Not getting all the love for Powderface, and I am a major fan of beignets and donuts. Been to Cafe du Monde, hoping for same here. I got beignets and Vietnamese coffee (hot). The beignets were dense flat rectangles - not at all fluffy or puffy - and the Vietnamese coffee was frothy, more like a tall Americano than a small, dense cup of drip coffee. (My Vietnam-born friend was not impressed with my Vietnamese coffee either) I came because of all the four and five star reviews, but I have to disagree. On my visit, this was not a good beignet experience. On the plus side, the crepe chef brought our order to our outside table. An extra star for that. read more

Love their beignets. The coffee is good too. I recommend their cappuccino on a cold morning while waiting for BART! read more

Powderface - Three beignets with powdered sugar per box. So yummy! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Located right next to a Bart platform this is where i start my mornings on this morn shift sometimes. The coffee is strong but not much in the way of creamers or sweeteners but the beignets are on point. The closest thing I've had to café du monde since nola. read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

BEIGNETS. YUMMMMMM. There's a reason it's called powderface. They have wi-fi here too in case you want to chill and work on stuff. Right off Fruitvale Bart. It's a chill spot for some breakfast items and if you're just getting some coffee or tea. In the afternoon, they sometimes have little businesses that sell their jewelry and bags. read more

I was really excited to try the beignets but they weren't amazing... however they were fresh and made right then and there!

This is a break place which is supper near by my place :) their coffee tastes okay but for some reasons I just like it!!!! Probably because I have had some kind of bad and good experiences with coffee in general . Anyways, the beignets was very gooood and tasty if you dont mind they used oil to make it, then it is a supper great snack!!!! (Better than popcorn of course ) my sis tried their crepe!!! And she loved just because they put lot of cheese for her as her requested .... Check it out if you dare !!!!! read more

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I was hoping that Powderface beignets would be the bright spot in my necessary but not necessarily pleasant stop in Fruitvale on my way to a surprise, but unfortunately these pillowy pieces of fried dough fell short. I appreciated the fact that they were fried to order (which took forever and made me late to my destination, which made for a slightly miffed boyfriend who had orchestrated said surprise), but our order didn't taste fresh. The oil tasted stale and could have used a change a couple of hours back, though it was only 10AM when we visited. In addition to the sort of greasy, stale flavors that the oil imparted, the beignets themselves were crunchier and tougher than I had expected. With foods so sweet and rich such as these, you don't want to have to keep chewing at it forever-- it sort of grows old, especially when a beignet doesn't have any particular sort of complexity in its flavors. Though the service was very friendly, I don't think Powderface Cafe's beignets will have me wanting to offboard at Fruitvale anytime soon. read more

I am really torn about leaving a 3 or 4 star review, (ok, not really, my life really isn't going to be any better or worse, but it just sound good to be torn over something)...... In reality, I loved the Beignets, they were light, chewy, tasty, sweet and not at all greasy. they did not look however, like the ones in the photos here on Yelp. Mine were kinda the slimmer version of the ones in the photos here. What I am kinda bothered about is, the price. $3.50? that is kinda like Pacfic Heights pricing. but Hunters Point atmosphere. Do I really want to drive out from a cozy Temescal home over to Fruitvale to pay $3.50 for 4 small beignets? Probably not , but if I am ever in the area I would likely be drawn back here to savor the goodness. It was also a bit interesting to check out the FV Transit viliage as they plan to do something similar to MacArthur BART which is the closest station to my crib. It seems as the Village seems to be holding it own with a nice mix of businesses., however but there was some riff-raff hanging out at 10am, plus I did note the GOLD TEETH shop within the mall. Really? .....Let's hope whoever hands out business licences for the Village just had a bad day and complete brain freeze when he/she decided that would be a good place to add inside the mall. read more

Heres the deal, I just came from New Orleans and went to Cafe Du Monde. My expectations have already been set. My first time here was not knowing what a Beignet was. Tried it, loved it. Went to the Big Easy and was blown away. Came back here, and I must say, its as close as you could get. They have a list of other well presented items, ha vent tried them but I am a fan. Service was good, they have WiFi which I believe all Cafes should have. Magazines to read so you don't feel like a total loner while your all powder faced up. I wanted to give them 5, but come on now, I've been to Cafe Du Monde. YEEEEeeee! read more

Sure, if I didn't know the diff between frybread and begniets, Powderface would get higher marks. But, I do, oh lord, I do. That said, it's pleasant enough, but their begniets are too heavy. Frybread and sugar ain't it. This Yat ain't won over, though if you're not a Yat, it might be just what you want. On the other hand, the folks there are sweet and that counts for much by me. read more

Keep in mind that I practically never eat fried foods I loved it! Quaint places to sit I ordered a powdered sugar beignet and a Mexican hot chocolate with soy milk. YUM! I could only eat two but a couple of hours later I gave the last one to my husband - I told him not to expect much since it was cold - but he liked it! I Would of like it more if they put it on a plate instead of a box where they got a little soggy. read more

