This place is 3 blocks away from my apartment, so naturally I've been here twice in the last two weeks. I'm determined to learn to love it, since it's the perfect roll-out-of-bed-post-hangover brunch location. First visit was underwhelming...slow service and messy ordering process, and my huevos rancheros were not very flavorful. Second visit was a definite improvement, since I got the absolutely DELICIOUS "B.A.B.E." breakfast sandwich (heaps of bacon, arugula, egg and tomato!). I'm hoping to bump this up to four stars on my next visit, which I'm sure will happen very soon. read more

Better than I thought it would be. Quaint place, with healthy takes on traditional breakfast plates. Plus great service! read more

Homemade Cafe - Home fries/chicken Apple sausage & waffle with bacon - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Food always consistently good. Today's me time to brunch munchies: bacon, corn and scallion hash with heavenly hash. Yeah it's was/is fucking amazing. read more

Delicious classic breakfast items. I get the waffle with pecans every time. Potatoes are great, eggs done as you like, service is efficient and pleasant. When I was a grad student living away from home, my spouse--who worked nights--would meet me at the Homemade Cafe for early breakfast before he headed home to sleep and I headed off to class. We live in the Central Valley now and come in for early morning weekend breakfasts as a treat every few months, that's how consistently good it is. Never a line when you get there early! read more

I really want to love this neighborhood spot, but whenever I eat there, I leave disappointed and feeling like I spent way too much for the quality of food. The latest visit, cleanliness was an issue--there were pieces of napkin or paper (my partner thought they might be bugs, but I don't want to think about that) inside the ketchup bottle. Also, the condiment bottles were definitely not wiped/sanitized before serving; I was really turned off by their lack of cleanliness. In this Covid era, I expected things to be much cleaner. The prices have also gone up so much...$14 for a basic breakfast sandwich with potatoes. I want to support them, but I just can't given my latest experience. I think I'll just go across the street to Mo Joe Cafe for a bagel or something next time. read more

Had the breakfast burger here today and it was absolutely delicious along with the home fries served with it. The place is very reasonably priced and has a good turnaround time even when busy. Great for a casual breakfast or brunch. read more

Probably my favorite place to grab breakfast/brunch in Berkeley. This place has some bomb-ass blueberry pancakes. They also have good eggs benedict and other hollandaise-based variants. that's about all i've tried, so i don't know how everything else is. The waits are generally not too bad, although the service can be a bit snarky at times. The prices are typical of breakfast places in Berkeley, but the quality is generally better than most other places (e.g. fat apple's which has a much longer wait). read more

If you are wanting a little yummy/eclectic/romantic morning meet up, this is your place. Nevermind it's loud, and you might have to wait forever...the grits, or eggs or homefries or whatever floats your morning boat, make it all worth it. I personally love the feta, spinach and mushroom omlette- BUT I get the whole thing scrambled. I hate the idea of a huge stuffed egg patty, I don't care who made it. Make sure to get your weekday meal card, everytime you spend a little you will eventually (Like all dates) get a little ;^P read more

My wife and I have had the pleasure of eating here twice, and after moving only a block away, I'm sure we will be eating her more often. The food is wonderful, I had Eggs Benjamin and my wife had Eggs Rancheros. Both wonderful. -1 STAR: $4 for a pancake on the side. ONE PANCAKE!!! read more

I recently moved to South Berkeley and love going out to diners for breakfast. I had heard about this place and seen the long lines outside on the weekends and really really really wanted to love this place. For those who want to go, if you get there before 9:15 or so, you shouldn't have to wait. We got there at 8:30 and at about 9:15, the line started to form. Luckily for us, Berkeley people don't get up early. For breakfast, I'm a pancakes/french toast/waffle kind of guy, so whenever I go to a new place, the first thing I try is their pancakes. Its amazing how something so basic can really be quite difficult to perfect. Their pancakes were thick, which in and of itself is not a bad thing. Unfortunately, they were also heavy and dense, not light and fluffy. And I think they had the griddle up too high, because my pancakes were "excessively browned" (i.e. burnt) on the outside but still gooey on the inside. I also noticed that other people around us that ordered pancakes also got "excessively browned" pancakes. The cafe also didn't offer any "combo" specials that include pancakes, eggs, and meat. That meant I had to order the sausage a la carte and my pancakes/sausage plate came to $10.50, which is a bit steep for what it is. On a positive note, the homemade sausage patty was delicious and definitely above and beyond the standard sausage that most breakfast places serve. My wife said she liked her french toast. The service was also very good and friendly. I actually like that we can just get up and get water/coffee whenever we need a refill. I will likely return to try the french toast and waffles before deciding if this place goes on my go-to list of breakfast spots. I'll be sure to post an update, as I'm sure you will all be waiting with baited breath. read more

