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    Cafe 86

    4.3 (333 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Cafe 86 Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE 86 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe 86

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    Halo Halo and Milo milk tea
    Denisse R.

    I recently went to Cafe 86's new location and tried their regular Halo Halo. I can say I still a fan! I also ordered the Milo milk tea and really liked it. Their new location is smaller than their previous one but they still serve all the great drinks and desserts they previously did. Their is also plenty of parking which is a plus! The staff is friendly and service was quick!

    Halo halo
    Imee C.

    Came here to order to go. Order original halo-halo, upside down halo-halo and some pastries. Everything was yummy and will definitely come here again. The ube flan cupcake was the best but everything was good.

    Michelle M.

    Delicious Filipino dessert/boba spot in Mira Mesa. Tiny shop in the plaza. My favorite things to get here is: Ube flan cheesecake Upside down halo halo Definitely worth the trip for something sweet and delicious. And a taste of Filipino sweetness. If you have questions, ask the staff for their best and favorites.

    Yummy desserts

    Amazing taste. Different options. Great service. Halo halo is the best. Ube truffles and milo cupcake is awesome. Will come back.

    Free drink!

    The best halo halo by far! Way better than any other halo halo nearby. Best pastries too!

    #5 is my favorite combo
    Grace L.

    This place is tucked away in a Mira Mesa marketplace. I brought the ube sampler pack to a Galentine's, and everyone loved all of the ube desserts. This pack came with the ube crack cheesecake (my personal favorite), ube truffle (so decadent), ube leche flan cupcake (love flan), and ube butter bar (liked how the crust balances out the ube butter). It also came with a hibiscus calamansi which was refreshing but the desserts were what blew me away! I also ordered the regular upside down halo halo with ube ice cream. Although this drink was $10.95, it was loaded with so many toppings. I shared it with my husband and we were beyond satisfied. The next time you're craving anything ube, you should stop by this place!

    Menu!
    Megan M.

    I saw a lot of reviews saying this place has the best halo-halo in San Diego and went there hoping to find my new go-to spot. Unfortunately, that was not my experience. The service was good, and it was a nice enough place to sit and have a drink. But the halo-halo really disappointed me. It was more like a drink than a shaved ice dessert. The texture was very slushy and melted into a liquid within minutes. The caramelized sugar on the leche flan tasted a bit burnt, and the flan itself was not great. I know it's popular to use rice krispies instead of pinipig, and I don't mind that. But this place used cornflakes, which I did not like and became soggy very quickly due to the liquid-y nature of the dessert. I hate leaving bad reviews, but I disliked this dessert so much it kind of ruined my day.

    Inside
    Corinna W.

    This place moved to another location in Mira Mesa. I ordered the 16oz upside down halo halo and it was amazing! It's a filling dessert drink with so many textures. It's ube cream milkshake with ice cream, jelly, jack fruit, corn flakes and flan. I should have shared it but instead I devoured the entire thing myself. They' offer other drinks and snacks like sandwiches and desserts. This place is tucked away inside the food court plaza. Check it out if you haven't tried before!

    menu
    Jasmine H.

    Yummy desserts and drinks! I want to explore more of their filipino inspired menu. It does run a bit on the sweeter side, so keep that in mind when ordering. It is a very small cafe, but it's cute. Also the staff are very kind and helpful!

    menu as of 01/2026
    Emily D.

    I came to Cafe 86 on a Friday night. The cafe has a nice cozy feel to it, with a huge menu on display as soon as you walk in. They also have a bunch of pastries on display including their flan ube cupcake, cheesecake, and butter bars. The three items I tried were: -Ube Cheesecake: Had a good ube flavor, but I wish there was a more tart flavor like an original cheesecake. The portion was also very small for $5.50. (3.5/5) -Ube Butter Bar: Very nostalgic for me! I grew up with a Cafe 86 in OC, and this was my go to. The texture of the ube was dense and fibrous, almost like a baked sweet potato. The bar was not too sweet, and the graham cracker crust added a nice hint of salt for balance (5/5!) -The Mermaid: The star of the night. This was soo good!! The jasmine tea was super fragrant, and the sea salt foam complimented the tea well. I got it with boba. It was a perfect texture, not too soggy or too hard. Also great value considering how large the cup was. (5/5!!)

    Alan L.

