We love coming to Dots cafe. My daughters love the cupcakes and It makes me super happy that I can choose to buy them the cute small ones versus the regular size. It is always very clean and organized. Its extremely picture friendly! The food and the coffee are delicious. I always order a decaf mocha with almost no sweetener and it still taste good. There are a lot of tables and even if there were to be a lot of people it never gets that crowded. The customer service is great as well. Love this place! read more

This place is so cute! I love the aesthetic feel of the restaurant and how the furniture is marble and the walls are floral. It has this vibe where you can just take cute pictures left and right. They serve their cupcakes here as well and are a bit sweet and filling. What makes this place special is that it's a cafe for dots cupcakes. The food here is good and decorated in a delicate manner. The food could be better I still think. It didn't hit the spot but it still tasted good. If you're looking for a cute place to talk to friends or to hang out or to get super sweet cupcakes this is your place. read more

This review is for breakfast only First impression, this place is amazing and beautiful and I have to bring my husband and son. Then I ate the food... I have read other reviews on here and I must have come on a bad day because this was easily the most disgusting breakfast burrito I've eaten in my entire life! Here's why: The bacon was 90% rubbery grizzle, The tutor tots were few and far between and they were soggy and had zero flavor, just blah! The whole burrito tasted the same, I couldn't make out each flavor of any one particular ingredient. IT WAS REALLLLLY BAD. So bad that drowning it in salad didn't work. The worst part, I couldn't eat the rest of the day because I was nauseated for hours after I stopped eating it. Wait I lied, the worse part is that I paid 13 dollars for my burrito I'm so disappointed and wish I could say that I'd be back. This place had so much potential. read more

*I noticed the owner doesn't reply to Yelp reviews which does connote a level of disinterest in customer satisfaction (but she is busy posting pictures of her workouts on IG) I picked up a family meal on 4/10. I was so surprised by the young man behind the counter. He was really full of joy and appeared to love his job. He greeted me with enthusiasm and showed me where to pick up my meal. Now, why was this surprising? Because everytime I go into Dot's, the women that work there have low energy and do not appear happy to work there. I sometimes think I've walked into a morgue. They never greet me, they just start in with "What can I get you?" and then the transaction is done with minimal interaction and no smiles. Unfortunately, I've just accepted this and if I need something from Dot's, I just set the bar low for customer service and I'm not disappointed. That young man was an aberration but a most pleasant one. As for the family meals, most of them are really good. The meatloaf, roasted chicken, salsbury steak and fried chicken are delicious. While the mashed potatoes are excellent, the steamed vegetables are pretty much tasteless. I wind up sauteing them in olive oil and garlic so they are palatable or I just wind up throwing them out. The roasted vegetables are great. I could eat those with every meal. There is the meal plan and most of these are also good. I pass on the weeks when Korean sweet potatoes and tofu are on the menu. They taste terrible and just aren't worth the money. Dot's cupcakes are the staple and you can't go wrong getting those. The lemon crinkle cookies and frosted brownies are some of the best. There's a lot of good to discover at Dot's. I am hoping there is a shift in customer service practices that help to round out a good product and a beautiful environment. I'd give 5 stars if the staff always treated me like a valued customer. read more

Cutest little place ever! Came in for brunch and a baby shower was going on and they had the best set up and backdrop for it. The tuna melt was great for my early lunch and I topped it off with some dessert. Cant leave without a cupcake, they of course have the best in town read more

Came here with a group of friends for lunch a week ago (have been back twice). Clean and fresh-looking inside with good-tasting food. Friendly and helpful staff at counter where you order. I haven't eaten any of the cupcakes or other desserts so can't comment on those but they look pretty. Service was a bit too slow the two times I've been here during the busy lunch hence the 4 stars. Otherwise a 5. Ordered strawberry smoothie with added boba. Excellent. Veggie fries were actually tempura-like slices of portobello mushroom with a mild dipping sauce. Very good and plentiful. Thai Almond salad (meatless) had a nice peanut-y dressing and was entree size. You can add chicken or salmon to salads but mine was good without meat. Friends had sandwiches, most of which seemed to have melted cheese and included a side salad. I have also had the cold macha latte (very good) and the hot macha latte (okay but not very creamy and, although I was asked if I wanted it sweetened and said "yes," it was still bitter enough that I added more sugar.) Soy milk is available instead of dairy milk. read more

