KAIZEN & COFFEE

Wow! I’ve been wanting to come here for a long time and it definitely lived up to my expectations. The service was amazing shoutout to the cashier (I didn’t catch her name) who was super helpful, even spoke Spanish, and kindly guided us through the menu. We ordered two cappuccinos and a ham and cheese croissant. The coffee was well-balanced and flavorful. I really enjoyed the cappuccino. The place is aesthetically pleasing with plenty of seating, though it’s best suited for individuals or pairs larger groups might find it a bit tricky. I also noticed they have matcha drinks on the menu, and a lot of people seemed to be ordering them. I’m definitely coming back to try one next!

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.

DEFINITELY!!!! Go here. I took a 20 min detour to get here. And it’s worth it. Good barista. Excellent machine. Nice selection of coffees. They change daily. Today they ran out of single origin single dose… (it’s 1:30pm) - that’s kinda bad planning on their side. Downsides: it’s very loud and noisy inside and you need to wait in line 20min to get an espresso. Not a lot of space inside thus you will need to enjoy the good craft coffee outside on a noisy street… but still worth going.

Probably one of the most modern looking street coffee shops I’ve ever been inside. The displays of coffee beans look nice, the menu looks nice, the tables and chairs are nice, the lights look nice, they even have real plants for decor. Everything is clean and they make do with the little room they have. That definitely gets some points from me. The only thing I was confused about was the anime portion, as it only took up a small part of the store (the TV streaming anime and the anime decal in the window, that’s it) and didn’t really match the aesthetic. But it was still pretty cool. Me and my brother shared a hot chocolate and it was disappointing for both of us. We prefer sweet hot chocolate over tart and tangy hot chocolate. However, my sister loved her drink, and I have to admit both drinks were presented nicely. I think they tried drawing a panda in our hot chocolate. Speaking of the baristas, they were very nice and greeted us as we walked through the door. Overall, great atmosphere, great service, and while I didn’t like my drink, the rest of my family enjoyed theirs. 4/5.

Went there around 3pm on sunday and it was quite crowded. Had to wait 10-15 minutes in the queue to be able to order. Got the Okinawa Brown Sugar Latte (Hot) and Caramel Miso Latte (Iced). Both were really good! The barista was also really friendly and helped out with recommendations.

Loved both visits to Kaizen & Coffee. Tried the cortado first, then the ube latte. Both were great. The black sesame mochi muffin is also a must-try. Staff is friendly and welcoming. Definitely coming back!

Just walked by one weekday lunch hour and smelled so good. Then, we returned on Sunday afternoon. Shocked how long was the line but worth the wait. Very unique coffee and matcha flavors. We got the Black Sesame and Strawberry. Liked both.

This small coffee shop is BUSY! I ordered a Mango and Strawberry Marcha. Both were good! This is definitely a tiny space that is maximized and it's crowded!

Blink and you'll miss it, this modern Asian fusion craft coffee shop located down on El Camino somehow became a staple in San Mateo. Sticking out like a sore thumb in the old and sleepy part of town, this modern and sleek cafe stands out with its contemporary and moody looks that bring tons of foot traffic where there previously was none. While most would be forgiven for driving by without being any wiser, often the huge line out the door can serve as an indicator to locate one of the best cafes around. And that's the thing, even 2 years after opening and despite the high prices, you'll often find people lining up and waiting for their caffeine fix, showcasing that Kaizen and Coffee has serious staying power and it's not just hype. Once you make it inside, the cafe is long and narrow. The interior is modern and sleek but doesn't shy away from boldly using dark colors whereas most going for the contemporary athletic just stick to white walls and light wooden accents. There are but a handful of small 2 person tables. The focal point is obviously what happens behind the counter. With high tech and expensive coffee making equipment, quality beans and ingredients, and a skillful army of baristas working in unison, Kaizen and Coffee is able to pump out five star drinks at a fast pace without sacrificing on quality. From the everyday espresso to the more creative matcha americanos, hojicha lattes, and calamansi matcha tonics, Kaizen and Coffee delivers on the classics as well as more modern drinks and blends in an effort to offer something for everyone. Overall, despite the long lines and high prices, Kaizen and Coffee delivers on high quality, exceptional taste, welcoming atmosphere and top notch service, quickly becoming a staple in San Mateo and a cafe that proudly stands out.

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?

