KAIZEN & COFFEE

Stopped by early Sunday morning for a black sesame latte and matcha mochi cake - both were fantastic! The line looked long but moved surprisingly fast, and the staff kept things flowing smoothly. The mochi cake was perfectly chewy and not too sweet, paired beautifully with the nutty richness of the sesame latte. Got it all to go and was back on the road in no time. Fair warning: street parking is a bit of an adventure, but totally worth it. Pro tip: Mention this review for extra free smiles from the team! 😊

I love this place!!! The service is amazing. Every coffee is made to perfection from the temperature to the roast. Come early as this place is very welcoming but it can be busy quick. You’ll want to sit here and take in ambiance.

Great coffee with nice and accommodating barista's. Definitely not the place to vibe, mostly ment for a place to get a great cup and leave. The chairs are not the greatest, plus the place is awfully cramped. Definitely not the place to do your work or chill at for anything longer than thirty minutes.

This is exactly the type of specialty coffee shop I was hoping to find, today was the day. I am Asian American. I wanted coffee that reflected my culture in their drinks, such as sesame and ube etc. Today I went to Kaizen & Coffee for the first time and ordered a black sesame latte, I loved it. The shop just felt right, from the decor to the staff to their menu of delicious Asian fusion coffee. My wife and I also met the owner Jason, who gave us a quick education on the various blends of coffee, in particular to the taste that we were looking for. I have finally found a place that meets my coffee needs. 👍🏼

This coffee spot is just a gem! Its always busy but very much worth it. The miso caramel coffee is the best coffee to try here!!! If you want a snack I would recommend the avocado toast, salmon toast or the morning bun. All great tasting food! The staff is always so friendly and welcoming.

Today was my last day working in San Mateo/living in the Bay and of course I had to come by for coffee and matcha. I have been coming here 2-4 times a month since they opened and will truly miss this place! The service, friendly staff, and high quality drinks really stand out and make this place my favorite coffee shop in the bay. I’m sad to say goodbye!

Drinks and pastries are delicious and hit the spot. Just wished they had a better pickup process after ordering in-store. The place was packed with no seating available, people standing around waiting for their orders. It would be nice for them to have an order display showing customers when order is ready and visible signage where to pickup. I waited for 15 min to get order. Besides this, the place does get busy with lines going outside, and parking is not good.

Total Score: 9.650 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Not only is the place clean but the decor is too. Everything in the coffee making area was shiny and everything was clean black. Could not describe it any other way. But makes it a bit boring me thinks. Food: 5/5 Got the Tahitian vanilla bean and it was perfect balance of sweet and espresso. Also the pastry was p decent too. Bit sticky but expected ig. Wow: 1/1 This was the most performative coffee place ever. Like I everybody here looked so performative and the decor was so performative. No other way to describe this. Also I shat so much after this so I know the coffee is real. Total Score = 3.5*AM + 6*FOOD + 0.5*WOW

I've returned several times since my first visit and tried both coffee & tea options from their everchanging menu. +Black Sesame Latte +Black Sesame Matcha Latte +Earl Grey Matcha +Latte +Miso Caramel Latte -Earl Grey Supreme -Ube Latte Some drinks have been a miss, but the beautiful latte art, creativity, and friendly service are always there! Side notes: 1.) Restroom available for customers 2.) Walking distance from Hillsdale Caltrain station and Hillsdale mall 3.) Limited street parking (1 hour cap Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm): I'd recommend having someone wait in line while the driver looks for parking. *Verdict: If you're in San Mateo, I'd recommend stopping by!

I've heard about this place from several people and have been meaning to give it a try. Finally got a chance to stop by yesterday and the wait was surprisingly not bad at all. It probably took about 20 minutes from standing in line to ordering and receiving my drink. I debated for awhile between trying one of their specialty lattes or a specialty tea, but ultimately decided on the Jasmine tea with ceremonial matcha kumo. I thought it was delicious! I didn't have to adjust the sweetness or anything and the flavor profile was great. It tasted refreshing, not too heavy/sweet, and gave me a nice burst of energy. I also tried my friends' miso caramel latte and ube latte and thought they were both just ok. The miso caramel latte had an overpoweringly salty taste from the miso. The ube latte was one of the better ones I've tried though. Overall, I'd come back if I was in the area to get my drink again, but only if the wait isn't too bad! Oh, I also bought the mango sticky rice chocolate bar and it sadly did not live up to the hype. It was too sweet.

