Cafe Nena'i

Lovely through and through, a little piece of Latin America here serving the best of everywhere. Arepa, empanada, not a huge menu.

This place has good coffee and ok empanadas. The only downside is there is no wi-fi available, so not really friendly to the remote worker.

Perfect cafe con leche. They offer small or large hot sizes. Awesome pastries. Great ambiance! Came here 2 days in a row!

Love this place. The coffee is so good and I was glad they were able to accommodate non dairy milk. I had the beef empanadas and the alfajores. They were delicious. Their prices are very fair and the place is super cute. I do recommend!

Loved this cozy bakery! My husband and I have been drawn by the culture and food of Paraguay and we found this place... We tried their empanadas, chipa and pastafrola and they were absolutely amazing... Coffee was great and Elena (owner) was so kind and welcoming. We even had a pleasant and interesting conversation about the beauty of our countries (Puerto Rico and Paraguay). If you want to experience a little bit of the warmth of Paraguay, this is the place. Thank you so much!

This Cafe is so cute! I can't believe I went here after a year of living in the neighborhood, they have great pastries and food coffee. 10/10 would recommend

I highly recommend visiting Cafe Nena'i if you want to enjoy a delicious coffee in the morning and indulge in a delightful South American breakfast treat. During my visit, I tried their Cafe Con Leche and absolutely loved it. Additionally, their Pollo empanada was very delicious, filled with ample amounts of meat, complemented by a flavorful sauce and a tasty dough. And to top it off, the Alfajor was simply delightful. Overall, my experience at Cafe Nena'i was excellent, and I believe any coffee and food lover will thoroughly enjoy their visit to this charming cafe.

Great little cafe. We enjoyed the empanadas and the alfarjos! The location is far out, but it’s super cosy and nice. It is a small cafe and only two people working there so the serving time is small. Authentic experience.

I was excited to stumble upon this cute little cafe on Montopolis, and will definitely be back. Their coffee machine was broken during our visit so unfortunately we were unable to try their coffee, but we did order empanadas. We tried the pollo, jamon y queso, and espinacha y queso empanadas. Our order came out a bit wrong - we received two chicken empanadas instead of the ham & cheese - but they were still delicious. Although small, the seating area in the cafe is cute and cozy. The lady who helped us was kind. I would visit again just for another empanada, and can't wait to return to try their coffee too.

I stopped by and got a beef empanada, which is the most recommended menu item here. It was okay but did not seem to be anything special. I wouldn't by any means avoid this cafe, but I would hesitate to make a special stop.

Cafe Nenai is a quaint coffee shop created and owned by a latina mother and daughter pair situated in the heart of Montopolis. The cafe is tiny with a few seats and drink tables. I would describe Cafe Nenai as the perfect little gem to catch up and drink coffee with a friend, but not ideal for lunch or a work from anywhere situation. Cafe Nenai offers light bites, both savory and sweet. What really makes Cafe Nenai stand out is their combination of offering classics, such as the Ham & Cheese Melt, but also showcasing their culture with empanadas and arepas. I will never say "no" to a good empanada, especially one that is baked instead of fried! Without any hesitation, I had to try all three empanada options: Carne, Pollo, and Jamon y Queso. The Carne is a classic and was easily my favorite. The Pollo was a bit dry.

The pastries were interesting and delightfully different. The service was good. The cafe is small, but intimate. Definitely could be a cute first date idea. A few options of coffee, tea, pastries and meat empanadas. The guava cream cheese pastry was light and flavorful. The loaf bread slice was made with mandarins which made it zesty. I also tried the guava tart which reminded my mom of a classy pop tart. This small business, woman-owned cafe is definitely worth visiting in order to sample a piece of Paraguay.

