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    Cafe 88

    4.8 (58 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Cafe 88 Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE 88 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe 88

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    Reviews With Photos - Cafe 88

    banana matcha, peanut butter latte, dubai chocolate covered strawberries
    Emily D.

    Cafe 88 has a wide selection of dessert and drinks to choose from. i tried their banana matcha, peanut butter latte, and dubai chocolate strawberries. the cashier was very patient and kind with us, and we got our order relatively quick. what i liked: the banana cold foam was suuper light and refreshing, with an authentic banana taste. the peanut butter latte had a lot of depth and nuttiness to it, and wasn't too sweet (just how i like it). i also liked that they let you pick your choice of milk with no extra charge. the dubai chocolate strawberries has a perfect ratio of strawberries to the chocolate and pistachios for my preference. what to improve: i really wanted to like the matcha, but i found it very bland tasting, with only very subtle hints of matcha flavor. overall, i enjoyed the duck theme they had. i would probably skip their matcha next time and stick with their desserts.

    Strawberry matcha.
    Sadie B.

    Really delicious matcha and coffee lattes. The banana is my FAV. Seriously hand crafted and worth the wait. Yum!!!

    Peanut butter latte
    Michelle W.

    - narrow parking lot directly in front of these stores, lots of available spots! - clean minimal spot with lots of seating, loved the duck decor! - 10% off for students! - loved the peanut butter latte! I've been searching for pb coffees ever since discovering this combo and this spot does it right - full pb flavor all throughout and that strong espresso still shines through

    Partial view of the suite front
    Emmett T.

    This duck-themed cafe and dessert shop has opened a new branch just down the road from the USD campus in Linda Vista. The OG location is in El Cajon. Cafe 88 is in the northern section of The Presidio Plaza which is notorious for limited, tight parking spaces. There were a few small tables inside the suite that could hold around a dozen customers. Desserts, drinks, and bowls were the menu categories with each one occupying one of the three screens hanging behind the service counter. The manager (owner?) who was running the place when I showed up was very enthusiastic and welcoming. He gave me a mini toy duck as a token for visiting during the soft opening. I picked two items for my order, a Matcha Strawberry Signature Latte (the current trendy drink) and a Hawaiian Signature Bowl. The first was one of four choices in the Signature Lattes section. Ceremonial grade matcha, strawberry, and milk were the ingredients. Compared to elsewhere, the strawberry component was not as prominent while the matcha flavor was strong. The second was one of seven varieties in the Signature Bowls section. It was made up of an acai base (my request), granola, pineapple, mango, kiwi, and coconut flakes. The $10.99 price was fair for the serving size and quality of the ingredients. The shop was clean and well-organized which can't be said for similar new places in their soft opening phase. I gave a four star rating for my first visit to Cafe 88.

    The Peanut Butter Latte OMG so good
    Cheryl G.

    I am so excited that there is a new dessert shop in Linda Vista! We stopped by last night for a little sweet treat, and my expectations were exceeded. My man ordered a peanut butter latte, he's crazy but he can drink caffeine at night lol. I tasted it and let me tell you OMG I will be making a trip to the shop on the regular for this when I feel like I need a treat. It was unbelievably good. I would've never thought about peanut butter in coffee! The owner, I believe his name is Fadi, suggested we try the sushi roll. We wanted something a little bit lighter because we had just had dinner. This is another thing I would've never probably ordered without a suggestion, but I loved it. It's a freshly made crêpe rolled around a banana while still warm and then cut like sushi. In the box, it was drizzled with chocolate and each two pieces had a different topping. We took our treats to go since it was almost closing time. I appreciate them being willing to take care of us, even though we came in so close to then! The shop is bright and cheerful and very clean. I'm really hoping they do well, this is a nice addition to the neighborhood.

    Counter area
    Genie N.

    Fadi was amazing! Gave us the 411 on the menu items. They even have a secret menu! We tried the Kinder Nutella crepe paired with a brown sugar latte, BLISS!!!! Cute fun cheerful cafe vibes with a few small tables inside. They are located in a small strip mall on Linda Vista Rd and have been open for 3 months. This is the place to come visit to get a dessert and a yummy drink to go with it. You must try it! We can't wait to come back and experience more delectable desserts/drinks. Say hi to Fadi too!

    Samantha H.

    The matcha was not good at all and tasted like straight milk. But the Dubai chocolate strawberries were fire!! The place is tiny but nice and clean! But just don't get the matcha!

    Fit bowl and wild bowl

    I am only swinging by San Diego for a conference and already tried this place twice because their acai bowls were so good. I brought a friend there my second time around. Very reasonably priced, generously portioned and deliciously healthy. Wish we had this place in New Haven, CT!

    banana matcha
    Alejandro E.

    We decide to try this, base on recommendations and they didn't disappoint, they make my drink to my specifications, matcha is amazing, try them they r F good !! Service is great and be back soon !!

    Waffle with fresh strawberry and banana. Delicious!!!
    Sol G.

    Cute new little dessert spot! Owner is super friendly and makes sure to customize your order exactly to your liking. We've had a few things from here now but everything was super fresh and tasty! My favorite was the Belgian waffle with chocolate sauce, and perfectly ripe strawberries and bananas. It's a hidden gem but absolutely worth checking out!