Just our luck, car broke down on the 210. We exited the freeway and had to push the ca and we found a business where we can park the car while we wait for AAA. We had troubles pushing the car into the driveway when this guy comes out of his truck and offers to help! We gladly accept the help and turns out his wife owns Dots Cafe! He helped us push the car to a safe location and even offered us water and a coke lol We were simply two strangers stranded in his parking lot and he took very good care of us. After experiencing this type of hospitality we are definitely coming back when they are open to grab some awesome sweets!! Thank you again Dots Cafe! read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place is not only beautifully designed, but service, food and overall experience is lovely. Officially me and my daughter's favorite local lunch spot. read more

Obsessed with the cupcake and with the atmosphere!! Everything is so aesthetically pleasing. Every single flavor of cupcake is delicious. I also love how they have seasonal flavors / weekly changes in flavors however they do sell out pretty fast. If you go towards the end of the day they run out. I tried the salad and didn't like it very much. The chicken was chewy and it was not accurate to the description on the menu. The breakfast sandwich is pretty amazing. The coffee is a hit or miss depending on who is making the latte. Generally everyone is very friendly and the service is good however I did go in to buy cupcakes as a gift and the girl refused to give me a box because she said I wasn't purchasing enough cupcakes?? I was really confused. I would recommend this spot as a go to for cupcakes and maybe a different spot for savory food read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Have been so excited to give this place a try. Finally got around to pre-ordering two of their family meals as they seemed like a good option to both support a small business and try an array of food. Both times were disappointing. Their Peruvian night was comprised of bland linguine noodles that were not reminiscent of garlic noodles as stated. The pollo saltado was not saucy and lacked the expected flavor like other restaurants, such as Mr. Pollo that we frequent. The aji sauce was a savior in giving the meal a better tasting flavor. But the two small sauce containers of it was hardly enough for all the food that was given. On the plus side, the chocolate crinkles were much yummier as they were moist and not overly sweet (tasting like a brownie in a thick cookie shape). I was glad to see that their desserts seemed to be their trademark as they specialized in bakery goods first. Although not a big fan of that first family meal, both meals had been paid for ahead of time at the beginning of the week. Since there were some good items for the prior meal, I went in optimistic for the next one. I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt as some places are better at making certain dishes compared to others. However, I'm sad to say that the New Orleans night was much worse. The positive note was that the seafood (fish and shrimp) in the gumbo were not fishy. The negatives were that the gumbo was very salty (the hot sauce given helped with the flavor a little), the rice was completely undercooked (hard like chewing little pebbles), and the beignets were very doughy and dense. I was shocked to taste that the rice was dry and rock hard as that doesn't seem like a difficult thing to cook compared to the rest. I'm not sure if they expected the sauce to soften up the rice but when it's undercooked, rice is not edible no matter how much sauce is poured over it. I'm a fan of the Disney beignets and these were not close to that. The ones we received were dense like bread and difficult to swallow. Another side note is that their beignets were covered in sugar (like how a Malasada is but not close to tasting like Leonard's) rather than powdered sugar. Much of the sugar fell off and didn't stick to the dessert, possibly due to it not being put into the sugar when hot. Last minute, the chocolate sauce that was supposed to be given was changed to Nutella. This was surprising as I wondered what other families would do if their kids or themselves had a nut allergy. Luckily, we don't and were ok with the switchover. Overall, the idea of an affordable family meal was great and admirable. However, the execution left a lot to be desired. The convenience of picking up the meal and reheating was great to try. Personally, I wouldn't recommend this to others though. I cannot speak on their cupcakes as I have not tried them. This is strictly reviewing the family meals they began offering during Covid. read more

I've gone here now a number of times and have been very impressed. When they first opened this cafe location I had lunch there and wasn't overly impressed, but wow has it come along and is always a top lunch spot for me now. The bento box is by far a great deal and their sandwiches are delicious, plus their mustard salad dressing (yummmmm!) and you get a mini cupcake. I've been going to Dots for over a decade now getting their cupcakes and I still think they are some of the best in LA. Cannot wait to try some more of their menu items and family dinner soon. Great customer service on the phone and in person too! read more