    Cafe 86 was my go to delicious Ube dessert with the hibiscus drink. I was sad because i thought that they close down at the mira mesa location next to Seafood City/RakiRaki, but was surprised they only move to down next to momo omakaze. So I saw this place again and we ate the ube truffle, which was my daughter's favorite. The place is not only good, but friendly as always as well. So come and chill with drinks and awesome dessert.

    Calamansi Jasmine Tea with Aloe
    Lili T.

    This is a cute little shop with unique offerings. I've actually been here twice within two weeks for the Calamansi Tea with Aloe (second time aloe was out .. sad ): ) but each time the service is kind and friendly. The sweetness level of the drink cannot really be altered but it actually was not too sweet for my liking and had a great tea forward taste. Definitely swing by if you're in the area!

    Gamini G.

    My friend and I wanted to have a nice mocha coffee and found this place after a quick Yelp search. As soon as we reached, parking was easy to find. The cafe was a bit small but fortunately we didn't have to wait and were able to get a table! We got the mocha iced latte. They had a whole bunch of interesting options like ube latte and nutella latte. Everything sounded so good. The beverage was ready in no time. The size of the beverage was good. The presentation was also great. The flavor of the latte was spot on. It had the right blend of chocolate cocoa and coffee. It was not overly sweet and it was not overly iced. Everything about it was perfect! If you are in the area, I recommend checking out this cafe! They also have interesting baked goods!

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    2 months ago

    Tates great tres leches ube cake is my favorite highly recommend this spot if you are in the area!

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    we absolutely love this place and come here every time we are in town, love the upside down halo halo and ube flan cupcake! so yummy!

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Cafe 86

    Are there any non dairy options?

    Seems to be under construction...still, but when or if they are still planning to open in this location during these Covid-19 times?

    Any gluten/dairy/soy free options?

    Are they open during covid?

    According to the website, it's temporarily closed. http://www.cafe-86.com/#

    Are they open and what are the store hours?

    They're open for takeout only from 12:30-7PM

    View All 7 Questions

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    Extraordinary Desserts

    4.0
    (9.2k reviews)
    12.9 mi
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    Memorial Day 2026 commenced with the most amazing dessert I'd never imagine ordering. Before the…read moredessert, the gentleman that rang me up, and the lady packing the desserts (apologies for not getting names) provided exceptional service. My name was spelled properly, a short conversation reassured my dessert choice, and as I walked up to retrieve my dessert, the lady met me halfway with a smile (thank you for wrapping so it didn't fall over). The smallest of gestures and niceties are what make leaving the house worth it. GIANDUIA. This cake is nothing you can be prepared for, yet everything you need without setting expectations. The boysenberry was the perfect separation for the waves of chocolate and the subtle crunch of the hazelnut toffee type of layer on the very top. The chocolate mousse was the exact mouth feel needed to separate the rich layers of chocolate cake. I saw, I conquered, and I was yet again impressed by what Extraordinary Desserts so purposefully and gracefully offered. Thank you for healing a bit of my soul I didn't realize was waiting to be healed.

    This place is properly named extraordinary dessert for a reason. They are known for their desserts…read moreboth in taste and in aesthetics. Desserts: 5/5 We got a blood orange scone and a strawberry danish. The scone was warm and delicious. The orange essence was well infused. The danish was crispy and creamy. Everything was so picturesque. Food: 3/5 Unfortunately, the food was not the best. We got the smoked salmon sandwich which was not very flavorful. The salmon was also slimy. The pesto spread was good though. It was creamy and the artisan bread it was served had great variety. Ambiance: 5/5 This place is such super cute. When you walk in, the desserts all look super appetizing. The seating areas are super cute and the floral decor are stunning. Service: 5/5 It is an order then sit down establishment. There is great attention to their dessert. I saw them heat up a knife just to cleanly cut the cake. The food service however did take some time to come out.

