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Kibi's Cafe

4.7 (130 reviews)
Closed 10:30 am - 7:00 pm
Updated 3 weeks ago

Kibi's Cafe Photos

KIBI'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Casual
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Kibi's Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

The special!
Karen M.

This place is small but mighty. Oh my goodness! You can get a delicious flavor packed banh mi sandwich for $8.50. We got the grill pork and is chuck filled with meat and yummy pickled veggies. The super nice lady at the counter has suggestions if you have any questions and they bring the meal to your table. We also ordered the No 40 pho to share and it had tons of noodles and meat. The broth was clear and flavorful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It looks like they're moving to a larger location across the way so hopefully there will be more in house seating but either way I suggest you make your way down to this flavor spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Grill Pork Banh Mi... just okay.
Susan L.

I really wanted to like this restaurant since they have high Yelp ratings. I am Vietnamese and I was VERY disappointed with the food. It's TOO Americanized. It is located downtown Orinda in a cute alley of stores. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's small inside with a few tables and a few tables outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I "believe" they pre-cook their meats. I ordered a Grill Pork Banh Mi and Grill Pork Bun (vermicelli noodles)... they call it a salad. Both meats were super dry and not hot. It lacked flavor. I could only taste the "saltiness" (fish sauce). The bread was soft and the veggies were crispy. The sandwich needed more Aioli. Kicker, they charge you .50 extra for Aioli (mayo). Grill Pork Bun was bland. They only give you a small sized dressing. It's not enough for the portion size. If you want extra dressing, they charge you .50! WHAT... give me a break. AGAIN, it's Americanized. It lacked flavor... but the veggies are fresh and crunchy. If you're on a diet, this would be great meal. The Thai Iced Tea is good. I won't be returning back. I guess it's good enough for the Orinda residents. If you want REAL Vietnamese food, go to Pho Viet in Pleasant Hill. Food is amazing!

Lemongrass tofu banh mi
Jennifer L.

I've been thinking about the food here since my last visit and have been craving a good vegetarian banh mo. Kibi's didn't disappoint. Multiple vegetarian options. I chose the lemon grass tofu. Quick service. Sandwich was fresh, bread was warm and crunchy. Staff were polite. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Other customers were friendly[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. They have a bustling lunch take out service, the person at the counter keeps everyone moving.

Vegan banh mi sandwich
Lauren G.

A hidden gem for casual Vietnamese dining. I tried the vegan banh mi on my first visit today, and it did not disappoint--perfectly balanced flavors. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The staff is wonderful, and the overall ambiance makes for a lovely dining experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Highly recommended

Annandstan W.

We LOVE Kibbi's Cafe! Their lemongrass banh mi and chicken noodle salad are our faves! Great quick lunch spot!

Grilled pork banh mi
Kacy O.

Ordered three banh mi made to order with grilled pork on a baguette with pickled carrots, daikon abd cucumber. Skipped the jalapeño peppers. A little bland without the aioli/pate spread [[HIGHLIGHT]]Three tables indoors and 5-6 outdoor tables in front of the cafe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Bun (noodle bowls) and spring rolls sold here too.

Chicken banh mi
Anwesha D.

I stopped by this little Vietnamese cafe on my home, and it didn't disappoint. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have some cozy seats inside to sit and enjoy a quick bite.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The chicken bang mi was perfect--the bread was crispy on the outside but soft inside, the filling was fresh and flavorful, and everything just came together so well. I usually I order a small side of broth to sip with my banh mi- It keeps the sandwich from feeling dry and adds a warm, comforting touch to the meal. The staff was super friendly, and you can tell they care about the food they're serving. I'll 100% be back. This place is a gem.

Lemongrass Tofu Sandwich.
Dhruv B.

- bread was not toasted - tofu was flavorful - veggies tasted fresh - sandwich/bread was not dry Service was quick, ordered, and ate within 10-15 minutes. A cute little quick bite. Would go again and try the pho or a roll.

Angela L.

I was stuck in the 90s for a while where you could go to Oakland Chinatown and get a bahn mi for $2.75, so was shocked when everywhere started charging $8 for them. Finally, I accepted that we're now in the year 2023 and inflation is real. That being said, the bahn mis at kibis are delicious here. Got 1 grilled pork and 1 spiced pork. While they are kinda short and narrow as others mentioned, I feel like they were still thick and a good amount of meat. The bahn mis here taste authentic, and I'm so glad to have this as an option nearby considering we're in a very...bland area.

Chicken ban mi

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Review Insights

2 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Nice local restaurant with good outdoor seating. I love their fresh rolls. Always freshly made. Love their food.