This place is pretty chill for breakfast but they are always under staffed. Most mornings I end up waiting in line and then aborting my mission for coffee and a crossaint because they just don't have enough staff. They had two girls there this morning. While they are nice and the space has dope vibes, it's annoying to have to wait for the only cashier to also be the barista, and assist the kitchen hand in making EVERYTHING. After each person there's at least a five minute wait, while they go make everyone else's stuff and you miss your Bart train. Y'all are convenient and right near Fruitvale station, but I'm going to not patronize this place until I don't feel robbed of my time every time I walk in the door. read more

Little over priced for lunch, but the coffee is good, and the service is ok. Good spot to enjoy wifi, and a cup of java. Patio is also excellent on the warmer sunny days. read more

Now I've never had beignets in New Orleans so I wouldn't know the difference, but so far, here in the Bay Area, these are the best for me. The staff makes them upon your order, so they are always fresh and piping hot. Instead of being drenched in oil, they are light, pillow-y and flavorful. I'm a fan of the powdered sugar over the cinnamon myself, but it's great that they even have a choice. Perhaps it's just me and my forgetfulness, but it seems that the beignets have a bit more oomph in terms of the dough than before. This is a nice change as it adds more texture and flavor. If the New Orleans style is further along this trend, I can see the appeal. So maybe I just need to refresh my memory and just order a few more. The box of 12 is going to send me into sugar-induced coma one of these days. I just know it. The breakfast sandwiches, savory crepes, and chai lattes are decent if you need an actual more-than-sugar meal. The cafe can be a bit loud, the customer is expected to get their own drinks and food from the counter upon it being prepared, and the benches can be a bit uncomfortable for a long sit. Still, the staff and owners are friendly, they have great hours, and the location (just steps away from Fruitvale BART Station) allows for when you need that beignet pick me up. read more

Never knew this place existed. The staff is super nice. I order a Latte and it was probably one of the best I've had. You cant come and not have a Beignets they are made fresh to order and a really good. read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Had a good experience on a Sunday brunch, the veggie crepe was excellent, and the beignet was of course awesome. Gotta say, the pesto sauce in the crepe was really good, and we also got the Mexican Mocha and the Viet Lava drip coffee, and they were both very yummy coffee drinks. As for the service, thought was quite good that day. Actually took someone else's coffee by mistake, the girl behind the counter pointed it out to me, but was very nice about it and let me keep the coffee anyways. Got some more beignets to go, got a 1/2 powdered sugar and 1/2 cinnamon sugar box of 12, the cinnamon sugar beignet is crazy good too, would def be back for these in the future. read more

Nice ambiance, great delicious beignets, great service and customer service, BUT the WIFI sucks! The prices on the food are a bit pricey for the wifi not to work as well. I mean if you are paying for a coffee and a sandwich about $17, then it should be expected to get some good internet to work on. But overall, it was good experience, I just wish they would improve in their wifi service and it will make it my favorite place to go eat and work more often. read more

Been here plenty of times. Service is always hit or miss. Place is clean and looks like a normal pastry cafe. I like their pecan bars the best. The brownies and cookies seem to be old and turn rock hard the next day, I would avoid those. Will try the beignets soon. read more

Great place, and deals with the hustle and bustle of Fruitvale station well. The turkey sandwich good, a twist with the cranberries, but the lemon pound cake was good even after I forgot about it in my backpack for a day. read more

I don't really care for the ben-yays {how ever you spell them} i don't really like powder sugar so much but the crepes and the shakes are amazing!! so delieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehious! I used to go here almost every week because my boyfriend worked close by, and every time i went the service was fast and the food was great!! especially the pesto & turkey crepe! and the cookie monster shake!! Its also a great place to go chill and hang with friends, it has a laid back environment. there are alot of pictures of powdery people on the walls! it's a little pricey, but i think it's worth it! read more

I've never had beignets before this place, but if they are supposed to taste anything like how these taste, then consider me a beignet lover! Mine were beautifully fried, golden crispy outside and super warm, and soft inside. I was both glad and surprised that they weren't greasy at all for being deep-fried dough! Their breakfast sandwich is alright, nothing to write home about, but their lemon butter crepes are really good! Their rice crispy treats are also pretty good :) I think that whenever I'm in the area again (which probably won't be for a long time!) I will definitely come back :) read more

I was hesitant to come here given that it is in Fruitvale but the area is not bad. I came here to try their beignets and I'm glad I did. They were delicious! They also have great coffee, and breakfast sandwiches. Great place to try fresh, hot beignets! read more

They dont make the beignet till you order it. That includes cutting the dough. They come out hot becareful as you may choke on the powered sugar. But its well worth it. A must try. read more

Powderface - Heaven in a Box. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

We order the beignets 3 for $5 and also a crape with Nutella and banana. Both were very delicious! read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I happened to stop in this tiny location after getting off the fruitvale station. It's so amazing!! The beignets are made fresh and are fantastic!! I've stopped here a few times since and have been very happy with everything I've ordered. read more

Love this place their veggie crepes are just on point and taste good. Quality of coffee too and service is quick and friendly.

