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    Viva Cafe

    4.8 (113 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafes
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    VIVA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Too Good to Go Box
    Amy L.

    Location instruction! Enter through the revolving door or the door to the left of it. Hug the left wall and walk alllll the way to the end. You should see their menu sign as soon and you walk in door. Also look for their little sign on street to mark where they are! I always do a Too Good to Go box because the portions is so generous! It's definitely enough for 1 meal but for my tiny stomach it's a meal and a half. The sides are usually the same with veggies, rice or couscous, black beans, macaroni salad all drizzled with the chimichurri sauce. The protein changes daily so I'm always excited to see what it is for the day. I've gotten it maybe 5-6 times already (usually salmon!) and it tastes good and consistent every single time! The chef is so welcoming and really takes care of you!

    Darlene A.

    Tucked away inside the 601 Montgomery building, Viva Café is a hidden gem if you're looking for a grab & go lunch. They serve hearty, flavorful meals at a fair price point. I first found out about them through Too Good To Go, but after trying it, I'll definitely be back to try more of their menu. My box came with a generous portion of salmon, yellow rice, beans, veggies, and mac & cheese. Everything was seasoned well and cooked perfectly ; the salmon was tender (not dry!) with a tasty sauce, rice was flavorful, & even the vegetables were crunchy and delicious. If you're in the area and want a quick but satisfying lunch, this little spot is worth checking out!

    David K.

    Viva Café is a tiny eatery on the ground floor of an office building, squeezed into a narrow alleyway next to an elevator. This unassuming cafe offers one of the most affordable hot lunch deals via Too Good To Go. My hot entree came with a fillet of salmon served with salsa verde along with yellow rice, black beans, mac and cheese, cabbage, and zucchini. Each element was tasty (though nothing too outstanding), and this daily selection was definitely worth the price. The service was quick and friendly

    Salmon with Chimichurri and balsamic greens
    Dalilah K.

    Amazing hidden gem. This spot is tucked away in building 601 on Montgomery but just keep walking a little bit once you enter the place and you won't miss it. The food is exquisite at a fantastic value. I got my salmon with chimichurri sauce atop a bed of greens with delicious balsamic. I was able to sample the mac and cheese, and chicken stew, which were equally delicious. The chef who owns the place is awesome, really great service. [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a grab and go spot but you will be made to feel at home.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I will definitely be back for more!

    Pear pastry

    Amazing home-style food made by some of the nicest people you'll meet. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Totally unexpected from its location - a small stall in the back corner of a corporate office building.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Everything is fresh and made from scratch. The baked goods are exceptional as well. Almost hesitant to post a review to keep it low key since they tend to sell out at lunch.

    Too Good to Go Surprise Box
    Kathleen P.

    This café is located inside an office building and can be a bit tricky to find due to the lack of visible signage. I picked up a Too Good To Go meal and was impressed with the experience. Despite arriving at 12 p.m. on a Monday, there were only three people ahead of me, and I waited just five minutes. My meal was pre-prepared, and the process was efficient--simply swiping on the app, and my box was promptly handed to me. Cutlery and napkins are conveniently placed near the security desk. The meal itself was delicious, featuring couscous, salmon with chimichurri sauce, mixed vegetables, and rice with beans. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's a small seating area in the lobby with room for five, though only one table suited for an individual diner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It appears that customers can select items they'd like, with generous portions provided. The employees gave off a warm and welcoming vibe despite it being a grab n' go type place.

    Roasted Salmon, wild turkey Mac and Cheese, veggies
    Stacy T.

    Love this place! It's the perfect intersection of value and quality. Portions are hearty and served with enthusiasm! I personally go for the salmon every time and that chimichuri green sauce takes to the next level. It's a restaurant quality entree packed in a to-go box for lunch. All of their sides are super flavorful and you can't go wrong with anything they serve. Even the rice is packed with flavor! You can tell they are proud of the product they are putting out. Owner run and operated. Go and support small businesses!

    Priscilla L.

