iCafe San Francisco

San Francisco, United States

4.3

Open now

20 reviews

Does not accept credit cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 415-392-2682
Website:
www.icafesf.com
Address:
57 Walter U Lum Pl, San Francisco, CA, 94108
b/t Washington St & Clay St
Chinatown
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
240 ftKearny St & Clay St
340 ftClay St & Kearny St
570 ftSacramento St & Kearny St
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Delivery
Yes
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
No
Good For
Breakfast
Parking
Garage, Street, Validated
Bike Parking
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
No
Attire
Casual
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Average
Alcohol
No
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
Free
Has TV
No
Dogs Allowed
Yes
Waiter Service
No
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Open now
Local time (San Francisco) 12:53 PM Friday, November 29, 2024

Business hours

Monday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Tuesday –
Wednesday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Friday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Sunday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Description

Specialties

Coffee; Expresso, Macchiato, Cappuccino, Lattes

Hot Teas

Bubble (BOBA) Milk Teas

Hong Kong Style Milk Tea

Mixed Coffee & Milk Tea

Vietnamese Ice Coffee

Thai Milk Tea

Pastries

Traditional Chinese Sausages

History

Established in 2001.

Located in what is known as «The Heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown», International Café (iCafe) is where the heart of the city beats. The café is situated across the street from the historical Portsmouth Square; where the discovery of gold in California was first announced, and where the city was given its name. iCafe originally opened its doors in 2001 as a delicatessen for cured Chinese sausages and meats traditionally handmade using family recipes. In 2012 it was transformed to a café, adding coffee and pastries alongside its menu of famous Chinese sausages. iCafe also serves as a space for the local community to come together, and where visitors can experience the convergence of West meets East.

Come listen to Chinese Opera from the square every weekend (1p-4:30p) while taking in the featured Royal Embroidery artwork by Mr. Jin Zhong on our walls. All floral arrangements on display in the café are designed by iFlowers San Francisco, elegant floral designs for all occasions.

Meet the Business Owner

Diana Lisa W.

Business Owner

Meeting and greeting avid coffee drinkers and bubble milk tea fans on the weekends is a wonderful balance between working as a psychologist during the week. In a way, chatting with so many friendly customers at iCafe San Francisco has its parallels with working in a field I am so passionate about; «I love talking, especially having great conversations with my loyal customers!»

Thank you for your continued business!

Best,

Diana

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20 reviews of iCafe San Francisco

