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    Neko Cafe

    4.8 (211 reviews)
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Michael Y.

    20 minutes from UCR, this study spot is extremely under the radar and fairly rated. Food is generously proportioned and fairly priced. To top it off, your order is hand delivered to your table whilst you begin your studies. The area is well lit and moderately chill. The only downside is the lack of charging ports, but coming prepared with fully charged devices can make this a non-issue.

    Popcorn Chicken. They were nice and gave me extra fried basil on top.  I repeat, fried basil. On top.
    Pete S.

    I don't know how long this place has been here. I just found it by accident hanging out in the area, but it's hard to imagine something this good would last very long. That's what flashed through my mind after the first bite, I feel like you gotta get out there and try the popcorn chicken with the fried basil leaves on top. It's like every other popcorn chicken you ever tried was a lie. Every little piece of popcorn chicken was perfectly cooked chicken thigh, not rubbery not overly chewy an amazing crunch. I asked for mild, but it was still a little spicy for me, but you couldn't stop because it was so good. 6 stars. Nice people too.

    The food and service was so good. We cane late but they were still super acoomodating. The drinks were cute and delicious and the curry and popcorn chicken were spicy and amazing. I definitely recommend coming here.

    Natasha N.

    I love the cute little cat decor and there's a couple of tables for you to sit and enjoy! I think the drinks are okay. We got the Mango Passion Fruit and the Lychee Fruit Teas. I am actually very picky when it comes to fruit teas and the mix was okay. I felt like the combos did not go well together. The staff is super nice though! As Always, NOM 4 LIFE!

    lychee tea, strawberry milk tea, mango frostie, Popcorn Chicken Curry Rice, Crispy Tofu(unpictured)
    Dani B.

    randomly found this spot when looking up food nearby on yelp. what a great discovery because the food was amazing!! tbh some of the best popcorn chicken and crispy tofu i've ever had a boba spot. i love the cute aesthetic of the cats as it is neko cafe. i would recommend ordering ahead because it does take some time to make the drinks and food since this is a small family owned business. the workers are all very sweet! def recommend if you're in the area

    Oreo Burlee Milk Tea add Cheese Foam, Strawberry Cheese Foam, Pork Gyoza
    Diana E.

    My partner and I love this shop! It's never too crowded, they have cute cat decor and stickers and it's always very clean. Their cream cheese foam is so good, it's thick and though sweet it is a little salty but it adds a nice taste to their drinks. This visit we got the pork gyoza. They were so fresh and crunchy and it came with 15. The Oreo Burlee milk tea add cheese foam tasted a lot like a milkshake - no complaints. The strawberry cheese foam was also bomb and tasted like a strawberry cheesecake but you can only order the cheese foam drinks in a large. The parking can get pretty crowded but you're able to park on the side street. I will definitely be back to try more!

    Genesis B.

    I've been meaning to try this place! I had no idea there was a boba spot here. It looks unsuspecting, but it's in the little shopping plaza where KFC and Fed Ex office is. Very convenient location, where the Tyler mall is and Magnolia. The cafe is modern with the menu on a tv on the wall and some cat stickers. There were only 2 people at a table when I was there and people were filtering in and out throughout my time there. I asked the cashier what the most popular boba was and she said the creme brûlée. I decided to get that and the popcorn chicken curry rice. The cashier asked what spice level, which is between 0-5. I chose a 3. The cashier handed me a loyalty card. My order took 20 minutes; it was made fresh. The cashier let me know my order was ready and threw my straw in the bag when I asked for it. I kinda got a chilly vibe from her. However, my drink was very savory and delicious. Very good. My plate was also very good, hot. It came with the rice and some vegetables (potato and carrot). It was a good portion, definitely had some leftovers. I enjoyed it.

    popcorn chicken
    Katherine T.

    love omg!! boyfriend and i came on a friday night around 8. parking was easy to find but its a pretty small lot so i can see it being difficult during busier hours. they have an ordering kiosk in the front which i liked. there was a good amount of seating inside, very clean and quiet. the woman working was also super kind. jasmine mt with boba (5/5) - very solid jasmine milk tea!! floral with no bitter aftertaste like some other places. the boba was also very soft and chewy! matcha cheese foam (4/5) - really good! you can really taste the matcha in this and the cheese foam complimented it well. it only comes in a large though! popcorn chicken (4/5) - soo yummy!! loved the batter, very crispy and good ratio to chicken. also got it to go and she put it in the cutest little square bag overall very good spot, i'll definitely be coming back here whenever i'm in the area to try other drinks and food!

