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Did someone say Filipino Empanadas? Berkeley's Kuboba Spot did and with the 6-pack deal, I tried almost one of each. Since I wasn't eating beef that day, doubled up on the chicken adobo and longganisa omelette although the embudito (pork meatloaf) ended up my fave followed by the spicy curry potatoes. Guess I just have to go back especially since I signed up for their loyalty program. A box of 6 was enough for lunch for two and leftovers.
The empanadas here were better than expected. Yes, they have filipino flavors of fillings, but they also offer so much more, and most of it in stock even less than an hour before closing time this past Saturday. I absolutely appreciate this, as it makes them more reliable to have options I like when I visit. We got the spicy curry, cheeseburger, and pepperoni pizza empanadas, and they were a good size, with flaky buttery crusts, and quality ingredients. Each was seasoned perfectly, and the recipes were really good, no need for extra sauce (though they offer a variety on the side). Now I wanna come back to try more of their empanada flavors. The guava jasmine green tea was tasty but sweet, even at only 25% sweetness. And the place was cute and cozy, got a welcoming vibe and were able to find dine-in seating no problem. Staff was friendly and provided outstanding service too.
Was going to get 3 empanadas, ended up with 6 because why not. My favorite was the chicken adobo, it was meaty, savory and packed a ton of flavor. My second favorite was mango cheesecake, it was decadent and sweet enough with the glaze on top. If you can, you should try the other flavors depending on what you'd think you'd like but definitely include both of those ones. I got full with 3 and I can eat a lot so they're definitely filling. They also come with chili oil that packs a punch and some sweet n sour sauce that complements the empanadas. The mango wall drink was good with a great mango taste. The boba was nice and chewy. Service is friendly and very helpful. Inside is that not that big but it seems more of a takeout spot. The pandan and ube drink were also on my list but I couldn't get 3 drinks so I will have to come back later for those. Overall, great place for empanadas and a sweet drink. Go check them out!
Came here for the first time today with my son to try these empanadas that had unique Filipino inspired flavors and every single one was AMAZING! I also got their flavor of the month which happened to be vegetarian (a creamy mushroom and spinach flavor) that my husband devoured! We came here while we waited to get adjusted at the Joint down the block, so I guess I'll be back every time that I get adjusted! This place is a must try! Empanadas are very delicious and the staff is super friendly!
Loved the fact that I could order a winter melon tea (not a usual offering on a menu so I was excited to see it!) with coffee jelly, but the 25% sweet was sooo sweet. That was as low sugar as you could go in the online ordering. I also like the fact that they have Filipino empanadas here, though I was too full to partake in any.
I have been to Kuboba a few different times. I have enjoyed each visit. My mom and little sister both love this place as well. We usually order drinks and food items. The staff is very nice. Drinks and food items are always delicious.
The enpanadas are delicious and good sized, we bought extras to take home, the potato curry was my favorite and the macha milk tea. If you buy milk tea you can adjust the sugar level. Great service, clean and good ambiance.
I got their mango cheesecake empanada, and it was nice and warm when it was given to me. The empanada had a sugar glaze and was filled with mango puree and cream cheese. It was surprisingly not too sweet.
Discovered this spot on Yelp as I was looking for a quick bite nearby - so glad I did! I ordered the Chicken Adobo and Mango Cheesecake empanadas, as well as the Mango with Fresh Mango Wall drink. Both empanadas were super flavorful - personally, I loved trying the Mango Cheesecake, but probably pass it on my second order (a bit too much cream for me). Like others, I found that the 25% sweetness level was just right for the Mango boba - it was perfectly fresh and didn't sugar me out. The interior is kind of small, but well-decorated - seems like a great hang-out snack spot. I ordered on Snackpass - my food was delayed a couple minutes, but the owner was super super sweet. Absolutely love all the options and will definitely be back!
