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Cute ube themed cafe in Union City! Their drink deals are a great discount, we got the hibiscus calamansi and Thai tea. Of course, we had to try something ube flavored so we went their crinkle cookie, it was the perfect chewy texture and I loved the vibrant purple color. We went on a Sunday afternoon where the service was quick and most tables were full. I am happy to see they are open later than most places in the area too. Definitely need to try their halo halo next (:
Had seen this place on IG and had to stop by once I was in the area. So many options and goodies to try. Ordered the flan ube cupcake & upside down halo halo. YUMMY!! My first time trying halo halo- so many flavors packed in one sip/scoop. New fav dessert spot. I'll have to come back to try more things out.
Boyfriend brought me here for dessert after a birthday lunch. He told me to pick out wherever I want to go, and I chose Cafe 86 because the halo halo sounded good and I was in the mood for shaved ice (one of my fave desserts!), and we both enjoy ube desserts. I got the upside down halo halo, which instead of vanilla shaved ice topped with ube ice cream, it's ube shaved ice topped with vanilla ice cream. They were out of tapioca pearls/boba, so I chose lychee. I was expecting lychee fruit, but got lychee jelly instead. Once I dug into the halo halo, ngl, I was VERY disappointed. I expected shaved ice. Instead, I got a disappointing, mushy, soupy, melty mess of ube that tasted like a war broke out between pathetic attempts of shaved ice and heavy ice cream and exploded into a melted massacre. How does one even get shaved ice wrong? Boyfriend got the ube cheesecake and ube truffle. His choices were much better than mine. You know how things can leave a bad aftertaste? Honestly, the halo halo left me with a bad AFTERTEXTURE because it was so slushy in a bad way, so I ended up buying an Ube crinkle and Ube cashew brownie to get the lingering texture out of my mouth. The space is a lot smaller than expected. When we first arrived, all the seats were taken, but we got lucky when a party left after we made our order. Staff was incredibly sweet. My boyfriend wants to come back and try more Ube pastries, and said if he could, he'd buy every Ube pastry on the menu so we could try them all. I'm never getting the halo halo again here, but it's definitely worth coming back for the pastries. The ube pastries and seeing my boyfriend enjoy them so much with me is what saved this review from 3 stars, and gets 4 stars.
This is tough because I've been on an ube kick and I've been wanting to try Cafe 86 for the longest time, but I think it fell flat for me. Located in a plaza, there's plenty of parking and free. The inside of the cafe is a decent size and I appreciate them using a self-order kiosk. Their menu is extensive, but during my 10-15 mins of being inside, most people ordered their upside down halo halo. We opted for a couple pastries and their ube matcha latte to go - the ube bar was a tad too sweet and the ube pop tart was dry. The drink was okay, but nothing worth stopping for in my opinion. The pastries looked good, but the ube bar was too sweet and the pop tart was dry.
What a delightful treat! We've been coming here ever since they opened in Union City, and it's been so nice to see their menu continue to expand. On this visit, we tried the halo-halo bread pudding after it was recommended by the cashier--and I was instantly sold when he mentioned it comes with a scoop of ube ice cream. It was the perfect balance of flavors: not too sweet, incredibly rich, and honestly addictive. Let's just say after the first bite, I had zero interest in sharing. My go-to, of course, is still the ube monster--an ube shake topped with Oreo crumbs. I do wish it came with a bit more Oreos, but next time I'll just ask (even if there's an extra charge, totally worth it!). The staff is always friendly, the shop is cute and cozy, and it's the kind of place you keep coming back to. Can't wait for my next visit when the sweet cravings hit again!
This is the only place to satisfy your Ube cravings. There was nobody during lunch when I arrived. Only a few people came to purchase takeout after I arrived. Since my Filipino friends mentioned how good their Halo Halo was, I decided to get their mini upside-down Halo Halo, which was the same size as getting a regular boba drink. I had to order without flan and cornflakes to prevent any sugar crash in the afternoon. The Halo Halo was Ube-licious, not too icy nor too melty, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a few jackfruit pieces, and colorful Nata de Coco filling. I even went home with Ube Cashew Brownie and Mais Con Yelo Bar. Both of these pastries were hard from refrigeration, so heat them in the toaster oven before eating. The Mais Con Yelo Bar was way buttery on the crust and had some corn bits inside the filling for a small bar. Ube Cashew Bar was like eating a brownie with crushed cashews. I recommend their Ube Cheesecake and Ube Flan Cupcake. This is the only location that opens late at 12:30 pm, while the rest open earlier. It gets busy after dinner. It's dim to dine inside, so I prefer to eat outside on a sunny day. Their kiosk doesn't let you tap a card during payment, so you have to swipe it the traditional way. No AMEX and cash accepted.
