Good, friendly service and easy online ordering for breakfast or lunch. You just pick up at the window, which is super convenient. They updated the menu earlier this year and it's solid. The sandwiches are really good, and the specials rotate often. The best ones are the Cali Bowl and the Lemongrass Chicken Plate. Everything is affordable, which is rare lately. Reliable spot. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Just started coming here and the owner already knows my name. Food is always fresh and served with a smile

Great hidden gem. Just 10 minutes walk from Courtyard/Double Tree hotel. Lunch special for under $15. Tasty food!!! read more

YAY Cafe - Lunch Special...fish, rice , salad! Delicious and great value. - Cafes Near Me - Burlingame, California

One of my favorite lunch spots during the work week. I work in the area, and there are not many food options within walking distance. So I am so grateful that this little cafe exists. The food is always delicious, decent portions, and the price is very reasonable. In addition to their standard menu, they have different specials each week, so there's always a variety to choose from. My favorites are the ginger scallion fish and the veggie stir fry w/ tofu and noodles. The staff are also very nice! read more

YAY Cafe - Parmesan Crusted Fish - Cafes Near Me - Burlingame, California

Dishes are unique and comforting while keeping affordable prices. As someone who tries to hit every food group during meals, I also appreciate that the entrees are very well-rounded and filling. The nice lady at the register also learns everyone's first name! read more

A tiny café in the lobby of a non-descript business building that serves the best food at value prices of any to-go café (and many restaurants). Owned by a husband and wife, the food is consistently of high quality, is served quickly and the cooked items are piping hot. They serve equally great breakfast items. The bonus is they are friendly, remember repeat customers name's and serve the food with a warm smile. read more

YAY Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Burlingame, California

Perhaps, I should Yelp my generous friends who have given me opportunities to try foods that I'd normally not try. This one was totally unexpected as I was meeting a friend at his workplace to exchange some items. When I pulled into the parking lot, he was waiting in front of his building which is next to this location. As we exchanged bags, he handed me an extra bag, telling me that, due to our 1 pm meeting time, I didn't have lunch. Having run a morning errand in Chinatown, I actually had my meal in my office waiting; I know, what a considerate friend. When I returned to work about twenty minutes later, I took a picture of the meal and placed it in the refrigerator, knowing I'd enjoy this later in the week. He got me a patty melt with french fries (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=xBKgHRzzYBs2tXc6B5FCNQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), something I haven't eaten since the Lucky Penny on Masonic closed since that's where I ate my last one. With my new education in restoring leftovers, I reheated the patty melt (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=_ptNwOBcmHV8zCRK9hoRgQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) and fries (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=8pdx8l_b7kkmAe83tGeW6w&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q). They were still delicious two days later and my meal was filling. I especially loved that they gave several packets of Hunt's ketchup (my childhood favorite) which paired perfectly with the fries. Thanks to my thoughtful and generous friend, I had the pleasure of enjoying this throwback meal. He mentioned their prices being reasonable and that their spaghetti was pretty good. Guess I better keep my eyes open for their weekly menu. read more

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This place is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall. Everything here is soooo good and such a hidden gem! I always come here during lunch and it's located conveniently in a corporate building. The meals are super affordable, filling, and delicious. They come up with new lunch specials weekly and upload their menu on Facebook. I recommend using their online website where you can pre-pay to pick up. read more

YAY Cafe - Basil tofu plate with spring rolls. I added soy sauce and sriracha on top - Cafes Near Me - Burlingame, California

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The best place to grab lunch on the peninsula. The service and the food are the best and affordable. My favorite is their banh mi sandwich.

I miss working right next door to Yay Café. I'd walk there every single day for breakfast and coffee or lunch. I did this for 3 years and you're probably thinking, what a loser why didn't she pack a lunch? Well tbh I'd rather eat their food everyday than whatever lame lunch I would've packed for myself. Marlo and Christine are such a dynamic duo husband and wife team. They work so well together, I swear Christine knows everyone's name -- she really does. She's so sharp, friendly, moves fast. Their food is restaurant grade type of food. Delicious spaghetti, garlic noodles, fish plates, rice plates, a spin on California rolls in a salad bowl form, burgers, sandwiches. It doesn't really have a genre per say, but if I had to pick one, I'd say it's Asian inspired/fusion? It's in a food category of its own :) They make theeee best freaking mango coconut tapioca pudding ever, but it makes a seasonal appearance. They have a Facebook page where they post their menu for the week. You can pre order it and then pick it up! Pre-pandemic, the menu would be posted in the cafe and the lunch line would go out the building to Airport Blvd. They kept track of the plates they sold and knew when they'd run out, so they'd tell you and you'd just have to get a sandwich or a salad, but those were good too! Now it's more like a pick up and go type of place with limited seating outside in the lobby area of the building. I should've honestly written this review 6 years ago, but even tho I don't go there daily, I still get food from there when on my days off and it's still delicious! read more

