Super homey hidden cafe. Nina is the sweetest and so hospitable. Good food and drinks. A bit pricier than I expected but happy to support a local small business. Great spot to do work too. read more

Nina's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Such a cute little cafe!! Stumbled upon this place as I was on a walk, and I was warmly welcomed. I was unfamiliar with a lot of the pastries but Nina didn't hesitate to help me pick the right one, so delicious! I stayed for a while and after I finished she came up to me and took my plate and even offered the Wi-Fi. It was a pleasant experience and I even took some to go. :) read more

Nina's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

I was looking for a place to land while waiting for someone in the area, and am so happy I same across Nina's Cafe! I think the owner is Nina, and she was just lovely. She helped me decide what to eat and gave me a helping of her own homemade food. I felt like I was in the environment of family and as someone who has no close family near it recharged my heart. The samosas were great and I look forward to coming back! read more

Having lunch at Nina's Cafe was certainly a surprise when it came to her infamous daal and homemade chai. I'll have to admit that I've become a fan of her daal, especially when you mix the pickle into the soup. The pickle gives the soup a nice tangy flavor that I cannot describe other than it leaving a warm spicy sensation because I'm so unwittingly uninformed but now I can see why everyone speaks about this soup. When you taste the chai, you can definitely tell that it's homemade and not something that you can find in the grocery store. If you need it a little more sweeter, you can find the sugar on the table with utensils and other condiments. You can also find her on Shef dot com and see what other Bengali dishes Nina has to offer for catering. I didn't know about this until she showed me the website and all her varieties and the visuals really look fantastic. I'm still uncertain with her operating hours since I often drive by and have tried to have an early lunch here to find her cafe closed but if you're able to catch the cafe when it's opened, you will not be disappointed. read more

See all

I would not come ever again PERIOD Price and quality go hand and hand and this place totally misses the mark! read more

Live close by to this cafe and just tried it. Brought my dog here and sat outside. Haven't tried many items or drinks but the POTATO STUFFING MUGHLAI PARATHA ( Vegan) is wonderful. I would definitely get it again! :) read more

Delicious homemade daal, pastries, homemade chai and curry + breakfast burritos! Thank you Nina for your hospitality and delicious food all of these years! read more

Nina's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Amazing food and service! Feels like home Nina is so friendly! She makes delicious meals and coffee

Nina is the best! I always get her homemade chai. As a vegan I appreciate her flexibility and choices. Don't miss the breakfast burrito with tofu scramble or the veggie curry. And now vegan gluten free pastries. And it's a cozy home away from home too. read more

Nina's Cafe - Vegan gluten free pastries! - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Platonic ideal of a cafe. Extremely good homemade chai that you can get unsweetened or sweetened.

Wanted to give this place more stars but can't justify it. Walked in and was looking at menu, Nina was extremely pushy on ordering items and telling me all of the things she had when they were right on the menu or in front of me. Pastries didn't look fresh at all but were pushed. We ordered a breakfast sandwich and curry and rice bowl. The breakfast sandwich was one of the saddest I've ever seen. Small thin bagel with some overcooked eggs and a too-melted cheese on top with a bit of avocado at the cost of a high end breakfast sandwich in the city. The curry bowl was so bad that I barely ate half. Rice was fine but the lettuce on top obviously wilts under the steam from the bowl, barely any curry in the dish (mostly rice and a few pieces of lettuce), and there was a ton of liquid that seemed like water in the bottom that had presumably fallen out of the vegetables or not been drained off the rice. Had almost no flavor other than that of the rice. Most egregious was that this cost $17. read more

Delicious food! Nina is a very sweet lady that makes a great breakfast burrito. She also has a delicious shrimp curry on special order for a family dinner. There's a variety of ways for you to order, either you can call an order in and she'll have ready for pick-up. Great for family dinner options and larger group parties or just a stop in for a quick breakfast or lunch. She is a lovely lady that has been here for over 10 years with recipes that originated from Bangladesh. read more

Nina's Cafe - Breakfast Burrito - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Nina is wonderful. Come and let her feed you. She is great about dietary restrictions, and makes delicious gluten free pastries and quiches. It seems like the menu varies from day to day, and I'm eager to come back and see what she'll be offering next time. I appreciate the "no cell phones quietly zone" policy and the small library and games shelf in her back room. Nice quiet space. Sometimes the food seems a little expensive for the quantity. I don't mind, it's worth it for the homemade love--but good to know if you're on a budget and looking for a large meal. :) read more

Nina's Cafe is an inspiration! This small, quaint edifice reminds me of what is good in this world. Salute to small businesses in this climate of big business take over. Nina's Cafe provided excellent service and tasty homemade food and drinks. Thank you Nina. read more

