Dreaming about Beignets. I've not been to NOLA is a few years, but so fondly remember Cafe Du Monde and Cafe Beignet. My BFF and Elite Yelper, Saachi G, told me see was on her way to New Orleans. I mentioned Beignets and she raved about Powderface as "best in the East Bay!" Yup! Throw down them delicious powdered beignets with chicory coffee to chase. Made to order, these beignets are more cakey with a crunchy crust and a soft inside. Different, but not the pillow texture at Cafe Du Monde. It's more like the ones I've had at Cafe Beignet, but doused with caramel sauce, it was all good. So now I'm contemplating a trip to New Orleans. Not just for. I'm dreaming about Leah's Pralines... read more

I commented to the workers, "it must be amazing working where you make everyone happy" All I gotta say is I dont know whose idea it was to open a beignet shop in Oakland, but I am so very happy they did. I lurv the Cinnamon and Sugar beignets and last time I also tried their carrot cake. OMG I'm obsessed! I will take pics next time, I promise! (I ate too fast this time) read more

I grew up in New Orleans and had many a begniet in the French Quarter. The ones at Powderface are every bit as good. Great name!

Prepare to get messy eating those beignets. I haven't tried them in nola so can't compare. But think light and airey with plenty of powdered sugar. I can see why they call it Powderface! I had a brownie to take home and it was pretty scrumptious. Thick and not overly sweet or chocolatey. Nice pictures on the wall showing plenty of history. Good amount of seating with some tables outside. If I barted out here more often, I'd definitely be here more often. read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

So often, I find myself yearning for beignets from the famous Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. I've often thought about flying to New Orleans just for a few good meals. Every time I've been there, I've made it a point to stop in at Cafe Du Monde at least once a day. The proof of that are the double digit extra lbs. I packed on every single visit! Powerderface was the very first stop I made today at the Dia De Los Muertes Festival. After all, how could I come to the area and not make I stop here? The beignets at Powderface are a far cry from the beignets I love so much at Cafe Du Monde, but they aren't at all bad. The ones here are not nearly as fluffy and puffy, but taste very similar. Additionally, the ones I had today were particularly well fried. Most importantly, they weren't over fried, with that tinge of brown edging, which can often happen with fried foods of any kind. Just like Cafe Du Monde, there was a generous dusting of powdered sugar all over. The pecan bars were also very good, and something I would easily get again. Really fresh with a nice crust and not overly sweet. I also enjoyed the crumb cake here years ago, which had a good thick crumb topping. It took every bit of self control out of me not to also add that on to my purchase, as the crumb topping looked just as good this time. Not nearly as good as the ones you'll find in New York City, but a reasonable West Coast rendition. You'll find the beignets here to be a decent substitute for the real deal in New Orleans. Just make sure to allow them to cool down a bit before taking a bite, as they come out piping hot from the oil in the deep fryer. And of course, try not to get that powdered sugar all over your face, or you'll resemble the name of this establishment! read more

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Some of the best coffee and beignets I've had outside of Cafe du Monde. Truly a welcoming establishment with incredibly friendly local ownership. read more

This review is specifically for the beignets. I've been looking for a place in the bay area that has really good beignets and these delivered. They were light, fluffy, and delicious. read more

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

Sometimes, you just need a little powder to get through the day. And if it ends up on top of your lip and on the tip of your nose... then you are REALLY gettin' it in! Wait, wait, wait... I'm not talkin' about THAT kind of powder! I'm talkin' about that good ol' powdered suga from Powderface! Geezuuuus! What were YOU thinkin' about? So anyways... this is probably the only kind of powder that I would let grace my nose. And, it's simply because the beignets here are the bomb diggity! Now let me just say, this is the Bay Area. Don't come here expecting Cafe Du Monde style beignets because these aren't those. As a matter of fact, these beignets are light, airy, and hollow on the inside. They almost just melt in your mouth at first taste. Definitely not your traditional beignet, but that's why I absolutely love it! I actually hate thick and overly doughy beignets, especially when they aren't stuffed. I've never really been a fan of Brenda's French Soul Food beignets (except for their crawfish ones), so these were like a breath of fresh air for me. The owner actually spent many years cooking in Louisiana and that's where the craft was perfected. Their cinnamon and sugar beignets are to die for as well! I absolutely love this combo! Their beignets are made fresh to order, so be prepared to wait for a few minutes. But I promise, the wait will be worth it! I would be lying if I said that I've had anything other than beignets here. I don't get out to Fruitvale Station too often, so when I do come here... all I want are those damn beignets! What I also love is that Powderface is conveniently located within a few steps from the Fruitvale Bart station. That's actually how I discovered this place a few years ago. I got off bart and saw people walking out with boxes of powdered goodness. All in all, it's an excellent spot to feed your beignet cravings. If you're in the Fruitvale area, you'd be crazy if you didn't make time to stop by! read more