This spot was #1 on Yelp's top eats list in SF so I knew I HAD to try it!! I ordered 3 empanadas here: beef stew, chicken adobo, and spicy curry potatoes with peas. All 3 of them were delicious!! I loved the texture of the bread part itself and the flavors of the filling were so good. They also offer 2 sauces to have with the empanadas and they enhanced it even more. If you're an empanada fan, I recommend checking this spot out! The store itself is on the smaller end, but there are a few seats if you want to eat there. I coincidentally came when they were having a Yelp experience, which was cool, and I loved all the Yelp decor. Service was also friendly.
* Taro w/ Fresh Ube Wall - 9.5/10 (i love the real taro & ube, you can really taste the best of both worlds! the only thing is it that their standard is 25% sugar or else the drink would be rly sweet. after mixing the fresh taro & ube with the milk, it makes the perfect sweet treat combo. ~tine) * Mango w/ Fresh Mango Wall & Boba - 9/10 (first off, the sugar adjustments here are spot on. you can taste the real mango in their smoothie, & the mango wall tasted extremely fresh. the drink was really creamy & not icy like other smoothies. the boba was cooked perfectly w/ a nice bouncy and chewy texture, & the sweetener they used for their boba was really yummy. ~jerm) *you can really tell they don't use powders here!
The buko pandan drink here is amazing! Great pandan flavor and comes with homemade pandan jelly. I usually go with 25% sweet, which is their standard regular sweetness level and it's perfect. I've tried their beef stew, spicy curry, pepperoni pizza, and mango cheesecake empanadas. My favorites are their beef and curry. Street parking only and can be limited depending on when you visit. There was no parking on during the afternoon weekend when I came. You can order at the register or you can order on your own through the kiosk.
Kuboba Spot is the spot for Filipino fusion drinks and baked goods in Berkeley! A Yelp event introduced me to this glorious local business that I couldn't be more than happy to support! The shop is a wonderful addition to Berkeley, away from the Cal boba shops. No WiFi but there are a few tables scattered inside and outside for customers to hang out or work at. Ordering is prompt with the option to order online, through the tablet, or in person. Being family-owned, every worker I've interacted with has been extremely friendly, helpful, and hardworking. I was craving boba and my sweet companion took us here for drinks. He loves taro and got the Taro with Fresh Ube Wall and House Boba while I, a mango lover, had the Mango with Fresh Mango Wall with Lychee Jelly. We both got our drinks with 25% sweetness and Oat Milk. I love that toppings are included in drink purchases as well as dairy alternatives. I will say that 25% is their baseline but is quite sweet. We both favored the mango as it was creamy and you could taste the sweet mango. I'm partial to their pandan but this is a great option. The Taro was stunning to look at and good with chewy boba but we felt like something was missing--it didn't go to waste though. You won't be disappointed with such friendly workers and delectable bites and sips at this family business. For Berkeley dwellers and fans of Filipino fusion cuisine, Kuboba Spot is a great option for a small bite. Located off of Telegraph Ave. there is metered parking out front but free residential parking in the neighborhood.
