I am a big fan of Beignet and I learnt from my biking buddy telling me about this place. So I decided to go try it out. So I went today. It is great and I am glad that I came in just before the rush hour. I am so glad that they have all my favorite food, I ordered Regular Beignet, Croque Mansieur and Lava Drip (Hot Viet Coffee). They are all nicely done. I love the Beignet is not too oily and very puffy. Croque Mansieur tastes good but not traditional French style but in Panini style which make it less cheesy and less filling. Which is great but I do enjoy the traditional a little better. The Viet Coffee is perfectly done, smooth and rich just the way I like it. Just a reminder to anyone want to eat their Beignet, Don't wear anything Black to go there. you are going to regret it. LOL. read more

Powderface - They offer more than just Beignet. That's why I like them - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

A lot of choices to choose from, especially when it came to pastries. I wanted a cup of hot water for this cold medicine I brought with me. They charged me a $1, even though the price didn't vary with the size of cup. I figured I would get water for free since I was buying a cupcake (almost $3 for cupcake that fits in the palm of my hand). I think the cupcake is from some expensive bakery so I understand the cafe has no control over portions. What REALLY got me was the $5 minimum for cards which was odd because even though they have an ATM inside the cafe, they advertise on their door that they accept cards... Four stars for the service and cupcake. Cashier was apologetic at the price for the hot water. Carrot cake cupcake was still moist (came in a few hours before closing) and tasty. There is free wifi but you have to ask for the network name and password. They're location is PERFECT and their hours really carter to the public. The massive outdoor seating is going to be epic once the weather improves. read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I decided to stop in after returning from the city, as I noticed this spot as I was waiting on the platform for my train the day prior. It was late afternoon when I arrived and only a few patrons occupied the place, so it was relatively quiet (which I like). I ordered the turkey pesto crepe and the "granola" pastry. I waited a good 15 minutes for the crepe, which in my opinion was too long as there was no one in line before me who ordered a cooked item. The woman did apologize for the wait though. The taste was ok, nothing special. Just what looked like thin deli sliced turkey from what you'd find in a grocery store lunch meat section, and pesto from a jar. The "granola" was decent, but too much sugar and a little oily. I'll come back but it will be only for the beignets, which I suppose I should have tried since that's for what the place is named! read more

Powderface - Turkey pesto crepe (with poor lighting, I know, but I was sitting at the bar!), 4/5/15 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Very friendly staffs and a chill place to unwind while waiting for the bart. Decided to order their beignets after seeing the sugar faces pictures on the walls. The beignet came hot with heaps and heaps of powdered sugar. Now I know why they call it powder face, my face was successfully doused in sugar despite my elegant attempt to eat it. I don't think I'm big on beignet. It's a bit too light for me and feels 'incomplete' on the statisfaction level. One beignet was enough for me, but I will be back to the cafe to try other food in the menu. read more

Powderface - Powder face beignet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

One order of beignets comes w/ 3 very warm and freshly fried doughnuts aka beignets! I got 2 w/ cinnamon sugar and 1 w/ powdered sugar. In my opinion, the cinnamon is a little too sweet for my taste but still scrumptious. I also ordered a green tea latte, which was the perfect way to warm up during my break. The waitress laughed at me when she saw me use a fork and knife to eat. She told me that the correct way is to use your hands. I would NOT suggest doing this b/c the powdered sugar especially is very fragile and messy... I don't know why, but as I held a piece close to my face, I actually sniffed in some powdered sugar. fail! Powderface is located right by the Fruitvale BART station and also in Fruitvale village. If you're traveling on BART on the Richmond/Fremont train, you should definitely stop by if you have free time. The 3 beignets are a good size... bring a friend to share w/ :) read more

Beignets in bay area? Yes. This place is amazing. Better than the ones from San Francisco and Alameda. I ordered a box, it came with 3, with chocolate and cinnamon dust. It was AMAZING. I'm also a huge fan of their frappes. Usually I get the mocha loca with a shot added with extra chocolate drizzle (Yes, I love chocolate.) I have had their smoothies, but they are overly too sweet. Feels like they were made from syrup and not actual fruits. So I would not get the smoothies. Other than that. Yes. This place has amazing beignets. read more

