I had yet to find a favorite breakfast place in NorCal until trying this place. They serve everything with care. This is a wonderful neighborhood breakfast/brunch spot! Their blueberry pancakes won my heart over. Something about these pancakes makes them the best in the world. They are not too sweet, not tart, they use fresh blueberries and they are just perfectly light and fluffy and somehow I can finish the whole plate which I never do. They are magical. Thank you lama beans for existing! read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Blueberry Pancakes, these are the best in the world - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It's a routine come here before Point Isabel dog park. Order tofu scramble and 3 mimosas(it's a good deal) and then walk it off with the dogs. read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Tofu Scramble and line up the mimosas for a perfect Sunday morning. - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

One of our favorite nights to go is Thursdays where the dinner special is a 3 course meal consisting of a melt in your mouth beef brisket! We had the Mushroom soup for starters Very tasty and not too salty! I'm not much of a dessert eater but their cranberry cheesecake is absolutely delicious! Service is always fast and friendly. Very casual setting but food is really good comfort food! read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Cranberry Cheese cake - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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By far one of my favorite community eateries! I love having brunch at Lana beans. My favorite items are; silver dollar pancakes and the salmon scramble. And the mimosas are yummy! Super cute space and the staff is extremely friendly, great service and they have outdoor seating. Parking can be challenging during breakfast and dinner because they're so popular. But you won't be disappointed. Enjoy! read more

The coffee here was very good followed by the breakfast potatoes and mini pancakes. It was a very positive experience. I visited here for brunch on a rainy day and the environment was very positive with good customer service despite the chaos outside. read more

Lama Beans Cafe - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came to Lama Beans Cafe I think it was twice while living in the Albany area (2016 to 2019, inclusive), one time with family (my mom and my dad) and one time with family and friends. In terms of occasions, it was one I came to with my mom and a few friends to celebrate my 26th birthday. The layout had a large main room and smaller room(s) off to the side. In terms of acoustics, the smaller room was better for conversation. Ordering was walk up and place your order, get some water, and they would bring the food to the table when it was ready. Workers were warm in demeanor. Food was tasty and a moderate serving size. Leftovers we were able to take without much of a hassle, though waiting for a box could take a little bit depending on how busy the workers were. read more

Late lunch by car repair. The staff came outside to the little garden boxes and picked the mint for my drink, and brought out a dog water bowl. Good food. Ollie (the dog) hated it because I didn't share my yummy beet salad. read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Fresh mint mojito - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Wow I am leaving this place scared for my life ! The onwers daughter is very aggressive and she chased me down in the restaurant put her finger in my face and cussed at me and called me names because I asked for a refund on my steak sandwich?! Let's start from the beginning When you walk in all the tables are sticky like they wipe them down with dirty rags and water ! But I go and order a stake sandwich it cost 20 dollars The steak came out it was old meat at least two days old and they resalted it and recooked it to make my sandwich the meat was really hard and salty like beef jerky! And they give you just bread meat and half a tomato for 20 bucks no mayo lettuce cheese peppers or anything else all that cost extra by the time your done they want 30 dollars The fries were a complete after thought you can tell they have those fries sitting there all day they throw them on the plate to make it look like 20 dollars worth of food In the end I was able to beg for my refund but be careful the girl will threaten you as she give you a refund Side note the girl ran and put a cup of salt at the door before I left ! Some sort of spell or ritual so now it obvious they practice witchcraft here at this Restaurant You can tell they are not making it as a whole I advise you to spend your money elsewhere What's funny is that you can see the level of aggression they have at this place they replied to my yelp with a lie I did not eat the sandwich because it was not safe to eat this whole problem is because I asked for a refund! If your a decent business it shouldn't bug you to offer your customer a refund that give the impression that they are a struggling business that's why they re use food and don't waste there meat serving me two day old meat is bad practice read more

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Very quick service. We ordered crab cake Benedict, pancakes and other bfast foods. The chai was top tier. No photo's unfortunately bug 10/10 recommended read more

Excellent breakfast spot, great service and very friendly wait staff. Super flavorful entrees and just the right portion size. In fact if you only need a little something, one meal can be shared. Oh almost forgot they have a full bar . read more

Always a pleasure to eat at Lama Beans. The owners are always so nice and welcoming. That's why there are so many regulars that frequent the restaurant. The food is always consistently delicious and the service is the same. Additionally, the prices are very reasonable. It's indoor and outdoor seating and a great place to bring friends for a chat. There's something for everyone on the menu. read more

I ordered the tofu scramble. It comes with pesto seasoned tofu "eggs", potatoes and sourdough. The eggs were good because they mix them with pesto and walnuts. The rest was basic and unmemorable. I did like that you order up front, take a number and then go sit while they bring your food. The ambiance is super casual, friendly and service is good. read more

Lama Beans has the best chicken ceasar wrap! The service was quick. However, you order food/drinks at the counter then you must find a table if you want to eat there. The cafe is smaller so it might be difficult to find a place to sit if you'd like to eat there and it's busy. The food is great so if it seems busy, just take it to go! read more

