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    Sutter Cafe

    4.4 (44 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    Ed U.

    Who would think to come to the Sutter Stockton Garage for a homemade tamale? I was on my way back from a medical appointment at 450 Sutter when I decided to stop here based on the little sandwich board on the sidewalk. I quickly looked at the Yelp app and found that people do indeed come to what looks like a little sandwich and candy shop right across from the elevators (photo: http://bit.ly/12cdY0c). And why? Because the owner, a quiet, charming woman named Holly Li, married a Mexican-Chinese man and learned to make tamales from her sister-in-law while living for years in Mexico City. Her tamales caught the appetite of a 7x7 food writer (photo: http://bit.ly/14EnpYh), and now she's developing a cult following through the Yelp gravevine. A sign perched precariously in the corner atop a stack of phone books heralds her Chicken Tamales with a quote from 7x7: "A perfect ratio of masa to shredded chicken and olives" for $2.75 each (photo: http://bit.ly/13exIa8). OK then, two please as I expected them to be small for that price. They are and come steamed in their corn husks (photo: http://bit.ly/14hBz2W). Peeling them off gingerly given the heat, they are perfectly molded with the masa thick and almost gelatinous and with a generous filling of spicy chicken, chopped jalapenos and olives (photo: http://bit.ly/12y6a7X). She came back with a squeeze bottle of siracha gave an even greater kick to every bite. They are definitely delicious and made me want some enchiladas and refried beans on the side. Two more please. FOOD - 4 stars...homemade tamales with panache and flavor and you don't have to take the 14 AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...looks and feels like an office building business SERVICE - 4.5 stars...Holly is great and steadfast TOTAL - 4 stars...you don't have to park here to get a satisfying tamale

    Tamale ($3.50) - Tiny bite sized tamale with hard masa that does not even come with sauce. Terrible.
    Ahmad J.

    Sutter Café is a small coffee/sandwich shop in the basement of the Sutter-Stockton parking garage. This place is hidden inside and unless you go looking for it there is no way that you will run into this place or spot it from the road. It's accessible from the Sutter street entrance next to E&O Kitchen and Bar. After passing by it many times I finally decided to give it a try. I saw a big sign for chicken tamales ($3.50) so I decided to get one to-go. As expected it was cash only. The short review would be that the chicken tamale was crap. It was a tiny bite sized over steamed masa that enclosed literally a minuscule amount of chicken. It did not even come with any sauce to help slide this down. I don't know what I'm missing but this was one overpriced crappy tamale that I have no intention of ever getting again. Some of the reviews here have praised these tamales to the high heavens. I'm not one of them. I'd rather go to Tropisueno or any of the Taqueria's in the hood (Tenderloin) and get decent tamale instead.

    Sausage& Egg croissant
    Borah Y.

    The lady made a warm breakfast croissant for me, fresh eggs. Shes really sweet and the cafe is easy, located inside sutter-stockton garage building near the elevator.

    the interior of the restaurant
    Luis C.

    The place is small (located inside a building, next to the elevators for the Sutter Stockton garage), but it's stocked with a HUGE variety of food items: coffees, canned drinks, sandwiches, salads, pastries, bagged snacks, and candy by the pound. The store owner, Holly Li, is super friendly and sweet, offering to reheat food items and carefully packaging to go orders. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=iBgplgA0wUDC470U1U_Opg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=JJkQBNtnhZ2hCn8DNXgetQ http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=lhXaK6CU14FmlOT5qcBSbg http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=L_ud6nZ8vAFZ1o6MmgFnLw Sorry the fuzzy pictures are from my cellphone camera. 7x7 magazine awarded it best tamales in 2007. The shop has a little card next to the chicken tamales to remind customers about it. In my opinion, that award was overrated. Perhaps the magazine was trying to increase business at this shop, which is usually empty. I think that the magazine's staff should try La Palma Mexicatessen on 24th St, or other places in Oakland, to learn what really good tamales are like. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=Uo8qMdQlW-eg7nyeOEaTEg I ordered 2 tamales ($2.25 each). These are half the size of normal tamales, the chicken filling is tasty but the dough around it is a little too dense and dry. Maybe the batch I got was no good, I don't know. Definitely not the best tamales in the bay area. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=y04wmH7AHy3gD8AOp_GdMg On another visit I got an egg salad sandwich and a can of mango drink - mango flavor of drink was excellent, but I found a piece of egg shell inside the sandwich. *sad face* http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eYTJwqW-bJ2iUNk7wrqh8Q?select=MgSsozAts-Wz0qkB84TGlg The place is lovely, it has a few tables to sit, service is very nice, and you do get a great variety of food options. So even with the flaws I found, I'd rate it 3 stars.

