Still delicious and still served with kindness and a sweet smile. I also had a chai latte which was also delicious and comforting. read more

Alem's Coffee - Shihan Ful - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

This is a mom and pop type of spot. So grateful my coworker put me on! The prices are very affordable and you get a delicious, home cooked tasting, filling, healthy meal. I've had the shahan ful which tasted like everything I would ever want in a meal. It warmed my insides and made me think of m grandma's cooking and it was also enough for two meals! I also had the boiled potato sandwhich which I know sounds like a wtf choice but I go it cuz I had a feeling it would be delicious, and it was! The shahan ful was served with two large bread rolls and the sandwhich is made on the same bread. Which is hella fresh and soft. The boiled potato in the sandwhich was a melt in your mouth buttery salty number, it was perfect, paired with tomato, red onion, some pepper, and lettuce. Literally everything I would find at the dinner table with my slavic family. This is definitely a go to spot, with prices that can't be beat. read more

I love the focus on Eritrean dishes as well as the emphasis on breakfast and coffee on the menu here. It definitely provides a different spin on East African dishes than any of the other restaurants I've been to in the east bay or really anywhere in California. An Eritrean style frittata? Awesome! The coffee was delicious as well with a nice and pungent flavor profile. read more

I pretty much do whatever food writer Soleil Ho tells me, so I had to try Alem's. I've never had Eritrean food. The dish, Shihan Ful, is punchy and hit so many flavor points-- herbaceous, spicy, savory, acid. And it's served with two toasted french breads. I was so full at the end. Too bad I don't live in Oakland so I can eat here more often! read more

Alem's Coffee - Shihan Ful - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Food was great. The cashier didn't give us a receipt. The server accused us stealing a sprite. Instead of checking with the cashier if we paid for it already up front, he came and have a debate with us over a can of sprite. Honestly wanted to bring my friends here to try my husband's culture food. If this is how customers are being treated, I'd rather save my face and my friends time. There are plenty of other Eritrean food around the area. read more

I was taking a Lyft to the Oakland airport last week and my Lyft driver highly recommended this café to me, so when I was in the area, I thought I might as well check it out. I was pleasantly surprised at home awesome this place is. There's so many vegan options on the menu. In fact, there's only one item on the main menu that has meat, and the rest are all either vegetarian or vegan. I decided to break my vegan rules to try the frittata and I was not disappointed. The eggs were cooked perfectly and the vegetables added a refreshing touch. The bread was so soft on the inside and crusty on the outside, which is exactly what I look for in a roll. As for the soy latte, it was one of the best lattes I've had in a while. It was so creamy and smooth. The employees at the cafe were all very sweet and welcoming. This is definitely becoming a regular destination for me! read more

Alem's Coffee - Enkakuho Frittata with Soy Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I passed by this place after a ~delightful~ visit to the DMV and was pulled in by the aroma of berbere wafting from within. I asked a group what they ordered and they said Fata and....something else I can't remember. I ordered the Fata and man, it was great. It's chunks of bread cooked in a sauce with onion, tomato (I think) and a spice blend. Simple but delicious. The coffee was good too! read more

So delicious!! I happened onto this spot when I had an appointment at Dmv and was so hungry and this place caught my eye! I have repeatedly ordered the Shihan Ful and my son loves the Tibsy/tsebhi Sga and today I added an extra dish of Fata. It was all delicious and will be ordered over and over again. I love the level of spiciness they use. The shihan ful is a lentil dish and comes with two small loves of French bread, the fata is a spicy bread dish and tibsy is a lamb and ingeera dish. This has been our fave spot for about a year now. I order delivery through yelp at this point. read more

Service 10/10 Food 10/10 I ordered two of the vegetarian dishes, the shihan ful and kicha fitfit. The shihan ful was perfectly flavored, the fava beans balanced with freshly minced jalapeno, onion, tomato and feta. The kicha fitfit is a heavier dish of torn bread that is fried in ghee with spices. I found it to be decadent from the ghee and leaning towards the spicier side of that scale. Absolutely delicious. It reminded me of home seeing a parliament of locals gathered for tea outside on weekends. Really a special and homely place read more

