual Pakistani eats. The decor is really cozy and transports you to Pakistan. Seems like a real neighborhood place for people in the know. People on their laptops doing work undisturbed. They have a good amount of seating including a second dining room Which it looks like they just built. If I'm in the area again, I'd consider stopping by for food. read more

Calm, relaxed, cozy, chic vibe. Their strawberry & red velvet cakes were very yummy and soft. Staff were friendly and helpful. Love going back. read more

Kaafi - Banana Nut Muffin, Strawberry Cake & Red Velvet Cake - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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Kaafi by the Chai Guys is one of my favorite spots in Harlem. The ambiance created by the staff and decor is delightful. My favorite items are the Lamb Gosht and the Masala Chai. Whenever my family or friends say they are in the area this is my first recommendation. read more

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"Kaafi," which means "enough" in Urdu, is an interesting naming choice for this new #aesthetic Pakistani cafe in Upper Manhattan. It connotes the simplicity of "roz ki chai" (daily chai), which is a vibe that doesn't quite match the flowery decor and price point here. I opted for the Kashmiri chai, which is typically a decadent preparation - while more common to Pakistan, in the city of nawabs it is even often served on top of patties with malai as a full-on dessert. Here, the ratio of water seemed off and the chai was simply too light for satisfaction. It also felt like it was probably missing some essential spices. read more

Kaafi - Kashmiri chai - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

I am from Chicago and am visiting NYC. I have heard about this "infamous" instagram place and wanted to try it. We ordered samosas chaat, gulab jamun donut, Rusk, Kashmiri chair, and Kali chai (unpictured). Sadly, im highly disappointed by the place (ambiance) and the food. 1. Samosa Chaat: ($12.00)--It was not worth the price at all. There was too much cabbage, and the samosas were stale (Indian style, although the restaurant is known for Pakistani style). The chutney was overflowing with no actual food. 2. Kaali chai & Kashmiri chai ($6.00 & 7.20): Kaali chai is claimed to be doodh patti Pakistani style. It tasted like it was burned. Kashmiri chai was still decent but not worth $7.00. 3. Gulab Jamun donut ($9.60): The gulab jamun donut was decent, but the bed of yogurt didn't compliment the taste at all. It was too sweet. Two sweets (gulab jamun and cream) didn't sit well with me. 4. Rusk was decent. However, the ambiance was poor and too congested. I am sorry, but I did not like the place or the food. I may be biased with my city, but I would not recommend it. I hope you guys can improve and do better. read more

Kaafi - We ordered samosas chaat, gulab jamun donut, Rusk, Kashmiri chair, and Kali chai (unpictured). - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Maybe it's because I'm Desi and can tell good/bad Desi snacks + chai apart, but Kaafi was not it. First off, these are ludicrous prices for the area. I thought maybe they're justified and got a cake rusk with a cup of chai but both were not good at all. The cake rusk was way too crumbly and lacked any taste- you're better off with KCB cake rusk. The chai was also way too watery and sweet. All in all, if you want unauthentic Desi food, this is the spot for you. read more

10/10 - love this place. Great vibe, good customer service, amazing chai, and plenty of space. I can't wait to come back! read more

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When I'm in the mood for Chai, I go to Kaafi for their Brown Sugar Cardamon Chai tea. I also love the Butter Chicken Naanwich. read more

Kaafi - Butter Chicken Naanwich - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Fellow Pakistani and mind blown by this place. Quite far from me in queens but business was booming on a Monday afternoon. The lamb naan which was delicious and fun, my friend thought hers was a little dry but I was too impressed to notice. Iced Kashmiri chai was delectable with pista pieces. My friend loved the cake. Decor is great and the servers are very friendly and attentive. Love the natural potato chips! I'm sure there are many home recipes for all these dishes but overall it was presented well with wonderful flavors. read more

Kaafi - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Unfortunately will not be returning. Starting with the good, ambiance was nice and warm with frames, saree fabrics/tapestries, and other wall art. However, the food was incredibly disappointing. Tried the kashmiri chai, the keema pastry, an aloo (potato) samosa, and the gulab jamun donut. Kasmiri chai tasted like watered down milk. No tea flavor at all. Pistachio was a nice touch but this was not tea. The keema pastry came recommended by the woman taking our order, and was not even keema (ground beef typically) and was shredded chicken that was poorly seasoned - tasted like a chicken empanada in puff pastry dough. For $8, it was tiny and not good. The samosa was seasoned well but more like a sambusa with little space for filling, and again, not worth the price. None of the items were very flavorful. I would love to have seen an adjustable/cutomizable spice version or dipping sauce that could add that kick. The gulab jamun donut tasted nothing like gulab jamun or a donut. The texture of the gulab jamun was similar to that of a mochi cake that was meerly soaked in whipped cream sprinkled with nuts and cardamom. While tasty, it was not anything I would expect. Plenty of tasty hole in the wall spots in queens - would pass on Kaafi. read more