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    13 years ago

    5 stars for the tamales. They are amazing! If I go anywhere this place my husband demands I bring them home.

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    10 years ago

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    Scones, espresso, beverages, and princess cake slices.

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    A Buttercup Dessert House - We will open in September

    A Buttercup Dessert House

    4.3(248 reviews)
    2.6 miMission
    $$

    Although they don't serve variations of buttercups, A Buttercup is one of the few dessert houses…read moreoffering Taiwanese-style treats like Bingsoo, Milk Bread Toast, and other Asian fusion creations. I'm always hunting for spots like this because I have a weakness for those over-the-top, Instagram-worthy desserts that look like diabetes in a dish. Like most places in this genre, A Buttercup is small, modern, and minimalist with limited seating. If you plan to go, aim for off-hours unless you enjoy waiting in line for sugar. The decor is cute and trendy, perfect for photos if that's part of your dessert ritual. As they say, "you eat with your eyes first," and when it comes to presentation, this place definitely gets an A+. The desserts look stunning and set high expectations. Unfortunately, that's where things started to crumble. It's like going to see your favorite artist live. You've watched the videos, memorized the songs, and paid for the experience. But instead of the electric performance you imagined, you get someone lip-syncing and barely connecting with the crowd. That was this place in dessert form. We ordered the Mango Bingsoo on our first visit, and when it arrived, we were surprised by how small the portion was. The guy next to us even looked over and said, "Whatever that is, I'm getting that next time." He shouldn't have. The Bingsoo looked great but was bland, and the "snow" was more chunky ice than soft shave. The Thai Tea Roti was also not what I expected. It came with Thai tea ice cream and sauce alongside a roti that was fried to a crunch. Interesting idea, just not the best execution. The sauce and ice cream needed a stronger Thai tea flavor to balance the crispy roti, and the flavors never quite came together. Overall, A Buttercup nails the aesthetics but misses the flavor. If you're here for the photos, you'll be happy. If you're here for the taste, you'll leave with a full camera roll and an unsatisfied sweet tooth.

    We got the pandan roti, which was fantastic! The roti itself was super flaky and crispy, and I…read moreloved the combo of the roti + spoonful of ice cream with a bit of the pandan drizzle. The coconut strips were also the perfect addition. Super decadent and overall the perfect sweet treat I agree with the other reviews that portions + presentation are a bit disappointing, but it was still undeniably tasty food

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    A Buttercup Dessert House
    A Buttercup Dessert House - Menu 1 of 2

    Menu 1 of 2

    A Buttercup Dessert House - Menu 2 of 2

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    Menu 2 of 2

    Dandelion Chocolate - Iced Chocolate Chai and Chocolate Milk

    Dandelion Chocolate

    4.4(1.9k reviews)
    2.2 miMission
    $$

    Had an absolutely amazing time in the chocolate making class with Graham and enjoyed delicious…read moredrinks and pastries from the cafe. Would highly recommend paying the factory a visit!

