One of the rare places that serves Korean food in Grand Rapids. Some of the dishes have been Americanized (bulgogi burrito), but some dishes are still authentic to the Korean food I grew up eating. The sundubu jjigae (which is silken tofu soup) is exactly what I used to get when I was a kid growing up in LA. The side dishes (banchan) were kind of mid, but kimchi, fish cakes, and broccoli are exactly that: kimchi, fish cakes, and broccoli. Potato pancake was heavy on the mozz, but yummy and filling. We also visited for Poutine Week GR and they participate every year with a lot of fun different variations of a Korean-style meat with tater tots. Good spot for Korean food, but also a good spot for just a coffee and to study. Floor to ceiling windows in the main area to sit and work along with some more backroom seating that's not as sunny, but a good location nonetheless. read more

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Still a great spot to grab some Korean-inspired noms and your coffeehouse faves without reparking your car. For me, it's a bulgogi burrito and a large Americano. Thin slices of sweet and savory beef, packed with rice and swaddled tightly in a flour tortilla. Comes with a tasty side salad. They might have been spread thin because several tables hadn't been bussed. I begged for a rag so I could wipe down a table. Figured it's worth pitching in for cravable flavors. :-) read more

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We went to Kaffeine 3 times since it was so close to our hotel. Bibimbap had the crispy rice texture which was nice. Tofu soup had good flavor but spicy was a little too hot for me. Their hot coffee and tea drinks were nice. Also tried their fried tofu which reminded me of another Asian dish. Corn dogs were okay. Each time we went we had good service. read more

Kaffeine has incredible Korean food and you need to check this place out immediately if you haven't already! Love that you order at the counter here and can seat yourself. The decor and atmosphere is clean and modern. Every time I've been helped, the staff is always accommodating and so nice. I love the breakfast sandwiches here, the coffee, and my bf really loves the Korean hot dog they offer! Check this place out if you're ever in the neighborhood! read more

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We were craving some ramen, and finally got in to try Kaffeine Place! We both got beef ramen, but my husband ordered his extra spicy and I got mine mild. We were a little confused by the set up at first- you walk in and there's a counter and coffee equipment, but you order your food here as well, take a number, and sit down, and they bring out the food. It's a pretty casual spot. The ramen was great though! We loved the slice of cheese on top, and the broth was soooo good. Only thing that was difficult in the beef pieces were big and kind of hard to break up, but it all tasted great! read more

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I'm a sucker for anything fried potatoes so I had to try the Parmesan truffles fries and 10/10 recommend. They were super crispy. Sundubu is delicious! It looks intimidating by the color that it's going to be super spicy but it's not. It has a subtle kick to it but very much tolerable. It comes out in a stone bowl which keeps it boiling hot so I would proceed to eat it with caution. read more

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Sigh... I had such high hopes. A girlfriend told me about this spot so I dragged the hubby with me to this quaint/ cozy cafe that also serves up Korean cuisine. My first reaction? Expensive. I thought, this better sing. Then... my bi bim bap egg was dangerously undercooked (please refer to picture) and my drink didn't arrive until AFTER my meal. They did redo the egg (thanx) but overall it was just kinda a disappointment. I felt that the price ratio to food was off. I feel you get a much better value and authenticity from Seoul Market. If you are coming here to study and have a coffee and care about the ambience, come on over to Kaffeine, but if you want real Korean cooking at a no thrills establishment I'd say check out Seoul Market. It can't be beat imo. read more

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Cool little spot for a fusion Korean-American lunch. Pretty chill vibe, good for coffee date/meeting or a solo study. Limited menu, friendly staff. read more

Kaffeine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Oh my god I love it here I could cry I've been wanting to check out Kaffeine for literal years, it did NOT disappoint. The menu is so beautifully crafted and the spot is cozy and modern. I am still kind of speechless to give a perfect review. But please check this place out, you do not want to miss out on the feeling a meal from here will give you. read more

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I have been wanting to try Kaffeine for a while now. I placed my take out order and it was prepared pretty quickly. And best of all, it was still hot when I got it home. I tried the spicy chicken bulgogi ramen and veggie rolls. I am a bit of a ramen snob and this ranks up in my top 5 for sure. It was packed with veggies and noodles. Honestly, there was not a ton of chicken in it. The broth was very good... slightly sweet but not overly sweet. Overall, it was a rich broth and very flavorful. The veggie rolls were good. Very crispy outside and tasty veggie center. I enjoyed my meal! I would love to try more of their dishes - especially the Korean food. Kaffeine really hit the spot for me since I was craving ramen. read more

