Cafe 86 - Artesia - Artesia, California

Tita F. P.

Cafe 86 in Artesia is a delightful spot for anyone seeking a unique and flavorful experience. The grilled cheese sandwich is a standout—crispy, gooey, and served with a side of chips that complements the meal perfectly. Their coffee is another highlight, rich and smooth, making it an excellent choice for caffeine lovers.

As for the halo-halo, it offers a refreshing twist on the classic Filipino dessert. While it may not include every traditional ingredient like langka, white beans, or kaong, the ube and leche flan add a creamy, indulgent touch that’s more than satisfying.

What truly sets Cafe 86 apart is its artisanal approach to Filipino desserts. Their creations are sophisticated takes on traditional flavors, far beyond what you’d find in a typical Filipino bakery. The Ube Crack Cheesecake and Ube Butter Bar are must-tries, with their rich, indulgent flavors highlighting the vibrant essence of ube. The Milo Dinosaur Cupcake and Halo-Halo Bread Pudding are equally creative, offering nostalgic tastes with an elegant, modern twist. Each dessert feels thoughtfully crafted, honoring Filipino heritage while elevating it for a contemporary audience.

The cafe’s ambiance is equally impressive. As a Star Wars fan, I couldn’t help but appreciate the playful Darth Vader displays scattered throughout. The cozy vibe, complete with rustic decor and charming holiday touches, makes it a comfortable place to relax and enjoy your meal. The friendly and attentive staff only enhance the experience, ensuring you feel welcome from the moment you step inside.

Cafe 86 is a must-visit if you’re in Artesia, whether for a quick bite, a coffee break, or a sweet treat. It’s a great spot to satisfy your ube cravings while enjoying the warmth of a genuinely inviting atmosphere and the sophistication of elevated Filipino desserts.

Haley H.

Great lighting for studying and I had a few of the desserts like the cheesecake ube. They're pretty good and it was my first time trying ube. The couches are comfy and service is good. Clean environment just limited seating and I had Wi-Fi issues twice. The employees fixed the Wi-Fi issues as soon as they happened so no complaints on that. Recommend to have a chill spot to get some homework done.

Theresa_ S.

Cafe 86, located in Artesia, CA, is a delightful spot that has garnered a loyal following for its unique and flavorful offerings. This cozy cafe is best known for its ube-themed menu items, which include everything from ube lattes and ube horchata to ube crinkle cookies and the crowd-favorite ube leche flan cupcakes. Ube, a purple yam popular in Filipino cuisine, lends a vibrant violet hue and a subtly sweet, nutty flavor to these treats, making them as visually appealing as they are delicious.

The ambiance at Cafe 86 is warm and inviting, with a modern yet comfortable decor that makes it an ideal place to relax, study, or catch up with friends. The staff is friendly and attentive, always ready to offer recommendations and ensure that customers have a pleasant experience. The cafe often features local artwork and has a community-focused vibe, which adds to its charm and makes it a beloved local hangout.

In addition to its signature ube creations, Cafe 86 offers a variety of other delectable items, including milk teas, coffee drinks, savory sandwiches, and more traditional desserts. Their menu caters to a wide range of tastes, ensuring that there's something for everyone. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a regular, Cafe 86 in Artesia promises a unique and satisfying culinary experience that celebrates creativity and flavor in every bite.

Rodrigo ?.

This is the ube spot for all ube spots! Located in a lot with other restaurants and shops.

I ordered their ube tres leches with a side of ube ice cream and an ube tea with boba. The tres leches was delicious and the ice cream kind of balanced it out for me. The drink was also delicious and complimented the cake perfectly.

I’d definitely come back again to try their upside down halo halo shake and other menu items.

Leona W.

We got mahalo mango and strawberry calamansi drink. The mahalo mango taste more like a hibiscus cooler instead of mango taste, 3/5. The strawberry calamansi is way better and would recommend this drink 5/5. Each drink is around $6.

We also order ube crinkles, the ube flavor is strong with buttery taste, and it breaks off easy. The churrochi ( mochi and cinnamon and caramel on top ) is so delicious and chewy, perfect for a snack!

Service is friendly, it is a little busy. There are chairs and couch to seat so it's a cool hang out place.

Parking is a little bit chaotic during lunch time since there are other good restaurants in the plaza.

Lily Q.

Stopped by for a few hours to do some work with a friend. Cozy shop that's really meant for chilling rather than working. Parking spaces in the lot are super tight so be careful when parking/navigating. Staff is friendly.

I got an iced ube latte that tasted great but I was turned off by the $1.85 or $1.75 (forget exactly) upcharge for oat milk. I'd really like no additional charge for alternative milk but I'm used to paying $0.75 or $1 for oat/almond/soy. The highest I've seen before was $1.50 but now this place is the unfortunate winner. Total came out to be $8.55, which seems steep for a latte.

I'm not from the area anyway so likely will not be returning. If you're into sweets or snacks, might deserve a try for their desserts.

Carisma N.

Entered and the vibe was very cool, and upbeat. Not your usual cafe which is amazing! I got the mocha latte and paired it was the ube flan cupcake-- I enjoyed the ube cupcake more than the flan part. My friend got an ube truffle which was the most delicious dessert ever! I highly recommend when searching for a pastry-- almost has a cheesecake-like texture.

Darlene D.

While in the neighborhood, I was craving a boba drink. So I looked to see what was around, and Cafe 86 popped up! So there hubby and I went.

Parking was painless, and we walked our way in. It was a bit crowded when we went, but that didn't steer us away. I decided to get something different ( I usually go with a Thai iced tea) I went with a coffee milk tea. I was a little annoyed, though, because I wanted to get the smaller size but was told milk teas come in, the bigger cup size; ugh. Hubby got a caramel frap and wanted it in the larger cup but was told it only comes in the smaller cup size; double, ugh!

We didn’t wait long for our drinks. I took a sip of my coffee milk tea and at first I was not feeling it. But after a few more sips, it grew on me, lol. Hubby enjoyed his drink as well. If there wasn’t an annoyance cup situation, I probably would’ve given 5 stars. They should look into changing that.

Anyways, I would like to come back to try some of there Ube desserts. I did get a small chocolate parfait which was tasty. I’ll be back!