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    BCB Cafe

    4.1 (127 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 3:00 pm

    BCB Cafe Photos

    BCB CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - BCB Cafe

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    Cool quotes cover the walls; my kind of place.
    Christine P.

    My husband turned me on to this place after I purchased a Groupon for him for sandwiches (he says shouldn't be missed) but we're here for breakfast. My pessimistic Manhattan-raised mom says they don't have real NY water (it makes a difference) but OMG! These New York-style bagels were perfect with scrumptious flavored cream cheese (my fave is the REAL strawberries; they don't use fake nastiness). With a hot chai tea, it was simple and yet SO satisfying. AND they offer a tofu version of cream cheese that passed my NY mom's test - WHAT?! The same woman who swore she would never eat tofu? The best part of coming early in the morning? The day old section!! Best deal in the city! This is definitely going on the lists of regular visit and bring visitors to places!

    Queens
    Manuel C.

    I've had the queens twice this year as breakfast and it honestly tastes better each time. The guacamole, turkey, bacon, and sauce is all really good and tasty. I've been to a lot of cafe shops and no sandwich comes close to queens (at least in my opinion. Would highly recommend this shop if your looking to any breakfast. They have a lot of sandwiches and bagel options as well as coffee options. Only downside is that they close somewhat early. 10/10 though!

    Allis N.

    Convenient place around campus for a quick coffee but the coffee isnt that great... at all. The brewed and iced coffee are decent but the espresso drinks taste like there is not coffee in them. I personally always gets shots of espresso over ice, which is normally strong but theirs tastes like normal coffee put over ice. Get an iced coffee! The best affordable thing on their menu if you don't want to spend $5 on a drink. They brew Cafe Motto! Yes, i come back because it's convenient but definitely not a first choice! Super pricey too in my opinion. Not the original store so maybe that's why too.

    Daily Mexican mocha fix.
    Philip R.

    I used to go to the Starbucks in East Commons last semester, but found that the line to get coffee could get crazy during peak hours. I started getting Mexican Mochas from here since I was in the library on a daily basis either studying or trying to catch up on all the reading my professors assigned. I've mostly been to the one located in the 24/7 area of the library. During Finals week, they were open everyday and pretty much ran 24/7 which was a savior for those of us staying in the library late/overnight. I've also been to their location by PS1. There's never really a line there since I think most people frequent the location near ENS. The 24/7 location has pretty cool employees who seem really chill and are really easy to talk to/sympathize with all of students spending our day in the library. The drinks are usually $3-$4 and they also have a fridge with sports drinks if you're low on electrolytes. They also have sandwiches and breakfast burritos if you're hungry, but I usually opt for the bagel w/ cream cheese for $2. They also have bananas, cashews, peanuts, and assorted pastries (the pumpkin bread was amazing during the Fall semester). Definitely check this place out if you can't find the Starbucks on the East side like myself (I think it's in the new building but I haven't ventured there yet). Also, if you don't want to lose your precious seat/table in the 24/7 area then this place is perfect since it's right there.

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    12 years ago

    Very friendly and clean environment! Great service and friendly people. Coffee is absolutely the best!

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

    The employees are always super sweet and I love the tea is the same price, regardless of size and they will give me two tea bags!

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    11 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Best coffee at sdsu, good pastry and bagels. And all at a less price than Starbucks!!

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Great coffee. Way better than Starbucks. Friendly service and the sandwiches are better than you'd expect.

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Always cheery and helpful. Prices are good and their tea and coffee are tasty.

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    10 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    12 years ago

    come here almost every morning to get my coffee. love the Belly.

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    11 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    12 years ago

    BCB is right downstairs from my office so I come here often. Staff is always cool and friendly, and they make great drinks!

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    12 years ago

    Bcb has the best coffee and black tea! It's a great vibe and has the best bagels on campus. Prefer Bcb to Starbucks most days

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Love getting coffee here. Quality drinks in a shorter time than waiting for Starbucks.