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Just had the grilled chicken sandwich and the brisket Bo noodle soup. Both were bussin, as the kids say. Will be back for sure!

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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Hoang H.

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4 years ago

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Hoang H.

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3 years ago

the pho was delicious! plenty of fresh toppings! bahn mi was also amazing. definitely my favorite restaurant in orinda.

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4 years ago

Fresh and tasty especially after the hitting the gym. Fast and friendly. A true gem! Fresh rolls and banh mi are a must!

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4 years ago

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Hoang H.

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4 years ago

Hooray! So happy they opened here! Loved the sandwiches from the Walnut Creek location.

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Hoang H.

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

Love their pork banh mi sandwich. Glad to have a fast but quality place for lunch and dinner.

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Found hair in my food TWICE. Love Kibi's cafe in Walnut Creek but I won't be coming back here...

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Delicious, fresh sandwiches, bought for a picnic after a hike, kept well, very healthy and refreshing. Will definitely be back!

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Delicious food! Sandwiches and spring rolls all very good. Friendly service! Highly recommend. Small seating area but we got our to go.

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

Great sandwich, reasonable price, get the extra meat, they tend to load it up. My go to in Orinda

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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Page 3 of 4

Ask the Community - Kibi's Cafe

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Noodle Dynasty

Noodle Dynasty

4.5
(466 reviews)
4.3 mi
$$

This is literally my favorite restaurant in southside Berkeley. I can't even count the number of…read moretimes I've been but it's the craving I always had after a long day of classes, or a night out, solo dinner, anything and everything. My go-tos are the bone-in beef noodle soup and the fish and pickled cabbage noodle soup. The cucumber appetizer is also really good here.

Came here for the house special beef rib noodle soup, and it did not disappoint. It came in a…read moremassive bowl that could easily be shared between two people or packed up for leftovers. The rib was definitely the most impressive part of the dish. Not only was it huge and very Instagrammable, but it was also extremely tender--kind of like braised oxtail, but served in a cleaner, lighter broth. The daikon balanced out the richness of the meat really well, and overall, I'd say this was a very satisfying meal. The beef and tomato lo mein, on the other hand, was probably closer to a 2.5/5. The dish leaned heavily on the tomato flavor, only had a few pieces of meat, and definitely needed additional seasoning, such as soy sauce, white pepper, or something to bring more depth. One thing that could be improved is the ordering experience. Their tablet system felt a bit cheap, and it was difficult to clearly see what each dish looked like on the screen. Providing a printed menu alongside the tablet would be really helpful.

Photos
Dining room
Dining room
Lamb Brisket Noodle Soup 羊腩面 with Thick Noodles ($13.99) - lamb brisket is better on rice than on noodles. Soup is too sweet.
Lamb Brisket Noodle Soup 羊腩面 with Thick Noodles ($13.99) - lamb brisket is better on rice than on noodles. Soup is too sweet.
2025 Menu

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2025 Menu
Vien Huong Restaurant

Vien Huong Restaurant

4.1
(1.1k reviews)
7.4 mi
$$

Came here around 11am on a Friday and no wait. We didn't know they only took cash and I think one…read moreof owners heard us and said we can zelle the restaurant phone number. Server took ou; order right away. I got sprare rib stew and it amazing,husband got #21 he loved it. We loved it so much we are coming back.

Are you a TK person or VH person? Me, I think it's safe to say I'm both. I'm not going to lie,…read moreif we're talking about wait time, VH literally takes the cake. It is always so busy! This is a fast place, table sharing, no room having place. If you're looking for a western style dining, it can become overwhelming. But, just embrace the speed and efficiency of this restaurant. Because once you are seated, you're served immediately to get you on the way. With service, don't expect tier 1 experience, but you'll get your water/tea. Savor it, don't assume they'll come back while you're still eating. Just saying! There's a few things on the menu that are must have.. 1. Chow Jew Ho Fun with soup on the side - the obvious that everyone orders. I like to get soup on the side, and then put about two tablespoons soup back into my noodle and add all the sauces! Then occasionally, sip the soup to wash everything down. 2. Beef Stew Ho Fun - My boyfriend's must have. Flavorful, soft meat, delicious. 3. Fish Cakes - Personally, I don't care for fish cakes, but my boyfriend and his family order it all the time, so of course I'll still eat it. It's still good. I'm just a person who feels I can buy it from the banh mi shops and it taste the same. Lol I don't eat anything else here. This is one of those restaurants where you go and eat what they're known for, not wander off too far away from the menu because the other stuff is just legit filler items. The only problem I have is, it's so expensive now for a small bowl. So it makes me not want to come back, but at the same time, flavors are really good. You just would think with the amount of customers, the business thriving, you could at least keep the portion size the same as before..

