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    Roots Cafe

    4.5 (499 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafes, Coffee & Tea, Waffles

    Order Roots Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Roots Cafe Cafes Restaurant Photos

    ROOTS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Roots Cafe

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    Iced Honey Rose Latte
    Daniella P.

    Stopped here for a quick coffee and ordered an Iced Honey Rose Latte. The rose flavors weren't too overbearing and it complimented the espresso nicely. Cool place.

    Fruity Pebbles Latte, Honey Oat Latte
    Jimmy C.

    Roots remains one of my favorite coffee shops to go to. My go-to drink is The David but today I tried the Fruity Pebbles latte which was also very tasty. The baristas are always friendly and the drinks cost about the same as Starbucks, yet tastes 5x better. Whenever I'm around the area, I always gotta stop by to get my caffeine fix. I just finished my drink but I still want another one!

    Outside
    Michelle K.

    First time at this coffee shop and if it wasn't for Yelp, I wouldn't have ever know there was a coffee shop in this plaza. My husband and I came here to try out some drinks. We ordered The David (iced Vanilla Latte made w/H+H and topped with Cinnamon Vanilla Cream) and Cereal Milk Smoothie w/Cinnamon Toast. The David was really good - just the right amount of caffeine to sweet to creamy for me. It's definitely worth a try at Roots Cafe. However, the Cereal Milk Smoothie was a huge disappointment. The "smoothie" was more icy than creamy and basically felt like I could've made it at home. Wish the drink had blended better since it's listed as a smoothie on the menu but wasn't the consistency as expected. There's a few tables for customers to sit and one restroom for customer use. Roots is located in a pretty decent plaza with tons of parking. The atmosphere is more calm so I can see someone coming here to study or meet with a friend to catchup.

    Honey Rose Latte and Smores Latte
    Any M.

    A hidden coffee shop! The drinks were good, we ordered the smores latte (seasoned item) and the honey rose latte. Will def come back

    the DAVID
    Jessica P.

    The coffee is delicious here. The David is by far my favorite coffee from here. I am so sad they are closing.

    Matcha Waffle
    Lisa M.

    I absolutely love the coffee at this cafe! If I was closer to it, I would stop by nearly every morning. It's a nice vibe with plenty of indoor seating. It is located in a small business plaza with ample parking spaces. This cafe serves tea, waffles, avocado toast, and more. Their waffle was decent. It was a nice treat to share between two people and comes with a scoop of ice cream. Personally tried the matcha waffle, which comes with condensed milk as a topping instead of the traditional syrup. Friendly service. Would recommend.

    Strawberry Matcha
    Lindsey H.

    Great vibes with a cozy, welcoming atmosphere, making it the perfect spot to relax or get some work done. The menu offers a fantastic range of coffee and espresso drinks, along with some delicious pastries and light bites. Whether you're into classic brews or looking for something more unique, they have something for every coffee lover. The service was friendly and efficient, with baristas who clearly know their craft. One of the highlights was the music - they play a smooth selection of R&B that adds to the chill ambiance, making it easy to settle in and enjoy your coffee. Definitely a go-to spot for a laid-back coffee experience!

    Ingrid A.

    My husband and I just recently discovered roots around first week of may and we find their coffee really good! We're from lb and I can say this is my go to when I need a good caffeine fix! The place is cozy, and It saddens me that they're closing this September 2025

    Strawberry Matcha Latte Iced
    Aileen G.

    This place is soooo good! I specifically loved their "the David" drink! It was perfect and the employees were really kind. It looks small, but there's plenty of indoor seating :) can't wait to go back

    Strawberry Matcha Latte
    Jacob R.

    I've gone twice now to roots and feel like I'll be coming here often. Not only for the drinks but for the relaxing atmosphere. They have a good amount of drink offers as well as foods with tables that are all two tops. No more no less. The tables are on the smaller size to doing assignments with textbooks, laptops, and notebooks might be a tight squeeze. The cafe offers their own merch and has a playlist to my liking, sorta catered to the younger crowd like myself. Roots will now be my "go to" for my latte cravings as well as when I need to get assignments done.

    Ham Cheese Jalapeno Panini, Churro Waffle, Matcha Latte

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    So fresh & delicious! From their fantastic hot coffees tot heir cinnamon waffles.. mmm! Chef's kiss!

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    9 months ago

    The food was delicious, and that coffees. The workers were very friendly. Definitely going back.