Love this place. It's the perfect little cafe that serves up some hot beignets amongst other yummy light breakfast options. The service is fast, and they are nothing if not consistent. I often pop into here whenever I'm hopping on or off Fruitvale BART- literally almost every time. The staff is always friendly, the place is clean, and they are always welcoming. This is one of those Oakland establishments that you hope never goes away. It's a hit with kids and adults, and in a great location. If it were anywhere else I believe the service may suffer. Keep em coming, guys. read more

BEIGNETS!! I've been wanting to try these since my buddy came back from "Nawlins" and was saying how delicious they were! I bought a whole dozen.. half powdered sugar and half cinnamon sugar. I was able to see the whole process of how beignets were made through a glass and it was pretttttyyyyy cool to see how they just puffed up. I tried the cinnamon sugar and it was TASTY! I wish I tried it when it was a lot warmer and fresh.. but it was still a little crisp. For sure next time I wanna try it with a dip and other items on their menu.. this place looks very refreshing! YUM! read more

Powderface - Beignets!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I use to love this place before the pandemic! The ladies were so nice and friendly! I stopped by today and the cashier was so rude! Definitely won't be coming back :( I asked for vegan options and he said they didn't have any. Except they have a vegan cookie on display as well as oatmeal. I just felt like he was not having a good day and hates his job. Bring back the friendly ladies! read more

Powderface is friendly environment. I enjoy their turkey pesto crepes and mango smoothies. They never fail to keep a costumer satisfied. I just wished they had more breakfast options on the menu. read more

Powderface - Chocolate covered Beignet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

The Beignets are the bomb, but I went here recently for a Coffee drink. I occasionally make excuses to visit the (510) for these tasty treats. This time I had only time to grab a drink Togo. I see that they expanded their menu to Savory/Sweet Crepes and the Ambiance vibe was still kicking. I got a Mocha Frappe' with whip cream. It totally hit the spot and I was in and out in no time flat. The staff and cleanliness is A+++ as well as their cool art that hangs on the wall. (People who were dredged with powder sugar on their face, Hence Powderface) I will be back and grab some Chicory Coffee and 2 orders of Beignets and kick back on the patio and watch the Hustle and Bustle of the Fruitvale Bart Station. read more

This little hidden gem in the middle of the Fruitvale took me by surprise once I got off my train. Fruitvale is not my normal stop on BART, but since it was convenient for my sister to pick me up there, I decided to have a little snack in this quaint cafe. I was amazed at how clean it was! The relaxing ambiance in the middle of a rather hectic location was also nice to come by. I saw a poster of New Orleans style beignets prior to entering and I just had to try some. They were made fresh - fried and dusted with powdered sugar upon my order. The beignets were delicious and cheap. I got three huge beignets for only $3.50. I would like to try the other items they have on the menu as they offer a wide variety of crepes, breakfast items, smoothies and salads. I seen a couple of people eating the mixed green salad that I'd like to try in the future so yes, I'll be coming back. In terms of payment, there is a minimum purchase of $5 when using card. So if you're just buying 3 beignets, make sure you have cash on you...just not too much on hand - remember you're still in Oakland! read more

This is my local coffee shop and so glad it is! Their iced coffee is amazing and the frap drinks they make are always delicious. They people at the counter are always willing to give a recommendation of their favorite sweets and drink. So far I have yet to be disappointed! read more

Powderface is a great place for me to go to and stare at the walls. They have all these entertaining pictures of folks who have tried their beignets and got powder all over their face. So much that when I first tried them I purposely splashed powdered sugar on my face just so I could look just like a person on the wall. Do no be fooled though, the beignets are extremely hot! When I bit into my first one the steamed burned my mouth. That pretty much soured the rest of my experience. I've since been back a couple of times and have tried other items on their menu but I'm never impressed. I do enjoy their Cafe Du Monde Coffee but then found that I could purchase it in certain grocery stores to have at home. In any case, it's a nice location at the Fruitvale Bart stop to spend an Sunday morning and people watch or wall watch... read more