Kaffeine - Ramen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I've come here a couple of times and have really enjoyed it! I came here both times for dinner. Their menu is actually quite large, as they offer a variety of foods. The ambience is really cute; I've seen some people studying and working at the back of the place. They have high tables and low ones which I liked, because the high tables give off a more casual/cafe vibe, and the lower ones seemed more like for dinner. It is not a large place, but every time I have come here, there only have been one or two parties at another table. Really cute place to meet with a friend or date though! I got the sundubu jjigae with beef and it was really quite nice! It came out piping hot and bubbly - yum! I did wish they added a little bit more beef to it, but it was still good. I got mild spice, but I think next time, I would get a little spice to it - that is what makes the soup so good. The tofu was nice and soft! And the banchan was really good too. Worth the visit! There is a parking lot behind the building, or you can just do street parking right out on the street. The service was really quick! read more

Kaffeine - sundubu jjigae (beef) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I finally checked this place out and the Korean food did not disappoint! The limited hours made it harder for me to check out but they now have later hours! I looked at the online menu which was helpful because it's a little overwhelming when you're standing at the cafe to order because the menu signage is all over the place (think handwritten cafe signs with specials). Kimchi pancake - best we ever had! Lots of kimchi with a perfect char. Can't wait to order it again. Jjajangmyeon- black bean noodles were fantastic. There are very few places in GR to order this. Comes with the yellow pickled radishes. Totally took the leftovers home and when the noodles were gone, used the sauce to add chicken and rice for jjajangbap. Soondubu - Silken tofu stew. I loved being able to order it without any spice as my tastebuds have changed and I can't enjoy spice as much. It came BUBBLING in a stone bowl with an egg to poach. Love the mushrooms and how silky soft the tofu was. So comforting and delicious! read more

Kaffeine - Soondubu- silken tofu stew with mushrooms and egg; banchan - side dishes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Kaffeinneeee. My partner and I enjoy trying a new spot on friday mornings. we live for a treat. they have a quite a few vegan food options which we loveee. I was in the mood for breakfast so I went with the avocado toast. It's not listed as vegan because they do grill the bread in butter but they're able to make it vegan if you ask. I also got a strawberry matcha and my partner got a vanilla latte both with almond milk (they have almond and oat). The toast was good, the bread was thick and fresh and surprisingly i didn't find the need to add salt. I really enjoyed the fried onions on top - they added good flavor and salt. The toast also came with a spring mix with balsamic glaze on the side. The flavor was good but overall the portion was pretty small for the price - only one slice of bread which can work if it's big but it was not. My matcha was okay. Maybe i'm spoiled by morning rituals strawberry matcha but you could tell this was very artificial tasting strawberry. It was giving strawberry soda vibes which always tastes like plastic to me. My partner enjoyed his latte. It was strong. I would love to try some vegan lunch options in the future. read more

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I've become a big Kaffeine fan since they opened in December 2020. This Korean fusion cafe features delicious coffee drinks and amazing food in a cozy setting that's perfect for meeting with friends or getting some work done. You order at the counter and get a number, then they'll bring it out to you. You bus your own dishes. The menu includes Korean fusion breakfast and lunch items like bulgogi burritos, ramen, avocado toast, salads, breakfast sandwiches, and more. And they just started serving dinner! I wanted to update my review as I went and tried some dinner items. Currently as of January 2024, dinner is served Wednesday through Saturday only. The menu includes more traditional Korean dishes like sundubu jjigae (tofu stew), bulgogi, japchae, and bibimbap, as well as fusion dishes like jjajangmyeon. Some of these dishes are hard to find in the area so I'm really excited to try them all. Nate and I ordered the sundubu jjigae and the gochujang tteokbokki. The sundubu jjigae came with some banchan side dishes, including pickled radish, stewed potatoes, and fish cake. I love Korean food so I ate them all up! The stew was served bubbling hot and was full of super soft tofu. You can also add meat, so I got the beef which was tender and savory. The rice was a great accompaniment and I loved this dish. It's warm and comforting and you can choose your spice level. The gochujang tteokbokki was excellent! Tteokbokki are Korean rice cakes that are chewy with the best texture. They are covered in a spicy sauce but they do have a non-spicy version. We both really liked the tteokbokki but agreed that the sundubu jjigae was our favorite. I've made both of these dishes at home, but these versions were definitely some of the best I've had. The portions were large and we could have shared one entree! Other items I've loved at Kaffeine are the bulgogi burrito, bulgogi toast, avocado salad, rainbow naan, and breakfast croissant sandwich. Their lattes are also some of the best I've had. Parking is available in a lot behind the building (go through the door and up the stairs to enter the restaurant) or there are some metered spots in the front. If you like Korean food or are interested in trying something a bit different, definitely check out Kaffeine. read more