    I happened to be in the neighborhood and used the TooGoodToGo App for this pickup of random food item during this weekday lunch time pickup. This cafe is pretty much a hidden spot that only tenants in this big building complex will know about. It is basically a takeout location where you order food from I think it was only one lady working there. I felt kind of bad waiting in line with other workers in this building and seeing one lady worker take my order and also fries up my food all at the same time. A line of 5 people including myself. I had no idea what she was making and still don't know what I ate. I think made everything on the spot with polenta, beans, chicken and shrimp dish that she threw together into take out paper container. Surprisingly It was heavy and lots of food in there! I was pretty impressed because if you hungry, you can easily get two or 3 meals out of it. It doesn't look pretty, but it's better and more healthier than those evil fast food places out there! People working here will never starve with this tiny place here that gives good portion side. I call it the "Mashed up box"where they seemed to mix everything together in a box and tastes pretty natural. Like many others mentioned earlier, it is a hole in a wall like other reviewers have mentioned. Even I walked passed this building and walked in circles before I went inside cautiously and walked around in another circle to find this place on the corner literally (a hole on the corner wall). My tummy was pleased with no issues and had feeling of being healthy with polenta because i normally don't eat that stuff.

    chicken, polenta, beans, cabbage, rice- all delish
    Helen L.

    Food smells so good. Tiny place inside the lobby 601 montgomery. Behind the security guard is a tiny place to order hot foods. Once i got close, i can smell home cooking, as the sign said. Everything was delicious in my box. I got "Too Good to Go" box. I would never have gone there if not for this program and also out for appointment. Smell and taste good. That is the ideal. Polenta was creamy. Cabbage was crunchy. Chicken was seasoned well. Rice was good. Beans was good.

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    Review Insights

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    5 years ago

    Love this place. There's coffee makes my day. Food absolutely good. Definitely recommend.

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    3 years ago

    The best food on the TooGood to go! So delicious and fresh food. The service is excellent.

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    Delicious food, fantastic service. BBQ chicken was unbelievable. I come here any time I can. Highly recommend!

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    4 years ago

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    9 years ago

    This cafe is great. The portion sizes are huge and the chef is a great guy. Highly recommend.

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    8 years ago

    Food looks like crap. Horrible customer service on the phone too. They need to update on yelp what times they are open and closed.

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    9 years ago

    Super good and the people that work there are amazing too. Go, now! Your stomach and taste buds will thank you.

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    Jinshan Cafe

    Jinshan Cafe

    3.7
    (36 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    This was definitely my first time ever coming to San Francisco's Chinatown. I've actually only been…read moreto the one in New York!! This one is a fraction of the size, but it's easier to get to for me! Hee. I will say if you park on the street, make sure you turn your wheels the correct way!! Sadly out in front of this coffee shop we got a $273 ticket because our wheels returned the wrong way. I actually didn't think that this street had that much of an incline, but safety first! What a happy note, my boyfriend won $20 scratch off here and his sister got $15 of another series of scratch off tickets! Lol as we congratulated each other on our weddings, other people came in. Hee I also love the mural that was being painted outside and there was an artist or two out there, painting it as we walked by! I honestly love the community aspect of these beautiful heroes that give so much detail about US history, especially within are many different cultural nationalities! I will definitely come back to this coffee shop and get more items! About a block away is the Bruce Lee Mural, in case you're looking for that!! Hee

    Jinshan Cafe was an unexpected stop during a walk home through Chinatown. I needed a short break, a…read morecup of coffee, and a place to sit for a few minutes, so I stepped inside. An older gentleman behind the counter took my order for a small latte and was friendly and helpful in getting me situated. The latte was good, although a bit pricier than I expected at just over $7 with tax. The café itself is small but comfortable, with a handful of tables along the wall and some interesting artwork that gives the space a little character. While sipping my coffee, I noticed they also serve ice cream, and flavors like Red Bean and Black Sesame definitely caught my attention. I managed to resist the temptation this time. A group of students and teachers arrived shortly afterward, making the café a bit livelier, so I finished my latte and headed out. Overall, it was a pleasant place to take a break in Chinatown.