Yum! Might be my new favorite place to grab a bite during the workday. I've been working right by the Lake Merritt BART station for a few months and haven't really found much I like for lunch in the area. This is only a 3 minute BART ride (next stop) down, and has some good sandwiches. I got the beignets too, but I don't think they fared too well on the BART ride back. They were still tasty, but lost most of their poof and the powdered sugar was melted all over them....should have got them in a box. Oh well, next time. They have a small selection of crepes which might be good, I'll have to get one the next time I go. The drink selection looked good too! They have a lot of fraps to choose from too, which looks worth trying! read more

Powderface - Yum! Got the mozzarella/tomato/basil sandwich to go! Comes with the slalad. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Yaaaaassssssss!!! LOL! This has now become my go-to spot for beignets. I first had some at a restraining in Alameda a few months ago. I thought they were good, just needed to be sweeter. After talking to a coworker about the experience, she put me on to this place. It's been the source of my cravings ever since. Every time I've come the staff has been pleasant and just overall cheerful. I expressed I'm still learning their menu and they offer up suggestions for me. Which is great. AND....yes there's is an "and"....They put HELLA powder sugar on them for me. LOL! It's not so much the sugar because most of it ends up on my clothes or shaken off in the box (lol), it's the fact that they listen. Overall you ladies do a fantastic job and have made a newbie a loyal customer! read more

Powderface - Yes indeed-E......They are hot, fresh, and DELISH! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This seems like a great place to have a cup of coffee and enjoy a pastry. Their beignets are really good and reading from what others have said, it's becoming a bit of a phenomenon for east Oakland. Order a set up and you get three made for you then and there, not pulled out of a Cost-co tray. These are really good, and the powder sugar makes a fool out of your face. Let's be real, this place can charge $5 bucks for their delicate sugar triangles if they are transplanted to College Avenue or Emeryville's Bay Street, but it's in East Oakland and it doesn't seem to be moving. I really want to urge people to go out there try the cafe regardless of your fears of the area. The Cafe is located in a plaza and the clientele ranges from construction workers hurrying for a cup of coffee to kids studying for their school work. The store is new and built with clean counters and comfy chairs. To give it character, the owner(s) lined the walls with photos of past customers who have enjoyed a powdered face. That face can be yours, so please give them a shot! read more

This review is only for beignets. I ordered the box of beignets to go (1 dozen). It was freshly fried. The staff gave me my powdered sugar on the side. Riding home, my car smelled like yummy fried dough. I finally ate one when I got home, it was a little stale but that was my fault. I'm sure if I ate one there freshly made, it would of been stellar. I will be back. The staff was very friendly. read more

Powderface - Yummy beignet with sugar on the side. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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It's not the quickest place to get a cup of coffee if you're in a rush, however the customer service makes up for it. The staff has always been very cheerful and full of smiles every time I have come in. That definitely goes a long way and gets the morning started on a positive note. Their coffee is also really delicious. I can drink it black and be very satisfied. I am also a fan of their beignets! I always get it with powdered sugar. On hot days I also enjoy their strawberry lemonade smoothies. It's very refreshing and hits the spot. read more

I was last here over a year ago when I attended the WES and I remember it being a lot better than this visit. The service was slow and if you weren't placing an order you're pretty much non-existent. If you need a fork you're pretty much screwed. The beignets were good but not great. Possibly a little over-fried and definitely missing a sauce of some sort to break up the dryness. My ham and cheese crepe on the other hand was quite tasty. It was moist and filling but not overly cheese/greasy and it made up for the beignets. A bit pricey but it's close to the Bart station and convient. read more

Powderface - beignet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Come here alot on my commute to work since its at the fruitvale bart. The baked goods are solid and filling for 2 or 3 bucks. I recommend the bagels, pecan bars, cranberry crumb cake, and rice krispy treats. read more

Powderface - Rice krispy treat - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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I love this coffee place! The staff is really sweet, they serve very fast and are always smiling. They have a nice seating area and paintings on the wall. The crepe with chocolate is my favorite but the ones with fruit are good too. I love to stop by this place with my friend after work for a nice catch up moment! Also they have great sandwiches for lunch :) read more

Powderface - Crepe with chocolate and cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I stopped here for breakfast with some friends and it was definitely worth it. The beignets were made fresh and were reminiscent of New Orleans. They even offer a café au lait on their menu. I had a Mexican Mocha, which was good, but a little sweet. My friends tried the bagel sandwiches and crepes. Both were delicious. But obviously the fan favorite was the beignets! Who knew a New Orleans beignets were located within steps of the BART Fruitvale station?! I will definitely be back. read more

