Little Gem Belgian Waffles
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This place is great, who doesn't love Belgian waffles. We stopped by here while visiting Berkeley a few years ago and it smelled amazing, waffles were good, sweet, but good overall
Truly a little gem! We had pizza nearby and we decided to come here for dessert, what an absolute amazing combination. Not only are the waffles delicious, but the toppings, and the ice cream flavors are also fantastic! It was pretty fast and everything was made fresh, the ambiance is very cute but there's no place to sit down or go inside. You order at the window and pick up at the window. It's also card only, but I actually prefer that, and the ordering is also done through a self-serve kiosk. I can't wait to go back next time I'm in Berkeley!
A cute little hole in the wall near UC Berkeley campus. I was shocked that it was no interaction from the worker. I was literally standing trying to scan then look over the menu to choose. The entire time the 1 lady never spoke, or even look up. Ah I noticed at the pickup window she has ear buds in her ears so she's literally cooking and listening to music.
I've been having a sweet tooth lately and have been coming here more frequently than usual... yay for me. Lol. Their matcha cream has been my latest obsession. The matcha tastes like ceremonial grade and pairs so well with the whipped cream on top of a waffle. ALSO, THEY ALSO JUST GOT A DELICIOUS CREAMY MANGO ICE CREAM... perfect for wanting to a tropical twist on your waffle.
I'm not even the biggest fan of belgian waffles, but these are probably one of the best belgian waffles I've had in a while. I love the extra sugar they put on the waffle to add to the texture. The waffles care cooked perfectly so they're still soft on the inside when crispy on the outside. They have great toppings that go great with their waffles, but it is truly the quality of the waffles that seal the deal for me. There's no seating outside and you can order online or order at their kiosk. It's to-go only. The wait can be a bit long sometimes, but I would say it is worth the wait. Would definitely go back again.
look how beautiful this is. I've been to norcal many times but it has been my lifelong dream to try little gem, and it definitely exceeded my expectations. i had to make the game time decision to get this instead of yogurt park (or yopo as they say) and was glad i went with this scrumptious delight. for all the topping and caramel the waffle does not get soggy, and the ice cream and banana combo was just perfect. it's pretty heavy and i split it with 2 people. they were understandably pretty busy with orders around 9 pm on grad week but were kind and attentive. long live this Berkeley staple
Love this place for a late night sweet treat! My friends and I always come here when we have a dessert craving. The waffles come out fresh and perfectly crispy every time -- paired with the whipped cream and fruit also,, so good. We always order off Snackpass before coming; sometimes they'll have deals during certain hours or if you create a party with your friends. I always order "crown jewel" or "golden bear," but you really can't go wrong with any of the options!
This place isn't popular for no reason! I always have to have these waffles every time I visit Berkeley. The smell of the shop is so enticing and the waffles are always fragrant and delicious! It's super convenient ordering ahead on Snackpass.
I love waffles. Just not this waffle. I might try again and see if I get a better waffle/combination. I went with a churro/nutella/ whipped cream waffle. The waffle wasn't crisp or particularly flavorful. The churro seasoning just made it sweet. Couldn't taste the Nutella at all. The whipped cream cheese is good tho.
Solid dessert. We tried a few different ones and they all were legit. Service was quick. Staff was nice.
Just came back from a trip to Brussels, Belgium excited to see if anything in the Bay Area could match or somewhat recapitulate my liege waffle experience from just a few weeks ago. I took a peep at the website where it mentions the owner was trained in Belgium, took a year to develop the recipe, and tested over 600+ versions. My expectations were high...Perhaps too high. What makes a true liege waffle unique to me is its density. The amount of flavor packed in one rich bite is to die for. Additionally the crispiness of the caramelized pearl sugar crossed with the soft texture is unforgettable. Little Gem Belgian Waffles lacked the critical components of belgian Liege waffle (or at least the batch that I had). The waffle was not dense- it was fluffy. The waffle was not crisp- it was soft (even flattened where I held it in the paper bag my plain waffle was served in and I don't think a real Liege waffle would do this since it's too dense!). Where is the caramelization? Where is the pearl sugar? I had a plain "Liege" waffle. If you ask any locals in Belgium, a plain Liege waffle is all you need. This plain waffle was not bad. In fact, it was pretty good. What I could enjoy was the fluffiness. Its texture felt more of like a pancake-y, ever so slightly mochi waffle. It was a bit airy too. The "not-too-sweet" flavor was also okay. Unfortunately, when you brand the waffle as a Liege, this is not what I was looking for and so I was left disappointed. Additionally I had a waffle with Nutella and strawberries. There were a few nibs of hazelnut hidden in the Nutella, which surprised me in a good way. Of course the taste was there for this one- you can put strawberries and Nutella on most things and it'll get an automatic-at-least 4 stars. I come on here to give a review and see it has 4+ stars. Is the waffle good? Yes! Is it great? Maybe! Is it a Liege Waffle? No!!! And that's the part that hurts the most. It is missing critical components that make a Liege waffle unique, but it's branding itself as such. I grabbed a $2 "Liege waffle" from Whole Foods the other day. It was pretty dry and had preservatives in it and what not, but it captured more of the characteristics of a true Liege waffle. I'm not saying it was good, but at least they tried. Had this place just been a waffle shop, I'd probably be giving a 4 or 5 star rating- likely landing at the rating it has today. Unfortunately, it is a "Belgian waffle" shop and I can't accept that. Perhaps my taste buds are still too fresh. Maybe my expectations are too high for a "Belgian" waffle made in a college area of Berkeley. Hopefully I just had a bad batch. If not, I think the owner may need to take a trip back to Belgium for a refresher. Or, just call it a waffle and not get people's hopes up who were expecting something else. It is a pretty good regular waffle.