Chai was fine, and I got the donut, which did not look as expected.... I thought the donut was going to be a round sweet ball smothered in syrup. This was not that, and didn't taste that good. Unlikely to come visit again considering how far it is. Very cute interior and friendly people, though. read more

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Kaafi by Chaiguy is such a gem in New York. We tried the butter chicken sandwiches, cheese samosas, shredded chicken samosas, and aloo samosas--and every single item was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly spiced. The butter chicken sandwich was rich and comforting, and the samosas were crispy on the outside with delicious fillings that didn't disappoint. We also ordered the brown sugar chai and got it in two pots, which was such a nice touch. The chai was smooth, aromatic, and honestly one of the best I've had--perfectly balanced and not overly sweet. What really elevated the experience was Muneeb. He was incredibly kind, welcoming, and took the time to talk to us about his journey and explain the meaning behind each of the art pieces on the walls. That personal connection and storytelling made the space feel warm, intentional, and memorable. Service was easily 10/10, and the overall vibe was cozy, creative, and inviting. Definitely a place you can tell is run with passion and heart. Will absolutely be coming back! read more

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Disgusting and disrespectful. This went right in the garbage when I got home because anyone who can sloppily throw a meal like this together for a customer and think it is ok is beyond me. The food was cold, seemed old, and the naan was soggy and falling a part. Look at how crumbly and mushed together the lentils are. I will never understand people that don't take pride in what they do and serve customers equally. read more

Kaafi - Daal naanwhich - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

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Def try this spot. My new favorite local coffee shop. Vibes, food, and chais are delicious! We asked about one of the chai flavors and she let us see the homemade batch being brewed up in the back. The sauces are also so good - the raspberry one is unique. read more

Kaafi - Butter chicken naanwich - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

absolutely love the chai here and i'm so glad this place opened in the area!! their chai is absolutely delicious and authentic. i love the brown sugar cardamom chai and kashmiri and can't wait to try the others. also, the interior is so cozy and tastefully decorated. not to mention the service is also amazing and friendly and all of our drinks came out super fast. will definitely be a frequent here! read more

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really nice addition to the neighborhood. a proper cup of home style chai in harlem. my wife had a masala chai w almond milk, and i had the brown sugar, cardamom chai with regular milk. i know it's a pakistani coffee house, but my cup felt like an evening in kolkata. i almost expected to look up and see guys huddled around a carrom board on the corner. brought back cherished memories. oh, we ate too. my wife had the lamb naanwich, and i had the butter chicken naanwich. butter chicken was tender, juicy, delicious. butter chicken is a dish that was supposedly invented by a restauranteur as a way to use up the previous evening's unordered tandoori chicken. a lot of restaurants really go hard with the butter and cream, but when it's made at home, it's a lot more subtle. this tasted closer to what's made at home. the minor gripe i had was with the bread. it was thicker than chapati, but not really a paratha or a naan. i wanted to have the BC in a bowl (a massive bowl) with a paratha (or 7) on the side, but i understand the handheld aspect is less sloppy. to finish off this long ass review, i wanna shout out the people working there today. they were all very nice, friendly, knowledgeable about the tea, and even brought our food and drinks to our outdoor table. it's a bit pricey, but i love to see black and brown people get money. read more

Yummy snacks, I had a Alu Samosa filled with spiced potatoes, served with a spicy raspberry chutney and a mint/yogurt sauce, and a cup of Masala Chai. Small place with a couple of comfy armchairs, nice atmosphere. Great addition to the neighborhood! read more

Kaafi - Alu samosa with spicy raspberry chutney and mint sauce; Masala Chai - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

chai was mostly milk, very little of actual chai and samosa quite oily and rather small for the price, overall a bit of disappointing for the price... hope other offerings are better. Cozy atmosphere read more

Staff are amazing and kind! Inside looks nice with enough seating. And the chai was delicious hope to try some other things on the menu one day. read more

Kaafi - Kashmiri Chai - Desserts Near Me - New York, New York

Absolutely love this place! They just opened and the place is so pretty. Not to mention all of their drinks are absolutely delicious. I am yet to try their food, but I have heard great things about it. read more

Great place! Great drinks and menu. Definitely recommend!! I wish we had this where I live :(

Really good flavors but very pricey. I got a small chai and a brownie, and my total was $14. Service was good, friendly, and quick. Multiple people were there studying, and the cafe is cozy. There is also a bit of outdoor seating. All in all, this won't be my go to shop, but it's cute to try once and a good edition to the neighborhood. read more

Very cute new chai place - tasteful decor, nice selection of chai & some coffee, and decent fusion snacks. We had the keema pastry & eggplant chaat along with masala chai & Kashmiri chai which they sprinkled freshly ground pistachios on...yum! Will def be back to try the gulab jamun doughnut which someone on the next table had ordered & looked fantastic. read more