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    Kaizen & Coffee

    4.5 (688 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Kaizen & Coffee Photos

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    KAIZEN & COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Kaizen & Coffee

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    Miso caramel latte
    Austin W.

    My friends and I stopped by Kaizen & Coffee on a Sunday morning and there was a long line out the door. I wish I could say the line moves quickly, but it does not: if there's a line out the door, you'll definitely be waiting for a while before you're able to even order. My wife ordered their miso caramel latte and I thought it was the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The milk froth was very airy and the drink had an underlying burnt flavor to it that reminded me of the brûléed sugar on top of a creme brûlée. Definitely a drink I'd get again. I ordered a pork floss croissant and it was light and fluffy. There was a generous amount of pork floss both on the top and the inside of the croissant, and the layers were nicely laminated. My friend asked where they sourced their pastries from, and apparently today's batch came from Amour Bakery in Belmont. If you're around this part of San Mateo, I would not hesitate to recommend Kaizen & Coffee. Their Asian flavored lattes are delicious and there's a wide selection of Asian inspired French pastries to enjoy as well.

    Earl grey matcha  Hojicha latte
    Laura L.

    Came here on a Saturday afternoon with a line out the door. It went by relatively quickly but the real challenge is finding a seat inside. We tried the hojicha latte (9/10) and early grey matcha latte (10/10). Both drinks had very strong hojicha/matcha flavors which were great. I asked for less ice and the drinks came out without being filled to the top. They ran out of pastries by the time we got there so you should go early if you want those.

    They change this board frequently, it's a cute lil addition.
    Nikki H.

    This place is good. Their coffee, pastries and toast are all so delicious. It's definitely a trendier type of vibe which i think is fun and different. Especially when their coffee and their vibe compliment each other. The staff is super friendly. We ate at the counter and got to watch them all craft delicious coffees, they were super attentive and checked on us frequently to make sure we didn't need anything. Be prepared to wait as people know this place is good! The line can be a little long and since the place is a little on the smaller side it gets packed.

    Jasmine Tea with Matcha Foam
    Jennifer W.

    Came on Friday afternoon and the cafe had a fair amount of people. Love the vibes and has lots of counter seating. I tried the Jasmine Tea with Matcha Foam, and it was a great balance with the jasmine and matcha. The first half of the drink u taste the light jasmine then you later get a little more of the matcha. Not too sweet or heavy, and perfectly refreshing. I definitely recommend trying it while it's on their menu! They make the drinks pretty quick and I heard their lattes are amazing so will need to come back for those. Highly recommend this cafe!

    Anthony G.

    It was a cold Tuesday afternoon. My partner and I had class in a bit, but needed a quick caffeine pick me up. We decided to try out Kaizen & Coffee in San Mateo, and we have become regulars now. Everything here is so awesome. They are constantly adding new drinks to their menu and they have such unique inspired drinks. Though the drinks can get really expensive, they are truly handcrafted and this place is the best. My personal recommendations are the miso caramel, regular matcha, or earl grey matcha. Each of these is awesome on their own, but if you add the kaizen kumo(salted cold foam), they are taken to the next level. They have the best cold foam I have tried.

    Amy K.

    One of the best spots for really flavorful coffee and matcha in the Peninsula. Definitely a must visit if you're into either! Everything is nicely balanced, just sweet enough with a solid caffeine kick to get you through the day. The baristas are super friendly, and even though the space is small, it feels cozy and welcoming. They also have a great selection of coffee beans. Every drink I've had so far has been a hit. There's no parking lot, but street parking is easy to find right out front or nearby. It does get busy though, both times I went all the seats were taken.

    Smoked Salmon toast
    Trisha A.

    I've been here many more times since my last review, and every time has been great! Depending on my mood, my favorites have been the iced ube latte, iced strawberry matcha, hot matcha, or hot black sesame latte. The Okinawa brown sugar latte is good as well. My friend visited us and loved the iced miso caramel latte. My husband likes their espresso tonic. Their frens chocolate collab is also tasty. I've only tried the strawberry matcha chocolate so far and loved the bar! They have strawberry pieces throughout. I gave them as gifts recently and my cousin loves the spice in the Mission Mocha bar. The place has limited seating and the line can be out the door on some days. Service is fast so you shouldn't be in line for too long. It's our favorite coffee shop in the area!

    Miso Caramel Latte
    Kaho L.

    Still some of the best coffee around! Even better having it for here instead of to go. I got my usual Miso Caramel Latte which is such a unique treat. Was able to get a seat this time in the late afternoon. Very cool vibe and quick service. Had anime playing on the TV.

    Earl grey matcha and Matcha Latte
    Veronica P.