Service was great! Very friendly and efficient. The ambiance was very chill. The pancakes and waffles were to perfection. The boneless fried chicken was overcooked and needed seasoning. However I do understand that not everyone likes flavor. Other than that - everything else was great and will come to try other things on menu read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Fried chicken and waffles - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Wonderful salads that were very fresh. The outdoor seating is very pleasant with umbrellas for shade. Indoor is very plain and not so inviting. Service was fast and ordering at the counter was easy. read more

Lama Beans Cafe is a restaurant I've passed by throughout my life but was never drawn to. My friend spoke highly of the options and affordable cost, so on a breakfast whim I chose to take my cousin and me here. The restaurant is unassuming inside and outside--open seating for small and larger groups plus tables outdoors. For breakfast and lunch it's counter service. Order and pay and your items are brought to you while water is self-serve. The vibes are quite casual and neighborhood-like like with service being friendly and efficient. For brunch, I got the Organic Tofu Scramble. The dish came with toast, home fries, and their trio of sauces. Portions were nicely sized for the price. I felt that the tofu scramble could've been seasoned more and some parts of the dish tasted a bit flat, so that's when the sauces did the saving. My cousin had the Country Omelet and said it hit the spot. For those in Berkeley looking for a no-frills neighborhood spot, Lama Beans Cafe is adorable and has decent food. The restaurant is located off Gilman St. with street parking in the area. Not sure if I'll be back anytime soon but I'm glad to have tried it. read more

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First time at this place, recommended by a coworker of mine. Safe to say I wasn't disappointed. Off the bat, good friendly service and the inside gave me Lake Tahoe diner vibes. The food was good and definitely hit the spot. My friend and I shared each other meals so I was able to try the corned beef hash which I ordered for myself and her eggs blackstone. Both were delicious and having me wanting to come back for more and to try other things on the menu. We ended the meal by splitting a dozen silver dollar pancakes. These were really good, I thought it would be tough by the look of it but it was nice and fluffy. Perfect with butter and syrup. Overall this place is great so far and has become part of my Berkeley brunch list rotation. The only downside I would say is parking. Had to park about 2 blocks away and around 4-5 blocks away are a lot of homeless encampments. But that's becoming the norm in the Bay Area... read more

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Popped in for brunch and had the wild salmon benedict. The eggs were poached *perfectly* and were light and fluffy; hollandaise sauce silky. Home fries simple, but delicious and crispy. It's apparently counter service for breakfast and lunch, with table service for dinner. Cute, casual, and comfortable. I'll definitely stop by again next time I'm in the area. read more

Usually get blueberry pancakes and crispy bacon but I saw lamb sandwich on the menu and had that. Was a bit disappointed because it wasn't what I envisioned. Expected it to be juicier but otherwise fine. read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Blueberry Pancakes - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Divine wild mushroom omelette! Fair trade coffee. Fresh squeezed orange juice. Everything is perfectly Delicious! They even brought my son a free plate of silver dollar pancakes and fresh strawberries with all the trimmings for his 16th birthday! Well attended by locals. Fast service. Friendly and professional staff and family-owned. Warm ambiance. Highly recommend!!!! read more

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Disappointing. Another overpriced and over-rated Berkeley restaurant. My own hash browns and corned-beef hash is much better. Hard to ruin an egg. Won't be coming back here. read more

The best brunch experience ever! Excellent food for breakfast and brunch, not sure about dinner, because if I go for dinner, I still order breakfast food. This is just me, enjoy! read more

We love Lama Beans! I've been coming to this spot before I had kids, and continue to come back with now four kids. Quality - amazing. Service - always amazing. Chill, relaxing ambiance. Their benedicts are my go-to, but their standard breakfast plates are also yummy! Never had anything I did not like here. read more

We had breakfast for 2 and it was all good, ordered at the counter, got served quickly food was tasty (I would have liked a bit more generosity with the condiments and food) tortilla was crisped (dorado) a complaint if not done. We had 2 drinks and the bill was just shy of $50- I know we are taxed by the county about 10% and the lowest preset tip amount on the machine at the register was 18% which is what I entered, somehow that doesn't feel like a $50 breakfast, so on a price to value ratio I come up with 3 stars (maybe 3.5). read more

Corn beef hash! Yum! Very delicious food. Yum, yum ,yum , yum. Nice staff and family friendly environment.