Love this quaint little place! I always get the waffle and home fries! Make sure to ask for real maple syrup for the waffle...its $1 extra, salsa and sour cream for the home fries. Too bad this places isn't open later because I'd be there now. Make sure to get a frequent customer stamp card! read more

Homemade Cafe - Weekday Combination with real maple syrup - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Nice place everything is fresh and homemade. They add the 18% gratitude to the check, kind of estrange. read more

Nice spot to eat when you want a nice breakfast but don't wanna go to IHOP or Denny's or other chains. Came here with 3 friends at around 9:30am and only waited about 10 minutes for a table. There was a system where you write your name on their little book thing and they call you up. A lot of good seating to wait outside for your name to be called, though a bit chilly. Parking was fine, I luckily snagged a spot right in front of the restaurant, street parking. My friends parked a bit further down the street, into the residential neighborhood. The waitresses seemed pretty busy but got us everything we needed. Free refills of water and coffee, but you have to get up and go get it yourself :P A bit crowded, my friend could hardly move her elbows for fear of knocking down the condiments on the adjacent table. Very standard food, no complaints. Not bad, overall. read more

THIS is a RAVE REVIEW, not because the place is perfect, but because of the fantastic pillowy fluffiness of the classic buttermilk blueberry PANCAKES!!! The flavor was all there. . . just like when I was a kid... somewhere in Kansas. . . before IHOP came along and monopolized the basic buttermilk pancake concept, turning it into a bland, flat, white flour stack of gunk. These are the way pancakes should be!!!! (And the waffle looked good too, on that other guy's table.) I also want to rave about the HOME FRIES, because these were fresh chopped potatoes, with great seasoning, mostly brown and crispy, yet not at all greasy. The smoked salmon scramble was quite good, although overloaded with chopped onions. I shall return... and try some other classic breakfast diner food. read more

Still love this place. Among the best pancakes I've ever had. A couple of the staff have trouble getting check on the table quickly. read more

Wow, I just had the Italian scramble with grits. Definitely add the cheese on the grits. It's my first time here and I'm already looking over the menu for the next time! read more

Homemade Cafe - The Italian scramble with a side of cheese grits and sourdough toast. Yum. - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great breakfast spot. Service is a hit or miss. Some days they are good, some days it's like waiting for hours for the check. Love their coffee cakes and strong coffee! read more

The best breakfast in Berkeley, hands down (A close runner up is Rick and Ann's)! The best home fries ever and extremely good pancakes! The service is also fun and it's a big plus having the self serve coffee bar. It's places like this that make me miss home so much. Go, you won't be disappointed read more

As other reviewers have noted---it's crowded on weekends---you'll rub elbows with others, literally. But I lived down the block for a few years from the Homemade and even though I absolutely hate breakfast, can't face solid food until almost noon, I have gone there to eat. To eat breakfast. Because--HOME FRIES WITH PESTO that are so good, in a greasy pile with salsa and sour cream and it just makes me sick looking at everyone else eating eggs and sausages--yuck--but I will suffer through it because the home fries are so good. And they're so sweet. I went by to say hi after I moved away and they gave me a free meal to thank me for coming back. Reviews that complain about the service--I think they do the best they can--they're clearly in business to pack them in on weekends and are not a leisurely brunch place. You get your own coffee refills. read more

I have been eating here for as long as I can remember and it is still great! To start the homefry heaven is just that heaven !!! The waffle with maple syrup is the best waffle ever read more

The Denver Omlette was good, but didn't blow me away. Ditto the home fry heaven w/ guac (it was the salsa I didn't care for). I washed it all down with 2 beers (Bud Tall boys). It was a fine brunch. 3-stars because of the atmosphere and the good prices. read more

Had the eggs Benjamin and a side of toast, we also had the ham and eggs. Coffee was nice and rich tasting, service was very friendly and quick, I liked this place a lot. Did the usual scanning everyone else's plates, just to check for plate envy, and as delicious as they all looked I was happy with mine. Busy place, but on a Saturday, no surprise, but the staff were all busy making sure all were looked after. Definitely returning next visit. read more

Easter Sunday breakfast, sat at the counter and watched them cook all their yummy goodness. The food was delicious and will definitely return. read more

Homemade Cafe - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love eating at the Homemade Cafe. The staff are great - friendly, professional, and happy to answer questions. They use local ingredients whenever possible, and I was impressed a few years ago when they raised their prices to provide for their staff team. Their pancakes are the best I've ever had, and I've had most of the other items on their main menu as well and have never been disappointed. I always take out of town family and friends here when they visit. If you go on a weekend morning for brunch be aware you might have to wait, but this is really a testament to their excellent service and food. I'm so glad I found this spot! read more

