Café Alessie — Restaurant in National City

As someone who likes sweet drinks, I really liked this place! I heard a lot about the banana pudding matcha so I tried that first. It was pretty good, sweet and so yummy. I saw some people criticizing the sweetness and milkiness of the matcha here, but honestly it seems like the quality of the matcha is good. Maybe not the best in the world but it works. For this particular drink you could definitely taste both the pudding and the matcha. It was like the perfect blend.

I also tried the salmon toast, it was good but I felt like it was too salty. The quality of the bread and the garnishes kinda made up for it though. I never would’ve thought to try something like salmon toast, it had like radishes, avocado and other toppings which were so refreshing. I highly recommend it!

Later I tried the carrot cake latte, I was amazed by the first sip 😭 whatever beans they use are soooooo good. I was curious to see how a latte could be carrot cake flavored, and well it is pretty delicious. The latte is sweet. Definitely feels strong though. So I would recommend their lattes to anyone that likes strong espresso! I can totally see it working well in a mocha.

The specialty drinks are kinda pricey but it makes sense because in my opinion they are gourmet. The presentation is 10/10. I’m excited to see what other flavors they come up with! I think it’s a good idea to come here if you want a fancy sweet drink on a calm day.

Also it is a small cafe inside but there’s outdoor seating! And the couple of times I’ve been there they played Spanish rock which is...

Terrible experience at Café Alessie. My fiancé ordered a coffee and two breakfast sandwiches, and what should have been a quick breakfast turned into a complete disaster. She waited over an hour for her order, checking in twice with the café staff, only to be told both times that the food was “coming soon.” Finally, after all that waiting, they admitted they had never actually put in the order.

To "make it up", they handed her two free pastries that were nothing more than bread topped with sugar — and they were absolutely disgusting. It felt like a lazy attempt to apologize instead of taking real responsibility for the mistake. By that point, the morning was ruined, and both of us were still hungry after wasting so much time.

This place clearly has major issues with organization, communication, and basic customer service. There are plenty of better cafés nearby that care about their customers and can get an order right. Save yourself the frustration and skip Café Alessie — it’s not worth your...

This place hands down serves the best banana matcha in San Diego. I can confidently say that because it’s even better than the ones from Galu and Maiko—two popular matcha spots in the area. The flavor here is rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced. The matcha is smooth and not bitter, and the banana blends in beautifully. It’s just on another level. Plus, the price is very reasonable for the quality you get. Every time I order it, it always ended up gone by the time I get home. That’s how good it is.

One downside is that the drinks can take a bit long to make, so be prepared to wait. But the staff is super friendly, which helps make the experience more enjoyable. The indoor seating area is pretty small and feels a bit tight, but they do have a few outdoor tables that are more spacious and comfortable.

Overall, if you’re a matcha lover or just curious to try something new, their banana matcha is a must-try. I’ll definitely keep coming...