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    Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe

    3.5 (2.3k reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    RUDY'S CAN'T FAIL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Breakfast Burrito Plate
    Laura E.

    My friend had some errands to do in Emeryville and suggested we meet for brunch there. I sent her some Yelp links to different brunch spots and she picked Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe. I had been many years ago with my family as a preteen or teenager but unfortunately I don't remember what I had then. Today I had the breakfast burrito and she had My Own Private Idaho. Burrito was tasty and filling. It came with a side of black beans, sour cream, and pico de gallo. We each had a cup of coffee. Coffee wasn't on the menu so my friend had to ask when she ordered at the counter. You order at the counter and seat yourself. Credit/debit cards only. Food was brought out quickly and our server checked in to see if we needed anything. We sat at a booth away from the door and it wasn't noisy or chilly. Despite today being a holiday, the restaurant wasn't crowded at all. We spent ~2.5 hours there as we hadn't seen one another in 4 months (I'm visiting from out of state) and they refused to rush us. I parked in the back lot and my friend was able to park on the side streets. I'd come back if in the area to try other items - their chilaquiles scramble looked great and they have a lot of plant based options. If the weather was warmer, I would have tried their milkshakes!

    Deborah H.

    Came in for lunch with a friend. My friend is currently disabled and walking with a cane. There were quite a few people there. We came in grabbed our menus and found our seats but then had to go back to the counter to order. I had the California chicken sandwich with garlic fries. It didn't have cheese so I added pepper jack. The sandwich was good. The fries were ok not as garlicky as I had hoped. My friend had the Rudy's breakfast and enjoyed it. She also tried the tuna salad and liked it. I had to go back to the counter to get a refill for my friend and then again for myself. I didn't like the idea of no servers and was concerned that if my friend and come her by herself she would not have been able to make multiple trips to the counter to get what she needed. Honestly not sure if I will come back.

    Corn, beef, hash with eggs, best I've had yet
    Irene G.

    We very much enjoyed our meals. The crab with poached egg was excellent and I had corned beef hash with eggs, it was the best I've had yet. The mimosas were good and so was The mocha latte. The service was great.

    Cappuccino
    Krupa T.

    Yum!! This place is an institution and you see it in the Sunday morning crowd. The food hit the spot for a good diner meal and the staff was accommodating and helpful. They have a lot of vegetarian and vegan options too!

    Huevos Ranchero & a Hamburger
    Maggi P.

    You can't fail with Rudy's Can't Fail in Emeryville. This place has been an established no fail breakfast joint for me since I moved to Bay Area 8 years ago. The quirky decor is my favorite. I try to sit indoors at the tables with the toys in the resin. They shifted to a pay at the counter first method since I last visited. Which seems to work fine and doesn't seem to change the experience. I had the Huevos Ranchero even though I usually have the Tower of Power (because they know what is hip). Go get you some awesome breakfast here.

    french toast
    Adrienne H.

    I was in the area and stopped by on a sunday morning. there is indoor and ourdoor seating. you seat yourself snd then order at the register. to drink i had orange juice was the best i ever had it was cold and thick. i had the french toast and it was probably the best ive had. the bacon was good as well. the hash browns were a little undercooked. quick service and such a cool funky vibe.

    Classic burger, Buffalo Chicken Salad
    Augusto L.

    It's out spot!!! Never gets old. Love me some tasty ass diner food! The staff, the various dishes, etc. The challah French toast are like the best thing ever.

    Monte Cristo sandwich
    Lily F.

    Love Rudy's! Food is delicious, service is always welcoming & love supporting a neighborhood business. Very child & family friendly too. Kids meals are big and we usually have leftovers. You can order items a la carte, make substitutions etc. with no issues. They also have live music in the spring and summer on the patio, which is always a fun treat! Lots of parking available nearby as well. As a New Yorker I miss diners and Rudy's is a great replacement spot for brunch, lunch & dinner.

    Short stack
    Shanita F.

    They are open on Christmas Day until 2 PM. The service here is very quick. I came in a party of two, we had to order at the bar, and the food was brought to us within 10 minutes. The omelette was so delicious. I didn't want to stop eating it, but I was so full at just eating half of it. The pancakes for just OK, I don't know if I will order them again. But the main event of the meal, was the English muffin! It was so buttery , warm and delicious. I will definitely order that every time. They have outside dining as well. They do have picnic tables for large group and a lot of two and four seater tables. As soon as someone left, the tables were cleared and cleaned.

    Malanienne D.

    This photo sums up breakfast. Huevos rancheros is worth while. French toast was tasty too; however, I didn't care too much for the Bloody Mary.

