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    The Vulcan Cafe

    3.2 (358 reviews)
    InexpensiveThai, Cafes
    Open 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order The Vulcan Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    The Vulcan Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    THE VULCAN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Vulcan Cafe

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    Claudia S.

    Everything we ordered was yummie! We had some chicken skewers, pad thai and even a vegetarian dish with Tofu. I would definitely recommend you to try it, dont let the location fool you

    Yum Voon Sen Salad
    Loriell L.

    First of y'all... the 1 star reviews are TRIPPIN. Certain restaurant's have their strengths and weakness dishes and you just gotta know how to order ‍ Just because certain items aren't good doesn't mean ALL the food is bad or terrible. I ordered the salad attached & the hot n sour Thai soup. I've had better but for being open so late to my convenience it still satisfied the craving. The salad however did it for me and will be returning for the salad alone. I didn't try any pan friend noodle dishes or entrees but will give it a try the next go around!

    Pad Thai with shrimp
    Mindy L.

    Pretty underwhelming. But like someone said, for being open til midnight it satisfies the craving. Crab fried rice - small amount of crab on top of regular rice and tiny bits of egg. Definitely not fried rice. Pad Thai - very okay. Had a tiny bit of cabbage and peanuts, but no fresh bean sprouts which is needed to balance to noodles Green curry - not spicy at all. Good flavor and veggies were cooked well though

    Robbie R.

    I'm down here in the East Bay visiting a friend and he wanted to take me to an unusual Thai restaurant called the Vulcan Cafe. No, the servers didn't have pointy ears, but I guess Vulcan refers to an industrial area here in Oakland that had a foundry named that. I will say the location is quite unusual, located in a totally industrial area of Oakland down a dead end street with artist lofts and the like all around. Then you come across a That restaurant! The Vulcan has been here open for like 35 years! That's gotta say something that people love coming here, since there really no food traffic like a busy street to get customers. Parking can be tricky, but do pay attention to the No Parking signs in front of other businesses. You go up a few rickety steps and into the cafe. It's a little industrial looking, but does have a Thai flavor to the decor. The menu has all the basic Thai dishes we've come to expect, from colored Thai curries, pad Thai noodles and coconut soups. Once inside, you kinda forget you're on a dead end street in the middle of industrial Oakland. We were here for lunch, it might be a little scary down here at night! Service was very cordial and efficient. We choose a standby of Pad Thai and a special that day of Thai Roast duck. We also had Thai Iced Tea to drink. There were quite a few other people in the restaurant while we had lunch, proving the popularity of this really out of the way place. Our food arrives and it looks delicious. The pad Thai was done just right with the right amount to sauce balanced with the wok fried noodles. The duck was scrumptious as well. The meat was flavorful and yes a little fatty, which is a good thing when it comes to duck! The meat just melts in your mouth contrasting with the crispy skin. We had a wonderful lunch here and I'd return for sure, though I don't get down to the Bay Area too often, cause traffic totally sucks! But places like the Vulcan Cage make it worth it.

    I ate ONE. Only ONE!!!! This is really awful
    Veronica W.

    Likes: open late Delivers Thai food lol Dislikes: Small portions (not understanding how I paid 6.95 plus tax for 6 small pieces of tofu.... So they are a dollar a piece? Last time I checked a square of tofu is 3 bucks at the most... definitely feels like they are ripping people off. If you want to sell less make sure the customer knows how many pieces they are getting. I would NEVER charge someone this much for a few pieces of tofu...

    fried tofu
    Aleanna S.

    I felt the need to satisfy my Thai craving but I hate to say I was disappointed. The pad see ew lacked flavor in my opinion. Definitely could've used more sauce. The noodles felt a little over cooked yet the veggies still had a slight undercooked crunch to them. The tofu had a weird taste even the peanut sauce couldn't mask. They were dry too.

    Pad - Thai
    Anna L.

    I was craving some late night munch and was happy to find a Thai place open so late that also delivers. I ordered the shrimp fresh rolls and classic pad Thai with chicken. The pad Thai is decent, good enough for night time cravings. I prefer my pad Thai more spicy and saucy but the flavors are all there and that's good enough in my book. However the spring rolls were disappointing. There was only shrimp in about 3 of the pieces, and even then it was a really small amount. I thought it was the wrong order at first until I broke one of the sections apart and found a small piece of shrimp. I didn't really care for the complimentary sauce either. Good thing I ordered peanut sauce on the side.

