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    Kafe Toribashi

    4.5 (51 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:30 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Kafe Toribashi Photos

    KAFE TORIBASHI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Kafe Toribashi

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    Emily C.

    A decent spot to get coffee, brunch, ice cream, desserts, pastries, ramen, and more! Pricing is ... reasonable. The going rate! I ordered their small hot vanilla latte with oat milk, and it was $7.50. It tasted good. Not amazing, but it satisfied my craving! There were lots of families here. The food ordering system is via self-kiosk. It's located on the Wharf, which makes it a fun stop if you're in town, but not somewhere I'd go out of my way for just for the coffee. Still, it's a good option at the end of the Wharf if you're craving something, and it has cute vibes inside. I wouldn't mind stopping by again... but can't say it's a 5/5

    Fely L.

    Didn't have my morning coffee so drop by here which is at the end of the wharf. We both went for the affogato and son got the matcha one. It was just ok.

    Blueberry and Mango milk matcha tea
    Christine C.

    Day out in Monterey- we had been sampling drinks all vacation and this little matcha place looked yummy. We ordered a blueberry and a mango matcha milk tea. The nice guy behind the counter shared that he made all his fruit purées from scratch- you could definitely taste it! Between the hand whipped matcha and fresh purées the drinks were so yummy. The Taiyakis were also delicious- we got a 3 pack of Oreo, Nutella, and Crème. Crème was our favorite- Such a cute clean place right on the Wharf. Added a nice experience to our day out!

    The taiyaki sign caught our eye! yum!
    Trish S.

    Ooh... super excited to see this here on the wharf. We checked it out. but will have to come back and give it a try. They had coffee, dessert, ramen, and much more. The prices seemed reasonable too. Definitely a place to try on our next trip.

    Jonathan L.

    Found this location while walking on the pier and I was wonderfully surprised to find a Japanese cafe with Japanese/asian snacks. I love Japanese Taiyaki and was so happy to see that they had it there. 1. Taiyaki: I know it was made by Kafe Toribashi since they have a machine in the back counter but I was worried because they're already premade. However they rebake it for you when you order. I was wary of how fresh it would taste but it was actually really delicious and fresh tasting. I loved the custard but the red bean was also really delicious. Lots of filling. Overall, love this place and I would definitely be back. The prices are super reasonable and fresh/authentic tasting.

    1020 ice cream
    Gabriel B.

    Nice little spot on the wharf with quick service and ample seating indoors. There was a singe table outdoors in front of the shop where I sat to eat the Marianne's ice cream they served. Their ice cream selection was much smaller than the Santa Cruz location, but it was still nice to have access to it here.

    Decor lighting made of different tea pots.
    Becca D.

    This little shop at the end of the wharf is a hidden gem. They have coffee, ice cream, ramen, and other goodies. They didn't have taiyaki the day I went :( but that's ok I'm sure it would've been yummy. I opted for the ramen. You order on a screen and then the people make it for you. The gentleman helping behind the counter was super nice. The patrons around me seemed to enjoy their lattes. They had plenty of seating. I opted to sit outside and watch the sea lions and boats. Excellent experience for a nice treat.

    Pikachu
    Adrienne Z.

    Kafe Toribashi is near the end of Monterey Wharf. It's a cozy little spot that feels like a secret tucked into a seaside postcard. I ordered a sugar-free vanilla latte it was flavorful enough to convince me sugar-free can be gourmet. My son grabbed a caramel latte and while he didn't offer a manifesto on the flavor, he did give the classic concise compliment "Pretty good." I took a sip and can confirm. Value-wise, $6.00 is a solid price for a waterfront experience in this area, especially given the quality and vibe. The space is cute and bright, with little touches that make you want to linger which is exactly the plan for the next visit. I can't wait to come back and try the ramen or the ice cream. If the coffee is any indication, I'm betting the ramen will be a delicious surprise to complement that same easy-going, "I know good coffee" confidence.

