Kaizen & Coffee
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WHY I WENT HERE: - breakfast THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located on N El Camino Real, closest to 24th Ave - the line definitely pours out of the door onto the sidewalk to the neighboring establishments THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - packed; some seating available against the wall or in the front window; limit on how many people waiting to order can enter inside the establishment THE MENU: - signatures - espresso - coffee - matcha - kumo signatures - tea - toast WHAT I ORDERED: - strawberry matcha chocolate bar - black sesame matcha latte - pork floss croissant - open-faced egg sando THE TASTE: - strawberry matcha chocolate bar - didn't taste it but niece loved it - black sesame matcha latte - underwhelming; the oat milk was overpowering - pork floss croissant - great! - open-faced egg sando - good! just a tad too salty CUSTOMER SERVICE: - warm - welcoming - efficient
Stumbled upon this cafe and enjoyed the pastries and coffee. I got the black sesame signature coffee, which was a bit bitter for my liking and could have been sweeter but still enjoyed it! 8/10 Ube Brioche was not too sweet and had ube crème in the inside which was a nice touch. 9/10 Red bean pain puissant was something I never had before and paired very well with the coffee! This pastry was crispy on the outside and the red bean gave it a nice texture! 10/10 Service was wonderful and I had a good experience
4.5 stars for Kaizen & Coffee. I met a friend here for a 9 AM coffee date on a Monday and was met with good vibes, happy baristas, and club like music. We came here for coffee but ended up with 2 toasts and a pastry. By the time we left, the line was out the door. Food: -Banana, peanut butter, cinnamon, chia toast was delicious -The egg toast topped with micro greens was great -The sausage custard pastry was nice, savory, and crispy Coffee: -Black Sesame Latte was good Overall, good coffee and pastries.
Sorry for the bad picture! The salmon toast was amazing. There's a good amount of salmon, it's filling enough to be a meal. I added chili oil and I'd recommend it. The vanilla bean latte was not bad, it was solid. It was my first time ever having one and it wasn't too sweet, but it wasn't too bitter either. I think it was perfect. There was a line out the door on a Sunday morning when I went at 9:30 AM. Lots of bar seating.
I was eager to try this place since I've heard good things about Kaizen and wanted see the hype around this place. First off, the line gets long and is known for that and I was quite surprised when I went it wasn't that long but the wait in line took longer than the service itself. It's sort of tiny inside so maybe that's why I'm not sure but my drink came out faster than expected. I got matcha strawberry and pandan matcha and it was both ok. I seen someone make a comment how the strawberry matcha tastes like strawberry milk and I totally agree. Not enough matcha and I didn't taste any matcha whatsoever. Also, the pandan matcha tastes like straight pandan milk not a hint of matcha. Nothing fancy about the drinks in my opinion and I don't get the hype or the high ratings of this place. It's not worth the line or wait I'd rather get Starbucks than this. Unfortunately I would not come back.
Very busy coffee spot in San Mateo. I've visited twice and this is what I've ordered. Vanilla bean latte: I normally order some variation of vanilla lattes at cafes and thought Kaizen's wasn't my palette. Something off with the syrup or coffee itself? Took sips before tossing Miso caramel latte: tastes exactly how it sounds if you're curious. It was better than the vanilla bean latte Red bean pan suisse: never had anything like this and it was an amazing pastry. Would 100% get it again Black sesame kouign aman: I also haven't seen this at other cafes and thought it was good! If you like black sesame you'll definitely enjoy this Egg sando toast: filling and I appreciate the chili oil being complimentary Overall, bakery items 8.8/10; lattes 4/10
Randomly, you'll get luck on your side and you won't have to wait in a line that trails down the block for this place. But only randomly!! My husband hates coming here to get me my strawberry matcha with oat milk because the line takes long but there really are far and few good matcha places in San Mateo. My sister's bf also refuses to get matcha from any place else if he's in San Mateo.
