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    Kafe Toribashi

    4.6 (47 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Kafe Toribashi Photos

    KAFE TORIBASHI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kafe Toribashi

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    Blueberry and Mango milk matcha tea
    Christine C.

    Day out in Monterey- we had been sampling drinks all vacation and this little matcha place looked yummy. We ordered a blueberry and a mango matcha milk tea. The nice guy behind the counter shared that he made all his fruit purées from scratch- you could definitely taste it! Between the hand whipped matcha and fresh purées the drinks were so yummy. The Taiyakis were also delicious- we got a 3 pack of Oreo, Nutella, and Crème. Crème was our favorite- Such a cute clean place right on the Wharf. Added a nice experience to our day out!

    The taiyaki sign caught our eye! yum!
    Trish S.

    Ooh... super excited to see this here on the wharf. We checked it out. but will have to come back and give it a try. They had coffee, dessert, ramen, and much more. The prices seemed reasonable too. Definitely a place to try on our next trip.

    Jonathan L.

    Found this location while walking on the pier and I was wonderfully surprised to find a Japanese cafe with Japanese/asian snacks. I love Japanese Taiyaki and was so happy to see that they had it there. 1. Taiyaki: I know it was made by Kafe Toribashi since they have a machine in the back counter but I was worried because they're already premade. However they rebake it for you when you order. I was wary of how fresh it would taste but it was actually really delicious and fresh tasting. I loved the custard but the red bean was also really delicious. Lots of filling. Overall, love this place and I would definitely be back. The prices are super reasonable and fresh/authentic tasting.

    Tamila K.

    This place is so cute! I got their matcha affogato and it was so good! I also got a strawberry matcha, but it was too sweet for me. I don't really like super sweet drinks, but I'm sure a lot of people would have enjoyed it! The service is nice too!

    Decor lighting made of different tea pots.
    Becca D.

    This little shop at the end of the wharf is a hidden gem. They have coffee, ice cream, ramen, and other goodies. They didn't have taiyaki the day I went :( but that's ok I'm sure it would've been yummy. I opted for the ramen. You order on a screen and then the people make it for you. The gentleman helping behind the counter was super nice. The patrons around me seemed to enjoy their lattes. They had plenty of seating. I opted to sit outside and watch the sea lions and boats. Excellent experience for a nice treat.

    1020 ice cream
    Gabriel B.

    Nice little spot on the wharf with quick service and ample seating indoors. There was a singe table outdoors in front of the shop where I sat to eat the Marianne's ice cream they served. Their ice cream selection was much smaller than the Santa Cruz location, but it was still nice to have access to it here.

    Pikachu
    Adrienne Z.

    Kafe Toribashi is near the end of Monterey Wharf. It's a cozy little spot that feels like a secret tucked into a seaside postcard. I ordered a sugar-free vanilla latte it was flavorful enough to convince me sugar-free can be gourmet. My son grabbed a caramel latte and while he didn't offer a manifesto on the flavor, he did give the classic concise compliment "Pretty good." I took a sip and can confirm. Value-wise, $6.00 is a solid price for a waterfront experience in this area, especially given the quality and vibe. The space is cute and bright, with little touches that make you want to linger which is exactly the plan for the next visit. I can't wait to come back and try the ramen or the ice cream. If the coffee is any indication, I'm betting the ramen will be a delicious surprise to complement that same easy-going, "I know good coffee" confidence.

    Vanilla ice cream with tayaki
    Devin M.

    8.5/10 I tried two vanilla taiyaki, one filled with custard and the other with red bean. The red bean filling was a 7.7/10 for me; a bit savory and not quite my preference. The custard, on the other hand, was a solid 8.8/10 sweet, smooth, and really hit the spot! They make the taiyaki fresh in-house, which is a great touch. A little messy to eat, but totally worth it. Service was excellent super friendly staff and owners. The ambiance was relaxed and welcoming, and the place was very clean. Overall, a great experience!

    Ordering area
    Chas A.

    We love this place as a family. My kids enjoy the instant ramen, the ice cream, and the friendly service! We came in during their soft opening and then again this time around, approximately a year after our first visit. We're so glad that it's around at the warf area. It's a no frills place to grab some quick food, coffee, while you sit and enjoy the scenery. If you're in the area, stop by and grab yourself some coffee or ice cream and relax. Try tv instant ramen...it stays hot the entire time that you're eating it!