    Old School Tuna Melt

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    7 months ago

    Good reliable food, helpful kind staff. I came here with a disable friend and they were attentive and went the extra mile. Thank you

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    Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe

    A few weeks ago i thought i heard that you had closed the restaurant on Hollis in Emeryville. I guess that you have reopened?

    we visited in nov, son lives in the area. rudy's had closed them reopened, sweet employees said they got together, bought the place and were running it very well.… Read more

    Will you guys be open later in the future for dinner?

    Rudy's is open Wed - Sat for dinner. 5-9pm. And their Happy Hour is from 5-9pm those nights! Check it out!… Read more

    Are you open on thanksgiving?

    We will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Open 8am to 9 pm on Friday, 11/27

    Do they allow dogs in their outdoor seating area?

    Yes! Even have doggy bowls for when the pupperonies need some water

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    4.1
    (6.7k reviews)
    1.4 mi
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    Homeroom is a popular Mac and Cheese spot. It was indeed, yummy as anticipated. They have a few…read moreoptions on the menu that elevate the classic food. It was filling. Thank you to our server, Anthony.

    TLDR: 50 minute wait between sitting down to getting your food. Don't visit thinking this is a…read morequick drop by kind of place. While this visit was in between the lunch and dinner rush, unfortunately I think they are understaffed because at the time we sat down there was only 1 person who was busing tables and taking orders. As a result, it took a while for them to be able to stop by our table and provide water, take our order, etc. There was quite a long wait between sitting down to ordering to actually receiving our food. By the time we had actually received our food, almost an hour had passed. While we were waiting, a few other servers eventually joined, but service was still pretty bare for us and we never received refills on water or plates to eat off of when we received our food. I understand that staffing and a backup in the kitchen are out of the staff's control, but it would've definitely helped for us to know in advance how long to expect to wait to align our expectations and arrange our plans for the day. Would advise giving customers a quick heads up/warning because that on its own would've made a big difference. As for the actual food, we ordered the mac trio with elote mac, chicken pot pie mac, and kogi short rib mac (for an extra fee). The elote mac was the best and most flavorful, the short rib mac was okay but not amazing or worth the extra money, and the chicken pot pie mac was very bland/flavorless and didn't have much chicken in it. The food didn't feel like it warranted the wait time and because of that I would not return.

    Photos
    Mexican Chorizo Mac & Elote Mac | @allthenummies
    Mexican Chorizo Mac & Elote Mac | @allthenummies
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    Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge

    Rob Ben’s Restaurant & Lounge

    4.0
    (306 reviews)
    0.4 mi
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    Updated review: I was hype when I seen Momma Lynch's…read moreSpecial back on the menu at Rob Ben's Restaurant. I'm not going to lie, I been checking the site waiting for them to bring it back lol. Soon as I saw it, I had to order through DoorDash, and it did NOT disappoint. This plate is a whole feast for real. You get 3 party wings, 3 pieces of fish, 2 pork chops, plus green beans and mac & cheese. Everything came hot, fresh, and smelling good as soon as I opened it. The fish was crispy and seasoned right, not greasy at all. The wings were juicy and full of flavor, and them pork chops? Tender, seasoned all the way through, and cooked just right. Now the sides? Just as fire. The green beans had flavor, not bland like some places be doing, and that mac & cheese was creamy, cheesy, and hitting for real. You can tell they put love into this food. Portions is solid too. They not being stingy at all. Definitely worth the money. I'm glad they brought this back because yeah... I'm running this order back again real soon.

    I hadn't eaten here in a few years and I must say the food was . I ordered the Momma Lynch which…read morecame with 3 pieces of fried fish, 3 whole fried chicken wings, 2 fried pork chops, 2 sides (greens and red beans and rice) and corn bread. My favorites were the fried fish, greens, and red beans and rice. Everything was fried to perfection. I also had the Skittles cocktail and it was very good. We went when they opened for the day so the restaurant was quiet. Service was fast and our server was friendly and knowledgeable. *Side note - The women's bathroom was spotless.

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    Fried chicken wings
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    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen

    Me Va Con Vietnamese Kitchen

    4.5
    (262 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Mini Pancakes Bahn Khot -- super fresh, fragrant and flavorful. I love the basil and mint that came…read morewith the roll. Every mouthful had a nice hint of buttery flavor from the pancake and then a hint of freshness from the veggies. Spicy Shaken Beef Pho -- flavorful beef broth, perfect amount of saltiness, lots of fresh beef slices. Super filling and warm! The food was delicious and fresh! Would come back and try their other dishes, their standard pho was yummy and flavorful!

