I first tried Gara about a month ago, and have been getting their white coffee at least once a week. When I first ordered it, I tried to customize the milk, but was told that the batch is prepped in advance, so there isn't a possibility to customize the milk option (which was fine with me). The white coffee is sweet, so it's right up my alley. Today I got the white coffee again, and I noticed it was made a bit differently. They typically pour the prepped white coffee over ice and serve it as is. But today they had milk and ice already in the cup, and poured the prepped espresso over top. I didn't think much of it at first, but as I walked out with the drink I noticed it tasted different. It wasn't sweet and tasted more like a regular Vietnamese iced coffee, and every sip had bit of a grainy taste due to the espresso. I went back and asked them to remake it, and they made it the same way, but the taste still wasn't what I remembered. They were very nice, as they allowed me to keep the drink while remaking a new one for me. I'm not sure if they changed the way they make the drink, but it just isn't what I remembered. I ended up tossing both drinks as the taste was not for me. The cafe itself is very nice, and I love the interior design. I would come back just to study or do work, but I would definitely get another drink as the white coffee isn't the same anymroe :/ read more

I'm obsessed with everything on their menu--except for the staff's attitude. I think my experience would have been much better if the person at the register had seemed more engaged instead of being so monotone. At the end of my visit, I thanked him for everything, but he never looked at me or my sister and simply turned away to continue talking with his coworkers. They need to seriously get that together. read more

Gara has quickly become one of my favorite cafes in Berkeley. As someone who spends a lot of time studying, I prioritize ample seating, plenty of outlets, and a cozy vibe. The cafe is spacious, cozy, and has a super chic aesthetic. Their lunch specials are also an amazing deal: wings + sweet potato fries for $11 or a banh mi + Vietnamese coffee for $14. For drinks, we got the salted coffee, ca phe sua da with black sesame foam, and fruit tea. The salted coffee is their most popular drink for a reason--I could drink it every day. Smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced. I was also pleasantly surprised by the Fruit Tea, which came with basil seeds, lychee, jackfruit slices, mango syrup, and coconut water. It was incredibly light and refreshing, making it a perfect summer drink and one of the most underrated items on the menu. For food, we tried the crispy chicken tenders & pandan waffles, pork banh mi, and Nuoc Mam chicken wings with sweet potato fries. The clear standout was the chicken and waffles. The pandan waffles were drizzled with condensed milk and syrup, while the sweet chili glazed chicken added the perfect savory contrast. The wings were also fantastic, packed with flavor from the fish sauce glaze. As someone who's picky about sweet potato fries, I was happy to find these perfectly crispy rather than soggy. The banh mi was solid, and I appreciated the extra pickled daikon and carrots on the side, though the other dishes were more memorable. Between the amazing study vibes, great drinks, delicious food, and affordable lunch specials, Gara has earned a spot among my top Berkeley cafes. I'll definitely be back for another study session and a salted coffee. Too bad they close at 3PM, but if anything it motivates me to get my day started earlier!! read more

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Review update (after ~6 visits) Gara is now my go to walking distance cafe in Berkeley if I want Vietnamese coffee! Since posting my initial review, they fixed the lids issue and at each visit the lids fit fine (ayyy). Drinks & Foam: Made consistently, and a good balance of coffee and sweetness. -Iced Ca Phe Sua Da: Your regular iced Vietnamese coffee! -- I've also tried sips of the Salted Coffee and that's just as delicious. Food & Pastries: Great lunch bowls and pastries! -Lemongrass Rice bowl: flavorful and healthy. comes with lots of veggies, and a juicy chicken -Pandan Mochi Muffin: my favvv, did taste like pandan yup, and the mochi texture is perfect -Ube Cookie: good, standard Atmosphere & Vibes: The interior is super cute. -Lots of seating options (to do work, to hang with a group, to lounge). -Bathroom: clean -Workers: chill/kind Busy Moments: The cafe tends to get busy because it's located in a college town. So at times I cannot find a seat. If you're planning to do work, I recommend coming early in the morning! read more

First time coming here on a weekday morning and there was no wait. Parking is typical Berkeley- street parking only and one local parking garage. Upon entering, the space feels very intentional. You could tell everything was thoughtfully placed which makes the ambiance of the cafe nice and comfortable. It is a nice place to work, study, and hang out with friends. They have a bunch of tables, chairs, and at the back of the cafe, they even have board games and more seating. My partner and I enjoyed the drinks that we got. I got their matcha with honey and black sesame foam topping. I enjoyed my drink and finished it quickly. I already want to go back to get more!!!! read more