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This food was so amazing. I was blown away with flavor when I took the first bite of my Bulgogi burrito. I absolutely love the choices on the menu and how some options are both Korean-American. They also have a good selection of drinks like Boba, Tea, & Coffee. It's a great stop for Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner. The inside of the place is very well kept too. Great for just grabbing a bite or even a little studying coffee break. read more

Kaffeine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Yum. Yum. Yum. I did not realize this place was a legit restaurant until some friends told me about it. Honestly thought it was a coffee shop. Nestled at the top of the Michigan hill, Kaffeine is home to some tasty Asian fusion food and yummy drinks! The restaurant itself is clean and they use rhetorical number system for service. So you order and pay up front, get a number then your food is brought out when ready. Some dishes I have gotten the kimchee fried rice, japche and boba here. Have not been disappointed. In my option the fried rice was super spicy but with it. Everything's reasonably priced as well. Oh! Almost forgot that my friend swears by the egg sandwich. That's something I'll have to try on my next visit. Overall 5/5 stars. read more

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This review is for dinner only. Located off Michigan street, this cute Korean cafe recently added dinner service with traditional Korean food. Parking: there is a lot in the back with free parking, enter through the back door to the complex and go up a flight of stairs to get to Kaffeine Ambiance: casual, plenty of 2-4 people seating with high top as well as larger lower tables. It's cozy, clean and modern. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you. You bus your own dishes at the end. Food: husband tried the stone pot bibimbop beef - it was sizzling hot and he enjoyed this and thought it was on par with other bibimbops. I tried sundubu jigae beef, spicy. This is a spicy tofu soup and it's my go to order whenever available at Korean restaurants and I was ecstatic that this was available, but then sadly was disappointed. It just isn't traditional beef sundubu jigae that you'll find at BCD tofu house on the east/west coasts or various Korean restaurants around Atlanta which in my mind is what I want my sundubu to be. The broth flavor was off and almost sweet - the beef itself was well seasoned bulgogi meat with mushrooms (instead of plain beef) which just doesn't belong in sundubu and maybe that's why the broth tasted off? It does come with rice and some banchan. Interestingly no Kim chi in the banchan. The fish cakes (odeng) and marinated potatoes and pickled veggies were great. Cost: definitely higher side for sundubu ($17) and bibimbop ($18 including meat) and only the sundubu included some banchan Family friendliness: excellent with high chairs and a changing table and low tables with enough stroller space. Overall, I was really hoping to love this place and make it my go to spot for sundubu but this just isn't it. My husband did like his bibimbop and I'd be willing to try some of their other dishes if we come back for dinner. read more

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Not normally a place I would go to however the noodles I got were the bomb diggity. My one year old son loved it to. They don't have a huge choice of coffee given the name but holy cow the food makes up for it. They do have bubble tea so I loved that too. read more

i love the vibes of kaffeine! i consider the food on the pricier side but worth it since i don't come here often. croissant breakfast sandwich was my favorite thing here! a perfect breakfast really. you order at the counter and they will bring your food to the table you're at. sometimes food can take some time to come out, but the tasty lattes help the wait. read more

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Food is exceptional every time! I'm officially addicted to their japchae. Also love their drinks. :)

Clean, quiet, chill, comfortable, easy access. I came in for coffee while I was in the area looking for a spot to caffeinate and work. I ordered a cafe Miele and hung out by the streetside windows in a comfortable chair with table adjacent. I was probably the 3rd customer that morning. It was really quiet with the kitchen just beginning prep of the mise en place for the day. The menu looked wonderful and I'd have liked to stay to check out their lunch but had to get back across the state. I'll definitely be back to try their menu. The front of house staff was really friendly and the space was clean and bright with a ton of windows and light. read more