    One of my favorite go-to matcha/ coffee spots in San Mateo! It's definitely a popular spot as there's always a long line whether it's morning or the afternoon. Wait time isn't too bad, Kaizen just prefers 6 people in queue inside. Bought the usual regular matcha latte and earl grey matcha. The matcha latte with default syrup had the perfect amount of sweetness. The earl grey matcha has a balance of umami, citrusy flavor. Can't go wrong with these! Have yet to try their food/ baked goods. Will have to come and try another time.

    miso caramel latte, iced americano
    Esther C.

    waited 20+ mins on a saturday morning. got the iced americano + miso caramel latte. both were really good. you can actually taste the notes, not just generic coffee. line was a bit of a wait but kinda worth it for the quality.

    Susan Z.

    Got super lucky and came on a Friday when there wasn't a line! IYKYK, Kaizen frequently has lines out there door and we knew we were in for a treat! Ube Latte - at first sip, the coffee was sour. However, mix up the drink along with the Ube and the drink turns into a smooth, nutty, and someday sweet coffee. Overall ok and would try a different drink. Caramel Miso - this was so delicious! Something about sweet and savory-like leaves you wanting more with each sip. Street parking in the front!

    Miso caramel
    Frankie X.

    miso in love w da miso caramel coffeeeeeeeeee!! i was lowkey skeptical about miso in coffee but it actually worked so well and complemented the caramel perfectly. new flavor combo unlocked fr. it wasn't too sweet at all and tasted great with the normal settings. my friend got the black sesame coffee and it was lowkey not it the coffee itself was good but the sesame didn't pair that well here. i've had better black sesame drinks elsewhere so i wouldn't get that one again.

    Name & logo
    Rose T.

    I've returned several times since my first visit and tried both coffee & tea options from their everchanging menu. +Black Sesame Latte +Black Sesame Matcha Latte +Earl Grey Matcha +Latte +Miso Caramel Latte -Earl Grey Supreme -Ube Latte Some drinks have been a miss, but the beautiful latte art, creativity, and friendly service are always there! Side notes: 1.) Restroom available for customers 2.) Walking distance from Hillsdale Caltrain station and Hillsdale mall 3.) Limited street parking (1 hour cap Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm): I'd recommend having someone wait in line while the driver looks for parking. *Verdict: If you're in San Mateo, I'd recommend stopping by!

    Smoked salmon & ube mascarpone toasts

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    Ask the Community - Kaizen & Coffee

    Can i park my bike somewhere safe? Or is it okay to bring it inside?

    The place is pretty small and the lines usually out the door don't think you'd be able to bring it inside, but I don't have a bike so I can't guarantee it

    I'm diabetes so I would like to know if I can have black sesame latte without sugar?

    Hi Joy, thank you for your question. Unfortunately we do not have a sugar-free option at this time. We have been considering separating the sauce and sugar for some time now, but will let you know on this thread once we do.

    Can they do decaf?

    Yes! I can't drink caffeine and ordered the black sesame decaf.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Antoine's Cookie Shop - 9/1/25

    Antoine's Cookie Shop

    4.7(1.2k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    First time trying this out, my friends told me these cookies are delicious... well they were right,…read morethe cookies were so good! This shop is small, the service was great and I liked how they also write down on their menu if they are low on cookies and how many are left. They also have a small oven where you can WARM UP YOUR COOKIE(S)! Such a great idea, highly recommend checking this place out for their cookies.

    Ambiance: A small cookie shop located on one of the side…read morestreets in Downtown San Mateo. The shop has a small seating area upon walking in with mainly a counter and the cookies on display for you to pick what you would like to refer. Wait time: Practically no wait time waiting in line or for cookies after placing your order. Service: The workers were nice and greeted upon entry and were quick to put the order together. Order via worker standing behind the counter. Cookies: The 66% chocolate chip had big chunks of chocolate which the bitterness helped balance the cookie. The cookies n cream was a little sweet for me but had again pieces of Oreos inside with a nice texture. The chocolate peanut butter again had both chocolate and creamy peanut butter which didn't leave the mouth dry. The honey comb was a unique and different taste with the honeycomb providing a less common sweetness but can be overpowering. The toffee cookie had bits of toffee which again provided texture without being overly sweet. The oatmeal chocolate walnut cookie was my second favorite after the 66% dark cocoa due to the oatmeal again balancing the sweetness of the chocolate with the saltiness of the walnuts. Overall would recommend for a solid cookie with a fair price and the day olds were also extremely cheap for a better quality than you could get at other places.

    Photos
    Antoine's Cookie Shop - Cookies n cream and Honeycomb

    Cookies n cream and Honeycomb

    Antoine's Cookie Shop - Toffee + honeycomb

    Toffee + honeycomb

    Antoine's Cookie Shop - 66% Dark Chocolate Chip

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    66% Dark Chocolate Chip

    Kaizen & Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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