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I came here as an additional experience when I visited a mountain top town, but next time I will visit El Buen Cacao first, and the mountain top town will be the additional experience. In simpler terms, I did not mean to discover this chocolate factory but now that I have, I feel like I found a gem of sweetness that I cannot wait to indulge in anew. And now I know to go there with more hunger, so I can sample more of their goodies, cause this time I allowed myself one chocolate- made with honey as a principle- and chocolate shake made with cacao nibs. The milkshake was their flavor of the month. I took a picture of how this place describe itself. Buen Cacao describe itself as "a small family run bean to bar chocolate factory." Moreover, they describe that they "craft [their] chocolate using ethically sourced and single origin cacao beans." They further state that they are "unapoletigically dark" which means that they do not use a lot of ingredients and it is all churned out in their "small factory in the sky." Not only was I happy to eat a dark indulgence, but also felt proud to purchase from folks who are responsible in the way they source their main ingredient, and folks who have whimsy and passion in their hearts. I did not take pictures or notes of the chocolate I tasted. But, it was a honey made chocolate. And the sweetness of the cacao and the sweetness of the honey did not fight each other for top billing. Instead they complimented each other, like two ballet dancers doing a move that required both to move in unison and poise. The sweetness of the moment, was pleasent and not cloying, which is high a compliment because sweetness squared can easily be annoyingly sweet, like a grandma who has not learnt that sometimes eggs crack from store to home. The place did something small but wonderful. They split, the milkshake into two cups, so we had a tasting. I regret that I did not enter this place with more understanding of what this place is. I am happy it was a pleasent surprise. I want to try more things now, but it is far away. I will try to go here again, do not know when or how, but that keeps me hopeful. I am jealous for those who can eat chocolate amidst the clouds of a mountain top.
We came here via car on a Friday in late November 2024. There is a parking lot in the plaza it was in so it was super easy. We came here every single day we stayed in Idyllwild after that first time trying it. I got the House Chocolate with oat milk every single time. My friends tried a bunch of the other ones and also really enjoyed it. I usually don't like specialty hot chocolate but I really enjoyed this one. They said they're planning to open another local in the Arts District on DTLA. Their house made chocolates were also very good. Would highly recommend!
I love this establishment. We visited them at their old location over three years ago. This new location is Ada Friendly. Sipping Spanish chocolate is my go to. I close my eyes, inhale, and sip it's a delicious experience. Beautiful cacao rich in minerals is really better than regular chocolate with all that extra ingredients. As a chocolate purist I appreciate the little and organic ingredients this place uses. Most of their products are dark chocolate but you do have a couple of choices if you are not ready to venture out to dark chocolate. If you are feeling daring please try the chocolate covered figs. I still have an old T-shirt from here! That's how much I like this place I'm promoting in Los Angeles. Hoping they start selling T-shirts again. Thank you to this small business that always greets us with a smile and makes us feel welcomed.
This place is a must-visit for chocolate lovers! Their hot chocolate with ghost pepper is unlike anything I've ever had!! rich, smooth, and with just the right amount of heat to keep things interesting You can really taste the quality since they use real cacao If you're looking for something bold and unique, this is the spot! owner is super friendly, the town is magically beautiful there are seats in and out of the store , very cozy
Must not be missed when in Idyllwild! My husband and I drove up to Idyllwild for a weekend getaway and decided to visit El Buen Cacao, as multiple online articles recommended them. I remember reading somewhere that they had the best mochas, and we love mochas... so we knew we had to stop by. The staff was super welcoming, friendly, and nice. The place was clean and they had a lot of tables, and there was plentiful parking as well. My husband ordered a hot mocha and I had it iced (it was super hot that day!).. and they did not disappoint! Oh man, they were really good, I am still thinking about it days after we left. The mochas were rich, creamy, and had just the perfect amount of sweetness. The hot mocha was a tad yummier (as I guess you can really taste it and it is not diluted by the ice). Highly, highly recommend, we think this was the best place we've visited in our few days in Idyllwild. We will definitely be back ifever we're in the area again!