    We were in the area figuring out where to eat when a lady eating Bánh Khọt in the her freakin' car…read morecame up on my feed. Eating anything with nước chấm in the car is diabolical. With my luck, my car would smell like hello kitty for weeks. Anyhow, I found Mẹ Và Con on yelp, a mother-daughter owned resto that opened in 2024. They serve bánh khọt and have outdoor seating so we headed over. Thankfully, we arrived before the Sunday dinner rush (~5:45 pm) and before the parking lot was filled. Rezzies are accepted (via phone). M E N U Viet Cuisine with some elevated, modern twists (no specific regional specialty). Smaller menu than your typical hole-in-the-wall with 25-30 items including AZN fusion items like shrimp ceviche, kimchi pasta and tom yum pasta. Beer, wine, and soju cocktails available. F O O D * Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce ($18): https://tinyurl.com/nhcn9kxw - Served at dinner only Fresh, tender slices of beef carpaccio with a sweetness from the tangerine sauce and white onions. I appreciate their twist (tangerine sauce instead of nước chấm) but it was too one note for me...IMO, it needed acid and herbs. Plus, I miss the texture of peanuts. * Bánh Khọt: Viet Mini Pancakes w/ shrimp, coconut milk batter, herbs, pickles ($24): https://tinyurl.com/34nx7sat - Served at dinner only Fav dish of the night, the savory bánh khọt was delicately crispy and slightly custardy in the center with a snappy shrimp drizzled with fragrant scallion oil. It came with romaine, mint, and perilla leaves neatly layered for easy wrapping. The lettuce was a bit soft and soggy tho, and I think they forgot the pickled veggies. Served with a tiny portion of tangy sweet nước chấm. * Bò Lúc Lắc: Shaking Beef w/ soy, garlic, onion, cherry tomato, arugula ($26): https://tinyurl.com/3rkpukct Meltingly tender cubes of filet mignon but light on the seasoning and aromatics so it was bland. Also, was hoping for more smoky wok hei flavor. * Thịt Kho Tàu: Braised Pork Belly w/ hard boiled eggs, rice ($21): https://tinyurl.com/mr2evryw - Includes bowl of rice A traditional dish served during Lunar New Year, it symbolizes prosperity, warmth, and stability. Chunks of pork belly are caramelized in sugar and braised in coconut soda and fish sauce - rich, savory with a good ratio of lean meat to fat (4 pieces). Wish they used more braising liquid when warming up, as some pieces were a bit dry. S E R V I C E Warm, friendly hospitality. Food does take awhile tho...our first dish took about 30 minutes to arrive. A M B I A N C E Casual, no-frills indoor area with about 10-12 tables. Cute covered patio in the parking lot with 5 tables and fairy lights. Overall, Mẹ Và Con is a great place to introduce people that are new to Viet cuisine and/or you're looking for Viet dishes with different twist.

    Photos
    Counter
    Counter
    Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce  ($18)
    Bò Tái Chanh: Beef Carpaccio w/ Thai basil, fried shallot, house tangerine sauce ($18)
    Mini pancakes

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    Xingones Cantina

    Xingones Cantina

    4.3
    (370 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$
    Minority-owned & operated
    Speaks Spanish

    This is an order before you sit down kinda place…read more I ordered the Xingones Nachos with ground beef and it was fresh and delicious. The chips were fried fresh, and the ground beef was quality. I was hesitant to order ground beef nachos but it was great tasting & well made. I got full but couldn't stop eating them. I ordered a drink and nachos. The drink came out promptly and was simple but well constructed. Service was good and with care. It's mostly high top seating with seating at the bar as well, & maybe 1-2 half circles with comfy pillows. Parking is tough, plan to either circle or park a few blocks away. And remember is this bip city so I recommend Ubering.

    I was visiting the area to spend time with family and didn't know many spots, but I'm really glad I…read morecame across Xingones Cantina. The vibe is great, and the food definitely delivers on flavor. We tried quite a bit--the first Friday taco, chicken sandwiches, Mexican hot dog, and asada tacos--and everything was honestly amazing. It was so good that we came back the next day before leaving town just to have it again. Service was about an 8/10. The only reason I didn't rate it higher was due to one moment that didn't sit right with me. I watched a waitress bring out fries to a guest, the guest started eating them, and then she came back to say it was a mistake and took them away after he was already halfway through. That just didn't feel very service-oriented. In a situation like that, it would have been better to acknowledge the mistake and let the guest keep the fries on the house. Taking back half-eaten food felt like poor judgment. That said, the overall experience was still very positive. Great atmosphere, great flavors, and definitely a spot I'd recommend checking out if you're in the area.

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    Xingones Cantina
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    Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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