Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Black Ivory Café

    4.6 (78 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 6:30 pm

    Black Ivory Café Photos

    BLACK IVORY CAFÉ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Quiet
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Black Ivory Café

    Recommended Reviews - Black Ivory Café

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    "Hot" chai
    Brittany L.

    Sad to post this since I had good expectations for their coffee, ordered a hot dirty chai. It came out lukewarm and not very good at all. Maybe it would've been better hot? In addition to this, it took about 15 minutes before the single worker in the establishment (who appeared also to be the sole cook) started on my drink. Felt unnecessarily long considering the establishment was half empty. Typically this wouldn't be an issue but had my dog waiting in the car and I thought this would be an in-and-out coffee run like other places.

    Strawberry lychee tea with mango jelly
    John B.

    This place is a bit awkwardly shoehorned in with a dinner restaurant. They have a wide beverage menu and somewhat limited food options (particularly from a vegetarian perspective). They had signs saying you'd have to buy a drink to stay there and work on a laptop, but the AC wasn't quite cutting it and I didn't feel like staying. having said that, the tea with mango jellies I ordered was strongly flavored and I was quite happy with it to start the day, so they achieved their basic goal. Many other beverage options seemed worthwhile. For those eating in, a selection of Filipino objects d'art dotted the walls.

    Chocolate latte - hot chocolate
    Ileana F.

    I love this quiet, cute cafe! The drinks are well prepared and they have a great selection of cold and hot drinks, plus boba. I've always opted for a cafe drink but want to try their boba sometime. This is a perfect spot for meeting a friend to catch up or get some quiet work done. The service is somewhat handsoff, nothing special but you get your drinks in a short amount of time and they are always good!

    Katsu Breakfast Croissant! Perfect to share.
    Toshi I.

    Located adjacent to the Shabu Shabu restaurant and by the same owner. We came in early for breakfast, so it wasn't crowded. This looks like the kind of cafe people come in to fire up their laptop while sipping their coffee. I ordered a London Fog which i don't see often at cafes and split a katsu croissantwich with the Hubs. This breakfast sandwich was a tasty mix of salty and sweet flavors. Highly recommend this sandwich for it's unique combo French/Japanese flavors. The service was friendly and we will be back for sure when we are back in town.

    Thai chicken breakfast burrito
    Janet C.

    They're hidden inside of the Thai shabu restaurant in the Ross/TJ's parking lot. Katsu chicken and waffles were very tasty with a mustard teriyaki type sauce drizzled on. Katsu was nice and thin and crispy. The waffles seemed to be made with tapioca flour? Like mochi waffles. Some shredded carrot and peas mixed into the batter. Our toddler loved it. Thai chicken breakfast burrito is nice as well. It tastes like red curry (complete with sliced bamboo, carrot, chicken, and broccoli). To be honest it was on the smaller side but maybe I'm just a fat f**k. Salad was basic ice berg with shredded carrot and a ginger dressing. Boba was decent. Flavor was pretty good albeit too sweet (brown sugar I believe) but boba was a little overcooked. Overall really tasty options and we will definitely be returning.

    Lunch specials.
    Al W.

    This was a mid afternoon visit so it wasn't crowded. Service was great! The food was so flavorful and the portion was just right for lunchtime. I'm really surprise that I never noticed this place before in all my visits to this strip mall. I will certainly be back.

    Nana's Chicken + Waffles: Chicken breast katsu on top of Nana's signature waffle f/ a trio of savory sauces drizzled on top
    Inez G.

    Popped into this place after carpool drop off for breakfast! It was such a relaxing and calm place to go after a hectic morning. I'd already grabbed coffee earlier, so I didn't try their drinks but the drink menu looked delicious! I did try Nana's Chicken + Waffles and was pleasantly surprised by their savory take on this popular dish! I'd highly recommend checking this place out - it's located inside Shaba Shabu and is a pleasant addition to the morning breakfast scene. The staff is also very friendly and helpful! Can't recommend this place enough.

    Khao soi and Thai tea latte with a shot of espresso
    Jessica B.

    This place is my go to spot for authentic Khao soi in Raleigh, NC . I love the creamy spicy coconut flavors of this dish and how well it pairs with their dirty Thai lattes. Black Ivory is such a relaxing spot and perfect for studying or just enjoying boba with friends. Their service with a smile is definitely a win in my book .

    Black ivory milk tea
    Holly K.

    What a neat addition to Midtown East! This cafe took over half of Shabu Shabu and shares an entrance with them. If you come in the morning, you'll see a closed sign for Shabu Shabu, but open sign on the side of Black Ivory. Super interesting and tasty selection of coffee, milk teas, and Asian breakfast options. I went in recently and tried out an iced mocha, black ivory milk tea, and the chok breakfast dish. Chok is a Thai Rice porridge with house made chicken and shrimp balls, shredded ginger, cilantro, crispy rice noodle, poached egg, and seaweed. It was super delicious and flavorful, it was a large portion and I could only finish half of it. The coffee was great as well and the boba in the milk tea was perfect. They have quite a few other breakfast items that I'm hoping to try on a return visit. They have plenty of tables and pretty solid wifi. A great low key place to work from. I'll be back!