I am crazy for Cortadito! And I am cray cray for Cafe Nena'i!! Cafe Nena'i has been my regular go-to for the past few months, and I can't say enough about how great it's been. I went for the Cuban Coffee - never had it before - but now I can officially say I am addicted! I love coffee, but I really love good coffee, so I'm always looking for that unique cup of joe. I've read and heard a lot about cuban coffee and after scouring Yelp I ran into Cafe Nena'i and they looked really appealing. A nice instagram too, lots of positive compliments about their coffee and pastries, I finally made the trip down by Montopolis to check them out. You have to order on the website, their doors are closed for COVID precautions. I started w/ the Cordata but asked for half sweet. It's kinda like a cappuccino with sugar mixed in. Wow - I was floored! It was so strong yet so smooth, I've never had such an awesome cup of coffee! It hits me after the first sip and I'm ready to go. My next trip I wanted to try something new - so went for the Cortadito which is the cuban coffee with milk and sugar whipped in. I ask for Oatmilk option and went with the regular sugar portion, and WOW! I can't tell you how awesome this was! No joke, it was so good I had to order another one - she just laughed at me. My typical order now is 2 Cortaditos with Oat Milk, half sugar, and that is just perfect! Hits the spot and what a smooth kick! I've tried a few of their pastries too. I did the spinach and cheese empanada, the tangerine cake, guava tart, pastafrola, and alfajor. Everything tastes so great here, exceptional quality, the deserts are not too sweet. The tangerine cake and alfajor surprised me - never had these before and they were so delightful. The customer service here is always so friendly and nice. During these times they have the dining area inside closed off, but you can sit outside, and you order through the q-code on your phone, and she comes right out with your stuff in a jiffy - always with a smile and a nice hello. My new favorite place and some of the best darn coffee I've ever had.

This I a delightful little cafe with modern yet comfy furnishings. I ordered a cafe con leche, Empanada de Espinaca Y Queso, and a Chipa. Delicious. The owner also filed our hearts with her kind words and smiles. I look forward to returning and bringing my wife!

Coffee and carne were really good! Service is friendly and ambiance is cozy Gets busy around 10 am, we went on a Sunday morning, and the owner does her best to accommodate the line of customers building up as swiftly as she can. If we happen to be in the area, we will visit again for sure!

Got a mixto caliente and it was so good!!!! The ambience was beautiful, felt like home for me. Service was amazing as well, she let me know the sandwich took a bit to heat up. Can't wait to come back and try some coffee and the pastries

The empanadas were really good, the chicken/pollo was a little dry. I'd give 5 stars if it wasn't so overpriced but I'm sure it's helping this local cafe afloat. Got the cortadito with oat milk and half sugar! Highly recommend this to start off your morning

Mixed experience, the guava pastries are delicious, highly recommend. However, the empanadas were dry and not that good. Also, they were "all out" of chimichurri sauce at 10:30am. Really!?!? How can you sell empanadas without having that on hand, especially so early in the day. Also, they messed up our to go order and left out an item. Not that impressed overall.

First time I went, the lady forgot some items off my order, I did not notice until I got home and opened my bag. I know people make mistakes so I stopped by a second time, on this occasion the lady was on her phone and kept me waiting to order a few minutes even though I was the only customer in the cafe (and had clearly seen me). She was rude and was annoyed when I told her she gave me the wrong order. Again I was the only customer inside.. Arepa was small, in my opinion over priced.

Ordered every single pastry and the tangerine cake for a coworkers birthday and the entire team was super impressed. Everything was classic Argentinian and our Cuban team members were absolutely in love with the pastries filled with Guava. People were taking pictures and sending video to family in Argentina to show off the baked goods that were found right here in Austin. Everything was delicious. The cafe is cute and the owner is friendly. Check this place out.

An amazing place that brings Paraguay to you. Ambiance is amazing. Their coffee is truly homemade. AND THE EMPANADAS ARE A MUST!! I can't wait to make this place part of my weekly routine.

The cortadito was amazing! And the empanada de jamon y queso was really good and filled. The alfajor was ok, I've had better.