So good. They are making fresh empanadas constantly, their dough is quality and they stuff them full. I was craving a treat and came to get a mango cheesecake empanada, it wasn't in the display case so I asked if they were out and they made one fresh. If you want a snack or some milk tea or refreshing green tea this is the spot. I really liked their green tea when I had it in the past. The parking is easy and the staff is nice. I much prefer this then going to Shattuck or Telegraph for tea. Also, bonus to support a small business. They have a handful of savory empanada options also. If you want a little something and dunno what I think this is the spot to drop by. It would be cool if they did a new flavor of the month empanada or rotated through flavors. read more
One word. EMPANADAS. My husband and I stopped by this spot on our walk home, and decided to grab some evening snacks. I went with the regular milk tea, and my husband went with the pandan milk tea. We also got the curry potato and beef stew empanadas. The staff was super welcoming and friendly that I felt I was walking into a friends home when I entered the store. They had a spot decorated for the holidays and limited seating available, but we were taking our orders to go. Still had to grab some pictures though! The staff kindly brought our drinks to us and carefully packaged the empanadas, even asking what preference of sauce we'd like and adding them all carefully into the to-go box. As soon as we got home, we dug into the empanadas and OMG, I wish I got more than 2. Both were packed with flavor that neither really needed sauce, but the sauces also complimented all the flavors! Particularly the beef stew empanada had such a flaky and delicious exterior, and scrumptious filling. The curry and potato one was yummy as well! Seasoning was on point I was also happily surprised at how large each empanada was, I'll def be going back to try the other flavors they have! Both drinks were okay, nothing really stood out. Good but not as memorable. The highlight was definitely by far those empanadas! read more
My go-to boba spot in Berkeley. The Pandan milk tea is so unique, love that they use fresh ingredients- the boba is always soft, and the jelly is housemade, with tons of flavor. Absolutely love the Mango Milk tea, Taro with fresh taro chunks, and the jasmine green milk tea with lychee jelly is also my favorite! Try their dessert pastries and empanadas as well! The staff is so friendly, service is great and prompt. Thanks Kuboba Spot for hitting the spot every time (and making my boba addiction worse) ;) read more
Great little spot to grab some drinks and snacks! They have a cute little indoor seating area for you to hang out in. I love that their pandan drink includes honemade pandan jelly. I didn't have space for food but the whole shop smelled so good from their baked empanadas. You can order from the machine or at the register, service was quick and friendly. read more
4 years ago
These Filipino empanadas are packed with flavor!! I like how it came out hot out the fryer and in my hands. Was tempted to try all of them but I'd have to just come back! The Filipino flavors of the chicken adobo and spicy curry stood out to me the most. I enjoy the additional spicy chili crisp to add for a kick! The buko pandan drink was refreshing and not heavy at all if you like coconut, try it! read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
Hands down the BEST Filipino spot in town!! I will literally never shut up about how much I love Kuboba Spot. It opened up earlier this summer, and it's very worth the hype. My go-to orders are the buko pandan drink, spicy curry potato empanada, and the mango cheesecake empanada. All the drinks I've tried here are delicious! The buko pandan and ube drinks in particular are some of my favorites (they remind me so much of the Philippines!). The drinks are very sweet, so I recommend sticking to the standard sweetness level of 25%. If you're ever tired of the basic milk tea flavors at other boba places, check out the drinks here! The empanadas here are UNREAL. Buttery and flaky on the edges, soft and savory in the middle. They are always made fresh and served piping hot, which is always a plus when it comes to baked goods. I've tried every flavor so far except the pizza one (but I'll definitely try it on my next visit!). I usually go for the meatless options, but the kaldereta and chicken adobo flavors will sometimes have me rethinking my vegetarianism. If you order one of the more popular flavors, you may need to wait for ~15 minutes for them to make the empanadas, but I assure you, it's always worth the wait! If they told me to wait an hour for my empanadas, I would do it. They also serve the empanadas with chili oil, which I love so much that I bought a whole jar of it during my last visit. I got lucky and snagged the last jar! The oil itself is flavorful (no need to dig around for the garlic chunks!) and the spice level is no joke. It's definitely my favorite chili oil in my pantry right now. The staff is also so friendly and accommodating. You can tell how much they truly care about and love their craft. I have never been so eager to support a small business! The next time you're in town, stop by Kuboba Spot! You'll definitely regret it if you don't :) read more