    Mango Tea with brown sugar boba
    Melanie G.

    Went on a Tuesday from around 3-4:30 and it wasn't too busy! You order from a kiosk and though it wasn't busy, the drinks did take a little bit to come out. It was okay though because we were there to study, so we just sat down. They have free wifi! I got the mango tea with brown sugar boba at 75% sweetness. I really enjoyed it! The boba was sweet and soft and came out warm. The mango flavor was pretty natural, the tea was good (not too caffeinated) and 75% sweetness was just right for me. Could probably do 50% also. I also loved the fresh mango pieces they put in the drink! Prices are definitely on the more affordable side for boba nowadays too. Will definitely be back to try other or the same drink and the food too!

    Jeremy S.

    Solid boba spot right next to Tyler Mall. Great flavor on the milk tea and the brown sugar was a nice touch. The boba could have been softer but was not bad. Easy experience ordering on the kiosk and good service!

    brown sugar tea and popcorn chicken
    Geanni D.

    this place is amazing so consistent and delicious. Everyone here is so nice and sweet. No complaints just praise !!!! Always look forward to coming here please stop by!!!!! I am going to bring all my friends here

    Popcorn Chicken  Spice level 2
    Evelyn C.

    Back again... Sparkling clean as it was the first time. I definitely think this is my new spot!

    Peach mango slush.  Excellent!
    Wendy B.

    Neko Cafe is the epitome of a wonderful, hard working, small business who brings depth and quality to all they serve. We loved it. Owned and run by a sweet Chinese family, the food and beverage choices are influenced by Taiwanese, Japanese, Southeast Asian, and Chinese fast food. The menu contains primarily delicious variations on fruity Boba drinks, frosties, slushes, teas, and coffees, but they slipped in a few tasty food items just to torture us. And it sure helped knowing they had a 4.8 star rating. And so we came. Peach mango slush. This drink arrived in a big cup with chunks of fruit and a big fat straw. This was for Mr B, but I needed no encouragement to steal a sip or two. Loved the sweetness (i.e. not too much) and loved the texture of the chunky fruit. Very refreshing, nicely icy. Pork katsu curry rice. This is a huge, tender, breaded pork steak (no bone) that sits on top of a bed of rice. The panko breading had the perfect crunch, the meat was tender inside. The curry sauce also features cubed carrots and potato. Delicious! Popcorn chicken snack. This was a generous portion. The blended exotic spices in the coating can be adjusted in spicy heat. The meat is thigh meat, so flavorful and moist. Served topped with fried basil leaves. I'm seriously hooked. Squid rings. Another snack menu item. Delicious and lightly fried to keep it tender. It too had a nice, light breading with spices. Both were delicious on their own, but are served with an orange colored, sweet chili sauce you can find at any Asian market. Their curry gravy is a medium spice level which I could (borderline) handle, but for the Wusses of this world, of which I am a card carrying member, a milder curry can be ordered. They recommend calling ahead (allow about 30 minutes) if you want the milder curry. Otherwise, grab a chilled specialty drink and sit calmly in their cozy little cafe listening to the mellow music in background, and smile. A great way to unwind and recharge. Seating capacity around 16.

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    1 month ago

    i've been here a few times and i love coming in for their fruit teas! as well as their squid rings and i recently their pork

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    Tien L.

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    2 months ago

    Pork cutlet and Taiwanese sausage Curry are so good !!! Food is hot and delicious. I also recommend the strawberry yogurt frostie

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    5 months ago

    Good food good teas, they have the best popcorn chicken. their passion fruit tea is good and their thai tea is good too.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Neko Cafe

    Does anyone know if Neko cafe is still open there's a sign that says earth cafe now?

    Went there yesterday and it's new owners and new chef. Sadly their popcorn chicken did not taste the same.

    If this a good study spot? are there power outlets

    Yes! It's a quiet, calm, environment perfect for focus. There are also outlets and free internet!