Wow, I'm so glad I finally gave this spot a try. I had the Miso Caramel Latte and it's probably one of my favorite new coffee drinks in recent memory. It's perfectly balanced, rich, creamy, not too sweet, with a hint of deep caramelization. It's a really cool shop definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area. The drawbacks are the limited 1 hour parallel parking off the very busy El Camino Real, and there is very limited seating inside (when I went in the late afternoon, none were available).

Stumbled across this cafe looking for a place to do some work on my computer and I was pleasantly surprised at how many matcha options there were! I wanted to try the food but there weren't any more at 2:30pm on a Tuesday. I got the black sesame matcha latte and I loved how the nutty flavor balanced out the matcha perfectly. It came out pretty quick too. There are a good amount of tables but they're pretty small so it can get crowded. There's some street parking right outside too.

Got the matcha sesame latte - flavours blended so well together and not too sweet. The toast was amazing. The Ube and raspberry flavours worked so well together. Although each bite was light, the dish was filling enough for breakfast.

This is the best matcha latte in the Bay Area (sorry not sorry!!) they prioritize quality and consistency over mass producing and batching (at least the times I have been). I usually go in the mornings around 7am on the weekdays and honestly because of the hype it has been getting I avoid coming on a Saturday because there's usually a line out the door. The service is attentive, and friendly. The vibe inside is very modern and they have anime playing on a TV. Baristas are sweet, and will give you suggestions if you're stuck. Lattes are aromatic and floral, and matcha is smooth and creamy. Must try's: Tahitian vanilla bean, Matcha latte with Kaizen Kumo, Earl Grey Matcha latte, strawberry matcha latte

Service was efficient and kind. For our first time visiting, we didn't know the queue extended to the outside to provide sufficient space for those waiting inside. I appreciate this thoughtfulness and organization to lessen chaos inside the cafe. When it was our turn to order, the employee was very patient while we explored the menu aloud with them, and they offered a non-caffeinated milk drink for our young one. The ambiance was very chill as workers did their thing and looked focused and relaxed at the same time. Service was kind and efficient. Drinks came out in a timely manner and tasted delicious. We could then taste for ourselves why this place has been raved about (at least in my circle). Well come by again.

There was a pretty long line that went outside the door, but it went by fairly quickly. They are also fast with making the drinks, which is great. Hojicha latte - 4.5/5, i got 75% sweet with less ice. Good hojicha and nutty flavor! 75% sweet was perfect for me, so 100% would probably be good too. Black sesame latte - 3/5, 75% sweet. It comes with 2 shots of espresso, which made the drink very strong and bitter. Probably better with 100% sweetness

Solid matcha and coffee!! This spot is located on a Main Street, so there's street parking in the area. It can get pretty packed here, but the line goes by fast! There's a good amount of seats and menu items. Their iced matcha latte is so good!! They use ceremonial matcha and I loved it!! I'd love to come and try their speciality coffees, everything looks yummy! I will defs be back!

I saw this coffee shop pop up on my search as I was looking for places to check out while I was visiting the Bay and Kaizen did not disappoint! I got the Mission Mocha after looking over the menu and it was delicious! The chocolate mixed with the cinnamon and their smooth coffee was a wonderful combination and the gochutgaru gave a nice kick of heat on the back end and it wasn't too sweet overall. It also had a bit of nuttiness to it most likely from their use of dandelion chocolate. They have a good-sized menu with several signature drinks and a matcha section with some unique drinks like the coconut lemongrass matcha and the Miso Caramel. The shop was packed when I went and the line was out the door. There is counter seating available and some tables but they were all taken when I showed up in the early afternoon. The inside was bright and clean and modern. They also sell coffee beans and merch on the side of the counter. There are also pastries for sale as well. Service is friendly and drinks come out decently fast. I had my drink ready in less than 10 minutes. If you are looking for a new coffee shop to check out in San Mateo, come here!