Even though there are already so many boba shops in Berkeley, I was excited to go to Kuboba because the Filipino influence makes it unique. I also love a boba shop that also has snacks. Kuboba is located on Telegraph, across from the 7-Eleven and CVS. We were able to find street parking nearby. The shop is small with a few tables inside and outside. There is also a cool bench with a light up sign and a cute boba plushie to take pictures with. When we arrived around 5:30pm, there were some people waiting for their orders, but the line wasn't long. They might have been busier than usual because there seemed to be a Yelp Elite event going on. The employees were friendly and helpful. We saw some empty spaces in the empanada display, so we confirmed that we were still able to order empanadas that weren't displayed. They let us know that we could order any of the empanadas on the menu because more were in the oven. The menu had empanadas, drinks, and baked goods. Our whole order of food and drinks took 10-15 minutes to come out. The drinks were solid! We ordered a small lychee jasmine green tea with boba and a small buko pandan drink with homemade pandan jelly. We ordered our drinks with 25% sweetness, which I thought was perfect. For food, we ordered the chicken adobo empanada and the spicy potato empanada. They were sizeable. I think 1 to 2 of them would make me full. The chicken adobo one was clearly hot, fresh out of the oven. We really liked the outside of the empanada, but we thought that the chicken adobo filling didn't have a super strong classic chicken adobo flavor. The potato filling was similar to what you'd find in a samosa. I found both of them tasty and satisfying. This spot is cute and unique. I would love to come back to try other items! read more
2 years ago
So much to love about Kuboba! I wish this place was here when I went to Cal. This would be where you'd find me. The drinks are great - I'm slowly working my way through their menu. The empanadas are made in house and you can even see them rolling out the dough and then filling them. And if your timing is just right, you get them fresh out of the oven. Hot and flakey and hella delicious. Oh and have you tried their baked goods? If you haven't you gotta! They have a delicious pandan blondie. Okay now I want to go again! Until next time! Cheers read more
4 years ago
As a Filipinx-American, I was so happy to try out this spot and support local talent! Im not really an empanada fan but these were so good. We ordered the Kaldereta, Pepperoni, Longganisa Omelette, Spicy Curry, and Mango Cheesecake empanada. They ran out of the chicken adobo, but thats okay it gives an excuse to come back for them! All of them smelled so good when we cut into them and our group favorite was the spicy curry. The dough was tasty + flaky, probably our favorite part of the empanada (also the empanada is HUUUGE). The owner mentioned that the boba they used for our drink wasnt their regular one, which wasnt as soft as we were used to--so when we go again we'll definitely try their boba again with their actual boba! The staff was so sweet and I felt like I was at home with how hospitable they were. :) read more
These are by far the best freshly handmade flakey delicious filipino empanadas I have ever had. From the Chicken Adobo to the Mango Cheesecake I had so many in one sitting, I can't say what's my favorite. I came in just to try a sample of a few and ended up eating about 5 in one sitting. No joke I honestly never had empanadas this good. As for the boba there was so much to choose from but the Mango Boba (highly recommended) was easily my favorite followed by the Guava Jasmin Green Tea and you cant go wrong with Taro and Ube. This place is a flex all on its own and I dont see many others standing close to it! read more
2 years ago
Was hesitant to try this place. But O.M.G. YOU MUST TRY this!!! Blown away by the flavors and the CRUST is amazing. Thank you for doing a fabulous job with all the flavorful filipino cuisine. Everything was fresh! read more
4 years ago
This was my first time trying Kuboba I got a beef stew empanada (left), a chicken adobo empanada (right), a mango cheesecake empanada, and a jasmine green tea boba (small/not pictured). The people were very nice I didn't get their name (so sorry!) customer service 10/10. I was that person who came 15 min before closing like an a-hole but they were cool about it and made me fresh empanadas despite it being close to closing. The inside is very small but also very cozy and inviting. Beef stew empanada: 10/10 (great flavor and the potatoes mesh well with the beef) Chicken adobo empanada: 9/10 (needs spice or something it's really good just needs a bit more flavor) The empanada outer pastry was nice and flaky/ buttery. Since they did make it fresh it was also nice and hot. The sauces were like a chili oil and sweet and sour, I liked them but I could do without the oil. Another sauce could be introduced possibly. (I don't have any sauce suggestions at the moment but somethings missing) Overall nice place and I will be returning! The workers also gave me a complimentary strawberry blondie cake as a thank you for trying them out! 10/10 would recommend my total was about $25 for everything I ordered. read more