I ordered the Okinawa Brown Sugar latte with regular milk and 75% sweet. If you like your coffee less sweet, you can adjust the sugar level even more! I also got the avocado toast, which is loaded up with tomatoes, avocado, sesame seeds, and topped with balsamic vinegar. The balsamic vinegar is very overpowering and I could have done without it. I drove by Kaizen and coffee on the weekend and the line was out the door so I decided to stop by on a weekday instead. Way shorter line and still worth the wait. So if you dislike lines then just don't wait the hour. Not sure why people give this place one star because of thier own choices... it's not the businesses fault that it is so popular! The ambiance is nice but I would say prepare to take your items to go. Many people in a small space. Overall, I enjoyed my coffee the most. I appreciated the ability to adjust the sugar levels as other coffee places do not allow for that level of customization. The service was great. Good experience!

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.

Finally made it to this popular matcha & coffee shop. Worth the walk across busy El Camino Real. A posted sign in front instructs customers to enter if no more than 6 customers are in the que to order. They offer a variety of coffee drinks, tea drinks and specialty beverages that can be served hot or cold. We ordered a cold matcha latte, which was one of the better versions we have had compared to many other places. You can taste the matcha and the drink was not too sweet. We also ordered the Mission Mocha, made with espresso, Dandelion chocolate, Vietnamese cinnamon and a touch of gochugaru pepper for a hint of spiciness. I had my mocha cold with light ice and oat milk. It was delicious and decadent. The drinks were a splurge and cost about $7.50 each. We savored our beverages. We will return again to try other drinks.

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!

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 bf and I came here on a Sunday around 1pm. There was a line out the door when we arrived. The total time we were there was probably around 40 minutes or so. It was busy, but after we ordered, it didn't take too long for the drinks to come out. I ordered the Black Sesame latte, subbed almond milk, and my bf ordered the Shiso Mint latte. I really liked my drink. I love black sesame and the combination of it with coffee was delicious. I would definitely get this again!

I've heard good things about Kaizen & Coffee, so I'm glad I got a chance to visit it twice within a week to try their unique drinks and food! Arrived around 11am on a Tuesday, and it was quite busy. Since the place isn't too big, they only allow 6 people in line to order to avoid congestion inside. The first time, I ordered an iced Mission Mocha. It was interesting, the Gochugaru red pepper added a kick to the mocha. During my second visit, I ordered a hot Okinawa Brown Sugar. It's a drink you can't go wrong with, and it wasn't super sweet which is good. I also tried the Avocado Toast, and that was super delicious! I liked that it was on milk bread, sprinkled with furikake, and topped with cherry tomatoes and balsamic glaze. The employees are very friendly, and the interior is aesthetic. Not much table space to work at if you come in the late morning/early afternoon because they're already occupied. Parking is quite hard since it's only street parking & if you plan to stay longer, it's only 1-2 hour parking. There's always a line here, so it's good for a reason! Really looking forward to trying their other drinks and food!

Kaizen definitely has one of the best matcha lattes I've had in the San Mateo area! I can see why it's so popular. I came on a Saturday morning and waited in line for about 15-20 minutes. Once I ordered, the drink came out within 5 minutes. Inside is nice and clean. There are tables along the wall and some bar seats at the counter. Despite the long line, there were a couple tables available by the time I ordered. The menu offers coffee, matcha, tea, toast, and pastries. They have some unique flavor combos, but I decided to go with the classic strawberry matcha with oat milk. My strawberry matcha had a bright green color and the strawberry flavor wasn't too sweet. The drinks aren't cheap. I paid around $16-17 total for two drinks with milk alternatives. I don't know much about coffee, but seems like they really care about the quality of their ingredients. Overall, I think the drinks are high quality and the ambiance is nice. I don't think I could brave the line very often, but I would come if I wanted to treat myself!

The layout of this place came off as unique to me. Dropper bottles for coffee seasoning, the quote board, the tv playing Jujutsu Kaisen (if this was intentional, nice touch), it was like all the stars aligned. We ordered the Ube latte and the Okinawa brown sugar latte. I thought the Okinawa brown sugar was perfect. Not too sweet, good choice of beans. I wasn't a fan of the Ube latte but my Fiancée loved it. They also have spaces for you to get some work done but it can feel a bit small if the place is busy. I will come again and utilize the coffee seasoning station.

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.

Loved our matcha latte, mocha with dandelion chocolate! The espresso shots are strong and higher acid and pairs well with cream. The Lox and avo toast was delicious though the Taiwan toast element not as elevated as I thought it would be! ( not fluffy and tall ) Still would order the avo toasts here. Yum ! There are lines ... so be prepared and set aside time.

