Miso caramel never had anything like it, i'm shocked and…read moreimpressed and very down to get this again or try other things on the menu also the Miso caramel didn't overpower the coffee taste at All which is imo rare? Pandan Matcha! this is the strongest pandan flavor i've had in a while and it was really good!! it did overpower the matcha flavor but I didn't mind because I like pandan and this was really good and not superrrrr artificial or sweet like other places. If you are looking for a strong matcha taste, this drink might not be for you tho service was great and speedy considering how long the line was (30min before closing too wow) I also loved the decor and I think this would be a great place to work: there's wifi, some seating and power sockets

4/5 Kaizen Coffee…read moredefinitely lives up to the hype when it comes to their pour over. The space is clean, modern, and aesthetically nice, but it is pretty small and not really the type of café I would hang out at for hours. It reminded me more of a busy boba shop where you grab your drink and go. We came around 1 PM and waited about 10 minutes. They only allow around six people to queue inside, so there was a pretty steady line of people waiting outside. This place gets BUSY. We tried the black sesame iced latte and a single origin pour over. The pour over was easily a 10/10 for me. I love light roasts that are super fruit forward, bright, and almost tea like, and this was exactly that. The barista was also incredibly friendly and even shared his recipe with me, which I really appreciated. The black sesame latte was one of the drinks we kept seeing on social media, so obviously we had to try it. Unfortunately, it was not our favorite. The black sesame tasted pretty grainy and bitter, which clashed with the sweetness of the coffee rather than complementing it. I would probably give that drink a 3/5. One thing I really liked is their whole bean selection. They had a ton of freshly roasted coffee available, including beans from Hydrangea and Black & White. Overall, Kaizen gets a 4/5 from me. The pour over alone is enough to bring me back, but I was expecting a little more from their black sesame iced latte

cafe kazka is such a hidden gem in foster city! my friend and I came to check it out for lunch…read moreafter hearing it was a hong kong-style cafe, and were not disappointed at all. first, the cafe is so cute and also spotless- I could've stayed all day just reading or doing work. there was lots of outdoor seating overlooking the water which was so nice! I got an iced HK style coffee + milk tea which I've never had before but was so delicious. I'd definitely come back to try the other fruity drinks too! we ordered the tom yum noodles, preserved vegetables & pork noodle soup, salt & pepper fries, and the HK style french toast with peanut butter. the french toast was our favorite- it was fluffy and chewy and was just like the HK classic. the noodle dishes were both so hearty and flavorful too, and the portions were a good size. it did take a bit long for everything to come out, but it did seem like there was only one person working and she was very kind and accommodating when we had questions about our order. we didn't mind at all, especially sitting outside and enjoying the view! overall, I'll for sure be back for the drinks and to try some other HK style street food.

This was my first time trying Cafe Kazka, and unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The…read morerestaurant seemed seriously understaffed and very disorganized. I ordered the lemongrass pork jaw rice. There were only about six pieces of meat, and the lemongrass was chopped into very tiny pieces and mixed into the sauce. The problem was that the lemongrass was extremely tough, almost like small pieces of tree branches, and impossible to chew. I had to spit them out, but because they were chopped so finely and mixed throughout the sauce and meat, it was very difficult to eat. If this is how they prepare the dish, they should reconsider the way they cook and serve lemongrass dishes--or consider removing this dish from the menu. I also waited about 30 minutes for my food. After such a long wait, I expected the food to at least arrive hot, but it was already cold. It seemed like the food had been sitting in the kitchen for a while because there weren't enough staff to bring it out to customers. The table service and cleanliness were also disappointing. There were no staff available to clean the tables, and I actually saw customers moving previous customers' dirty plates to one side and wiping the table themselves. Our table was also extremely sticky. The restaurant really needs to review its food delivery process. Instead of having staff run around the dining area trying to find the right table number, they could simply have customers pick up their food using an order number. This would probably make the process much faster and more organized. Overall, the food was just so-so, the service was slow, and the whole restaurant felt very unorganized. Unfortunately, I will not be coming back.

Penelope's Coffee & Tea is what happens when a neighborhood café decides that coffee should have a…read morepersonality. The atmosphere is effortlessly civilized: bright, relaxed, and sufficiently comfortable to encourage lingering without descending into the laptop-induced paralysis of so many contemporary cafés. The patio is particularly appealing, with sunlight, greenery, and the sort of unhurried ambiance that makes you suddenly believe you have nowhere else to be. The coffee is superb. Greek coffee is bold and concentrated, while the specialty drinks display an almost suspiciously effective command of sweetness, spice, and texture. The womelette, an omelet cooked in a waffle iron, is wonderfully absurd and genuinely delicious, which is a rare combination in breakfast cuisine. Service is warm and personal, and the staff contributes substantially to the café's neighborhood character. Prices are not bargain-basement, but they feel entirely defensible given the quality and portions. Penelope's isn't merely a coffee shop. It is a small, caffeinated argument for slowing down.