Stopped by here on a Tuesday morning around 10AM to get some coffee and grab a quick bite to eat. It was quite busy but easy find street parking and we didn't wait too long after ordering but the line built up pretty fast. It's a small coffee shop with very little seating but the aesthetic was super nice and employees were welcoming. We ordered 1 Ice Miso Caramel ($7), 1 Okinawa Brown Sugar ($7), and 1 Avocado Toast ($15 + soft boiled egg - $2.50). We unfortunately weren't much of a fan of the coffee. The miso caramel wasn't that great, the miso was too overpowering it just tasted like cold miso soup with no caramel and a hint of coffee. The okinawa brown sugar was much better but was mostly milky. I did enjoy the toast even though it was quite small for the price but it tasted great along with the egg and the tomatoes were very refreshing. Experience overall was good. I probably wouldn't come back for the coffee because there's better places in the area but definitely recommend the toast/other pastries if you're okay with the price.
Not only is their coffee amazing, but their variety of toasts as well! I recently had their Open Faced Egg Sando which was delicious. Highly recommend getting it with their chili oil. Rich, savory, with very soft toasted Japanese milk bread. There aren't a lot of seats, but most people seem to get to go, so if you wait a little you'll most likely be able to snag a seat. Very friendly staff too!
Headed over in the afternoon on a Saturday around 2 pm for a little pick me up. It was busy the day we went with a line out the door and around a 20 minute wait before we ordered but the drinks came out pretty fast after. There is some seating on the sides as well as a bar area facing the baristas. Matcha Latte - I got regular sweetness and it was perfect for me. The matcha itself was pretty rich, not too overwhelming of a flavor but it gave me a good caffeine buzz. It was really smooth and lightly grassy which I enjoyed. From the balanced sweetness to the richness in flavor and color, I really enjoyed the drink and would go back again to try other ones they have.
Pretty darn good. I have been trying different Hojicha Lattes around town. I can taste the quality. I added Oatmilk and the flavor of the roasted tea is delicious. Packed little matcha shop and the good jams were pumping. Small space and lots of employees working. Parking is a little hard since it's right on El Camino but worth it.
I stopped by for a quick coffee on a Saturday. There was a short line. I went for a Black sesame latte. It had good flavor. A bit more strength would have been nicer.
My friends and I stopped by Kaizen & Coffee on a Sunday morning and there was a long line out the door. I wish I could say the line moves quickly, but it does not: if there's a line out the door, you'll definitely be waiting for a while before you're able to even order. My wife ordered their miso caramel latte and I thought it was the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The milk froth was very airy and the drink had an underlying burnt flavor to it that reminded me of the brûléed sugar on top of a creme brûlée. Definitely a drink I'd get again. I ordered a pork floss croissant and it was light and fluffy. There was a generous amount of pork floss both on the top and the inside of the croissant, and the layers were nicely laminated. My friend asked where they sourced their pastries from, and apparently today's batch came from Amour Bakery in Belmont. If you're around this part of San Mateo, I would not hesitate to recommend Kaizen & Coffee. Their Asian flavored lattes are delicious and there's a wide selection of Asian inspired French pastries to enjoy as well.
Stopped by here on a Saturday for an afternoon pick-me-up. I ordered the Mission Mocha and my fiancé ordered the Ube. We had gone to Voca the previous day which got my fiancé (the coffee-drinker in the relationship) interested in checking out other artisan coffee spots, so I suggested this one which had been on my list for a while (though not for the coffee, lol). I can't say I'm a coffee expert, but I did really enjoy my Mission Mocha! You could still taste the coffee flavor quite well and I like how it mixed with the Dandelion chocolate to give an almost nutty flavor? The Gochujang red pepper also gave it a good kick, though I think most of the pepper probably floated to the top because I couldn't taste it much later on. IMO, the Ube latte was a tad too sweet but my fiancé enjoyed it, though he also felt the ube flavor was a bit overwhelming and it would have been better if it were a little more coffee-forward! Note that the line does get really long -- we probably waited 5-10 minutes and when we walked out the line was 2x as long as when we originally arrived! read more
What we got: Caramel miso Latte : 4/5 Mmm tasty, I love milk and caramel, and I guess coffee too lol Pour over : 3/5 Wasn't my drink but my boyfriend likes coffee more and let me try it. It was interesting had more of a tea taste! Never had a coffee like that before We happened to be in the area and it caught my eye during the drive towards the mall. Service was fast and the baristas were so fun to watch! Ambiance was busy and barely any seating area! But this is a great place to grab and go! If Im in the area again id definitely go! read more