    Matcha latte
    Cam Loan N.

    2nd time here and service is excellent each time. The matcha latte tastes great, I'm someone who doesn't like my drink sweet, so I did ask for half sweetness and it was perfect. Hubby got the strawberry matcha latte and he enjoyed it. Better than some of the places in the bay. Ice cream is good here as well. The girls got the strawberry cream.

    Stools out the back door overlook the water
    Alma S.

    This is a cute spot that adds a nice place to leisurely hang out on the Wharf in a cafe vs restaurant setting. The atmosphere is modern, bright, & clean with cool lighting fixtures. There's a lot of indoor seating at tables & at a bar with stools. There's also an outdoor table in front & stools out the back door overlooking the water. All the seating is metal. We came on a Saturday afternoon & luckily beat a rush of people that followed. Some of my family ordered with the man at the counter, but once it got busier, the rest of us who took more time to decide were directed to a large order screen. Customer service was friendly & welcoming, but the staff was kept busy. We are longtime fans of Marianne's Ice Cream (a Santa Cruz institution), which is what we came for. There were 8 flavors to choose from. We ended up getting macapuno, rocky road, mint chip & Heaven (vanilla ice cream with chocolate swirl, peanut butter swirl, and brownies). I also got a latte from the beverage menu, which I enjoyed. They serve Alibi coffee. They call out names when your order is ready, but not very loudly, so you have to pay attention as many customers had to be called multiple times. Their menu has taiyaki that you can get filled or used as an ice cream cone. DIY ramen is also offered with a variety of packages on display to choose from & the use of EZ Cook machines.

    Prepare your own ramen
    Tonia C.

    The wharf has a lot of places to have a lunch or dinner. Though they're all quality places, they're similar to each other and often pricey. There's a void in places to just hang out. Until now. Kafe Toribashi replaced the tea place that used to be here. They've kept the decor pretty much the same. That means you can still enjoy food and drinks on th patio overlooking the water. There's one outside table in front of the venue, which I sat at the first time but it was full last Saturday so I had to go inside. I'm glad because that's how I realized the service is fun and friendly. I thought they were a ramen place where you warmed up your own bowls of ramen. That is true. They are a casual ramen spot but they also serve Japanese pastries, reaaallllllyy good coffee and ice cream. I've had the iced lavender latte twice. It's better than ones I've had at nearby coffee houses. It's worth trekking down the wharf just for that coffee!! There's a shelf full of games so customers can just hang out for awhile. When a came a couple of Saturdays ago, a couple of young people were doing just that. Playing a game and sipping a drink. I've been here twice and service is helpful and friendly. It's the type of place where customers chat with each other and the workers. Skip past all the dinner spots and stop in and chill. You won't be disappointed.

    Blueberry matcha & Oreo matcha
    Anne C.

    I like this place, I think it's cute, the location is awesome; I got the blueberry matcha which was honestly super good- my only thing would be that for 2 matchas our total was like $20, so although I understand that's kinda just what matcha costs sometimes idk if it's something I'd get all the time. Given the location and that it was really good, I do think it makes sense though, and I'd still recommend this place, but just adding that for what it's worth

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    4 months ago

    Really good, pretty restaurant, just was overpriced . Would recommend if your into those Korean convenience stores!

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    Ask the Community - Kafe Toribashi

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    Toribashi

    Toribashi

    4.0
    (471 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$
    Healthy dining
    Established in 2018

    This is our go to ramen spot in Monterey. They have a self-serve kiosk for ordering but they are…read morethere to assist if needed. It's a cute little spot, plenty of tables. The ramen was really good and came out very fast. My husband had to get more Togo for later. Lol. Kids love the chicken with rice. Definitely recommend.

    Welp.. We finally had the chance to return to Monterey.. As we were squeezed for time, we chose to…read morecome to Toribashi tonight. Parking was only mildly challenging, as a space opened up after only a single lap around the block. Inside here, you'll find a busy place with a few tables and individual bar-style (partitioned!) paired seating along the walls adjacent to the kitchen in the middle part of the restaurant. Order up at the self-serve order kiosks, tap in your table/counter number, and they bring out your order in a couple of minutes. We had six of us in our party, and most of us kept it simple by ordering the default Tonkatsu Ramen with different customizable options. Most all of the ingredients in this order were on point - The Chasu Pork Belly was tender, thick and delicious, ramen noodles nothing special, but generally stil on point, as were the bamboo shoots. However, the co-star/centerpiece of the Tonkatsu Ramen other than the Chasu Pork slab should be the broth, but sadly the broth was far far TOO salty which overpowered the other flavors in the broth. Chasu Pork 4.8/5, Tonkatsu Ramen 3.1/5. Service was good as everyone was hustling hard in the kitchen, along with attentive bussers/waitstaff to quickly turn tables. They take good care in wiping down the tables here. If I return, I'll just get the Paitan Ramen like I did in years past, as that seemed less salty. Then again the Paitan soup base begins with the same chicken+pork soup base as the Tonkatsu Ramen. I hope Toribashi will step back up to their former glory.

