I have to say, I really like this place! It was my second time here - this time for weekend brunch. They have the same friendly, no frills, fast service. I love the true classic French-style omelet technique. If you're looking for a place to eat in Berkeley and you don't have the time to wait in a Studio 54 type lineor are just on a 1 hour lunch break, this place is the place to go. BB read more

I found this place driving by after my 10 miles run in the Berkeley trail. Good service, easy to order with menu available at the central table. I started with a small almond milk cappuccino ( great coffee), orange juice and eggs florentine. Hollandaise saúce was creamy and delicious. Potatoes were crispy and cooked to perfection. Also came with a trio sauce on the side. Easy parking at Gilman. I definitely will be back and highly recommend this place. read more

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

I hadn't been here in years since the last time it was kinda weird. We tried takeout here again and the salad and pancakes were delicious. We will definitely do takeout here again. I'm not sure about dining in due to the Gilman situation. read more

I keep forgetting to re-review this great little cafe. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have always had great service and they were very close to my old photo studio location. Since I've moved I have not been in, so this visit is long overdue. Lama Beans is my go to for eggs benedict. I love that I can get it any day of the week. The food is well prepared and fresh, love the ambience and service with a smile, always. read more

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I pass this place so much, it's always busy. But I've never thought to eat here... aka the curb appeal is lacking. On a busy industrial corner off Gilman, I figured it has to be decent because it's been here forever. Well not wanting boring eggs this or that, they featured chicken and waffles. So we had to visit North Face anyway in the area and decided to give it a go. Actually must also give #1 son credit. It took his understanding of play on words (double entendre) to understand the depth of the name play. That's how it moved to frontal lobe of my consciousness. I got chicken in waffles with extra syrup. Chicken was certainly cooked well and had a whole different flavah when dunked in accompanying gravy. Waffle is a waffle. Tho this also had a bit of fresh berries on top to brighten the dish and with the syrup ($1/ little container) and a bite with chicken it popped brightly. You order up front grab a table in or outside and the very efficient and pleasant staff will take care of the rest. Very eclectic inside and out. This obviously is a neighborhood/work week place, but scanning the lunch and dinner menu... all looked so darn good! Diner fare? I suppose since it's all over the flavor town map. To quant to be a diner tho more like a bistro with a crazy menu variety. If I lived nearby I'd be here often. read more

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

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Chicken wrap is a 10 out of 10. Definitely like the fries instead of fruit (not that the fruit is bad but fries are super good). Inside tip: add fresh sliced jalapeños. You're welcome ;) read more

We thoroughly enjoyed this place and here's why! Food: B+ Despite having to only do take-out, the breakfast we ordered was really solid. I got the breakfast wrap woth silver dollar pancakes and side of corned beef hash. All of it came out quickly and cooked well. The wrap had a great mixture of potatoes and meat (aaked for bacon and sausage) and was just overall very filling. The silver dollar pancakes were great too and easily edible! Price: B- Their pricing wasn't great nor was it super expensive. I would rate it as above average, based on flavor and quantity of food. Staff: A Staff was great and gave us their thoughts on all our questions about what waa good and the favorites. They kept the place clean and cozy with a lot of great decorations. Vibe/Environment: A This place seems like it has a lot of history and culture to it. Would have been nice to sit down and eat and take it all in, but being there to see the stories on the walls was great for now. Parking: B There is a ton of side street parking despite not having a dedicated parking lot. I doubt you will find any struggles to find decent parking. Overall: B+ I will definitely come back if not to get some more silver dollar pancakes. So small and delicious! read more

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

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When I go to California Ski Company in Berkeley, I get the Corned Beef Hash which is I have ever had. Since I was going to be in town for two day, yesterday I had the Crab Cake Benedict. Oh my God, that TOO was amazing. read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Amaze-balls Crabe Cake Benedict - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Consistently serves good food. Plus has a nice atmosphere. Lots of menu items to choose from so can't go wrong here.