    Tamila K.

    This place is so cute! I got their matcha affogato and it was so good! I also got a strawberry matcha, but it was too sweet for me. I don't really like super sweet drinks, but I'm sure a lot of people would have enjoyed it! The service is nice too!

    Vanilla ice cream with tayaki
    Devin M.

    8.5/10 I tried two vanilla taiyaki, one filled with custard and the other with red bean. The red bean filling was a 7.7/10 for me; a bit savory and not quite my preference. The custard, on the other hand, was a solid 8.8/10 sweet, smooth, and really hit the spot! They make the taiyaki fresh in-house, which is a great touch. A little messy to eat, but totally worth it. Service was excellent super friendly staff and owners. The ambiance was relaxed and welcoming, and the place was very clean. Overall, a great experience!

    Ordering area
    Chas A.

    We love this place as a family. My kids enjoy the instant ramen, the ice cream, and the friendly service! We came in during their soft opening and then again this time around, approximately a year after our first visit. We're so glad that it's around at the warf area. It's a no frills place to grab some quick food, coffee, while you sit and enjoy the scenery. If you're in the area, stop by and grab yourself some coffee or ice cream and relax. Try tv instant ramen...it stays hot the entire time that you're eating it!

    Matcha latte
    Cam Loan N.

    2nd time here and service is excellent each time. The matcha latte tastes great, I'm someone who doesn't like my drink sweet, so I did ask for half sweetness and it was perfect. Hubby got the strawberry matcha latte and he enjoyed it. Better than some of the places in the bay. Ice cream is good here as well. The girls got the strawberry cream.

    Stools out the back door overlook the water
    Alma S.

    This is a cute spot that adds a nice place to leisurely hang out on the Wharf in a cafe vs restaurant setting. The atmosphere is modern, bright, & clean with cool lighting fixtures. There's a lot of indoor seating at tables & at a bar with stools. There's also an outdoor table in front & stools out the back door overlooking the water. All the seating is metal. We came on a Saturday afternoon & luckily beat a rush of people that followed. Some of my family ordered with the man at the counter, but once it got busier, the rest of us who took more time to decide were directed to a large order screen. Customer service was friendly & welcoming, but the staff was kept busy. We are longtime fans of Marianne's Ice Cream (a Santa Cruz institution), which is what we came for. There were 8 flavors to choose from. We ended up getting macapuno, rocky road, mint chip & Heaven (vanilla ice cream with chocolate swirl, peanut butter swirl, and brownies). I also got a latte from the beverage menu, which I enjoyed. They serve Alibi coffee. They call out names when your order is ready, but not very loudly, so you have to pay attention as many customers had to be called multiple times. Their menu has taiyaki that you can get filled or used as an ice cream cone. DIY ramen is also offered with a variety of packages on display to choose from & the use of EZ Cook machines.

    Prepare your own ramen

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    17 days ago

    Amazing coffee and friendly staff, with the view of the ocean. Thanks for the pup cup too

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    5 months ago

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    10 days ago

    Nice view. Kid friendly. Fun, affordable experience making your own ramen. Lots of options to choose from. Friendly staff

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    9 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Really good, pretty restaurant, just was overpriced . Would recommend if your into those Korean convenience stores!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Kafe Toribashi

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    Toribashi

    Toribashi

    4.0
    (480 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Established in 2018

    food is absolutely delicious. their rice bowls are underrated. the staff is always super nice too!!!read more