Some years back I had visited this store when they first opened in another shopping area of Idyllwild. They were friendly at that time and there customer service hasn't changed since. On this visit my sister and I made a visit when we were looking for hot chocolate with a kick on this cold and raining day. This popped up and it was perfect because we were already in the same parking lot. It was a little confusing when approach the business because it is adjacent to another store. We felt the sign wasn't obvious that we almost walked into the other business. We were greeted with a friendly employee as we entered. We let her know that we wanted to study the menu before placing our order. Plenty of drink choices and even a vegan option. We both ordered the Vegan Sipogado (vanilla gelato vs. vanilla ice cream) and to-go order were two Spicy hot chocolate. We were both surprised by the tart/bitter warm cacao poured over the gelato. But once you mixed it together it definitely complimented each other. The spicy hot chocolate had a nice kick to it! Both orders were very good and very rich in cacao. We would definitely like to return during warmer weather to try some of the shake options. There is a couple outdoor seats in front. Plenty of indoor seating. The decor is welcoming. The store is clean and I love how they incorporated the cacao bags in the table decor. Definitely friendly and helpful owners and employees. They can surely give you the run down of the entire process of cacao. They do their own cacao process in the back of the store! This location is in a shopping area that includes the library, post office, grocery store. Although there was parking available during our visit I could imagine parking could be an issue during the warmer days. Check them out!
Family-owned chocolate shop was very welcoming! I really enjoyed the drinks I got here. Visited this place two days back-to-back when I was visiting Partner and I got the frozen mocha hot chocolate, chocolate milkshake, sipping chocolate, and ensemble collection. Frozen mocha hot chocolate: chocolate was rarely evident, mostly tasted coffee?/espresso? which is fine BUT I craved for more chocolate Chocolate milkshake: holy smokes this was so good! I was jealous at my partner getting it. Sipping chocolate: RICH and DEEP. It was great haha. I didn't even drink it, I ate it like yogurt since they gave the drink with a spoon. Ensemble collection: I believe it was the crunch stack, date, haystack, and Turkish fig. Unfortunately these chocolates didn't impress me, only because I wasn't BIG on the fillings inside, but each had their own texture which I enjoyed and luckily the chocolate covered it. Overall, no matter what we bought, there's something that we like in the end!
I have heard so many good things about this place and left disappointed The highlight here is easily the atmosphere and the reason for the higher review. I love seeing all the chocolates in the shop and see that they are making right in house is always a good thing to see. However, the service was not so kind to me. They were not helpful to what I wanted to get and almost didn't even seem to care for my business when I was the only one in there at the time and felt like I was being a nuisance. Also, the chocolate was only "okay" and for such a small chocolate bar being $10+ you really do expect a higher quality for what you are getting. Each chocolate (basically a sees candy size) was $3-5 each! And based on what I had with the chocolate bar, I'd rather go to sees candy. Although I do love to support local businesses and enjoy seeing freshly made chocolates, I personally am not coming back for the overpriced chocolate with poor customer service.
I love the concept of this place but I personally didn't like the flavor although I do think that you should at least try it once just for the experience and perhaps you'll find yourself loving it. I'm an absolute chocolate lover so I was really excited to check this place out but as far as flavor goes, it wasn't to my liking - though my boyfriend enjoyed it. We had gone on a week day so it wasn't busy at all, the cashier was nice and helpful. And there was some history, art pieces, and news articles on the wall that were nice to read.
GLUTEN FREE ALERT El Buen Cacao is a small chocolate shop and cafe located in downtown Idyllwild. The shop specializes in handcrafted chocolates and other sweet treats, as well as coffee and tea. The atmosphere is described as cozy and inviting, with a rustic decor and friendly service. Some of the popular items at El Buen Cacao include their artisanal chocolate truffles, chocolate bark, and hot chocolate. They also offer a variety of baked goods, including croissants, muffins, and cookies. Many customers also praise their coffee and tea selection, as well as their vegan and gluten-free options.