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Not sure why they are marked as closed. I have eaten there twice in the last two weeks and confirmed they are open for breakfast read more

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I was confused since the outside has a window cover that says bayside cafe but walked inside and found a window with a sign for YAY cafe. So glad I went in! The food was fast, and totally delicious. Def a little home in the wall but that's one of my fave type of places! read more

We were traveling to San Francisco and looking for lunch. We found Yay Cafe by chance and went in. We were very surprised that such a small place had such amazing food and service. The food here was very fresh and the people who worked there were very courteous/respectful. I wish we were staying longer in Burlingame so we could have more of there food. If you are ever outside San Francisco stop here to have the Salmon with Rice or the Fried Honey Chicken with Rice and a side salad or their Lumpia. You won't be disappointed read more

We were staying at the Hilton San Francisco Airport and needed a place to get a quick lunch. There wasn't much around there but we were surprised when we found YAY Cafe on Yelp with it's very positive reviews. It was a 5 minute walk from the hotel, hidden in the first floor of a nearby office building. It was tiny but the people were nice and the food was outstanding. There was a specials list on the wall and regular items posted. We chose the lemongrass chicken and the mushroom tacos. Everything was tasty, fresh, and cooked to order. Sitting is minimal but most of their business appears to be grab and go. We would recommend this to everyone looking for great food at a great price. read more

Airport business center is the office building it's inside of. Bayside cafe is on the outside of the cafe. Go inside the double doors & it's around the corner for YAY cafe! Do not be turned off by the names outside! Super small & quick cafe/deli. It's definitely great for the busy business area! I had a breakfast sandwich with egg bacon & cheese! Simple but good ! For $4. And speedy too! They have 3 tables & 6 chairs on the outside (lobby area) so you can have breakfast or lunch. Definitely coming back when I have time in the mornings read more

Working nearby this is my place to go for lunch. There is something for everyone to enjoy, from vegetarian to pescatarian. Daily specials can be everything from Sweet Chili Fried Chicken with rice and salad to Grilled Salmon. Or Pasta Bolognese or Basil Tofu. No matter what your pleasure Christine and Marlo will take great care of you. They know when I place my order, if the special comes with rice and salad, it's less rice and more salad for me, or no salt on my fries if I order them. A few sandwiches are available every day. My favorite is a chicken chipotle wrap with grilled chicken, onion, tomato, lettuce, and chipotle mayo wrapped in a flour tortilla. Serving the few people that are essential workers and others that need to be in their jobs, they are an essential business. Menu is limited during the Covid outbreak. No more salads or breakfast, sadly. During these times, you can order online and pick up in about 15 minutes. Of course you can still show up and pay with cash or card. Social distancing and masks rules are enforced. read more

I work in the area and heard from one of our regular Amazon drivers that this place was a really good spot for lunch. If you don't know it's there you won't find it lol, it's a very unassuming entrance. I tried the salmon and rice and it was pretty good. The fish was soft and easy to eat and the rice was nicely cooked. read more

Best food ever!! Due to the covid 19 the menu is limited but super tasty!!! A must try when in Burlingame read more

YAY Cafe - a take out container of noodles and tofu - Cafes Near Me - Burlingame, California

I've had this place bookmarked for a while and finally got a chance to go this past week. They're only open for lunch M-F but it's worth going if you're in the area. Other reviews are right in that you would never know about this place if you didn't work in the office building they're located in or find them on Yelp. They're located in an office building and the outside says Bayside Cafe. They have daily lunch & soup specials on top of the usual sandwiches they make daily. They have pre-made salads, fruit cups, drinks en route to the cash register. I got a salami sandwich, soup of the day (cream of corn), 2 pre-made salads, and their special of the day (chicken curry). The items that stood out were the cream of corn soup and the pre-made chicken tortilla salad. This is one of those places that care about the ingredients they use and don't try to cut corners. They're not just mindlessly mass producing food to feed the masses. The cream of corn soup was delicious. I don't think I've had a cream of corn soup quite like the one they made. Unique & made with love. The chicken tortilla salad surprised me in how good it was. It came in a plastic container much like the ones Trader Joe's uses but they seem to pack more into the containers than TJ's does. The chicken they used was tender and good. The dressing was a bit spicy and the perfect complement to the salad. It was very filling for a salad. The chicken curry was good but I would have preferred the chicken cut into smaller pieces. Overall, I'd want to go back to get their soup, salad, and try another one of their specials whenever I get the chance. Service is friendly and efficient. They put their daily & weekly specials up on Facebook. Worth checking out. Thankful they're not your typical dining commons place but really strive to put love & care in the food they put out. read more