    Welp.. We finally had the chance to return to Monterey.. As we were squeezed for time, we chose to…read morecome to Toribashi tonight. Parking was only mildly challenging, as a space opened up after only a single lap around the block. Inside here, you'll find a busy place with a few tables and individual bar-style (partitioned!) paired seating along the walls adjacent to the kitchen in the middle part of the restaurant. Order up at the self-serve order kiosks, tap in your table/counter number, and they bring out your order in a couple of minutes. We had six of us in our party, and most of us kept it simple by ordering the default Tonkatsu Ramen with different customizable options. Most all of the ingredients in this order were on point - The Chasu Pork Belly was tender, thick and delicious, ramen noodles nothing special, but generally stil on point, as were the bamboo shoots. However, the co-star/centerpiece of the Tonkatsu Ramen other than the Chasu Pork slab should be the broth, but sadly the broth was far far TOO salty which overpowered the other flavors in the broth. Chasu Pork 4.8/5, Tonkatsu Ramen 3.1/5. Service was good as everyone was hustling hard in the kitchen, along with attentive bussers/waitstaff to quickly turn tables. They take good care in wiping down the tables here. If I return, I'll just get the Paitan Ramen like I did in years past, as that seemed less salty. Then again the Paitan soup base begins with the same chicken+pork soup base as the Tonkatsu Ramen. I hope Toribashi will step back up to their former glory.

    Photos
    Beef Rice Bowl
    Beef Rice Bowl
    Tan Tan
    Tan Tan
    As ahi for the win

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    As ahi for the win
    Bulgogi House Monterey

    Bulgogi House Monterey

    4.3
    (85 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    I'm a local and pass by this spot all the time, so I was excited to finally stop in for dinner and…read moreit definitely didn't disappoint! Everything we ordered was delicious, from the side dishes to the kalbi. The kimchi was so good I couldn't stop eating it, and the fish cake and sweet, crunchy radish were just as tasty. The kimchi kalbi was so flavorful and so tender. The ramyeon was delicious, especially with the mandu added in, and the chicken bowl had great flavor too. I definitely recommend giving this place a try, and I'll definitely be coming back whenever I'm craving Korean food. The atmosphere is nice and cozy. It's a smaller space, but it feels welcoming. The service was excellent as well. I believe the owner was there cooking while we were dining, and he seemed very friendly and kind, chatting with customers and greeting regulars who stopped by. Overall, it was a great experience!

    This place was actually pretty solid! As someone who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley eating…read moregood-value authentic Asian food, I usually avoid Asian food during my travels. But this was just down the street from my hotel and the pictures looked really appetizing, so we gave it a shot. It did not disappoint! Between two of us, we ordered the spicy chicken bulgogi meal and a mandu appetizer. It was the perfect amount of food for us to not have leftovers (our hotel had no fridge). The mandu came first and was very tasty and perfectly fried. The chicken came out as we were finishing the appetizer. The staff had warned us that it would be spicy, but I was surprised that it WAS actually spicy. My tolerance is higher than the average person but I definitely needed a lot of rice for this. I wouldn't say the flavor of the sauce was in line with the Korean food we have in LA, but it was very good in its own right. The staff was very attentive and friendly and chatted with us throughout the meal. The owner's family was eating there too, and since some members of their party were being slightly rowdy, the owner's sister bought us an extra order of mandu for the trouble! We got to chat with her and with the owner. They seem very genuine about wanting customers to have a good experience. If I live close by next time I'm in town, I would definitely want to stop by again to try their other bulgogi meats!

    Photos
    Bulgogi House Monterey
    Chicken Bulgogi
    Chicken Bulgogi
    Bulgogi House Monterey

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    Cafe Luna

    Cafe Luna

    4.1
    (774 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    I'm from Southern California and already planning my next trip to Carmel. I visited in November…read more2025, and this spot is at the top of my list to return to. The ambiance was exactly what you hope for--quiet, warm, and inviting--and the staff couldn't have been more friendly. But the real standout? The food. Absolutely over-the-top delicious and deeply satisfying. My husband and I shared the homemade tomato bisque with quiche, a tuna mixed greens salad, and clam chowder. I'm still thinking about that soup and salad--my mouth is watering just writing this. Please keep this place thriving--I want it waiting for us on our next visit!