I got the golden bear, which was very delicious and flavorful! The churroffle was so flavorful, and it tasted perfect with the cinnamon sugar, crème, and bananas. The waffles are super warm and fresh and are perfect for a dessert.
Classic sweets spot in close proximity to the UC Berkeley campus. Little Gem is truly a little gem. A small storefront with iPads to order off of, this place is top tier convenient mixed with tasty. I usually order my waffle on the Snackpass app, and the food is done in 10 minutes, super fast! A classic I love ordering is the jewel worthy waffle. It has Nutella, strawberries, and ice cream of choice (I usually get vanilla or cookies and cream). Everything is so good. The waffle itself is crispy on the outside and so nice and chewy on the inside. It is not too sweet, so it perfectly compliments whatever you get as your toppings, whether sweet or savoy! I love this place. It is a late night classic and satisfies my cravings each time. You really cannot go wrong with your creation, no matter what's on it. SO SO YUMMY!
Came back for a sweet treat on the street. Still order by kiosk no seating areas. I'd say my only complaint is they do take a while even if there's no one in front of you. When there is a line the wait can be 10-15 mins or more. The waffle is pretty good and crispy. It's shareable with 2-3 people if they each want just a couple bites. read more
Ever since I've had Little Gems for the first time, I find myself craving it over and over again and even at random occasions. It's the perfect sweet treat to satisfy any dessert craving. There are so many options of waffles to choose from, and you can even build your own. It's also open late, so it's the perfect place to end the night! My favorite waffle is the Rise n' Shine. It comes with bananas and speculoos (cookie butter). read more
Waffle of warriors - churroffle, bananas, caramel, & ice cream. Crispy on the outside, fluffy, moist and chewy on the inside. The "secret ingredient",Belgian "pearl sugars" are baked into the waffle which caramelizes on the surface as well as create sweet pockets inside the waffle. These waffles have a unique, truly irresistible aroma! read more
5 months ago
I finally got around to trying this place! I visited them on a weekday evening and placed my order via Snackpass. The order was ready pretty fast after I had placed it. The establishment is pretty small and they bring everything to the window and have a kiosk for ordering. You can see inside as they make your order. Employees were nice and service wasn't anything to complain about. I can't remember the name of the waffle I got but it came with almonds and vanilla ice cream. The waffle was warm and super fluffy. You can never go wrong with vanilla ice cream and this one was delicious and creamy. The almonds provided a nice texture contrast. My friends also enjoyed what they got. It is very sweet, so I would recommend splitting a waffle with someone else if you are not huge on sweets. read more
2 years ago
Parking is a bit of a stretch, order ahead of time over the phone or via the Yelp app. The Belgium waffles taste best when they are warm and fresh or else they will get dry. Crown Jewel: 4/5, everything about it is great except the marshmallows tasted "old". Service was quick and staffs were amazing. read more
5 months ago
Business owner information
Eric Z.
