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    Cafe 86

    3.9 (269 reviews)
    Closed 12:30 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated 1 week ago

    Cafe 86 Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE 86 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe 86

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    Reviews With Photos

    Ube Monster and Ube cheesecake

    We saw the Cafe 86 LA location in a news clip, and it reminded me that there's one closer to us. I've been to the Mira Mesa location before, but this was my first time at this one. My husband and I both love ube, and Cafe 86 is known for its variety of ube desserts. It was fairly quiet when we visited on a Saturday afternoon. Since we had already eaten lunch, we decided to stop by for dessert. The inside was pretty nice -- I especially liked the lighting, which gave the place an industrial vibe. There were couches and tables for seating, making it feel comfortable overall. We were greeted by a younger employee who could've been a bit more energetic and welcoming. The dessert case also looked a little sparse and underwhelming. My husband ordered the Ube Monster shake, and I got the ube cheesecake. The shake was pretty good, though not as creamy as I expected, and I wished the ube flavor was stronger. The ube cheesecake, on the other hand, was fluffy and not overly sweet, which I really liked. It also had a thick cookie crust that was delicious. Still, I would've loved a more pronounced ube flavor in that as well. I'm a huge ube fan, and when I make ube desserts at home, I usually add extra flavoring to really make it stand out. Overall, I'd come back again. Next time, I definitely want to try the flan!

    Eric S.

    Café 86 is that spot. I'm just glad they exist they've saved me from showing up empty-handed to way too many family parties. Their pastries is Gooey, moist, and dangerously good. Perfectly sweet, the upside down halo halo... it's a beautiful, icy masterpiece. I tell myself I'll try something new, but nah I always come crawling back. Bomb every time.

    Ube everything.
    Jharvis L.

    Chill staff, comfy tables and chairs to do writing, music that's not too loud, and great coffee and pastries. I tried the ube butter bar which was tasty, light, and just the right portion. My latte was the perfect temperature and the espresso didn't taste burnt, so it was just the right pull. A simple, quaint place that's close to home and very comfortable. It's a top fave already, and I'm looking forward to coming back and hanging out.

    Menu
    Steve Y.

    Got the Upside Down HaloHalo today for my wife. We were supposed to share it, but she drank 90% of it. Drats! Next time, I'm getting my own!

    Inside
    Regine A.

    If you're looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, look no further. Cafe 86 has you covered. With a plethora of Ube dessert options, you're bound to find something that satisfies your taste buds. I opted for; an iced Ube latte (yummy, sweet but not too sweet.) I didn't really taste coffee, but it was still delicious. What I love about their desserts is that they aren't too sweet. My favorite that I ordered was the Ube crack cheesecake. All the other popular items were sold out by the afternoon (2 PM). Get here early if you want to try their popular items. The inside is cute and modern. There's lots of seating available, and free wifi as well. Service was great. The men who served me from the counter were extremely friendly and answered questions I had about their drinks. Will definitely be back with company. :)

    Treat refrigerator and menus.
    Erica Z.

    Came here based on the reviews and I'm glad I did. It's very quit and chill when you step into the cafe. I love that they offer free WiFi for customers, you can enjoy a treat and get some work or school work done. I was greeted right away by a staff member and my order was taken. She did recommend a treat as well since I was unsure of what to get. I got the Matcha Monster shake, it was so good. A mix of Matcha and Oreo cookies. I also ordered an Ube Cookie bar, that was also very good. The only thing that was a downside was my drink did take about 15 minutes to come out, I did think it was weird since I was the only person to order?. But it was overall worth it.

    Menu
    Toni P.

    Bought an upside down Halo Halo this afternoon for my daughter and she loves it. Service was fast, friendly and efficient. Ambiance was relaxing and love the store decor. Worth a visit while in Chula Vista.

    Inside coffee shop
    Arely C.

    I was excited to try this place since it's local, but found it strange they don't open until 12:30! The location is great , with lots of street parking ! The shop itself has great aesthetic ! Loved the artwork and the vibe inside of the shop. I ordered a vanilla iced latte with oat-milk but they said they only had soy or almond milk which was disappointing . As a coffee lover I was underwhelmed with this latte , it was too milky with no actual espresso flavor. My husband chose the chamoy-mango slushy and he really enjoyed ! I thought the price was a little high due to the actual quality of the drinks, especially my coffee. I don't know if I would return again unless a drink came well recommended !