Love that they make their own syrups here! I went for a matcha latte w/oat milk and Tahitian vanilla syrup. They get their matcha from Japan and hand whisk. It was very tasty. My partner had a cold brew and miso carmel, he enjoyed both. Service was surprisingly fast and friendly. Unfortunately, they were out of pastries on a Tuesday afternoon. So you probably need to come earlier. I can see parking being annoying, but we were lucky to get a spot in front on the street. Lots of seating inside. Love the modern vibes, kinda felt like a club with the loud music though. No pet friendly seating outside.

Just dropping by once again to review this place for the third time the quality of their drinks are sooo good. I think I'm really in love with their matcha lattes. This time I got the earl grey matcha latte 50% sweet and it was heaven in a cup. $8 tho but very worth for a pick me up drink! Servers and vibes are always great. I went on a Sunday morning around 9am and there actually wasn't a long line. So it was a decent place to sit and catch up with friends or read a book/do some work. Other times the line is so long that you feel very claustrophobic.

I had tried Kaizen when they first opened before they blew up and became a popular spot. I decided to give them a try again, and came back during a weekday to celebrate my coworkers birthday. I got the Earl Gray Matcha and she got the strawberry Matcha. We also took a Mexican mocha to go. All the drinks were very good. They were not too sweet, and they came out pretty quickly. We took the Mexican mocha back to another coworker who couldn't join us and she really loved it! The two of them ended up going back the next day for second round. We really loved the inside set up and the vibe. I can appreciate that they limit the number of guests inside. The line outside is mostly because they only allow six people in line inside at a time which is nice - people are not falling on top of each other and awkwardly all over the place. For me, personally, Kaizen was good but I'm not sure that I would go out of my way, struggle to find parking, and wait in line when there are many other small business options in San Mateo. I'd say it's something to check out if you're in the area.

Visited on a Sunday around 11am with a friend, cafe was pretty busy with a line of 3-4 guest ahead of us, took about 5 minutes to place our order. Most tables were taken when we arrived but there were several bar seats availible. Drink: Black Sesame Latte - good, nice slight sweet nutty toasted black sesame flavor, standard comes with whole milk which is what I ordered and foam was nice and creamy it fine bubbles, espresso flavor is very mild in this one which helped to highlight the black sesame House Pour Over - good, nice balanced profile, slightly roasted with a mild red fruit note and subtle acidity, loved that the tart acidic flavors were minimized, these do take a bit more time to prepare probably, latte came out fairly quick in 2-3 min pour over took probably 5-6min Food: Morning Bun - ok, we asked for this warmed up which i love when cafes offer this, bun it self had a nice warm cinnamon spice note with a hint of cardamom, fairly flakey, pastry did taste a little bit stale and not the freshest Service was good, quick order at the register and pick up drinks and food at the bar. Staff seems friendly and efficient in drink prep. Water is self serve, and they had an interesting scented coffee bar which you could mist a drink with a scent which I thought was fun. Cafe had about 5-6 tables and two areas of bar seating, minimalist clean design. Overall enjoyed Kaizen & Coffee, drinks were pretty good and loved that they stock some harder to find coffees, on our visit they had beans from South Korea which I rarely see in the bay area, would go back to pick up some beans and try a matcha on my next visit.

I usually stop by this café on my way to SFO. It's conveniently located near the airport, has Wi-Fi, and serves good coffee. The ambience is nice with classic coffee shop vibes. There are about 4-5 seats at the bar where you can watch the baristas make your drink, which is a fun experience. There are also a few tables along the side and 5-6 window seats. It's almost always pretty packed, so I wouldn't recommend it as a place to study or get work done. Where it falls short for me is the value. The prices feel high for what you're getting. I came with a friend who's a serious coffee snob, and he mentioned the pour-over was made with water that was too hot, scalding the flavor though he admitted it could've just been someone new making it. I also tried the ube latte. While it was enjoyable, it didn't really taste like ube, so it felt a bit misleading compared to how it's advertised. Three stars feels a little harsh because the coffee is good and the café itself is pleasant. Ultimately, though, it just doesn't feel worth the price point. Side note: the bathroom is very clean and surprisingly nice, which is always appreciated.