Just ordered takeout from Alem's and loved it! I would suggest you order the following 3 items, they go well together and made for a filling breakfast! We ordered: Fata - quite literally a spicy tomato sauce made from tomatoes, jalapeños, onions and garlic sautéed with torn pieces of bread. This was our favorite! Shihan ful - made from ground fava beans, tomatoes, onions, and Eritrean spices. No heat here but lots of flavor which complemented the tomatoey Fata. Enkakuho frittata- egg scramble with onions, tomatoes, and green chilies. Basically, southwestern scrambled eggs but we wanted some added protein and didn't want to cook. The only drawback was their lattes. Too much milk! But I can make my own coffee but not their food, so I know now what to order! I'm good! read more

Alem's Coffee - Fata, Shihan Ful, Enkakuho Frittata - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Their service is awesome. The food is YUMMY! My first time here and I asked several questions and the cashier was happy to help, made me feel super comfortable and gave me her opinion on some plates. Both the service and food deserve 5 stars! Definitely coming back. What I got: Plate: Shihan Ful (Vegetarian) Taste: Beyond delicious! read more

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This place is amazing. Shihaan fuul is delicious for breakfast. Great place. read more

Amazing. Incredible breakfast-lunch options. it's what Oakland really is, and what Oakland should be. The owner is super sweet, and the place has a really inviting atmosphere. And everything we got was insane. Like really my mouth is watering just thinking about it now. So simple and so real and so authentic. I will be back veryyyyyyy soon to try everything I didn't try this first time around. The easiest 5 stars! read more

Alem's Coffee - that shihan phool aaahhhh - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Got the mocha, the sandwich with boiled potato, and this spicy side dish with a yogurt side. The mocha was yummy (honestly I've had some bad ones recently so this was a pleasant change) and the sandwich was delicious tbh. I didn't think I'd like it so much but the fresh veggies really went well with the minimally spicy soft potato's. The side dish (I can't remember the name sadly) was good too but I can't eat all of it in one sitting since it's basically just these spicy fluffy ball things. read more

Alem's Coffee - Sandwich! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Shahan fool is amazing! Small business, family owned and food is really tasty. I just wish they bring back they freshly squeezed orange juice. Other than that, I love it! Highly recommended. read more

Alem's is fantastic. Delicious, simple, affordable food, clean dining area, friendly staff and open early. I always get shihan ful. Give it a try you won't be disappointed. read more

Delicious and great value for breakfast, large portions. Food is always ready fast and it is wonderful! Get the shihan ful it is phenomenal. I like to get it to go and eat somewhere outside with a nice view! read more

Food delicious and reasonably priced, but smoking allowed in patio(!) I understand that they want to please the customers from the old country, but they need to be in compliance with Oakland smoking laws. read more

Blown away how tasty their breakfast is. This small Eritrean owned breakfast place is a great addition to Temeskal area. If you tried wanna experience Eritrean breakfast dishes, this is the place to go. I highly recommend this place. read more

Alem's Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

Great food, great coffee. Nice casual spot to hit in the morning. Can't wait to go back and try out the whole menu.

TLDR: Get the eritrean food, not the american stuff. Hole in the wall place right next to the DMV. Came here around 8 am and there was one family eating there (but became busier rather quickly). The cashier when we were there couldn't speak English very well and didn't accept the yelp check-in either (I'm not sure if they actually don't take it or if its just because that cashier didn't know). With the help of browsing the other reviews, we got the shihaan ful, egg sandwich, and a latte. The shihaan ful was amazing. It is sort've like a chili with x2 the amount of spices (it isn't spicy though). It's vegetarian but it is rich and tastes like it has meat! The bread goes really nice with the soup as well. The egg sandwich is definitely not a highlight here. They forgot our latte twice, and after they finally made it, I am pretty sure the coffee to milk ratio was off. I think it was even less milk than a cappuccino. My girlfriend didn't like it because she thought it was really bitter, but I thought it was actually really good. I don't care much for the milk, so that didn't bother me. Halfway through our meal, the "main" person came out (I think she cooks the food?). She speaks English a lot more fluently, and she was really kind to us and checked up on us. She asked us if we wanted to dish with injela bread (the injela wasn't ready when we first ordered), but we passed since we were full. It also seemed like this place had a lot of regulars from the area (I mean... where else are you going to find an Eritrean place? I didn't even know Eritrea was a country before this) so that made the place feel much more comfortable and warm. Definitely would stop by again if I am in the area. read more

