Irving Cafe & Dessert

Like most HK dessert places, expect a line on the weekends. Being an establishment where people just sit and relax, the wait could be a while. I really love sago and being able to relax on a cold night but on multiple visits, I’ve been sorely disappointed with the food (sago, tea, toast, etc.). The general trend is that it’s lacking in flavor. Maybe I go during off days but I really wanted to like it.
However, the prices are decent and the wait staff is friendly enough. It’s usually one poor girl working the entire place with a couple of folks making food.

We came here, well on a whim. Dessert after dinner? Sure, that’s what we always do anyways.
The only things we ordered were off the hot soup menu. First off, it’s raining outside, second off, I’m sick. I ordered the Hot Sago — I always knew that I got this after a meal at a Chinese restaurant but really never knew what it was called. The bf got some sesame and peanut balls. They were delicious as well. He let me have all the sesame ones after I told him I liked them (that’s true love right there guys).
Pretty good place. Nice and clean, although it looks like they changed owners or something. Didn’t look the same as the pictures shown. Still a pretty nice dessert place, but nothing really distinguishes it from the many, many dessert places on Irving.

I’ve always been looking for a place that serves fresh sugarcabe juice. FINALLY! This place offers fresh sugar cane juice made from their cane pressing machine for $ 4 (without ice). With ice, they change $ 3.25. I’ve only had the juice, other items I have not had their other Asian desserts. This place was loaded when I came in. Dare to try it?
RECOMMENDATION: Sugar cane juice. It’s fresh, it’s nutritious.

3.75
Another boba milk tea place along Irving. Having tried wonderful foods quicklys, and teaway, Id say this places boba milk tea is very similar quality to wonderful foods. However, towards the end, the crushed ice got in the way of the boba and the tea felt it wasnt mixed well as it tasted like ovaltine at the end. My friend got a sugar cane fruit slushie which was kinda watered down so watch out for that or ask for less or no ice.
Right now they have a 1.99 all drink special and they also have a buy 4 drinks get one free (in one purchase)
Bottom line: good place to go to if line at teaway and teaway express are out the door. The wonderful foods is slightly better tasting but the prices here are cheaper. the variety of drinks is also decent for the same low price of 1.99 + tax. Id come back here but probably ask for less or no ice.
So my BOBA MILK TEA RATINGS for the bay area are as follows: 1) fantasia 2) teaway 3) wonderful foods 4) irving café and dessert 5) eggettes 6) quicklys

Currently having a $ 1.99 drink special ($ 2.20 with tax)
Sugar Cane Drink:
— watered down
— i would expect to hear machines cranking to make this drink like the way they do in LA or San Jose, crushing the actual sugar cane plant … but of course this place was not too legit
Boba Milk Tea:
— Strong tea taste — yummy, it was the perfect amount of sweetness too
— Thick/​Milky (taste like they were generous with the half and half)
— Soft, sweet, chewy boba! on par with Fantasia
— metallic aftertaste
— ¼ cup of shaved ice left on the bottom — getting in the way of finising your last few pearls.
Impression: false advertisement of fresh sugar cane drinks! extremely dissapointed that there is still no legitimate sugar cane drinks in the city. Milk tea is good overall… until the very end where you taste like you are licking a lead pipe.

Back when my good friend still lived in the Sunset, this was our place to go for dessert. It didn’t matter that we’d gorged ourselves on dinner (which was very likely) or that it was pretty darn cold outside. When you want dessert, this place is a great place to get it.
The dundan is good, but you have to wait ages for it. And then when it comes, you burn your damn tongue on it. But lord, it is delicious. It is worth the wait if you aren’t quite ready for dessert yet, but know you’re going to be in about 30 minutes. That is the perfect time to order this dessert.
The purple sticky rice with ice cream is another gem. It’s quite filling, especially with the addition of whipped cream and nuts, but it’s really tasty.
Most recently, I tried the papaya split with fruit and ice cream (I think it was coconut). The papaya was ripe and sweet, and make an excellent vessel for eating the ice cream. I love melon fruit, and this was a great way to have many of them all at once.
This place is now under new ownership and is called 88 Dessert, but not much has changed. Go satisfy your dessert craving! You know you want some.