    Why add another review to a venue that already has been so well reviewed? Because of the quality…read moreof my experience there; it is worth writing about! We came for a factory tour, about an hour long. It was fascinating and educational to learn about the craft of chocolates from fruit to beans to the chocolate bar, and to get to chocolate taste along the way. Their work is inspiring-adding minimal ingredients to their chocolate bars so that the flavors of the cacao beans shine naturally from where they originate. After the tour, we tried the hojicha hot chocolate, the celebration cake, and the matcha cookie. For the hojicha hot chocolate, the tea flavor was subtle, but good chocolate. The celebration cake was what we expected-glad it wasn't overly sweet so that cocoa is more pronounced, but it also wasn't too rich; I felt the chocolate here in some sense lacked depth. The matcha cookie was my favorite-a cake texture matcha exterior encasing a denser brownie-like chocolate core - a delicious combo! Last thoughts to prep for the experience if you tour- 1.) Eat before you go on the tour-sampling chocolate means you do get caffeinated, and you'll likely purchase more chocolate (more caffeine!) after :) 2.) Included with the tour is a complimentary chocolate drink of choice at the end, in case you were pondering whether to buy the hot chocolate or not ;) 3.) Dandelion Chocolate products are pricey but quality. Paying the price feels like it's appreciation of their art. If you love chocolate, it's a wonderful place to visit at least once!

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    Dandelion Chocolate - European drinking chocolate

    European drinking chocolate

    Dandelion Chocolate - House Hot Chocolate

    House Hot Chocolate

    Dandelion Chocolate - House Hot Chocolate (Oat Milk)

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    House Hot Chocolate (Oat Milk)

    Maruwu Seicha - mango matcha latte (10/2024)

    Maruwu Seicha

    4.3(709 reviews)
    1.4 miJapantown, Lower Pacific Heights
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    Certified professionals

    Japantown in San Francisco has many good places to grab a drink. There are bars ( not sushi bars)…read moreto grab a drink like the Bar at Hotel Kabuki or MacGuffins Bar inside the AMC Kabuki theater. When I am looking for a nonalcoholic drink in Japantown I gravitate to my favorite type of beverage. Don Juan de la matcha is always in search of matcha especially in Japantown. Walking through the West Mall in Japan Center Mall I landed at Maruwu Seicha. On a Spring sunny stroll in San Francisco in Japantown I ended up planted in line at Maruwu Seicha for some premium matcha. You will see different varieties of matcha like the pistachio matcha latte along with their strawberry matcha latte . They also serve matcha gelato and classic matcha latte with soft serve. You can order the matcha soft serve on a flakey cone like some in SF. I decided to try their purple yam drink also known as the Hawaiian Ube Matcha latte Max. It was refreshing and not too sweet and it had a smooth taste. I then ordered the cheese tart. It was a little cheesy but a bit flakey like some in SF ( It's national cheese day). It was also savory and tasty. I then had to try their Ube tart. The purple tart was a bit sweet and a was deliciousness and a bit creamy and flakey. Overall a great place to enjoy some authentic matcha. On a Spring stroll in the sun with Don Juan de la matcha in San Francisco walking on Post street past "Mount Zion" a few blocks over in the Japan Center is matcha worth "tryin "and it got good authentic matcha I ain't "lying "and it has Ube flavor that's "Hawaiian" The atmosphere at the Japan Center is "magnetic" come get the the real matcha which is premium and "authentic" and not med like in mediocre which is "generic"a few sips of the Maruwu Seicha matcha you will start feeling "energetic "

    I visited on a Saturday in the early morning…read more There wasn't a wait when I arrived but there was a wait soon after. There is a kiosk to order - I ordered the strawberry matcha with 0% sweet The matcha was strong and good quality, strawberry was delicious and complimented the matcha well, since it was sweet. This was probably the best matcha I've had so far in the Bay Area There are tables outside the store to sit and enjoy your drink. Overall a good find! Definitely recommend going here for good quality matcha

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    Maruwu Seicha - Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)

    Hōjicha Latte Cheese Foam, 1/2 sweet ($6.30)

    Maruwu Seicha - Matcha + Hokkaido Milk Swirl Soft Serve and Matcha Tea with Snow Top