For all of the ube enjoyers, this cafe is for you! Their menu is filled with ube flavored pastries and drinks. Some of the enticing desserts include ube leche flan cupcakes, ube truffles, ube crinkle cookies, and ube butter bars. I tried their ube truffles and crinkle cookies and they were absolutely delicious. These purple goodness are sweet, tasty, and delightful. They also have milkshakes, lattes, milk teas, and many other drinks. If you're not an ube enjoyer, they do offer other flavors. I ordered The Rosie milk tea and it was pretty decent. It's creamy, sweet and floral. The only con about this place for me is the price. Their desserts can be a bit pricey with the small portion they give. Other than that, everything else is great. Customer service is on point and the atmosphere of the place is clean and spacious.
We ordered two halo halos (A mini and regular) and a truffle. Very good. Two adults and a toddler shared it and it was enough. We ordered on the kiosk. Decent amount of tables but they weren't clean and the inside was hot. Great for dessert It does get busy on weekends. We like Ube flavored things so will be back at one of the locations. Private lot in front
I used to come here quite often when the location first opened up and there was a line out the door. Now there is barely any line and a self-order kiosk. My family and i really like their upside down halo halos. We havent ventured too much into the other items on their menu but we do occasionally try their ube pastries. I remember their ube crinkle cookie being to die for! I wasnt sure why i stopped coming here, but then i looked at the price and remembered why very fast! Honestly... worth it for a sweet treat every once in awhile!
Stopped by Cafe 86 to try their popular Upside Halo-Halo, which I've heard a lot about. Presentation-wise, it definitely looks fun and Instagram worthy with the ube soft serve flipped upside down over the mix-ins. Flavor wise, it was decent but didn't fully live up to the hype. The ube ice cream was creamy and not overly sweet, which I liked, but some of the toppings felt a bit underwhelming and unevenly mixed. A few bites were great, while others tasted mostly like shaved ice without much flavor. As it melted, the texture became a little watery, which took away from the overall experience. Portion size is generous, and it's a solid dessert if you're craving something cold and different, but for the price, I was expecting a bit more balance and punch in flavor. Worth trying once, but not something I'd go out of my way for again.
I've never went to the SoCal location, but every time my siblings would go they would bring some goodies back with them for the family! So now that I was able to get it fresh and whatever I wanted ... I wanted to try everything! HAHA I tried everything except for the milo cupcake, choco crunch cup, and ube crinkles (I bet this one is good though bc I've never tasted a bad batch ever). Here is my rating for each dessert: 1. Ube Tres Leche - 1000/10!! So yummy, I'm dreaming of it My favorite and sooo good. It taste like ube and the syrup or milk whatever it's soaked in is so yummy! The longer you leave it in the bridge, the better it'll taste... we'll see if my stomach agrees 2. Ube Butter Bar - 100/10 This one I can really taste the ube and my mom rates this dessert as the one that tastes the best out of the rest. It tastes like ube halaya which just makes the flavor so much better. Tastes the most authentic to me at least! 3. Ube Flan Cupcake - 100/10 I've tried this one before and I really like it! It's unique and I love flan!! Best of both worlds 4. Ube Truffle - 9/10 I'm not really a fan of truffle anything, but if you like truffles this is right up your alley! Worth a try 5. Ube Cheesecake - 7/10 I'm also not the biggest fan of cheesecake, a bite is good enough for me and I'm like over it but this one didn't taste like ube all that much 6. Halo-Halo Bread Pudding - 2/10 I wouldn't get this again ... just because it's a chunky bread!! It has a lot of stuff in it and of course halo-halo translates as mix mix so it makes sense it'd be like this.. just wasn't good to me :( 7. Ube Tiramisu - 0/10 Ugh I had high hopes for this, but I couldn't stomach liking it! I also tried the ube monster (ube milkshake), upside down halo-halo, iced ube latte, and regular halo halo! I liked it all, they also add boba in their halo-halo! I def recommend the upside down more than the regular one. I went around 1p on the weekend and luckily the line only took 30 minutes! I applaud the employees for being stocked efficiently and working through the nonstop busyness especially with my hefty order haha :) salamat!! read more