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    10 years ago

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    Page 3 of 4

    Ask the Community - BCB Cafe

    Review Highlights - BCB Cafe

    I needed to wake up, so I got a Madagascar vanilla latte, it comes with two shots already but I added an extra.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Marigold Bagels - B.E.C. on a Salt Bagel

    Marigold Bagels

    4.0(164 reviews)
    3.8 miNorth Park
    $$

    I finally got to try Marigold Bagels! They are down the street from me and it's always way too busy…read morebut I went as soon as they opened and there was a line of 10 people behind me once I finished placing my order. I ordered a breakfast sandwich that had bacon, cheese, and an egg. I chose to have it served on their jalapeño cheese bagel. The sandwich was nothing special, I don't know that I would get that again. The egg was bland and there wasn't any sauces or spreads on it. I also ordered some bagels to go, the onion, plain, and jalapeño cheddar. The onion one was really good with the jalapeño cheddar cream cheese. The plain one was great with the delicious churro cream cheese. The ambiance was nice, very clean and they had an open kitchen prep area for the bagels. The bagels were very good, chewy, yet crispy on the outside and fresh!

    If you're looking to scratch an itch for a good NY style chewy bagel then this is the spot! That…read moresaid you (and your wallet) are gonna have to work for it! The wait was insane (45 min) on a Saturday morning for bagel sandwiches so I'd recommend either going during the week or getting bagels and schmear to go. (Which is apparently much quicker) I had the Bec it was good but a little dry. $10.50 Some of the other bagel sandwiches were either overpriced in my option or didn't make sense. Why is a plain bagel $3.50, but then adding cream cheese almost doubles the price? They have a nice sunny raised patio, the inside is mostly full of people standing in line.

    Photos
    Marigold Bagels - Pizza Bagel (#4)

    Pizza Bagel (#4)

    Marigold Bagels - Bagel with chive cream cheese

    Bagel with chive cream cheese

    Marigold Bagels - Inside

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    Inside

    Spill the Beans - Basic Sitch

    Spill the Beans

    3.9(455 reviews)
    7.4 mi
    $$

    The bagels TOP NOTCH…read more The location cute and quaint, but I do like the Mission Valley location more. This location seems to have a limited menu whereas their other location has more options. It was a busy morning, so they doing their best to keep up with orders while people were asking if their bagels were ready. The workers were being so patient and communicating with customers that they were on it. The coffee TASTES like coffee! Silly to say, but it's soooo delicious and I love when coffee doesn't taste like a complete sugary drink. We had two iced coffees (basic sitch and blondie mocha) and their drip coffee. Would definitely order again. They were out of some ingredients, but they advertised it, so customers were not lead astray. Easily, their bagels make this the place to go!

    Scheduled my day to make sure I could stop by their anniversary celebration before heading to the…read moreairport. Left, extremely disappointed... When I arrived a few minutes before opening the lights were off, turned the corner to find things still being unloaded. Waited, until 6, nothing, waited 5 more minutes, some movement but still not open. Finally ask what the situation is and they said they were running behind and needed maybe 15 more minutes. I didn't have confidence that would actually happen, and left hungry to fend for food at the airport. Not worth waking up early and planning for.

    Photos
    Spill the Beans - Fendi and the Ube Bagel w/ Ube cream cheese

    Fendi and the Ube Bagel w/ Ube cream cheese

    Spill the Beans - Spill The Beans Seaport Village is beneath that lookout tower

    Spill The Beans Seaport Village is beneath that lookout tower

    Spill the Beans - Hot Blondie Latte and Sugar-free Vanilla decaf latte were great! More people need to talk about their quality roast!

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    Hot Blondie Latte and Sugar-free Vanilla decaf latte were great! More people need to talk about their quality roast!