    View All 3 Questions

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    I placed an order for pick up and I was running a bit late. Despite being late and traveling home,…read morethe katsu chicken stayed sooooooo nice and crispy!!! I was super impressed! I got the customizable plate with a rice base, chicken katsu, Japanese curry, house salad, and macaroni salad. I also got a side of extra sauce in a big cup and an order of fried tofu that also came with a side and I picked Japanese curry again. It was a lot of food and came up to 30 dollars, which is ok because it can last me about 2 to 3 meals since the chicken katsu came with two fillets!! To start off, the rice was so fresh which is not something I see a lot at quick service restaurants so I was very happy about that. Next, the chicken was super juicy and crispy at the same time. I also liked that the chicken didn't have any hard or squishy parts, like a lot of other places that sell katsu chicken do. Curry was the best part and it was extremely flavorful. Lastly, the place is super cute and cozy. Staff was welcoming, and would be a nice spot for a quick lunch. Overall totally loved it and will be going back often.

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    Zen Street isn't trying to be trendy or fancy, and that's exactly why we keep coming back. It's a…read moresmall Thai and Japanese spot with cozy indoor seating, usually quiet, and just a comfortable place to sit down and eat without any fuss. We almost always order the pad Thai, and I'm normally the volcanic ramen guy, but since it was Valentine's Day, I went with the falling ramen instead. Still full of flavor, just without the spice level trying to prove a point. We actually showed up about an hour before our reservation, which was already early for Valentine's dinner. The moment I told Lily the reservation was under Jacqueline, she lit up and said, "Oh, she's my favorite," and sat us right away. That's the kind of place this is. Service over the past year can be quick or a little slower depending on the night, but we never feel rushed, and that relaxed pace is part of why we like it. The food is consistently fresh and tasty, and they do a great job with allergy-friendly options. There's a gluten-free menu, and peanuts only show up if you request them. Since our daughter has food allergies, she actually looks forward to when we go here and usually puts in her own to-go order. You know a restaurant is doing something right when both the adults and the kids are happy. This has become our regular spot--no pretense, no pressure, just good food and people who treat you well.

    We visited as part of a group of 14 on Friday night 5/1 and unfortunately had a very disappointing…read moreexperience from start to finish. From the moment we walked in, something felt off, and it quickly became clear the restaurant was significantly understaffed. We later learned the same person was acting as the cook, cashier, and server. It took over an hour for any food to begin coming out to our table, and even after nearly two hours, meals were still trickling out. I never received my food at all. What made this even more frustrating was that there was no clear way to communicate with staff. There was no cashier available, and we weren't able to let anyone know we wanted to cancel the order given how long it had been. My spouse ended up paying for a meal I never received. After waiting that long, I eventually had to leave without eating dinner at all. I came home and had a protein shake instead, which is not how anyone expects their night to go after going out to eat. To be fair, others in our party who did receive their food said it tasted very good, which makes this even more disappointing. I understand that this may have been an off night, but the lack of communication, excessive wait, and inability to resolve the issue made for a really poor experience. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

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    Curry is so yums! It definitely on the sweeter side but I think it balanced well with the spice and…read more"curry essence" powder they provide you. The price for the portion was really good and the chicken/pork was crispy and juicy. I didn't have any complaints! The restaurant was pretty empty when we went in on a Friday night so it was a good place to yap haha. I would definitely come again to satisfy my curry cravings :p Ratings Pork katsu curry: 4.8/5 Chicken katsu curry: 5/5

    Absolutely terrible, and it is all due to service! My boyfriend and I saw this little cute curry…read moreplace and thought let's grab takeout so it'll be quick and we will give this small little hole in the wall spot a chance... Saturday night, 7pm... About 3 tables filled. What's the harm right? Well.... 45 minutes later we are sitting there waiting on our order. It was just 2 chicken curries. Nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary... We ask the employee if it's coming out soon... He said 15 minutes, they are a bit backed up. After already invested so much time and paid we said ok, fine. 20 minutes later we ask and he says they are working on it now. Excuse my language but WTF!! First off, if in the beginning he knew they were backed up, he should have told us..just a heads up there is a bit of a wait. Then I would've respected this place a lot more! Overall waited an hour+ for some curry... Absolutely not worth the time. Sorry and I will not return

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