South Shore Cafe

Our favorite breakfast spot on the island, we go there on autopilot. A homey little family style cafe with friendly people. Reliably good eggs and sausages and waffles and French toast - we always go for breakfast though I’ve always wanted to try their lunch and dinner menu.

This is a mom and pop family restaurant that is a local staple amongst mainly older people. If you want a reasonable breakfast without too much fuss but done right, then this is the spot. With everything becoming so expensive, this spot is a hold out with the possibility of getting breakfast under 15 and as low as 10. Not bad for the times.

I moved out of Oakland a little over 3 years ago. Really missed this place. Got to visit on Saturday, December 21st. It was great, and food is still as good as ever.

Lots of usuals. Accommodating for small children despite no kids menu.

It is one of my favorite places for breakfast and lunch..💓. the atmosphere is very family-like and the service is fast 💯 recommended... thanks to the cooks for everything they prepare is delicious 😋🥞🧇🍔🍳🥘🍚☕☕

The best fried rice breakfast in the bay.

This place is AMAZING! you will not regret coming here. They have tons of amazing options, and everything tastes homemade and so fresh! If you end up becoming a regular, they will remember your order. 🥺 It’s the sweetest cafe ever!

Cute old school diner. The staff is great especially the guy. He helped me with a quick pop in visit for a coffee that ended up being a waffle breakfast with it after looking and smelling the other guests food that were eating. Everything looked so delish on peoples plates and my waffle was so golden and pretty. The breakfast I had tasted flavorful and I’m so glad the restaurant wasn’t packed that day.

Very cute and cozy. Great food, friendly staff!

Very cute and homey feeling. Classic food with a touch of bay area diversity.

Great little cafe that will take you back in time 50 years ago. Booth seating. Reasonably priced tasty classic American breakfast and sandwiches (comes with fries). Yummy comfort food that people of all ages keep coming back for more. Food comes out piping hot. The cooks are Thai so there is also Thai and Asian menu too. Not too many restaurants left in Alameda that have the look and a good part of their menu that is still set in the 1960s. Go and patronize this mom and pop business. Opens 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch only. We need to keep Southshore Cafe in business. There is wheelchair accessible specific table ♿️ close to the entrance.

These mom and pop restaurants never cease to uphold to their standards. Very nice team and delicious food. I tried their chicken apple sausage and banana pancakes.... They were perfectly made, nice and warm, took me back to Saturday morning in my childhood with mom fixing breakfast 🥰. And the unlimited coffee the gentleman was refilling (I had 3 cups} was an added bonus.

This is not the first time have been there. It is not a big cafe, but their location is right at the south shore shopping mall. A lot of parking space available. The food and service there is good. Breakfast is served all day. As of today, 09/17/2021. Same great taste, quality and quantity, and service. All sources, milk and cream becomes individual packages on each table due to covid. Every time I walk out of the place with full stomach and feel satisfied. ============================ Updated 1/22/2025 Still one of my favorite spots for breakfast and brunch. Their special menu got something good recently.

The perfect hole in the wall breakfast nook. This is a delightful throwback restaurant. No frills. No avocado toast. Mugs are comfy. Menu is a piece of paper! My hot link breakfast was spot on. Hashbrowns were perfect. This place rocks.

Just out tooling around with Artichoke Joe when we stumble upon Hank the Go Getter and his little smooth as silk Muffintop, Toni Twolips, they were just coming out of the Southshore Café, and couldn't give the joint enough praise! So ..What do you do...You go in and see for yourself! And, that's exactly what we did, and let me tell you something...The food was Amazing! 5 stars all day long. ☆☆☆☆☆

I've tried other classic diners and haven't had a good experience, either the food is too oily or tasteless. Not here, my wife really enjoyed her pancakes and I loved my sandwich. The portions were huge and the service was really good and fast. If you want a nice and affordable breakfast you should come here 🙂

Very nice and cozy family friendly restaurant. I tried it for the first time and food and atmosphere are great. Very friendly and courteous service!

A great place. Their eggs benedict had runny yolk, and the hollandaise sauce was good. The last couple places I've eaten did not get it right. Healthy portions, and masked employees I guess that's important to add nowadays. :)

Karen V Chin

Great little cafe that will take you back in time 50 years ago. Booth seating. Reasonably priced tasty classic American breakfast and sandwiches (comes with fries). Yummy comfort food that people of all ages keep coming back for more. Food comes out piping hot. The cooks are Thai so there is also Thai and Asian menu too. Not too many restaurants left in Alameda that have the look and a good part of their menu that is still set in the 1960s. Go and patronize this mom and pop business. Opens 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch only. We need to keep Southshore Cafe in business. There is wheelchair accessible specific table ♿️ close to the entrance.