Such a cool and niche place. The coffees were very interesting and creative. My friends and I tried a few different lattes and all were yummy! The favorites were: Ube, Miso Caramel, and Strawberry Matcha (although it's not a latte). The pasties were also hot, soft, and delicious. I LOVED the pistachio blackberry pastry, and the mushroom was fantastic as well. My friend got the ricotta toast and that was solid too, but i would recommend the pastry. The lines get long, but they moved quickly and the drinks were prepared very quickly too. Inside will probably be a bit crowded, but it's a great place for a grab and go. Definitely a fun place to try for folks who like creative flavors!

This time we tried: Iced Matcha Latte with Oatmilk - 8/10 rating Iced Ube Latte with Oatmilk - 10/10 rating The Matcha quality was good but I think next time I would ask for less house simple syrup which overpowered the matcha flavor. The Iced Ube Latte was everything!! I can actually taste the Ube and the espresso shot. The coffee at Kaizen & Coffee is honestly really good as I've now tried few different coffee drinks here. I still haven't tried their pastries or food yet but I definitely will come back. Staff were very chill and friendly which is always a plus!

Workers here were really nice. Athena helped me decide what to try out here. Bought two pack of coffee beans, the classic and the traditional. Hope they're good! Ordered the Okinawa brown sugar latte and Uber latte drinks. Preferred the brown sugar over the Ube.

Kaizen never misses! Strawberry matcha latte 50% is delicious. I also tried the pistachio blackberry pastry and enjoyed it toasted. We stopped by around 11:30am on a Saturday and of course there was a substantial line. I think we waited about 35 min from start to finish. Drinks and food come out fast though. Just depends on how quickly people order!

Surprised that it's taken me so many years to find this coffee spot. tl;dr one of my new favorite coffee spots in the Peninsula. Come here for Japanese inspired coffee. Popular spot with a line that took about 10min to order. Interior gives off Japanese inspired minimalistic vibes. There's some limited seating, but because of people waiting, seats opened up fairly quickly. Mission Mocha: Delicious! Gave off Mexican hot chocolate vibes. Ordered it 25% sweetness, which was perfect. Hojicha latte: Nice tea flavors!

Location is right next to a great hair salon Parking on the street Staff was so sweet and welcoming There was a long queue goes to show how great they are and worth the wait. We ordered an Ube coffee It was delicious! they have places to sit and also a bar you can sit at only six people inside at a time for ordering. Over all 5 stars we can't wait to come back

We came on a sunday around 11am and there was a wait. We waited around 15 mins to order but surprisingly our drinks came out in 5 mins We ordered 1. Ice black sesame latte: the sesame flavor was bursting. You can taste the nuttiness. If you like sesame, you will love this 10/10 2. Hot Okinawa Brown sugar latte with oat milk: I order half sweet and it was perfect. Just the right balance of sweetness and still being able to taste the coffee. Pretty solid coffee, not super unique but the latte art is so pretty 9/10

The miso caramel is outta this world!! I usually dont go for caramel flavors bc im lactose and it's usually too sweet but this was a milder more chill caramel with the subtle saltiness of miso, so good with oatmilk iced! No adjustments made was perfect for me to get the full flavors. The mochi's my bf said are made in-house (need to confirm this) and they are chewy but not as mochi soft as other mochi muffins i had. Still good tho! The thai doesnt really have that much flavor and black sesame is as expected. Would def recommend checking out and im interested in their matchas and Shiso mint latte for next time. Caveat: parking limited and line can be long

Saw the line for this shop, and I was worried if it was worth the wait. I'm glad to say it was well worth! They have some very unique drinks and we tried time miso caramel and mission mocha. Mission mocha was hands down the favorite of the two. It had a complex flavor profile that was sweet and spicy. I enjoyed it more pre-mixed compared to after mixing the drink up. All the drinks are fairly priced, and the wait after ordering is super quick too. I think it was just a few mins after placing the order that we got the drinks. They have really nice decor like the stickers that we saw. They also play anime on the tv which is always a plus. I would come here again when I am in San Mateo.

Checking off another coffee shop on my list! I ordered the Okinawa Brown Sugar latte and my husband got their slow drip cold brew. He said the cold brew is stronggggg- which he loves. My latte was good, nothing too special/unique about it though. I'd probably try their miso caramel latte next time. Parking sucks- it's El Camino. The shop itself is small so with how popular it is, it gets pretty crowded. The baristas were sweet and knowledgeable of the drinks with great recs.