This is the friendliest, sweetest little restaurant! It was a very cold and rainy day and I was in Berkeley to do an errand and had a few minutes to stop to get something to eat and drink and I stepped into the café and it is friendly and very kind and it felt like I was eating a little meal in my family home. Delicious strong chai with so much ginger in it, perfect on a cold day. If you want to be treated like family and have a wonderful cup of chai, you should come here. read more

I've been going to Nina's for years now. It's one of my favorites. I love going mid day and working remotely (it's cozy and hand decorated with comfy pillows with an archway separating a quiet zone and a talking zone), or stopping by after the gym. Her specialty is the curry. Especially her chicken curry. It comes with dal, salad, rice and pickle. I ALWAYS get her chai. It's my favorite chai! She always serves it hot and with the type of milk and as much sugar as I want. There are toys and books forThank you Nina for your delicious food all these years! She's on EZ cater as well. Happy to support her. read more

Nina's Cafe - a hand holding a coffee cup - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had a delicious unsweetened chai tea with a satisfying and flavorful chicken and veggie curry. I went in to eat, drink, and work for a couple of hours. Nina's café is small and familiar. The owner is kind and generous. read more

Coziest cafe I've ever been to, incredible fresh homestyle food, fast wifi, comfortable seating, sun, kind woman who runs the place! I will be a repeat customer. Great fast home-y service. read more

Nina's Cafe - Seating area - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Tasty food with great service. Would definitely recommend and I'll be back. Thanks for being so kind to me when I was closing.

When I entered the cafe, Nina had just finished making a batch of quiche, and asked if I'd like to have one. I said yes, and also ordered a latte. Both were very good, but the best part is Nina herself. She saw my laptop bag, and asked if I was there to study. I told her I was, and she personally walked over to show me where the outlets were to plug in my computer, gave me the wifi password, and generally treated me like a welcomed guest. The table was a little wobbly, too, so she spent some time finding a piece of paper to put under it and stop it from wobbling. The decor is very cute, I sat across from some books on a shelf and a very close-up portrait of a Pomeranian. I love places where I feel like a real person interacting with other real people in the world. read more

My ex took me here years ago and I could never find it again. I didn't live on this side of the bridge and I'm terrible at directions on a good day. I finally found it and found the handwritten sign that I don't think has ever been rewritten. The food though, oh my god, I've been thinking about this red daal soup for the entire time. If you don't like lentils, I encourage you to go ahead and try it again at this place. I had the chicken curry and it comes with rice, salad, daal and pickled something (maybe apricot?). When I saw it I thought it might not be enough food and I was wrong. The person who runs the place even asked if I needed more rice but I couldn't eat another morsel. Next time I'll try the homemade chai and maybe just a giant bowl of the red daal soup with salad. Amazing food and amazing service. Go treat yourself! read more

Nina's Cafe is such a nice break from all of the other cafes in Berkeley, which very often verge on pretentious. Unlike others, Nina's has such a homey feeling. It's like being transported to your mom's kitchen. With everything being made from scratch, Nina really goes the extra mile to make you feel comfortable. Her chai, stew, samosas, and no doubt everything else is incredible. I look forward to coming back and trying her curry plate! read more

Food and service was wonderful. Nina was so sweet and accommodating. My only complaint is that the prices were higher than we expected. $25 per plate for the lunch special. read more

First off, Nina herself is amazing. Secondly, her food is sooooo good!!! Her chai alone is worth a visit, but you would be cheating yourself if you didn't stay and sample her curries. Beyond delicious! Lacking the words to properly convey the deliciousness! Nina's Cafe is a local treasure. You'll be wondering where she and her food have been all your life. Now go try it! And save me some chai!! read more

She owner is a sweet lady her chai is super good and unlike anything have tasted. But her curry is out of this world you can tell she loves sharing her food and made with care. The cafe is very calm and nice you can have a nice cup of chai while sitting outside:) read more

Nina's Cafe - Curry combo plate - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

A friend of mine told me about Nina aunty's cafe and I finally tried it yesterday. Her cooking is DELICIOUS and she is one of the most lovable people I have ever met! Being in that place and tasting her chicken curry felt like I was home. I will be bringing my family here often. I highly, highly recommend! read more

Nina's Cafe is little gem in Berkeley. Nina the owner is a doll and her customer service is awesome and speedy. The food is fresh and hot. I love her soups. Stop by and grab a snack. read more

I got breakfast here while I waited for a haircut next door. Like others have mentioned, Nina is the sweetest. It's like going to your grandma's for a meal. The breakfast burrito was delicious and came with avocado which is a nice touch. I'm happy I found this cafe. read more

Nina is very kind and caring, a great place to stop if you need a pick me up and quiet space!

Great homemade food and family style service. Cozy and comfy. Great way to start the day!