3 months ago
5 months ago
Omg idyllwild has sipping chocolate now! I accidentally came across this when I was checking who was open for late afternoon coffee and I'm so glad I stumbled across it. This place is located in the very charming and cute "funky bazaar". I ended up getting the mocha bc I still needed the caffeine fix, although I need to make another weekend trip back up to try their sipping chocolates. The mocha was rich, dense, and delicious. Of course, I had to grab some chocolate since it was staring back at me from the counter. I got the Turkish fig ensemble and it was the perfect companion treat for my mocha. Thanks for satisfying my sweet tooth, el buen cacao! read more
3 months ago
I came here as an additional experience when I visited a mountain top town, but next time I will visit El Buen Cacao first, and the mountain top town will be the additional experience. In simpler terms, I did not mean to discover this chocolate factory but now that I have, I feel like I found a gem of sweetness that I cannot wait to indulge in anew. And now I know to go there with more hunger, so I can sample more of their goodies, cause this time I allowed myself one chocolate- made with honey as a principle- and chocolate shake made with cacao nibs. The milkshake was their flavor of the month. I took a picture of how this place describe itself. Buen Cacao describe itself as "a small family run bean to bar chocolate factory." Moreover, they describe that they "craft [their] chocolate using ethically sourced and single origin cacao beans." They further state that they are "unapoletigically dark" which means that they do not use a lot of ingredients and it is all churned out in their "small factory in the sky." Not only was I happy to eat a dark indulgence, but also felt proud to purchase from folks who are responsible in the way they source their main ingredient, and folks who have whimsy and passion in their hearts. I did not take pictures or notes of the chocolate I tasted. But, it was a honey made chocolate. And the sweetness of the cacao and the sweetness of the honey did not fight each other for top billing. Instead they complimented each other, like two ballet dancers doing a move that required both to move in unison and poise. The sweetness of the moment, was pleasent and not cloying, which is high a compliment because sweetness squared can easily be annoyingly sweet, like a grandma who has not learnt that sometimes eggs crack from store to home. The place did something small but wonderful. They split, the milkshake into two cups, so we had a tasting. I regret that I did not enter this place with more understanding of what this place is. I am happy it was a pleasent surprise. I want to try more things now, but it is far away. I will try to go here again, do not know when or how, but that keeps me hopeful. I am jealous for those who can eat chocolate amidst the clouds of a mountain top. read more
5 months ago
House Cacao was excellent! Location was not updated on Maps yet. Happy we found the new spot! Super cute read more
We came here via car on a Friday in late November 2024. There is a parking lot in the plaza it was in so it was super easy. We came here every single day we stayed in Idyllwild after that first time trying it. I got the House Chocolate with oat milk every single time. My friends tried a bunch of the other ones and also really enjoyed it. I usually don't like specialty hot chocolate but I really enjoyed this one. They said they're planning to open another local in the Arts District on DTLA. Their house made chocolates were also very good. Would highly recommend! read more
I love this establishment. We visited them at their old location over three years ago. This new location is Ada Friendly. Sipping Spanish chocolate is my go to. I close my eyes, inhale, and sip it's a delicious experience. Beautiful cacao rich in minerals is really better than regular chocolate with all that extra ingredients. As a chocolate purist I appreciate the little and organic ingredients this place uses. Most of their products are dark chocolate but you do have a couple of choices if you are not ready to venture out to dark chocolate. If you are feeling daring please try the chocolate covered figs. I still have an old T-shirt from here! That's how much I like this place I'm promoting in Los Angeles. Hoping they start selling T-shirts again. Thank you to this small business that always greets us with a smile and makes us feel welcomed. read more
This place is a must-visit for chocolate lovers! Their hot chocolate with ghost pepper is unlike anything I've ever had!! rich, smooth, and with just the right amount of heat to keep things interesting You can really taste the quality since they use real cacao If you're looking for something bold and unique, this is the spot! owner is super friendly, the town is magically beautiful there are seats in and out of the store , very cozy read more
