Raxakoul Coffee & Cheese

Rich Feldman

I'm just visiting the area and found this store by accident, as it is nextdoor to a restaurant I had dinner in. I am a chocolate connoisseur, and while visiting Berkeley/ San Francisco, I mapped out all the good chocolate stores and am buying quality bars. Raxakoul was not on my list because they did not appear in my Google search for chocolate stores. However, Raxakoul has the largest selection of high quality chocolate bars than any other store in my search. And the prices are very fair. I can not recommend this store enough if you are a chocolate aficionado, and of course they also have a wide selection of quality coffee and tea and gourmet items. I wish I could give them 10 stars for their chocolate selection.

Alfonso Castillo

I enjoyed my experience when I first walked into this establishment. I love the fact that it's independently owned, offers coffee and other drinks in the back like Vietnamese coffee, has an extensive collection of chocolate, cheeses and other offerings. Impressed with the loose leaf teas in the glass jars! Wow! Come in and give this place a bit of your time. You'll walk out with something. I found white NY style cheddar, and chocolate with cashews. I'm definitely coming back for some tea. Happy Exploring & Discovering

Kai Fujioka

Nothing is more Berkeley than a small community shop! Great coffee, tea, cheese, chocolate and more and a conversation if you wish! The owner, Pete, is easy to talk to and gives great advice/recommendations. It’s good to know your coffee and cheese guy 👍🏽

Samuel Pfister

Raxakoul is a go-to destination for anyone grocery + shopping in the North Berkeley area. Their selection of cheeses, especially California-made, is better than shops 10x the size. They also have a great rotation of other snacks from import sweets to what look like local-made or sourced fig treats ... and its always different. They've also got a good selection of teas that are a little on the pricier side, but reasonable for fresh, small batch, hand-picked blends of loose leaf. Be sure to get a fresh brewed milk tea or coffee on your way out.

Carol Levin

Thank to Marie at your Arlington Street branch I had the most wonderful experience at your store. I telephoned to her from Israel to have a birthday gift package organized and delivered to my good friend from high school in Berkeley, CA. Marie was a joy to consult with. She helped me choose just the right selection of items. Then she personality delivered the birthday gift to my friend. She was so happy to help me and was kind enough to share her delightful delivery experience with me. I highly recommend Raxakoul Coffee and Cheese Shop on Arlington in Berkeley, and espy Marie.

Danielle Hacker

Love this place! Such a great selection of cheese and not overpriced. Good offerings for gluten free crackers and cookies too. Always had a good experience with the people working there. This place is one of a kind and allows me to bring unique and exciting ingredients home - brings our family so much joy!

josephine gerrard

This store is similar to those great New York stores you accidentally run into; two feet wide and stacked from the floor to the ceiling. I feel very blessed this store exists. I walk in and walk out with a set of items to try a smile on my face. I work hard and I don't have a lot of time to drive here and there to find something. The owner is very funny and works hard. What I like about the store is that you also get in and out fast. That means quite a bit because I'm working and standing in line is a drag. This store is packed with unusual and hard to find items. Special honey's, jams, crackers.Today I bought probiotic ginger chews, truffle honey (its beyond delicious), bee pollen and high end porcuito. I have given up cheese for the moment but they have so many different types. You need to look closely because there are so many different items. There is a section for vegans; vegan cheese and savory foods. When I was at the cash registered I looked up and saw a hibiscus and lychee tea by the bulk. It was ten feet up behind the cash register. He roasts his own coffee and its very very good. They also have every type of chocolate bar possible as well as tea in a can as in republic of teas never-ending ideas; now they have a beauty tea that enhances collegen. It's a berkeley foodie experience. Ever changing. For instance I found spray greek olive oil. I have never seen that anywhere and when it disappeared I told the owner I really liked it and it was in the next week. Its new york all the way.

Brittany Kwong

Great selection of chocolates and wonderful Hong Kong style milk tea. I will definitely be back for more. Thank you.

P. I.

Love this place. This is a spot for real gourmets, with an ever evolving chocolate, cheese, and salami selection, tons of bulk spices, teas, and more. Goes well with the nearby stores, and the people there know their cheese and chocolates! Highly recommended.

Pamela Grossman

I have been a customer there for years. They have an extraordinary selection of cheeses, and they have the widest tea and bar chocolate selection I have encountered anywhere. They even have lemon verbena in bulk. I have always found the sales people very helpful and friendly.

noah marcel Sudarsky

The Cheeseboard is now closed Sundays, and I needed to get some French cheese for Bastille Day. So I decided to try the country store. Loved it. While it may not have the selection of the famed Shattuck Ave cooperative, what it does offer--the bries and various bleus, the coulommiers, goudas, emmentalers, creamy goat bricks and such, is just perfect. And not that expensive either. Exactly what I needed. A quick trip and 4 great cheeses selected and purchased in under 5 minutes for 20 dollars--without all the fuss. I will be going back, even if it isn't a Sunday.