So let's say you're in Berkeley, and the thought of yet another vegan tofu seitan "delight" on a baked-in-the-moonlight roll with sprouts served to you by a ponytail-waving middle-aged ex-stock broker leaves you cold, what do you do? Hie on over to Nina's Café, where Nina her own self will charmingly proffer the usual café kit and kaboodle, along with truly satisfying alternatives like the chicken curit with rice and salad that I just enjoyed. Not spicy, but properly spiced. Free WiFi; she'll hand you the login info upon request. Sidewalk seating too. A must-repeat. read more

Nina's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Stopped in to work - bought a drink and snack, went to the "quiet zone" but couldn't get anything done because some guy (seemed affiliated with the business, not some random walk-in) came in and started harassing the lady behind the counter . They were shouting at each other so loudly that I couldn't even get anything done at the tables on the sidewalk. And when I transitioned from the back room to the sidewalk, they asked if I needed anything, to which I replied "a quiet place to get some work done". So they totally knew the disruption they were causing in their own space but didn't care. They kept going. Thumbs down. read more

Sweet, cozy spot to quietly work. Good food and service. The owner is lovely! Will definitely visit again!

Came here on a lunch break as this place is conveniently located close by. Lucked out and got parking in the front. First time here and i wasn't feeling my normal meat eating self so i ordered a pesto tofu sandwich for a change of pace. Customer service was excellent. Flavor of the sandwich was great and i would order it again. My pro tip would be to order ahead of time as the owner recommended to me while i was there. I didn't mind waiting though. Had some samosas while i was waiting and they were just as expected, nice filling and crisp and firm outside. I will be ordering from here again soon. read more

See all

My husband and I love Nina's Cafe. The food is fresh and delicious and affordable. Nina herself is warm and welcoming. Everything we've eaten there has been delicious, but our favorite is the breakfast burrito which we order often for lunch. Highly recommended. read more

The pumpkin pie is super tasty, Nina actually makes it better than my grandma used to and that's crazy talk, but it's true. Delicious red velvet cupcakes, homemade biscotti. Also, I still get a lot of clients that stop in before appointments and they love getting breakfast, burritos, pastries and drinks here. I also ordered several plates of food for a 3hr meeting and we had plenty. I basically ordered a little bit of all the breakfast and everybody found a bunch of things they loved..... she put everything on beautiful platters and walked it all over to my studio. She even carved up strawberries into "roses". Great homecook and all the warm touches that go well with a place that becomes your favorite. Little tip: I've been going here over a year. I don't use my cell phone here out of respect. I have answered once to tell someone I was there and meet me there. I step out to make calls. There are a few signs posted about rules, and it makes it a comfortable experience for everyone. Also, Nina is like a mom, she shows you lots of love and respect, but don't be disrespectful, you'll be asked to follow the rules. read more

See all

1st impression: quickly browse Nina's Cafe on Yelp - 4 stars, many reviews, cozy and quirky pictures, think - sure I'll try it! 2nd impression: place is small, a little crammed, and why is everything so messy I don't know how to order! Ok so maybe 'cozy' was the wrong description... 3rd impression: this lady makes me feel like she's my simultaneously sweet and loving yet strict grandma. Makes me want to be a good kid and follow the rules posted all over the walls (no cell phones! quiet zone! customers only! Exclamation marks!!!) 4th impression: what is this Chai!!!! Why won't she share her recipe?? Did I just discover something amazing? Oh wait, maybe if I had just read the reviews first I might have realized that this lady and her chai are kind of a big deal. Aug, I'm so late to the game. read more

Nina''s Cafe is small place but they have 1 1/2 rooms for seating. lust a single indian lady was running the whole show: taking orders, cooking,, food prepping, taking monies and making change. Menu: smoothies, coffee, sammies, pastries, pies, soup/salad, breakfast, ice cream, teas, etc. pour: organic coffee, (2) -overall smooth, mellow, not bold nor harsh. -a no drama brew -3.5 stars drips: -cafe had an incense atmosphere. -service fast, efficient and cheerful. read more

Charming place that has surprisingly ample seating despite its size (2 rooms + outside seating), good, fast internet (free), and solid drink and eats. Run by a single Indian lady (Nina, I presume?), the place is very welcoming. I was the only customer on a Sunday afternoon, and I was waited on hand and foot. Nina kept offering more coffee and food, asking about the temperature, music, whether her noises in the kitchen were 'disturbing' me from studying, etc. I felt at home. But it's going to stop existing if I'm the only person coming. So as much as Iove having Nina's all to me, PLEASE come and support this local business. read more

Nina's Cafe - Asian breakfast: spicy omelette, home fries, paratha, and chai. A++ - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Summary based on 1 afternoon visit: --good coffee drinks --friendly service --good selection of other food, including Indian curries --pleasant venue, advertising free wifi --generally easy street parking I stopped by here to see what Cafe Clem had morphed into and whether it might be suitable for a low key business meeting. Answer is yes. read more

Nina's Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all