It’s usually hard for me to give 2 stars.
I needed somewhere to sit-​down real quick and this happened to be in my crossing and was most convenient. I figured I could order a coffee here.
I should have known better because there were no other customers. Right when I walked in there was a guy (who I’m assuming is the owner) sitting there with his laptop. I wasn’t sure if he worked here because he didn’t greet me, nor asked if I needed help. So I thought he was a customer with a major staring problem. Only after I approached closer to the counter did he finally get up. The impression I got with his facial expression and gestures was he didn’t want to help me and that I was bothering him! Not quite a good way to keep business.
When I placed my order he did not acknowledge my request, which made me wonder if I pissed him off for trying to give him my business. The vietnamese iced coffee wasn’t the best– not freshly dripped like in restaurants. It was already brewed in a container.

[M]ona: 2 Stars
[W]ayne: 2 Stars
Average: 2 Stars
+ Extensive Menu (no… not really…)
+ Open Late
— Uncomfortable Seats
— Cash Only
[M] *Sigh* My BF and I came here for a late night snack.
I asked for a Vietnamese Sandwich. The guy said they were out TT_​_​TT
I asked for a Sweet Corn Sticky Rice with Coconut Milk, the guy said they were out. T_​_​T
I asked for a Mango Pudding w/​Coconut Milk (?), the guy said they were out. T — T
(WHAT may I ask DO you have~?) @__@
I finally settled for the Purple Sticky Rice with Ice Cream =_​_​=
Wayne had a Pancake with Ice Cream.
This place should take whatever items off their menu which they don’t sell anymore~~~
[W] Not recommended for people who weight 170 lbs and over or got a big a$$ like me. You will NOT be able to sit (if even) on the chairs comfortably.

I love this dessert place. Sometimes I stop by here to grab dessert to go after eating on Irving Street. They have all sorts of things. From sweet pancakes to dessert drinks to Vietnamese sandwhiches. This place is the go to place even for an entire meal on its own. I love the sugar cane drinks, the grass jelly and coconut drink, and the banana w/​coconut sago. It could be a little pricy but I think dessert is worth every penny you spend on it.

We discovered this place last night after glass of beer and tacos.
I ordered french toast — which was good! not sweet, more savory…
got a taste of coconut strawberry ice cream — of course good!
Waffle — we added some condensed milk to it, and it was delicious.
Vietnamese sandwich — i tried it once it before, and this sandwich tasted so much better. I would add some fresh garlic paste to the toasted bread… but it’s me…
I would definitely be back!

The standard taro milk tea was good, as it was not too thick or watery — and not too chalky of an aftertaste. While should have, their lack of small pearls did not affect the star rating. They also have a variety of freshly made sugar-​cane juice and mixes (no kumquats though), since they have one of those sugar-​cane stick-​crushing machines.
It’s just like any other pearl milk tea place, but quite new looking. Either that, or it’s kept very clean. Could be good or bad where it’s not crowded during a weekday afternoon. Of course, there are a lot of competition in this area. Thinking it’s owned by the same people as Irving Café & Deli (
) because the menu listed both places. Parking is always an issue around the area now, but worth a revisit to try more items from their huge menu.

I ordered a Vietnamese sandwiches (their veggie one) and taro milk tea (around $ 7).
For the powdered stuff, their taro flavor was pretty good. It didn’t have that «chalky» after taste and it wasn’t too sweet. However, their tapioca balls were kinda hard and tasted like nothing. I actually like my balls to be soft and chewy with a sweet flavor. Next time, I might have to pass on the balls. Oh! Giggety! =P
Cant wait to try their other desserts.

I’ve tried many dessert places, but this one has the most generous portions!
Service:
²⁄₃ times the service was pretty bad. I felt very rushed and uncomfortable. And it was completely empty and it’s not like i went there couple minutes before closing time. I went at 7 o’clock when they closed at 11pm. But the most recent time I went, a different server was there and it was so much better! They didn’t make it seem like they were watching my every move and eager for me to leave.
Food:
Mango with Sticky Rice– Very good! Cheaper than other places and still very good!
Purple Sticky Rice — Awesome! Although sometimes they can sprinkle too much sugar on top, but still good.
Mango with Coconut milk and Sage — My favorite Item on the menu! A big bowl of Sago and cut up piece of Mango. Yum!
Strawberry Sugar Cane Juice — I didn’t like this. It didn’t taste sweet to me at all, but other people might like it! It tasted a little tart and a little sour. But it was my first time trying it, so I can’t really compare it to anything.
Prices:
Compared to other Asian dessert places, their prices are the same. BUT their portions are so much bigger!
Overall: Great place and awesome desserts! But service could be improved. Will come back here soon!

