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    Alem's Coffee

    4.5 (176 reviews)
    Open • 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    ALEM'S COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Alem's Coffee

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    Tibsy Sga & Enkakuho Frittata

    Food and drinks are amazing, 10/10. The oat latte was delicious, very creamy and rich! The Tibsy was very flavorful and beautifully presented. Staff was very friendly as well and there is a farmers market across the street on Sunday's!

    Fata and Tibsy Sga
    Miguel O.

    Had the Fata and the Tibsy Sga and I all I can say is amazing. The Fata was made on the spot and was crunchy and chewy at times with a since savory spice to it. The tibsy was tender and well seasoned, a little less spicy than the Fata. Very well balanced meals.

    Tibs/injera
    Bob A.

    Food was great, service is really attentive. It has an ethnically Eritrean ma/pa hole in the wall feel. I think they cater more to breakfast so you won't get the big injera platters but they do have one person equivalents of that as well as simpler bread + soup/stew type meals, as well as coffee

    Shihan ful
    Vanessa S.

    I was at the dmv taking care of my registration. Enjoying the wonderful 4 hr wait . I hadn't eaten breakfast and it was past lunchtime.So I decided to go grab a snack nearby. I see a coffee shop across the street. Perfect! Little did I know I stumbled upon a hidden gem. Mind you I have only eaten African food once in my life prior to this. I have been craving it all of my life (hence being part Egyptian and Ghanaian) . Oh what a feeling to eat "your" food for the second time in your life! When I tell you my mouth, brain and tummy all did a happy dance! Very simple ingredients. So fresh so delicious and a very humble place, but it felt like I was eating home at home. Love love love this! Will be coming back very soon with my daughters. Also the staff were very friendly and kind. I can't wait to try something new on the menu. I had the Shihan flu! Sooo good!

    Ribs
    Amy L.

    This is probably better for a coffee shop or a quick bite to eat, since their food menu wasn't very expansive. We got the tibsy and ful. The tibsy was on the blander side, at least compared to other Eritrean or Ethiopian restaurants. The ful was a bit better but also fell a bit flat as it was served closer to room temperature. I also was a bit disappointed in the lack of side options. I'm used to getting cabbage, spinach, lentils, and potatoes as sides for Ethiopian dishes. I would come back if I lived in the area, but since I don't live nearby, I would rather check out other Ethiopian or Eritrean options in the east bay

    Iced Ethiopian coffee
    Steph G.

    My kid came here as a freshman when she started Berkeley and we've made one last visit on her last day in the city after she graduated. It was very sentimental for us. She wanted to show me this place for a very long time. We opted to share the lamb stew. I think it's called the Tibsy. Now, bring your patience because it does appear that everything is cooked to order. Once it was ready, the lamb stew was served on top of injera bread. Although this dish is meant to be eaten with your hands, I opted to have a spoon. My kid did eat it with her hands. I enjoyed it better when the meat was soaking on the bread and I eat it that way the sour balance of the bread balances out the meat stew. Before we left, I got an iced Ethiopian coffee that would knock your socks off. Just cool, casual vibes here with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Street parking available.

    Shihan Ful

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    11 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    11 years ago

    The best! Great coffee, and the most amazing foule ever! In a neighborhood of many Ethiopian spots, Alem's foule takes the cake.

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    13 years ago

    Alem's special is insanely good as is their coffee. Highly recommended.

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    8 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Always great. I understand they have items other than shihan phool, but cannot say for sure.

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    17 years ago

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    16 years ago

    Hands down one of my favorite coffee chops. The coffee is really good, strong, and inexpensive. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming.

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

    This place kicks Starbucks' butt. The non fat latte is DELICIOUS! The owner is extremely friendly as well. Great coffee spot!