I've heard about this place from several people and have been meaning to give it a try. Finally got a chance to stop by yesterday and the wait was surprisingly not bad at all. It probably took about 20 minutes from standing in line to ordering and receiving my drink. I debated for awhile between trying one of their specialty lattes or a specialty tea, but ultimately decided on the Jasmine tea with ceremonial matcha kumo. I thought it was delicious! I didn't have to adjust the sweetness or anything and the flavor profile was great. It tasted refreshing, not too heavy/sweet, and gave me a nice burst of energy. I also tried my friends' miso caramel latte and ube latte and thought they were both just ok. The miso caramel latte had an overpoweringly salty taste from the miso. The ube latte was one of the better ones I've tried though. Overall, I'd come back if I was in the area to get my drink again, but only if the wait isn't too bad! Oh, I also bought the mango sticky rice chocolate bar and it sadly did not live up to the hype. It was too sweet. read more
20 days ago
Cute small coffee shop. More of a to go place. It was very busy but once you order, coffee is made quickly. The staff were very nice. I got the sesame latte and it's so earthy and delicious. Not too sweet at all. Highly recommend. read more
This place elevates coffee to an artform. I love this spot. The seating is tight, and the location is not very walkable (lots of gross gum on the ground, high speed street), but my god is the coffee good and the best around. Please set up a second shop in Foster City near the high foot traffic areas such as Leo J Ryan Park. You'd make an absolute killing. Also if you ever do coffee and latte art classes I would so much love to attend read more
Wow this place is popular. They close at 4pm, but when I arrived at 3:30pm, the line was out of the door. There were several people who got in line behind me too. Parking definitely could be a challenge, but we got a super late lunch across the street so we just walked over. The staffs were super friendly and helpful despite the obviously busy day. I can tell that they're passionate about this place/coffee from the super short interaction I had with them. I loved the overall vibe and decor of this cafe. Coffee wise, my shiso mint was very solid. The coffee was smooth, but the mint flavor was pretty subtle. I personally would've preferred a stronger mint flavor. If you hate finding parking, I can't say that this place is worth trekking over for, especially if you don't live nearby. However, I really liked the atmosphere, so I do recommend stopping by if you're in the area. 3.5 stars, rounding up for the vibe and friendly staff. read more
At 8:30am on a Sunday the tables were packed but there were only a few people waiting in line. Ambience is clean; staff is friendly. The strawberry matcha is delicious. The strawberry sweet/tart flavor balances out the matcha. 8/10 The mission mocha is also very good - chocolate and cinnamon vibes without being too sweet. My husband gave it a 10/10. The everything croissant was also a highlight. They warmed it up for me, and I was delighted to find some cream cheese stuffed inside. 9/10 I wouldn't wait in line 30+ minutes for coffee, but if you can time it right, this place is awesome. read more
MY NEW FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP IN THE BAY?? It is expensive, parking is a pain (street only on El Camino), and seating / queue are hit or miss but it's actually worth the money and the trek. I got the miso caramel latte -- so silky smooth and the lingering aftertaste makes you want to come back for more. It wasn't too sweet at 25% sweetness. I would characterize the taste as a little bit bitter and acidic, but not overpoweringly so. The second time I went, the black sesame latte was recommended to me more than the Okinawan brown sugar by the barista, so I went with that. I forgot to adjust sweetness and thankfully even then it wasn't overpoweringly sweet. It was surprisingly not as grainy as expected (still a little bit, since there is sesame paste after all). It was roasty but not super nutty. I preferred the miso caramel overall. My only two gripes: The menu says "signature lattes include milk choice" but what they mean is it includes DAIRY milk choice (between 0%, 2%, and whole). The containers are also kind of ugly ... they are the same compostable ones that USC uses but I wish they didn't have the label on them for my photos The first time I went, I sat right next to the pickup spot and saw like practically every drink they made for two hours. FWIW, the matcha color looked alright in-person but I've seen a lot of mixed reviews. Most people are grab-and-go and there are a few outlets along the wall if you are lucky enough to snag! read more