This review is specifically for Xiamata (I think that's how to spell it). She's the nicest employee there. I have purchased a few cups of coffee here (usually half cafe oat milk Latte's) and she always is naturally kind. Her and the Blonde haired girl (didn't get her name) have been super kind and courteous toward me, acknowledge me when I am waiting and treat me as politely as they do any other customer However, when Xiamata and the Blonde haired girl are not there or are busy, I walk in and feel almost intentionally ignored at times by the other employees who are free. One time I was ignored in favor of two other customers who entered after me and were buying cupcakes. And while I do not like being rude I mentioned that I had been waiting here for some time after two customers (who had come in after me) were addressed prior to me. This was when other employees worked rather than the two I mentioned who always treat me kindly. Maybe it's because the other customers were women with children? Not sure about that one, but not a nice sensation I must say. Anyway, Thank you Xiamata. You're very kind. read more

Pluses: really cute place, good coffee, excellent cupcakes. Minuses: boring food. Very very bland. Maybe the worst breakfast I've paid for in Pasadena. I got a breakfast sandwich with avocado and it looked beautiful but tasted like nothing. Weird fake roses take away from the real plants. read more

I did not understand how I could be in line and they ask the person behind me what she wants to order .Poor customer service and very little variety of cupcakes ..also parking stalls are narrow or folks are inconsiderate . I saw a vehicle get hit when someone opened their car door. read more

Ambiance and esthetics are awesome along with the friendly staff. Dalgona coffee and tea's were delicious but the cupcakes need some improvement. They were too dense. Frosting was delicious though!! But I would have enjoyed a fluffy cake. Lots of things to try on their menu so I'll definitely be back. read more

I've been to dots cafe a few times, but what stood out to me was when I called to see if how long they were open during this quarantine. The gal that answered the phone was so sweet and patient! She suggested I make my order over the phone to be able to get the flavors I wanted before they sold out...she went threw all the different cupcakes they had for the day and gave me some great suggestions! She saved me with a birthday surprise since all the other bakeries had already closed for the day!! They even threw in and entire 12 count candles for $0.50! My personal favorites are carrot and vanilla!!! read more

Cute little place. While Dots cupcakes don't exactly rank up there in my snobby cupcake-o-meter, I do appreciate a place that allows me to buy them as early as 7 in the morning. The interior is clean and bright, totally Instagrammable. On their menu, they have some breakfast items like a breakfast burrito, French toast sticks, toasts, sandwiches, and their veggie quinoa bowl, which I ordered. The bowl is quite satisfying and comes with a fried egg on top. I also had a decaf latte there... it was pretty solid. read more

Horrible service. Wanted to support our local business during these hard times but this experience was horrific. Called in and placed a small food order. The girl told me that it was going to be a 10-15min wait. Went in after 20mins to pick up. Came in and waited for my order which was not complete. The cashier told me they still need to make my tea so I waited. 3 other guest game in after me which one of them ordered a tea as well. She received her drink before I received mine and now I've waited inside for over 15mins. After all guest left, they started to work on my drink. No apologies, just "here is your drink" BAD SERVICE! read more

It's nice coffee shop/bake shop. Parking is ample and the servers are ok. The cupcakes are beautiful, moist and taste great. Their flavors are subtle but I like that in my cup cake. I mean it's there but not overpowering.id go back read more

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Instagramable, yes. Amazing job with the floral interior and mural on the building. I ordered the bacon mac and cheese and it was okay. Definitely not worth the price. My friend ordered the pepperoni pizza which took 20 minutes to make and was, again, just okay. I came in around 3:30 on a Sunday and asked if they were still serving waffles (which I was really excited to try since they advertised it so well on their Instagram). The guy up front checked in the back, came back out, and said they were no longer serving them for the day. Just moments after my mac and cheese came out, a server came out with waffles for another table. Curious, I asked someone else at the register, to which they told me, "Oh, that was a special order." She checks in the back and says, "Okay, we can make it for you." I ask how much, and she said "$10.50." Ten dollars for a waffle?! As cute as this place is, the lack of customer service left a bad taste in my mouth. read more

Food there is excellent! Cupcakes of course are awesome. Have always been since we would get cupcakes from the Pasadena location. Love how this location has breakfast and lunch as well as cupcakes! My family is happy this place opened up I think a year ago. Service is good and everyone is kind and respectful, but when it's busy, then it doesn't fee like the food takes longer to come out. But then again it makes sense if it busy‍ read more

quick notes : - every inch of this place was built for instagram - i just wanted to try some of their mini cupcakes, thought they were flavorful, moist, and not too sweet items ordered: - mini cupcakes: red velvet, fleur de sel, lemon, chocolate caramel ($8 total) would I come back? - maybe, if i'm in the area... actually, i noticed a nice wall mural in the back as i drove away so i'll probably come back to get a pic with that! read more