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    Page 5 of 5

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    Shewhat - Lamb ,chicken ,shrimp and beef . Shiro

    Shewhat

    4.9(354 reviews)
    0.5 mi•Bushrod, Rockridge, North Oakland
    •$$
    Women-owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Cozy family-run spot. Love the vibes!…read more We got the Shewhat Special (vegan sampler + chicken/beef combo) and added the Selam Special (shrimp/mushrooms/spinach). The platter was flavorful and gorgeously colorful. I particularly enjoyed the lentils and Selam Special. Highly recommend the sambusas--the pastry was piping hot and so flaky!! Delicious paired with the sweet chili sauce. So glad to have finally made it here for some authentic Ethiopian cuisine (':

    If you are considering Ethiopian food, just wash your hands and come here. It's like dining in a…read morefriend's home, welcoming, warm and genuine. The owner Abby D. is also the chef and her love and pride in her cuisine shines through her cooking. Having eaten Ethiopian food only in the US, this is the best version that I've had across Chicago, NY and DC. They offer indoor and covered outdoor seating, giving it a homely comforting vibe. Since it was just the two of us, we ordered the vegan sampler and the lamb tibsy (spicy). The lamb was delicious and well spiced. All the dishes were served on a platter of injera - sour, spongy bread that just soaks up all the flavor to perfection. I enjoyed the red lentils (misir wat), yellow lentils (alicha) cabbage and carrot stir fry, collard greens and a house salad that had a dressing which perfectly complimented the rest of the dishes. They also offer additional injera should you need any - we didn't. You eat with your hands from the common platter, but they do provide additional plates and silverware should you need it. The portions are generous and we ended up taking some of the food home. They have a bunch of dishes I'd like to try, so I'm definitely going to be back!

    Photos
    Shewhat
    Shewhat - Veggie combo

    Veggie combo

    Shewhat - Chicken tipsy

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    Chicken tipsy

    Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - 4. Vegetarian Combination extra greens instead of potatoes

    Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique

    4.2(267 reviews)
    0.8 mi•Temescal, North Oakland
    •$$

    This place is special. This evening 4 friends who are loved like family and myself sat down to eat…read moreand share our recent experiences/discoveries in this thing we call life. We were quickly seated. Shortly after we were given our water. As we pondered the delectable menu one member of our group brought our attention to the beautiful artwork surrounding those eating. The images are breathtaking portraits of individuals who look to be part of the Eritrean community. Sounds of laughter from the surrounding tables and feelings of safety from the peaceful internal environment embraced us as we looked. Then the food came out. It was full of color and there was clearly intentionality behind the presentation. Upon tasting the dish, flavors of savory seasonings, fresh vegetables, and soft injera filled the mouth. It was more than enough food for us all and we ended up taking left overs. If you are near the area I HIGHLY recommend paying this spot a visit.

    Came here for lunch with some friends on our break. We ordered the sampler that included both the…read moremeat and vegetarian versions of dishes. We also ordered a side of injera (sour flatbread). The food took a bit of time to come out but we didn't mind since we were chatting. This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. Eating the food was interesting and fun. Ethiopian food is made to be eaten with your hands and no utensils. My favorites on the platter were the salad, Dorho Chicken, and Potatoes. I wasn't a big fan of the sourness of the injera, but I did love the softness of the flatbread.

    Photos
    Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - Seating

    Seating

    Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - Chicken tipsi, and veggie combo: every item on this is super tasty, what a healthy meal!

    Chicken tipsi, and veggie combo: every item on this is super tasty, what a healthy meal!

    Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - Artwork on wall

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    Artwork on wall

    Cafe Colucci - Vegan Combination and Meat Combination Platter

    Cafe Colucci

    4.2(1.4k reviews)
    1.3 mi•North Oakland
    •$$

    upon walking in the front door the incredible aroma made me gasp with happiness…read more great prices, incredible service, phenomenal food. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