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Everybody wanna be from New Orleans, but ain't nobody actually from New Orleans. Where your grandparents are from don't count. I learned that the hard way out here with these restaurants trying to make New Orleans food, especially beignets. But the minute I walked into Powderface, I could smell that they'd gotten the batter right. They fried it perfectly. The right amount of powdered sugar. Then, I saw that the owner grew up in New Orleans and was a chef at Brennan's - all makes sense. So to my fellow New Orleanians, these are the only beignets you should trust. (Brenda's ain't it. The people recommending Brenda's don't know any better.) read more

This is regarding the cappuccino and the beignets. 1st my cappuccino was hot and stayed hot until the very last drop. And even though we're not talking New Orleans beignets, mine tasted delicious happy experience. Great little cafe for me taking my Mum soon to get the hot Mexican coffee read more

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

Where can you get a beignet and coffee in Oakland? I found them at Powderface. A comfortable cafe in the Fruitvale Village. The people who run this place are friendly and efficient. When I asked them 100 questions about making beignets they were very patient and gracious. read more

The employees here are always extremely polite. The food is great and the coffee there is really good.

Dropped my friend off at Fruitvale Bart and saw that Powderface was right by the Bart entrance. I've been meaning to try the beignets here since it's much cheaper to get them a bus ride away versus a flight to Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. I ordered just the beignets which comes in an order of 3. After the lady poured the powdered sugar on, I could see why the place was named as such. It was covered in powdered sugar! They were straight out of the fryer and looked delicious. I took my first bite and was so disappointed. The inside of the beignet was hollow and made the beignet taste like an overcooked donut. And that powdered sugar? Well, I actually needed it in order to enjoy the beignet. I don't know if I just got a bad batch or other people haven't had beignets anywhere else, but I won't be coming back for the beignets. On the flip side, the service was excellent. The team of women working during the morning shift were very efficient. The location is convenient because of it's proximity to the Bart gates. read more

Powderface - Seemed delicious on the outside...but what a disappointment :( - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Been to this place a countless amount of times but today leads me to finally give my review. Great service and one of the best breakfast sandwiches in the area. 100% perfected over any fast food joint. This has been my go to for a few months and not sure of when or if that will change GREAT JOB! GREAT SERVICE! Thank You! read more

Powderface - Bacon, Sausage, Egg & Cheese on croissant! Custom Cold Brew! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

My husband's "plain iced coffee, light ice" has such light ice in it. Sooo light. For further reference, we live literally 5 mins away from Powderface. He drank this much coffee today on the way back home from Powderface. It's literally less than half full now. He's asked for iced coffee with light ice 3 times now and it always looks like this. To put it lightly, you had one job. To pour less ice in a cup. To literally pour less ice in a cup and then pour cold brew coffee in a cup. This was one of your simplest orders. And you failed not once, not twice, but thrice. Really, dog? My husband is literally going to the gas station to pour over some more coffee on this sh*tload of ice (and some coffee). Ridiculous. I'm making your job easier and you're making my life harder. For the prices you sell your products for, the quality and service should not only be faster but better. Bye, ya'll. (Edit: just threw my breakfast sandwich out because the eggs aren't even cooked through and my husband has been in the bathroom for over 10 minutes. thank god we have two bathrooms, because I'm likely on my way there too. Don't go here unless your kink is to poison yourself.) read more

Powderface - Plain iced coffee with "light ice" - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Great staff !! And affordable sizable sandwiches.Did I mention great staff ? Fast and efficient. Never very crowded outdoor seating Great coffee and very clean . Highly recommend. read more

Mala experiencia con Carolina. Se tomó mucho tiempo en hacer mi cream cheese bagel y Carolina no era para nada amable. read more