2 years ago
Very good !! Friendly!! Good Filipino flavors in these empanadas! They're very flaky and came out warm and ready to eat ! Would definitely come back here when we're in the area! read more
4 years ago
I'm so glad I visited this spot! Their Buko Pandan is absolutely delicious, and their empanadas are such a bang for your buck! The pandan blondie was delicious, not too sweet and the perfect little dessert. The owners were eager to help, and the environment of the shop was incredibly welcoming! Definitely my new favorite snack spot Highly recommend their Kaldereta empanada! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Cute new spot that opened up at the old Subway location that has been closed since right after the pandemic started. Glad to see some new life at this location! I came during the first spot opening day and they had a great turnout of supportive friends so things were popping! They're a boba spot with some speciality drinks (the strawberry one looks good) and they also have empanadas that they were making fresh right there! There were some delicious-looking pastries as well (I definitely will be back to try the leche flan). For my first order I got a lychee jasmine green tea with lychee popping boba and lychee jelly. Was a big fan of the jelly and will definitely add this as a go-to topping for this location. They have an interesting assortment of drinks, some of which are a bit different from those at your typical boba spots, so I want to try some of their other ones like the pina colada black tea or the tiger sugar cafe latte with two espresso shots(!) next time. I also ordered a slice of the choco butternut (super moist and delicious but extremely messy - be ready with some napkins!) and a chicken empanada (they were sold out of the other flavors at the time). The empanada was flavored really well and they didn't skimp on the chicken filling so you definitely get your money's worth. It was also super hot and fresh so bite carefully. The workers all seemed really friendly if a bit overwhelmed by the crowd but were working efficiently to pump out drinks and make more empanadas. I felt very welcomed and hopefully they'll be around for a good long while so so can work this spot back into my regular rotation. In short, RIP Subway. Long live Kuboba Spot! read more
2 years ago
Finally tried out Kuboba Spot and ordered a Buko Pandan with homemade pandan jelly drink. I was shocked when I asked for the normal sugar level and it was 25%! I was worried it wouldn't be sweet enough for my usual liking but it was fine and tasted like a Vietnamese Che. I also ordered the pizza empanada and they're right, it tastes like a hot pocket but way better! The portions of the empanada are quite large so I ate half and saved the rest for later. Overall it's a cute spot with the friendliest workers that greet you with the warmest smiles. You can watch them assemble the empanadas right next to the cashier. read more
so so good!! so happy to find a new place to drop by after a long day of classes :) everyone was so kind and helpful and the food was great. i enjoyed the chicken adobo more than the curry one, but both were so yummy and at the perfect spice level. the guava gt (50 sweet) is also great! read more
4 years ago
Great hidden gem Boba spot along Telegraph in South Berkeley serving Filipino-style fusion food and boba drinks. I tried two empanadas (Filipino sausage and Chicken Adobo) and the first was my favorite. The mango wall was also a perfectly balanced drink upon the addition of the mango popping boba. Will be back for sure!!! read more
4 years ago
This review is definitely overdue! We had the pleasure of meeting with the co-owners, Sam and Seyna, over the summer. Not only do they have yummy boba drinks, but they also have the most delicious empanadas! Our favorites were chicken adobo, pepperoni pizza, spicy curry and mango cheesecake. Great place to grab a refreshing boba drink and delicious snack! read more
4 years ago
Visited on 7/21/2022 I got the Pandan Jelly drink with three empanada. They were all so good. You can distinguish which is which with the added topping on the empanada. The one with the black pepper is the chicken adobo, seseme seed on top is the longanisa, and the one with the crush pepper is the kaldereta flavor which I haven't tried yet (saving it for today for lunch ). Don't let the photo fool you, they are big portion of empanadas. 1-2 is enough for one person in my opinion. Oh they also make their own chili oil which is offered with the empanada in a small to go container. It's pretty spicy. It was so good I bought a jar. They are $12 each. Great staff and very friendly! Can't wait to try the rest of the flavor 12/10!!! read more
4 years ago