Must not be missed when in Idyllwild! My husband and I drove up to Idyllwild for a weekend getaway and decided to visit El Buen Cacao, as multiple online articles recommended them. I remember reading somewhere that they had the best mochas, and we love mochas... so we knew we had to stop by. The staff was super welcoming, friendly, and nice. The place was clean and they had a lot of tables, and there was plentiful parking as well. My husband ordered a hot mocha and I had it iced (it was super hot that day!).. and they did not disappoint! Oh man, they were really good, I am still thinking about it days after we left. The mochas were rich, creamy, and had just the perfect amount of sweetness. The hot mocha was a tad yummier (as I guess you can really taste it and it is not diluted by the ice). Highly, highly recommend, we think this was the best place we've visited in our few days in Idyllwild. We will definitely be back ifever we're in the area again! read more
3 months ago
3 years ago
Some years back I had visited this store when they first opened in another shopping area of Idyllwild. They were friendly at that time and there customer service hasn't changed since. On this visit my sister and I made a visit when we were looking for hot chocolate with a kick on this cold and raining day. This popped up and it was perfect because we were already in the same parking lot. It was a little confusing when approach the business because it is adjacent to another store. We felt the sign wasn't obvious that we almost walked into the other business. We were greeted with a friendly employee as we entered. We let her know that we wanted to study the menu before placing our order. Plenty of drink choices and even a vegan option. We both ordered the Vegan Sipogado (vanilla gelato vs. vanilla ice cream) and to-go order were two Spicy hot chocolate. We were both surprised by the tart/bitter warm cacao poured over the gelato. But once you mixed it together it definitely complimented each other. The spicy hot chocolate had a nice kick to it! Both orders were very good and very rich in cacao. We would definitely like to return during warmer weather to try some of the shake options. There is a couple outdoor seats in front. Plenty of indoor seating. The decor is welcoming. The store is clean and I love how they incorporated the cacao bags in the table decor. Definitely friendly and helpful owners and employees. They can surely give you the run down of the entire process of cacao. They do their own cacao process in the back of the store! This location is in a shopping area that includes the library, post office, grocery store. Although there was parking available during our visit I could imagine parking could be an issue during the warmer days. Check them out! read more
3 years ago
Family-owned chocolate shop was very welcoming! I really enjoyed the drinks I got here. Visited this place two days back-to-back when I was visiting Partner and I got the frozen mocha hot chocolate, chocolate milkshake, sipping chocolate, and ensemble collection. Frozen mocha hot chocolate: chocolate was rarely evident, mostly tasted coffee?/espresso? which is fine BUT I craved for more chocolate Chocolate milkshake: holy smokes this was so good! I was jealous at my partner getting it. Sipping chocolate: RICH and DEEP. It was great haha. I didn't even drink it, I ate it like yogurt since they gave the drink with a spoon. Ensemble collection: I believe it was the crunch stack, date, haystack, and Turkish fig. Unfortunately these chocolates didn't impress me, only because I wasn't BIG on the fillings inside, but each had their own texture which I enjoyed and luckily the chocolate covered it. Overall, no matter what we bought, there's something that we like in the end! read more
2 years ago
This is a MUST stop when you visit Idyllwild. You have to try to sipping chocolate. It's is so good. We got some chocolate to go as well! read more
I have heard so many good things about this place and left disappointed The highlight here is easily the atmosphere and the reason for the higher review. I love seeing all the chocolates in the shop and see that they are making right in house is always a good thing to see. However, the service was not so kind to me. They were not helpful to what I wanted to get and almost didn't even seem to care for my business when I was the only one in there at the time and felt like I was being a nuisance. Also, the chocolate was only "okay" and for such a small chocolate bar being $10+ you really do expect a higher quality for what you are getting. Each chocolate (basically a sees candy size) was $3-5 each! And based on what I had with the chocolate bar, I'd rather go to sees candy. Although I do love to support local businesses and enjoy seeing freshly made chocolates, I personally am not coming back for the overpriced chocolate with poor customer service. read more