Such an amazing addition to telegraph ave! The inside is so airy and has plenty of seating, and the coffee is super strong. I loved the aesthetics of the interior and there were lots of students studying on a weekend morning. 100% will be coming back when I'm in the area! read more

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Ambience stands out the most. Reminds me of a bougie hotel lobby. The wall seats and table tops are very fancy. I'd totally come here to do laptop work if I were still in college. The coffee is also high quality. The salted viet coffee surprised me. It is sweet but not overpowering and makes me want to chug it bc it's so good!! read more

Cafe Gara - Oat milk latte (left), salted viet coffee (right) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is a cute new coffee shop that opened up close to campus, that has big tables with outlets to study and good coffee/food! It does get busy quick, so if you were looking for a table I would recommend coming in the early morning. The coffee is strong and will definitely get you through your day. I first tried their basic viet coffee with pandan foam, but I would say that the pandan flavor wasn't super prominent, I almost couldn't taste it. Foam is an extra dollar so I don't think it is worth it. However their salted coffee is absolutely delicious! It is the right amount of sweetness, and is much creamier coffee than the rest of their options. Their matcha isn't the best, so I wouldn't recommend getting a matcha if you were craving one. There are much better matcha options near by. I have only tried their pork banh mi, and for not that many banh mi options in Berkeley, it was definitely good. I have to come back to try more of their food, as it is a good price and filling. read more

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Stopped by Cafe Gara and really enjoyed it. I had the cà phê sữa đá with black sesame cold foam, which was really good overall. Personally expected just a little more from the coffee itself, but the flavors still worked really well together. The ube snickerdoodle was absolutely delicious and easily one of the highlights. All the pastries in the case looked amazing, and the whole spot had a nice cozy feel to it. Definitely a place worth checking out if you're into creative drinks and good pastries. FYSA, it was very packed with college students on a Sunday afternoon so be prepared for a wait but the line tends to move fast. The cà phê sữa đá is made in a batch so those drinks will come out quickly. read more

Cafe Gara - Cute cup for the small coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Salted Coffee -- creamy and delicious coffee Ca Phe Sua Da w/ Pandan Foam -- creamy and flavorful, pandan is flavorful Ube Snickerdoodle Cookie -- nice yummy treat, cookie has a nice coat of sugar, ube flavor isn't as strong but the cookie is good Nice interior very aesthetic, but super long wait! Since this place is on the newer side it took about an hour to order and more to get our drinks. read more

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I always like to treat myself to a good coffee, and Yelp came through again when I was looking for a new spot. I stumbled upon Cafe Gara and it turned out to be quite a gem. I saw a fellow Yelper's review and immediately knew this place would be good and it didn't disappoint. I ordered the café sua with black sesame foam and oat milk, and it was so good. They also had panda mochi and an ube croissant, which were amazing. The space itself was very spacious and comfortable, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. I feel so lucky to have found this spot, and I'll definitely be going back again soon. read more

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This Viet cafe recently opened in Berkeley and has quickly become a popular study spot. We went around 11 am on a Saturday morning, but ended up having to leave since we couldn't find any seating. We ordered a small ca phe sua da and a large white coffee with a pandan foam. The drinks were okay overall. I really like the idea of being able to add asian flavored foams, but the quality and size of the coffee felt a bit underwhelming. The coffee itself could have been stronger, and both drinks were too sweet, especially the white coffee. I asked if they could make my ca phe sua da less sweet when I was ordering, but they said the weren't table to since it was premade. We didn't get a chance to try the food, but the pandan waffles and pastry display looked good! read more

Cafe Gara - White coffee w/ pandan foam & ca phe sua da - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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3.5 STARS When it comes to coffee, Viets don't play. Cà Phê Sữa Đá is rocket fuel that will keep you pumped all day and all night like Jessie Spano: "I'm SO excited!!". Perfect for nearby UCB students... Three siblings started GA.RA as a Viet coffee pop-up in their garage and in February 2026, soft opened their first brick and mortar in Berkeley. GA.RA = garage in Vietnamese. Robusta beans are harvested from their uncle's farm in Vietnam and roasted in small batches in Sac. M E N U Drinks: Viet classics, espresso drinks, tea lattes, and mocktails - Foams: Matcha, ube, pandan, black sesame, and hōjicha - Alternative milks available - Sweetener: Simple syrup, agave, and another I can't remember Food: Pastries, cookies, yogurt, salads, bánh mì, cơm tấm (broken rice), wings, fries, and more. Self-serve water. Bus your own tables. D R I N K S * Matcha Latte w/ black sesame foam, oat milk ($8.50) - Request strong matcha flavor - Request lightly sweetened w/ agave I love my matcha lattes strong, and one of the owners was kind enough to accommodate that request. Unfortunately, the drink still tasted like iced milk, maybe it's the matcha they use. The black sesame foam was the highlight, rich and nutty. * Cà Phê Sữa Đá w/ hōjicha foam ($8) Not mine but I had a sip to taste - bold, sweet, and creamy with a roasty creaminess from the foam. S E R V I C E Friendly, upbeat staff. They're still working on their flow. My drink got lost in the mix so it took over 30 minutes to receive. They were very apologetic and gave us a voucher for a free drink on our next visit. A M B I A N C E Huge community cafe with ample seating, lounge area, outlets, and WiFi. Perfect for laptop campers or yap sessions. There's even a kid's area with toys. Multiple clean restrooms. Overall, GA.RA is a great spot for UCB students or to work remote. Hope they consider offering a decaf version of cà phê sữa đá for those that don't want to look like they're on booger sugar. read more

