Cafe 88
5401 Linda Vista Rd, San Diego, CA
Crema's Take
“Nestled near USD, Cafe 88 is a charming neighborhood spot where the owner Fadi genuinely cares about getting every drink and pastry just right, from the beloved Lotus biscoff latte to the viral Dubai chocolate crepe. The cafe radiates warmth and freshness—reviewers consistently rave about the quality of ingredients and the owner's friendly customization, making it feel less like a coffee run and more like visiting a friend who happens to make incredible drinks. Whether you're settling in for a leisurely sit or grabbing a perfectly crafted cold brew, this is the kind of place that makes people ditch their usual chains and come back regularly.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
Such a cute cafe near USD! The dubai chocolate crepe, Lotus biscoff latte, and Lychee refresher/energizer were all delicious! The inside of the cafe was clean, the owner was friendly and pleasant, and the menu was stacked with treats and yummy drinks. Support this family owned business!
I was looking for the closest coffee shop, since I ditched the green/white coffee shops, I found cafe 88 and OMG the Lotus coffee it’s AMAZING! very rarely I like a coffee for the first time because I don’t like them so sweet, I took the shot with the Lotus latte and didn’t modify anything and let me just say that I will be definitely coming back for this amazing late, it has cookie crumble on top and lotus caramel like on the bottom and every sip is amazing, I’m so impressed !
Cute new little dessert spot! Owner is super friendly and makes sure to customize your order exactly to your liking. We’ve had a few things from here now but everything was super fresh and tasty! My favorite was the Belgian waffle with chocolate sauce, and perfectly ripe strawberries and bananas. It’s a hidden gem but absolutely worth checking out!
I live right up the road and had to come and try this cafe! I ordered the Dubai crepe and peanut butter iced latte. I’m going to tell you, you can taste the FRESHNESSS to every single bite of that’s crepe, it’s not overwhelming and you just want to keep on eating it. The latte was smooth and the espresso was delicious. Very friendly customer service the gentleman was very accommodating and appreciated the feedback. I wish you all the best success 👏🏼🤲🏼
Had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Fadi, on my first visit. What an awesome guy! He's very level headed and seems committed to his business. He said they've been trying to open for over a year and is just as excited as the customers that the construction finally finished. On entry, the cleanliness and bright look of the restaurant really starts things off on a high note. The menus are straightforward, the displays are beautiful, and it gives the exact vibe you're looking for from a dessert place. Even the music was fun and happy! As for the food, I ordered their Happy Bowl with an Acai base and it was incredible. The price is much cheaper than somewhere like Everbowl and the taste is twice as good. He told me the chocolate chips they use are legit Belgian chocolate and I believe him. They look way different and definitely taste better too. I really wanted to try the desserts so I got a sushi roll along with a classic crepe. They were both AMAZING! The sushi roll instantly jumped to one of my top 10 desserts. They were warm, with a banana in the center, the chocolate was perfectly melty. The powdered topping varieties gave each bite a new experience. I think the outside was the crepe dough and was delicious. The crepe was equally tasty. The softness and warmth of the dough brings everything together. The classic crepe blends the fruits inside with the Nutella and dough perfectly. I didn't try any of the fancier crepes but if the classic is the foundation for the rest then I can only imagine how good they are Side note: I got one of the viral crunchy pastry desserts to try at home later and it definitely lives up the hype. The blueberry one is their most popular and I highly recommend 👌🏼😍
Crema Reviews
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