Cafe Étoile

I went there after Gameday at Cal. (Go Bears! 🐻) I got a BAT sandwich which was super good, the bacon was in-between crispy and chewy and the bread was semi crispy! I also got peach lemonade which exceeded my expectations! It tasted exactly like peaches, it didn't taste artificial at all! The service was very quick only taking about 5 minutes. The atmosphere felt cozy (except for paramedics being in front of the store front) !

We just left this place on our way home to Portland and we were amazed at the food and atmosphere. My husband got the chicken and croffle (he was skeptical) and he gave it a “9.2/10!” I loved my avocado toast with scrambled eggs/bacon. The toast had the perfect amount of toppings! I had the americano with oat milk and hubby got a mocha, overall a fantastic spot! Great service, very fast for how busy they were on a Monday morning!!

The cream and berries croffle was tasty. I will need to add bulgogi to the kimchi fried rice next time. Lots of tasty sounding options to explore for the next trip. Maybe the food will last long enough for a photo too. Update 1: I returned several time since writing the initial review. Everything I’ve tried was amazing including the BAT sandwich, chicken and croffle, salmon and avocado toast, and popcorn chicken. Looking forward to my next visit Update 2: Despite moving out of the area, we made a trip over the holiday break to enjoy the awesome goodness. Still serving great tasting, quality food for very reasonable prices.

Went for a brunch on a gloomy morning. Took a minute to figure out the entrance. The cafe has really nice ambiance, wasn't crowded was able to order food and seated right away. We ordered 1. Macchiato : - 5/5, wow the presentation was amazing. The coffee was super fresh 2. Breakfast Sandwich : - 5/5, it was really good, I always have opinion about it being dry, but they really kept it nice and juicy. 3. Croffle: - 5/5, It was my first time trying it, I had requested no bacon and the server was able to replace and add avacado at no additional cost. Usually places charge extra for it, but it was nice to see not getting charged. Overall, the place and staff is super friendly, i will be coming again to try other items on the menu.

This cozy cafe is definitely worth the trip! The vibe is welcoming and warm and the food and coffee is outstanding. The “Croffle” which is literally a croissant in a waffle form, is the perfect crispy sweetness and to top it off paired with juicy crispy fried chicken. This croffle is used in all sorts of variations on the menu and I’m sure each is delicious. We also enjoyed two pumpkin spice lattes and it was an absolute fall hug in a mug. The staff is super warm and friendly and the service was quick. Definitely a must try!

Yao Z

Came to UC Berkeley for a weekend and I found this gem. I can’t help myself to come two days in a roll for breakfast simply just for cafe latte and salmon avocado toast. Simple ingredients but tasty.. I lover spreading drills on the salmon toast and I love the creamy but not over! I love seeing the same person sitting beside me from yesterday!

Foodie Traveler

We rarely visit this neighborhood, so we were pleasantly surprised to discover this place. It’s an ideal spot for work, study, or meetings. The food was also excellent and offered creative twists, such as cappuccino muffins, spicy basil croffles, and bibim salads. The service was prompt and the staff was friendly. However, the downside was parking, which was challenging to find a safe spot without worrying about getting towed.

Bronwyn Seward Limon

Delicious and one-of-a-kind. Recommend ordering the Rose Latte and Chicken and Croffle.

badaciousness

Great cafe with a laidback/chill atmosphere. Love that it offers both food, pastries, & lots of drink options. 9/10 score for me. Would love to see more ‘snack-like’ options for those who prefer to eat lighter, and maybe open a couple hours later.

Alice L.

The interior is surprisingly very spacious. Menu has a great variety of items but I decided on the salmon avocado toast & standard latte for breakfast. Both were great & the sandwich ingredients tasted fresh. Great for people watching as you enjoy your morning drink.

Jasmine Chung

With only having seen the pic for fried chicken, was expecting like southern Cajun place but I was hugely mistaken. Korean fusion that hit the fried chicken and croffle mark with a bang! There was a huge table for a family meal and let me tell you - we finished EVERYTHING. Fried chicken and croffle was a banger!! The chicken was juicy, crispy, with the crunchy waffle made with crossaint and a side of spicy (Just enough) syrup. That'll be living in my head rent-free but drooling for a very long time. The kids also loveddddd it so much! The bulgogi sando was also super delicious. Drinks - gingerbread Chai Latte warmed our souls. Such friendly staff with a laid-back ambiance and we're all here for it!