    Photos
    Beef Rice Bowl
    Beef Rice Bowl
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    As ahi for the win

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    As ahi for the win
    Monterey's Fish House

    Monterey's Fish House

    4.0
    (3.4k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    One of the best seafood restaurants I've ever been to and they offer it oak grilled! Fantastic…read moreoffering, service, commitment to excellence!

    This is the best held secret for fish dinner. They open at 5:00 pm and at 5:30 all tables are…read morefilled. Call for a reservation.. why it a family with history of fishing and volunteers ... the menu is good standard fish meals and pasta dishes... then ever night they have 5 to 6 specials of fish and maybe a meat specials... I always get a special . Friday night they err packed and the way Saint it's 39 minutes or you could sit at the bar in 5 minutes . We always had a table but that sounded good to sit at the bar. The team from the way to the assistants are just amazing... like a food team . They move so fast water, wine , bread with olive oil and basaltic vinegar with a touch of hot sauce. Our first time at the bar they serve dinners, wine and beers ... the server told us the specials or home made raviolis with crab ect. The special I picked was the grilled tuna ... with pasta and vegetables.. I said I want it lightly grilled.. he said a mini or two on both sides ... yes .. he said it the best way. You get to see what the others are having and get into conversations with them... the tables are very close together you can talk to other people at tables but they just have 4/6 people at the tables... I had a glass of red wine whiz we wait ... no fried squid this time ... it's a lot so we passed this time first time we Did not have them ... my wife saw the wimp next to her and she had the crab ravioli so Linda ordered it . While we waited the serve was cracking to oysters . 3 hit and it was open slid the knot under it and repo it 5 more times for for a table order... our dishes can't from behind us from another waitress... both plates were just great looking, and the plate was hot ...I finish by glass of wine to mou for my plate .. the tuna was lightly grilled .. I cut into it and it was gust right .. the taste was so good as if the had it come in the back door... I usually put lemony on my fish , shrimp clammy ect but this tuna was so Amazing not tonight... I copy not believe what a big piece if aha tuna it was. Like it was a Bone steak... it push the pasty and vegetables to the edge of my plate. At ect other restaurants on the peninsula if it's a special it would be a small piece of fish like it so expensive... ... the staff comes by asking if we need any thing ... they weave in and around ti clear a table for prolly wait out the front door... Their deserts are made in house and the one who may the tearmisu was a family friend who makes the best we have ever had.... I know I have had so many servings in 3o years... the best was an old it's which has an Italian restaurant in Castroville .. from the old country...him and his wife ... U say who made this and the server said the isn't.. I said tell him his was the best we ever had. In a few minutes he and his wife came out to our tablet to thank us... his was the picture of a family that came to California 50 years ago.... We took Linda's hid mother out to dinner with us many times and she was so hay to meet them ... then they talked in Italian for a count minutes... we took her out to dinner and drive up to the redo ... a big sign said closed down... But we have found the next generation here at the fish restaurant... it's like the same recipes from his father.. and must have been his grandmother recipes ... this time the staff has a a Hispanic families from South America ...hard working navy stopping just to make sure eco gets perfect service.... With the perfect meal ... there are other good restaurants on the per but if you want the best mess you ever had it's the Monterey fish house on Del Monte body ... call for reservations or stand out side the fro door. Prolly have a good time together and they eat have do and coffee and leave for others w come in to enjoy they great meal tell them you saw a rent from a local member of the o for 55 years

    Photos
    Monterey's Fish House
    Complimentary Stale Bread ($0)
    Complimentary Stale Bread ($0)
    Complimentary Chilled Water ($0)

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    Complimentary Chilled Water ($0)

    Kafe Toribashi - cafes - Updated July 2026

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