    Photos
    Plastic brick espresso machines
    Plastic brick espresso machines
    Seafood noodle
    Seafood noodle
    Black sesame matcha latte

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    Black sesame matcha latte
    Matcha Cafe Maiko

    Matcha Cafe Maiko

    4.6
    (348 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $

    Matcha Cafe Maiko is a popular spot for matcha throughout the Bay Area and across the nation. While…read morehosting some family friends from Japan, we realized they were missing matcha, so we decided to drop in. Their Chinatown location is a small shop. Not much space to wait in line or to pick up your items. Hence, Ordering is simple: place your order and pay at the counter, then wait for your number to be called. Minimal service interaction and not a good place to hang out, since it's primarily a to-go spot. I got the Matcha Latte with Soy Milk, and they got the Matcha Soft Serve. She said the soft cream tastes like Japan, and I agree. My matcha latte was good, definitely earthy and well-balanced. Personally, it was a bit too sweet for me, so I'd ask for less sweetness next time. If you're in Chinatown and craving matcha, Matcha Cafe Maiko is the way to go! It's a popular spot with long lines, but it's worth a visit. Find them at the corner of Grant Ave., with limited street parking nearby.

    I've been to this franchise of Matcha coffee shops a handful of times before but only in the south…read moreBay/Silicon Valley. This is my first time going to one in Chinatown. Service was as fast as it could be since their menu is all the same. We got a Matcha lemonade and oh hot Matcha latte for my sore throat. Everything tasted delicious and we got a sample of the Matcha soft serve also! We got our food within five minutes and we're out the door! This particular store was rather small, but I would definitely go back again since the café itself is very consistent on its flavor from location to location! I appreciate the consistency and delicious much flavor!!

    Photos
    Strawberry calpico soft serve
    Strawberry calpico soft serve
    Matcha soft serve + Ube with Thai Tea swirl
    Matcha soft serve + Ube with Thai Tea swirl
    Black sesame latte - has a nut taste! Yum!

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    Black sesame latte - has a nut taste! Yum!
    Maison Nico

    Maison Nico

    4.4
    (458 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    My colleague had been raving about Maison Nico since we first started exchanging pastry…read morerecommendations, so we finally decided to stop by after having lunch at Jackson Square nearby. There was no line in the afternoon, although the pastry case inside the bakery had limited offerings. I was dazzled by the croissant loaves (Brioche Feuilletée) and the pate artfully wrapped in pastry. To try a couple of different treats, I ordered a slice of the Brioche Feuilletée (you can also order an whole loaf) and a few financiers to enjoy later. I tried the Brioche Feuilletée as soon as I got home and instantly fell in love with the fluffy croissant and chewy, crispy edges. The closest comparison is a kouign amann, but the inside was much fluffier and brioche-like. I tried the financier later that evening with a cup of tea, and I really liked the subtly sweet almond flavor and crunch from the toasted hazelnuts. I plan to return soon to try some of the other French-style pastries.

    The line was already forming when we arrived just ten minutes before opening. This charming little…read morepatisserie serves beautifully crafted pastries that are well worth the wait. There was nothing plain about the butter croissant. Its delicate, flaky layers and crisp, golden exterior gave way to a rich, buttery center. The traditional quiche, served warm, was the perfect start to an early Sunday morning. A light, fluffy egg custard was filled with tender bites of potato, bacon, and melted cheese, in a perfectly crisp, buttery puff pastry crust. The Paris Brest is a must order. If you're a pistachio lover, prepare to fall even harder after the very first bite. The nutty, creamy filling is decadent without being too sweet. Next time I'm going to try their pate.

    Photos
    Maison Nico
    Strawberry custard tart
    Strawberry custard tart
    Pain au chocolat

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    Pain au chocolat

    Viva Cafe - cafes - Updated August 2026

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