Powderface - Mala experiencia con Carolina. Tomaron mucho tiempo para hacer mi cream cheese bagel. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Who charges for whipped cream on a drink?! When questioned about why my bill was so high (2 smoothies, 1 order beignets - $17), the cashier says "it's 65¢ for whipped cream." I then looked up at their menu, which mentions nothing about a whip cream charge (or any other extras, at that); she responds "that's why I asked if you wanted whipped cream" to which I responded "Starbucks asks the same question...do they charge for it?!" I then informed her that they're breaking CA law by not having that shown on the menu, to which she replied "I'm just doing my job." I told her she could continue doing such by advising her manager that I'll be making a call to the state. Absolutely ridiculous, & a lost customer...you don't get to get over. And FYI - Brenda's in SF's beignets are WAY better. Just thought I'd throw that out there...just doing my job. ;) read more

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Quaint little cafe. Nice little spot to grab some fresh hot beignets. Tastes reminiscent of the beignets I had in New Orleans at Cafe Beignet on Royal Street. Not as good, but it definitely satisfied my craving. read more

Powderface - Beignets (Box of 3) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

It's important that you are careful about place and its employees. Especially the manager who is there every day. On Wednesday, June 30th at approximately 9:15am, I ordered a breakfast bagel with several toppings. Upon waiting for my food, I noticed one employee was in training and their manager was walking her through the steps of how to prepare the order. This would have been fine, accept the manager who (is notorious for foul attitudes), proceeds to wash her hands and then touch my food with her wet soaking fingers. Did not take. the time to dry her hands, but proceeded to place her entire palm one my bagel and cut in half... with her wet hand. BUT WAIT, IT GETS BETTER... Once she cut the bagel in half with her wet hands, she then sprinkles the liquid. Fromm her. hands onto the food, as if removing excess water from your hands after washing them ON TOP OF THE BAGEL. Picture yourself washing your hands, then skipping the towel and going straight for food. With wet hands. Now picture yourself shaking your hands so water comes off as you would over an open sink. Thats what this individual did over my food. Now, I'd like to think that this is not the norm, but unfortunately, I've received food with strands of hair in it, been given the incorrect order of coffee, given improperly made items on more occasions than I can count. So at this Juncture, it's better to not go all together. I cant in good conscience keep watching folks spend their money in this place, knowing the employees here do incredibly disgusting things like this. I've spoken to the owner of the company once. She's an incredible nice and thoughtful person. But I suspect she is unaware of the poor quality her employees are putting into her products. And after my. conversation with her about a. previous issue, the manager who is behind the counter had the worst attitude with me for MONTHS. She would refuse to greet me when I would come in with colleagues. She would not ask what I want to order, but would instead boondoggle and then eventually come stand in front of me without making eye contact & ask what my order is. Her attitude is not indifferent but passive aggressive in the disrespect which his pathetic because we talking about the quality of this individual's work. Its very sad because this is really the only establishment at Fruitvale village that offers a place to sit and relax. But. The. Foul attitude of the manager there and the consistent poor quality and cleanliness of the establishment makes it extremely difficult to spend money in This place. I would highly recommend folks go down the street to Fruitvale Village & International, Red Bay Coffee shop is amazing and the employees care about what they are doing. This is an important because the quality of what's being made speaks to the personal values and integrity the owner of the company enjoys. read more

Unlike as advertised on here, they do not have Wi-Fi. There beignets taste pretty good. Definitely lots of powdered sugar. I'm sure they've been unfortunately hit by the pandemic -- I didn't see any other customers when I walked in. read more

I got an iced caramel macchiato from here & some beignets and they were soo good. Plus, service was great, everyone was so nice and the food was made quick and fresh! read more

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

Super cute little cafe/coffee shop right outside Fruitvale Bart station that has just about everything you might want! - Coffee (Espresso, macchiato, Vietnamese iced coffee, and many more options) - Variety of Mighty Leaf Tea - Smoothies, juices - Italian sodas - Crêpes - Breakfast sandwiches, bagels - BEIGNETS, made fresh! MUST GET ITEM - Fruits, boiled eggs - Brownies, Rice Krispies, other sweets Plenty of seating inside if you're waiting for Bart, a bus, or don't want to freeze in the cold weather outside. Outside seating available if you want to sit outside on a nice day. I've tried their espresso, tropical green tea, caramel macchiato, and their beignets. Great place to grab a coffee or quick bite. The STAR of this show is their beignets. I truly enjoyed each cinnamon sugar covered, hot, fresh bite dipped into chocolate syrup (was literally smiling after each bite the first time I tried them) they were SO GOOD. I can't explain in words how delicious they are, you just have to try them!! read more