    Crab Meat Fried Rice  + 4 Thai Spring Rolls
    Adrienne D.

    Today, I ordered Thai Spring Rolls(vegetarian), crab meat fried rice, and Thai iced tea from Vulcan Cafe. The order was placed using UberEats. Honestly, the food fell short of my expectations. The rice weighed down the quality of the meal. While the rice was cooked properly, there were crab shell fragments in my rice that made eating it a minefield. The flavor of the rice was sufficient but I've definitely eaten more flavorful Thai meals than this. It was very one-dimensional on my palate. Onto the spring rolls, those were good. The sauce that accompanied it was very nice and refreshing. The only downside is that mine were slightly over-cooked & a wee oily. Onto the Thai Iced Tea, thankfully, this was constructed beautifully. I truly enjoyed the beverage. It helped knock a few of the shell fragments down my throat. Not too bitter, not too sweet. Overall, I would likely eat here again if I just really wanted some Thai food out of convenience. But, if there was a better location selling Thai dishes, then I'd try that place first.

    Pad Khi Mao
    Mai N.

    Slightly below average but worth it if you're in a pinch for some Thai (delivery). The Pad Khi Mao (also known as Drunken Noodle) was dry. The Veggie dish was filled with bell pepper and hardly any eggplant. The chicken satay was amateur. Dry pieces of chicken on a stick.

    Pad Thai
    Ahnye I.

    The Vulcan Cafe is such an hidden gem! Located right across from the BART, surrounded by trendy lofts and almost artist like buildings, I honestly can't get enough of this place! The food is so tasty and the Thai Iced Tea is delicious and super refreshing. I can dine here in the afternoon, evening, and even for dinner thats how great the food is. The service is always wonderful and the food is always fresh. The decor is very traditional, with outside and inside seating, very spacious! Please note that the area is very industrial like, a positive for some, and negative for others. Parking is minimal and can almost seem "sketchy" if you are not familiar with the area. I recommend not ordering online through food delivery services, as the place may be hard to find and the food may take long to arrive. This is a definitely a place where you place an in person order!

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

    There was hair in our food which of course ruined it and our appetite, that's all I really gotta say..

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    9 months ago

    The food dishes were scarce with an after taste that didn't seem right. We wont be going again, unfortunately. Expensive for what it is.

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    2 years ago

    They have Thai food. I have eaten there many times over several years. The food is good and reasonably priced. You should try it.

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - The Vulcan Cafe

    Haven't been here since the new owner took over is the food still good quality?

    No, Run! I've ordered food from here and it tasted like shit! Even worse, I received food that was overdue and smelled like dumpster juice! Not Thai food but dumpster !

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Dandelion Kaffe

    Dandelion Kaffe

    4.3(100 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Super cute cafe/brunch spot! Love the interior and aesthetics, with the green walls, dark wood,…read moreand plants. My friends and I came this past Saturday a little before noon. We ordered on the tablet near the front entrance. Some of us wanted our drinks to-go, so we ordered those separately at the register in the back. I ordered the Pesto Egg Toast and an iced Horchata Latte with oat milk, less sweet. The toast was yummy, and the portion was perfect for me. It was enough to make me satisfied. I liked the sunny side up eggs and pesto. The latte was also good. I could really taste the cinnamon in the drink. Even with less sweetness, it was still relatively sweet so I'm glad I adjusted it.

    Service and Staff: - Order at the kiosk or the counter in…read morethe back of the restaurant. They will call your name when the food is ready for you to go pick it up in the back Food and Drinks: - Hojicha Latte: delicious. Anytime a place sells a hojicha latte, I'm all over it. It wasn't too sweet, which I appreciated - Bulgogi Egg Sandwich: this was very tasty! Love the Korean and American fusion with this dish. It was also very filling Miscellaneous: - Parking is available via metered street parking (free on Sundays or weekdays after 6pm) - Indoor and outdoor seating available - Good for pairs and smaller groups (might be able to get away with pushing two tables other to fit 6-8). Most tables fit 4 - Lots of food and drink options - Casual ambiance - some people were working and some were brunching

