Denica's Real Food Kitchen — Restaurant in Livermore

You enter a brightly lite restaurant with simple décor. Before you line up to order, you need to know what you want. Paper menus are at the beginning of the line. Once you decide what you want, then you enter the line. The line takes you through the pastry section where you become mesmerize with all of its offerings. Everything looks delicious, appealing, fresh and scrumptious looking. When you arrive at the cashier, you place your order. We placed our pastry take home order first, then our meal order. Once we paid, we were handed a shopping bag with our boxed pastries. Then we had to look for seats.

I ordered the loco moco with no onions. When my plate arrived, it was loaded with onions even though the cashier repeated my order with no onions. There were so much onions that I could not take them off. I returned my order and they said they will replace it. The replacement came luke warm with no onions. The packed condensed sticky rice was piled really high topped with a thin meatloaf patty and one egg surrounded with tons of brown gravy. The rice portion overwhelmed the patty and egg. The rice was so dense that it did not mix well with the gravy. I had to eat the rice in chunks then dip the rice chunks into the gravy. This is not how you eat a loco moco.

The Kahuna Sando was amble. It is Kalua pork, a slice of pepper jack cheese, one egg and fries served on a brioche roll. It was tasty but I found it slightly salty.

The Pink Guava Pancakes were the best. The pancakes were fluffy with pungent guava taste. The stack has a dollop of whipped cream surrounded with small chunks of strawberries and kiwi.

The Lavender white mocha was too sweet that I could not drink half of it. The toasted marshmallow mocha was different - flavorful. The best was the Ube milkshake. That's worth trying.

The giant cinnamon roll is like the sticky rice (loco moco) - dense. The outside of the roll was good but as you get to the center of the roll, it's doughy. It's ample for at least two to three persons. Problem of sharing, it's really difficult to cut because of the denseness.

The pecan walnut bar was so so. It was rather to dense for me.

The macaroon ube coconut was the best - full of flavors. You were able to cut it easily.

The desserts have a "wow" factor. It looks impressive, larger than most pastries, appealing, and utterly tempting. I prefer fluffier pastries. However, if you are a dessert person, you will like...

For those seeking an authentic Hawaiian culinary experience, look no further than this establishment. During my visit, I indulged in a delightful array of Hawaiian-inspired dishes, each meticulously prepared to perfection. The Guava Pancakes, Loco Moco, Sticky Bun, and Strawberry-Filled Croissants stood out for their exquisite flavors and artful presentation, leaving a lasting impression of culinary excellence.

Beyond the delectable offerings, the entire staff exuded a warm and welcoming demeanor, ensuring an unparalleled dining experience. Upon arriving, guests place their orders at the counter, receiving a numbered marker for their chosen table in the open seating area. The ambiance is inviting, fostering an atmosphere of relaxation and enjoyment.

Particularly noteworthy were the pastries that graced my table--an absolute must-try. The renowned Sticky Bun lived up to its reputation, delighting the palate with its rich taste and delightful texture. Equally exceptional was the Strawberry Croissant, a savory treat that artfully balanced flavors without overwhelming the senses with excessive sweetness.

For beverage options, complimentary water and Jamaica are offered, complementing an extensive selection of drinks that tempted my taste buds. Although I was tempted by the variety, my personal preference leaned towards the refreshing Jamaica option.

The experience offered here is destined to be memorable, leaving a lasting impression of culinary excellence and hospitable service. Without a doubt, a decision to dine here is a choice that will be...

tl;dr: French Toast Josephine ties for the best French toast I've had in my life. I seek out breakfast food wherever I go. Go try it.

Grabbed breakfast here on the to the way to Yosemite with my family. Most of the breakfast food was pretty standard. Basic waffles, basic pancakes with some twists that weren't radically different. Their home fries were perfect. Also really good infused water and complimentary chips and salsa. Overall, a solid cafe. I'd easily have given it a 4.5 stars on that basis alone.

However, let's talk about the French Toast Josephine. I love breakfast food. When I travel, I seek breakfast food, and at home, I tend to explore diners, cafes and other nooks. On top of that, I do have a sweet tooth, but lately, I shy away from super sweet syrupy stuff. With all that said, their Josephine is THE best French toast I've had, only tied with Snooze's OMG French Toast. Caramelized bananas in a rich, but not too sweet Banana's foster-esque sauce. The toast is perfect, lightly dusted with cinnamon and the perfect amount of egg to keep it moist on the inside. What surprised me and my family was how the toast stayed crispy, even after sitting in the syrup. They just set a new standard for French toast in my book!

I know I give a lot of 5 stars in my reviews, but I wish I could give a golden star to these guys for that alone. Try it. I can't imagine that any sweet breakfast lover will not be blown...