Huge portions. Excellent variety of selections. Very accommodating. We asked to order from the lunch menu before actual lunch time, and they obliged. read more

Best breakfast to dinner in east bay I love everything of this place it's really yummy and best

A hidden gem! Came here after a long few hours moving heavy boxes into the nearby storage locker. We were cranky and sweaty--this place was exactly what we needed. The food was made really well at a decent price for the area. I ordered the vegetarian sandwich which was essentially an eggplant parm. The bread tasted fresh and the eggplant inside was crisped perfectly. It came with fries which were seasoned and tasted great. My boyfriend really liked the jerk chicken lavash. The food came out quickly so this is a great place to swing by when you're in a rush read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Jerk Chicken Lavash - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great neighborhood cafe. Large dark interior with lots of wood gives an old time feel, but there are also sidewalk tables to enjoy the wonderful weather outside too. Had simple breakfast fare at an outdoor table. Avocado toast was a little plain, no spices, drizzled oil, or tomatoes, just sliced avocado on toast but it was good. My companion ordered an omelette which she liked. I would return. read more

Our first time trying Lama Bean; excellent service! Nice workers, food was excellent. Husband tried many fried chickens and waffles, and said this was one of the best. The waffle was crispy on the outside and moist inside. The gravy is different from the regular brown gravy, this has more of a veggie flavor but still good. Strawberries were sweet! Definitely would get it again. Silver dollar pancakes were fluffy and delicious! We will go here again when we're out in Berkeley! read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Silver Dollar pancakes and fresh fruit. Very fluffy and delicious! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Getting my car serviced nearby, the garage recommended Lama Beans Cafe for a bite while I wait for my car. It's a quaint cafe on the corner of a busy intersection. You walk up to the counter to be greeted by a friendly wait person. She made several recommendations. I went with a very traditional breakfast, two eggs, sunny side up, two sausages, potatoes and sourdough toast, and iced tea. A number is assigned then select a table. The iced tea was provided at the counter. What can go wrong with my traditional breakfast? Absolutely nothing, it was exactly as expected. Eggs were fresh, sausages were cooked properly, potatoes were pleasantly browned, sourdough toast perfected toasted with salsa, aioli and a spinach salsa on the side. Midway, the wait person refilled my iced tea. It was a very pleasant experience. If you are in the neighborhood, I highly recommend this cafe for breakfast. read more

Great food and staff. In walking distance of many other shops like Northface outlet, Whole Foods, Philz, Fourth Street for a longer walk.

Food was delicious. Cozy and warm feeling. Will go back. Location is cute, but street parking. read more

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

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Excellent little brunch spot! Florentine Benedict was incredible. They special made me an Irish coffee drink with no coffee (sub oat milk only) because I am caffeine free n_n It was so good! read more

Lama Beans Cafe is such a cute, local spot that is loved by the neighbors. Their coffee is good, remember to try mocha! Staff is very nice and the atmosphere is welcoming. Great to have it nearby! read more

A great neighborhood cafe! My go-to for breakfast/brunch. I especially love their trio of sauces (created by the original Jimmy Beans owners, who I heard were connected to Chez Panisse). Llama Beans make a great breakfast--eggs, very fresh hash browns, the 3 sauces. Their menu is quite diverse offering tasty choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner--a great all-round cafe run by congenial people. The only criticism I have is about how they make coffee, the lattes/cappuccinos to be exact need improvement. I know the employees are not experienced baristas, but they could be better trained at making these drinks. They seem to not be as fresh-tasting as they could be. I believe this is due to a couple of issues: a) the espresso machine needs to be cleaned more thoroughly each night; b) there is some technique to pressing, or tamping, the coffee into the "portafilter" to bring out the fuller taste of the coffee grounds. Sorry for this criticism but I worked as a barista, and learned to make decent lattes/cappuccinos. Please don't let this criticism keep you from trying Llama Beans. read more

It opens at 8 for the kitchen but we went in just shy of eight to get a cheeky boost of caffeine before getting our uhaul van. I am fussy coffee drinker and this was just perfect - no bitterness. Staff are super pleasant and efficient. Kitchen staff were hard at work on this hot hot day on the bay. We'll be back for more. read more

My two boys and I had been to Lama Beans once before to enjoy a fantastic brunch of generously-portioned egg dishes & left feeling very satisfied. When we googled it up to see if it was open after an evening game of soccer, we assumed we could satisfy a craving for a breakfast-for-dinner. Alas, when we got there, we picked up their menus on the counter & were disappointed to see the eggs were only for brunch. So I said to the server- "Sorry we're going somewhere else- thought we could get eggs here." The server replied -to our wonderful surprise- that he could accommodate us. We three wolfed down delicious corned beef hash & a vegetable omelette. Big thanks for accommodating us w this most excellent service & for an excellent value for money. We will definitely be back!!! read more