A must visit for a quick stop while shopping near monterey market . The selection of not only cheese as well chocolate, teas , coffee and associated dry & bottled goods is packed neatly and efficiently in this small and sometimes tight space.

Louis Salerno

A must visit for a quick stop while shopping near monterey market . The selection of not only cheese as well chocolate, teas , coffee and associated dry & bottled goods is packed neatly and efficiently in this small and sometimes tight space.

Not enough selection of washed rind cheeses, but the prosciutto was reasonably priced.

Franklin Mtz

Not enough selection of washed rind cheeses, but the prosciutto was reasonably priced.

I pre-ordered white truffles over Christmas, these were imported from Alba, Italy. Since we are in the food business, it would be a great surprise to purchase 2 of these very COSTLY items. I spent $300, was told to put white truffles in rice, in glass jar, which I did. NO ONE ever told us to put in refrigerator, they rotted! When confronted on telephone, woman, said perhaps I should put directions in the truffles, and you should have known how to store them! What is the recourse here?

Rosa Mendicino

I pre-ordered white truffles over Christmas, these were imported from Alba, Italy. Since we are in the food business, it would be a great surprise to purchase 2 of these very COSTLY items. I spent $300, was told to put white truffles in rice, in glass jar, which I did. NO ONE ever told us to put in refrigerator, they rotted! When confronted on telephone, woman, said perhaps I should put directions in the truffles, and you should have known how to store them! What is the recourse here?

Do NOT go here. The poor customer service creates a terrible experience. This is Carlo. He is absolutely the rudest cheesemonger I have ever met. While the cashiers are decent, and there is a selection of cheese, this place and Carlo need a serious overhaul with customer service. I have never been spoken to by anyone in retail that way. Other customers were also commenting to me how rude he was. I am finding a new place to shop for cheese, chocolate, and boba and taking my business elsewhere. Pictured here, is Carlo giving me a snarky look.

N Patil

Do NOT go here. The poor customer service creates a terrible experience. This is Carlo. He is absolutely the rudest cheesemonger I have ever met. While the cashiers are decent, and there is a selection of cheese, this place and Carlo need a serious overhaul with customer service. I have never been spoken to by anyone in retail that way. Other customers were also commenting to me how rude he was. I am finding a new place to shop for cheese, chocolate, and boba and taking my business elsewhere. Pictured here, is Carlo giving me a snarky look.

I love having a local cheese shop. But selling rancid cheese is unforgivable. Purchased Comte two days ago, it went right in the fridge. Noticed the color was off but it’s cheese. Unwrapped and was overwhelmed by ammonia. This is not a situation that occurs in days. They must have known. It’s one thing to sell products on the edge, this poor cheese had spoiled a long time ago. Sad situation.

Went today to buy some stuff. The store is NOT following CDC regulations regarding social distance. Customers were bumping each other. You must do what Magnani’s, next door to you does: control who comes in and out, keeping customers 5 feet apart. I hope you are more responsible with the current crisis.

If I could give it zero stars I would! The lady who took my order was very rude. There was not a large variety of boba tea. And the prices were outrages. The boba tea was flavorless. I will not be returning to this shop!

Rude person, expensive, not many boba teas to choose from and don't taste like anything. There are much better places to choose from. Skip this place and try going to Quickly or anywhere else.

The people that work here just seem miserable. Rudest service in Berkeley! The cashier rung my my order, then without explanation walked to the back of the store with the item to have a discussion with someone. Another employee walked to the front and started ringing up the people behind me again with no explanation. After about 10 minutes I finally just said I have no idea what you're doing so I'm going to go. She just gave me a blank stare so I left.

really rude service. great tea selection but would not come back because of how rude the cashier was.

Ryan Pavlovich

The people that work here just seem miserable. Rudest service in Berkeley! The cashier rung my my order, then without explanation walked to the back of the store with the item to have a discussion with someone. Another employee walked to the front and started ringing up the people behind me again with no explanation. After about 10 minutes I finally just said I have no idea what you're doing so I'm going to go. She just gave me a blank stare so I left.

jules kragen

I love having a local cheese shop. But selling rancid cheese is unforgivable. Purchased Comte two days ago, it went right in the fridge. Noticed the color was off but it’s cheese. Unwrapped and was overwhelmed by ammonia. This is not a situation that occurs in days. They must have known. It’s one thing to sell products on the edge, this poor cheese had spoiled a long time ago. Sad situation.

gilberto arriaza

Went today to buy some stuff. The store is NOT following CDC regulations regarding social distance. Customers were bumping each other. You must do what Magnani’s, next door to you does: control who comes in and out, keeping customers 5 feet apart. I hope you are more responsible with the current crisis.

Luis Lopez

Rude person, expensive, not many boba teas to choose from and don't taste like anything. There are much better places to choose from. Skip this place and try going to Quickly or anywhere else.

Alianna Lopez

If I could give it zero stars I would! The lady who took my order was very rude. There was not a large variety of boba tea. And the prices were outrages. The boba tea was flavorless. I will not be returning to this shop!