The outside seating was on the sidewalk but the tables had umbrellas so it was too sunny. (It was a warm day) The inside was a little dark but fine. The staff were very friendly and provided a water dish for the dogs. My son got the chorizo scramble. It looked very good. It came with potatoes. I got the bbq pork sandwich. It was loaded with pork and pickled onions. It came with either fries or salad. I got salad it had a nice dressing. read more

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I've been coming here for years, when it was Jimmy Beans. I always have a solid dining experience. The service is good and the food is always fresh and tasty. I hadn't been in a while and decided to drop by and confirm the quality has stayed consistent. Indeed it has! I ordered a Mexican coffee that had tequila and Baileys and the herb and goat cheese scramble. The scramble came with potatoes, choice of toast or English muffin, and their classic trio of sauces. The location is nice because it's right off the freeway, but parking can sometimes be a challenge. read more

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I always drove past this place and see it crowded and finally got to try it. It's a self-serve type of cafe and has very limited seating inside. The cashier was less than friendly and I wish she told me they ran out of english muffins for the benedict so I can change my order). I ordered regular coffee and she just gave me a cup with no other instructions. I looked lost but eventually found the canister to find that it was empty! Got my benedict and it was served on regular pieces of white bread barely toasted. I agree with the others about their side sauces that added umph to their dish. But overall, I wasn't impressed. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing? read more

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We walked by this location many times thinking they only had coffee and pastry. Wrong full lunch and dinner. Do have to order at the counter. Restaurant is huge and charming. Lots of outside tables too. Of course because it is on Gilman expected notice. none where we sat. Each tried our fave. Silver dollar pancakes and chicken and waffle service very fast will come again esp since no more Gilman Grill read more

Especially delicious for down home American breakfasts at reasonable prices. Owned & operated by Himalayan-Americans. Lunch and dinner choices are also delicious. Prix Fixe dinner choices 5 nights a week in addition to à la cart dinner menu. read more

The food, the people, the service! This was my first time coming to this restaurant but my family has come many times when they are in the area. The people that work there are so kind and welcoming. There were 10 of us in my party and they were able to accommodate us. The inside isn't huge and they were quite busy for a weekday. All of us loved our meals and enjoyed trying each other's meals. The coffee is good and unlimited too. I would definitely come back to this restaurant again! read more

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We went in on a week day, it was already busy. But our wild salmon Benedict came out pretty fast and was perfectly cooked. The coffee is amazing and the staff is great read more

Delicious burger, ample portions, reasonably priced, easy to get to. What more can you ask for these days?

We've lived nearby for over 15 years and FINALLY decided to try this place. Glad we did because it was fantastic! The corn beef hash was amazing. On the side was some sauces you culud mix in and I mixed them all in. Very unique and delicious! My husband had the chicken and waffles. The waffle was fluffy, served with butter and syrup. Atop the waffle was two big pieces of fried chicken. For now, table service starts at 5p. So if you go before then, you order at the counter. Fantastic place. Wish we discovered it sooner. Definitely returning and placing it in our rotation of good eats read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Corned beef hash and eggs - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great coffee and service, access to some solid beer. Superb food and clean restrooms.

Came here for brunch. It's always busy when I pass by. Parking on street and has outdoor seating and decided to sit inside. Put in my order to dine in and my order never came. Asked the server and checked and she said my order was never in. So I got back in line to order and pay and waited for my order. When I got my order it was the wrong order. I got the California benefit but got the egg Benedict. My party was already done eating by then so no point getting my order right. Got my plate to go and dipped. I would not come here again. First and last. read more

POSSIBLY THE BEST CHICKEN & WAFFLES IN BERKELEY???? I really thought we'd find this further south. Of all brunch spots to find comfort food, Lama Beans was the unexpected favorite. For COVID safety purposes, masks are required and hand sanitizer is provided throughout the restaurant. Some parking open along adjacent streets, but would recommend keeping a watchful eye for any break-ins around this area. Inside, a cozy family-friendly hub with odes to Nepalese culture adorned about. Elements of Nepalese cuisine are dotted in the menu, but being an insufferable brunch fiend, I opted for their more "American" fare SILVER DOLLAR PANCAKES: So good. Other places w/ regular pancakes = too dense, a little too chewy, and always end up as a soggy pile of sugary mush. Lama Beans' silver dollar pancakes = Fluffy but crispy, small bites, and best for getting the ideal ratio of pancake:syrup:butter. Why can't all pancakes be like this... :') CHICKEN AND WAFFLES: Something about their gravy, powdered sugar, chicken batter-- EVERYTHING. SLAPS. Texture & seasoning are on point. You need to try this to see for yourself. Decent coffee. Cute mugs + Mr. Espresso! Would highly rec Lama Beans for the quintessential local cafe experience. read more

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Food was surprisingly good- eggs done well, sausage brown and moist, three sauces served with the breakfast plate were varied and tasty. Service is fast and friendly - very sweet atmosphere Inside and out. I look forward to trying lunch ! read more

A wonderful local establishment. Great food, well prepared, affordably priced. A great place for a breakfast, lunch, dinner or just morning coffee. Family owned with kind great service. I especially love their poached eggs, trio of sauces, and amazing breakfast potatoes. read more

Breakfast is good, but the dinners are great. Well prepared food at a reasonable price. The cooks are surprisingly talented for such a small place. Some of my favorites: Fried Brussels sprouts, Beet salad, rib eye steak, grilled salmon. And their 3-course dinner Specials are very satisfying. read more