Hi Elizabeth,…
1 year ago
coffee ice cream with waffles and nutella.. how can u say no to that. the service is fast. ordered on snackpass. ate in the car for a late night snack. been here multiple times and always hitttt! love the coffee ice cream and nutella combo. read more
3 years ago
Finally tried this place out since I'm a night person I am so happy they are open until midnight. First of all, parking. This restaurant is in downtown and just like any downtown, parking can be a nightmare. But since I went here an hour before closing there was plenty of parking in front of the restaurant. During the day, the parking is a loading zone only so just keep that in mind. Now, the restaurant is strictly to go. They don't have dine-in options. You order at the front door, and they have a tablet you place your order in. They do not accept cash, cash, or apple pay only. Here's what we ordered: Drinks: Sweetened Matcha Iced Tea- This was decent, nothing special about it. I would prefer to have an unsweetened option since a lot of their food menu is sweet. Vanilla milkshake- This was a regular milkshake, just scoops of vanilla ice cream and milk. Food: Chicken & Waffles w/bacon w/ syrup- This was probably the best late-night meal I have ever had. I didn't even order it, my friend did, I just had a taste and my god this meal was awesome. The chicken was amazing with the syrup and all together as well with the waffles and bacon. The chicken was bite-size which was perfect and easy to eat. I would recommend getting another cup of syrup because, for us, one cup of syrup was not enough. All in all this meal was amazing 5/5 stars. I highly recommend trying it. Waffles w/ strawberry, vanilla ice cream, and Nutella- Another highly recommended dessert. I honestly came to this restaurant for the dessert and it did not disappoint. There were perfect enough strawberries, you can add more if you want more of course. The vanilla ice cream was the perfect touch and of course, you can never go wrong with Nutella. The wait was maybe 10-15 minutes if that. Quick service, did not have much interaction with the staff but they seemed friendly. Offered us a bag which was a nice touch since we ate our food in the car. Will definitely have to go back to this place to try their other food as they have plenty of choices. read more
3 years ago
This place smells SO good and it ended up tasting really good too. I really liked how the strawberries on it was indeed fresh and actually cold, instead of like luke warm at other places. When ordering, the entrance is blocked by a kiosk (you can't go in) where you self order. There's lots of base options to choose from where you can also add extra toppings; or you can completely build one on your own. I liked how the waffle throttle wasn't overly sweet and how everything just balanced. I definitely will be craving this and need to find a place that sells something like this in my hometown. read more
Got the Waffle Throttle with Strawberries and the Golden Bear! Was around $15 with the 20% off (now until 1/26!) and it was okay! The waffles were really yummy but be sure to eat it fast or else the ice cream melts QUICK! The cream was fluffy and really nice! i love their ice cream too and the waffle was super flaky and very yummy in general! Will be coming back. read more
2 years ago
Always my go to spot for a late night sweet treat. Service is quick and there's lots of variety on the menu-- can even make your own combination of toppings. I got the Golden bear which comes with a churroffle, bananas, and whipped cream. So yummy. Less than $7 with snackpass! read more
Majority of cal students will know the amazing smell little gem emits as you walk by! The customization allows for lots of flexibility and the dough is perfectly soft with mild crunch on the edges. Not too sweet & the ice cream against the hot fresh waffle is delicious. Order on Snackpass for expedited service read more
7 months ago
3 years ago
My friends and I have been wanting to try this dessert place for a while now and it's just been sitting on my Yelp bookmarks... I ordered a Build Your Own Waffle - with Nutella, Strawberries, Condensed Milk, plus free topping with Yelp check-in. I choose to add-in the Matcha Crème--which was disappointing due to it just being plain old whipped crème with matcha sifted on top. Definitely not worth the extra $1 if I had paid for the topping. I loved my waffle but I didn't realize that I forgot to order it with ice cream. That would be the only thing missing for me. My friend got the Caramel Ice Cream Waffle which was amazing and she gave me some ice cream which was nice. When ordering on the kiosk got confusing, the busy staff were able to come over and help us even though they were juggling many orders. We only waited about less than 10 minutes for our order. Definitely recommend. read more
2 years ago
Another well-known dessert stop in Berkeley - the sweet buttery smell is very hard to resist every time you walk by on Telegraph. I ordered the Jewel-Worthy waffle with Cookies and Cream ice cream - solid overall, but pretty much what you'd expect: it's a waffle with ice cream + nutella + fruit. Yes, it's good - a little too sweet even when sharing one with a friend - but I don't know if that's virtue of the combination itself or how well this place does it... The waffles are made to order, though, so it comes nice and crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. I would recommend ordering ahead on Snackpass to go - there is no seating inside. Worth a try if you're craving something sweet! read more