We had heard a lot about KAIZEN coffee and finally decided to check it out. We got lucky with a street parking nearby. There was a line out the door and they only let six people in at a time because it's a small shop and it was completely filled with happy coffee drinkers the sad part was they were out of pastry so we didn't get to have one. The menu had a lot of different kinds of drinks we ended up getting the miso coffee and the Okinawa brown sugar coffee. The coffee or milk well made, but I really didn't like either of them to me. The miso coffee tasted like you were drinking coffee with me soup soup in it and I couldn't really tell the brown sugar in the Okinawa brown sugar coffee that being sad the texture of the coffees were really nice and it makes me wanna go back just to have a plain latte. The people that work there were very friendly and the vibe was very, very cool. read more
For the last year or so, I've been wanting to visit Kaizen & Coffee! I rarely visit the peninsula and timing is always tricky, but I'm so glad I could finally check it off my list. Regrets for not coming sooner cause it's so good! Dad and I arrived mid-afternoon on a weekday. It was a bit busy with a steady flow of customers coming in and out. There are several high-top tables and the majority of them were taken. The vibes were cute, minimal, and cozy. The cafe is also dog friendly where dogs can come inside and they have treats! It was pretty cool to see their coffee setup. In terms of service, the baristas are sweet and complimented my pug. However, it did take some time to be helped or even acknowledged when we were ready to order. Depending on the time of day, wait times can vary. What I initially wanted was sold out, actually a few items were. So I settled on the Coconut Lemongrass Matcha Latte with Soy Milk. I was worried about how the pairing would be but it was divine. So creamy and coconutty with a subtle freshness to it. I would order it in a heartbeat. My Dad got the Ube Latte with Soy Milk. I had a sip and the Ube was subtle and came at the end. I'm hooked on Kaizen & Coffee and would love to come back to try their other drinks. They're located off S El Camino Real and are a bit hidden between other businesses. Parking is limited to the street. read more
Long line at 9:30am on a Saturday. Only 6 people line inside allowed. Decor is clean and neat I got the black sesame latte which didn't taste much like black sesame as I had imagined it would. The PJ and Banana was 3x4 grid of thinly sliced banana on thicker toast with spicy honey syrup. read more
Very popular coffee shop on El Camino. I arrived at 10:17 am and was in line until 10:47 am before I got to the front of the line to order. The coffee shop does open earlier so perhaps try arriving at an earlier time before others are awake to avoid a line. The cafe itself is sleek and modern with a moderate amount of seating. The pistachio blackberry croissant was very delicious with a nice mix of pistachio and blackberry flavor without it being too sweet. They also offer to heat it up for you which makes the croissant nice and crispy. As for the drinks, the black sesame latte is a signature drink that mixes black sesame and coffee. To me the two flavors tasted very distinct from each other and I'm not entirely convinced that the flavors combined to make a greater whole. But definitely give it a try if you like sesame and coffee. The strawberry matcha was decent and I would say pretty much what you would expect from a strawberry matcha. The strawberry puree was good. Overall, I would say the cafe is worth a try but I don't know if it's worth waiting in line for more than 10 minutes for. read more
2 months ago
My fav cafe around the area for sure!! Im so happy that they opened such a cozy cafe with such cultural drinks!! Im not much of a coffee drinker so I usually opt for tea/matcha related drinks and their Hojicha Latte definitely hit the spot for me every time. Their service is also always pretty good and the line goes faster than you'd expect. read more
TLDR: It's a very aesthetic cafe with a nice ambiance. There's limited seating, but they do have free wifi, outlets, and if you sit at the bar, there are hooks for bags. I got the matcha latte and ricotta toast, which were both fairly decent, just not my favorite I've had. All of the staff is super friendly and work efficiently, even when there's a long line. I came around 1pmon a Thursday and it did get crowded pretty fast. Food/drink: 3.5/5 The matcha latte had a great matcha flavor, but it was a little more watery than I'd prefer. I did appreciate that it wasn't super sweet though. I do wonder if I got a matcha latte with a puree if it would be less watered down. Take my what I say with a grain of salt, ever since I started making my own to match my preferences, it's difficult to fully enjoy matcha drinks anywhere else. The ricotta toast was a nice savory snack, but was on the expensive side ($12). But in this economy, I'm not surprised. Staff/space: 4.5/5 The staff was super friendly and they upheld an upbeat vibe that doesn't feel overly fake. While they were working, they were chatty with customers and each other. In side there are 4 tables along the wall and a bar section that have outlets. The bar section also has hooks, or at least one that I saw someone using. There is also a bar style seating by the window, but didn't see any outlets there. It's a very nice space that felt consistently busy with a steady flow of customers coming and going. If you're looking to get some work done or just hang out, it's a great space for that. It's just got very limited seating available. Parking is street parking and super limited, so plan for that if you're not close by. Extra note: There seemed to have been a tasting session or something of the sort that was going on while I was there. I'm not sure if this is normal or available to everyone, or if it was just for those that know the owner/manager. read more