The beignets at Powderface are good enough; none better in "the Bayarea" that i've found not that they're everywhere. Fruitvale is our closest BART and my wife & i drop in Powderface on the way home from the City every chance we get-- really good espresso drinks.--the place is so unexpected like it's out-of-place or something. We were in New Orleans early May 2009. If you go there, definitely stop off at Cafe du Monde for a cafe au lait and beignet, but also go a block away to Cafe Beignet III and try theirs--i think they are a little bit better but the ambiance at Cafe du Monde is more satisfying. Look for my reviews of NOLA joints. My best advice: Don't ever pass up the chance to visit New Orleans. read more

It was my first time in the Fruitvale neighborhood, and started t feel hungry for a snack. then I saw this place, and had no clue what New orlean style beignets were. Decided to give it a shot, and although I semi-enjoyed how fresh, warm, and delicious the beignets were, I still had a couple issues. 1. the smallest size was 3 beignets at $3.75, which the girl didn't tell me until after she charged my credit card. I had only wanted to try one beignet. i may have reconsider trying i had I known. 2. They pour a crap load of powdered sugar on it, which is what they are supposed to do I guess. But for me, I didnt like the nasty layer of sticky sugar stuck to my gums and teeth after each bite. Just not the kind of texture I want to bite into. Aside from that, the coffee was decent, they had free wifi, and it wasnt miserable crowded in the seating area (like Starbucks is). Next time Ill try the cinnamon beignets to see if they have a better texture than the powdered sugar ones. And Ill bring a friend to share. read more

Calm environment perfect to relax and drink coffee. Indoor and out door seating both are nice! This place can get somewhat hectic in the morning, there is never any parking around here but this is a big center! My fav is the polar bear frapp and the crepes !! read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Went here for a change up Saturday morning breakfast. We ordered a order of beignets with powered sugar. They were great! We did up with powered sugar all over our clothes and hands! We also ordered a coffee which was ok, but so hot it was undrinkable for about 5 minutes after getting the coffee and this after putting some milk in the coffee to cool it down. I tried the bagel with egg, cheese, and bacon. I would give this a 3 star very ok. The staff was friend and quick. Not much atmosphere inside, maybe on a nice day could sit outside and enjoy the patio. Order the beignets and you will not be disappointed! Desert for breakfast ! :). read more

I got the tiniest sandwich ever in my life today from this place costing $4 , it was literally half of a half sandwich portion . Not only did I get no help over the phone from a male associate , he didn't offer to have a manager call me back . Only reason why it is in my possession is because my boyfriend went to buy it for me , if I would have been there I would have asked for my money back ! Waste of time and money dealing with this place !!!! read more

Powderface - The tiniest sandwich ever for $4 ??!???! And broken and poorly presented as well !!! Never again !!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Love this place I can easily spend a lot of money here. I just wish they had a slightly bigger menu option.

Hey great coffee and food. Great place to sit during breaks. AC Transit. Always a morning wake me up or afternoon wake me up. Love quick snack bread and hard boiled eggs. Staff always friendly. read more

This is a very nice place. The employees are friendly. It is clean and it has a warm friendly atmosphere. I bought a large strawberry smoothie with whipped cream. It was delicious. It was machine made and it tastes like a normal smoothie. I sat at one of the tables for a moment. The chair back was a bit rickety. The music coming through the speakers is adult contemporary r&b/pop. It is small. There is extra dining space outside. read more

Best beignets around EastBay! Just hop on BART over to Fruitvale stop and this place is just outside the station. Went with Gf, who also recommends the lattes, but the main reason it should come is for the beignets (1 dozen minimum recommended!) read more

Stopping by more than twice a week in the morning for my Chai Latte with soy milk is a MUST. I have tried every Chai Latte, Peet's..Starbucks..you name it, but nothing compares to the quality taste of their coffee/lattes!! read more

I come here most mornings for desserts only. I was standing in line yesterday and a white man asked for a "water cup" and the woman gave him one. This morning I'm standing in line and a black man asked for a "water cup" and she said told him that it'll cost him 50 cents. Neither man bought anything prior, neither man appeared homeless, as a matter of fact they were well dressed as if on there way to work. I will no longer be supporting this business. read more

I used to live in the Fruitvale neighborhood and I'd frequent Powderface a lot. I no longer live in the neighborhood but I do stop by sometimes for a coffee and breakfast. The coffee is delicious. I'm a total coffee snob and I do like the coffee. The restaurant has lots of seating, the waitstaff are friendly and cheerful, and the food is pretty good. I've had the beignets - they're good but nothing on New Orleans - and their crepes are good too. Overall a great place to get a coffee or breakfast, or a quick lunch! read more

Cute little cafe next to Fruitvale Bart station with delicious treats & drinks offered! Whenever I'm on the way from the city or Oakland I always have to make a quick stop before I head back home. The lady even remembered me!! I love this place. read more

Delicious pastries and bagels. Quick service and good prices. Jalapeño and plain bagels are delicious. Breakfast sandwich is a go to.