Powderface - Beignets just like in New Orleans - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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These beignets are FABULOUS. Jump on BART and jump off at FRUITVALE STATION. So worth your time. Delicious and very authentic. Get a Mexican Mocha. Yummy! Worth Every Freakin Calorie, I promise! Don't be scared. read more

I can't believe this place has rave reviews for their beignets. I had high hopes with the reviews and hearing that they are ready to order beignets. Unfortunately, they were pretty flavorless. It was like eating air, but not really at all since your eating a bunch of calories for nothing. I got the dozen and they looked like they were going to be delicious but I was disappointed along with the friends I shared with. The staff wasn't friendly, they barley acknowledge me even though I was very friendly and tried to engage them. read more

I'm in the area at around 7:45 pm with my job every night. They close at 8, but every time I go there I can't order anything at all because they are shutting down and have cut off everything in the kitchen. May as well close at 7:30. read more

After watching the Disney movie, The Princess & The Frog, I have always wanted to try a beignet. It just looked so soft, powdery, sweet. I finally tried it earlier today and it was alright. My mind assumed that it would have the taste of funnel cake but I was wrong. A little disappointing to my taste buds because it's just dough. The only thing I did like about it was they provided a lot of powdered sugar so I could sweeten the taste of the dough. Kinda messy but that's the point of a beignet. I did enjoy the Louisianan feel of the cafe with pictures and Mardi Gras/New Orleans props. It's a cute place and chilled atmosphere. A bit on the quiet side. Has other cafe foods and drinks on the side but I didn't buy any of those. You can get off at the Fruitvale station and it'll be right there. I'd say in the decently nice shopping complex of Oakland. I can say I tried a beignet but I think it could be better and it's not my first preference of sweets to go for, now. read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This is sort of my meet up spot for friends, though admittedly we don't /always/ buy something. Don't come early in the morning. I know, I know "but that's when stuff is super fresh!" But it's also when its so packed, it's stuffy inside and your order will be forgotten. I do fancy their Chai tea, and Fraps. I've yet to try their hard coffee, given you'll never catch me there come early rise. Standing in that line, which is practically out the door from all the Bart station travelers is not my cup of tea. In the afternoon to late evening, it's a lot more tame and level crowded if not almost empty. You're more likely to be noticed then. But don't bother asking for the wifi password, you're unlikely to be answered. As every time I've asked, my question seems to go unacknowledged. Waiting on actual food can be a bit.. Tedious, so I'd recommend getting a sweet to nibble on while you do so. Fresh as ever and soft (I favor the brownies). I'll credit them on their sandwiches and bagels. Though I lean more towards bagels. Eggs are a little.. Runny, by which I mean it will soak through the bag so be warned. You're going to need napkins. But that aside, it's a good place to grab a bite. Not a meal. The portions aren't big enough to fill even a small girl like me. read more

If you are short on time, this is not the place to go. My husband and I ordered the sandwiches and my aunt and uncle got breakfast sandwiches. They got their food pretty fast. We got the beignets in a timely manner. It took forever for my husband's and my sandwiches. We finally asked about it. I think they forgot about it. The (lunch) sandwiches and beignets were so delicious. At first I regretted not getting the breakfast sandwich but after I tasted mine, I was glad I ordered the sandwich. It was almost worth the wait. I got the turkey sandwich with something like cranberry mix. I don't even like turkey or deli meat but it was really good. My husband got the tomato mozzarella and his was really good too. I would definitely give this place another chance. Next time I won't wait so long to ask why my order is taking so long. read more

The location is great, especially if you need a quick smoothie or snack before getting on BART. Pastries are delicious. Not a coffee person but I do love their smoothies. read more

Awesome food. But the lattes are pretty bad consistently. The issue has been the consistency of the almond milk and they scald the almond milk. Nothing that barista training wouldn't fix. Friendly staff always a line but it moves really fast. I wish they had more vegan options. read more