6 months ago
So I've been standing and waiting in line with my partner and my 6month old and the line was pretty long. It was around 9am this morning. Super excited because a long line usually indicates a great place, right? Whilst in line, I browsed the menu and I decided on the black sesame latte while my partner decided on the Tahitian vanilla. As we were approaching the door, a group of girls come up in front of us to greet and hug their two friends who were in front of us waiting in line, then all of a sudden, they make themselves comfortable and cut not only us, but the entire line behind us. It's ridiculous because we've been here for a while. A total lack of consideration for those who have been waiting out here in the cold, gloomy weather. Anyway, the black sesame latte was super creamy. I requested almond milk for my drink. It doesn't have the distinct black sesame flavor, although it is still delicious as a latte. I usually love a bold black sesame flavor. My partner got the Tahitian vanilla hot latte and it was delicious! He killed his drink quickly! The staff here are super friendly, filled with great small talk/conversation that'll make your morning a bit brighter! I def recommend stopping by if you're in the San Mateo area! read more
Stopped by with two friends on a moderately busy Wednesday morning after landing in SFO. We were looking for a little pick-me-up for our drive back to Sacramento and decided on some matcha. I ordered the Black Sesame Matcha while my friend went for a classic Matcha Latte. I wanted to try something different, and while I usually enjoy the flavor of black sesame, I found it a bit overpowering here--it masked the matcha rather than balancing with it. My friend's drink, on the other hand, had a bold, distinct matcha flavor that I preferred. Next time, I'll likely stick with the regular Matcha Latte. Service was friendly and efficient. There was a short line, but it moved quickly, and we were in and out in about 15 minutes. The shop itself is cozy and inviting, with enough seating for anyone looking to linger for a study session or casual coffee date. read more
Very popular coffee shop in San Mateo with long lines on the weekend. Waited about 20 minutes before finally being able to place an order at the register- the Okinawa Brown Sugar iced decaf latte, lightly sweetened, and the Shiso Mint Iced Latte. The baristas were efficient and our order took about 5 minutes to prepare. The Okinawa Brown Sugar latte was easily better than the Shiso Mint latte. It was nice and creamy and not too sweet. The Shiso Mint latte was not minty and it has a peculiar taste that I can't quite pinpoint and was not expecting. It wasn't horrible, but I'm not sure if I'd order it again. Staff was friendly and the store was clean despite being busy and packed the entire time. Side note: there is a sign by the door saying only 6 people in line inside at a time, but people were clearly ignoring it and piling in making it difficult to navigate a small, tight space. Maybe a larger, more permanent sign is needed to crowd control on busy days? read more
1 year ago
Surprised that it's taken me so many years to find this coffee spot. tl;dr one of my new favorite coffee spots in the Peninsula. Come here for Japanese inspired coffee. Popular spot with a line that took about 10min to order. Interior gives off Japanese inspired minimalistic vibes. There's some limited seating, but because of people waiting, seats opened up fairly quickly. Mission Mocha: Delicious! Gave off Mexican hot chocolate vibes. Ordered it 25% sweetness, which was perfect. Hojicha latte: Nice tea flavors! read more
Location is right next to a great hair salon Parking on the street Staff was so sweet and welcoming There was a long queue goes to show how great they are and worth the wait. We ordered an Ube coffee It was delicious! they have places to sit and also a bar you can sit at only six people inside at a time for ordering. Over all 5 stars we can't wait to come back read more
I love this place!!! The service is amazing. Every coffee is made to perfection from the temperature to the roast. Come early as this place is very welcoming but it can be busy quick. You'll want to sit here and take in ambiance. read more
The miso caramel is outta this world!! I usually dont go for caramel flavors bc im lactose and it's usually too sweet but this was a milder more chill caramel with the subtle saltiness of miso, so good with oatmilk iced! No adjustments made was perfect for me to get the full flavors. The mochi's my bf said are made in-house (need to confirm this) and they are chewy but not as mochi soft as other mochi muffins i had. Still good tho! The thai doesnt really have that much flavor and black sesame is as expected. Would def recommend checking out and im interested in their matchas and Shiso mint latte for next time. Caveat: parking limited and line can be long read more