    3.75 STARS A…read morenational survey shows that only 18% of Americans have tried Ethiopian food. Some of y'all are missing out on the bold, richly spiced, deliciously satisfying grub....and the heartburn. ;) What brought me to Café Colucchi is Doulet, a hard to find dish but more on that later. An institution in the town, Café Colucci interestingly began as a European-style café with a handful of Ethiopian dishes before eventually evolving into a traditional Ethiopian restaurant with a full bar. Walk-in only, no rezzies. Indoor and outdoor seating. Note: While they have a lovely dog-friendly patio, it's not always open. I first visited in April but was told the patio wouldn't open until May. When May rolled around, I tried calling multiple times but could never reach a live person. I also sent an email with no response, tho I eventually got a reply after messaging them on Yelp. When I returned last month, the patio was closed for a private event. Luckily, they were accommodating and said we could still sit outside as long as we finished within an hour. F O O D * Doulet: Raw beef, lamb liver, tripe ($21) - Choice of temp: Raw, rare, medium rare, etc. We chose to have the doulet the traditional way: raw....and it was BOMB! Deliciously beefy and buttery, the doulet was packed with warm spices and a nice kick of heat. The bits of tripe added a slight chew, giving it a more interesting texture than kitfo. The injera's tang perfectly cut through the richness. * Doro Wot: Chicken Stew ($21) My fav Ethiopian dish to order, the chicken stew (two tender drumsticks) was rich and spicy with a complexity from the spices and deeply caramelized onions. * Begue Wot: Lamb Stew ($22) Recommended by our server, this was our least fav dish. While flavorful, it was mainly bones with tough meat. * SIDES With each entree, choose a veggie side: --Shiro: Savory, earthy with the chickpeas broken down to a silky gravy-like consistency. --Misir Wot: The red lentil stew is boldly spiced from the niter kibbeh with a heartier texture than the shiro. * CARBS With each entree, choice of injera or rice -- Teff Injera (+$2.50 x3): Fresh and spongy with a good tang. -- Rice: While nicely cooked and fluffy, you get very little of it. The center is left open for the stews so the rice is arranged in a thin layer around the outer perimeter. S E R V I C E Warm, friendly staff. Food takes awhile to come out so we only had about 15 minutes to eat. A M B I A N C E Casual and welcoming with an open kitchen and sacks + displays of Ethiopian spices. Awesome patio with tropical plants and vibrant Afrocentric mural. Overall, I can see why Café Colucci has been an Oakland staple for yeaaars. There are only a handful of spots in the Bay Area that serve doulet, and Café Colucci is one of just two I can confirm that offer it with offal. So if you love tartare but want something with bold, explosive flavors, don't sleep on it!

    Photos
    Cafe Colucci - The outdoor table decorated for a private party

    The outdoor table decorated for a private party

    Cafe Colucci - Injera (wheat combo)

    Injera (wheat combo)

    Cafe Colucci - Tej and a lemonade mocktail

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    Tej and a lemonade mocktail

    Binge Coffee House - Egg Coffee

    Binge Coffee House

    4.6(434 reviews)
    1.9 mi•Downtown Berkeley
    •$
    Family-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    I was craving Vietnamese coffee, and my friend suggested we try Binge, I'm so glad we did because I…read moreloved it! I ordered the egg coffee, and my friend and I also got the popcorn chicken to share. The coffee was so yummy! It had a nice, strong coffee flavor. It was my first time trying egg cream and I enjoyed it. The popcorn chicken was also tasty and it came in a generous portion. I especially liked the sauce that came with it. We placed an online order, so everything was ready as soon as we got there, which was convenient. The store was clean and spacious, and I thought the prices weren't bad! I'm definitely a huge fan of Binge and would love to come back. Makes me wish we had coffee spots like Binge back home!

    09.28.2026. egg coffee (normal sweetness) 6.95. melon melon matcha. 7.75. vietnamese pandan waffle…read more 6.50. I didn't expect to like the melon matcha but it was actually so well done. It tastes like a melona bar but make it matcha. On the sweeter side for sure, but not tooooo sweet. You still get the subtle matcha flavor, floraly that pairs well with the fruity melon. The pandan waffle was also pretty good. The waffle was fluffy and full of pandan flavor. i personally would've liked it like a tad crispier. egg coffee was solid. The signature sweet and strong viet coffee. the whipped egg topping lent a nice fluffiness to the dense coffee and mellowed out the strength of the caffeine. Definitely would come back again. There are little tables to work at, and a couple of outlets for charging. A little crowded tho so a little hard to find seats.

    Photos
    Binge Coffee House - Strawberry Matcha Latte

    Strawberry Matcha Latte

    Binge Coffee House - Pandan Matcha Latte

    Pandan Matcha Latte

    Binge Coffee House - Ube Matcha Latte

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    Ube Matcha Latte

    Alem's Coffee - coffee - Updated September 2026

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