Seems like Kaffeine is some sort of Asian fusion type cafe as their menu incorporates Korean dishes such as bulgogi. This was my first time seeing bulgogi dumplings so I was intrigued. I stopped by around 12 PM on a Tuesday and there was no wait. My order was ready in about 10-15 minutes, and the dumplings came out nice and crispy. If you're familiar with japchae, the dumplings have those type of glass noodles, bulgogi beef, and some veggies such as carrots as the filling. Overall, I found the prices to be a bit on the pricier side ($9 + tax for 6 dumplings) but it was a yummy treat and I'd be curious to try their other dumplings and bowls. read more

Kaffeine - Inside of bulgogi dumpling - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Kaffeine is AMAZING! This might be some of the best food in Grand Rapids and the experience is wonderful. I get the veggie ramen pretty much every time and it is always amazing. The boba is excellent as well and servers are so kind and make sure to get your food on time. I love to read here as I eat my food and it is the perfect spot to chill by the windows (dreamy on winter evenings!). Definitely check it out--I cannot recommend enough. read more

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Incredible. GR GEM. In what universe can you get some of the best Korean fried chicken, Raman, Boba, and NITRO COLD BREW all in one place? I'm a nitro feign so for these guys so deliver some of the best I've had in addition to top notch cuisine is remarkable. 10/10. read more

Despite the misleading name, Kaffeine, this place is all about upscale Korean food. We had both Restaurant Week options and were truly happy. We've also had ramen and Korean silken tofu soup. Medical Mile clientele. The interior is clean, neat with some mod touches but lighting is atrocious cool LEDs, which takes away the ambiance and overall warmth of the food. read more

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Stopped for just a regular coffee on Saturday Oct 5. Nothing special just black coffee. Waited 15 minutes while customers orders behind me were completed. Finally had to ask how much knget and then found out they had to still brew the coffee. If you want a specialty coffee drink go here you will get fast service, black coffee woukd not recommend. Orders definitely not completed in in sequence of customer order. Will not be back read more

What an awesome spot! Met up with Katy C. here! I had a lovely medium roast pour over (Counter Culture Field Trip). We share the poutine for Michigan St. Poutine Week and it was EPIC. It was Bulgogi-kimchi poutine (stirred fried ground beef with bulgogi sauce on top of crispy tots, blue cheese gravy, spicy Korean bbq sauce, teriyaki sauce, and garnished kimchi, crispy fried egg on top) - sooo flavorful!! Don't let the blue cheese gravy scare you as it wasn't stanky at all! Just added more savoriness & flavaaah! Yum. I can't wait to come back to try more food here! The place itself is pretty spacious so if you need a spot to study/work..the front area is a bit more bustling with the counter/register, but towards the back, it seemed relatively quiet! read more

Kaffeine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Best kept secret in GR, amazing food, never had a bad dish here. Try the bulgogi or spicy chicken burrito,, you won't be disappointed. Great for coffees and teas as well. read more

Placed an online order for pick up. Ordered the goat cheese toast and spicy chicken ramen and shrimp ramen. When I arrived they didn't have the order so had to put a rush on it. The restaurant had dirty tables everywhere. Finally got my order home and the ramen is very mediocre. Tastes no different than a microwaved ramen you can get for $1. read more

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I had to come again and it was incredible. I ordered the ramen beef bulgogi spicy and it was perfect. I attached a pic. Not too spicy. Very cozy, healthy and delicious with so much flavor. I also ordered the Thai tea boba which was delightful. Service was great since they are so amazing about guiding you on what to order, especially if you're not familiar with Korean food. Everyone come check this place out!! read more

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Tried Kaffeine for the first time recently and it did not disappoint! Walked in and found a table for 2 on a Thursday evening without issue. Service was friendly and food was ready very quickly! Lots of things I wanted to try on the menu but decided on sundubu jjigae - spicy, flavorful, delicious, warmed the soul! Bubble tea was good, but the food was better! Will be returning to try more things on the menu! read more

This is my third time going to Kaffeine, and it definitely will not be my last! The last time I went, I ordered the dirty matcha latte which was phenomenal! Kaffeine's matcha, in my opinion, is the best that I've had in Grand Rapids (tip! get it with the oat milk!) Today I ordered the vanilla latte with oat milk and the avocado toast. If you have not had either, you are missing out. The vanilla latte is the best I've had. It's creamy and flavorful. The avocado toast? 10/10. Actually, no it's more than a 10/10! The take out packaging was so cute and it was perfectly packaged. The flavors were delicious. The best avocado toast I've had in Grand Rapids. The staff and owner are so kind as well! Although Kaffeine is out of the way from where I live, I will gladly make the trip anytime. read more