A nice spot to rest your feet as you explore the neighborhood or watch the local game. I also bought a bag of whole bean coffee, very reasonably priced and I've been enjoying making chemex with the Ethiopian beans! Would recommending saying hi to the owner! read more

We had lunch for 4 on a weekday. Alem's is informal. Order at the counter and find a place to sit inside or out. We moved a table and some chairs in order to create a space outside, but that was cool. The food was good and inexpensive, and came with plenty of fresh bread-enough to take one of the two loaves home. I didn't try the eponymous coffee. I'd like to go back. read more

Came by as I was in the area. I think the price is still the same but the portions are slightly smaller now. The service is still excellent. read more

Alem's Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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i stopped in for the first time and the coffe was fantastic. i ordered a café mocha and let me tell you it was one of the best I've ever had!!! it was truly amazing !! read more

The best food!!! Their shihan ful is to die for and coffee is amazing. The owner is the most friendly woman. This is was a restaurant should be. DON'T SKIP THIS SPOT!!!! read more

Alem's Coffee - Shihan ful - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

The ladies who work here light up my day any time I visit. The ful as well as scrambled eggs are delicious! The coffee is super strong. I have been coming here for years and don't know why I am so late to write a review! read more

I stopped in for coffee after the DMV. Easy. Quick, good coffee, nice people. No complaints!

This place is a true local gem in Oakland. We stopped by here for breakfast one day, and it was AMAZING. Alem's Coffee is a hole in the wall East African cafe, run by a very friendly family. We ordered the Shihan Ful dish, which is a "hearty vegetarian stew" made with fava beans and Eritrean spices, and served with two giant loaves of French bread. This dish was sooo good and savory, which surprised me as it is vegetarian. The stew was truly hearty, and the fava beans/spice combo was so unique; I've never tried anything like it before. The closest thing I can think of is Pav Bhaji (potato based, Indian dish), but Shihan Ful was definitely different. The bread also perfectly complements the stew; two giant pieces, that were crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside. They have giant portions too for only $8.95! This place also seemed like a true community oriented place, with friendly customer service and local friendly older folk gathering around a table eating breakfast/drinking coffee. Definitely have to stop by here to try Eritrean breakfast food and also get a sense of the community in Oakland! read more

Alem's Coffee - Shihan Ful- absolutely amazing, must try, lot of bang for buck - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

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Excellent service, great tasting food, welcoming scenery. Highly recommended for a visit.

This small cafe turned out to be a wonderful surprise in the City of Oakland. It's situated across the street from the DMV and us probably a good place to grab some food before the inevitable long wait over there. My family and I decided to get a few dishes to try. Firstly, the Shihan Phool is showcased as their major dish there. It was a delicious bean stew that came with some lemon and two bread loafs. Some great flavor in there, but we felt it overshadowed by two other great tasting dishes. The fata was a very great tasting curry type dish with bread mixed into it. The yogurt gave a perfect balance to the dish. All around a great vegetarian treat! Lastly, I ordered the Tibsy Sga. It was an excellent beef / lambs stew with plenty of spices and okra. I absolutely loved it. That spice creeps though! It's served wrapped with an ethiopian flat wrap bread that was very soft and spongy with a bit of tang. The server was very kind and helped us as we were trying to figure out what to try. Definitely had no regrets. I hope this place has continued success. read more

Nice sweet little cafe. I must declare the setting here are really cute and sweet. This cafe is located near the local DMV and offers a wide variety of drinks that are not only organic but are really affordable. It almost feels like home while I'm waiting for my mum here. There is not only great drinks here but also some crazy good Ethiopian/Eritrean food that you get at very reasonable prices that can't be found elsewhere. If you want some authentic African coffee this is your place to go. It feels like I am in Addis Ababa instead of Oakland. It will change the way you view North Oakland. The owner of the shop is really nice and outgoing and is always ready to serve you with a smile. family run and friendly. It can be a little cramped here but if you want a place to congregate or wait for someone this is where you go. Free WiFi too. Drawback: if you think cafes are a place to nap, shy away from this one. read more