Food is excellent and reasonably priced. Fast service, parking scarce, had the chicken and waffle, yummy, next i had the eggs benedict, so good. read more

This is the second time I have come here for brunch on a Saturday and I have to admit that I am pretty impressed. I saw the reviews here on Yelp and thought it would be a good place to try but once I walked by the cafe I thought it did not seem that appealing at first. However, I walked in and quickly realized that this is quite a gem! I ordered at the front and had the chicken and waffle special with a vanilla latte (double, because I need caffeine) and was amazed at how quickly we got our food. I sat at a small table for two and talked with the girlfriend about our plans for the day and before I drank half of my coffee our food was there. Now, I made the mistake in thinking that my chicken would not be piping hot...silly me! It was nice, hot and freshly cooked which is great. The texture of the chicken was extra crispy which is perfect for me and they don't use a cornmeal batter...I hate cornmeal batter. (If they did...it fooled me!) I had a leg and a breast and they meat was juicy and delicious as hell! The chicken came with some type of sauce that was just the best thing I have ever had for dipping my chicken in. Honestly, it seemed like some sort of gravy but with bits of celery, carrot, and maybe rosemary? Not sure but I wish I had more of that so I could have doused it on my chicken. The waffle was big and not bad but it seemed to have some sort of sponginess to it. Maybe it was part waffle batter and part sponge cake? At least that is the only way I can describe it. But like I said, it was not bad just different and not really my cup of tea. The syrup made the waffle taste better though. The coffee here in terms of their vanilla lattes are always spot on! I have never had a bad one and I have had three since the first visit. Definitely check out this place for brunch and if you want to bring your furry friend, they have outdoor seating so you both can enjoy a good meal or even just coffee :) read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Chicken and Waffle Special....Amazing chicken! I'll pass on the waffle next time though. - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The eggs Benedict is absolutely delicious. Great prices. The coffee is strong and delicious. My favorite breakfast/brunch spot.

Llama beans is great for brunch, but even better for dinner. The food has so much integrity with excellent ingredients. The people who work there are elegant and kind. Best of all, the prices are very reasonable for the quality. read more

Good ol breakfast! This place is my new fave, not good food but the vibe is pretty much Berkeley. Family or with friends. Love their mini pancakes with fruits and butter with their yummy syrup. Corned beef hash you have to try, it's scrumptious. Gotta come back to try other yummy food. read more

Lama Beans Cafe - Mini pancakes were cute and delish - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is seriously one of the best spots in Berkeley for a breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Have gone north and south and nobody in the area makes eggs blackstone like they do. I'll keep coming back as long as they stand in business. read more

I had a late lunch here with my dad recently. It was my first time, but apparently he's been here several times. He said it was recommended by his sister, my aunt. She said it was recommended by a friend. I understand that this has been a really fantastic restaurant for years and years and years. I understand the current owner has not been there the whole time, but has done a fantastic job, keeping up the consistency of food service and down-home charm. Prices were fair enough, portions were large enough, everything was tasty (especially my delicious salmon! You can see in the picture how crispy it was). This is a fill your own water and order at the counter type of place. Parking is on the street, it's free, but I think depending on time of day it might be pretty crowded. I also think depending on time of day this restaurant is pretty crowded. Definitely check it out ... but perhaps do you like we did and have a 3 PM lunch! read more

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

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Some meals are so satisfying. That is how brunch at Lama Beans is. Today I had Crab Cake Benedict and hubby had Chicken & Waffles. 5/5 The crab cake was full of crab. It was fresh and chock full of delicious crab flavor. The hollandaise sauce was well balanced and plentiful. The potatoes were crispy and tasty. The 3 sauces (a pico, an aioli, and a pesto) give a nice kick to the potatoes especially. I love having little ways to mix up the flavor of my food. 5/5 Chicken & Waffles. Hubby chose bone in chicken and got a thigh and drumstick (cheers for dark meat chicken!) over a crispy waffle served with a very tasty chicken gravy, maple syrup, and fresh strawberries. The chicken had a tasty crumb coating and was fried perfectly. Who doesn't like mixing sweet and savory, crunchy and soft? When it is done right, it is really, really good. 3/5 Drip coffee. Whatever. We weren't there for the coffee. They do offer free refills which is nice. We've been driving past Lama Beans and it's predecessor for 20ish years, I'm going to do a lot more stopping. read more