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    I love the vibes here, I recommend it for breakfast food pretty much. The French toast are amazing and the service is pretty quick!

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    Business owner information

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    Peter P.

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    Peter P.

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    Page 2 of 13

    Ask the Community - Roots Cafe

    Is indoor dining avaliable again?

    I noticed some parking spaces are blocked off in front of Roots; is there going to be outdoor patio seating?

    Yes! We were preparing to do so.. but because of the ash from these fires, we were delayed

    Are any of the waffles vegan?

    Hello, unfortunately the waffles are not vegan We do have vegan sourdough and bagel options Thank… Read more

    Is the internet connection better? I stopped going lately coz it was pretty slow few times I went, but besides that, I really like everything else about this place.

    Hi, Im so sorry about our internet speed. Unfortunately this is the only service available at the plaza. I bought 2 internet lines to try to battle the speeds.. but I realize… Read more

    Which one is better in terms of sweet wise, Iced Lavender Latte, Iced Hazelnut Latte, Matcha Latte and Toffeenut Latte?

    Hi, Sweet-wise.. our toffeenut would be the most sweet out of those options. Followed by hazelnut, lavender, and matcha.

    Any plans to open a new location in Irvine? I've tried almost all of the coffee shops in Irvine/Aliso Viejo/Mission Viejo/Tustin area and I do think you guys will be super successful down here.

    Thanks for your input! We would love to add locations as soon as we are financially able. We will keep your idea in mind!

    Do you have vegan options?

    Thanks for your question! Our vegan options at this point include our avocado toast, bagels and most of our drinks!

    Are there gluten free pancakes or waffles?

    No, we do not have that option.

    View All 11 Questions

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    Aloha Stacks - Ube Coconut Pancake

    Aloha Stacks

    4.2(994 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Pleanty of food to choose from. Lots of protein…read morepreferences. Pancakes are the main staple. Good for groups if one can find the tables unoccupied. The service is order-pay, and pick up your food when called up. In the middle of busy Cerrittos plaza.

    I had driven past this place countless times and finally decided to give it a try. Since it's right…read moreby my house, I can honestly say I'll be back. I ordered the all-day hibachi with steak and fried rice, with a side of banana pancakes. The banana pancakes absolutely stole the show. They were hands down some of the best banana pancakes I've ever had. It's surprisingly difficult to find places that actually mix real banana pieces into the batter, but these did, and they were incredibly fluffy and practically melted in your mouth. I'll definitely be ordering them again. The fried rice was also really good and flavorful. The steak was probably my least favorite part of the meal. It wasn't bad, but I personally would have liked a little more seasoning. My friend ordered the crab omelet and said it was absolutely delicious, and the chai tea latte was a great addition to the meal. One thing that surprised me was the ordering process. I was expecting traditional table service, but instead you order at the counter when you walk in. That's not necessarily a bad thing, just different from what I expected. What did catch me off guard was being prompted to leave a tip before receiving any service. Maybe I'm old school, but in a counter-service setting, I'm not always sure what the tipping expectations are. The restaurant got very crowded shortly after we placed our order, and the line at the counter started to build up. It actually made me wonder whether having servers take orders at the table would help things flow a little more smoothly during busy periods. I'm not sure if it would make a difference, but it was something I found myself thinking about while watching the crowd grow. That said, the staff was friendly, the food came out in a reasonable amount of time, and it's easy to see why this place stays busy. They have a huge menu with tons of options, so there's something for everyone. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and will definitely be back. The banana pancakes alone are worth the return trip, and next time I'll be looking forward to trying more items from the menu.

    Photos
    Aloha Stacks - Dining room 6:45am

    Dining room 6:45am

    Aloha Stacks - Crab omelette with breakfast potatoes

    Crab omelette with breakfast potatoes

    Aloha Stacks - 6:30am they open. First customers of the day. Close at 2

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    6:30am they open. First customers of the day. Close at 2

    Off Street Cafe - Veggie Skillet

    Off Street Cafe

    4.3(4.1k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Place was crowded but seating was done very efficiently. We were 17th on the waitlist but got…read moreseated within 25 minutes. Being a party of 2 probably helped. Garden omelette was delicious and cinnamon roll French toast was heavenly. Service was quick, courteous and attentive.