I've always passed by Kaizen & Coffee and finally got a chance to try it this past Sunday morning. Super hipster vibes. The service at the counter was nice but the y got a few things wrong on the order. The mochi cakes were supposed to be warmed up but weren't. So these weren't special. The hazelnut chocolate croissant and pistachio blackberry croissants were good. But they were pretty sweet and rich. Street parking only

So I've been standing and waiting in line with my partner and my 6month old and the line was pretty long. It was around 9am this morning. Super excited because a long line usually indicates a great place, right? Whilst in line, I browsed the menu and I decided on the black sesame latte while my partner decided on the Tahitian vanilla. As we were approaching the door, a group of girls come up in front of us to greet and hug their two friends who were in front of us waiting in line, then all of a sudden, they make themselves comfortable and cut not only us, but the entire line behind us. It's ridiculous because we've been here for a while. A total lack of consideration for those who have been waiting out here in the cold, gloomy weather. Anyway, the black sesame latte was super creamy. I requested almond milk for my drink. It doesn't have the distinct black sesame flavor, although it is still delicious as a latte. I usually love a bold black sesame flavor. My partner got the Tahitian vanilla hot latte and it was delicious! He killed his drink quickly! The staff here are super friendly, filled with great small talk/conversation that'll make your morning a bit brighter! I def recommend stopping by if you're in the San Mateo area!

Their matcha and hojicha lattes are excellent. Nice and strong tasting, good flavors. Smooth and rich. Both were great and I would definitely end up getting both again in the same visit lol. I found the coffee to be a bit more on the light roast side, so the taste was more acidic and fruity. Less body, really thin. The flat white was just okay for me. I would prefer more body and roast imo. The baked goods are from neighbor bakehouse in sf, really good stuff. The ham and cheese croissant was decently sized and tasty. Good amount of ham inside and nice assortment of seeds on top. Good flavor. Nice croissant. For parking, you'll have to look around the block(s) for a spot as it's all street parking.

This was my first time trying this coffee shop. It was around 9 AM on a Saturday morning. There was about 15 people in line when I walked up. I would consider this pretty busy as it took about 20 minutes to get my drink. The staff was very friendly, efficient and full of smiles. I ordered the MISO caramel latte ($7) with oat milk for $.50 more to be safe with dairy. The drink was delicious as many others have noted, and I would definitely get that again. I also want to try some of the other popular options, including black, sesame and Ube for next time. They also serve a variety of food which looked appetizing. Inside is a bit small with limited seating but it's cute to stay for a bit if there's space. They only allow six people in line on the inside at a time and everyone else has to wait outside until the line moves forward. Overall, I would say this place is worth trying for their specialty coffees for special occasions, but not a regular daily coffee joint.

On Sunday 11/30, went to Kaizen on the way up towards Downtown San Mateo. This place was cracking at 1030a! All the tables were taken, even the ones by the window. Great crowd and noise inside, without being overbearing. There is a sign at the door that asks only six people be in line at a time, but while I was the fourth person in line, there were four others behind me. By the time I left tho, others respected this sign. After the short wait, ordered a Slow-Drip Cold Brew along with a chocolate hazelnut croissant. Since I did not want the croissant toasted, that came out immediately. A couple minutes later the cold brew followed. Pretty straightforward, and did not have to wait long for my items. This is a must visit for us whenever in the area!

I came here during the workday since this coffee shop was just a short walk from my workplace and my friend and I wanted to do a quick coffee run. It's a cute little shop with a few tables and chairs and the interior has the minimalistic, sleek look to it. I ordered the Iced Tahitian Vanilla Bean Latte and my friend ordered an Iced Matcha Latte. The Vanilla Bean Latte was lightly sweet. It was a solid vanilla latte that hit the spot. My friend enjoyed her matcha latte. One con about this place is that it's only open until 4pm, so it's definitely best for coffee runs during the workday or on weekends. There is limited seating in this small coffee shop. The staff were friendly when taking our order and handing our drinks. Great for light work and catching up with friends.

The Peninsula finally has a coffee shop that listens to its customer's needs and is community based, Kaizen & Coffee. My wife likes her coffee very hot, I mean extra hot. I like my coffee ready to drink when I get it from the barista. We spoke to the owner Jason and the GM Miki about what my wife wanted and they solved the problem, immediately. All it takes is for a management team that cares and communicates with the customer base and most problems can be easily solved. We on the Peninsula are fortunate to have a place to have delicious specialty coffee, such as sesame, ube and much more, made the way YOU want it. We now have a coffee hangout that we can call our home base. Look for Jason and Miki at Kaizen & Coffee. Here's to tasty , the way YOU like it.