    Menu
    Kelly Y.

    Came across this delicious cafe on a rainy day!! Their mascot is a bright yellow duck :) I ordered the lotus crepe and the only thing missing imo was a scoop of ice cream but that's just me having a sweet tooth !! Anyways the service and attention was great. The establishment was clean and very decorative. I definitely recommend stopping by here for a break.

    Zack F.

    Cafe 88 is a hidden gem if you're looking for delicious smoothies and a welcoming spot to relax. Their smoothies are hands-down the smoothest I've ever had -- perfectly blended, fresh, and bursting with flavor. Whether you prefer fruit-packed options or something creamy and indulgent, they have something for everyone. The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, always greeting you with a smile and ready to help with recommendations. Service is quick without feeling rushed, which makes it perfect whether you're stopping in for a quick drink or planning to hang out for a while. The cafe itself is clean, cozy, and has a laid-back vibe that makes it easy to enjoy your drink or chat with friends. I've tried a few of their smoothie combinations and each one has been consistently fresh and satisfying. Beyond smoothies, they also offer snacks and light bites that are just as good. Overall, Cafe 88 is a spot I keep coming back to -- it's reliable, tasty, and feels welcoming every time. Highly recommend to anyone in the area looking for quality smoothies and a friendly atmosphere.

    Menu
    Humberto E.

    The owner is really nice and the bowls are delicious. I can tell already that this business is going to be a hit within the University of San Diego (USD) community.

    Menu

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    10 months ago

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    6 months ago

    In love with the crepes here. Got the Dubai chocolate crepe with a lotus latte and it was delicious. I will be back for that crepe.

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    5 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    8 months ago

    The crepes are really good, great costumer service, and bonus they give student discounts.

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Cafe 88

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    Cafe Madeleine

    Cafe Madeleine

    4.0
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    Stopped in to grab coffee and breakfast. Place next door had a long line looked like they are more…read morepopular with take out orders. I had the breakfast croissant and my friend had the simple breakfast . Place was clean , your order at counter and you can sit anywhere available . Good came out pretty quickly and tasted pretty good. Will probably return when in area. Service was good and everyone was friendly.

    My friend and I tried this place yesterday since seeing it on social media. Parking: Finding a spot…read morecan be a bit of a gamble. While there is street parking available, it's North Park, so it fills up fast. There are a few dedicated spots in the back, but don't count on them being open during peak hours. The Food & Drink * Quality: The coffee and food hold their own. The flavors are solid, and the quality is definitely there. * The "Hidden Fee" Frustration: A heads-up for future diners: when ordering items like the Caprese Baguette, be wary of the "side" options. Even if the cashier asks which side you'd like, the breakfast potatoes come with an extra charge that isn't always explicitly mentioned during the ordering process. The Vibe * Atmosphere: While the French-inspired concept is clear, the interior doesn't quite hit the mark for everyone. If you're looking for a highly curated or "Instagrammable" aesthetic, this might feel a bit underwhelming compared to other spots in the neighborhood. Service : The staff was attentive and efficient, ensuring that the food and coffee arrived promptly and making the overall experience much smoother. It's always a plus when the team's hospitality outshines the layout of the room.

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    Chocolate SD

    Chocolate SD

    3.8
    (1.8k reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $

    Simply delicious coffee!…read more It's always a relief when you find a hidden gem. This establishment was so cute they even had cows hanging upside down! Such a fun and unique atmosphere. They also sell gelato, although we didn't get a chance to try it this time. The service was great, and the cashier was very helpful and friendly. I ordered an iced vanilla latte, and it was perfect. They also offer a great selection of coffee from Hawaii. The place was clean, welcoming, and had a very friendly vibe. Next time, I'll definitely have to indulge in some desserts! ts.

    This is a cute breakfast and dessert cafe that's actually open till midnight (or later on the…read moreweekends). The decor and setting is cute and quirky, including cow sculptures hanging upside down from the ceiling. There were only a couple other visitors when we arrived, as it was near opening time. Our dishes took a whopping 35 minutes to be ready, and service was not very friendly nor helpful. Luckily, the music playing through the speakers added a nice vibe to the place, songs like Our House by Madness and Can't Fight This Feeling. We ordered the brunch pizza (with eggs cooked overeasy) and the breakfast flatbread which looked almost identical when served, as well as an iced mocha. The quality of the pizza was pretty average, and the eggs were slightly overcooked. The drink was really good, made fresh, with a smooth taste and a nice sweetness to it, the plastic cup coated in chocolate sauce. It tasted more like chocolate milk with a hint of coffee, which I personally enjoyed. They typically serve gelato here, but it would not be ready till almost two hours after opening time. So no milkshakes or cold desserts were available in the morning this past Sunday (no worries, Ghirardelli is just a block away). I appreciate the variety of menu items offered here. But they really should communicate online that their gelato's not ready till two hours into the day. If there's one thing that irks me about an establishment, it's failure to communicate appropriately. Even though our recent visit was somewhat disappointing, I still gave 3 stars, assuming this was an off day for them.

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    A pop of zest!
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    Cafe 88 - desserts - Updated July 2026

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