    Asa Bakery & Cafe

    Asa Bakery & Cafe

    4.1(1k reviews)
    6.5 miEast Village
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Certified professionals

    It's something about this place that has such a good energy and a vibe as it's super chill and…read moreinviting. Staff warm and welcoming upon entry. This is the perfect spot to get a snack, drinks, desserts, or a meal and chill. They have WiFi access which makes it perfect for studying or just finishing up work for those late working evenings. The layout is super cute and I love the lighting it gives a warm cozy feeling. The pastry case looks delicious and other Japanese inspired gelato desserts look amazing as well. Today I'm trying the chicken hayashi, so yesterday I seen this dish a friend had and I opted not to try it but I found this Japanese establishment highly recommended so I decided to give it a try to tonight. So you opt to have this entree with an omelet but I opted not to do the omelet on it and went with the traditional dish. This dish was very savory, and I love that the chef did not over season this dish and allowed for the savory sauce to do all the speaking!!! I love that the onions were cooked down to perfection with added mushrooms that weren't too over spread, and the Katsu was cooked to perfection very crispy and coating was very light. The rice was delicious and perfectly cooked. The orders are prepared to order and so delicious that I'll definitely be back. This is my first experience of the Katsu Hayashi curry and it did not disappoint!!!! Chefs kiss Hidden secret!!!! I'm telling!!!!! There is a bar hidden behind the wall as soon as you enter this establishment to the right, which looks amazing and no one would have ever thought it. It opens up when you tell the front counter that you have reservations or if you want to chill at the bar top. My eyes popped out of my head with this hidden bar as it is amazingly laid out with a unique Japanese style. I love that whoever designed this area and also decorated it, went for Japanese style and nailed it head on. It feels very exclusive and looks to be like a VIP section for the elite but has a super chill atmosphere. This bar has bar top seating as well as an open dining area and to the back a private room as well. This is definitely a hidden gem I also love on the other side of the café, they have the gaga room which is a room for pairing sake. How amazing is that!! that the owner of this establishment thought of everything? This establishment is definitely a treasure and I'm not sure why it has taken me this long to find it!!! lol nonetheless no gatekeeping here!!!! The word is out now and I'm definitely coming back and I highly recommend checking them out as I'm sure that you'll have an experience definitely worth it!! As always you can thank me later

    Phenomenal baked goods. Clean and happy ambiance cafe with plenty of seating and AC! Much needed…read moreescape from the hot sun. Based on all the reviews, many raved about the curry bread and I'd have to agree. It reminds me of a bbq pork bun but with curry filling. I also got a chocolate croissant and couldn't help but admire the craftsmenship in the baked goods. Loved the ghibli memorabilia-- definitely pays homage to Kiki's delivery service

    Photos
    Asa Bakery & Cafe
    Asa Bakery & Cafe
    Asa Bakery & Cafe

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    Ben & Esther's Vegan Delicatessen - Veggie Sandwich

    Ben & Esther's Vegan Delicatessen

    4.6(368 reviews)
    1.2 miRolando
    $$

    The fact that an all-vegan Jewish deli exists means that dreams really can come true. Ben &…read moreEsther's is doing it right, keeping the spirit of the deli alive in an era when few of the old guard manage to persist. As much as I hate the word "authentic" when used to describe any type of cuisine, they are absolutely doing it right, honoring the classics with more modern recipes eschewing animal products. That means you've got your lox, pastrami, egg salad, matzo ball soup, latkes, knishes, and all the bagels a baker can roll. Many of these are rarities for the average vegan to encounter and a true luxury to have them all under one roof. As a Jewish person who's been vegan for almost 25 years, I've never had many of these specialties made by anyone other than myself. Sinking my teeth into the rye bread-flanked meatless corned beef in my New Yorker sandwich, I honestly started getting a bit verklempt. I truly hope locals know just how lucky they are to have easy access to such delicacies whenever the craving moves them. Please, have another half-sour pickle on my behalf.

    Fantastic mushroom burger! They use Beyond Burger patties and the texture is amazingly meaty. I…read morewas surprised by the deep savory flavor they achieved with the mushrooms and the cheezy sauce. Would definitely order again. The burger had a lovely toasted bun and was accompanied by a quarter pickle spear. I also picked up some bagels which were just ok. Parking was plentiful. Service was excellent! Everyone was super friendly and helpful, from the cashier to the cook. They also have a location in Seattle.