Little Gem Belgian Waffles is truly a little gem in Berkeley. The sweet aroma drifting in the air immediately grabs your attention and invites you to try their waffles. As you order your waffle, you can watch them make it fresh as they place the dough on the waffle press. Their waffles are large and can easily be shared between two people. My go-to order is the Crown Jewel, which comes with strawverries, ice cream of your choice, and nutella. I really enjoyed their coffee ice cream in this combination. Although it is a little pricey for a waffle, it is open pretty late for anyone craving sweets late at night! Tip: Download the Snackpass app and order ahead! The wait times can be long on Fridays and the weekend, so you can avoid this using the app. read more
Great spot to grab dessert, especially because they are open LATE. Waffles came out hot and we're perfectly crunchy but soft on the inside. Plenty of toppings and strawberries tasted fresh. Service was fast, ordering on snackpass is definitely a hack. Will definitely be coming back! read more
This is indeed the cutest little gem in the heart of Berkeley the wait wasn't too bad. Every waffle is made fresh to the order. The waffle was made in the perfect softness and not too sweet. Their in-house made cream with the fresh strawberries on top ties it all in! Super yummy treat. I wish the serving size was a little bigger for sharing with my boyfriend lol. Should have made him get his own lol read more
If I could just capture the smell drifting out of Little Gem.... Little Gem is so good that even if you aren't craving Belgian waffles, if you walk by within 10 feet, the smell alone will MAKE you want to get a Belgian waffle. It's inevitable. You're practically sucked in by the aroma. I never knew I could like waffles this much. I've been here at least 10x and my favorites are either the Crown Jewel or Golden Bear. My life was completely revolutionized when I found out that the churroffle (churro waffle) exists - isn't that just genius ??! I can't believe someone didn't come up with it earlier. The waffles have a perfect texture of in between soft and crunchy. The Jewel Worthy is alright, but the Nutella around the ice cream is pretty stiff and doesn't blend well with the rest of the waffle. If it's your first time here, I'd definitely recommend that you get a signature Belgian waffle, then try to customize your own after you figure out what kind of waffle you want to go for. You're also able to add whatever toppings you'd like, and I'd recommend getting matcha whip cream at some point. Having ice cream on top makes it taste 30x better - I love taking one bite of the hot waffle and another bite of the cold ice cream. I brought a group of 7 friends here for the first time and they were all MINDBLOWN. They wished that they knew about Little Gem earlier. This place is a must-try!! read more
Delicious croissant-esque waffles served in decently large portions. For a bit over 10 bucks, you can get a waffle with all the works (i.e., ice cream, strawberries, bananas, and nutella for the Gempire State of Mind). The workers are nice and super efficient, dishing out waffles in just under five minutes. One qualm I have with this place is the complete lack of seating. I support COVID safety measures, but with the pandemic starting over three years ago, it seems a bit excessive to still have your dining area closed to the public. read more
Delicious Belgian waffles that is made to order! I tried one of the most popular waffles, Gempire State Of Mind, that had vanilla ice cream with Nutella and strawberries. The waffle is crispy on the outside and fluffy and chewy on the inside. It was still warm when served and the heat from the waffle melts the ice cream slightly into each of the waffle pockets. The combo of the warm waffle and ice cream was match made in heaven. I wish there would've been more ice cream but overall it was a great dessert to have. It's a bit pricey for the portion and when compared to the other dessert options around the area though in my opinion. Do note that there's no dine in, pick up only. read more
Business owner information
Eric Z.
Thank you Sarah for the review and support! We’ve hired a few new…
1 year ago
Got this waffle with nutella drizzle alongside a scoop of coffee ice cream and ores crumble. Tasted great as the waffle isn't too sweet, so it's not too overpowering. Will definitely be coming back. Not too long of a wait even with it being busy. Maybe 10-15 minutes from ordering online. read more
Food: No frills Belgian waffle place with reasonable prices, and always so good! It can be a little too sweet sometimes depending on what you add but always satisfies my sweet waffle cravings :) Service: You order through snackpass on your phone or on the kiosk and pick up at a window, and they seem a little short staffed. Most of the time you have to wait a bit before they notice you or before they finish what they're doing to get to you and check on your order, even if it's ready and sitting there Ambiance: Can't say much about the ambiance, it's a small hole in the wall establishment and you never really step foot in the store, it's very casual just order on one side and pick up on the other, almost like a street food, food truck type vibes. read more
Business owner information
Eric Z.