Cafe Nena'i is a gem that should be preserved at all costs. Serving up South American baked goods and sweetened espresso drinks, Cafe Nena'i offers some delectable and unique items that you should certainly try. My husband and I moved back to Austin from Atlanta recently, and we'd come to love a small bakery there that served up some similar items to Cafe Nena'i's, but the Cuban versions. So when I saw this spot was only a 5 minute drive from our new place, I was excited to see if it could fill the hole in my heart. And I am so happy to say that it has. The other morning I popped in to pick up some treats and a cafecito. I spent a little time talking with one of the owners (the mom of the mother/daughter ownership duo), and she was incredibly sweet and wonderful to talk to. The space is modern and clean, and they have some seating both inside and outside. I ended up ordering an alfajor, a factura, and a spinach and cheese empanada from the baked goods, and a cafecito to sip on as I waited for her to prep my order. The cafecito was perfectly sweetened and smooth, as I hoped. If you're not familiar with these types of coffees, it's just a sweetened espresso shot, meant to be enjoyed relatively quickly. Not quite as fast as a tequila shot, but not as slow as sipping whiskey. Find that happy place. The baked goods were delicious, and the guava filling on the factura and alfajor were everything I could've hoped for. If you've never had a guava pastry, you're truly missing out. Come try some. 10/10 The spinach and cheese empanada was my husband's, but I stole a bite--no shame. The spinach was freshly chopped and cooked, not overly mushy or sad-looking as some spinach fillings can get. Cheese was delicious and provided a nice sharpness. Dough had great texture (flaky, sturdy, but not tough), and we were thankful the empanadas were of the baked variety--not as greasy as fried ones tend to be. All in all, I loved visiting, chatting with the owner, and trying out some of their many South American treats. We look forward to coming back often and making our way through the rest of the menu!

The atmosphere at this cafe was lovely! I love how everything on the menu adds a unique twist to your typical coffee order, and the employees there were really nice. As someone who doesn't drink a lot of coffee, the Cortadito was the perfect size for me, and it tasted delicious! I wouldn't recommend it for people who like less sweet drinks, but I enjoyed it. The Cafe con Leche had a unique nutty flavor to it. It is definitely a better choice if you're looking for something less sweet. Lastly, the Carne Empanada was the star of the show for me. I would highly recommend getting it with the chimichurri sauce - it's delicious!

It's too expensive to give them the nod. And also, forcing people to order on-line when they're sitting right there staring you in the face- that's a questionable business practice. Minus one-star just on principle. But the food is very good though. The empanadas were decent, but what really sang was the alfajor and that black honey cake. Very nicely done. Fix the other issues and then maybe we'll talk about getting you that other star.

Was picking up my wife at the airport in the morning after a week-long trip and I suggested trying out Cafe Nena'i for breakfast. After our trip to Florida late last year, where we sampled arguably the best empanadas and alfajores from Empanada Harry's, we've been on a lookout for good South American offerings. Located in an unassuming neighborhood in Montopolis, Cafe Nena'i is housed in an equally nondescript building. When we walked in, we noticed limited seating but tidy. We placed our order of Mixto Arepa ($5.95), Carne Empanada ($5.95), Guava and Cheese Factura ($4.95), Alfajor ($4.25), small Cafe Americano ($3.00), and a small Cafe con Leche ($3.95). The arepa was disappointing! It's nothing like I was expecting...with meat and cheese sandwiched in between cooked corn dough...it looked like something I made at home when I was younger using ham and cheese sandwiched between two pieces of white bread and pressed in a panini press. This is their arepa? Their empanada was better but fell short of our expectations. About the only thing we liked was their factura. Light breakfast for 2 came out to just over $30! Value's not there either. A generous 3 stars. Our search continues.

A cute little coffee shop on the south side of Austin. Loved the vibes and the music. The barista was so nice and provided great hospitality. I ordered an iced mocha and a spinach empanada and it was so so good! The iced mocha is definitely going to get my day started that's for sure! The coffee shop was giving an antique like aesthetic. It had old mirrors and old paintings which I loved! If you are ever on the south side of Austin, definitely recommend this coffee shop!! So so good!!