Penelope's Coffee and Tea is a warm, family-run Greek café in Foster City known for creative…read moreartisan drinks and unique breakfast fusion dishes. They have a wide selection of coffee/tea drinks as well as pastries and breakfast. We came early morning to grab some coffee and light breakfast. I had a hot Latte and a veggie egg sandwich breakfast. Both were bloody amazing!! I tell you the latte is so smooth, crisp and perfectly made to my liking. Now the breakfast sandwich was small but tasty. Service was spot on. The vibe was relaxing. Indoor and outdoor seats are available. Overall, this is a great coffee shop.

Sama Coffee Shop in San Mateo understands that a café can be more than a place to consume coffee;…read moreit can be an exercise in atmosphere and appetite. The room is quietly elegant, its Middle Eastern influences expressed through considered décor rather than theatrical excess. There is an appealing sense of decorum here; a place designed to encourage lingering rather than turnover. The coffee is similarly assured. Turkish coffee possesses the requisite depth and bitterness, while the rose-cardamom-honey latte introduces floral sweetness and spice with admirable restraint. The pastries and sweets--particularly the baklava and kunafeh--provide a luxurious counterpoint without descending entirely into confectionery excess. At roughly $10-$20 per person, Sama occupies a sensible price point for an experience that feels considerably more considered than the average neighborhood coffee shop. Sama is, ultimately, a café with a point of view and that is increasingly rare. The service was designed to provide you with a feeling that you're like a beloved family member. Eager to answer all questions asked and make you feel like you're at home.

We stopped by Sama Coffee Shop for a coffee and a quick dessert while we were in the area. It's a…read morecharming Turkish-style café with a nice selection of coffee drinks, creative lattes, teas, pastries, and desserts. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making it a good place to sit for a bit and enjoy a drink and something sweet. Overall, I would say our experience was fine. The coffee and dessert were good, but nothing really stood out enough that I would make a special trip from the South Bay to San Mateo just to come here. That said, if you're already in the area and looking for a casual coffee spot with some Turkish-inspired treats and a relaxed atmosphere, it's definitely worth stopping by.

Recently discovered this place and today I was with my baby who fallen asleep in the car. I ordered…read moreonline but I couldn't park or figure out how to pick up my order. I stopped in front of their coffee shop and run back forth saying that my baby is sleeping, let me know when it is ready. So the cook bought my sandwich to the car even though I didn't ask for that. Awwww as postpartum mama who did not have her breakfast and coffee at 11am, I was so touched by their excellent service! Coffee was so smooth and my sandwich like my grandma did - so yummy! They just earned forever customer! :-)

I've been here a number of times, they're located in a business complex, but they're also open on…read morethe weekends so we pop in here and there for coffee or a snack. We've tried a good number of things on the menu and the main thing for me is that even though the prices are not steep, the food portions are quite small. Even the bagels are not standard-sized bagels, they're smaller and feel more like a mini bagel. Whenever I order any rice dish, I'm never full. Taste is average at best across everything I've tried. So even though it's not expensive, it doesn't feel quite worth it. The drinks are good, I've enjoyed most of what I've tried. The space is pretty big and open, good for working or hanging out and the staff is usually friendly. The only time I've had a negative experience with service was with the owner or manager (not sure), she was a bit rude and stand-offish.

My son came into Backhaus specifically for one of their cookies, but they had already sold out for…read morethe day. When the staff realized that was what he had come in for, they gave him a couple of the "reject" cookies that had already been set aside for employees. Needless to say, he was thrilled. It was a small gesture, but an incredibly thoughtful one that really made his day. Backhaus has fantastic baked goods, but it's this kind of genuine customer service that makes the place stand out. We'll definitely keep coming back.

Decided to get in line a lil after 10am on a Saturday. The line moved pretty quickly! We knew we…read morewanted the vanilla latte - got it iced and hot. I got mine with almond milk. It's a good latte! There were so many baked options. We asked the worker for recommendations. We asked about the almond vs chocolate hazelnut croissants & savory options. Speck & egg was the top specific mention, but she added that they're all good. I learned that speck was ham. We ended up getting the chocolate hazelnut croissant & speck & egg. We got the last one of the croissant, so I can only imagine how fast things run out. Baked to perfection - flakey and not dense at all. The croissant did get a bit too sweet over time. There's two tables inside and one bigger one outside. It can get a little crowded with everyone waiting for their drinks. I'm glad I got to try it! I'd come back - lots more to try. Street parking can be a hit or miss nearby. Wherever you park, it's still a nice walk in the downtown area.