Wanted to love this place but as soon as I opened my food (I got the tibsy) there was a long black hair on top. The service was good and the food was good but had to throw half the injera away, where the hair was. I'm really sad and grossed out. read more

im never really in this area but if i am and i have time, i stop by Alem's cafe and get some Shihan Phool!! i found this place by accident... kinda... i just wanted some coffee and went inside and started reading the menu and saw an east bay express article on the wall raving about this typical Eritrean dish. and me being the wanna be traveler that i am, since i cant afford to go to Eritrea, might as well try their food and somehow immerse myself in their culture through food.... they serve it in a little bowl with a couple of lemon wedges on the side and some cheese sprinkled on top... and you mix it all up yourself... once its all mixed up, you eat it.. (: nobody taught me how you are supposed to eat it but i do remember an Anthony Bourdain episode he had in Ethiopia.... they sit on the floor as a group and they feed each other... you don't just grab the food and put it in your mouth... NO... they do it for you... and you do it for THEM! lol.. they grab a piece of bread and scoop up some food and just like that, with their bare hand, they put it in your mouth... even if they don't know you. if you are sharing a meal with them. they'll feed you that way... but i was by myself.. and i wasn't sitting on the floor... i was actually at a table... but i did my best to replicate that experience... i grabbed a little chunk of bread and i scooped up some shihan phool and i fed myself like that.... it was awesome.. i have never had so much fun feeding myself pretending i was feeding somebody else and somebody else was feeding me... all by myself.... anyway... hard to describe the flavor... but it was sorta like a tangy, juicy, bean soup... a little tiny bit of kick... just a touch... the lady will ask you if you want it spicy or mild... if its your first time and you are not sure... ask for it mild... africans don't play... i never had their spicy one but i don't doubt it will make you sweat... their coffee is legit too... on the stronger side of taste... im more of a light roast, high caffeine content type guy.. i drink my coffee black, no sugar.. so theirs is a little too much for me.. but i dont mind... i drank it anyway... if you like bold tasting coffee... this place wont disapoint.... read more

Alem's Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Oakland, California

I really really like phool (or ful, or fuul, or foul) but it's kinda hard to find since it's breakfast food and a lot of ethiopian restaurants don't open till lunch. It's also hard to find because there isn't really an agreed way to spell it in english so it's hard to search for. Long story short, it took me almost 3 years to find it at Alem's and I wish I'd found it earlier because they make it really well. Complex flavors, lots of fixings, wonderful bread. Also check it out at MLK cafe! Theirs comes with eggs and yogurt. read more

Alem's Coffee sells other items but it's so cramped here with just 3 tables, i wouldn't order anything to sitdown and eat here..from the outside, alem's looks liks an house. drink: (m)1.75, house blend -strong bold taste on the edge of harshness. probably african beans since they sell it for $13.00 a pound. drips: -across from dmv. -few coffee places around here. -expresso available -cash only read more

I was literally having the worst day at the DMV and spotted this place across the street; cured my bad day in an instant. The chai latte is one of the best I've had, and the food is incredible! I got the frittata (: very excited to come back and work my way through the menu. This place is a gem!!! read more

Passed by Alem's Cafe on my visit to the DMV and decided to go in after, as I was pleased to see it still open around 3, and was in desperate need of a coffee and potentially some food. Ordered the Shihan Ful and a cappuccino and just WOW. The food has such an amazing flavor and great portions for the price you are getting. I'm not a huge bread eater and even the bread is good. Coffee was great too! This place is a not just a no-nonsense cafe, but one delicious food that's not common around the bay area. 15/10 would come again! :) read more

Friendly service and good coffee, but AVOID IT UNTIL COVID IS OVER. Sidewalks are crowded with groups of talking men who don't seem to care about wearing masks and social distancing (or completely blocking the sidewalks for those who do). read more

This sweet spot has delicious food and such a welcoming family ambiance. Highly recommended!