Hi Anny, thank you so much for your loyal support!! Can you please…
5 years ago
I arrived a bit early for a concert at the nearby Hertz Hall so I decided to make a quick stop here (had this place bookmarked for a while anyways). Bummed on finding out that the waffle bites with various glazes (mango, raspberry, etc.) are unavailable for the time being (probably because of the pandemic.....shop interior is closed to customers and menu is downsized from original version), so I ended up getting a waffle with just cinnamon sugar. The waffle was pretty unique in that its chewiness was reminiscent of that of a danish. I wished the waffle was still a tad bit softer though (it was kinda dry-chewy, if that makes any sense). Was also hoping that the waffle itself would have held its ground in terms of flavor but it was bland not accounting for toppings. The cinnamon sugar helped the waffle for sure (ordered that topping as a safety measure). My best guess is that the many people who love this place go ham on sweet toppings, ice cream and all. Overall it's a decent spot for a sweet craving if you're already in the area (especially if the craving strikes late at night.....on some days this place stays open until midnight!). read more
The cinnamon waffle was toasted to the perfect crisp. Airy on the inside and crunchy on the outside is the perfect combination. Topping it off with that smooth scoop of coffee ice cream and bananas is a midnight dessert that you should definitely try if you are a coffee fan. The guy who made our order was super cool and funny. He noticed we were standing outside for a bit and asked for our order numbers so that he could check on it. read more
I satisfied my sweet tooth with this amazing Belgian waffle. It had a crispy exterior with a slightly sweet, chewy interior that tasted so good when eaten fresh. I added matcha cream as an extra which I thought meant the cream was going to be matcha flavored. Sadly, it was just cream topped with matcha powder. That said, it was still so good and I wanted to eat another waffle but I knew that my stomach would explode so I stopped myself after just the one. I definitely recommend trying them out if you're in the area. Disclaimer: This review is for 2 months ago. I'm finally recapping my food adventures from my SF trip! read more
3 years ago
Little Gem is a great place to go when you are looking for dessert near campus, especially since they are open pretty late. Everything is currently doorside only, so you can't sit inside to eat your food. The service is quick and the waffles always satisfy my cravings. read more
The intoxicating aroma of waffles always made me want to try this place out. I frequently see people wait in front so opted to order online for pickup. The pickup process was confusing as we did not know our order was ready before the eta and the staff seemed busy. The waffle was crispy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. The strawberry on top was sweet and not tart even though it is an off season. The coffee ice cream kind of had a unique good flavor like it at some coffee bits in it. The chocolate paste around the ice cream was thick and a little hard to dip with strawberry or ice cream read more
2 years ago
They gave out good portions. Waffle was perfect and crisp. Everything had good flavor. Only downside is there's no indoor seating. read more
Business owner information
Eric Z.
Thanks for coming to try us out and for taking the time to review…
The smell of these freshly made waffles caught my nose as I was walking down the street!! On a cold fall night, I ordered a waffle with creme, matcha cream, and strawberries. Each topping was an add-on, so I ended up paying $6+ with tax/tip. I waited maybe 10 min before my waffle came out and was suuuper excited to eat it. I was delighted by how warm and delicious it smelled, but I was incredibly disappointed that I paid $1 for "strawberries" which is actually, one strawberry sliced in like, six pieces. I'm not sure what it looks like when you order other fruits, but yeah, not worth it. Not even organic fruit costs that much lol Anyhow, I inhaled it on the way home. It was warm and chewy in every single bite. It's definitely a good dessert place. This is a great alternative to boba / ice cream / cold stuff. read more
Perfect treat yourself snack Sweet and warm! Super yummy and always delicious. The wait is a little long all the time though, and I end up waiting ~30 min after ordering on snackpass, so order earlier if you're in a time crunch. I ordered the Waffle of Warriors and it was super yummy! The churrofle base was crunchy and cinnamony and the banana and ice cream blended well with the warmth of the base. read more
I love coming here for dessert. It always smells so good outside! There's no seating so be ready to get a box if you plan to take home to eat or eat while walking to a seat. I got Live Your Gem and my friend got the Crown Jewel. I love chocolate and churros so the Live Your Gem was perfect. The waffles are made fresh and the nutella and whip cream melts in your mouth with the waffle. The Crown Jewel was also pretty good! Surprisingly the strawberries were really sweet and it's just a classic to eat waffles with strawberries and cream. The aesthetic and presentation of the waffle is amazing. I will definitely be coming here a lot! read more
More info about Little Gem Belgian Waffles
2468 Telegraph Ave
Ste A
Berkeley, CA 94704
Telegraph Ave
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(510) 883-8922
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http://www.littlegemwaffles.com
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Ask the Community - Little Gem Belgian Waffles
Do you take cash?
Hi! If you have close to exact change we do! We just don’t have much change. Thank you and hope to see you!
Dows the waffle batter contain dairy or eggs?
Hi, the waffles contain diary and eggs. Thank you.
Do they serve gluten free waffles?
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