This isn't the best breakfast place in Berkeley, but you already know this. That said I've always been satisfied with the food I've been served here, only somewhat disappointed at how light my wallet was afterwards. Not that Homemade Cafe is expensive just that I think most of the items on the menu are slightly overpriced. This can add up and become pretty obnoxious especially because I don't think the food is all that special. Also know this: be prepared to WAIT for a seat on the weekend. Sometimes this is nice - like when you're up for enjoying their sunny Berkeley surroundings. But sometimes this sucks hard - like when the booze from last night is seething from your pores, your head is pounding since in the haze of your hangover you forgot your sunglasses at home, and all you really want is to sit and eat some greasy home fries with a bottom-less cup of coffee. BUT YOU CAN'T !!! because there's a fat line of 30 somethings ahead of you. Yin and yang, I guess.... read more

Homemade Cafe, ah just cain't quit you. Like I said in my previous review, sometimes they have 4-star days, sometimes they have 2 star days. Yesterday was a 4-starrer. The staff was wonderful (they all remember me), the place was packed yet not overly loud, and the waffles... Oh, the waffles. read more

We LOVE this place because the people are awesome. Cozy, warm, with a wonderful neighborhood feel. The food is usually great, especially the pancakes and waffles. The brewed coffee with endless refills is quite good, but it's the espresso drinks that will actually knock your socks off. It's not expensive at all, especially when you cash in the free meals you can earn with your "weekday card". But the real reason to visit is because of the friendly, cheery, helpful staff. Oh, and it's a great place for kids! read more

this spot is my jam! I love it. it is a teeny little fryup shack four blocks from my bed, and the food and the booze are great ways to start the morning off. I mean this spot is a proper diner - curved white coffee cups that just beg to be filled 2/3 with coffee and 1/3 with sugar. Don't get me wrong, i like black coffee usually, but at a diner with bacon and pancake and homefries smell wafting, i just want to hold that sugar shaker upside down until one of my friends takes it away from me. and then guzzle, refill myself pronto, and do it again. after two to three cups back to back in quick succession delicious food arrives, at which point i order a bacon soju bloody mary, and you should too. and the food, mmm. sometimes i get nice things, which they do well, like lox scramble or something. Usually though, I get the two eggs, add homefry heaven to the homefries (so they smother them in cheese, sour cream, guac, salsa, and pesto), sub out the toast for a cream cheese bagel, and go to town on the most stuffed up tasty flavor coma inducing delicious mountain ever to be seen before noon in Berkeley. Yum! Seriously, set aside some time to lie on the couch and be full, while your heart races from too much coffee, because overindulgence is the name of the game when you find a proper diner. and if you ever show up on the weekend with just your lonesome or one friendly face in tow, grab seats at the counter. They are fun to watch cooking on those busy saturday mornings - things fly off the line in perfectly delectable quality with the utmost speed. do it up. read more

I went with some friends for breakfast last Sunday. There were 6 of us in our party, but 2 of the 6 were running late. This is a place that won't seat you unless your party is all present, and they are pretty strict on that policy. Once we were finally seated, the service was not great. The person who took our order disappeared and never returned. Later we noticed he was very comfortably sitting and eating his own meal while the restaurant was packed. Perhaps it was his break time, but it is customary to notify your tables first so that they know who will be taking care of them when you are on said break. No such exchange happened. Instead, we received minimal attention from multiple wait staff throughout the rest of the time there. Now for what we liked. . . The food was DELICIOUS! Everyone enjoyed what they ordered, and there was special praise given to the Bloody Mary and Bacon Bloody Mary. The menu options are diverse and provide options for any pallet preference. Overall, I recommend the place for the food, but would not recommend to any friends who base their dining experience primarily on service. read more

Great breakfast! Had the Monte Cristo and it was excellent! The coffee was very good also. Staff is very friendly and efficient. There were a few things on the menu I wanted so I will definitely be back. read more

Homemade Cafe - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Went in for a delicious breakfast, and sure enough, I didn't leave disappointed...food was great, customer service was good, and the price was decent. Definitely give this place a shot! read more