I finally got to try this place for the first time ever and one thing I have to say about their desserts is that it's quite overpriced. I ordered the Ube Crack Cheesecake ($4.75) Ube Truffles ($4.25) and Ube Leche Flan Cupcake ($4.75) and all three was able to fit in a tiny clear to-go plastic tray. This serving size is definitely for one person and it's quite pricey for the tiny amount that you get. I also didn't taste any Ube on any of these three items. The cheesecake tasted like a regular cheesecake, only purple. For what they were charging, I was expecting it to not be so bland. It lacked any Ube flavors. Based on the three that I got, which seems to be the most popular items, I'm so glad that they didn't have the Ube Tres Leches that I wanted to also try. The only good thing I got here is the 2 Upside Down Halo Halo. At $8.50 each, you get a huge cup with lots and lots of sago, jellies, huge flan and ice cream. This is good to split with two or three people and perfect to enjoy on a hot day. The ice melted very quickly though and it was mainly purple milk with the mixes. I can definitely taste the Ube on the halo-halo. Too bad I didn't enjoy it considering it's so close to where I live. I really wanted to like this place as I love Ube. read more
4 years ago
This place is good if you're having an ube craving. Although our party got four different drinks, I only stuck to trying the upside down halo halo. I wasn't a fan of the cereal on the drink mostly because cereal gets soggy and I'm not a fan of soggy cereal. My suggestion eat it quick! I of course shared the halo halo with my daughter and she was a fan of it. I liked the quality of ube they used it was rich in flavor. We also got two desserts. The ube leche flan cupcake was my favorite the cake was very dense as I am fan of dense cakes. The ube crack cheesecake was okay.. it was more like a regular cheesecake with purple coloring. Wasn't sure if it was just this batch or if that's how it suppose to taste but I barely tasted the ube in the cheesecake. read more
I've been to their spot in Cerritos, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that they had a location in NorCal. I am a huge fan. At this specific location, I had the ube bar, ube truffle, and ube leche flan.. and they were just as amazing as I remembered them. I tried their pastrami sandwich, which exceeded my expectations. I expected it to be cold, but it was hot off the grill and pressed like a panini. It was so good. Thanks for making my Cafe 86 experience amazing as always! read more
Finally!! Welcome to the Bay Area, Cafe 86!!! So happy that they finally opened up a location here because the first and only time I've ever had Cafe 86 was in SoCal yearssss ago. This place is Ube heaven. First off, parking is ok. My boyfriend had a little trouble finding parking but after being patient, was able to find a spot! When we first got there, there was already a line out the door (maybe 15-20 people in front of us?) and it took about 30-40 minutes to get inside and order. Yes, it was a wait LOL but I drove so far out to get it so I waited!! It's probably better on a weekday and I visited on a Saturday afternoon (2pm). Once you order, you get your desserts really quick! Which was awesome. It literally took about 5 minutes after I ordered to get my desserts. We ordered: upside down halo halo, Ube flan cheesecakes, Ube crack cheesecake, Ube butter bars, and Ube tres leches!! All of which were so good!! I ordered a lot because I wasn't too sure when I would be back. (Only because I'm trying to eat cleaner LOL and it takes 30 minutes to get here for me HAHA) But definitely a place to check out! 10/10 would recommend! read more
4 years ago
What a delight to have a Bay Area location of this Southern CA-based eatery, specializing in Filipino desserts and eats as well as boba and other drinks! - Ambience: The interior has a very hip concept. The menu is clearly displayed in the front right in a large chalkboard area. There are a decent number of tables and chairs for in-door dining. - Service: Staff have been consistently friendly, helpful, and are great about providing updates if the order seems to be taking longer than usual. - Most Recent Order: + Upside Down Halo-Halo: Fellow Pinoy here so I'm all about that ube and chose this version of the classic Filipino dessert over the regular one. It comes loaded with a topping of frosted flakes, scoop of ube ice cream, leche flan, jack fruit, boba, and coconut jellies. It tends to be on the sweeter side, so it would be nice if they could have an option for regular and frosted corn flakes. Still epic, though! + Ube Crack Cheesecake: This deserves a round of applause. Sweet ube cheesecake melds with a buttery crisp crust made from the classic SkyFlakes crackers. Definitely one of my favorites so far! + Ube Crinkles: This buttery ube cookie has a great flavor (not cloyingly sweet) with a fine dusting of powder sugar and a nice semi-crumbly texture. Warning : Please be aware that you will probably eat more than one of these yummy treats, so buy an adequate amount for all to share. If you're in Union City or visiting the surrounding area, do yourself a favor and try out the amazing desserts, beverages, and other offerings at Cafe 86! read more
4 years ago