Photos
Vien Huong Restaurant
Best Chow Jew noodle in town. I only order this here
Best Chow Jew noodle in town. I only order this here
Fried Garlic & Green Onions

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Fried Garlic & Green Onions
Mensho

Mensho

4.5
(656 reviews)
5.1 mi
$$

Mensho is a very popular restaurant. This was my first time visiting, and I had a great experience…read more The food was delicious! The standout dishes for me were the Calamari, Karaage, and Daikon Salad. The Calamari was perfectly fried, and the seasoning was well-balanced. The Karaage was also perfectly fried, and the sauce was flavorful. The Daikon Salad was light and refreshing. I would like to thank our server, Noah, for his helpfulness in choosing our dishes and for the prompt service. I highly recommend it!

Unfortunately no photos as we devoured the food! However here is my review otherwise:…read more 1. Location- easily accesible in off Piedmont Ave, found parking alongside an adjacent neighborhood street that was free. I went around 430pm on a weekday. 2. Staff/Vibe- very friendly and throughout the service so many stopped by to check-in. Waters were constantly topped off and food was delivered very promptly. The restaurant itself is very intimate and tabletop dividers are largely used to shared tables. It was a really nice approach. I wasn't a major fan of the chairs for the tall tables. I was hoping for some more ergonomically friendly. Food- SIGNATURE RAMEN- 5/5. So good. The broth was so good I think I drank it all before eating any ramen and toppings. It was a wonderfully hearty ramen with a balance of fresh and simple ingredients. This was perfect and allowed the delicious broth to really be the star. LAMB RAMEN. 5/5. If you like south indian curries then this is a must. The dense cumin taste, fresh onions and lamb made this ramen feel very familiar. The flavours were so wonderfully constructed on this. VEGAN KAARAGE MUSHROOM. Made to be reminiscent of fried chicken, these were very pleasant and paired with our broth. I would order this again. I am interested in knowing the preparation method for this as the inside was piping hot while the outside was just warm- almost like it was reheated. I would like these to be crispier with a bit more light seasoning. Overall looking forward to the next visit!

Photos
Waiting area
Waiting area
Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
Spicy garlic karaage fried chicken
Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl

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Hokkaido Uni Mini Rice Bowl
Noodles Fresh

Noodles Fresh

4.4
(258 reviews)
4.8 mi
$$

Noodles Fresh Berkeley 物超所值,分量十足,味道极佳。…read moreWù chāo suǒ zhí, fènliàng shízú, wèidào jí jiā. 好正嘅食物超值 You know, I don't normally go to Chinese restaurants because they seem to have the exact same menu and not a lot of choice for vegetarians. Growing up in Wisconsin in a small city at the tip of Lake Superior Chinese restaurants were just about the only ethnic food available throughout the country. Exotic as they may seem to have been and widespread Nationally which is partly due to the Chinese building the railroads cross country. Chicago Cafe (Woodland, CA): Founded in 1903, academic research suggests this spot near Sacramento is the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the U.S. and California. These days I prefer Vietnamese or Thai all day long because the flavors are better and more variety and cleaner with respect to how the dishes are prepared. Well, I stumbled into this spot today and I was rather blown away. Large portions, low prices, excellent variety and top notch service. And a huge portion for only $13.95. I had the vegetable rice, complementary hot sauce and a nice iced cold five dollar Heineken. OK, this is a spot to put on your list. See you there!!! And now here are some interesting factoids: While thousands of Chinese immigrants first came to the U.S. to build the transcontinental railroad in the 1800s, it was the subsequent decades of legal discrimination that forced a marginalized community to turn the restaurant industry into their primary means of survival and citizenship. The "Lo Mein Loophole": In the early 20th century, U.S. courts recognized restaurant ownership as a pathway to obtain merchant visas. This loophole sparked a massive boom in the creation of Chinese restaurants, particularly luxury "chop suey palaces".

This place is so lovely, delicious, and affordable! Highly recommend, and it's a family-owned…read morerestaurant. I had been meaning to dine in for a while and only regret not visiting sooner. I enjoyed the Hunan Hot and Sour Soup on a cold, rainy day and it was an incredible meal. The service was excellent!