Koko W

These mom and pop restaurants never cease to uphold to their standards. Very nice team and delicious food. I tried their chicken apple sausage and banana pancakes.... They were perfectly made, nice and warm, took me back to Saturday morning in my childhood with mom fixing breakfast 🥰. And the unlimited coffee the gentleman was refilling (I had 3 cups} was an added bonus.

Chi H

This is not the first time have been there. It is not a big cafe, but their location is right at the south shore shopping mall. A lot of parking space available. The food and service there is good. Breakfast is served all day. As of today, 09/17/2021. Same great taste, quality and quantity, and service. All sources, milk and cream becomes individual packages on each table due to covid. Every time I walk out of the place with full stomach and feel satisfied. ============================ Updated 1/22/2025 Still one of my favorite spots for breakfast and brunch. Their special menu got something good recently.

Donna Fong

The perfect hole in the wall breakfast nook. This is a delightful throwback restaurant. No frills. No avocado toast. Mugs are comfy. Menu is a piece of paper! My hot link breakfast was spot on. Hashbrowns were perfect. This place rocks.

American Angler

Just out tooling around with Artichoke Joe when we stumble upon Hank the Go Getter and his little smooth as silk Muffintop, Toni Twolips, they were just coming out of the Southshore Café, and couldn't give the joint enough praise! So ..What do you do...You go in and see for yourself! And, that's exactly what we did, and let me tell you something...The food was Amazing! 5 stars all day long. ☆☆☆☆☆

Valisha Owens Family Vlogs

Very nice and cozy family friendly restaurant. I tried it for the first time and food and atmosphere are great. Very friendly and courteous service!

Pako Herrera Hernandez

I've tried other classic diners and haven't had a good experience, either the food is too oily or tasteless. Not here, my wife really enjoyed her pancakes and I loved my sandwich. The portions were huge and the service was really good and fast. If you want a nice and affordable breakfast you should come here 🙂

Jennifer Urbieta

A great place. Their eggs benedict had runny yolk, and the hollandaise sauce was good. The last couple places I've eaten did not get it right. Healthy portions, and masked employees I guess that's important to add nowadays. :)

Laura Concha

This place is AMAZING! you will not regret coming here. They have tons of amazing options, and everything tastes homemade and so fresh! If you end up becoming a regular, they will remember your order. 🥺 It’s the sweetest cafe ever!

First time here. Food was so Good. Pancakes were delicious. Service was great. We will be back.

The food was very tasty and the prices are reasonable. The service however they may need to hire 1 more employee and maybe be a little more friendly

Great food and portions. Love the tater tots with my veggie omelette.

Esmeralda Garcia

The food was very tasty and the prices are reasonable. The service however they may need to hire 1 more employee and maybe be a little more friendly

I wanted to have a nice breakfast at an old style diner. It's been quite a long time and I want to support a local small business. We arrived and waited about 3 minutes for a table, the restaurant was really busy. We ordered an Avocado Burger and fruit and a regular breakfast of a slice of ham, 2 eggs and roasted potatoes. The service was quick and the food was also good. Exactly what I was looking for.

I went here many times now because it’s close by I ordered BLT and fruit and my husband ordered a tuna sandwich and fruit. I have had the breakfast and decided to give the lunch items a try.

Have eaten in this rustic family owned diner a few times. The food is better than average, generously portioned and more affordable than most restaurants in the area. Nothing fancy, but a solid choice for a sit down breakfast or lunch. Check out their specials, and if you're going on the weekend, allow extra time to wait for a table

I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak (Dont), and had to wait 15 minutes for even an acknowledgement then was seated. Food came out like 20 miniutes later came out a breaded overcooked tough piece of meat with breading that although was tasty fell off as they put the plate down. They served tasteless eggs and Hashbrowns with Sourdough toast and a side of Brown Gravy , who does that? After I muscled through have the steak a guy finally comes and briefly asks how is it. I tell him it's the worst Chicken Fried Steak I've ever had in my life. Mind you it's my first time here, he offers to make me another dish at no charge which is what they should have done. I declined as it took sometime just to get this meal. I still offered to pay for my food a fee times. The gentleman declined. So basically even though their dish was not pleasing to me instead of trying to argue that that is how it was supposed to be they had great customer service on this matter. These folks are very busy, things can be different at lil cafes so be nice to the people that are serving you and if there is an issue bring it up nicely. Nicely handled gentlemen at Southshore Cafe

I had a breakfast omelette, which was prepared harder than I prefer the eggs to be. Otherwise I'll go back again with a request for softer cooked omelette. Very much a local diner atmosphere where regulars are greeted by name.. kinda nice!