Cafe Gara - Matcha Latte w/ black sesame foam, oat milk ($8.50) + Cà Phê Sữa Đá w/ hōjicha foam ($8) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Crowded cafe with great food and drinks! This is my second time here in the same week and I'm obsessed! Located near UC Berkeley's campus, this cafe tends to fill up quick. It is often bustling with students and loud with conversation, so the ambiance is best for meeting with friends. I've been able to find a table or chair to get work done each time, but I'd recommend that others come prepared not to find a perfect spot for working. There are some large tables in the back that can seat multiple pairs or singles looking for a place to study. Nonetheless, I'd highly recommend coming by to try their drinks and order some food! This time, we got a small twice hojicha and large cafe sua da with hojicha foam (they ran out of black sesame foam). We enjoyed both drinks, but the food was the star of the show! We ordered the crispy chicken and pandan waffles. The dish was well balanced with a drizzle of chili fish sauce and condensed milk. (If you order the dish to go, the sauces are kept on the side for ease of travel.) I'd highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a strong cup of coffee and unique food options! read more

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Loved everything we ordered! Modern take on Viet staples done right and the drinks were so good! Matcha was earthy with good flavor definitely not milky or watered down. The space is so beautifully curated and they were intentional with the design. It's a large cafe and extends even further back. Perfect place to work, study, and hang with friends! read more

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Solid Vietnamese coffee shop in the heart of Downtown Berkeley. The vibes are stellar with a mix of students studying, groups of friends yapping, or customers trying to order a coffee to-go. Note that they charge 25¢ extra for to-go cups. What's good? The drinks are tasty! A perfect balance of coffee with the sweetness of condensed milk. The food, although I did not order, looked very tasty and smelled amazing. The space at this joint is LARGE, so you'll definitely find a place to study or sit. What needs improvement? The operations seem to be very haphazard. From baristas spilling all over to cranking out orders out of order, there are definitely kinks in the drink production experience. We waited almost 20 minutes for our drinks, which seemed a bit shocking since most patrons were ordering one of the three Vietnamese coffee drinks on the menu. I imagine this will resolve over time. All in all, a solid coffee joint you should try if you're in Berkeley. Just prepare for a bit of a wait. read more

Cafe Gara - Menu - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Stoked that there's another Viet Cafe in the Berkeley! I was in awe when I first walked in, the shop has and earth tone color palette and it just puts you in a good mood. There are tons of tables for working and /or coffee dates. I was excited to see that there is also food on the menu! Breakfast and lunch. We ended up only being able to order drinks. We got an espresso tonic, Ca Phe Sua Da w/ matcha foam, and a Salted Coffee w/ pandan foam. The coffee itself is a solid 7.5/10 for me. The espresso tonic had the perfect roasted flavor profile. The Salted Coffee was delicious, definitely our fav of the three. Just the right balance of creamy and dark coffee. The Ca Phe Sua Da was a little bit too sweet compared to what I'm used to from other viet cafes. Both of the cold foams were surprisingly dense (in a good way). It didn't dissipate too fast in the coffee and even when fully mixed in, you could still taste them. I was really disappointed with the customer service here. When it was our turn to order, we asked to order the Nuoc Mam Chicken Wings but we were very sternly told that it was closed and that was it. I then asked if the entire menu is breakfast since breakfast ends at 11am. I was, again, met with a short and stern response. I looked past this interaction until we were waiting for our name to be called for our drinks. While we were waiting for our drink to be called, someone else was called up and she kindly mentioned to the barista that she ordered the black sesame foam instead of what was in the cup. To my surprise, instead of remaking the drink, the barista spooned out the incorrect foam and just layered the correct one on top. This only concerned me slightly because I was not listening to the conversation they had about this, maybe the customer asked for it to not be remade, just corrected. What truly disheartened me was when they were reading our name off of the cup to let us know our drinks were ready. They looked at the name on the cup and said out loud "What even is this?" or "How do I even say this?" Sternly and with a tone of annoyance. Doing this within earshot of customers is unprofessional. read more