This place is literally ube heaven! I've been wanting to try 86 Cafe for the longest time and I'm so glad they have one in NorCal. I went around 4pm on a weekday and it wasn't that busy. If you buy a drink it does take them awhile, but if you are just wanting their dessert, it's pretty fast. I got the upside down halo halo and it was soooooo good! it was pretty sweet but still very good. Got the ube flan cupcake, ube truffle, and the ube crack cheesecake and they were allll so yummy! Definitely coming back! I recommend :) read more
4 years ago
Finally was able to try itttt!!! We went here opening night, and there was NO hope, so we decided to come back next time. Got here at around 9:30 pm (they close at 10 fri/sat), and there were only three people in line. We bought the upside down halo halo and ube milk tea. Upside down halo halo: a little too sweet for me. I like how they added corn flakes though! Ube milk tea: I liked it, wasn't too sweet. I was confused at how they said they ran out of boba when we ordered the ube milk tea, yet the halo halo still came out with boba. Overall, worth trying! read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
The upside down halo halo is the best I've ever had! They put corn flakes which goes really well with the ice cream and flan on top. The Flan is so thick and good!! The service here is also amazing. The staff are so friendly and they answered all my questions because it was my first time. The place is smaller but it has plenty of seats and the decorations are very cute and insta worthy! read more
I've been to Cafe 86 in Southern California, and the Union City Location is just as good! I'm really happy they opened a Bay Area location because their desserts are so good! I always get an order of the Ube Leche Flan Cupcakes and Milo Cupcakes since they're so moist and delicious. Tried the Ube Tres Leches this time and it wasn't as sweet as I thought it would be which was a nice surprise! Ordered the cheesecake combo that came with four of the Ube Crack Cheesecake and a Hibiscus Calamansi drink, and everything just tasted so good. Staff is wonderful and friendly as well, so I HIGHLY recommend a visit but be prepared for a bit of a wait as the line is constantly out the door! read more
4 years ago
Finally got the chance to check out cafe 86! I tried it before in SoCal and it's definitely the place to be if you're looking for ube! This cafe 86 is located within a plaza so there's an ample amount of parking, it's also right across from daiso and marina grocery. Got there around 3 pm on a Sunday and the line was out the door! The shop is small but there are tables for you to sit, only one cashier and everyone working there looked super busy! At the cashier, they have their desserts lined up for you to see through the glass and the menu is on this huge board! I got the ube milk tea with boba and less sweet, it's pretty good! I would get this again! My friends got the halo halo and ube monster drink, also v good! Definitely for people with a sweet tooth! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
Great dessert place. We recommend their upside down Halo halo. They also have a good selection of cupcakes and pastries. Cool ambiance. Attentive staff. read more
4 years ago
I love going to cafe 86 because they are always consistent with the quality and taste of their drinks. We also tried their sandwiches for the first time (which were more like paninis) and they were so yummy! I especially recommend their Turkey Pesto. If you love ube just as much as we do, then this is the place to go! read more
4 years ago
Decided to try the Tuesday after grand opening. Seeing as it was a Tuesday, did not think it would be as crazy as opening, but did expect some sort of line. Arrived at 12:30pm and indeed had to wait in line. Total wait was 1 hour in line and about 10 mins to receive the halo halos. Some notes: - Will 100% come back for the halo halos. Think the upside down version is more elite as the base is ube, and why else wait in line for anything else at Cafe 86. - As everyone said, the ube crack cheesecake is the one to get, but close second for me is the ube truffle. Only knock on the truffle is that it is too decadent. - Ube flan cupcake was not bad, but nothing special. Will likely not order again. - Things sell out like any bakery. Wanted to order the ube butter bar, which sold out right in front me. Will be back to try the sold out items once this place activates online ordering. If you only want the popular items and do not mind waiting in line, you are good to go. read more
4 years ago
We finally got a Cafe 86 in the Bay Area. Look no further if you want actual Ube in your deserts and drinks. No powder mix here. You can taste the real ube in the drinks and deserts. We kept it low key for the opening and just got two deserts and some ube milk tea. They were all excellent and I can't wait to come back to try more. My friends that were with us said I have to come back and try the ube monster milkshake. Really looking forward to that. I'm so happy we finally have a cafe 86 in the Bay Area. It'll be worth the stop when we are going through Union City. It will also be worth making a few trips to Union City just for a delicious ube treat. read more