This cafe is a really popular lunch spot for people that work nearby. I would say this is more of a place where you grab food to go rather than sit down, as they only have a couple of tables outside the cafe. The workers are all very friendly and nice. The food is also great and well priced - sandwiches are only about $6 and are very tasty!! The food is mostly sandwiches and to go salads. Although their meal of the day is usually a chicken or fish dish and around $9. They also prepare the meals pretty quickly, but if you are in a rush they have salads to go. It gets pretty crowded from 11:30-12:30, but outside of those hours it is not as packed. I got the chicken sandwich while I was there and it was very satisfying. I'm happy with the amount I got for how much I paid for lunch. They also have a different special every day that changes weekly. You can check on their Facebook page for the specials of the week. Overall, I was very satisfied with my meal and the price - this is a great place to grab lunch to go. read more

YAY Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Burlingame, California

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I found a hidden gem! Everything I've had here has been super yummy! And to top it off the service is impeccable, very friendly staff.

I had the teriyaki chicken with rice and salad. It was very yummy meal at an affordable price. The person who took my order was very friendly! I definitely will come back here often for my lunches. read more

This is the go-to lunch spot for us that work in the area. They serve daily lunch specials (good portions at reasonable prices which they'll post on their FB page including an inspiring quote for the week), general sandwiches (cooked/made to order), pre-made salads, snacks and various drinks. Christine knows everyone's names and orders-what we like/don't like in our sandwiches. Marlowe is the chef/main dish King. They'll have 1 or 2 associates assisting them and they all work great together. They're open for breakfast, close for a bit, then reopen at 11:15 am. Best time to go is around 11:15 to beat the lunch rush and after 1:30 pm. Please note that their daily special is almost gone if you get there at 1 pm. Closing note: be sure to leave with a stamp card. I'm sure you will return :-) read more

I love having this little cafe next door. Marlo & Christine are so friendly and always greet customers with a smile. They make the BEST breakfast burritos I've ever had (I order it with bacon). I like the turkey avocado sandwich on dutch crunch, crispy fish sandwich, and grilled cheese sandwich off of their regular menu. I also really enjoy their daily specials, which are conveniently posted on Mondays/daily on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cafeyay/). The lunch rush can get a little crazy, especially since it seems like the cafe is becoming more popular among the offices on Airport Blvd. I try to go before 12:30 or after 1:30 to beat it, but just note that if you go a bit later there's a possibility that their daily special will be sold out. P.S. Their mango coconut tapioca is SO GOOD. They don't serve it daily, but if you see it, do yourself a favor and grab one, you won't regret it! :) read more

I had a crispy fish sandwich which was really nicely done. The fish was the star with crispy breading, flakey fish, and not greasy. The toppings were fresh and the sandwich was a good size. I also got a side of Mac salad (with shredded cheese on top?!?). It was strange to have the cheese on it, but it was really tasty. read more

The exterior can be misleading for the first timer, but you're in the right place. This was my first visit, and I was pleased to find it as an alternative to the hotel breakfast offering. I had the ham egg and cheese on an Everything bagel, and was quite happy with it. Good flavor, good ingredients, 4 dolla. Keep on keeping on YaY! read more

YAY Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Burlingame, California

It's a small hole in the wall but they have solid soups and with few food options around, they do a great job. They also do a great job in memorizing your name if you come frequently. read more

I normally don't get into work that early to grab breakfast from here. And even if I do, I usually forget to eat anything until lunch. But I finally had an opportunity to try out one of their breakfast items today. The breakfast burrito. Potato, egg, cheese, caramelized onions, salsa, spinach, and your choice of breakfast meat (I got sausage). $6 as of this review. Dude. You must try it. It is 5 star worthy. read more

When I was a much younger man, I worked in a lot of business parks and ate at a lot of business park cafes. Most of them were seriously terrible, overpriced, and not the cleanest of places, but they flourished due to their captive audiences. When I moved on from that world, I no longer ate at those sorts of places and had no real desire to ever step foot in one again. Today I met a friend for lunch and he suggested a cafe near to where he worked. Little did I know it was going to be a business park cafe. My stomach lurched.... Luckily, this story has a happy ending! The place was your typical BPC: small, stuffy, a rack of potato chips, a menu of sandwiches, a couple of specials, and a bunch of people in business suits. I was going to order the daily special crispy tacos, but I'm watching my diet and ordered a turkey & avocado sandwich on sliced sourdough instead. The sandwich was lightly toasted and had fresh tomatoes, onion, a decent amount of avocado, some good turkey, and a tasty homemade mayo. Overall I was really satisfied! The people behind the counter are super friendly and attentive and the service is quick. The prices on the sandwiches aren't cheap, but the food tastes good and everything is fresh. SO, three stars for the food and an extra star for the good service! read more