    Photos
    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    Spinach dip and chips and tomato and basil soup
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
    One of our 'go to' dessert places in San Diego.
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    Salt & Straw

    Salt & Straw

    4.6
    (2.2k reviews)
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    Salt & Straw rolled out their June 2026 Chef Series which sold out quick; Fortunately two were…read morebrought back for last chance scoops: 4.5/5 CHOCOLATE CARAMEL SMOKED BUDINO By Alex Meyer and Luciana Giangrandi - BOlA DE & WALRUS RODEO, Miami Chocolate olive oil custard, caramel candied hazelnuts, sea salt caramel swirl (like a turtle dove - very sweet - I'd prefer less sugar) 4.5/5 STARLING SWEET POTATO BUCKWHEAT CRUMBLE By Dan Barber - ROW 7, New York Starling sweet potato ice cream, sweet potato miso swirl, sprouted buckwheat Florentine crumble (novel color and flavor) SERVICE With the help of staff over the phone, I was able to snag a pint of the Hong Kong milk tea. AMBIANCE Colorful indoors with outdoor street-side seating

    Very good ice cream! And, free sample tastes from about 20 flavors to choose from…read more S&S offers some more unusual flavors, like Honey & Lavender and Pear & Blue Cheese, but I opted for the more predictable Chocolate Gooey Brownie. It did not disappoint. I ordered a double scoop, tho' the scoops were so generous that one scoop would have been plenty for me. Filled with chunky brownie bits, it was truly delicious, tho', perhaps, a little overpriced. The shop that I visited is in San Diego's Little Italy neighborhood, which has a 30 minute free parking zone right in front of the store front! They have a loyalty program to entice you to return again and again. Limited seating.

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    Cinnamon snickerdoodle
    Cinnamon snickerdoodle
    Cinnamon Snickerdoodle
    Cinnamon Snickerdoodle
    Outside of salt & straw

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    Pappalecco

    Pappalecco

    4.3
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    A cute authentic Italian neighborhood cafe in Little Italy serving coffee, treats, gelato, and…read morepaninis. My friends and I were just looking to get a coffee in Little Italy, but when we walked in and saw all the delicious treats we had to try something else as well. I ordered a latte and neglected to tell them it was for here so I was given a paper cup, but they give real cups if you ask. The latte was good, and my friend bought a kitchen sink type cookie with chocolate, coconut, and macadamia nuts. It was warm and gooey good! Another friend tried the gelato and said it was very good. There are a few tables inside and tables out in front outside. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful San Diego weather. The decor and tables definitely gives you an old school Italian neighborhood vibe with Italian markets right next door. If I am in the neighborhood again, I would definitely come back here to try the gelato and/or a piece of an excellent looking lemon pie bar I spotted.

    If there is better gelato in San Diego, I have not tried it…read more They have more than gelato here but gelato is all we tried. It was later in the day so they were out of or running low on some flavors. Nevertheless, the two flavors we tried were incredibly rich and flavorful. A little goes a very long way. Parking is incredibly tough in Little Italy but it is worth it for gelato this good.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Soup Tomato.
    Soup Tomato.
    A pathetic attempt at a $10 cannoli

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    A pathetic attempt at a $10 cannoli
    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    Solunto Ristorante & Bakery

    4.0
    (1.2k reviews)
    12.7 mi
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    Went on Memorial weekend and was surprised how quickly we got seated. Waitress was nice and warned…read moreus the kitchen was backed up but honestly we didn't wait long. We ordered a calamari (10/10), lasagna (10/10), Penne Quattro Formaggi (7/10) and Fusilli Genovese (11/10). The Formaggi was a little too rich for me... but my son loved it. We will definitely be back!!

    Came here for lunch on a Saturday mainly because my husband just really wanted some gelato…read moreafterwards Lunch-- 3 stars Gelato - 0 stars Service - 3 stars Price - 4 stars my husband got some sort of fettuccine alfredo with shrimp, I got a Italian sandwich, and my best friend got a woodfired margarita pizza. Pizza was good, but soggy in the middle. The pasta was good, no complaints there. The sandwich was very lacking in the meat department... It was basically a bread and arugula sandwich. Had very low expectations for the gelato to begin with seeing as the colors were extremely unnatural and the way it was heaped was a clear indication to me that it is not legitimate gelato and unfortunately, I was proven very right. I got the strawberry so that my toddler could have a few few bites and it was so unnatural and weird tasting that she didn't even want any... And if that doesn't say something! My husband got the coffee flavor and he literally took three bites and threw it away as well. I will say, though, on the food front, the prices are reasonable here all things considered, but maybe stick with pasta... based on everything As a whole though, you can likely get a much more legitimate Italian meal somewhere else in the area, but it will probably cost you more.