This was my first time at Cafe 86 and I would definitely come back. I had to try not to order everyone on the menu. It all looked so good. My favorite thing I order has to be the ube butter bars. If you've ever had a craving for an ube boat from Goldilocks (I wish they could bring that back) this is your runner up replacement. Overall really glad I drove out to Union City to try Cafe 86. read more
I'm so glad cafe 86 is open past the regular closing time of 8-9pm that other lounge-dessert places close, in the East Bay area, because the desserts and drinks are absolutely the mood later at night! There really isn't too much space inside to sit at, with 4-6 tables, but the orders come out fast so it's no worries! The ube is what is a specialty here, and so I made sure to get the ube milk tea as well as the ube bar! Ube is one of those hard-to-get-right tastes but Cafe 86 does it exceptionally well, with just the right amount of sweetness and the same richness expected out of ube. Looking forward to coming back again to try out the other ube desserts (and get another round of milk tea ;) ) read more
4 years ago
Ube Heaven! I was so excited that Cafe 86 was going to have a location in the Bay Area. I can right when they opened at 12:30 on a Sunday, and was surprised that it wasn't even open yet and the line outside was already so long. We waited about an hour, I wasn't in a rush so I didn't mind and once we ordered, it was pretty fast, about 10mins or so. I ordered the Ube Monster, and after the first sip, I loved it! You can really taste the ube and I really liked the bits of cookies and cream in it as well, it perfectly went together. For the desserts, I ordered the ube truffle, ube flan cupcakes, and ube crack cheesecake and they were all tasty! Definitely will be coming back to try their other desserts and drinks! read more
4 years ago
Came here today, and the first thing I thought was how small/cramped the parking area is. Also this location itself is pretty tiny. Came here at 1pm and absolutely no line! After reading reviews I was worried I'd be waiting for at least half an hour in line, thank god this wasn't the case. I've visited the 86 cafe locations in socal and the one in Vegas and have enjoyed their drinks and desserts. Today, I ordered their ube flan cupcakes, truffles, bread pudding and a couple of drinks (ube monster and Thai tea monster) Drinks were good but their desserts just don't seem on par with their other locations. The ube/flan was EXTREMELY DRY. It was really hard to eat and was not enjoyable. I thought it was just me but my fiancé felt the same way. Honestly tastes like these were baked like a week ago. I'm so bummed and lightweight annoyed that I bought half a dozen of these dry things. And these things are not cheap! Unfortunately this experience left a bad taste in my mouth, literally. I probably won't be returning here. I drove all the way from Walnut Creek and I'm truly disappointed. read more
4 years ago
This place just opened up maybe 2-3 months back and finally got to try it. I got the upside down halo halo, REALLY GOOD. I was surprised it was not too sweet. I was afraid of it being so sweet but was perfect. Boyfriend got the thai tea w boba, pretty decent. When we got there the line was not that long, however 15 mins later the line was OUT THE DOOR. This place is crazy busy. Next time I want to try their cupcakes and truffles, looks super delicious. Our total was around $15. Not bad considering my drink was so HUGE. We couldn't even finish it. The only downside is that service can be a little slow, but doesn't matter because it was delicious and worth it! read more
4 years ago
Ube overload! I was excited to try this place but sad to say a bit disappointing. The Ube cupcake and cheesecake were okay. The Ube cheesecake tasted like creamcheese and no Ube flavor at all :(. The cupcake was dry and tasted burnt on the sides. The leche flan on top was decent! As for the drinks, the upside down halo halo tasted like an Ube ice cream but blended so an Ube milkshake lol. If you love super sweet sugary Ube drink then that's for you! My boyfriend got the Thai tea, which was pretty good, they add Oreo crumbs in it! Would go back to try other drinks but not the pastries :( Kudos to the staff tho for working hard, they're so busy but was able to get the order out so fast! read more
4 years ago
I'm glad that they finally opened Cafe 86 in the Bay Area in Union City. Before, the only time I get to taste their Ube Leche flan is if I go to LA. I waited a few weeks before I decided to go there coz there's a big hype with people lining up for long hours. The food they serve is delicious. One of my favorites is the Ube Leche flan. This is the only place where they top off an Ube roll with Leche flan. These combinations are so perfect and sumptuous. If you have a sweet tooth, this will give you a big smile. We also ordered their use bars and ube truffles. If you liked ube, then this is the place to be. You will feast your eyes with all of their products with ube. Their Halo-Halo is also good. There are so many ingredients in it that with every scoop you took, you'll taste the sweetness of every one of them. Of course, they top it with a scoop of ube ice cream. When I come back, I'll try their several drinks. I should have given them a 4 or 5 but it took me an hour just to get out of there with my orders. We lined up 15 before opening and were 6 on the line. Still, it took us that long. I pity those people behind me that are 30 people deep. They should find a better way to take orders and then serve them. Glad that all of them have the patience to wait. I'm been to their LA branch but never seen this kind of a line. I'll come back again and will change my review if I see an improvement. read more