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I've been coming here for years, but it's been a long time since I got a coffee or a hot chocolate from this place... it's very nice and the staff is very polite and very friendly I recommend this place if you are around Fruitvale and want to get a quick bite or a hot coffee or chocolate read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Amazing so good and cute Great experience highly recommend this place as a stop on the list read more

After deciding on making gumbo for Mardi Gras, it just seemed fitting to finally try these beignets on Fat Tuesday. We ordered 2 orders of beignets - 1 order powdered sugar and 1 order cinnamon, but ended up with both powdered sugars which we didn't mind since it was so delicious (each order comes with 3) and after figuratively inhaling it since literally would result in powderface, hair, and clothes, I can understand why they sell them by the dozen. We also got a side of the chocolate in a small solo cup for an extra 95 cents that I drizzled inside the beignets which melted perfectly while hot followed by a few shakes of the extra powdered sugar inside as well....yum!!! Side note: Already been back 4 days later for the dozen and got to try the cinnamon sugar. Personally, I prefer the powdered sugar but if you don't want to risk the powder face, the cinammon can be a good alternative. Oh, and you might want to avoid laughing as well as the exhaling will cause a sugar spray as my mom found out. read more

They need to changes the hours. I came here at 6:45pm on a Tuesday & it looked like they have been closed for a while.

"If Jeezy paying Lebron, I'm paying Dwayne Wade." Well Jay, I got my (powder) Beignets for even cheaper. But everybody reviews about the Beignets. Actually my favorite food to order at Powderface is the breakfast bagel w/egg, cheese, and ham. The asiago bagel I order is always fresh. There's a generous amount of egg, ham, and cheese. One of the best breakfast sandwiches that are served in the Bay Area, and one of the biggest. For a breakfast sandwich I pay Joe Dumars, and with coffee I pay Julius Erving. The ready-made turkey sandwiches are good, which I pay J. Kidd. Also being that this is one of my first stops in the morning, I like the fact that they open at 5. Great way to start my day. Even better when my coworker treats, in that case, I got it made, if Jay Z paying D Wade, I'm paying Robert Parrish. read more

Powderface - Breakfast sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Conveniently located in the complex next to the Fruitvate BART Station, Powderface is a nice place to hang out. They have plenty of indoor seating as well as patio seating. The patio seating is nice on a warm afternoon, and the BART trains passing by periodically aren't too big of a distraction. They have good coffee. Most of the time I drink black coffee, and that can make me a coffee snob, meaning I can tell good brewed coffee from the bad. But obviously I have to comment on the main part of the namesake.. the beignets. On two separate occassions I've had the normal powdered sugar beignets and the cinnamon sugar beignets. Both are delicious with a hot cup of coffee. The traditional powdered sugar beignets are messy, and I can be messy enough on my own. I've had beignets at several places before, including the famous Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter of New Orleans. While I wouldn't say Powderface's beignets are the best of I've had, they're a pretty decent second or third. read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Delicious! I come get all the time to grab a breakfast sandwich for our son or a crepe. They're always friendly and quick! We love coming here!!! Oh yeah, and try the beignets ;-) read more

The beignets are good, but not quite as good as the ones at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans: a little too soggy/heavy, and not enough of an air pocket in each one: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XUpzZR5GoFkTYI5PXhXN6Q?select=4zAsgXog_zy_nunOorAfag#4zAsgXog_zy_nunOorAfag But, the Mexican mocha is excellent: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XUpzZR5GoFkTYI5PXhXN6Q?select=4zAsgXog_zy_nunOorAfag#A9IIzHspy0kzGDbT7neyyw It's located right next to the BART station: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XUpzZR5GoFkTYI5PXhXN6Q?select=4zAsgXog_zy_nunOorAfag#q2Q13eVhBhvJuTGphXCcXw read more

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They don't pick up the phone. They advice for you to order on line but when you order on line, you're order is not ready even though you get a notification that it's ready. Not the first time read more

Came here as an 'excuse' to get change from Flirt Lounge in the same shopping center. Once I saw that they had beignets I knew I had to come over and try them. One order will give you three, piping hot with either powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. I choose the original way (powdered sugar) and OH MY STARS! These were so heavenly! Perfectly soft pillows with soft centers and crispy edges completely covered with powered sugar. Just FANTASTIC! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XUpzZR5GoFkTYI5PXhXN6Q?select=-vAh8YzOb2SZLa6WQKr6fg#6_vZoqx0djWqZUyOCbwImg read more