I love this place!!! The service is amazing. Every coffee is made to perfection from the temperature to the roast. Come early as this place is very welcoming but it can be busy quick. You'll want to sit here and take in ambiance.

We had heard a lot about KAIZEN coffee and finally decided to check it out. We got lucky with a street parking nearby. There was a line out the door and they only let six people in at a time because it's a small shop and it was completely filled with happy coffee drinkers the sad part was they were out of pastry so we didn't get to have one. The menu had a lot of different kinds of drinks we ended up getting the miso coffee and the Okinawa brown sugar coffee. The coffee or milk well made, but I really didn't like either of them to me. The miso coffee tasted like you were drinking coffee with me soup soup in it and I couldn't really tell the brown sugar in the Okinawa brown sugar coffee that being sad the texture of the coffees were really nice and it makes me wanna go back just to have a plain latte. The people that work there were very friendly and the vibe was very, very cool.

We ordered the Okinawa brown sugar and Tahitian vanilla lattes. Oat and soy milk are available at no extra charge, though almond milk does cost extra. Both drinks were creamy and delicious (even with oat milk) with the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. There was a line on Saturday around noon, but the wait was only about 15 minutes.

Definitely a popular spot. I came around 7:30am on a Thursday and there was already a significant amount of foot traffic. Street parking only nearby but it was easy in the morning. We had the ube croissant, ham and cheese croissant and the vanilla latte with almond. Croissants were delicious with the ube being my favorite. Amazing flakiness and flavor. The latte was good; I would request less sweetness next time.

If you're here thinking about trying Kaizen, it's a solid choice. The line gets long and it looks intense, but have no fear the service is quick and efficient. There's a lot of patrons studying inside, or catching up. It's chill and hip and cool, and there's great caffeine. Try it and you won't be disappointed!

Darling upbeat coffee stop ! We order their cold brew and one of their signature latte -black sesame sub with oat milk ! The black sesame was good like that's it's not overly sweet ang the cold brew was concentrate /bold! Worth a stop around the area ! They also had 3 flavoring concentrator on the counter top which i found quite interesting

I came here early on a Saturday morning to find quite the line already even at 7am. This was my first time here and came to realize that the hype was real. This is a fantastic coffee shop. It has a warm and fun atmosphere. I love the anime touches to the decor including a tv that shows that plays anime. The customer service here was super friendly and the person who took my order helped me decide what to get. I came here for a pour over, but I also got a Thai Tea Mochi muffin, which was very tasty. I got to talk more with the workers while my pour over was being made. The whole experience felt personal, which I loved. The pour over itself was delicious. I ordered their blend, which has a nice citrusy, brightness to it and does have notes of chocolate as well. Even though the line can be long I think this place is worth the wait. I'm happy I checked it out on my latest visit to the peninsula.

I came here on a Saturday morning for a quick pick me up. Luckily I came here right before the line started (as the line usually goes out the door). The ambiance was lively and it's a really nice place to work or meet people. The only downside is that it's really popular with limited seating. I ordered the Strawberry Matcha with Oat milk and it was delicious! The slightly bitterness from the matcha mixed really well with the sweetness from the strawberry. Overall, I really enjoyed my matcha and will be back to get it again.

Came to Kaizen around noon on a Sunday. The line was long, the pastries were gone, but we were determined to get our coffee. Most seating was taken by people eating toast or on their laptop and the space is pretty tight, but clean and modern. There's also quite a bit of retail, mostly of Japanese related merch, coffee beans and canned drinks. We waited about 10- 15 minutes for our drink, but were so excited once we ordered - they have an extensive signature drink list that will take multiple visits to taste! I ordered an iced ube latte and my boyfriend ordered the iced black sesame. I loved my drink - I'm a fan of sweet so it was just what I was looking for. I found the black sesame a bit too bitter but my boyfriend (who drinks mostly black coffee) enjoyed it. Definitely worth another visit -- But I'm coming earlier to try some of their yummy looking pastries (which were mostly sold out by noon)!