    Photos
    Dandelion Kaffe - Beautiful, long bar

    Beautiful, long bar

    Dandelion Kaffe - Bulgogi Croissant

    Bulgogi Croissant

    Dandelion Kaffe - Einspanner

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    Coffee Cultures Alameda - Ordering, cold case and baked goods

    Coffee Cultures Alameda

    4.3(202 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I'm usually very particular about matcha since I've perfected my own recipe to suit my personal…read moretaste, but I have to say I really enjoyed their Earl Grey Matcha from the seasonal menu. It wasn't overly sweet and still maintained that earthy matcha flavor that many places tend to lose when they jump on the matcha trend. My husband ordered the Vanilla Bean Caramel Latte, also from the seasonal menu, and loved it so much that he said this is now his favorite coffee spot. Safe to say, whenever we're back in town, we'll definitely be returning!

    A lovely spot to kill time while my son was out on the water. Upon opening the door, I was greeted…read morewarmly by the staff and made to feel quite welcome. The seating is mostly at table tables along the wall walls of window. It was kind of neat to be able to sit and watch people walk by in the traffic as it ebbed and flowed toward the bridge. The early morning was rather quiet outside so it wasn't noisy at all. I had a lovely chai latte, extra spicy. It was perfect after the chilly walk to this little space of warmth. They had a nice selection of pastries, ultimately I chose a danish because I love them. This one did not disappoint. It was tender and flaky and went perfectly dipped in my chai. If ever, we are in the area again, I will definitely pay another visit. It was nice to step into a local place that wasn't a chain. I think the quality of staff and consumable offerings was just so much better than you would find at one of the other places.

    Photos
    Coffee Cultures Alameda - Menu

    Menu

    Coffee Cultures Alameda - Vanilla & dole whip swirl on opening day, and latte art

    Vanilla & dole whip swirl on opening day, and latte art

    Coffee Cultures Alameda - Tasty

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    Tasty

    Coffee and Tea Traders - BLUE MATCHA COCONUT LATTE (no matcha in the ingredients though and way too sweet)

    Coffee and Tea Traders

    4.0(166 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    The sweetest gal at the counter made me a lovely raspberry decaf white mocha and a crazy-delicious…read morebreakfast burrito! It was packed with eggs, bacon, ham and even some chopped red onion that I requested. Highly recommend, and very close to Oakland Airport in case you need a beverage or snack to go before your flight.

    I run a couple of times a week in the area, I'll usually go into Safeway for some post run fuel…read more Decided to come in here and try an iced latte. I came in around 8:30, a few tables outside had people drinking their coffees and eating breakfast. When I walked in, only one guy was waiting for his order. There was only one person working. The service was not good. I stood at the order counter for 5 minutes, I looked at the lady, she looked at me, and didn't offer a high I'll be right with you. I understand she was the only one preparing coffee and food. I'm not trying to complain about the wait, but the lack of acknowledging a customer to say it will take some time. I finally ordered an iced latte. I do think they have some creative drinks, but I know they are usually too sweet and I just opt for a plain iced latte instead. It was an ok latte, nothing amazing. They have a bulletin board for people to post their flyers or business cards. There was a card on the board that said A.W.A.R - All woke are retards. I'm sure that's not the view of the establishment. I do think they need to screen the board from time to time.

    Photos
    Coffee and Tea Traders - Breakfast burrito

    Breakfast burrito

    Coffee and Tea Traders - Iced ube matcha latte + strawberry matcha latte.

    Iced ube matcha latte + strawberry matcha latte.

    Coffee and Tea Traders - Thai Green Tea & Blue Cloud Frappe

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    Thai Green Tea & Blue Cloud Frappe