    Matcha + Hokkaido Milk Swirl Soft Serve and Matcha Tea with Snow Top

    Maruwu Seicha - Hokkaido Latte with Snow Foam

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    Hokkaido Latte with Snow Foam

    Kiss Of Matcha - Taiyaiki Soft Serve

    Kiss Of Matcha

    4.3(583 reviews)
    3.4 miInner Richmond
    $$
    Grab-and-go
    Vegan friendly

    Stopped by Kiss of Matcha for an afternoon pick-me-up and ordered the jasmine matcha latte. The…read moredrink came out surprisingly fast and was smooth, refreshing, and well balanced. The café had a cozy atmosphere and wasn't too crowded when I visited, making it a great spot to relax for a bit. I've tried quite a few matcha spots around the Bay Area, and Kiss of Matcha continues to be one of my favorites. Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to.

    During the AAPI Community Celebration - Activate the Best of Clement (05/29/2026, 1:30 PM-4:30 PM),…read morelocal businesses in the Richmond District offered promotional discounts and specials. This was my first time visiting Kiss of Matcha on Clement Street. The promotion was Buy One Get One Free Matcha Soft Serve (same item). I got two Matcha Soft Serves in a cup ($6.57) since my friends didn't want matcha. It felt like eating a double serving. I had never tried matcha soft serve before, and it was refreshing--perfect for a day that was neither too cold nor too hot. I was a little worried that eating that much matcha might keep me awake all night, but that wasn't the case, and I was glad. I would come back again, especially if they have another ice cream promotion in the future. Hopefully there will be another similar community event in the future.

    Photos
    Kiss Of Matcha - Uji Matcha Latte, Matcha Frappe

    Uji Matcha Latte, Matcha Frappe

    Kiss Of Matcha - Vanilla + Chocolate Soft Serve

    Vanilla + Chocolate Soft Serve

    Kiss Of Matcha - Matcha Ube Latte (Soy Milk)

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    Powder - regular Strawberry with passionfruit glaze and condensed milk (09/2024)

    Powder

    4.4(837 reviews)
    2.1 miLower Haight
    $$

    Delicious, and this place blew my mind when I tried it out…read more First off, very surprised at all the flavors you can get and try, including horchata, Thai tea, and ube! To be honest, when I came here, I did not expect much. I typically am not the type to get snow or anything icy, since it is not the first thing that comes to my mind when it comes to dessert, but I am so glad I got to experience this. When I came on a Wednesday night, it was not too busy, and my friend and I were able to get our food within 10 minutes. The spot itself is pretty small, with not a lot of seating, but some limited spots outside. I got the black sesame with condensed milk, and my friend got the mexican hot chocolate. What makes this place stand out so much is the texture of the dessert, which was fluffy, soft, and melted in your mouth. Overall, I want to come here again and try the other flavors!

    Came by on a Wednesday and this little hole-in-the-wall shop is so adorable. There's a small bench…read moreinside for seating but otherwise there are also a few tables out front! I got the pina colada flavor with passionfruit drizzle and my friend got the guava with sprinkles. We both got kid sizes which costs $6 and the toppings are either $0.75 or $1.25 depending on which one you get. The pina colada flavor was not too sweet, and refreshing. The texture of the shaved ice is amazing. It's so fluffy, smooth, and completely melts in your mouth with ease. No ice crystals are anything! Probably one of the best shaved ice textures I've tried thus far! The passionfruit drizzle had a nice tartness though I am not sure it was worth the $1.25 and it was a bit too tart to pair with the pina colada in my opinion. I tried some of my friend's guava and it was superb as well. More dairy flavor since it wasn't a vegan flavor like the pina colada so it was a bit more rich which is nice. I like that there are non-dairy options and would love to come back and try the other flavors!

    Photos
    Powder - Matcha Green Tea w/ mochi

    Matcha Green Tea w/ mochi

    Powder - Matcha with strawberries

    Matcha with strawberries

    Powder - Strawberry & Cereal Snow

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    Strawberry & Cereal Snow

    Sutter Cafe - desserts - Updated June 2026

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