Homemade Cafe - So good! - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

The food is average however the attitude of the ownership is appalling, actually disgraceful. I should rate this experience zero stars. I have never posted a review on yelp and actually signed up to review this place. It was a holiday, it was busy and the food took forever. No less than 40 minutes from ordering. We did not have a server come by our table during the entire wait. A simple sorry, our kitchen is jammed today, can buy one a lot of good will. We finished (more than half was left) our undercooked pancakes and heaping mounds of bland, mushy home fries, I went to pay. On the back of my credit card voucher I wrote(word for word), " the food took a long time." Nothing rude or mean spirited. Clearly the owner took umbrage to my candid feedback. She felt it necessary to drop a handwritten note on my table informing me that it is a holiday and they are busy! Clearly this place is a local institution for breakfast however the ownership is taking her clientele for granted. She clearly feels her restaurant is infallible. What kind of example does this behavior set for her employees? The story goes on with further reprehensible behavior on this woman's part but I will spare you. This was my first and last visit. read more

Food was good. I ordered the bagel with cream cheese and fresh bowl of fruit. Fruit was fresh and bagel was just how I like it, toasted and crunchy. My daughter had the kids pancake and bacon meal with a side of scrambled eggs. The pancake was so fluffy; egg was fluffy and creamy! Hubs ordered the corned beef hash; can't beat freshly made corned beef hash. All was super delicious. Feel like the only con is that it kind of took a bit for the food to arrive. Very friendly service. Def. will be coming back and highly recommend this place. read more

Definitely not a place to go for vegan options. They had one vegan option and it was tofu with spinach & beans. Very bland. You'd think being in the Bay they'd have a few decent options. I only went because I was with 2 non vegans and they seemed to enjoy their meals. The waitress was nice but it was very busy and she seemed to be working alone that morning. read more

Omg me and my kids had this the other day best food 10/10. The chocolate chip pancakes were a hit with Rosalie and Alice. We recommend and will be ordering again!!! Also if the lunch is as good as the breakfast this may be my new fav place read more

I love this place and been going there with my daughter for years. We've brought cousins from England, my sister's family and sundry friends. Try the huevos rancheros or the eggs with pesto. Those are favorites. Some staff members have worked there for more then a decade. read more

This restaurant is my new favorite breakfast spot. Great food. The wait staff, while extremely busy at times, never forgets you. Some wait staff are more outgoing/loud than others, but I've yet to have a truly terrible experience with anyone there. I don't eat there on the weekdays (typically there on Sundays), but take a tip: do not go to Homemade Cafe after 10:30/11 and expect to get right in. If you go a little earlier you'll typically get in quickly. I've had to wait as much as 45 minutes for a table (and once waited about 20 minutes for the food), but both times we went to Homemade around noon. Not smart. Also, to all you repeat visitors who post about multiple visits and then award the spot a "one star" rating, haven't you ever heard of "averaging?" read more

The waffle is freakin' amazing. I live right down the street but u try to resist coming here too often because that waffle will be my undoing. Weekends get busy, but it's worth the wait! read more

Homemade is hands down my go-to spot for a great brunch. The food is great and the service is pretty quick. Even at the primetime brunch hours, homemade can get customers in and out pretty quickly so you're not waiting too long. It's a bit of a cramped place, with you sometimes feeling like you're too close to the next person, but it still has so much charm. Everything about it screams local and caring. The staff are super friendly and efficient. The last time I went, I ordered something I ordered numerous times before and was told they didn't do that. However, by the end of the meal a staff came over, apologized and then rectified the issue I had because they were wrong. We all know how hard it is to admit you're wrong, so it was really nice of them to come over and do that. That's how much the staff care about pleasing customers. Another cool thing is the atmosphere. You'll see local artwork on the walls as you eat. It can range from strange to tippy to contemporary but it's always a crowd favorite to check out the artwork while you wait for the food. The food is brunch food but they've got a large variety. I love the corned beef hash and always get my plates with that instead of home fries, even though the home fries are good too. One item that blew may away though was the Portuguese egg dish. GET IT, YOU WON'T BE UPSET. Give homemade cafe a try and you'll realize you found you're favorite brunch place. It's Denzel approved. read more

Homemade Cafe - My Denver omelette with corned beef hash instead of the normal homefries. Get the corned beef hash! - American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I have been coming here since the early 2000's when I used to do karate down the street at Kuk Sool Won. Because they have limited seating, there's usually a wait when I come here (about 15-20), but it doesn't ever feel very long because I'm usually catching up with an old friend while waiting. When I was younger, I used to always get either their french toast or their blueberry pancakes, but one of my new favorites is their breakfast sandwich called the "Breakfast BABE," which stands for Bacon, Arugula, Bacon and Egg. I also like getting their mimosa carafes. They come in orange and usually a different flavor, like pomegranate, as well. They're "homestyle" potatoes are super good, especially with sour cream. I also highly recommend the dish that comes with poached eggs and salmon! Their food and service are amazing! 5/5 starts from me! :) read more