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They have a pretty standard, small-ish espresso many with all of the basics on it. My drink was good, nothing crazy. The ambiance in there was great. It was quiet and peaceful, like a Cafe/coffee shop would be, with people working away on their laptops. A lot of sun was coming thru the front windows, but the dining area extends around the back of the kitchen as well. The service was really good - friendly staff, pretty standard timing on the espresso drink. Overall, I'd love to go back again for lunch! The menu looks great. read more

Kaffeine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Kaffeine Place is the hot new place for Korean-fusion food and coffee in Grand Rapids, Michigan. From boba tea to bulgogi dishes and all other delectable Korean food essentials, you can find them all here in this cozy, bright, cafe-style ambiance with incredibly efficient service. Things you should try are their k-dogs, potato pancakes, and their blueberry lavender matcha over ice! And just know that this business is owned by one of the best people I have come to know as all of her food is prepared with love and care! read more

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The coffee scene in Grand Rapids as on par with places like Seattle, Chicago and NYC so there is a lot to live up to when opening a new coffee shop. Then opening up a new shop during a pandemic and that's mission impossible. Kaffeine goes above and beyond what is expected of a great coffee shop. They serve Counter Culture coffee. For those of who are unfamiliar with these beans they are on the same level as Madcap. So that was a great choice by the shop. The pastries are supplied by Field and Fire again they delivering a superior product. The thing that makes Kaffeine standout to me is they have a food menu and specifically they have Korean Fusion dishes. The need for Korean food is an insatiable desire in Grand Rapids so I am happy there is a new go to spot that's conveniently located on Medical Mile. What else makes this place stand out? The interior design was thoughtfully curated. There are outlets and usb outlets galore. When lockdown ends this place is going to be popping with students and professionals. The seating area is wide open and very comfortable. The furniture is very trendy but obviously pays tribute to Grand Rapids' industrial roots. I am definitely going to be a regular here.... and I bet you will too!! read more

My favorite restaurant in GR thus far; the owner/chef is very talented and prepares unique meals with extreme care and high quality ingredients. Great coffee pairs well with the two items I've had - the egg sandwich and Korean tofu burrito (incredible). The side salad and corresponding dressing is just ok. Minor things to address in the future: -standardized coffee mugs (some cups are too small for the amount provided in the carafe) -paper cups instead of small plastic cups -soda machine to replace cumbersome water dispenser -replace small circular table in between the lounge chairs with a bigger square table; it's not large enough to accommodate two people read more

What a great cafe addition to midtown! I'm so lucky to live close by to this new cafe. Stopped by on a weekend and we ordered the brown sugar latte and vanilla latte both with oat milk. The 12oz lattes are $5, with $0.75 for oat milk. Both were excellent. We also ordered for take out the S.S.S. (Sweet, Salty, Smokey) Bulgogi Toast and the vegetarian Rainbow Nann Toast. Both were very delicious! The bulgogi had just the flavor I'm used to at traditional Korean restaurants, on top of a thick toast, with a fried egg and cheese. The nann toast was bright and flavorful with a mix of sweet, earthy with the hummus. The food was made fresh as we waited for it. The interior of the cafe is modern and well laid out. They have parking in the front and back as well. We're excited to come back and try their other items! read more

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I was finally able to try Kaffeine after so many recommendations! We picked up a takeout order so I can't comment on anything inside the restaurant. Our food was ready when we arrived and we couldn't wait to get home and dig in. I ordered the Bulgogi Burrito and it was delicious. The burrito was large enough to fill me up by itself. I think it would be even better if I dined in since the drive home gave it time to get a little soggy, but that's not their fault! We also loved our order of potstickers and they were a great addition to our meal. I'll definitely be back and look forward to enjoying a meal and trying other dishes in their dining room. read more

Kaffeine - Bulgogi Burrito (takeout) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Got some coffee,air b&b up the road, coming back later for some ramen, coffee is great thus far, if you cant find a parking spot, put some adult pants on and walk lol. Worth the walk . I picked a Carmel latte and it's perfect if you don't like toooo too sweet but like some read more

I love the spin of coffee shop and authentic Korean food! The owner is kind and so amazing at creating such amazing dishes! I love it here!