    Photos
    Ben & Esther's Vegan Delicatessen - Inside

    Inside

    Ben & Esther's Vegan Delicatessen - Turkey-Bacon Club

    Turkey-Bacon Club

    Ben & Esther's Vegan Delicatessen - Lox Bagel

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    Lox Bagel

    Nomad Donuts - 11/12/23 Cinnamon Sugar Cruller

    Nomad Donuts

    4.0(1.4k reviews)
    3.8 miNorth Park
    $$

    It was the last couple of weeks of summer and it has been a while since I've had a donut. So…read morecoming to Nomads, they had some very interesting flavors. I especially liked the watermelon with the pineapple filling. The campfire s'mores influenced one was amazing! Of course, I also got my 8 rosemary salt and 4 everything bagels. These are my go tos because they are usually still warm and sooooo good! The breakfast sandwiches look inviting but that will have to wait for another day. The staff is always friendly!

    I had the strangest experience with Nomad Donuts today that is really sitting with me and bothering…read moreme. Let me start with that I've been a big supporter of Nomad Donuts since the fruition back on 30th street. I used to work with the owner Matt over a decade ago at The Active Network. I also know mistakes can happen and can easily roll with it. That is what makes today's situation extremely bizarre. I ordered a Black 'n Blue sandwich without onion rings, on a toasted rosemary bagel with a small black coffee. My coffee came out first with the wonderful employee with dark curly hair worn in two buns. She called out "Anda", (my name); and handed me my coffee. About 7 minutes later she walked up to me with my sandwich and handed me my sandwich and said, "Here you go, Anda." I said, "Thank you! Have a good day!" and left. I drove home, opened the box and realized it was not at all the sandwich I ordered. Disappointing but things happen. Since I found out with a previous order months ago I'm allergic to an ingredient in one of their sauces, I couldn't risk it. I called Nomad Donuts and spoke with a kind employee who told me my sandwich was waiting there and they accidentally gave me "Anna's" order. I told her I couldn't make it back there and requested a refund. She said no problem and I would receive the refund in a week and apologized again. I said, "No problem, I know mistakes happen and told her to have a good day." Less than three minutes later the supervisor called me back. I missed the call and returned her call immediately. This is where things got strange. She told me the previous employee I spoke with got things mixed up. She told me I TOOK the wrong sandwich. I corrected her and said, "I didn't take anything. I was handed my sandwich." She asked if it was the person that took my order. I said, "No. It was the lovely woman with the dark, curly hair in two buns." The supervisor said, "You're going to get your refund but know we have name mix-ups all of the time so you know for the future. I'm going to talk to all of the staff." I told her, "I told the last employee I understood mistakes happen and I wasn't upset just asking for the refund." The supervisor then said, "You must have misheard your name." I said, "I didn't mishear anything. She walked up to me, handed me my sandwich and said, 'Here you go, Anda.' I thanked her and told her to have a good day." I then explained to the supervisor that it's really strange she was calling me to blame me for their mistake. She said, "I'm not blaming you." I said, "You are. I didn't take anything and didn't mishear anything." She said, "I'm just letting you know for the future." This whole interaction was so bizarre. The supervisor took the time to call me back after I originally called to request a refund politely and kindly and understood mistakes happen. In the process she blamed me for the store's mistake. My questions are: Why did this supervisor even call me in the first place? To blame me for their mistake? To warn me this happens all the time with them to know for the future. An easy fix would be confirming the order with the name. Or was it to try and avoid giving me a refund when they were the ones that made the mistake? I wish I told the supervisor to watch their security footage as that would be proof the employee came up to me. Seems silly over a sandwich but the supervisor is the one who mishandled things. It's a bummer and shocking this is how things were handled. It is especially disappointing as I have been a customer since Day 1 and always knew of Matt to be really kind and hire top notch employees. am only writing this review as the situation has been bothering me since the call two hours ago and thought Matt should know. Unfortunately I will have to think twice about returning moving forward as this was extremely bizarre to me. Hopefully this supervisor was just having an off-day and it's not the norm.

    Photos
    Nomad Donuts - Ube Coconut donut

    Ube Coconut donut

    Nomad Donuts - Island boy bagel sandwich

    Island boy bagel sandwich

    Nomad Donuts - Black and blue $16 - meat too tough

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    Black and blue $16 - meat too tough

    BCB Cafe - coffee - Updated September 2026

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