4 years ago
My son had the halo halo and I had the dragon berry calamansi refresher. My drink was very refreshing and hit the spot on a hot day. My son said the halo halo was okay. I didn't realize that everyone was eating the upside down halo halo, so we will probably try that next time. I had the Ube Truffle and it was super yummy. The only drawback is that there is a line and you have to wait a little bit. The place is packed so it might be hard to find a seat, but the wait wasn't too bad and worth it. They do require a mask to enter the shop. read more
4 years ago
When this location opened up, we definitely made sure that we stopped by to try it. The line was super long (waited about an hour in line) but honestly that's the price you pay for really good treats! So make sure you set aside some time if you decide to stop by. First of all, I love the ambiance of this place. The aesthetic is super cute and very with the ube theme. Staff is also very friendly. All the treats that we were able to try were amazing!! The ube crack cheesecake and ube truffle are a MUST-TRY! I was super pleased with my experience and I will definitely be back. read more
4 years ago
I was pretty excited to try this place. The hype got me waiting to try it. The Ube tres leches was pretty good. The Ube cookies were pretty delicious as well. The leche flan flan cupcakes was alright. Compared to Binka bites, it doesn't come close. The cupcake was slightly dry. But I'm excited to try other stuff on their menu! read more
4 years ago
If you can't do long lines, don't come here!! Otherwise, this is THE most tasty, indulgent cafe that you'll be sure to love. We waited about 45 minutes in line on a Sunday afternoon. The indoor seating is filled with people mostly waiting for their food. Although the staff was a bit backed up, they work very efficiently and calmly which gives the whole place a really nice relaxing vibe. So many great options on the menu from beverages to sweet treats. My absolute favorite was the Bread Pudding with Ube ice cream. The amount of banana chunks and other goodies in there was 10/10! Their cupcakes were also delicious, loved the cheesecake as it's layered with different textures. Probably ordered more than we needed but wow, this place is such a gem! read more
Really a 4.5 but I can't do halfsies. We've been wanting to try Cafe 86 in SoCal forever but have never made it. When they opened up here in NorCal we made it out on opening weekend! We've come back once since then. Only reason why it's not a 5 for me is that the lines have got to become more manageable. It's not their fault that they're popular, but they've got to come up with a way to better take care of the lines. They have an online option for other locations, but never have it activated for here--hopefully this will change soon! I've had almost all of their treats and my favorite has to be the churro thing (blanking on the name, but just look on the bottom right of the updated menu and you'll see it). It's sweet, fresh, and flavorful. This is best eaten right away, so don't go far off before grubbing. Their other sweets are good, but very comparable to other Ube treats at other local bake shops. The reason for the high stars and their true star of the show: upside down halo halo! It's the base of an Ube shake, all the halo Halo mix ins, and topped with some leche flan! I'm drooling just thinking about it. Their other drinks are also amazing (I've had the Ube monster, the cookie butter shake, and some of their teas) and they all have unique flavors that separate them from a regular boba spot, but seriously the Ube shake/upside down halo halo is the stuff dreams are made of. read more
1 year ago
literally my favorite halo halo ever, it's done perfect and is so so good. but ever since they increased prices for the halo halo, they also have given smaller portions which doesn't make sense to me. i've gone here multiple times in the past 2 years with a great track record but this is the first time ive seen them not fill it up all the way :/ read more
I came here with zero expectations because I thought it was going to be just another "Boba place" but man was I wrong. First off, the place is very well kept and modern. Not big enough for large parties but maybe like 2-4 max. Lots of parking in the day time too. The staff is super friendly as well that made the experience being there welcoming for a first timer. I ordered the upside down halo halo and an ube crack cheesecake. The halo halo was the BEST I've ever had, coming from a Filipino, and I honestly couldn't get enough of it. But the cheesecake.... was incredible. I came there with a sweet tooth and this place definitely satisfied that craving. I heard this place gets packed at night so I got lucky because I came here during the day. I was able to find a table and live streamed while I ate this goodness. Go here. Now. 10/10 tell your friends and family. read more