4.75 stars
Thanks to some friends, I have been to Irving Café and Dessert several times now and it has to be one of my favorite late night dessert stops. The house special ice cream includes your choice of ice cream, jelly, whip cream, fresh mangoes and strawberries all served in a big glass. I have also tried the Angel Mix Fruit which is a blend of shaved ice, condensed milk, fresh melon balls, kind of like a Monster Desserts type adventure.
My favorite now has to be the strawberry parfait which is fresh strawberries layered with preserved strawberries and either yogurt or some kind of highly addictive white cream. The service is very good and they take their time making your dessert but it is worth the wait. They are passionate about it and I think they are the best desserts on the west side of SF.

Great dessert, snack and fresh drinks.
Clean and friendly staff.
Great price.
should try Purple Sticky rice (hot or with ice cream)

After enjoying the YSL exhibit at the De Young, you would think I’d be more motivated to become a size 0 but, alas, no. I went for dessert at Irving Café.
I had the strawberry parfait which had fresh strawberries and coconut ice cream. The server said it usually has syrup too but I asked for her to leave that off. It was sweet and refreshing enough on its own. The lychee milkshake was also pretty tasty.
I wouldn’t make this a destination spot but if I was in the area and wanted something sweet, I’d stop in again.

I came here last night with my friend, Ed. Um it wasn’t a totally good experience, I’d have to say. First the waitress was too busy looking at her To Go Menu and deciding what she wanted to eat for dinner. She seemed kind of dumb, I told her what I wanted and she’s like huh? What?
So I ordered the Young Coconut Pandan with Jello: rating: 2. Gross. it was so disgusting. That’s what probably gave me my stomach ache afterwards.
Banana Pancake: rating: 8. Considering how I don’t like bananas that much, trying this shows you how much I love it. Excellent pancakes. The crêpe wrapping was so soft and complicated the bananas, whipped cream and sugar coated nuts. Delicious. If you like bananas, this is a must.

Bahn mi sandwiches for $ 4. I still remember the delicious bahn mi in Oakland for $ 2.50…okay, I will shut up now. I don’t think it was EVER fair to charge that cheaply for such a delicious food when you can find all kinds of crap for much more in this world.
BBQ pork bahn mi was tasty. Service was fast. Too bad there wasn’t much traffic in the cute little shop during the day on a weekend. Just like a lot of other Asian dessert places, there is a big TV with stuff from Hong Kong playing. The two people working there seemed a bit lonely.
I would like to come back and try some desserts. A bunch of things on the menu sounded delicious.

A Hong Kong-​style dessert house that features Vietnamese snacks and sandwiches has made its presence on Irving Street!
A tiny place with a handful of tables, we came by on a weekday when business was slow. We were greeted with a very aromatic tea and perused their menu.
I went for the Mango Coconut Milk with Sago ($ 3.50). It’s my staple dessert at places like these and I can usually never go wrong. It tasted pretty good and I was slurping up the sweetness.
My friend was trying to limit her dairy, but it’s actually hard to do that here. The waiter suggested she order whatever she wants, and he’ll just not include the dairy. As a result, she got the Vietnamese Taro with Dumpling ($ 2.25). The broth had a gingery sweet smell, and she thought it was good despite the lack of milk that’s usually included.
Overall, not a bad find here at Irving Café and Dessert. They are going through some price changes on their menu as we speak, so double check when ordering.

Wheeee new dessert place on Irving! I loves it.
It’s new, so the owners + staff were really friendly. They’re open until 10pm on weeknights and I think midnight on the weekends.
I had the lychee with sago in coconut milk while the bf had watermelon sago in coconut milk.
The sago pearls were big, I loved it. They weren’t huge to the point where they were like boba balls but yeah. Not too sweet, not bland either.
They also have a few Chinese and Vietnamese dishes.
I suspect they’re the same owners of Irving Café & Deli. It has the same banner, same font.
But it’s good!
So i’ve gone back and the sago is consistently good. The portion is very satisfying too! At other Asian dessert places, when you order sago in coconut milk it just tastes really bland. However at this place, I always get the lychee in coconut milk with sago. The coconut milk is perfect because the lychee adds a hint of its sweet fragrance to it. mmmmmm and SO MANY SAGO PEARLS!!! i love this place!