The coffee? Amazing, 10 out of 10. I got an iced Okinawa brown sugar latte with 25% sweet, and the coffee was smooth but strong and had just the right amount of sweetness with a hint of sour. I will be coming back to try the ube latte for sure. The matcha though... We ordered the strawberry matcha latte, and we could barely taste the matcha. It just tasted like strawberry milk. I give points for the house made strawberry syrup, but the overall taste of the drink was just so weak. I wouldn't recommend this place for matcha.

I finally made it into Kaizen! Went around 9am on a Saturday morning and the line was already out the door, but quickly saw the sign for the queue inside was limited to five people to avoid crowding (which I appreciated). The line moved quickly and the coffees came out in a reasonable amount of time as well. The pastries were a hit with my kids. I had the black sesame latte which was *amazing*. The inside is gorgeous and modern and the coffee machines matched the vibe. We'll be back for sure.

Decided to stop by as a friend had recently mentioned this popular coffee spot and I happened to be in the area. I told myself, if I find parking on busy El Camino Real and no line then I'm stopping! Sure enough...parking right in front (usually I have great parking CARma) without the pressure of cars waiting as I parallel park. Kaizen & Coffee offers signature lattes, coffee, espresso, matcha/hojicha and tea drinks along with pastries and gourmet toast. This visit I decided to order: :: MISO CARAMEL LATTE - moderately sweet (no adjustments), buttery, nutty, rich with a hint of savory/salty from the mild miso. It was a good latte for sure and will adjust sweetness next time. :: BLACKBERRY PISTACHIO CROISSANT - I love a nice twice-baked flaky, yet soft, airy croissant. It was good but texture was a bit heavier/denser with blackberry jam, pistachio frangipane and pistachio pieces. Enjoyed but will get something else next time. Staff friendly and helpful. Visited Saturday about 9:15 am with street parking and 5 people ahead of me. If in the area with no line, I would return to try other items. Order and wait time: 20mins

The good: If you are into fancy-pants coffee, then this is the place for you! They had neat coffee combos I'd never encountered before, like honey-miso. The coffee was wonderful and the people (staff and customers both) were quite friendly. The bad: It was a bit pricey (drinks and beans), and the space was rather limited. If you're not great with small, crowded spaces, this may not be the best stop for you. We also had to wait in line to get in. These things don't affect my rating though, because I do realize this is all to be expected with a trendy shop, which Kaizen definitely is! I'll also note if you're expecting a "Japanese" experience because of the name, maybe don't - this is more trendy and "fusion" than Japanese. Also, not super friendly for kids (but dogs were OK!).

I really enjoyed Kaizen and can't wait to come back! Parking is a bit of a challenge but that's the only bad thing I can say about Kaizen. There was a bit of a line to order but that's a sign of a good coffee shop, no? The line moved quickly and everyone seemed to enjoy their coffee after receiving it. I noticed the staff taking their time to explain the different options they have when people had questions which is excellent customer service. My husband and I decided on the ube and sesame drinks. From the first sip you can tell they use quality ingredients. Their sesame comes imported from Japan and it was delicious, it was earthy without being overbearing. It was easy to drink and I enjoyed to richness of the flavor. The salmon toast was out of this world. The milk bread was soft and tasty. There was plenty of lox, red onion, seasoning a capers. I think the pricing is fair and the shop itself is vibey, modern, upbeat, and welcoming. There aren't a ton of seats but we def enjoyed sitting at the bar top area and watching the baristas work their magic.

On a Saturday afternoon, it was a ~30 minute wait from standing in line to receiving drinks. Definitely one of the busiest coffee shops I've been to as the line never ended even when we left around 3:50pm (they close at 4:00pm). A lot of people were taking their orders to go since there wasn't a lot of seating but we managed to snag some chairs at the back. They use premium ingredients (housemade sauces/syrups, organic milk, specialty coffee beans) and sell a variety of coffee beans. Our order: Earl Grey Supreme ($3.00) as a "London Fog" ($3.00), which was adding house vanilla syrup and steamed milk: +Drinkable temperature: Hot, but doesn't burn your mouth/tongue +Not my drink, but I took a sip: Earl grey tea was bright and fragrant. +Cute latte art -Even though it had organic whole milk, it was very watery. Latte ($5.50): +Drinkable temperature: Hot, but doesn't burn your mouth/tongue +Not my drink, but I took a sip: Espresso was strong while the milk added creaminess. +Cute latte art Miso Caramel Latte ($7.00): Requested 75% sweetness +Drinkable temperature: Hot, but doesn't burn your mouth/tongue +I enjoyed this Japanese twist on the classic salted caramel latte: The miso added an extra layer of umami. +Cute latte art Side notes: 1.) Restroom available for customers  2.) 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: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 d/t service. I asked the barista how sweet the Miso Caramel was and he said it could be adjusted if I wanted it to be less sweet. I requested 75% and he said if I tried it and it ended up being too sweet they could remake it. It ended up being perfect. If I'm in San Mateo, I'd love to stop by to try more of their menu!