My mouth is watering writing this review. We came here Friday morning around 10 AM and was surprised to already see a line out the door. It took about 20 minutes for us to place our order. I got the iced coconut lemongrass, Matcha, ricotta toast, and smoked salmon toast, and an Ube croissant. First time trying any sort of ricotta toast and trying smoked salmon. Only have one word, which is WOW. It was so good and keeps you wanting for more. Inside is very small so there's not a lot of seating, but inside was clean and staff was very friendly. Definitely a top coffee shop for me!

I hae seen many a social media reels highlighting Kaizen & Coffee, located in San Mateo. On this particular day, I took one of my most dependably caffeine-fueled friends to check out the promised coffees. On a sleepy thursday afternoon, there was still a line out the door for Kaizen & Coffee. We were pleasantly surprised with the variety of asian-inspired flavors offered here. Overall, our consensus was that Kaizen inspires through its flavors, with a particularly nutty black sesame latte offering that impresses, with the underlying caffeine taking a step back to those immense flavors. Still worth a visit, but beware of possibly other, stronger caffeinated options available elsewhere.

Good coffee at a clearly well-loved spot! It was bustling the whole time I was here. Fairly limited seating but people are pretty courteous about how long they linger and it wasn't too tough to get a table and work on their wifi for a bit. High quality coffee and lots of interesting concoctions. My only disappointment was that I was very excited for the miso caramel latte and it ended up not tasting like miso at all. Such a cool idea and would love to see it with adjusted execution. On the whole a great spot! Lovely, lively ambiance and good beans!

Stopped by here on a Saturday for an afternoon pick-me-up. I ordered the Mission Mocha and my fiancé ordered the Ube. We had gone to Voca the previous day which got my fiancé (the coffee-drinker in the relationship) interested in checking out other artisan coffee spots, so I suggested this one which had been on my list for a while (though not for the coffee, lol). I can't say I'm a coffee expert, but I did really enjoy my Mission Mocha! You could still taste the coffee flavor quite well and I like how it mixed with the Dandelion chocolate to give an almost nutty flavor? The Gochujang red pepper also gave it a good kick, though I think most of the pepper probably floated to the top because I couldn't taste it much later on. IMO, the Ube latte was a tad too sweet but my fiancé enjoyed it, though he also felt the ube flavor was a bit overwhelming and it would have been better if it were a little more coffee-forward! Note that the line does get really long -- we probably waited 5-10 minutes and when we walked out the line was 2x as long as when we originally arrived!

I LOVE going to coffee shops specifically for the coffee but most importantly, the overall vibe that you get to experience as a customer and as an observer. The coffee and toast: BOMB. I had the matcha latte and the PB and Banana toast. What a phenomenal pairing that was in my mouth! I especially loved that I was able to watch them put their TLC touch since I was sitting at the bar. Lastly, this is a shout out to the coffee barista crew and the manager who hired them. I have NEVER witnessed such a unique bunch of individuals who truly bring their best selves and energy to work and I could feel it and see it. The encouragement, the smiles and laughter is infectious...I've been to MANY coffee shops, and by far this was a scene that I would imagine myself feeling good coming in and leaving amazing upon exit. Mr./ Ms. Manager - you are very lucky with this group of gems. Note: They passed out mango bit chocolates to everyone and I got a free coffee! Thank goodness for my laptop running out of juice - what a great day to fully experience Kaizen as a customer at the bar. Highly reccommend!

First time coming to Kaizen & Coffee. The cashier was very friendly. I asked her, what she recommended for the matcha drinks. She first said that the strawberry matcha was really good. I told her I didn't want too sweet. Then she recommended to try the Earl Grey Matcha with whole milk. I thought it tastes hella good. Great combo, earl grey tea with matcha. The matcha flavor wasn't that strong. I didn't taste any bitterness, like you do at other places. If they put less milk, the drink would taste a lot better. I would rate it a 7.4 out of 10 Try it for the experience, but I wouldn't order this drink again. This is just what I experience, maybe you will like it.

What we got: Caramel miso Latte : 4/5 Mmm tasty, I love milk and caramel, and I guess coffee too lol Pour over : 3/5 Wasn't my drink but my boyfriend likes coffee more and let me try it. It was interesting had more of a tea taste! Never had a coffee like that before We happened to be in the area and it caught my eye during the drive towards the mall. Service was fast and the baristas were so fun to watch! Ambiance was busy and barely any seating area! But this is a great place to grab and go! If Im in the area again id definitely go!