We ordered the Okinawa brown sugar and Tahitian vanilla lattes. Oat and soy milk are available at no extra charge, though almond milk does cost extra. Both drinks were creamy and delicious (even with oat milk) with the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. There was a line on Saturday around noon, but the wait was only about 15 minutes. read more
My bf and I came here on a Sunday around 1pm. There was a line out the door when we arrived. The total time we were there was probably around 40 minutes or so. It was busy, but after we ordered, it didn't take too long for the drinks to come out. I ordered the Black Sesame latte, subbed almond milk, and my bf ordered the Shiso Mint latte. I really liked my drink. I love black sesame and the combination of it with coffee was delicious. I would definitely get this again! read more
1 year ago
I've heard good things about Kaizen & Coffee, so I'm glad I got a chance to visit it twice within a week to try their unique drinks and food! Arrived around 11am on a Tuesday, and it was quite busy. Since the place isn't too big, they only allow 6 people in line to order to avoid congestion inside. The first time, I ordered an iced Mission Mocha. It was interesting, the Gochugaru red pepper added a kick to the mocha. During my second visit, I ordered a hot Okinawa Brown Sugar. It's a drink you can't go wrong with, and it wasn't super sweet which is good. I also tried the Avocado Toast, and that was super delicious! I liked that it was on milk bread, sprinkled with furikake, and topped with cherry tomatoes and balsamic glaze. The employees are very friendly, and the interior is aesthetic. Not much table space to work at if you come in the late morning/early afternoon because they're already occupied. Parking is quite hard since it's only street parking & if you plan to stay longer, it's only 1-2 hour parking. There's always a line here, so it's good for a reason! Really looking forward to trying their other drinks and food! read more
Such a cool and niche place. The coffees were very interesting and creative. My friends and I tried a few different lattes and all were yummy! The favorites were: Ube, Miso Caramel, and Strawberry Matcha (although it's not a latte). The pasties were also hot, soft, and delicious. I LOVED the pistachio blackberry pastry, and the mushroom was fantastic as well. My friend got the ricotta toast and that was solid too, but i would recommend the pastry. The lines get long, but they moved quickly and the drinks were prepared very quickly too. Inside will probably be a bit crowded, but it's a great place for a grab and go. Definitely a fun place to try for folks who like creative flavors! read more
This time we tried: Iced Matcha Latte with Oatmilk - 8/10 rating Iced Ube Latte with Oatmilk - 10/10 rating The Matcha quality was good but I think next time I would ask for less house simple syrup which overpowered the matcha flavor. The Iced Ube Latte was everything!! I can actually taste the Ube and the espresso shot. The coffee at Kaizen & Coffee is honestly really good as I've now tried few different coffee drinks here. I still haven't tried their pastries or food yet but I definitely will come back. Staff were very chill and friendly which is always a plus! read more
The Peninsula finally has a coffee shop that listens to its customer's needs and is community based, Kaizen & Coffee. My wife likes her coffee very hot, I mean extra hot. I like my coffee ready to drink when I get it from the barista. We spoke to the owner Jason and the GM Miki about what my wife wanted and they solved the problem, immediately. All it takes is for a management team that cares and communicates with the customer base and most problems can be easily solved. We on the Peninsula are fortunate to have a place to have delicious specialty coffee, such as sesame, ube and much more, made the way YOU want it. We now have a coffee hangout that we can call our home base. Look for Jason and Miki at Kaizen & Coffee. Here's to tasty , the way YOU like it. read more
Darling upbeat coffee stop ! We order their cold brew and one of their signature latte -black sesame sub with oat milk ! The black sesame was good like that's it's not overly sweet ang the cold brew was concentrate /bold! Worth a stop around the area ! They also had 3 flavoring concentrator on the counter top which i found quite interesting read more
1 year ago
Workers here were really nice. Athena helped me decide what to try out here. Bought two pack of coffee beans, the classic and the traditional. Hope they're good! Ordered the Okinawa brown sugar latte and Uber latte drinks. Preferred the brown sugar over the Ube. read more
I came here on a Saturday morning for a quick pick me up. Luckily I came here right before the line started (as the line usually goes out the door). The ambiance was lively and it's a really nice place to work or meet people. The only downside is that it's really popular with limited seating. I ordered the Strawberry Matcha with Oat milk and it was delicious! The slightly bitterness from the matcha mixed really well with the sweetness from the strawberry. Overall, I really enjoyed my matcha and will be back to get it again. read more