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

I saw my friend checked in here and have been dying to come and check out their beignets!!!! When I looked up on yelp and read the reviews, I was like OMG I have to come and check it out. All I can say was... Powderface didn't disappoint me. Today was my very first time coming here and it will not be my last. I am definitely coming back for MORE!!! I ordered of course the BEIGNETS!!!! I got one order (3 pcs). 2 with powdered sugar and 1 with Cinnamon. I like the cinnamon better, it is a lot tastier to my taste. For drinks I got cafe americano and my bf got pina colada smoothie. I like the fact on the condiment counter it has brown sugar (BIG PLUS)!!!! I am weird, I like to put brown sugar or honey in my coffee. The smoothie was pretty good, but my bf thinks it doesn't really tasted like pina colada but still good. I was standing by the cashier and noticed they actually really make it fresh.. like cutting the dough, rolling the dough, cut in a small piece, and then deep frying them. I watched the whole process and I thought it was so awesome. That's how you know they are not old and everything made in fresh. I also happened to saw them made the rice crispy treats too. Pretty cool! I am going to come back and taste their other goodies and sandwiches. Service is very good! Our cashier was very friendly and she did something that totally made our day! I mentioned to her that this is our first time and we are very excited trying the beignets. She replied, " they are very good and you will enjoy them." As we were eating on the table, she came to our table and offered some more beignets and told us, " I know this is your first time here, I want to try these. They are my favorite." we were very happy and we ate some and took some home. She gave us 3 little piece 2 with powdered sugar with chocolate syrup and 1 with caramel syrup. Very tasty. I will order that next time. Thank you Powderface for making our experience so pleasant. We will definitely coming back! read more

Powderface - Our free sample of beignets. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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One of my favorite desserts is a beignet. I have been to Cafe Du Monde countless times and having the opportunity to experience the flavor in sunny California sounded pleasing. I stopped in on a Saturday morning for a chai latte with almond milk and an order of cinnamon sugar and powdered sugar beignets. The first thing that was somewhat off putting was the fact they charge sixty-five cents for whipped cream. I wanted a bit to top my latte and was told i would be charged more than half a dollar extra. That's a little drastic, but this is the new up and coming bay area where everything is pricey. No biggie. I politely declined to pay the extra and was content with my chai latte which was rather tasty. Biting in to a beignet is like biting into a cloud of dough with layers of fluff and powdered sugar. That's how it should be. However, the beignets at Powderface are HOLLOW! I guess they can get away with it since the originals are about 2,000 miles away. I know better and they should too. Beignets are not supposed to be hollow. Overall, I would not order beignets here again. Chai is cool. read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I went to school in this area and the workers back then made this place so welcoming and coming back was a bitter sweet, but NOW their service is horrible!! MANY MANY times you can be right in front waiting to order and they'll rather wash cups then help you! They never have a smile on their face, (bc no no masks here) but whatever like cmon we're here for coffee to start our day right be joyful even if you have to fake it! And if by any chance they did something wrong in an order and you address is, oh lord the expression. Idk what happened to you powder face. Sucks now. Not worth the wait, the attitude or poor taste in coffee or food. FYI Romos is better. Quality food and service! Lady's are sweethearts there! read more

The beignets were like chewing on air -- very little texture inside. Even if you haven't had real deal beignets before I don't think these are worth eating. I appreciated the quick and friendly service given that they are next to BART. read more

Powderface - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Holy cow. This place is dooooooo good. If you love simple beignets, look no further. Hands down the best in the area.

This is only for the beignets. So I have mix feelings about this place. I got the 3 piece beignets and they are pretty big in size. Despite its appearance, inside has a lot of air in it and deflates very easily. So when I receive the beignets, the top beignet was full, but the bottom beignets were crushed looking. Wish the beignets held its structure and density were better. Flavor wise, it tasted pretty good. it's like a lightly crisped outside donut. I really enjoyed it with the caramel. Will I be back? I don't think so, maybe if I lived close by. read more

I've been coming here for years, and there has been wrong orders the last 4 times with coffees, pastries and sandwiches before, but hey things happen. This morning was the last straw. I ordered my usual sandwich, same sandwich I've gotten for years. I waited and thank the woman behind the counter as I walk out and look down. I see it's wrong again. I brought it up to the woman politely, and no apology. They were willing to fix it but I'm going to be late to work again for this place. read more