No registration required
Place rating: 3
Daly City, CA
This is my 2nd review of this place, and I had to be forced to give a new rating, because it seems the BBQ pork bun I ordered is seriously not as good. No, not by a long shot. It’s a lot smaller than before, and there’s a lot less BBQ pork than before (like a lot less). I’m really not a regular but if I had to guess it seems like maybe they changed owners or something, otherwise, I can’t explain the decline in quality. I really hope that maybe I just got a bad batch or something, ’cause it hurts me to write this review after having loved the place when I first visited. :(
Place rating: 5
Sacramento, CA
Trying to pick up one of these mochis was like trying to pick up a cloud! It’s so soft, delicate, and delightful! I ended up getting almost one of each flavor (strawberry, mango, black sesame, and durian). To my surprise, durian was the best one! Thick layer of fresh durian in the center and with one bite, it filled my mouth with sweet durian flavors. I definitely recommend iCafe to anyone who loves mochi or anything soft and pillowy. If you don’t know what to get the owner lady is super nice and helpful.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Buy 3 and get 2 free? Man the shop owners here are so nice!
Tried their mango mochi and it was amazing. Finally a mango mochi that lives up to the hype. My only gripe? I wish there was more mango filling and less straight up mochi. Also for some reason the coconut shavings on the side here are not as satisfying as in other versions. Perhaps it’s not coconut-​y enough /​they’re too short? But the mochi itself is super super soft and full of mango flavor. It’s hard to find Chinese mochi of this consistency but they hit it just right.
The durian mochi (durian filling mango mochi) though is MY LOVE. I liked durian desserts (though the fruit itself is okay) and this blew me away. The filling is just right, full of the distinctive durian taste and perfectly balances the filling. Unlike the mango, where the filling was overwhelmed by the mochi, the durian has enough strength on its own that the copious mochi works.
The pink mochi is strawberry, featuring this interesting chocolate/​strawberry/​coconut filling. If you like chocolate, this might be your jam, but I prefer my mochi with fruits.
The black mochi is black sesame with a peanut filling — which is traditionally what fills nuomici. Interestingly, this mochi was a little different in consistency than the others — a bit less chewy and it has more filling than the others. It’s not necessarily a worse mochi, just different.
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
Worst boba milk tea I’ve ever had. Made of powder, and there is a prevalent powder texture. Boba was slightly hard, and flavorless. Almond milk tea was super powdery – whoever posted the picture of the almond milk tea being good, probably has never had almond milk tea before. Honey green milk tea was matcha (no jasmine). Waste of $ 3.50/each – I love boba and was craving boba, but only drank 10% of my drink. So sad.
My search of boba to rival average boba in Southern California yet continues…
I would have bought some pastries too, but they didn’t look very appealing or fresh. But based on the lack of quality of the drinks here, I’m glad I didn’t get any baked goods.
Place rating: 5
Denton, TX
If you are a durian lover, the durian mochi will leave you craving for more and more. Fresh chewy mochi skin with rich ‘custardy’ durian buried inside is pretty damn good!
I have to come back here for the vietnamese coffee!
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
A little slice of Hong Kong in SF. Cute spot. Good for a leisurely coffee or tea with a bun.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
CHINATOWN GEM!
Tucked in the hidden alley by the park, this tiny place is hardly noticeable unless you specifically look for it. This place actually sells Peets coffee along with milk teas, which already sets it apart from majority of drink shops in Chinatown. They are probably most well known for their mochis, but also offer a number of other baked goods like cakes, egg tarts, and baked buns.
Mango Mochi (1.50) — Great price considering how big the mochi is. It was like a cloud — a delicious, soft cloud filled with actual mango bit.
Can’t wait to come back to get more mochi and try their other offerings.
[CASH ONLY]
Place rating: 5
Santa Cruz, CA
This is a small modern coffee/​tea place across from sketchy park. Er, I mean portsmouth square.
Inside it’s impeccably clean. The staff are super friendly and it’s a nice fresh change from the rest of the block. It’s a perfect place to grab a tea/​coffee and a sweet and to watch the world go by for a few minutes.
The Good: The hong kong style milk tea is sheer perfection as are the mochi. Lot’s of places close by kinda skimp out on the mochi but here it’s mouth melting good. Doesn’t matter so much which flavor they are all outstanding. A coffee and a sweet will run ya about 5 bucks or so. Cash only.
The bad: yeah sorry. There is no downside to this place.
The odd but still awesome: Guang Zhou King & King Sausage are available as is chinese bacon and smoked duck. They serve coffee, which is popular and I’ll never have as the tea is so perfect.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
My favorite place to get coffee in all of Chinatown. Their Vietnamese iced coffee is delicious! And I think I’m getting it everytime I’m in the area.
Also, the mango mochi is also a must! I usually grab 1 to eat there and 4 more to go because the 1 wouldn’t be enough. It has sweet mango pieces inside that makes it very original. I also tried the strawberry one before, but sadly, this one doesn’t contain any strawberry bits like the mango version does. Also, you can’t really taste an strawberry flavors from this one, so I’d pass.
Overall, a must try when you stop by Chinatown.
Place rating: 5
Garden Grove, CA
Thank you, icafe for having delicious Vietnamese iced coffee ! I was visiting from Orange County and had no idea finding Café Sua Da would be so difficult! Prior to finding icafe on foot, I went to 2 other Vietnamese restaurants nearby who said 20 mins for a cup of coffee and the other one said no to go. I was really surprised with those responses!
I love it how icafe made the coffee very strong and they left some condensed milk on the bottom enough for me to shake up myself. I prefer it that way.