Nice charming local place for brunch 😁 if you want a simple American style brunch around Alameda, this is satisfactory! They do tend to have a line so get here early 😅 Photos are what my friends and I got!

Good Food, reasonable prices, great service.

Hidden behind office depot a older breakfast hub, food was good, gets busy on weekend brunch time. The French toast was just right not too sweet, I'd probably ask for no powdered sugar next time personally. The omelette was made good potatoes where fresh. Good breakfast hub will be going again

This place had some great breakfast food! Everything we had tasted it great at a great price. The only thing was the service was a little slow. We didn’t have the right amount of silverware and took awhile to take our order but maybe it was due to being short handed, didn’t seem to be short staffed. Will return again!

Denny Zhu

Nice charming local place for brunch 😁 if you want a simple American style brunch around Alameda, this is satisfactory! They do tend to have a line so get here early 😅 Photos are what my friends and I got!

Kathleen Valerio

Good Food, reasonable prices, great service.

H H

Hidden behind office depot a older breakfast hub, food was good, gets busy on weekend brunch time. The French toast was just right not too sweet, I'd probably ask for no powdered sugar next time personally. The omelette was made good potatoes where fresh. Good breakfast hub will be going again

Fantasy Football Huddle

This place had some great breakfast food! Everything we had tasted it great at a great price. The only thing was the service was a little slow. We didn’t have the right amount of silverware and took awhile to take our order but maybe it was due to being short handed, didn’t seem to be short staffed. Will return again!

Always great food although sometimes inconsistent (maybe new cooks) wait staff and bus staff are exceptional. I've been going here forever (alameda native) so I'm all about any support they can get.

This is a small little restaurant with an excellent breakfast. My stack of pancakes was about 5 inches high and came with eggs and a breakfast meat.

Eddie

Ordered the French toast combo with eggs, hash browns, etc. Ordered a side of pancakes. The food had no flavor yet looked great. The texture was super oily. Service was great (waitress could read our minds with the coffee needing a refill). I think the sandwiches may have been better. Lots of older folk and a great atmosphere.

Julie Craig

Always great food although sometimes inconsistent (maybe new cooks) wait staff and bus staff are exceptional. I've been going here forever (alameda native) so I'm all about any support they can get.

Heath Gaddy

I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak (Dont), and had to wait 15 minutes for even an acknowledgement then was seated. Food came out like 20 miniutes later came out a breaded overcooked tough piece of meat with breading that although was tasty fell off as they put the plate down. They served tasteless eggs and Hashbrowns with Sourdough toast and a side of Brown Gravy , who does that? After I muscled through have the steak a guy finally comes and briefly asks how is it. I tell him it's the worst Chicken Fried Steak I've ever had in my life. Mind you it's my first time here, he offers to make me another dish at no charge which is what they should have done. I declined as it took sometime just to get this meal. I still offered to pay for my food a fee times. The gentleman declined. So basically even though their dish was not pleasing to me instead of trying to argue that that is how it was supposed to be they had great customer service on this matter. These folks are very busy, things can be different at lil cafes so be nice to the people that are serving you and if there is an issue bring it up nicely. Nicely handled gentlemen at Southshore Cafe

Love a good classic hole in the wall classic diner. Food was great and service was very quick considering how busy they are. It’s very much a spot for regulars and if you aren’t one, service is lacking. Two tables were sat ahead of me, I felt rushed to make an order, and the server literally rolled her eyes when I asked to add avocado to my sandwich. Honestly, I would have placed a bigger order, but the dismissive/poor service experience made me just want to get out of there asap. This place is definitely 5 star if you get preferential treatment, but it’s a nope for me.

I have never eaten there personally. But I take my client there every Wednesday to have lunch with her daughter and best friend. (I'm a caregiver) The severs know her when they see her and her little crew. They greet her and they take good care of them when they are there. My client always talks about the South Shore salad that they love so much. Great place to visit. Small but intimate.

I have visited twice the first time with a party of 8. We had a wait of about 20 minutes. The waitstaff was helpful and friendly. They took our orders and got the food out to us as quickly as possible. They did a great job making sure they got the order correct. The food was tasty. Worth the wait. The second time...the wait for 2 people was much longer. The waitstaff ignored us and the food was undercooked and burned at the same time. I guess you have to go on the right day...not a HOLIDAY!