Stephen Lam

This is a hidden gem. We came here for brunch today and we were pleasantly surprised. I ordered the Bibim Salad with bulgogi and it was really good. My wife got the Croque Madame and she liked it very much too. We also tried the red bean bingsu, which is a Korean shaved ice dessert and it's really yummy. The service was fast and friendly. We'll definitely come back to try other dishes.

Jasmine Dhaliwal

If I could give 10 stars I would!! First off I was debating crossing the bridge to try this place after I saw a TikTok about their food and thought it looked and sounded delish but still wasn't sure if I wanted to make the drive over and then have to pay the toll to get back. BOY THANK GOODNESS I WENT!!! I can't even begin to describe the delicious creation that is their cruffle- truly mouth watering innovation. The crunch and fluffy amazing goodness is one of the most perfect bites of food I've ever had. I thought that would be the biggest surprise but no- the amount of food you get for the price is beyond!! I have never gotten so much chicken with a dish of chicken and 'waffles', or cruffle in this case, and better yet so juicy and the batter had a great taste and crunch. The pictures show a how much chicken you get it's beyond for the price. I was absolutely shocked!! The amount of food for price could have been double and it would be well worth it. I have not written many reviews or been active on yelp but this establishment is the best gem of a place that I know I will be eating at every chance I get. I'm still in shock and awe at the taste of this unbelievable food!!! And the cherry on top? This place has the bestttt customer service. They are so kind and helpful and welcoming. It's such a delight to dine in and interact with the staff. I'm so happy I took the chance and drove here to grab brunch. I am already planning what I want to get next!!! If you decided to come grab some food here I would highly suggest adding another croffle or two to your order just in case!!! Even if you don't finish it it's amazing the next day heated up!!!

N'Dozie Matingou

Great food! Fast service. You order first and seat yourself. Great place to stop in for a bit or relax after grocery shopping. All items we ordered were tasty. I was not a fan of the croffle. It was a little dry and hard to cut even with a steak knife. I would have much preferred a fluffy waffle. Would definitely stop in again to try something else on the menu. Had my eye on the croque Madame for next time.

Tetsuo I

I went there after Gameday at Cal. (Go Bears! 🐻) I got a BAT sandwich which was super good, the bacon was in-between crispy and chewy and the bread was semi crispy! I also got peach lemonade which exceeded my expectations! It tasted exactly like peaches, it didn't taste artificial at all! The service was very quick only taking about 5 minutes. The atmosphere felt cozy (except for paramedics being in front of the store front) !

Kailey Grass

We just left this place on our way home to Portland and we were amazed at the food and atmosphere. My husband got the chicken and croffle (he was skeptical) and he gave it a “9.2/10!” I loved my avocado toast with scrambled eggs/bacon. The toast had the perfect amount of toppings! I had the americano with oat milk and hubby got a mocha, overall a fantastic spot! Great service, very fast for how busy they were on a Monday morning!!

Lawrence Chinn

The cream and berries croffle was tasty. I will need to add bulgogi to the kimchi fried rice next time. Lots of tasty sounding options to explore for the next trip. Maybe the food will last long enough for a photo too. Update 1: I returned several time since writing the initial review. Everything I’ve tried was amazing including the BAT sandwich, chicken and croffle, salmon and avocado toast, and popcorn chicken. Looking forward to my next visit Update 2: Despite moving out of the area, we made a trip over the holiday break to enjoy the awesome goodness. Still serving great tasting, quality food for very reasonable prices.

Harmeet Bhatia

Went for a brunch on a gloomy morning. Took a minute to figure out the entrance. The cafe has really nice ambiance, wasn't crowded was able to order food and seated right away. We ordered 1. Macchiato : - 5/5, wow the presentation was amazing. The coffee was super fresh 2. Breakfast Sandwich : - 5/5, it was really good, I always have opinion about it being dry, but they really kept it nice and juicy. 3. Croffle: - 5/5, It was my first time trying it, I had requested no bacon and the server was able to replace and add avacado at no additional cost. Usually places charge extra for it, but it was nice to see not getting charged. Overall, the place and staff is super friendly, i will be coming again to try other items on the menu.

Micayla Williams

This cozy cafe is definitely worth the trip! The vibe is welcoming and warm and the food and coffee is outstanding. The “Croffle” which is literally a croissant in a waffle form, is the perfect crispy sweetness and to top it off paired with juicy crispy fried chicken. This croffle is used in all sorts of variations on the menu and I’m sure each is delicious. We also enjoyed two pumpkin spice lattes and it was an absolute fall hug in a mug. The staff is super warm and friendly and the service was quick. Definitely a must try!