If I’m ever in SF again, I will definitely come back here and try more of their other items on the menu.
Great coffee, great service.
Place rating: 4
Pittsburgh, PA
The mochis are pretty awesome. They are quite large and only $ 1.50 a piece. I didn’t get to try green tea since they sold out (it wasn’t even 12 yet wtf), so I went with mango, which I didn’t regret at all. Loved the layering and fruit bits on the inside, which was more than just straight up mango jelly. Hopefully will get to try the green tea next time, or another flavor like sesame. They also have pandan biscuits!
Place rating: 4
Juneau, AK
Durian? I have heard much about durian but not ready but the mango mochi was a new treat as well as the tea. This is a lovely little hole in the wall with locals meeting for tea and food. Busy morning and this is a wonderful experience.
Place rating: 5
Emeryville, CA
Unassuming, hole-​in-​the-​wall kind of place and I was thoroughly impressed. Most importantly the food was good. But, as an added benefit, it was very affordable! The buns are great but limited quantity (I think at one point they only had 4 buns left, and when we came back later, we bought 7 buns and they were out). Everything below was $ 1.50 each.
BBQ Pork Bun = Delicious. I bought one, bit into it, and immediately felt like I should go back and buy more (which, I did a few hours later). Normal bbq pork buns are usually too soft, relatively greasy/​sticky on the outside and a little too airy with a hole between the meat and the rest of the bread. This bbq pork bun, on the other hand, was amazing! It was almost crispy, crunchy on the outside and dense+fluffy at the same time. I ate this at room temperature and it was still great.
Green Onion Bun = Same as the bbq pork bun but a little bit bigger and football shaped. Same great texture and the green onion had a good salt mixture.
Taro Bun = It’s like the classic chinese ‘pineapple bun’ (the one that does’t taste like pineapple but the crust on top I guess looks pineapple-​y?) but taro-​version — purple on top and taro paste in the center. Perfect for any taro lover!
Mango Mochi = A good size and very tender. It was also as light as air. The fresh mango inside had sort of a tang/​sour taste (maybe mangos aren’t in season?) But I still thought it was a nice contrast to the sweeter thick mochi outside.
** best enjoyed day of, quality is sacrificed on the 2nd day but it’s still decent/​average, beyond that you’re on your own**
Place rating: 5
Fremont, CA
The durian mochi here is sooooooo yummy. There is fresh durian inside! If you are a durian fan, a must stop! The texture of the mochi was perfect, the level of sweetness perfect, my bro buying out all the durian mochi they had for me because it was my bday… perfection! $ 2 each.
We also got the mango mochi, and the mango-​lovers loved it. $ 1.50 each
I ordered «passion fruit green tea with boba» with half the sugar. It came with milk. Normally when I order it at other places, it comes without. So be careful if you don’t like milk teas… be sure to specify.
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
A hidden gem in Chinatown! It’s located in the alleyway behind Portsmouth Plaza. The café has a limited selection of pasteries (9 different kinds), but everything was excellent. The mochis are perfectly made, especially the mango ones that includes fresh mango inside. None of that fake dried mango stuff here. The taro bun, BBQ pork bun, and the custard bun were delicious and fluffy as well.
Place rating: 4
San Jose, CA
I have not had the drinks, but what I have had there, I have enjoyed.
Mango mochi balls — they have fresh mango inside and it’s not overly sweet. I will be back to try the other flavors :)
BBQ Pork Bun — wahhhhhh it was so good. It was so warm and the meat chunks inside were large.
I am excited to try the other things there. The place is small, but it packs a punch!
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
Big iced coffee just
2 bucks. Refrigerated
sausages. Cool art.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
OMG, I think I just discovered the BEST bakery in Chinatown! And I’m serious (just look at pix and you’ll see what I mean). Clean, fresh, and you’ll find pastries here that you will NOT find anywhere else in the city, including Clement street. The pastries here are 1 to 2 notches higher in quality than the other bakeries. I’m really impressed!
Not many tables (only 2) but you’re 20 feet away from the most scenic square in Chinatown. Grab something here, take a stroll through the square, and see how the Chinese elderly locals socialize among themselves.
Must try pastries:
— If you like durian fruit, must try their durian puff. Light n fluffy!
— Mango mochi cake with REAL mango inside!
— Black sesame mochi cake has chopped peanuts inside. Perfect!
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Jimmy and I have both deemed iCafe our go-​to place for milk tea and a casual place to sit back and relax, do some reading, and people-​watch.
My ultimate favorite is the Roasted Wheat Milk Tea. I get it half sweet out of preference, and it hits the spot every time.
Others we’ve tried:
— Iced Coffee
— Vietnamese Iced Coffee
— Matcha Green Milk Tea
— Hong Kong Style Milk Tea (authentic, 2nd fav after the Roasted Wheat, and is best hot)
They also sell various pastries, pound cakes, and chinese sausages. The lemon pound cake always seems to be calling my name when I’m full to the brim from lunch, and patrons come in all the time to purchase the chinese sausages in bulk — this place attracts locals and tourists alike!
The owners, Nobo and Diana, are incredibly nice and welcoming, and always greet you with a smile. We’re regular customers here because of their great service :)
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
If you like ginger, I suggest getting their ginger lemon tea. It’s super good! I like how they let you customize the level of sweetness or ginger-​ness of the drink before you leave. They use ginger syrup and not real pieces of ginger in the drink.
My coworker likes their Ovaltine drink. He said they use real milk instead of water in their mixture.
I love their mango mochi too. There are real mango pieces in it!
They use the stamp card system. Buy 5 drinks, get 6th drink for free.
Don’t come here on a Tuesday because they are closed!