Dots Cafe - mini cupcakes (lemon, chocolate caramel, fleur de sel, red velvet) - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I love this place. This place has good ambiance. I can see myself chilling here, having coffee and reading a good book. We had the risotto balls and goat cheese croquettes, they were awesome. And the Bathrooms are crazy clean and smell great. No joke, it's weird how good it smells. I would recommend Dots cafe and will come back here again. read more

As soon as I walked in I was greeted by very friendly employees eager to help. I'm not a big sweets person but the cupcake display definitely got my attention. I ordered a Chocolate Lovers cupcake and Iced Latte. The cupcake was DELICIOUS! I also very much enjoyed my latte! PLUS their decor is absolutely adorable! read more

Dots Cafe - Chocolate lovers is so good! - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

Just love that Dots has moved so far east! Yess! You should see the variety of CUPCAKES this gurl makes! And how beautiful they are! Gorgeous!!!! Beyond! And they come in the sweetest little boxes. Oh my! Better than flowers if you've messed up, you feel me??? Also, they serve some great food. Who would have thought? Not me!!!! Go there with your sweetie! It's really great!! read more

DO NOT SUPPORT THIS ESTABLISHMENT. Summary: horrible service, overpriced, gross food, owner bullied my shy, polite family on my sister's birthday-- don't waste your time and money I would give it zero stars if I could. The owner reprimanded my sister ON HER BIRTHDAY and was disrespectful to my shy, ultra polite uncle. My sister decided to treat her 7 adult friends to lunch here on her actual birthday. They are quiet, well mannered, and also have large social media followings(wanted to post about the business). My uncle and my sister arrived to make sure my sister had a table, and the restaurant was basically empty. My sister had a simple balloon as a gift, so her friends would be able to see her. The owner of this restaurant was incredibly rude and unwelcoming of my sister and uncle. Told her she couldn't have "decor" when there was just one balloon and told her she needed a reservation when the entire restaurant was empty and she only invited 7 other friends... and had called previously to make a reservation but they told her she didn't have to. If you treat your customers like this, they are not coming back and will warn everyone else not to. The only positive part of the customer service experience was the guy with the longer hair who treated my sister respectfully. Their colorful decor is a facade. The food is not good and overpriced-- sandwiches had full chunks of not spread butter, were drenched in oil, flavorless meat, and the drinks had no flavor. Cupcakes are dry, boring, and overpriced. The staff and service were also horrible. They forgot two of our orders-- but didn't apologize, were rude about it, and made us feel like we were bothering them when we asked about it. They also didn't let us know whether the food was coming or not... We truly regret tipping. These people are unkind, unwelcoming, and don't deserve your business. Pasadena has a million amazing brunch places-- this isn't one of them. They literally push away their customers. read more

Super cute cafe, a little slow to open as we got there right at opening time, they had no breakfast menu up, signs still said closed even though they were open. Breakfast sandwich was ok, had a dirty iced chai that had more spice and it was indeed very spicy . Overall not too bad. read more

Never trust these people to get an order right, especially on a holiday. This is the 3rd time we have had a messed up order. This time on Mother's day when they are really busy . Simple enough we ordered pancakes with sausage and bacon (charged an extra $2.50 for the bacon) and then avocado toast with a side of bacon (charged another $2.50 for Bacon). Order was supposed to be ready at 10:15. We get there just after 10:15 and they are very busy and just hand me a bag with multiple containers in it quickly. I get home to find no bacon, of course they took the $5. It's one thing if it happens once, but this is the 3rd time this has happened, and on a holiday. Very frustrating. I will never trust ordering from here for any important event or holiday ever again. read more

I should have written a review a looooong time ago, but better late then never ... the vibe and aesthetic of this cafe is so elegant, vibrant and girly! The food is amazing and the cupcakes are probably the best I've had!! I felt compelled to write this review because they adapted so well to the covid craziness... I think family meals really boosted the surrounding communities and really gave that sense of comfort. The staff is always so sweet and helpful! read more