Food tasted great and plated well, but the wait time, service and location sours the experience. Chicken and Croffle ($16): comes with a delicious spicy syrup with a great kick. The Croffle was made fresh and was buttery and soft which absorbed the syrup and paired well. The chicken was tender and had a great crust that reminded me of Taiwanese street chicken. Service: I’m not sure if the service was disappointing due to the large influx of customers, but orders took long to come out and tables were not bussed by the customers properly. A friend I went with had to wait about 25-30 minutes for their order and another friend had their order completely mistaken. Also, the restroom was out of order. Atmosphere: the space was small with very limiting seating.

Small non traditional breakfast and coffee shop offers several unique Korean dishes. Limited seating so be prepared to wait in line.

Thai Bui

Food tasted great and plated well, but the wait time, service and location sours the experience. Chicken and Croffle ($16): comes with a delicious spicy syrup with a great kick. The Croffle was made fresh and was buttery and soft which absorbed the syrup and paired well. The chicken was tender and had a great crust that reminded me of Taiwanese street chicken. Service: I’m not sure if the service was disappointing due to the large influx of customers, but orders took long to come out and tables were not bussed by the customers properly. A friend I went with had to wait about 25-30 minutes for their order and another friend had their order completely mistaken. Also, the restroom was out of order. Atmosphere: the space was small with very limiting seating.

S Chen

Small non traditional breakfast and coffee shop offers several unique Korean dishes. Limited seating so be prepared to wait in line.

Yuchen L

Got the fried chicken croffle with poached egg. Very tender chicken thighs and pretty good croffle (I would have preferred it a little fluffier). It's a big portion so get it if you're starving

i’ve wanted to come here for quite a bit, and finally did. came around 1 and it was fairly empty. ordered the salmon egg benedict ($19) and the chicken and croffle ($14.5). i would recommend skipping the salmon egg benedict. the price is steep for thin, small, tasteless store bought english muffins. my mom said her chicken and croffle was good though.

Go ahead and click No Tip! This is a kind of restaurant that you don't tip. It was my first time, and I just did not know better. After placing our order and paying tip, I found this sign says you bus your own table. Wait a minute. I place an order at the counter, I pick up the order at the counter, and I bus my own table? And you still want me to tip? Yes, it lets you choose. But why? Do you see tip options at gas pumps, grocery stores, Costco stores, or IKEA? Maybe it is OK if your terminal displays "we provide absolutely no service (you pick up your food and bus your own table), but we welcome your tip." Other than that, food was ok. Price was a bit high. Binsoo was less than satisfactory.

Hot Matcha latte was great — on the expensive side but the richness and quality makes up for it. 3 stars due to slow service, I ordered a veggie sandwich to-go (takeout) around 35 minutes before closing time when there only 2 other occupied tables and they took 25-30 minutes to make the sandwich. Fast wifi making it suitable to get work done, but be prepared for brunch rush on the weekends.

Sonia Garcia

i’ve wanted to come here for quite a bit, and finally did. came around 1 and it was fairly empty. ordered the salmon egg benedict ($19) and the chicken and croffle ($14.5). i would recommend skipping the salmon egg benedict. the price is steep for thin, small, tasteless store bought english muffins. my mom said her chicken and croffle was good though.

G S

Go ahead and click No Tip! This is a kind of restaurant that you don't tip. It was my first time, and I just did not know better. After placing our order and paying tip, I found this sign says you bus your own table. Wait a minute. I place an order at the counter, I pick up the order at the counter, and I bus my own table? And you still want me to tip? Yes, it lets you choose. But why? Do you see tip options at gas pumps, grocery stores, Costco stores, or IKEA? Maybe it is OK if your terminal displays "we provide absolutely no service (you pick up your food and bus your own table), but we welcome your tip." Other than that, food was ok. Price was a bit high. Binsoo was less than satisfactory.

Nandita R

Hot Matcha latte was great — on the expensive side but the richness and quality makes up for it. 3 stars due to slow service, I ordered a veggie sandwich to-go (takeout) around 35 minutes before closing time when there only 2 other occupied tables and they took 25-30 minutes to make the sandwich. Fast wifi making it suitable to get work done, but be prepared for brunch rush on the weekends.