    Everything about this place is five stars I just wish it…read morehad a bigger parking lot, place gets really busy and sometimes parking is a challenge . The food is delicious, by far my favorite breakfast place and I only learned about it about four months ago ! I usually get the garden omelette, which comes with hashbrowns & toast but I usually substitute the toast for two pancakes, which is three dollars more, my husband gets an omelette and he keeps the toast and we just share the toast & the pancakes. The omelette has fresh pieces of vegetables in it , gives it a nice crunch and bursting with flavor! I've had the French toast, which is really good ! They also make their own jam, which is so delicious ! I look forward to a piece of toast with jam every time I go, the peach and the raspberry are my favorite. The wait staff is on top of things! In spite of it being so busy, they are quick, friendly and efficient every time! I kind of don't wanna leave this review and gate keep the place but that just wouldn't be nice ! My husband and I are retired and we have been going there at least once a week , it's so so so good! I had to edit this review because I wanted to mention that I was reading some of the other reviews and somebody said the pancake " just OK" I am very picky about my pancakes and these pancakes are so good ! Served with warm syrup and lots of butter! But very flavorful without anything on them too. Fresh squeezed orange juice as well ! I forgot to mention that! What more could I look for in a breakfast spot?

    Photos
    Off Street Cafe - Eggs Benedict

    Eggs Benedict

    Off Street Cafe
    Off Street Cafe - California Chorizo burrito

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    California Chorizo burrito

    Bakers & Baristas - Milk and Cereal

    Bakers & Baristas

    4.1(1.9k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    This was my first time visiting Bakers & Baristas but not my first time trying there macaroons…read more My daughter has been treating me to macaroons on special occasions and I absolutely love them! I can't have them from anywhere else because these hit the spot so hard that no one can compete. I personally have not tried anything else, but my kids have enjoyed other treats from this place. They are located in Cerritos at a very busy shopping plaza and there's plenty of parking. I didn't expect the bakery to be an actual restaurant. There was a good crowd, sitting at tables and eating and drinking. They have about a dozen different flavors of macaroons. You can't go wrong with any of them, but my top favorite are the Birthday, Fruity Pebble, Horchata, Cappuccino and Ferrero Rocher. They make nice gifts too, as they can put it in a treat box in an ice brown paper bag. I definitely need to come back and try their drinks and something else from their menu.

    I've been here before and honestly wasn't a fan of their breakfast. Their drinks were decent…read morethough, and after eating teriyaki in Gardena, I was craving something sweet, so we decided to stop here again. I ordered a hot salted caramel latte. They charge an extra dollar to substitute oat milk, so I kept the regular milk. My son got the cappuccino cake, and I chose the ricotta pistachio cake. The pistachio cake was a little dry -- not terrible, but noticeable. However, my hot salted caramel latte was actually very good and paired really well with the dessert. The music and atmosphere were nice, and there were only a few patrons inside, which made it feel relaxed. However, there were a couple of dirty plates left sitting on tables while one employee seemed more focused on organizing napkins instead of clearing them. I also wasn't too sure how fresh the cakes were since they had been sitting in the display. Whether I come back really depends on the flavor and quality of the food and drinks next time around.

    Photos
    Bakers & Baristas - Dining area

    Dining area

    Bakers & Baristas - Dumplings - ok  flavor lacking imo

    Dumplings - ok flavor lacking imo

    Bakers & Baristas - Mapleccino - Maple syrup, two shots of espresso, dash of spice mix. Topped w/ Biscoff crumbs. Need a Biscoff dunker :-p

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    Mapleccino - Maple syrup, two shots of espresso, dash of spice mix. Topped w/ Biscoff crumbs. Need a Biscoff dunker :-p

    Sunny on South - Green chilaquiles  / Birria

    Sunny on South

    4.4(738 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Reasonably priced breakfast and service was great. The wait was not long midweek. Options to dine…read moreinside or outside....and MJ played the entire time. Food: 9/10 pancakes were amazing Service: 10/10 Value: 10/10 Ambience: 9/10 Vibes: 10/10....quiet chill spot to enjoy a quick breakfast

    I met some friends here for brunch on a weekday. They have a small interior but a large patio with…read moreumbrella-covered tables. We chose to eat outdoors. I ordered the Monte Cristo sandwich. There were a variety of choices for sides and I chose a fruit bowl. I also requested an iced vanilla latte. Our waiter was pleasant and only checked on us once after our plates arrived, which was perfect as we were in deep conversation. My Monte Cristo was pan-fried and not deep-fried the traditional way, cut and served as three pieces. The French toast was prepared nicely and the turkey, ham, and cheese inside were fine. A small ramekin of syrup was provided, not nearly enough for dipping, but there was a full dispenser of syrup on the table so no problem. Usually a berry jam is provided on the side but they provided some sort of mysterious fruit jam that was bitter and a single small taste of it was all it took to deny it from further use. Yuck. The bowl of fruit was a great choice for a side. It was all bursting with flavor - strawberries, banana slices, and blueberries! I was glad I chose this over potatoes or fries. The iced vanilla latte was, at best, simply "okay". The flavor was weak. Overall, it was a fine breakfast meal.