Mom and daughter coffee shop with Paraguayan pastries. Elena is the biggest sweetheart and always remembers you. Love their cortaduta, spinach empanada, and alfajor!

I was visiting Austin and thought to check out some of the local cafes. Cafe Nena'i was close to where we were staying. The cafe itself was small and quaint. A good spot to dine-in if you're not in a rush. It wasn't busy when we got there (a Wednesday, brunch hours). I ordered a Cafe Con Leche, Ham & Cheese Empanada, Chicken/Beef Empanada and Medialuna De Nutella. The Cafe Con Leche (which I was charged for two -_-) was pretty good. Their empanadas were alright, as well as the medialuna. Nothing spectacular, so it was a bit overpriced for the quality of the pastries, in my eyes. Overall, Cafe Nena'i was OK.

Amazing food, coffee, and service. She knows what she is doing! Got everything really quick as well.

Cafe Nena'i is one of favourite local venues and I was well pleased that I finally found their app to order takeout so I took advantage of my new find today and ordered, empanada de jamón y queso (ham & cheese), empanada de carne (meat) with chimichurri on the side, black honey cake, and Guaraná. It was indeed my pleasure to support Gladys and Elena. I shall return! https://my-site-108321-109773.square.site/

Delicious Cafe Con Leche! I added vanilla! Cute little spot with Latin American inspired menu! I also ordered the ham and cheese empanada and it was very good! Highly recommend this spot if you are in the southeast Austin area!

Their coffee is so delicious and they have amazing empanadas!! The ham and cheese one is my favorite. The staff are so kind and speedy!!

ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!! I took a weekend trip to Austin & wanted to support a local coffee shop.. after searching endlessly I came across this gem. Even though it was a distance from where I was staying, I would 1000% go back again. I ordered un cordatito & pastafrola & both were great. My sister ordered just an empanada and it tasted pretty great too We are happy to support a Latina owned business and have told our family and friends all about it back here in Dallas. We hope to be back soon!

Support women-owned businesses! Cafe Nena'i is a South American (Paraguayan) cafe run by a mother-daughter team. They have delicious hot and iced coffee drinks and tons of incredible South American postres. The empanadas!! You can't go wrong here. The staff is always friendly, and service is quick. This cafe is a vibrant little gem in the Montopolis neighborhood. I'll be checking out the new E 6th st location next!

Customer service needs a lot of work! The lady told me not to take pictures of the menu and had so many restrictions. In this day in age, that's crazy! Free publicity on Instagram and Yelp (insert platform here). I asked why and she said because people copy their menu. Whaaaat?!?! Lol I drove 40 minutes to try them out and the reception was cold as ice. That's too bad! Oh and their arepas are harder than Four Brothers and doesn't taste as good. Fair price but not worth it. If there is one thing I enjoyed is their Alfajor dessert.

I found this place last minute when making our regular trek to Austin. Pricey but I feel worth it. My husband grew up in Paraguay and he was just so happy to get something Paraguayan in Texas. We normally have to wait until we visit New York for I Love Paraguay restaurant. This is so special for him that he gobbled up a chipa followed by an empanada con jamon y queso in less than 5 minutes. I loved the spinach y queso empanada. These are FAT empanadas. Full of ingredients and the crust is very thin and crispy. Very satisfying.

Solid empanadas but nothing mind blowing at these high prices. Best was the traditional beef. The arepa was very good too. You can skip the guava pasty though. Also, serving Argentinian food especially empanadas without chimmichurri is a huge no-no. Coffee was not good. Burned espresso & clearly not top quality beans, though i am a self admitted coffee snob.