I found this spot on the way to go hiking and stopped by for a quick caffeine break. I was eager to try the drinks here with all the unique Asian fusion flavours. However, I felt the flavours were a bit muted, and I was disappointed that coconut milk wasn't an alternative milk option, as I thought it would've paired well with the lemongrass coconut matcha latte I ordered. The soy milk really overwhelmed the drink, overpowering the lemongrass and coconut. It really just tasted like flavoured soy milk.

Wow this place is popular. They close at 4pm, but when I arrived at 3:30pm, the line was out of the door. There were several people who got in line behind me too. Parking definitely could be a challenge, but we got a super late lunch across the street so we just walked over. The staffs were super friendly and helpful despite the obviously busy day. I can tell that they're passionate about this place/coffee from the super short interaction I had with them. I loved the overall vibe and decor of this cafe. Coffee wise, my shiso mint was very solid. The coffee was smooth, but the mint flavor was pretty subtle. I personally would've preferred a stronger mint flavor. If you hate finding parking, I can't say that this place is worth trekking over for, especially if you don't live nearby. However, I really liked the atmosphere, so I do recommend stopping by if you're in the area. 3.5 stars, rounding up for the vibe and friendly staff.

MY NEW FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP IN THE BAY?? It is expensive, parking is a pain (street only on El Camino), and seating / queue are hit or miss but it's actually worth the money and the trek. I got the miso caramel latte -- so silky smooth and the lingering aftertaste makes you want to come back for more. It wasn't too sweet at 25% sweetness. I would characterize the taste as a little bit bitter and acidic, but not overpoweringly so. The second time I went, the black sesame latte was recommended to me more than the Okinawan brown sugar by the barista, so I went with that. I forgot to adjust sweetness and thankfully even then it wasn't overpoweringly sweet. It was surprisingly not as grainy as expected (still a little bit, since there is sesame paste after all). It was roasty but not super nutty. I preferred the miso caramel overall. My only two gripes: The menu says "signature lattes include milk choice" but what they mean is it includes DAIRY milk choice (between 0%, 2%, and whole). The containers are also kind of ugly ... they are the same compostable ones that USC uses but I wish they didn't have the label on them for my photos The first time I went, I sat right next to the pickup spot and saw like practically every drink they made for two hours. FWIW, the matcha color looked alright in-person but I've seen a lot of mixed reviews. Most people are grab-and-go and there are a few outlets along the wall if you are lucky enough to snag!

For the last year or so, I've been wanting to visit Kaizen & Coffee! I rarely visit the peninsula and timing is always tricky, but I'm so glad I could finally check it off my list. Regrets for not coming sooner cause it's so good! Dad and I arrived mid-afternoon on a weekday. It was a bit busy with a steady flow of customers coming in and out. There are several high-top tables and the majority of them were taken. The vibes were cute, minimal, and cozy. The cafe is also dog friendly where dogs can come inside and they have treats! It was pretty cool to see their coffee setup. In terms of service, the baristas are sweet and complimented my pug. However, it did take some time to be helped or even acknowledged when we were ready to order. Depending on the time of day, wait times can vary. What I initially wanted was sold out, actually a few items were. So I settled on the Coconut Lemongrass Matcha Latte with Soy Milk. I was worried about how the pairing would be but it was divine. So creamy and coconutty with a subtle freshness to it. I would order it in a heartbeat. My Dad got the Ube Latte with Soy Milk. I had a sip and the Ube was subtle and came at the end. I'm hooked on Kaizen & Coffee and would love to come back to try their other drinks. They're located off S El Camino Real and are a bit hidden between other businesses. Parking is limited to the street.

Arrived on a Wednesday 30 mins prior to closing and there was no line. Ordered a miso caramel (hot) (whole milk) and was served less than 5 minutes later. Miso caramel: Great consistency and it hit the notes of miso perfectly. Seating space: There's a couple of two seater high tables with a three seater counter by the shop's front window. Parking: Street

Busy busy cafe! I visited on a thursday around lunch time and the entire cafe was filled with people working remotely. Small line but drinks came out fast. Ordered a strawberry matcha and it was good! Exactly what I expected from their ceremonial matcha. Will return to try their caramel miso latte!