My daughter had chorizo scrambled eggs. She said it was tasty but had a belly ache which she says was due to her no longer eating pork. Take that how you will. My wife and I had the chicken and waffles, which was a nice crispy battered boneless chicken, with a nice fluffy waffle. My only quirk was not enough syrup and extra was needed at an extra cost. My daughter and pier friends daughter had pancakes, silver dollar full stack and blueberry. While i didn't taste the blueberry pancakes they were riddled with plenty of blueberries by sight. The silver dollar pancakes were fluffy, light, and tasty. They offer mimosas 3 for $18 which we had 4 off, add they come in 3 flavors which are orange, pomegranate, and grapefruit. I want to go back and try a scramble with the potatoes. Everything was good to me as far as taste including the pomegranate mimosa. The service was excellent and delivered with a smile upon every interaction. The ambience was a cozy cottage diner where everyone is tightly seated together whether they are there together or not. It's not overwhelmingly close but everyone is close enough to enjoy small conversation if wanted. I recommend this place to people that like brunch, where breakfast is served until 3pm, and I'm also interested in their burgers too. read more

If you want a fantastic dinner at a good price, be sure to go to Lama Beans at 6th and Gilman in Berkeley. They have a nightly special that includes homemade soup or salad, entree with sides, and a dessert. Tonight I had the $20 special: Caesar salad, fried chicken, mashed potatoes with sautéed veggies and banana pudding all for $20! What a great deal. It was delicious. I would hate to see this neighborhood jewel go under as there were very few customers tonight. Give it a try! read more

Had Sunday brunch there with some friends, and as others have said the food was wonderful. I had a salad but my friends eggs Benedict looked so good and she goes there specifically for that! It's a small place with limited seating inside and outside but they utilize the space they have as well as possible. They probably need a bigger location as the word is spreading quickly about how good it is! read more

Cutest little cafe in Berkeley. We stopped here for brunch after a leisurely stroll in the neighborhood. Make sure to place your order and then find seating (or divide and conquer, and have someone who can find seating while someone else gets in line. So many food options that are all good. Pancakes are light and fluffy. Eggs cooked pretty well, and specials are a must to share at the very least. Highly recommend nutella-stuffed french toast and chicken and waffles. Chicken lavash is also delicious (make sure to mention if you want it with fries or a salad, otherwise it comes with a salad). Don't forget to check out their mimosas as well. Staff is friendly and welcoming (they turn the tables over fast too). Appears to be busy with tons of people, but you typically don't have to wait too long. This place is very kid-friendly as well (tons of high chairs and booster seats, in additon to limited kids menu options). Not the best for parties of 8 or more due to size (not impossible, but may be difficult to wait for that many seats to be ready at once). read more

I have been coming here since 2012 and Lama the owner is very nice, warmth and welcoming. He make sure that he's customers get taken care of. When meeting my friends, I always bring them here since it's a walking distance to my place, good food, cool owner. And plus I love to support local businesses! Thank you, Lama! read more

Had the Friday Fried chicken special and it was delish! Panko crust and cooked to perfection. Salad and dessert (creme brulee) came with it and were excellent as well. Price was very reasonable. Service was quick and attentive. I'll be back. read more

I heard they have the best breakfast burrito and I decided to try it today. It was worth it, the burrito was one the best breakfast burritos I've had. The food came out fast and the staff were friendly and helpful. I'm coming back again just for the food. 10/10 read more

Love this place. First time trying today with a friend. We got there as soon as it opened 8 a.m. we both had the basic meal 2 egger with bacon, home potatoes, and toast. The food was awesome including the service. The Berkeley police frequent this location also. I love the sauces that came with my order. It took my meal to a different level yum! The only dislike is the bacon. It was too crunchy next time I will let them know. Besides that no complaints and I will be for sure returning. Btw my friend meal came with a generous large cup of coffee. He was pleased read more

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Drove from el Cerrito to get my 9yr old chocolate French toast. We clearly started no raspberry jam on chocolate. Drove back to EC it had no jam nor chocolate. Drove back to get replacement order woman at register had major attitude and wanted to charge me twice!! Get back home and the order had both jam and chocolate. They don't have a clue about customer service! I miss it when it was Jimmy Beans!! read more

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

Cute local eatery. Good booze selection!! The home fries were awesome and the crab cake Benedict was good. The Benedict came with three extra sauces , an unusual and fun treat. The iced tea was good. Staff was helpful and pleasant; the restaurant was clean and had quirky decor. read more