    Falan E.

    Getting here was easy, and the parking was plentiful. Pleased with the welcome upon entering. I enjoyed Black Ivory cafe. Well-lit, clean, neat, large seating area, comfortable and very fitting for my afternoon meetup. The person I came here with chose this location, and I was in awe of the beautiful portraits from the beginning to the end. The services offered are order at the counter or with the QR code from your table. The staff is pleasant and responsive to all. I was overwhelmed with options and unsure what I wanted, so I chose the recommended favorite. I had the black ivory milk tea, and it was delicious. Black Ivory was a great choice. I plan to come again and try a hot option.

    Chok...yum!
    Lori R.

    The description for this new restaurant is "Coffee, Boba and Asian Breakfast". Please know that to those of us that are not in the know, this is also a great lunch, dinner option. What might be identified as Asian Breakfast to the Asian community, might just as well be American lunch. Just sayin'. If you are familiar with Shaba Shabu on Wake Forest Road near the beltline (where Trader Joe's is), they have taken the once Japanese side of the restaurant and turned it into this new experience. This is a perfect place to have a coffee drink, or in my case, tea. It's very casual. Order at the counter. Sis ordered the Chicken and Waffles, while I opted for Chok. Water is of the get your own variety in small plastic cups (ask for ice if you want it). Not wanting anything sweet, milky or coffee like, I asked for hot green tea and was rewarded minutes later with a nice fragrant pot of one. Loved it. Seating options are tables or window seats. We opted to sit next to each other at the window watching all the bad drivers try not to back into each other in the Trader Joe parking lot. Very entertaining when behind glass, lol. Note, this is not fast food. You do wait for it to be properly prepared. What came out was flat-out fantastic. I loved my Chok! It was comfort food at its best. Creamy rich broth with a poached egg (more like hard boiled), with seaweed, fresh ginger and delectable salty chicken/shrimp balls. Crave worthy! Much of the menu is Thai style burritos. Can't wait to go back and try those. Sis also very much liked their different take on chicken and waffles. Even the waffles are different, being small bubbles, some of which have peas and carrots in them. Katsu chicken pieces on top, all topped with three different sweet/savory sauces. While she really liked it, she would have loved it had it been served warmer. Management appreciated the feedback and seems very welcoming of all suggestions and eager to please. Highly recommend trying out a new Asian experience. There's real quality and care going on here.

    Jacki R.

    Loving this chill vibe in the restaurant. There are two sides, one is more coffee shop-sit down and work or have a chat with a friend. The other side is more of a restaurant sit down style. All of it is called ShabaShabu and Black Ivory. The menu is unique, with many breakfast items I have not tried before. I went for the chicken and waffle. It's a bubble waffle with peas, carrots and other things included. There a sauce drizzled over the top that has a little bit of sauce and heat, very mild. It was very different and tasted good, if savory is your craving, this is your place! I ordered a Chai Latte and it was delicious. I enjoyed trying a new place. One of the staff came over and asked how we liked our meal and for suggestions. Very clean and relaxing. I would definitely come back and sit to work and have a coffee.

    Cappuccino
    Taahira H.

    I have to be honest when you walk in you're unsure of where to start, luckily there were customer there and I asked what would they recommend and was told to try their chicken sandwich. Cappuccino was done right and the sandwich was tasty: they also have boba tea and it's a nice ambiance for working on your computer. Nice cafe lounge

    Cortado, Caramel Latte

    See all

    Photo of Mel R.
    1283
    610
    1448

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Toshi I.
    1131
    1725
    3354

    2 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 3
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Holly K.
    3303
    2020
    7359

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 1
    Love this 16
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lori R.
    959
    1466
    6929

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 0
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Joy C.
    71
    34
    0

    2 years ago

    Excellent food and popping boba drink! I had the chicken and waffle, and mango-passion fruit with pomegranate boba. Very refreshing!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Beth W.
    28
    38
    200

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T L.
    0
    77
    7

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Aditya C.
    294
    59
    3

    2 years ago

    Delicious coffee and chicken katsu croissant sandwich. Friendly service and really nice cafe space! Will be back again soon!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Juan R.

    Juan R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Black Ivory Café

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Coffee & Tea 1,086 times last month within 5 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Citizen Pops

    Citizen Pops

    4.3
    (74 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $

    I had Citizens Pops at the annual Food Truck Rodeo in Downtown Raleigh, NC, and it was amazing…read more There were so many people walking around with the popsicles it sparked me to want one. The server was really nice and knowledgeable I couldn't decide which popsicle I wanted and she help me choose. She said that the pineapple was popular but she liked the lime mint and that's what I went with because it sounded extremely refreshing. The popsicle was soooo delicious. It was refreshing and just enough of mint and just enough of lime. The popsicle was so good that we went back and got a second one this time the strawberry + cream and that one was just as good. My husband and I wondered if we could buy them from a store. Overall great popsicles, refreshing and perfect for a hot day.