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A new coffee spot in Berkeley? Of course we have to give it a try. Street parking can be a bit difficult but there's nearby parking lot for a good price. They close in the afternoon so line is expected to be long near closing time since UC Berkeley is close by. Love the interior design. Lots of space for hangout with friends. We got the Ca Phe Sua Da and Ren's Fruit Tea. Both are on a sweeter side. We personally prefer less sweet drinks. The Ca Phe Sua Da tasted less sweet after ice melted but it lost the coffee taste. Ren's Fruit Tea is refreshing but it is still a bit sweet after ice melted. read more

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Walked into Cafe Gara and the ambiance was nice and pretty during the daytime. There was a slight wait when I went, and only one girl was taking orders while two other guys were just standing around chatting. When it was finally our turn to order, my girlfriend asked what the difference was between the salted caramel coffee and the white coffee. The employee looked up at the menu and said, "The salted caramel coffee has salt on it." Like... thanks? That was pretty obvious already. At checkout, there was no actual "no tip" button. You have to go into the custom option just to leave a $0 tip. I have no issue tipping, but it's the principle behind making it inconvenient, especially when the service wasn't great. When the drinks came out, no one even called our name. They just plopped the drinks down on the counter. Looking at the drinks, the cups weren't even filled to the top, there was a noticeable amount missing, and they we Overall, I'd recommend going to the other Vietnamese coffee shop about five blocks away instead. read more

Cafe Gara - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Cafe GARA - A Cozy Vietnamese-Inspired Café Worth the Wait We visited on a Sunday afternoon around 1 PM and the place was packed. The line was to the door, every table taken but we got lucky because about five minutes into waiting, a table opened up so I could sit while my husband held our spot in line. Expect a wait if you come on weekends, but it moves fairly quickly. Drinks: I had the hojicha latte with black sesame cream, which was a lovely combination. The cream had a distinct black sesame flavor, though the tea base could've been a touch creamier. My husband got the cà phê sữa đá which was a combination of strong and very sweet, more dessert than coffee. I loved it, but if you're not into sweet drinks, consider asking for less sweet. Food: The nuoc mam wings were well-seasoned and flavorful, but on the saltier side. The sweet potato fries were crispy and generously portioned, and the dipping sauce (a sriracha aioli, I think?) was the highlight of the whole meal for me. Service: The cashier seemed a bit off during our order. We ended up with one drink in a to-go cup and one in a dine-in cup, which was a little confusing. The fries also came out cold. That said, when we flagged it, the staff took them back and brought out a warm replacement without any fuss which was much appreciated! Ambiance: Despite the crowd, the space feels genuinely warm and homey. There's additional seating in the back with some toys for kids, and the vibe is a nice mix of people hanging out and studying. Even at peak hours, seating turnover seemed decent. Parking was a little tough but there's a parking garage around the corner that charges only $1 for the first hour. Overall a fun spot with some standout menu items. Just come prepared for a wait and maybe watch out on the salt if you get the wings. We'll definitely be back! read more

Cafe Gara - Nuoc mam wings - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Berkeley's newest coffee spot! I visited Cafe Gara because I love Vietnamese coffee and everything on the menu sounded great. We tried the salted coffee and the ca phe sua da with pandan foam. We all agreed the salted coffee was the standout, though the other drink was solid too. The space is cute and perfect for studying, and the staff were super friendly. I'd definitely come back! read more

Cafe Gara - Salted Coffee Ca phe sua da with pandan foam - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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It's a very cute coffee spot! There's parking at the parking garage across the street. There was one person taking the order and making the drinks. There is alot of seating and the service was fairly quick. I really liked my white coffee. I asked for a hot one but got a cold drink, it still tasted good. The breakfast banh mi was ok, it can fill you up but I feel like there can be more added to the banh mi. read more

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Great option in the area for a solid viet coffee!! We got the white coffee with pandan foam and the ca phe sua with matcha foam. I loooved the light pandan foam with crunchy toasted coconut flakes, such a great combo with the creamy coffee. The matcha foam was okay but the ca phe sua was perfectly sweet and fairly strong. Definitely not a traditional viet coffee that has you tweaking but I think it's a good spot for a great cup of coffee! Also had a super cute interior with plenty of seating. Cons: A little pricey, starting at $6 for a 12 oz cup. Also had to wait about 20 mins for the coffee and they were out of black sesame and ube foam. Def need to come back to try those :) read more