I first stumbled across Dots Cafe about a month after it's opening through a friends recommendation. A year and half later and I'm still as loyal as ever to this amazing cafe! I think for me the root of its success in my eyes in the owner's sensitivity to the customers requests and suggestions. Comparing where Dots was at a year and a half ago, to today is crazy how it's changed. Their coffee has gotten better since they partnered with Copa Vida on a new house blend and updated their equipment to handle the beans in a better manner. They've condensed their menu which has heightened the quality of each dish they now serve. And I don't know about you guys, but I love when employees (particularly at coffee shops) remember me and my order, since I usually get the same thing everywhere. Dots Cafe is no exception, since I come regularly every week at this point, I'm greeted by name, and asked if I want "the usual" which always leaves me with a smile! Every month they seem to add new merch which compliments their colorful and bright aesthetic so well, and every couple of months they even offer fun little workshops that range from cake decorating, to flower crown designs, to even calligraphy! It's an extension of the friends and collaborators the owner has done such a great job of building a community with! To top it all off, it's cute as heck in there! Lots of a great natural lighting flooding through (with blinds to shield if you want), and vibrant colors! Love that I've been able to say that I've been going to Dots Cafe since it's genesis and see the growth it's gone through! read more

Dots Cafe - Super yummy rose lattes! - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Since I live so close, I wanted to love this place--but unfortunately I do not (except for the wall-papered accent wall--that's adorable). (It should be noted that I've been here twice, once for lunch and once to pick up some (mediocre) cupcakes). The prices are astronomical, which is something that I don't always mind, so long as there is high value to match. Not so. The actual design of the establishment is bonkers. Employees were tripping over each other behind the counter. There is no discernible line for patrons ordering, so a globule of confused people forms at the door with little chance of maintaining an organized queue. The service is tepid and slow. So far, they seem do be doing everything wrong. I gave Dots Cafe 2 stars because they're still new..perhaps they'll last long enough to iron out the kinks?? For now, I'll continue to frequent the myriad dining options on the other side of the 210. read more

Really enjoyed our Dots lunch! It's a cute, bright and very inviting location across from Tops, closer to the surrounding residential area. The sandwiches are good, not the best but way better than what I was expecting. Because Dots is primarily a cupcake place I was thinking their food may not be as great, but I was pleasantly surprised. The cupcakes do sell out of certain flavors so try to go earlier in the day. They have mini and regular sized cupcakes in a wide variety of flavors. We had the Chocolate Coconut mini cupcake with our sandwich and it was so delicious! It was super moist and I love coconut flakes. Had a nice lunch here and would definitely come back. read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We always stop at the Dots over in Pasadena on Fair Oaks when ever we have lunch in that area. We, my family and I, have been fans since first discovering them years ago. So we were absolutely delighted to find this new little gem closer to home. Combining the bakery with a café is a fabulous idea. The quality is the same in their cupcakes as it is in other locations and we are looking forward to trying out the "Café" portion as soon as the need arises. The mini cupcakes are always the perfect little snack. read more

Every single things was so tasty! 10/10 will be back. The decor is wonderful. The staff is kind. read more

I took my husband and mother-in-law to check out this place two weeks ago (Saying a lot of nice things, showing many Instagram pictures). I felt so embarrassed after they gave us too bad services. Barely lukewarm coffees and cold tomato soups! And they reserved microwaved hot coffees, when we said they're cold. At the end, don't get fooled by the fancy instagram pictures, posts. So shame! read more

Great place to have breakfast! Very Friendly Staff and a Positive, Clean Atmosphere! The Waffle Combo Was Outstanding as well as the Vanilla Latte with foam leaf design. Pastries are well displayed and reasonably priced. read more

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The food is amazing every time I come here. Always try their specials - trust me. I have never had one I did not love.

GEORG New breakfast/lunch & bakery in Pasadena. Super cute! I just feel like we should have a girls luncheon here. There Baked items are so fragrantly fresh and everything is visually appealing. I wanna leather myself in butter, confection & powered sugar. It's all YUMMINESS read more

Wonderful service, stunning presentation, delicious cupcakes!! Very happy with my order. This was for friends who live down the street. read more

Dots Cafe - Half dozen cupcakes gift I ordered and sent to a friend via Uber Eats. - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

We had a great experience here, the people are nice, the place is clean and the food is superb. In a world where all the food is full of pesticides, hormones and low grade, we struck gold because shis place is a gem and you should come mining here. read more

Dots Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Pasadena, California

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