Beignets are okay. But service is terrible. Their hours are incorrect on the door (says 8PM), and still rushed us out right on the dot (supposedly closes at 7PM). They even used a timer on their phone to ensure they kicked us out. read more

This was my go to on the daily when I lived in the fruitvale. They had the strongest coffee, fantastic breakfast sandwiches, yummy crepes and delicious beignets. I missed this place the most when we moved and still crave their food and coffee 4 years later. If I'm ever on bart in that area again I would definitely stop in. read more

Was curious about them fresh beignets. Since my train was delayed, hopped off and ordered a set and a Mexican coffee. So damn good! Light, fluffy, not too sweet and made to order. Can't ask for more ESP on a Monday morning. wish we lived closer! P.s. The coffee is amazing! read more

OMG! They have this coffee cake with a raspberry swirl in it. Yummy! I got a breakfast sandwhich that made my mouthwater lol. Get your coffee, pastries beignets and much more bere. Nice outdoor patio to enjoy your coffee and peoplewatch. The people you're watching are thugs, crack monsters and folks catching the bart. Good snacks.. read more

Great beignets, great service, and the location is a people watching wonderland. Powderface turned two senior citizens into playful kids. (I won) At Powderface, it's okay to play with your food. Go, have fun. read more

My friends had been talking about this spot for some time. And when I finally was in the area, I couldn't say no to fluffy fried goodness smothered in powder! When you walk in, the smell overwhelms you. And everything is made to order. They also have other pastries and food that looked pretty good. I ordered an almond milk green tea matcha latte (so good!) and an order of the beignets. They were super hot and fresh and smothered in your choice of powders, you can also get chocolate drizzle which is a fun option. Service is excellent. Prices are super reasonable. So good! read more

Decent food. A bit expensive but I get it. That's what they need to charge to make a profit. By my issue is the lack of urgency in making food. I've had my egg sandwich sit on a bench for 5 min. Fully made. And when I asked about it, got an annoyed look on it. Then they had a gal they were training for a while. She took about 10min to make an egg sandwich in the morning. Last straw for me was today. I ordered a sandwich and one of the workers just left! Straight up left for 14 min and the cashier kept taking orders. I asked the cashier what I should expect and she was like oh. I can help you. Well. I couldn't wait 15min for a sandwich and left. read more

Yesterday's immigrant rights march started at Fruitvale BART. I thought it'd be a pretty standard march until I saw a big sign in the window of what I thought was a make-up store. The sign, it said: "BEIGNETS". This was going to be the best march EVER. Not as great as the march on Washington in 2005. And actually, last year's MayDay march down Market St. in San Francisco was pretty awesome, but this one will always be remembered as the day I started a march with scrumptious beignets. Half of which ended up on my face and in pictures. Powderface gave me the fuel to march 5 miles from Fruitvale BART to the Oakland Federal Building without breaking a sweat. They were fresh and warm and crispy on the outside with a powdery soft layer of sweetness that covers your lips and face like a down pillow when you bite down on its goodness. My role as an activist often includes (1) telling everyone about how hungry I am, and (2) distracting hard-working organizers by making them run away with me to go find delicious food in the middle of important events. I'm sure everyone was very happy that I got my Powderface beignets before we started. Hungry dianasauruses ruin everything. read more

Ever since our trip to NOLA having the most famous beignets at Cafe Du Monde, I always want more after we came back home in the Bay. Whenever we see beignets on a menu in restaurants, we order them. ALL we've tried have been huge disappointments, from casual to fine dining restaurants. None of them have the right airy light fluff like the ones at Cafe Du Monde... till we stepped foot in Powderface Cafe at the Fruitvale Bart market. Less than $4 for an order of 3 BIG pieces can buy you a face full of powdered-face happiness! It's not as good as Cafe Du Monde but why 5 stars?! It's 5 stars because I can drive over there in a 3 mins and have some "woohoo! as good as it gets" beignets to cure my cravings. I don't have to pay $8 or $10 for an order of donut quality of beignets in higher end restaurants. Fruitvale Bart station has some bad reputation especially after Oscar Grant's incident but it is actually quite safe and clean. Their parking structure is big, bright, clean and often patrolled by the bart police. Don't let a bad apple ruin the whole batch! Grow up people!!! But come try their beignets! read more