8 months ago
2 years ago
I love the concept of this place but I personally didn't like the flavor although I do think that you should at least try it once just for the experience and perhaps you'll find yourself loving it. I'm an absolute chocolate lover so I was really excited to check this place out but as far as flavor goes, it wasn't to my liking - though my boyfriend enjoyed it. We had gone on a week day so it wasn't busy at all, the cashier was nice and helpful. And there was some history, art pieces, and news articles on the wall that were nice to read. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
GLUTEN FREE ALERT El Buen Cacao is a small chocolate shop and cafe located in downtown Idyllwild. The shop specializes in handcrafted chocolates and other sweet treats, as well as coffee and tea. The atmosphere is described as cozy and inviting, with a rustic decor and friendly service. Some of the popular items at El Buen Cacao include their artisanal chocolate truffles, chocolate bark, and hot chocolate. They also offer a variety of baked goods, including croissants, muffins, and cookies. Many customers also praise their coffee and tea selection, as well as their vegan and gluten-free options. read more
2 years ago
Delicious coffee, there house mocha we as delicious. Love to see small businesses change things up . read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
The shop was actually bigger than i thought it would be! They have their production and sacks of beans there as well and that was very interesting to watch. We tried an assortment of their truffles and everything tasted so good and so smooth! My personal favorite is the coconut clusters and the classic dark chocolate. Cashier was friendly and helpful, she answered all our questions to help us figure out which ones to get. Parking was not a problem because its one of several shops in an area with a shared large parking lot in the middle. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Craft Chocolate Shake!! OMG!! After this, there is no other shake! Fast, friendly, Amazing Good! read more
2 years ago
Husband wanted to visit this shop and we bought a bit of everything. Ordered: 1) Fig chocolate - yum 2) Madagascar guajillo chocolate - yum 3) Honey chocolate - yum 4) Peanut butter chocolate - yum 5) Haystack chocolate - ok 6) very rich Chocolate drink / shot glass size - so good!! 7) India ghost pepper chocolate - super spicy read more
3 years ago
Whenever we are in Idyllwild this is our first stop! This family owned small business makes their chocolate on site from scratch. They're producing unique high quality two ingredient chocolate. I say unique because they fly around the word to small privately owned cacao farms in search of the product that they feel is best. When we visit, they're always welcoming. The environment feels like home for us. They sell coffee as well, but they're a chocolate store. If you like spicy I recommend the Mexican Hot chocolate, I add espresso to mine. My teenager loves the sipogado! It really is delicious. Everything is amazing, so don't be afraid to explore the coffee with their homemade unique high quality two ingredient chocolate. Definitely recommend! #YAKI24 Teppanyaki Catering read more
1 year ago
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2 years ago
When I thought Idyllwild can't get any better we came across El Buen Cacao. It's an authentic chocolate shop in Idyllwild. They have amazing choices of chocolate that is made in their shop. We got some of their chocolate figs and let me tell you something, the combination of the Spanish hot chocolate and the figs is out of this world. The shop has about 6 different types of hot chocolate. I still cant believe there is such a high end chocolate place in idyllwild. And owner of this spot is also very friendly and engaging which made our experience even better. We will definitely visit this place again and so should you! read more
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More info about El Buen Cacao
54875 N Circle Dr
Idyllwild, CA 92549
Directions
(951) 468-0367
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http://elbuencacao.co
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Ask the Community - El Buen Cacao
Are there vegan/dairy-free options?
All chocolate products that we create are dairy-free, vegan and gluten-free, with exception of our current 60% dark milk Peruvian bar. Some of our drinks are naturally vegan, but we do have milk alternatives (oat and coconut) for any drinks usually…
Review Highlights - El Buen Cacao
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
13 reviews that are not currently recommended
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9 years ago
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El Buen Cacao - chocolate - Updated July 2026
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