    Bad Barista - Summer 2024: After-Hours Menu... Desecrated Tuna

    Bad Barista

    4.1(95 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $

    I can't believe I've only stumbled this place recently! Alameda is a great Island City, yet there's…read morestill so many places and establishments to discover. I have been a regular at Alameda Marketplace's The Beanery off Park Street (since college days LOL), when it comes to coffee & espresso beverages (usually my go-to) - but this small, independent coffee shop is as special as it can get! I was thrilled to make a pit stop here for a fresh cup of joe before I headed to nearby St. Philip Neri's for morning mass - and little did I know that you can hella walk to and from this place to the church with no need to get in your car to drive and park! #lessonlearned Upon my first impression & first time here, I already felt the sense of inclusivity & hospitality, since it seems like a regular place for folks within this part of Alameda - and I have GOT TO try their Vietnamese Coffee on my next visit, LOL. A small coffee shop that bursts to its seams - they have fresh-baked doughnuts & pastries, along with breakfast sandwiches, and other snacks that you wouldn't think of being available at this tiny establishment! Don't let the location and atmosphere fool you - this has been a family-friendly/oriented neighborhood staple amongst the regulars & from what I have skimmed along these reviews. Glad I found this place, and I now know where to get coffee once I step foot on the Island City of the East Bay! This is truly a #shiftlocal destination for those who support local all the way!

    Cute little indy coffee shop nestled in an older shopping strip. Place has counter seating for…read moreabout 6 peeps, but if the place gets busy(easy to happen) and if you eat there, people waiting in line will be directly over your head. Just fyi. Mint Iced Vietnamese Coffee ($6ish/5*). Tried this during the last holidays and it was fantastic. I already love Vietnamese coffee and this had a soft cream on top with grated mint candy. So festive and just hit for that season. Wonder if they can do it all year round? Smoked Salmon Bagel ($9.50/4*) Nice toasty smaller bagel with all the usuals of soft lox n cream cheese, capers and red onions. Loved the compact size as it didn't put a lead weight in my gut in the AM hours. The bagel crust tho is kinda hard and brittle, almost crouton hard which I thought was strange. But the interior was indeed soft yet chewy. Iced Cold Brew ($4/4*) Pretty smooth. I only asked for a kiss of cream and it was just right. I prefer a more robust roast finish but still quite serviceable. I liked how the owner knew a lot of the customers by name. Since I'm not a reg, I actually was the only one who didn't get called by name on a weekday morning. Love the small town vibe and even tho not a reg, I'd still hit this up if in the neighborhood.

    Photos
    Bad Barista - Tea options

    Tea options

    Bad Barista - Summer 2024: After-Hours Menu... Open Faced Righteous Caprese

    Summer 2024: After-Hours Menu... Open Faced Righteous Caprese

    Bad Barista - Star Wars Cocktail Event: Lightsaber cocktails... Jedi Guardian, Jedi Consular, Jedi Sentinel, Sith, Bad Barista

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    Star Wars Cocktail Event: Lightsaber cocktails... Jedi Guardian, Jedi Consular, Jedi Sentinel, Sith, Bad Barista

    Lazybird Coffee - Spam musubi

    Lazybird Coffee

    4.3(172 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    I truly adore this neighborhood cafe. It's just a few blocks from my Alameda home, and I've become…read moreone of their most regular customers. I often bring family and friends, and everyone in the place knows me by name. I've tried most of the coffee and matcha drinks and they are all excellent. But one drink showed up as a special a few months ago and quickly became the #1 go-to drink for both my wife and myself: the Orange Creamsicle Latte. We get it iced and made with oat milk and it is indescribably delicious. I came in earlier this week and was disappointed to learn that the Orange Creamsicle was considered a seasonal special and is gone. Lou, if you're reading this, please bring it back and make it part of the regular menu. Especially since summer's a-comin' and orange is a great summertime flavor!

    Came here on my birthday!…read more It's been in my list of places to go for a few years and we were in Alameda so we came here for lunch! The space is very modern, lots of light through the windows, tall ceilings! I'd love a place like this closer to home! Fast casual set up - order at the counter. Super easy! They have great menu items. We ordered the egg salad toast with chili crisp. The egg salad was rich but not much - was it made with kewpie mayo? The market salad with apple slices, Gouda cheese and candied pecans those with sherry vinaigrette was perfect for me! My extra treat was the pandan latte. It's slightly sweet with some jasmine and coconut notes. So delicious! Can't wait to come back!

    Photos
    Lazybird Coffee - White Chocolate Matcha (Oat Milk)

    White Chocolate Matcha (Oat Milk)

    Lazybird Coffee - Front window

    Front window

    Lazybird Coffee

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    The Vulcan Cafe - thai - Updated May 2026

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