Cafe Gara - White coffee with pandan foam and ca phe sua with matcha foam - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Such a cute coffee shop right in the middle of the Cal Berk area! The coffee was tasty and sweet! If you like the coffee taste, I would recommend getting an extra shot or ordering it less sweet! I didn't get a chance to try the food but I will be back to do so. Be prepared to wait on the weekends ad it gets busy! read more

BANGIN drinks (Ca phe sua da & salted coffee) 10/10 aesthetic and plenty of space to chill or study! read more

Cafe Gara - Ca Phe Sua Da with Pandan Cream and Salted Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Great coffee, although parking can be tough. There are a few garage options available nearby though. If you like Vietnamese coffee, add GA.RA to your list to try! read more

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I've been getting the Salted Coffee and it is so delicious I am #addicted I love coming here to chill and read, they have couches, benches, and normal tables the line to order is sometimes long BUT the drinks come out pretty fast read more

Cafe Gara - Salted Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I got the salted coffee with light ice and they actually did light ice which I appreciate. The coffee is delicious and reminiscent of tiramisu. Definitely on the sweeter side but that's exactly what I wanted. There's ample seating although the cafe was pretty full. Dim lighting in the back, good place to get work done. Also the service was pretty quick. read more

Cafe Gara - Salted Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Thank you, Hannah, for your wonderful customer service at this adorable cafe. The tiny Vietnamese coffee is the ideal serving size. read more

Cafe Gara - Small Vietnamese Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

Such a cute cafe with delicious food and pastries, lots of seating, and four (maybe more?) clean bathrooms. A great place to meet up with friends or get some work done. The broken rice bowl was a ton of yummy food for a good price, great value. The tofu in the breakfast banh mi was deliciously marinated and also quite hefty. But the ube croissant was unreal!! It's a family owned spot and the staff we met so far were kind, despite how busy they are. So glad this place opened up! read more

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holy this is diabetes in a cup. got the salted coffee and my friend got salted coffee with black sesame foam. the coffee is quite good i like how u can taste the bitterness of legit coffee as aftertaste but i dislike how u cannot adjust sugar levels so each sip is just explosion of sugar in your mouth. the black sesame taste is good too though. what annoyed me a bit was that even tho we got large and small size, they don't fully fill the cup. food looked pretty good tho and decently priced, my friend got the hoi an pork rice bowl which was quite flavorful and have heard decent things about food options. pastries looked delectable as well, typical prices. inside is superr cute but it's always crowded so it's hard to find a spot to sit but there's a variety of options to do work or chat with friends, like stools, chairs, of various sizes and vibes read more

Beautiful space with delicious coffee, tea and food. Been there twice already. I had their great classic latte the first visit and second, I already had my coffee for the day so tried the Ren's tea. Super delicious and refreshing for non coffee drinkers on this hot day. Food is good too with reasonable price. I'll be back to try more things on the menu. read more

Cafe Gara - Crispy Chicken Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love coming to this spot! Workers are really nice and the food and drinks are delicious! Salted coffee tastes just like what I had in Vietnam and the rice bowl and chicken wings were so good! Will definitely need to come back and try more! My bf got the calamansi espresso tonic which was also really good! read more

Cafe Gara - Nuoc mam wings & lemongrass chicken bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Berkeley, California

I got the chocolate jumbo croissant here (don't see them on the menu but they are at the front counter), and they are hands down the best croissant I have ever tasted! Layers upon layers of chocolate, macadamia nut encrusted on the top, dusted with powdered sugar, so decadent! It's amazing!!! I never knew it was possible to make a croissant that delicious!I got a savory one too, and that was pretty good too (better than ones I had at any other place) but the chocolate one is definitely my favorite! So glad to have discovered this cafe! I will definitely be back! read more

Good food but short hours. Waited in line +40 mins only to told the kitchen was closed. No prior heads up until I got to the actual register. read more

Love the range of drinks! The ambiance is unique and great to relax. The owner was very sweet. I'll come back just for him.

Didn't even get to try, super rude service. There's no hours online or on the door, we walked in and immediately got yelled at that they were closed. We were startled because there were so many people chilling and working on their computers at the tables, at least 10+ people. It's no problem if they can't serve us because they're closed, it'd just be nicer next time to tell us with inside voices as we approach the counter, not yelling loud enough to make everyone look at us. read more