Long line at 9:30am on a Saturday. Only 6 people line inside allowed. Decor is clean and neat I got the black sesame latte which didn't taste much like black sesame as I had imagined it would. The PJ and Banana was 3x4 grid of thinly sliced banana on thicker toast with spicy honey syrup.

Very popular coffee shop on El Camino. I arrived at 10:17 am and was in line until 10:47 am before I got to the front of the line to order. The coffee shop does open earlier so perhaps try arriving at an earlier time before others are awake to avoid a line. The cafe itself is sleek and modern with a moderate amount of seating. The pistachio blackberry croissant was very delicious with a nice mix of pistachio and blackberry flavor without it being too sweet. They also offer to heat it up for you which makes the croissant nice and crispy. As for the drinks, the black sesame latte is a signature drink that mixes black sesame and coffee. To me the two flavors tasted very distinct from each other and I'm not entirely convinced that the flavors combined to make a greater whole. But definitely give it a try if you like sesame and coffee. The strawberry matcha was decent and I would say pretty much what you would expect from a strawberry matcha. The strawberry puree was good. Overall, I would say the cafe is worth a try but I don't know if it's worth waiting in line for more than 10 minutes for.

TLDR: It's a very aesthetic cafe with a nice ambiance. There's limited seating, but they do have free wifi, outlets, and if you sit at the bar, there are hooks for bags. I got the matcha latte and ricotta toast, which were both fairly decent, just not my favorite I've had. All of the staff is super friendly and work efficiently, even when there's a long line. I came around 1pmon a Thursday and it did get crowded pretty fast. Food/drink: 3.5/5 The matcha latte had a great matcha flavor, but it was a little more watery than I'd prefer. I did appreciate that it wasn't super sweet though. I do wonder if I got a matcha latte with a puree if it would be less watered down. Take my what I say with a grain of salt, ever since I started making my own to match my preferences, it's difficult to fully enjoy matcha drinks anywhere else. The ricotta toast was a nice savory snack, but was on the expensive side ($12). But in this economy, I'm not surprised. Staff/space: 4.5/5 The staff was super friendly and they upheld an upbeat vibe that doesn't feel overly fake. While they were working, they were chatty with customers and each other. In side there are 4 tables along the wall and a bar section that have outlets. The bar section also has hooks, or at least one that I saw someone using. There is also a bar style seating by the window, but didn't see any outlets there. It's a very nice space that felt consistently busy with a steady flow of customers coming and going. If you're looking to get some work done or just hang out, it's a great space for that. It's just got very limited seating available. Parking is street parking and super limited, so plan for that if you're not close by. Extra note: There seemed to have been a tasting session or something of the sort that was going on while I was there. I'm not sure if this is normal or available to everyone, or if it was just for those that know the owner/manager.

Stopped by with two friends on a moderately busy Wednesday morning after landing in SFO. We were looking for a little pick-me-up for our drive back to Sacramento and decided on some matcha. I ordered the Black Sesame Matcha while my friend went for a classic Matcha Latte. I wanted to try something different, and while I usually enjoy the flavor of black sesame, I found it a bit overpowering here--it masked the matcha rather than balancing with it. My friend's drink, on the other hand, had a bold, distinct matcha flavor that I preferred. Next time, I'll likely stick with the regular Matcha Latte. Service was friendly and efficient. There was a short line, but it moved quickly, and we were in and out in about 15 minutes. The shop itself is cozy and inviting, with enough seating for anyone looking to linger for a study session or casual coffee date.

Very popular coffee shop in San Mateo with long lines on the weekend. Waited about 20 minutes before finally being able to place an order at the register- the Okinawa Brown Sugar iced decaf latte, lightly sweetened, and the Shiso Mint Iced Latte. The baristas were efficient and our order took about 5 minutes to prepare. The Okinawa Brown Sugar latte was easily better than the Shiso Mint latte. It was nice and creamy and not too sweet. The Shiso Mint latte was not minty and it has a peculiar taste that I can't quite pinpoint and was not expecting. It wasn't horrible, but I'm not sure if I'd order it again. Staff was friendly and the store was clean despite being busy and packed the entire time. Side note: there is a sign by the door saying only 6 people in line inside at a time, but people were clearly ignoring it and piling in making it difficult to navigate a small, tight space. Maybe a larger, more permanent sign is needed to crowd control on busy days?