Photos
Asian mural
Asian mural
Best brown rice
Best brown rice
Jiangxi stir-fry 表妹炒粉 - House special GFA Rice noodle with flank steak beef, bell pepper, baby bok choy, & spicy chilies

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Jiangxi stir-fry 表妹炒粉 - House special GFA Rice noodle with flank steak beef, bell pepper, baby bok choy, & spicy chilies
Moo Bong Ri Korean Restaurant

Moo Bong Ri Korean Restaurant

4.5
(1.5k reviews)
5.5 mi
$$

Absolute best/favorite for Korean short ribs. This is my partner & I's current favorite Korean…read morerestaurant and we always order the spicy braised short ribs. Very big serving size with all the best mixes of toppings on top of the delicious short ribs. The sauce is so good and makes the dish 15/10. Service is ok but that's biased because we order the biggest/longest to cook dish but it's still pretty good. Restaurant ambiance is just ok in my opinion, not too many distracting decorations and tables & booths feel nice. We've also tried the spicy rice noodles which were just a 6/10 for me. The kimchi fried rice was also good but not our favorite -- solid 6/10 as well. We literally just come here for the short ribs. So if you're ever in the mood for Korean food and feeling a little 'rich', this place is a must try.

Alright, I see all the great reviews, so I'm willing to give this spot another shot and order the…read more"right" things next time. But until then, my rating is based on exactly what we ordered. I was violently craving seolleongtang and did some research to find a spot in Oakland. The menu is pretty big with a lot of enticing options--I love bossam and blood sausage--but because I had tunnel vision, I stuck with the soup. The broth itself was good, and they had salt and pepper on the table so you could season it to your liking. Unfortunately, the noodles were way too soft and almost mushy, and the meat was extremely tough and hard to chew. I couldn't finish it. If seolleongtang is one of your favorite dishes, I'd probably skip it here. My husband got the kimchi fried rice, which was huge and great for sharing between 2-4 people. Based on the portion size, I do think it could use an extra egg, more Spam and some nori on top. It leaned more oily and buttery than other versions I've had, but it was still good--just nothing too special. The vibe and service were solid, so I'd come back to try other dishes and update my rating accordingly.

Photos
Almost done
Almost done
Soondae Specialist
Soondae Specialist
Spicy soondae soup

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Spicy soondae soup
Yu Yu Za Zang

Yu Yu Za Zang

4.3
(372 reviews)
5.3 mi
$$

Tangsuyuk (Sweet & Sour Pork) - The highlight of the meal. The pork was fried perfectly with a…read morelight, crispy batter that stayed crunchy without feeling greasy. Jjamppong - Rich, spicy seafood broth with a nice kick. It was loaded with seafood and vegetables, and the noodles had a great chewy texture. Jajangmyeon - Thick, savory black bean sauce that wasn't overly salty or sweet. Overall vibe feels homey and traditional, the server is polite and friendly.

You know a dish is good when you tell yourself, "Oh, I'm just going to try a little bit of this."…read moreAnd then you can't stop eating it. This was my experience with pretty much every dish I ordered on a recent trip to Yu Yu Za Zang. I'll admit this is one of those places I've walked or driven past for years and have always meant to try but just never got around to it. But I finally had an opportunity to drag my cousin/regular dining buddy with me. We ordered Yang Jang Pi (also known as Double Skin in some places), regular jajang (spelled zazang here) myun, and tang sue yuk (beef - which is the traditional Korean meat for this dish). My cousin and I are huuuuuge fans of the Double Skin at Great China in Berkeley, so the Double Skin here had a pretty high bar to reach. We were pleasantly surprised to find it more than held its own. The portions of everything were very generous, and the mustard dressing was nice and spicy. Perhaps the veggies were not quite as crunchy as Great China's, so not as much of a variety of textures, but this Yang Jang Pi was still delicious, and I still think about it days after our visit. The jajang (zazang) myun was also very generously portioned and pretty tasty. I haven't had any in Oakland in a while, so hard to say how it compares, but I would definitely eat it again. The beef tang sue yuk was incredible. Again, large portion, perfectly crispy outside, tender beef inside, and one of the best sweet and sour sauces I've ever had with this dish. The vibe is simple and clean; nothing fancy, but I went for the food, so I was fine with that. The service was also friendly and fast. There were barely any people there on a Saturday evening, which made me sad, because the food really is good. I can't wait to try the rest of their menu. They also have soju and beer. Although Hanshin Pocha next door is popular, I could see Yu Yu Za Zang being a decent spot for delicious, very reasonably priced food that one can share with friends while having a couple of rounds of drinks. And in this economy, aren't we all looking for a good deal?

Photos
Inside packed house
Inside packed house
Tangsuyuk (fried pork)
Tangsuyuk (fried pork)
Yu Yu Za Zang

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Kibi's Cafe - sandwiches - Updated July 2026

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