    Tried for the first time today after being told that I MUST try bubble tea…read more Upon entering I was immediately greeted and asked if it was my first time there. It was, so I was given a tour of the shop and was explained on how the "system" worked. I decided to order the Mango flavor bubble tea, as bubble tea was my intention for the visit. Though I was very tempted by all the yummy yogurt options, so I think a return visit will be very soon!!! They had some wonderful fresh flavors of yogurt and even some odd ones that still looked tasty, like Taro. Huge and I mean HUGE selection of toppings! Anything from candies to chocolates to nuts to granola. A bar full of fresh fruits that all looked perfectly ripe and fresh. And then another section where you could add syrups and powders to your yogurt. My bubble tea was made to order, I would have loved to have seen them make it in front of me just to see the process. They make it in a back room instead. They had several flavors to choose from such as Mango, strawberry, coffee, green tea, taro and several others that I can't remember. They also make bubble tea smoothies, but they suggested I try the original for my first time. As for the bubble tea, yumm!! It's sweet and creamy and cold! Not too sweet, you can tell its just sweet from the fruit. I would have liked it to be a touch colder but maybe the smoothie style would satisfy that for me. The tapioca balls at the bottom make for an eye catching drink. They don't have much of a flavor but are fun to chew slightly and swallow. I also wanted to add how NICE the staff was!! So welcoming and lots of smiles!! I loved that! The store was spotless! Everything clean and fresh looking. Not a drop of sticky anywhere!!!! Lots of seating including outdoor seating which will be nice on cool nights. Good work citizen yogurt, I shall be back soon!!

    Photos
    Citizen Pops
    Citizen Pops
    Citizen Pops

    See all

    Right Meow Cat Cafe

    Right Meow Cat Cafe

    4.8
    (54 reviews)
    20.2 mi

    If you don't leave this place 5 stars I hope cats find your body when you pass away and eat your…read moreface off. For real, if you can't give an organization that only exists to help helpless animals, then you are a garbage human being. First off, cats! I mean, who doesn't love natures best killing machine. It's like evolution took all the great qualities of a killer, a predator, gave it amazing agility and balance, stealth, knives for fingers and then said, lets make you tiny and cute so humans can pick you up and snuggle a death machine. This place is super small and their parking lot holds like 5 cars. If it's full just park across the street at the recreation center and walk the nice path over to the cat cafe. Be sure to pray before you cross 401 because you'll need the extra help with all of these imported Yankee drivers. Inside most of the space is dedicated to cats, big surprise right??? There is a small bar with a counter to make your order. Maybe 2 tables and then a bench with a glowing neon sign meant for taking photos for the gram. There are a few small tables outside and around to the front of the building. You need to make reservations to see the kitties. It's about $10 per person weekdays and $12 on the weekend for a 45 minute session. You may take your drinks in and the kitties may try to get a sip if you have something delicious. Socks are required, if you don't have any they do sell some for $4-5 a pair. There are 8-10 spots available depending on the time of day. So if you book five spots for your family, you may be mixed in with 5 other individuals. There is plenty of room and this isn't an issue but you can book the entire room for the hour for $110. Remember, all of this money goes to support taking care of the cats including food and really expensive vet care. Finally, you came here for cats right, not really for drinks...but the drinks are really good. We usually get boba. They have very limited options not a full menu like you'd find at Bep or other boba dedicated cafés. Like I love jasmine and they don't have it here. But I usually just get taro and it's fine. Their Thai iced tea with boba is pretty good. You can adjust the sweetness and the amount of ice so I usually get light ice and 25% sweet to save a few calories. They have coffee, chai, hot chocolate, tea and a few other items. Enjoy a drink and help some kitties!

    This is my first visit to a cat cafe and it was so much fun! I love cats and haven't had my own for…read morea while so it was fun to hang out with all these different kitties for an hour. You start by making a reservation for the cat room ahead of time. Make sure you bring socks because you will have to leave your shoes in a cubby once you enter. When you arrive, you can get a drink to take in with you. They have coffee, teas and boba drinks - I had a watermelon fruit tea and it was way too sweet for me - I wish I had got a coffee instead but live and learn. The staff are super friendly and everyone else enjoyed their drinks. When you are ready, you get a little briefing then they let you into the cat room. The cats are all up for adoption and this place gives them a chance to get a little socialization before they find their new homes. When we were there they had about a dozen hanging around in different spots. There are plenty of places to sit and toys you can use to play with the cats if you want. The time flew by and I was sad to leave, but happy I got a cat fix in. There are lots of cute gifts to buy for your favorite cat lover.

    Photos
    Right Meow Cat Cafe
    Right Meow Cat Cafe
    Can't beat the summer time heat with out Right Meows lemonade!

    See all

    Can't beat the summer time heat with out Right Meows lemonade!

    Black Ivory Café - coffee - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...