Food Five Stars Coffee Five Stars Niceness of the People Five Stars Response to the Problems of Coronavirus One Star !!!! :.( Visit these ladies after the pandemic is over and get some great Paraguayan snacks. * * * First the good stuff, because the good stuff is more enduring. This is a Paraguayan snack shop. Paraguayans eat well. Most of us will not marry a Paraguayan housewife or a Paraguayan chef. So this is your only chance to get the good stuff. Coffee is exceptional. Very bitter. Very strong. They offer milky versions because Americans drink a lot of lattes. And a cortadito is a completely authentic beverage. But in Paraguay you are up in the mountains next to some truly truly fine coffee beans. Just drink your coffee straight and see what good coffee drinking is all about. The mother and daughter are no slouches in the baking department either. They do a torta mandarina which is a completely extraordinary orange cake. There are many many ways to make good orange cakes. The Cafe Nenai way is cut the sugar to the minimum, flavor heavily heavily heavily with orange zest and adjust the baking so the texture stays light and stable with thirty tons of orange peel in there. The cake is well textured, feels good in the mouth and has more orange taste than eating a really ripe orange. Massive thumbs up here. * * * So why am I a complaining customer? Actually getting your food from Cafe Nena'i under the new pandemic regime is way way way way more difficult than it ought to be. They want contactless pickup. So do I. I hate dying as a result of doing a Yelp review. Dying of coronavirus can ruin your whole day. So they have a rule. Text in your orders only. No live contact from the parking lot. No other methods work. Catch: 1) There is nothing about this on the website. So you can't find out from home what you need to do so you can do it. 2) In theory you ought to be able to telephone in - since talking by voice is not that different from texting. When you telephone in, they find out if they can take your order, put the phone down and ignore it, neither taking your order nor telling you how to order. When you go to the store live - there is a great big sign on the window telling you TO CALL THE PHONE NUMBER YOU JUST CALLED AND ORDER ON THAT LINE. Yes, the phone number, where they didn't know if they could take orders and they stop talking to you. There is also a text option on the sign in front of the store. A SECOND phone call to the number on the sign on the window gives you a human being that tells you to ignore the sign on the window and text in your order. When you use the text-in number, you get a very very cumbersome third party distance ordering platform. But it does work and you do get your food. Never have I gone through so much aggravation to order a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. That said the coffee and cake were pretty good after all the hassles and drama. * * * My recommendation is that you wait until the coronavirus crisis is over, and you can just go to the store and do business normally. If you absolutely positively can't wait, Ignore the website and ignore half of the sign on the window. Here is the texting number for texting in your order. 512-387-0962. When they put the bag with your food out in front, Tell the lady who opens the door to put that number on her website.

Sometime in between last week and today, they started doing contactless service, meaning no one can go inside the facility. It's a shame because the place is super cute and lots of people make it their morning to come here. I had the cortidado which is a double espresso (it was the real deal, strong as all hell- and never order that again!). The Nutella filled croissant may be tiny, but it is delicious! That hint of salt on the top of the croissant is a nice touch! This place is often the best option for coffee nearby! Many locals frequent. Next time, I'll try an empanada with chimichurri sauce, when they're back in stock!

Came around noon on a Saturday and most of the food was gone, but what was available did not disappoint! The croissant was perfectly flakey, crunchy, and soft. The arepa was so delicious, didn't need to add any sauce it was hot and flavorful. Enjoyed the beef empanada, but wish we could've tried the others. The bollo had cajeta inside and it was a great pairing with the bread. Will definitely be going back to try more!

cafe was very acidic..! and when I tossed my plastic bag she literally asked me to take it back out and toss it outside...!!! snotty attitude.. pshh never comin back here..

They're doing a really good job of contactless ordering and pick-up. I ordered their signature latte, and I really liked it. It was definitely a more unique milk latte than anything I've tried at other Austin coffee shops before. I actually prefer foamy/milky coffee more, so it was perfect for me. I definitely want to come back and try their food.

Adorable little cafe that specializes in South American/Cuban pastries and coffee. A cortadito is typically my go to Cuban coffee but this time I decided to venture out and try something new. I got the cocido which was a Yerba mate drink infused with milk. So glad I got this! The owner explained to me that Yerba mate comes from a plant and is caffeinated but contains a lower amount than coffee. She also said it's culturally significant in South American counties and she has many positive memories sharing it with her family. She seemed so passionate about her cafe you could tell that every drink was made from the bottom of her heart. If you like matcha/green tea, I would highly suggest trying the cocido! You also have the option of making it cold if you prefer it that way.