    Photos
    Cute restaurant in little Italy
    Cute restaurant in little Italy
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    Fusilli Genovese
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    Nonna + Zucchero

    Nonna + Zucchero

    4.1
    (573 reviews)
    12.6 mi
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    Came to this place of a beautiful afternoon on my trip down to San Diego…read more This place and basically all of Little Italy is such a vibe! Ambiance: 5/5 We for seat outside and I swear, I can spend the whole day just people watching here. It's a lively neighborhood. Food: 5/5 The food was delicious, probably one of the best calamari that I've ever tried. It was crispy and the warm marinara sauce paired so nicely. The rigatoni pasta was really good but the fettuccine funghi was a little too oily for my liking. The pizza had a crispy crust and the toppings all complemented each other. Service: 5/5 We got seated immediately even though it was a busy Saturday morning. Our waiter was hilarious and kept cracking jokes. It made our dining experience really enjoyable.

    Food: - fungi pasta: 7.5/10, strong mushroom flavor…read more - carbonara: 5.7/10, too much sauce and noodles were overcooked - lemon meringue cheesecake + Sicilian cannoli: super authentic cannoli, cheesecake was good but nothing special Service: - hostess was not friendly - they ran out of white peach Italian soda but instead of asking what other flavor we would prefer, they just brought out a vanilla Italian soda - ordering took forever but once our food was in, it came out in less than 10 min Ambiance: - outdoor seating Skip Barbusa (sister restaurant) and come here instead, at least there is better dessert

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    Nonna + Zucchero
    Beef carpaccio
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    Nibble Chocolate

    Nibble Chocolate

    4.6
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    12.8 mi
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    Stumbled upon Nibble Chocolate and I'm so glad I did. Ambience is sweet and cozy. It's a cute…read morelittle shop that feels like a hidden gem, especially if you're someone who appreciates good quality chocolate. They have a great variety to choose from, whether you're into milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even non dairy options. I also love that they offer chocolate drinks and coffee, so it's easy to turn a quick stop into a little treat moment. I tried the peanut butter dates and they were so good. Smooth, rich, and just the right size when you want something sweet without going overboard. I also had a dark chocolate truffle and that one was just as good. You can really taste the quality. Customer service was a highlight. The guy helping me was super personable, gave great suggestions for drinks, and was genuinely kind, which always makes the experience better. Honestly, I'm just happy I found a chocolate spot within walking distance. Definitely worth stopping by if you're craving something sweet but still want it to feel a little elevated.

    I don't usually seek out vegan products, but Nibble chocolate is a Bean to bar chocolate shop in…read morelittle Italy in San Diego with single origin chocolates. I sampled chocolate from Peru, Madagascar, and Kenya, and they all had unique fruity characteristics. Because they're vegan, so they use oat milk for their chocolate instead of dairy. My wife and I also wanted some drinks while we were here. I had a hot chocolate. My wife had hers with espresso shots. Good espresso in pure chocolate will never not be good. They are family owned and they only add chocolate, sugar, and oat milk to make their bars. Overall, this was a fun place to check out at Little Italy, and they also had a stall at the Farmer's Market.

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    Nibble Chocolate
    Nibble Chocolate
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    Hinar Dessert Bar & Cafe

    Hinar Dessert Bar & Cafe

    4.5
    (810 reviews)
    13.6 mi
    $$

    Went to Hinar to catch up with a friend! The line was long as usual, but it moved really fast…read more Shout out to Roseanne for being the sweetest and kindest worker! We ordered the Earl Grey matcha and Biscoff matcha, and both were super delicious. The service was great, and even though it was busy, there were still plenty of tables available. Great location, and I'll definitely be back!

    I had an incredibly rough day and was looking forward to treating myself to my favorite dessert…read morefrom Hinar--the Biscoff cheesecake. Before driving over, I even called the store to make sure they had it. To my surprise, someone actually answered, confirmed they had one slice left, and even offered to hold it for me. My mood instantly changed. After the day I'd had, I was genuinely excited and headed there immediately. I arrived less than 10 minutes later, only to be told they didn't have it after all. To make matters worse, they claimed they don't even hold desserts for customers. It wasn't just disappointing--it was incredibly frustrating. If they couldn't hold it, I would have understood. But giving me false hope and having me rush over for nothing completely ruined the experience. What was supposed to be a small bright spot in my day turned into an even bigger disappointment. Unfortunately, this experience has left such a bad impression that I won't be returning. There are plenty of other bakeries in the area, and I'll be looking forward to trying those instead.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
    White Chocolate Raspberry Cake
    White Chocolate Raspberry Cake

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    White Chocolate Raspberry Cake

    Cafe 86 - desserts - Updated July 2026

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