Instant love ! They carry a great selection of speciality coffees from around the world and i was sold when i learnt they sell Glitch. (Hard on wallet but magical in experience) Couldn't go wrong with anything here. I did not try the bakes though. Great place for matcha and coffee. Glad I don't live here, otherwise I would spend way too much here and upset bae. Friendly baristas, and great vibe.

This spot is very trendy - we ordered the shiso mint coffee, iced, and it was delicious. Our order came out in just a few minutes. There's a bar top where patrons were either producing music or working on papers. They stock a lot of different coffees by various roasters - I was happy to recognize a few. They have a super cool drip coffee apparatus, too. I'm looking forward to going back for the coffee and vibes.

Amazing coffee. Super small inside so ordering gets complicated with the line. Also the parking situation is nonexistent which can be tough. Overall great spot for good coffee!

I ordered the Tahitian Vanilla Bean and asked for half sweetness since I don't like overly sweet drinks--it didn't disappoint . The flavor was smooth and well-balanced. Overall a solid drink and a nice spot, when it's not too busy. Still worth checking out!

I liked my time at this coffee establishment. Kaiden & coffee feels sleek and modern. It's staff are friendly and bustling around. There are a lot of people doing work or hanging out on the inside. When you arrive, be warned: there might be a line extending outside the building. It varies from a quick, five minute wait to a stagnant line. While you're in line, you can peruse the many coffee bags they sell on their shelf. Very aesthetic looking. I ordered the mango Matcha. It's very pretty to look at, with the mango extract sitting at the bottom and the Matcha rising at the top. It was very pricey for my taste. I mixed the two layers together myself, but did not taste too much mango within my drink. It just tasted like a sweeter Matcha. It tasted good though. Maybe I'll come back to try out their signature lattes sometime. Spent $8

I was really excited to try Kaizen's matcha latte as there were so many good reviews/ people talking about it but I was personally disappointed. My lavender matcha latte tasted like lavender oat milk. I took this photo of the drink AFTER asking for more matcha. The first time they gave me the drink was even lighter and I wish I took a photo before mixing the drink. They were really nice about adding more matcha and said to ask in the future for extra when ordering. In comparison, my friends drink had twice as much matcha as mine as well as others who were walking in and out of the store. The service was friendly, but I would not pay $10 again for the drink I received.

Kaizen has easily become one of my favorite specialty coffee spots. I love their rotating single origin pour overs, but they have some unique lattes as well. So far I've only tried their Mission Mocha which contains gochugaru red pepper and it has a nice kick to wake you up. They also carry beans from Japan, Korea, and other places. The shop is quite small. There's usually a line when I go, but it goes by pretty fast. There's also a couple of tables/seats available, but you have to be super lucky to snag one. Parking can be hit or miss, depending on when you go, but I've never had to park too far.

This place did not miss. Not only was the service amazing, but the food and drink were great. The toast was still soft and the bananas were ripe. The strawberry puree they use was one of the best I've had but the matcha was a bit watery for my liking. Still quite enjoyable though.

If you're looking for a coffee shop with Asian flavors, I would recommend this spot. The menu changes so try to look online for the updated menu. I tried this place months ago and I enjoyed the ube latte. We came on a Saturday at 9am and we waited about 20-30 mins. Def be prepared to wait but it's worth it! We opted for the matcha drinks. I got the strawberry matcha and my friend got the lavender matcha. My friend asked the cashier about how many grams of matcha came in the drink and we asked for extra. The drinks came out perfect! We want to come back again to try more of the lattes.

