Cafe Buenos Aires Berkeley — Restaurant in Berkeley

This place gets three stars; they allowed me to drink before I bought anything. Seventy-three degrees outside, and I am walking down Ashby heading towards my kid’s elementary school to pick them up. I got lightheaded and began to feel overwhelmed with weakness. I had two empanadas from a restaurant closer to my home that I had picked up for my kids to eat as an afternoon snack. I stopped at the cafe to brace myself and ask for water, afraid I was suffering a heatstroke. The guy behind the counter pointed to the water on a table and some cups. So grateful I began drinking, but that wasn’t enough. I needed something else quickly. I opened the box I had no intention of eating and started eating again rapidly, afraid, not knowing what was happening to me. Once I got my baring together, I went to the counter to purchase some empanadas and asked if I could use the bathroom. The guy was upset after seeing me eat the other food in his cafe. He told me next time, eat food outside. I told him yes, sir, I would never do this again. I was feeling weak and didn’t want to pass out. I purchased a kale empanada and some milk. I used my cash app card he told me that my transaction had been declined. I tried again, and he shooed me away. I begged for him to look at the transaction again because it didn’t deny it had gone through; he felt so silly he tried to heat the empanada, and I told him no thank you; he was so vulgar to me even seeing me clearly having a difficult time had no humanity and then even as a customer paying for items he still didn’t have any kindness. Those empanadas don’t taste good enough for you to treat...

Short Answer: Not the best experience. Might try again, but am more likely to go to another empanada place not far from here.

I was here at maybe 10:30am on a Sunday, and most seating was available. You order at the front counter, and pick up from there when your name is called.

I ordered a beef, a ham & cheese, and a mushroom empanada. The food took long enough that I actually got to up to check on their status (over 10 minutes for sure). I realize that they are premade but need to be reheated, but it seemed unusually long considering the empty room. They were working on a lot of pre-orders. So I get it, but still.

Unfortunately, after the longish wait, the empanadas were cold or maybe room temperature at the top of each, but hot/warm at the bottom. Not the most enjoyable. Flavor was fine, not remarkable, but they are just empanadas. The dough was thin and there was a good amount of filling - both good things for me. So, they're a decent value - if they're heated through.

Overall, I was disappointed, but willing to give them another try, if a friend wanted to stop in some day...

Located prominently as the northeastern corner of intersecting Ashby and Shattuck, just a block from the Berkeley Bowl or two to BART, this owner-operated cafe brings unique flavor to the neighborhood. A taste of Argentina's famed cuisine, a full coffee and tea bar and a wall-sized cooler of refreshing Italian sodas, waters and pilsners. And wifi.

Traditional empanadas are also offered with updated vegetarian or vegan versions.

Argentina is a nation of immigrants so has a cultural tapestry rich in different foods with choices of ingredients from spinach and feta, and mushroom-gorganzola to facon-bacon or meatless Italian sausage. The empanadas for the sweet-tooth include fruits and berries. And they serve quiches.

Large windows facing south and west make for a bright, cheerful setting matching their friendly service. Sit indoors at tables or bar; outdoors a row of cafe tabled seating is completed at one end with generous water and food bowls...