I had all the empanadas here; the Kaldereta (beef stew), Spicy Curry Potatoes with Peas, Longganisa Omelette, Chicken Adobo, Pepperoni Pizza, and Mango Cheesecake. As for the boba drinks, I got the Mango with Fresh Mango Wall and Honeydew boba. I've mostly had Argentinian-style empanadas, so I enjoyed trying out a different take on empanadas. Every single empanada was delicious that I had, they all did a good job of packing the flavors into the empanadas. My favorites would have to be the beef stew, pepperoni pizza, and mango cheesecake but I feel you can't go wrong with either one. Both boba drinks were good and interested in checking out the other drinks. This restaurant as you walked in just seemed like great vibes. The locals seem to be enjoying the sunny day, and I'd say having boba and empanadas is a great addition to the end of the weekend. It was great getting to interact with the workers there, especially the heart of the operation that made it all possible. This was a great experience, and looking forward to seeing this place grow and getting the support! read more
4 years ago
Nice little spot to get some treats. Tried the beef kaldereta and chicken adobo empanadas and just flavor central. The empanadas are made fresh by hand which is probably why they're so flaky. I think they got the empanada dough down to a science. And then I think my favorite boba in the east bay has to go to the buko pandan with buko jelly and then I add boba. Good place to try out however, you'll be spending some coin, nothings cheap anymore not even boba, but atleast it's really good read more
4 years ago
Came here expecting to try some of my daughter's food but couldn't keep my hands off it! Delicious flaky and flavorful pocket filled with addictive fillings. Kuboba also gets the boba right: perfectly chewy and sweet. Standard sweetness is not too sweet but just enough. Everything you want and more - made with lots of love! Staff so welcoming, making us very happy to enjoy the atmosphere in the shop too. read more
I previously made a post here about how they messed up on my drink but they messaged me and fixed it! This place is a 10/10! Fire empanadas but drinks are ok. Service is amazing as the cashier is super sweet. Would def recommend! read more
3 years ago
Fantastic drink flavors and staff! Ive tried the buko pandan, guava jasmine green tea, and mango with fresh mango wall and they are so very good! My favorite thing here are some of their unique flavors inspired by classic Filipino flavors! read more
Found this gem on instagram just in time for a visit to the city from Sacramento! On my first visit I ordered the chicken adobo, embutido, beef kaldereta, & mango cheesecake empanadas! Let me tell you at first bite I felt these were made with love! Sized larger than a typical empanda and made with a lighter crispy flaky crust. This is such a clever way to enjoy classic Filipino dishes. Everything tasted delicious, perfectly seasoned and not on the salty side. The mango cheesecake did not disappoint was the perfect balance of mango and cream cheese- also please make note I threw them in the air fryer the next day and they tasted as if I bought them that day! I also enjoyed a taro boba which had the perfect sweetness to it! Unfortunately, I did have to wait over an hour as they were backed up, but it was definitely worth the wait! As we got home we did realize we were missing an item for our order and with a quick phone call they invited us to come back and they'd take care of us and of course apologized for the inconvenience! On my second visit- I got the banana pudding (flavor of the month) deeelicous! The food definitely speaks for itself! The service is amazing- walking in you are greeted with the fresh baked aroma of empanadas & you'll see a boba station being worked, cashier & empanada station. You can totally tell they love what they're doing & they take pride in putting out a great product and experience. The wait & accident of missing an item wasn't a big deal because they were genuine in response & I felt valued as a customer. This is my new must visit when in the Bay Area. Street parking 3 small tables inside 2 small tables outside Outside benches to wait Great music playing! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Just tried all 6 empanadas and they are amazing! I will get so fat coming here so often! The pandan drink is also perfect at 25%! Nowhere else sells pandan flavored drinks. I went back because they forgot to put boba in mine and they were super nice about it. Great food and great service! read more
More info about Kuboba Spot
Ask the Community - Kuboba Spot
Do you use MSG? Also, do have longanisa using chicken?
Hi Nerissa, Thank you for your question. We use specific ingredients to certain fillings that…
Is there vegan options?
Hi Mak, we can customized some of our drinks to be vegan. As far as empanadas, we are doing a vegan friendly for Berkeley Restaurant Week next week March 23-April 2. Hope you can swing by. Thank you for your inquiry.
Are there any caffeine free boba drinks?
Hi Annabelle, yes! There’s a few specialty drinks that are caffeine free.