My mouth is watering writing this review. We came here Friday morning around 10 AM and was surprised to already see a line out the door. It took about 20 minutes for us to place our order. I got the iced coconut lemongrass, Matcha, ricotta toast, and smoked salmon toast, and an Ube croissant. First time trying any sort of ricotta toast and trying smoked salmon. Only have one word, which is WOW. It was so good and keeps you wanting for more. Inside is very small so there's not a lot of seating, but inside was clean and staff was very friendly. Definitely a top coffee shop for me! read more
Checking off another coffee shop on my list! I ordered the Okinawa Brown Sugar latte and my husband got their slow drip cold brew. He said the cold brew is stronggggg- which he loves. My latte was good, nothing too special/unique about it though. I'd probably try their miso caramel latte next time. Parking sucks- it's El Camino. The shop itself is small so with how popular it is, it gets pretty crowded. The baristas were sweet and knowledgeable of the drinks with great recs. read more
Decided to stop by as a friend had recently mentioned this popular coffee spot and I happened to be in the area. I told myself, if I find parking on busy El Camino Real and no line then I'm stopping! Sure enough...parking right in front (usually I have great parking CARma) without the pressure of cars waiting as I parallel park. Kaizen & Coffee offers signature lattes, coffee, espresso, matcha/hojicha and tea drinks along with pastries and gourmet toast. This visit I decided to order: :: MISO CARAMEL LATTE - moderately sweet (no adjustments), buttery, nutty, rich with a hint of savory/salty from the mild miso. It was a good latte for sure and will adjust sweetness next time. :: BLACKBERRY PISTACHIO CROISSANT - I love a nice twice-baked flaky, yet soft, airy croissant. It was good but texture was a bit heavier/denser with blackberry jam, pistachio frangipane and pistachio pieces. Enjoyed but will get something else next time. Staff friendly and helpful. Visited Saturday about 9:15 am with street parking and 5 people ahead of me. If in the area with no line, I would return to try other items. Order and wait time: 20mins read more
I found this spot on the way to go hiking and stopped by for a quick caffeine break. I was eager to try the drinks here with all the unique Asian fusion flavours. However, I felt the flavours were a bit muted, and I was disappointed that coconut milk wasn't an alternative milk option, as I thought it would've paired well with the lemongrass coconut matcha latte I ordered. The soy milk really overwhelmed the drink, overpowering the lemongrass and coconut. It really just tasted like flavoured soy milk. read more
We came on a sunday around 11am and there was a wait. We waited around 15 mins to order but surprisingly our drinks came out in 5 mins We ordered 1. Ice black sesame latte: the sesame flavor was bursting. You can taste the nuttiness. If you like sesame, you will love this 10/10 2. Hot Okinawa Brown sugar latte with oat milk: I order half sweet and it was perfect. Just the right balance of sweetness and still being able to taste the coffee. Pretty solid coffee, not super unique but the latte art is so pretty 9/10 read more
Saw the line for this shop, and I was worried if it was worth the wait. I'm glad to say it was well worth! They have some very unique drinks and we tried time miso caramel and mission mocha. Mission mocha was hands down the favorite of the two. It had a complex flavor profile that was sweet and spicy. I enjoyed it more pre-mixed compared to after mixing the drink up. All the drinks are fairly priced, and the wait after ordering is super quick too. I think it was just a few mins after placing the order that we got the drinks. They have really nice decor like the stickers that we saw. They also play anime on the tv which is always a plus. I would come here again when I am in San Mateo. read more
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2337 S El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94403
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http://www.kaizenandcoffee.com
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Ask the Community - Kaizen & Coffee
Can i park my bike somewhere safe? Or is it okay to bring it inside?
The place is pretty small and the lines usually out the door don't think you'd be able to bring it inside, but I don't have a bike so I can't guarantee it
I'm diabetes so I would like to know if I can have black sesame latte without sugar?
Hi Joy, thank you for your question. Unfortunately we do not have a sugar-free option at this time. We have been considering separating the sauce and sugar for some time now, but will let you know on this thread once we do.
Can they do decaf?
Yes! I can't drink caffeine and ordered the black sesame decaf.
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Kaizen & Coffee - coffee - Updated August 2026
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