    Queen S.

    Good coffee. Yet they offer more than coffee/lattes, teas, pastries, milk shakes, milk teas, slushes, and blended coffee. Very Clean, family friendly and inviting atmosphere. Modest prices. Indoor and outdoor dining available. We ordered a cookie butter latte and a vanilla latte. Both were good. Only one size available.

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    1 year ago

    Drinks are bad, place is so dirty, even the employees are rude! Crazy what's happening here!

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    1 year ago

    Food, service and ambiance are great!!! I love their desserts as well! Will come back again!

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    1 year ago

    Great local option! Came here for a refreshing drink and left completely satisfied. We will be back to try some more items from the Menu.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Cafe 86 Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Cafe 86

    Are there any gluten free items on the menu?

    Not so sure. I'd call the store. Cheers

    When does this open?

    Our official opening date will be Nov 17 2019

    When will you open on east Palomar?

    It looks like they will opening this Saturday, November 16, 2019.

    Are they open already?

    NO we passed by today

    When is your Chula Vista location going to open?

    It looks like they will opening this Saturday, November 16, 2019.

    Omg are you guys opening soon? You're the same bakery that has the ube pop tarts?

    Yes the same bakery and yes and it looks like they will opening this Saturday, November 16, 2019.

    View All 11 Questions

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    Yaqui Coffee House

    Yaqui Coffee House

    4.4
    (191 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    I've driven past this coffee shop for years and finally decided to try it. The inside was decorated…read morecute with a rustic, desert vibe. There's indoor seating with chairs & tables as well as comfy chairs. The outdoor seating is covered under umbrellas. I got a matcha with almond milk and added lavender. It was an average matcha, nothing too special. Maybe I should have chosen a different add-in flavor. They made my drink within minutes so service was great! I'll definitely give this place another shot. Gotta support our local coffee shops!

    After seeing this place raved on TikTok I wanted to get it to try myself. The parking is decent…read more When I went in the staff was quick to greet me and asked if I had any questions. I took a look at the menu and decided on getting the Matcha Meets Fresca and chilaquiles. The Matcha was actually pretty good. And the Chilaquiles were decent however I can tell the green salsa is not a fresh salsa. I also did not care for the chicken. It tasted like pre-cooked chicken that had been warmed up. The chips were very crispy however. I think it's a great option for folks in the area, however I would not return given it's not located in my community and can find not your preferred closer to me. There were folks in their meeting and working and although it may be a little noisy, it is a great option to work from. They also have tables outside which I found were nice and provide a more quieter space

    Photos
    Savory crepe
    Savory crepe
    Dulce de Beso Latte w/ sweet cream!
    Dulce de Beso Latte w/ sweet cream!
    Ube Dream and Mayan on Wheels

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    PAVARAGA Hawaiian

    PAVARAGA Hawaiian

    4.7
    (715 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    A weird experience but the effort is appreciated…read more Came in one weekend out of convenience, we were driving around the area and my gf highly recommended it. We parked and noticed nearly all the lights were off. The pastry cabinet was empty, the tables were taped off. But people were inside and customers were in line. Emotions and energy were low, it was quiet and dim vibes all around. We walk in and see just one man working the cashier and making the drinks. He looked puzzled, a bit lost. We get in line behind someone ordering 4+ drinks and see that this guy didn't really know how to make the drinks. He was misplacing the ingredients and wasn't fully confident operating the payment system. The back counter was cluttered with miscellaneous gadgets, appliances, and syrups. It took nearly 20 minutes for the customer in front of us to get from ordering to receiving their drinks and we just watched in slight awe. The guy was apologetic and upfront, he was trying his best in a bad situation. They made some small talk and hinted that they were closing due to supply chain disruptions in Hawaii. I feel for them and wish them well. The coffee itself was ok. Flavor was decent but somewhat unremarkable. They offer different caffeine levels, up to I think 400mg in a drink. I just got the 200mg coffee. Don't know if I just built a tolerance but I fell asleep right after. We did want a pastry but with the baked goods cabinet empty, we weren't sure what they had left to offer. There was a long sign listing everything sold out between the pastries and coffee flavors. Overall the experience was odd and left a slightly bitter emotional taste in my mouth. They've acknowledged that they weren't in the best condition at that point and I do feel unfair to judge them at their worst. If they turn it around, I'm opening to revisiting. But for now, I don't feel compelled to go out of my way for it.

