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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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