    Photos
    Sunny on South - Inside

    Inside

    Sunny on South - Short Rib Birria Benedict

    Short Rib Birria Benedict

    Sunny on South - Birria omelette

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    Birria omelette

    The Nest: A Brunch Joint - This is our chilaquiles plate with salsa verde, crema, queso fresco, avocado and eggs any style

    The Nest: A Brunch Joint

    4.3(4.8k reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Vegetarian friendly

    Staff is friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. The food is terrific and the new mimosa filght…read moreis YAAS!

    We're from out of town and we found this place as it was just 15min from where we were staying. We…read moredidn't know what to think of it, all we knew was we wanted to go to a brunch spot and they did not disappoint! We had to wait about 15min to be seated. Food was amazing. I was excited about the coffee flight- my favorite was the raspberry mint mojito. If you order the flight, I recommend drinking from the mint mojito - raspberry - blackberry. Our server was nice and she explained the menu. She also mentioned that they take their food seriously, and she was not kidding. I liked how they set up the menu because in a specific section (I think, or maybe it's all sections can't remember) you order one of the main dishes and it comes with a small plate already. I ordered the custard French toast with a side of eggs and bacon. The BACON! Normally when I order bacon at places it's not something I overly enjoy because often times it's too hard or too oily-- I swear this was the perfect piece of bacon I've ever had. My husband ordered the beef short rib hash and I've never seen him eat sweet potatoes ever in our many years together. If I remember correctly, he cleaned his bowl of food. He was a little late in adding the sauce, which he regrets, so if you order this don't forget to try it with the sauce in the beginning. Inside the restaurant has some pretty interesting art around Filipino culture. Some minor feedback being that as fellow Filipinos were dining at the restaurant- I didn't quite understand the Filipino art or how that tied into the theme or roots of the restaurant or its history and would've loved to know more on how that came about or the story behind the choice to have that theme. Nevertheless, everything was amazing.

    Photos
    The Nest: A Brunch Joint - Tazo seasoned shrimp with cheesy grits, topped with green onion and bacon pieces

    Tazo seasoned shrimp with cheesy grits, topped with green onion and bacon pieces

    The Nest: A Brunch Joint - Specially Iced Coffee Flight.

    Specially Iced Coffee Flight.

    The Nest: A Brunch Joint

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    Coffee Code - Fresh Fruit Waffle

    Coffee Code

    4.2(1.6k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $

    I visited the Buena Park location and had a great experience…read more One thing that really stands out is that the ice cubes are made from coffee, so even as the ice melts, the coffee never gets watered down. The Iced Vanilla Latte was excellent! rich and flavorful, yet clean and smooth without being overly heavy or creamy. The waffle was also delicious, topped with fresh fruit and ice cream, making it a perfect treat to share or enjoy as dessert. The service was friendly and welcoming throughout the visit. I'll definitely be coming back for another Iced Vanilla Latte.

    Ambiance: 5/5 Coffee: 4.9/5…read more Services 20/5 4 of us came and left EXTREMELY happy! Okay fine mostly me because I'm the one with most picky critique to be frank! From the cashier (pretty young lady) and 2 barista/dudes and since I have been binging finally on K drama I swear one of them (you need to find out for yourself) could be a twins of Kim Min-Kyu with glasses. I however didn't wear my glasses but I'm not mad about that. I think my first time visited this location was during 2010. Definitely more future trips back even though there are 20-+ coffee shops nearby. Thank you to the whole group for indulging me with my seahorse latte request and then some and simply brought so much joy to this aging heart of mine and my family's. Until next time! PTV

    Photos
    Coffee Code - Interior, warm & modern

    Interior, warm & modern

    Coffee Code - Chocolate waffle.... soooooo good!

    Chocolate waffle.... soooooo good!

    Coffee Code - Iced Peanut Butter Cream Top Latte

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    Iced Peanut Butter Cream Top Latte

    Roots Cafe - cafes - Updated June 2026

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