    Some special cafecito to start our day. Hawaiian style!!…read more You know it's good when you sip your drink and it takes you back to Hawaii.... * Hawaiian Host (Level 3) * Dirty Taro Latte (Level 2) This place has been here since 2016. I cant believe we just heard about them now..... We're most definitely coming back. They also have a location in Mira Mesa that we want to try (larger menu). ALOHA!! #DiningWithTheAndersons #HawaiianStyle #IslandVibes

    Photos
    PAVARAGA Hawaiian
    PAVARAGA Hawaiian
    PAVARAGA Hawaiian

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    Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

    Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

    4.4
    (133 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $

    In the heart of the downtown Chula Vista area, this coffee shop is right in the middle of various…read morewalkable shops and brunch places to explore. I was in the area so we thought we'd hang in the area for a bit. There's a parking garage just behind it. I ordered the salted maple and it was delicious. Slightly sweet from the maple but not too sweet. The latte is creamy and you can really taste the quality coffee. Staff were really friendly and helpful with recommending this option, as it was my first visit. The merch was really cool too, I could've spent all morning here!

    Locations like these always lose a point for parking in y opinion. Finding parking is a mission,…read morebut on top of that, you have a limit on how long you can stay. I go to coffee shops in search of good studying locations. I enjoy a nice drink with a small breakfast or pastry. They only had two options for food. A plain bagel with cream cheese or a breakfast sandwich. The applewood bacon sandwich was really good. The spot itself was calm. However, the chairs were really uncomfortable. I would not recommend if you have wider hips. The booth tables had better seating options, but the tables were very low. I had to move locations because the outlet closest to the window did not work. Overall, the food was okay and the vibe was calm. One thing I would like to add is the customer service was fine however, the employees were really loud and obnoxious talking among themselves. Cussing repeatedly and talking about intimate life situations.

    Photos
    Maritza hard at work
    Maritza hard at work
    Double-shot 12oz Americano
    Double-shot 12oz Americano
    Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

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    Friends of Friends

    Friends of Friends

    4.7
    (292 reviews)
    7.3 mi
    $$

    What a unique coffee shop. They have some unusual coffee drinks like buko pandan latte and IPA…read morelatte (yes, made with IPA beer). I had to try the IPA latte, how can I not? Where else have you seen this? Because of the brewing process, there's no alcohol but you still get the floral taste of the hops and boy was it delicious. It reminded me of a rose latte. My friend got a hot Nana's mocha and it was a chocolate heaven! I loved it as well. I love the space; very cool vibes with lots of art, big space and they also serve burgers! I have to give that a try next time. They also serve alcohol (wine, beer) and saw some unusual brands that I've never seen before.

    What a cool spot to hangout at and we were a party of 6. We ordered at the counter then looked for…read morea seat. Unfortunately, they weren't serving off of the lunch menu (we were a little too early) so we had to order off of the breakfast menu. Food took long and the tots that my friend ordered took super long that we asked for a box to go. Food: Chili Crisp BFast Sando- (Biroche, Egg, Cheese, Bacon, Chiptole Aioli, Sesame Chili Crisp) Tots with House Seasoning - with Ranch Cup of Coffee Buko Pandan Latte Hot & Cold First the drinks were yummy. The hot Buko Pandan was stronger in flavor than the cold/iced drink. The tots were yummy and crisped perfectly but I'm not sure about the supposedly ranch dip. It was tangy for me. The Chilio Crisp Bfast Sando was delicious. It was so good that I want to return soon and have it again. The worker taking our order was very nice. He even mentioned about a restaurant in Vegas and asked if I've ever tried it-Public Us and yes I have. Overall, a great spot that can get very busy in the AM. The front window area has seats on one side and seats outside. It worked for us. Definitely will return.

    Photos
    B.S. Palo Santo. Ig @mel_foodie_ventures
    B.S. Palo Santo. Ig @mel_foodie_ventures
    Egg bacon cheese - @rayz
    Egg bacon cheese - @rayz
    Uncle ace special

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    Uncle ace special

    Cafe 86 - desserts - Updated July 2026

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