Blue Bottle Coffee in San Mateo deserves a special shoutout for the excellent service I received…read morefrom Cameron. He greeted me promptly in such a warm, friendly way and was genuinely helpful throughout the visit. It was honestly one of the best customer service encounters I've had anywhere recently, especially in a coffee shop. Great coffee is always appreciated, but great service like this really stands out. Cameron made the experience feel welcoming and memorable. Highly recommend this location, for both service and cleanliness/atmosphere.

Save yourself the headache and skip this spot on a Friday unless you're walking over from the…read morenearby offices. Parking: Absolute nightmare. Finding a spot anywhere near the building took forever. The Wait: Waited 15 minutes just to order, only to be told it would be another 15 to 20 minutes for the drinks to actually be made. The Vibe & Pace: I'm usually pretty patient with long lines, but watching the staff work was painful. Zero urgency, moving in slow motion while a huge crowd waited. You could literally feel the shared frustration in the room and everyone around me was checking their watches with the exact same annoyed expression. The coffee at Blue Bottle is always solid, but the bottlenecking from app/delivery orders combined with a staff that refuses to pick up the pace makes this location a skip. Definitely wouldn't go out of my way to come back here.

I was eating next door on a Sunday afternoon and saw lots of people going in and coming out with…read moredelicious looking matcha drinks. I watched their reactions when taking the first sip, it was a lot of head nodding and thumbs upping to their friends so I felt like I had to go in and try for myself. Went in and ordered an earl gray matcha and my partner ordered a passion mango tea w boba. The matcha & the passion fruit was so good! The boba was chewy and sweet. I would definitely recommend coming and trying! I really wanted to try their strawberry matcha but I'm always so skeptical (I have trust issues w bad strawb matchas) but the earl gray was good, so maybe I'll try next visit. The interior was nice, menu was straight forward on the wall and on the check out table -- only thing is the description of the drinks weren't shown on the menus until you're on the self check out kiosk. I was curious about the sunny side up matcha thinking it was made with real egg yolk (which I thought kinda weird?) but the kiosk said that it was mango. You didn't really talk to staff at all & the drinks came out pretty fast! Would come back again.

Inconsistent spot. My first visit was on 6/3, and I ordered the matcha einspanner--it was honestly…read moreone of the worst matchas I've had. I later found out they closed that same day due to some kind of sewage/health inspection issue, so I decided to give them another chance after they reopened, especially since friends recommended their other locations. My visits since then have definitely been better. My go-to is now the Double Matcha at 50% sweet. It has a strong matcha flavor, is creamy, and is really good when made right. I definitely won't be getting the matcha einspanner again though. The biggest issue is consistency. Not every visit tastes the same, but when it's good, it's good. The shop also sometimes has a noticeable bathroom/cleaning chemical smell, which isn't the most pleasant when you're sitting inside.

Call and order ahead, so they will have your sandwich waiting. We always go for breakfast, and get…read moretheir croissant sandwiches and a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice. They are very flaky, so it's a good idea to eat sitting down and not while driving. The only thing I miss is their spam as an option: it hasn't been on the menu for a long time, and they keep saying they will get it back, but it's been over six months since they said that. Please bring back the spam!

This is a review for a pickup with Too Good to Go. Parking was easy. Not too busy inside. Staff…read moregreeted me and I mentioned my pickup. They quickly put together a selection of pastry and bread varieties for me in a nice box. Very nice. It's a small shop with limited seating inside and outside. I enjoyed all the options by my favorite would have to be the Guava Cheese. I will be back again.

Got the mocha with cinnamon maple twice this week and it's been delish! So nice to find a local…read moregood price, good crafted, good size latte local around here! Friendly staff and fast service, we got our drinks right away. Not as much of a stay and study place, but more of a stay and chat over a drink. Which is so nice and refreshing. Love that you can sit outside. 10/10 will come back! Mocha is delish Banana bread syrup is delish! Cinnamon maple syrup for the win!

The food is usually good though I have had a few issues. I do like their croissant. It's pretty…read moretasty and the egg is very fluffy and light. It has cheese and bacon as well. Yum. The service seems ok and the ambiance is nice. It is a small place though so it is hard to get a seat and I do see a lot of people there working in their laptops.