My office just moved to this neighborhood, so we were looking for a good spot for lunch. We found it! The sandwiches are yummy and so cheap. Service is quick and friendly. It's not fancy, but it's a good spot for lunch. read more

They serve hot magic on the cheap. Craving a breakfast sandwich or burrito? $3.75 and $5.50, respectively. Back to that sandwich, think toasted English muffin enveloping freshly grilled sausage and melted cheese. Greasy comfort food perfect for that rough Monday morning. Yay cafe also has daily specials (posted on their Facebook page), and a regular assortment of sandwiches, salads, etc. The people who run this joint are awesome! They're committed to good quality service and have a great sense of humor. In the ice that frosts above the salad\dessert bar, they write a pithy phrase, fondly referred to as "The Daily Icebreaker." Sometimes when it gets busy the food takes a minute to finish. But don't you fret, this is a mom&pop shop that's worth the wait. read more

Stayed at the Hilton. Came here for breakfast. Made me a breakfast burrito even though it was past the posted breakfast service time. Incredibly tasty with fresh onions and spinach and potatoes . Very good. Very friendly staff Highly recommended . read more

I really like the food here and their specials. However, they tend to over-salt their dishes at times. Usually they give good portions, but there are times when they give unequal size and smaller portions. I am on a low sodium diet and have to watch what I eat and sadly I end up eating plenty of salt when I get my favorites from them. Their creamy parmesan chicken is SUPER SALTY...everything from the chicken to the mashed potatoes and the creamy sauce is oversalted. They have a few other chicken dishes that come out super salty. Yay Cafe, if you read this, please lower your salt content and use to be considerate for some peoples diets that are sensitive! Other than that, it would be 5 stars but the saltiness lowered it:( read more

Absolutely fantastic!! My colleague and I work at the Hilton and ordered online, walked over and everything was ready to go...Food is always fresh and delicious and the owners are so gracious!! The sandwiches were amazing!!! read more

I eat here every so often. Usually when im too lazy to pack lunch and too lazy to drive somewhere to get food. This is walking distance from my lab. It is located inside of an office building. I like the fact that there is changing daily specials here. These can be found on their facbeook page. They post up their daily specials at the beginning of the week so it is easy to find out which day would be a good day to go. So far, everything ive tried here has been good. The thing i like the most about YAY is the fact that there is no one type of cuisine here. They have everything from curry to adobo to tacos. Their cooks have a wide range of dishes and thats why i keep coming back. read more

Okay, let me start this off with the statement that I work in a food desert. There is nothing on Airport Boulevard. BUT! Several of the package couriers that visit our building eat here on a regular basis. They have their pick of anywhere along their route in Burlingame and they choose to go here. I heard about YAY cafe from them and I knew there had to be something special. I feel so grateful that this cafe is just across the street. All of their food is made super fresh. Seriously, I've seen them take out an onion and start cutting it for my breakfast burrito. I would highly recommend their breakfast burritos and soba salad but any of the specials I have tried have been fabulous! (Polenta with sausage, tomato sauce and grilled kale, HELLO!) The only thing keeping this place from a 5 star is that they can be very slow. Though honestly, it's because they take a lot of care in what they're doing. Definitely order ahead if you can and don't be in a rush. read more

Fabulous! Great little cafe on the inside of an office building. You wouldnt even know it existed if you didnt work in the building or have yelp. Very friendly staff. I had the turkey and avocado, it was great. They have a good beverage and chip selection as well as hot foods other than sandwiches. I might be back for a breakfast sandwich before I leave here. read more

YAY Cafe - Behind the scenes - Cafes Near Me - Burlingame, California

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I've had both the fish tacos and pork loin and rice lunch plate. They were both very good. The fish was fresh and the salsa was a perfect complement. I wish they would sell it by the bottle. The pork loin was very flavorful. This lunch plate included three huge pieces of pork, Rice and broccoli. It was a lot of food and a great value for the money. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be going back. read more

Excellent value for good food. This is essentially a to go only venue, though I did find a chair in the hallway where I could sit and eat. 4 chairs total. I requested a glass of water- not available. No jam or jelly offered with toast. The omelette was good. Very reasonable pricing, which it should be considering they are more of a kitchen than a dining venue, thus low overhead. I'd definitely go there again, but can't quite get to 4 stars today. read more

Seriously underrated place, with awesome specials and sandwiches. They are extremely friendly and try really innovative dishes in a very unpretentious manner--no fancy markups for their creative thinking, which is much appreciated. The first time I ordered, I gave them a fake name so that I could order more quickly, but ended up regretting it because these guys will remember your name and address you by it, a rare (and appreciated) touch these days! read more