Ok, HOW have we been coming to South Shore ALL these years & NOT known about this place yet?!?!😱😱 We had some $$ business to do nearby, so got Halloween themed up & went out for breakfast 😋. The GOOD: HUGE portions Quality ingredients DELICIOUS❣❣❣ A bottomless cup of coffee for LESS than a Venti... 👍😉 Family/locally owned small business Mostly good/friendly service The "improvement needed": When SO busy, details get missed (like serving Chris pancakes without ANY syrup or ENOUGH butter!😱! CHARGING for leftover boxes!!! REALLY?!?! (I GET the need to make up overhead costs & DO think it's MAYBE reasonable to do so with TAKE OUT ORDERS! But TABLE SERVICE ORDERS?!? THAT feels excessive AND inappropriate!! &, like ALL "service fees", it's better to BUILD INTO your item price the pass-along-costs rather than add it to a bill also EXPECTING a tip!!) Speaking of tip.... CHECK YOUR OWN BILL & DO YOUR OWN CALCULATIONS!!! To the establishment: NEVER, EVER, *EVER* total your "suggested tip" calculation on the POST-TAX TOTALS!! LAWSUITS have been filed about this!! Fix your register to give suggestions on PRE-TAX TOTALS ONLY!!! Or don't GIVE them at all!! We liked this place & may return. But there ARE other equally good spots that aren't doing these things.... so...🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ Time will tell!! I'd give a 3.5 but can't DO "1/2" stars here! Sooooooo a bit better than ONLY 3, but not as high as 4 stars overall because of these things!!

The staff is so friendly and patient. The fries were perfect, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They're also such a fun shape! The food lacked seasoning/flavor and yet was still pretty good. It was a little like something you would just make at home. The menu's also very diverse and confusing.

Abisola Ologbenla

The staff is so friendly and patient. The fries were perfect, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. They're also such a fun shape! The food lacked seasoning/flavor and yet was still pretty good. It was a little like something you would just make at home. The menu's also very diverse and confusing.

We went at a busy time for brunch. Pancakes tasted like they were from a mix - that preservative taste was pretty obvious. Eggs and sausage were standard diner fare. Corned beef hash was ok, but not great. For the price, I expected better quality food. Servers were borderline rude, but it was busy. We won't go back.

Food was pretty good. Service was not so great. i had a side salad and a patty melt. The salad was pretty standard. Lettuce carrots and dressing. I had the patty melt for lunch which was actually pretty tasty. I had some business i was taking care of on my phone after i ate. I was approached by the waitress and was asked to leave. There were several other parties in the restaurant still eating their food and it was around 2:30. The business hours posted on google and on the front of their restaurant said that the business closes at 3pm. I mentioned that to the waitress and she said that they close at 2:30. So i gathered my things and left. I definitely don’t want to be anywhere that I’m unwanted or unwelcome. I’m not sure why out of everyone in the restaurant i was the only person being singled out. There were other people in there that had finished their food and were just talking. I was the only black female dining alone in the restaurant at the time. I won’t be back.

Ashley Nwadigo

Food was pretty good. Service was not so great. i had a side salad and a patty melt. The salad was pretty standard. Lettuce carrots and dressing. I had the patty melt for lunch which was actually pretty tasty. I had some business i was taking care of on my phone after i ate. I was approached by the waitress and was asked to leave. There were several other parties in the restaurant still eating their food and it was around 2:30. The business hours posted on google and on the front of their restaurant said that the business closes at 3pm. I mentioned that to the waitress and she said that they close at 2:30. So i gathered my things and left. I definitely don’t want to be anywhere that I’m unwanted or unwelcome. I’m not sure why out of everyone in the restaurant i was the only person being singled out. There were other people in there that had finished their food and were just talking. I was the only black female dining alone in the restaurant at the time. I won’t be back.

We came on a Sunday morning and got seated right away. Several other tables, some larger than our group of 3 were seated after. They got their food and finished eating before our food came out (pancakes and eggs). When my husband asked where our food was, the server didn’t even let him finish talking before hurriedly saying I’ll check and walked away. Then she argued that he didn’t order bacon when all three of us heard him order a side of bacon. Finally we got our food. It was mediocre. Will not return.

Lubka Healy

We came on a Sunday morning and got seated right away. Several other tables, some larger than our group of 3 were seated after. They got their food and finished eating before our food came out (pancakes and eggs). When my husband asked where our food was, the server didn’t even let him finish talking before hurriedly saying I’ll check and walked away. Then she argued that he didn’t order bacon when all three of us heard him order a side of bacon. Finally we got our food. It was mediocre. Will not return.