A total hidden gem! Beautifully crafted, delicious pastries, yummy coffee and the empanadas are so good we had another. Very authentic feel. Will definitely be back.

I agree with a lot of fellow Yelpers that this cafe is delightful, charming, and adorable. The woman who runs it is beyond lovely and welcoming. I also learned a lot about Argentinian pastries and delights, which made my trip to this Eastside establishment definitely worth it. The coffee that came with the cocido con leche was stiff, tasty, and did the trick, but the pastry left a little to be desired. I admit, I am not well-versed enough in South American cuisine to know if the dryer consistency of this pastry is supposed to be that way. If it is, then it was spot on. I suppose you moisten it up and give it a little more flavor by dipping it in the coffee? The other savory pastries, however, like the empanadas were delicious. The ham and cheese and the spinach and cheese were flaky and filled with all the goodies. Be prepared to dine standing up or at a bar by the window as there isn't a whole lot of seating, which makes this cute shop a great place to pick up and go!

Ordered a black drip coffee and as I went in to pay, I noticed that the employee quickly changed the charge to a specialty coffee. When I hesitated & pointed this out, she insisted that "the system operates this way" and then added "we apply out own tax"...on top of the tax? By charging me for a more expensive item? She insisted that I pay for a more expensive item, while receiving the original item that I ordered. We had some pretty uncomfortable back and forth, and I ended up overpaying. I realize that times are tough, but this was pretty off putting. Recommend avoiding, or being vigilant when you order!

Dropped off hubby to the airport and on my way home, swung by Cafe Nena'i finally! I was greeted by the owner, Gladys, who knew who I was from my Instagram account! She's gorgeous, super sweet, and so friendly! I made the tough decision to get the carne and pollo empanadas lol. I wanted to try the jamon y queso one but will go back for that! She was out of almond milk so no coffee concoctions for me this time around. I'll have to make another drive-by! The empanadas were the best I've had. The outside was soft, brown and perfect. The chicken was shredded to perfection and so flavorful. The beef, egg and olive went so well together - really authentic Argentina-style. She had just squeezed some fresh peach juice, so I got one of those and an Alfajor to-go! The vibes are Miami-like and the outside seating area is bright, white and inviting! Overall, excellent food, drinks, vibes and owner. I'll be back soon!

Online ordering- super confusing. Once ordered, the confirmation said my order would be ready in 2 days. So we called and it was ready in 2 minutes. They were responsive, which is always a plus in my book. Alfajors- super delicious. Crumbly sugar cookies and rich dulce de leche. Highly recommend.

I felt like I was transformed to South America with the food, and ambiance. Nice retreat from the norm and a delicious meal and coffee.

Tried going again (2pm) and they were closed. There is blue tape over the hours now though, indicating they now close at 2pm. Unfortunately, this is the second time trying to go there that they have been closed.

Delicious empanadas. I prefer the beef over the chicken, but both are good. The alfajores are scrumptious.

Dissapointed. Heard great things about their coffee, but also heard it was really strong so I ordered just a regular with cream. Tasted more like tea and had a very bland flavor. Empanada was good, but for the price I expected bigger.

We love Cafe Nena'i! We order cafe con leches almost every weekend. The owner is very sweet and all of her food is fantastic as well. Try the guava and cheese tart, ham and cheese croissant or empanadas!

This place is definitely worth a stop! Contactless set up where you can order ahead and they will leave it outside of the door. The empanadas seem to always be sold out so make sure you get your order in early! I have never tried something here that I did not love! The coffee is amazing and all the food and pastry options are nothing short of It either. My first time here I ended up looking at their story on the website and It made me fall even more in love with this business. You can tell this business was built on lots of love!

Great place each and every time I go to Austin for a trip. The service and smiling faces come with terrific coffee and food

This place is a wonderful little spot! Coffee is yummy and it's a great spot for authentic, hand crafted pastries and empanadas. You can tell the owners take great care in their work.