Went on a Sunday around 11am and there was a line out the door. Due to the small size of the cafe, they limit 6 people to wait in line inside. The end to end experience of waiting in line to finally getting the drinks took 40 mins. The drinks itself were pretty good. I ordered the black sesame iced latte and it tasted smooth and not too sweet which is great. My friend loved the Ube latte. They offer milk alternatives to sub out too. Would like to come back another time to try out the other drinks! They also sell glitch coffee beans from Japan which was pretty cool. Few seats and tables inside. Cute spot but you may feel a bit cramped. Street parking only.

Wanted to get a matcha latte in the area and found this place on yelp. There's only limited street parking. Got very lucky. First impression, this place is busy for a Tuesday afternoon. Lots of people working or just popping in and out. It's a small cafe. I got the strawberry matcha. It came in a glass cup. Fancy. The matcha itself was earthy. Had a bright green color. The strawberry was fresh. Mixed together was tasty but not too sweet. The drink came out really fast. I would definitely come back again.

Great place to grab coffee :) Love the different specialties they have available. Strawberry matcha and miso caramel was amazing. Upcharge $0.50 for alternative milk for those who are lactose intolerant like me. Small sitting place so more of a grab and go place. Street parking so it's a bit difficult. Fast and friendly service.

A++++++!! My review for Kaizen is way overdue. I've only been coming here for a couple of months now, and it's definitely my go-to spot at least 2-3 times a week. I love their matcha latte, I order that every single time with oatmilk. They have great pastries, and a lot of other specialty drinks. Service is great, friendly, and fast. This place is small, so prepare to feel a little crammed in when you order and wait. Otherwise, this place is one of my best discoveries of 2025. I love Kaizen!

We got the Miso Caramel Latte (more my bf's taste) & Tahitian Vanilla Bean Latte (more my taste). We also got the ham cheese croissant & ricotta toast on milk bread. The toast was on the pricier side, but otherwise everything was so good here! The restroom is also clean & the line to order moved quickly.

Very chill/cool place. I have not been here before, always drive by and see the long lines. Interesting name to the coffee joint. Note: they don't have any gluten-free items(bummer) minus 1 star. But the coffee is good. Definitely coming back. Note: expect to wait in line tho. Ohh and I forgot the pistachio croissant is off the hook.

Let's start with the fact that drinks and pastries are absolutely delicious! The ambiance of this place however resembles more of a bar (very loud music playing with little to no room to stand as you wait for your drink) than it does a coffee shop or cafe meant for studying or computer work. The customer service was a bit confusing to me. Cashiers take about 6-10 minutes to once you're at the register to have your order take and cashier had little regard for the customers in line. (I,e exchanging instagrams and tattoo artists while their line is 15+ people.) About 30 minutes JUST to have your order taken. My matcha and ginger bread were delicious but not worth 40 minutes of standing in line, in my opinion. Highly overrated place.

I really loved my Tahitian vanilla latte (iced with oat) from here. I'm just thinking about it right now and suddenly wondering when I can have it again. I've been meaning to try this place for a while now and I will definitely be back. My drink was very well balanced, and I didn't need to adjust the sweetness of it. I came on a Monday/long weekend day off (Presidents' Day) around noon and it was somewhat busy (all but one was table full) but the service was really efficient. The baristas were incredibly friendly and gave off really good energy-- from the one who rang me up at POS to the one who handed me my drink at the end of the bar! That really made my first visit honestly quite memorable! There is street parking , they sell a ton of whole beans and even some coffee making supplies (specific filters), and in addition to some small tables, there is also a nice little bar seating area.

Came on a early Sunday morning so got lucky with street parking and the line wasn't too long! Interior is cute, has a few tables but it definitely gets busy! Got the iced miso latte and a ham and cheese croissant. Personally, the iced miso latte was very acidic which I really don't like so I didn't have a great experience ): The ham and cheese was okay but also not the greatest. Had high hopes for this place from all the great reviews but was disappointed. Maybe I'd go to try something else but wouldn't go out of my way for it!

One of my favorite ube lattes in the bay! The ube isn't just food coloring--it tastes like some real ube halaya in your drink. And the espresso here is QUALITY. Everyone was ordering their ube lattes iced, but honestly after trying both, I looooove it hot. With almond. I'm sure it's amazing w/ oat, too. But I just didn't stray away from what I considered a masterpiece. The line is consistently super long, even on a Thursday at 1030am. There's plenty of seating but it's almost always taken up. If you're lucky, someone will share a table with you. Get there early or be ready to wait! But it's worth it.

Great service and even better black sesame latte! Tried the Ube croissant- it was real good but wish it was less sweet.