    Unfortunately average at best. Food was alright but prices…read morewere steep considering the portions. We ordered paninis and the potstickers which were around $20 for each with ok portion sizes. The real issue was the service, we found that the staff was simply not very attentive. When we first sat down we were only given one menu and had to wait before we asked for three more. The first half of our meals came out significantly before the other half which left our food getting cold. During the middle of our meal we ordered another beer which did not come until we had all finished our meals. Our plates were never cleared and our waters were never refilled despite it being relatively calm. Overall we found this place to be significantly overpriced and poor in service, unfortunately wouldn't recommend.

    Photos
    Cafe Luna
    Breakfast Sushi
    Breakfast Sushi
    Bird hanging around seating area looking for crumbs

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    Bird hanging around seating area looking for crumbs
    Toro

    Toro

    4.0
    (558 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    After taking my pup to the beach, we decided to have lunch here at Toro. We were promptly greeted…read moreby the hostess and seated immediately in their pleasant patio area. Our server James was amazing. He had great knowledge of the menu and recommended a sushi roll they had on special. He was even super cool with my dog, Cash. I had the Tuna Togarashi roll, along with some nigiri. Sushi was delicious, and it tasted fresh. My boy Cash had the chicken & rice bowl off their dog menu. He scarfed it down in seconds! I was expecting a generic sushi experience, but got great food, impeccable service, all while sitting in a beautiful patio area. I will definitely be back in the near future, and so will Cash!

    Our second time dining at Toro in Carmel-by-the-Sea was just as enjoyable as the first! We sat…read moreoutside on the patio, and the weather was absolutely perfect. We've made reservations through OpenTable both times and have been seated quickly. We started with a salad, edamame, and cocktails while enjoying the beautiful setting. Our server was attentive, and the service throughout the meal was great. I ordered the Tuna Togarashi roll, which had shrimp tempura, avocado, and snow crab on the inside, topped with tuna togarashi, unagi sauce, and green onions. It was absolutely delicious,fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. My husband is vegan and tried the shiitake mushroom and kappa maki rolls. While they were fairly basic veggie rolls, they were good and met his needs nicely. Overall, Toro is a great spot for fresh sushi, attentive service, and a relaxing atmosphere. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in Carmel!

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    Toro
    Maine squeeze & spider. Both delicious
    Maine squeeze & spider. Both delicious
    Nice cold draft Sapporo!

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    Nice cold draft Sapporo!
    Monterey's Fish House

    Monterey's Fish House

    4.0
    (3.4k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    The ambiance and service here is amazing! All of employees are super kind and friendly. Upon…read moresitting, we were given a basket of bread and butter. The bread wasn't toasted so I was skeptical but it was actually very tasty because the outside had toasted sesame seeds on it. We ordered the fish and chips as well as their cioppino. The fish and chips were good! It wasn't the best I've ever had just cause I usually prefer cod but I think they used a different fish. The cioppino though was so delicious. It was extremely flavorful, the broth was not overally seasoned, it was perfect. There was lots of seafood too - such as clams, octopus, squid, mussels, shrimp and fish! I loved dipping the bread in it too.

    Go before they open to get in line or make reservations. They are super efficient and service was…read moregreat. It's not a big place, and yet they still have a great ratio of staff to customers. We got there 30 minutes early and got in line about 20 minutes before 5 PM on a Saturday in July. When they opened we were the second party and there were about 30 people after us. Some had reservations and some were walk-ins like us. Once we sat down we got bread and butter and they took our order. Clam chowder was not thick how we like it. My husband was craving the curry snapper. My son had the holiday pasta. I had a special artichoke seafood pasta. We were all happy with our choices.

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    Monterey's Fish House
    Complimentary Stale Bread ($0)
    Complimentary Stale Bread ($0)
    Complimentary Chilled Water ($0)

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    Complimentary Chilled Water ($0)

    Kafe Toribashi - cafes - Updated August 2026

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