I came here randomly one day and it was great. I have visited a couple places where they sell ube things and there is a lack of ube taste, but not this place! I personally loved their ube crack cheesecake and their churrochi with ube ice cream. The truffle was good, I wish that it was a tad bit smaller. I could only eat half because of how sweet it was. The ube tiramisu and the ube flan cupcake was okay. My boyfriend and I also ordered the ube milk tea and the ube mini monster and it was good as well. Be prepared to wait a long period of time. I came on a Saturday at 5pm. I waited 40 mins to order, then another 15 mins to get everything. Overall, great experience. Thank you. read more
4 years ago
Great place worth checking out! However as many others have mentioned, parking is tight and the lines are crazy. This is the 2nd time we've come, the first time we left because the lines were 2 stores down. We came at 3pm on a Saturday and lucky and ordered in 10 minutes. -Ube Tres Leches (10/10): strong Ube flavor, super moist, mouth-watering. It was nothing short of amazing! Definitely worth a try. - Chamoy Calamansi Mango Slush (7/10): good but not great. The Chamoy was not enough. It gave Magonada vibes, but the mix of flavors weren't as prominent. -Upside Halo Halo (9/10): interesting concept with cereal flakes on top, with jelly and boba at the bottom. Very sweet so worth sharing. Not icy like most Halo halos. Worth a try! Will come back forsure to try more items on the menu! read more
We came at 5:30 on Sat evening and waited 45 mins in line. Ordered the upside down halo Halo (yum), mango calamansi camoy slushy (LOVE it!), Too bad you cannot adjust the sweetness but it wasn't extremely sweet which was good. My husband really love their coffee crunch, my son and I love their butter ube, The rest are okay but those two are our favorite. read more
Café 86 has landed in the Bay Area in Northern California! The hype is real AF! And at first, it didn't sink in with me, since I associate it as a "SoCal thing" - if you know what I mean. I can't believe that their first location is right on the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, and the establishment made its mark within Union City, that is home to many people of Filipino/Asian descent! Way to go, Café 86!! (it is quite dangerous to make a weekly pilgrimage here, given that I live & work within this region - ahhhh!!!!) Having already visited 4 of their aesthetically-pleasing locations in Southern California and Las Vegas before the pandemic, says a lot about their plethora of goodies and concoctions that they offer! It is a specialty café that offers many things - with Ube! (pronounced ooh-béh); it is popularly used in desserts in Filipino cuisine, often boiled and then mashed with condensed milk. Their goal as a successful establishment celebrates the purple yam with more than 50 ube-related dessert items on its menu. They are exclusively a Filipino bakery and coffee shop, located in a strip mall - on the corner of the always hustlin' and bustlin' Alvarado Niles & Decoto Roads! They offer an extensive menu of specialty coffee and tea drinks, plus the largest selection of ube desserts I have seen in one place. If you are unfamiliar with Ube - it is purple yam. It has a delicious nutty vanilla flavor that reminds me of cereal milk. The Ube Latte does not contain any coffee, so I recommend ordering it "Supercharged" (+2 shots of espresso), to get things going while you're out and about! The perfectly pulled espresso tasted incredible with the sweet ube, and milk (with options such as almond & soy, if you prefer a dairy-free experience). All of the bright purple confections looked so delicious, it was difficult to choose - and I pretty much ordered a little of everything from the two times I've gone here. Let's just say, it was quite overwhelming at first glance - even though I am not new to the game, having visited 4 of their locations before the pandemic (namely, Artesia, Chula Vista, Las Vegas, and Downtown Pasadena - which they have closed), a few years ago! My all-time & ultimate favorite is their Ube Truffles! It was truly life changing when I tried it for the first time a few years back, at their then Pasadena location - let's just say they are ube chunks & molded into a ball like a cake pop, rolled in crumbled/crushed Oreo pieces. Hella yum! (and I think they are quite addictive & instantly, the best-seller!) The Ube Crack Cheesecake was exceptional. The richly flavored, whipped cheesecake melted in my mouth, and the crust and cracker crumble provided the perfect salt to sweet ratio. For those wanting to share their desserts, I highly suggest that ya'll get the Upside Down Halo-Halo - think of the classic Filipino dessert with all the ingredients, in a conventional, modern aspect! Helllla good!! Make sure to share it with someone, as it will definitely give you a high sugar rush! In addition,the Ube Milk Tea is always a must to order, especially for the first timer, for a quick pick-me-up drink. I've always ordered it half-sweet with lite boba, and it is refreshingly delicious!! Definitely a go-to if ya'll like the combination of ube & milk tea! On the other hand, I haven't tried their Hibiscus Calamansi, but I have gotten it as a complimentary beverage when you checked in on the Yelp app at the mentioned locations above - not quite sure if it is still ongoing for the Southern locations, and it was a surprise for me that the Union City location did not offer a 'free Hibiscus drink' when I checked in on Yelp. Hmm... no biggie, but it would be a nice incentive for those who regularly support their business. The staff were courteous, friendly & professionally polite, and quite knowledgeable of the menu. Don't hesitate if you have questions - they'll forsure have answers, especially the kinds of ingredients they include in their goodies! Highly recommend, and make sure to bring loads & lots of patience - you will get tested (from finding a place to park, and waiting for long time in a long line while the craze & hype is real!) - don't say I didn't warn ya!! It's best to come when they first open, or during the last hour before closing! read more
Ordered 8 of the upside down halo halo for the fam and myself and it did not disappoint any one of us.... except the price of it. I use to live in SoCal and definitely do not remember paying $8+ each for these. It was worth it but just won't drive from SF just for this. read more
Drinks: Caramel Slushy - 9/10 came with missing pudding (this was really good) Ube Milk Tea 8/10 - I think the ice watered down the tea and ube flavor... I don't think I'll order this again Food: Ube Truffle 10/10 love these!! Didn't try the cheesecake yet Service: They ran out of pudding so they asked if they could substitute for boba, which was nice. It was pretty busy and I felt like the workers were kinda overwhelmed. General thoughts: Came here so excited bc my bf and I have tried the cafe 86 in San Diego and Cerritos. But The boba... was hard and was too big to fit thru the straw. We had to wait until we got home to use our metal straws that we had lying around and they were able to fit. Unfortunately, the boba was hard and wasn't enjoyable to eat. We were kinda sad the pudding wasn't available anymore so next time if we do visit, we'll make sure to come early. Pro-tip: order online so you don't have to wait in the long lines! Just make sure you tell them you're waiting for your order read more
3 years ago
So delicious for ube lovers! However, they have other options for people who might not like ube as much. I got the Ube Monster Milkshake with boba and it was so tasty. The drink tasted almost like cookies and cream and the boba was warm and chewy. I also got the ube butter bar which was so smooth and flavorful. It was not too sweet and I would definitely go back just for the bar. I went on a Saturday afternoon and it was busy but the line moved quick. I think they take more time to make Halo Halo since my order came out fast but we had to wait on my friend's halo halo. read more
More info about Cafe 86
34391 Alvarado-Niles Rd
Union City, CA 94587
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(510) 431-3226
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http://www.cafe-86.com
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Ask the Community - Cafe 86
How long are the waits now? Is it still a line out the door or has it died down?
Lines are not as long as the grand opening. From my experience- I arrived 10 mins before they opened. I was the 4th person in line. I went around 2pm and waiting 15 mins in line.
Do they have a separate line for online order pickup?
If you place an online order, you just head to the general pickup area and let them know.
What's the difference between the the Halo-halo and the Upside down Halo-halo shake?
The difference is that the halo halo has a vanilla ice cream base. The upside down halo halo has a ube ice cream base.
Honest, is that Filipino called right? UBE, Halo Halo, and some I saw it. If answer is yes?
Yes, Cafe 86 serves Filipino desserts like halo halo and ube flavored drinks
What are their non-dairy milk options? Also, do they have any vegan desserts?
They have soy and almond milk however any of the Ube drinks contain milk in the powder they use. You also can't get any of the milkshakes vegan. There is one vegan pastry but this location doesn't carry it right now.
Do you have any dairy free options?
I was able to order my drinks with soy milk :)
When's the best time to go for less people? How much is one ube flan cupcake?
I came around 5pm...less people but still a wait
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Cafe 86 - desserts - Updated July 2026
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