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3 G's Cafe
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 4 pm
Sat-Sun 8:30 am - 4 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for 3 G's Cafe
Review Highlights
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"Freshly prepared Bolivian cafe items." In 5 reviews -
"also had the pan de arroz on a leaf (needs heating), and..." In 2 reviews -
"...sweet so they were the perfect treat after the beef saltena." In 1 review
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Gary G.
La Honda, CA
2/22/2012
The food is great, and the service is great. Very genuine and warm staff. The soup was great!
Gary -
Review from Private P.
San Jose, CA
1/10/2012
I decided to stop by after reading so many great reviews, and those that have followed my reviews, I've been looking for a decent Salten~a here n the Bay Area.
I took a work colleague with me to make sure I was "balanced" in my review.
We ordered: Beef and Chicken Salten~as, Cun~apes, Quinoa soap, and the Peanut Soup.
Salten~as: These are without a doubt the best commercially available Salten~as in the Bay Area. The flavor is authentic, the ingredients are fresh, the presentation is clean. I suggested to the owner that she maintain the Salten~as at a higher/hotter temperature so that when they are served, they would have the "fresh out of the oven" factor. I think the owner's decision to not have a "too spicey" Salten~a is a good idea, initially. The owner has to "educate" the market a bit and get her customers "hooked" on these complex flavors first, then in time, she can adjust the recipe for more "spiceyness" if needed. Traditional Salten~as have pieces of hard-boiled egg in them, 3G's doesn't. The owner explained that it was a decision for customers allergic to eggs... But again, in time she can adjust the recipe.
Cun~apes: Fabulous, and authentic, if you are ordering soup, grab a couple of these to go with it.
Peanut Soup: Wonderful flavor, I would simply spruce up the presentation a little so that it doesn't look "bland", because the flavors are certainly not. It's a great soup, and I highly recommned it. Adding some sprigs of cilantro to "garnish" would make this look great!.
Quinoa Soup: This is such a wonderfully healthy soup, packed with great flavor. Guiltfree indulgence. A little garnish would help kick it up a notch from a preentation perspective. This is earthy goodness.
The service is superb, the location is clean and quaint (as expected for a small business just getting started). I am thrilled that I now have a regular stop to pick-up Salten~as to bake them at home. Although I doubt they will look as nice since 3G's Cafe has some superb convection ovens that bake incredible even.
You should put this place on your list and restaurant agenda for one simple reason: The King of the Empanadas, the Salten~a, has finally arrived.
Next time you are thinking about having a Burrito, or a Taco (boring!), expand your horizon and instead choose the Salten~a at 3 G's cafe. -
Review from Madeline N.
Cambridge, MA
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I didn't even know that this part off of California Ave existed!
Came by for a late lunch with my mom and we had a bowl of the quinoa soup, a cheesy bread, and a saltenas.
Soo. good.
Cheesy bread was made of yuca making it wonderfully chewy and a nice compliment to the warm soup. The soup was a good portion size and substantial but not in a way that made you feel heavy. And the saltenas..oh man...the saltenas. I only had one but I wish I had two. They are like the perfect little pot pie full of juicy, delicious, well-flavored goodness.
I'll be back for sure! -
Review from Matthew S.
Santa Cruz, CA
4/27/2012
My friend introduced me to this place. Genuine, lovely owners. A great place for coffee, tea, and light bites. I highly recommend their peanut soup - delicious, their saltenas, and their pastries. Good coffee and great tea!
Yum! Yum! Yum! Yum! Yum! -
Review from Alissa A.
Such friendly people working here you could almost forgive them if their goods weren't up to par - but they are!
The saltenas, number one, are killer. The beef is incredible. Pastry is well constructed, baked and not a bit greasy, firm but tender, and well sealed to hold in all of the juice that's going to drip down your chin and shirt when you bite in. Word of caution.
Chicken-filled is also delicious. Vegetarian ones will be available in the future.
Just want bite size?
*House made (mostly) alfajores (a crumbly butter cookie filled with dulce de leche) *Cunapes (yucca flour and cheese mini roll)
Sure they have traditional sandwiches, but it's hard to imagine coming here for one when their speciality goods are that satisfying. -
Review from Kathy Y.
I drove by this place and decided to check it out after reading the reviews on Yelp. Parking is tough, but if you can make your way into this cute little shop... it's worth trying Bolivian styled alfajores and saltenas.
I got both these items, and I have to admit they have very different tastes from the usual Peruvian style alfajores and empanadas I'm used to. (My parents are from Peru, so now that I'm all grown up, these foods are my childhood comfort foods) Different, but very tasty and I would definitely come back! The alfajores weren't too sweet so they were the perfect treat after the beef saltena. They were also very fluffy and melted in your mouth.
I'll be back to try the Quinoa soup! -
Review from D D.
San Francisco, CA
10/20/2011
I've become addicted to their Saltenas. These are little hand held, folded pockets of vegetables and olives in a savory gravy, with chicken or beef. so good.
They also make their desserts like apple tarts, banana breads and alfajores (wedding cookies).
Very nice family owned place. They are very friendly. Place has limited seating, but a small outdoor patio area. -
Review from Lisette N.
Palo Alto, CA
4/16/2012
I eat lunch here every day, the quinoa soup (dairy and gluten free) and a cunape, which is made from yuca flour and little bit of cheese. I feel like I am eating at home without any of the hassle of cleaning or cooking! Gloria and Henry are so welcoming and the food is truly delicious.
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Review from Lidia L.
Palo Alto, CA
3/5/2012
best saltenas in the area. Great place, very friendly, delicious food!
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Review from L D.
Santa Barbara, CA
2/10/2012
I had no idea this place was here! The service was amazing, the owner was willing to help explain the different foods available. We tried an assortment of sweet and savory items. Everything was interesting and delicious. I can't wait to go back and try their corn tamales when they are available! The quinoa soup also sounds amazing. The cheesy/yucca break was my favorite! Also the mango smoothie was delish.
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Review from Jennifer Z.
Palo Alto, CA
9/24/2011
Freshly prepared Bolivian cafe items. So yummy! The sisters who own/run the cafe are so nice, and they prepare the menu items from fresh ingredients. It is named 3 G's for 3 Girls -- three sisters with three daughters among them.
I had the chicken salteña. So, so good! -
Review from T L.
Union City, CA
1/23/2012
I enjoy their soups and cunapes so much! I walk to 3 G's and grab breakfast or lunch, and I'm happy with my meal every time.
The quinoa and peanut soup both have a chicken broth undertone. In the soups I've ordered lately, the chicken flavor has gotten stronger. Eh. I hope that they return to loading the soup up with quinoa as they did when they first opened. Anyway, the quinoa is blended so smooth. I usually hate peanut-anything, but their peanut soup has just the right touch of peanut. It's not too overpowering, and neither unapparent. The cunapes are baked fresh. They always have the same texture and flavor. I really appreciate consistency. I break up the cunape into small chunks and let them soak in the soup. Delish.
I once ordered a mocha, and it just tasted like chocolate milk. I'm not sure what kind of coffee beans they use, but I've had way better mochas from the nearby cafes. Despite this disappointment, their savory items will keep me coming back. -
Review from Amanda C.
San Jose, CA
5/7/2012
love this place, so friendly and i'm obsessed with the iced latte!!!
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Review from Michael Q.
Berkeley, CA
1/10/2012
My first time eating Bolivan at 3G's was a charm. This small, inviting cafe offers great soups (try the peanut) and traditional saltenas. Try this new spot soon, before it is mobbed.
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Review from Matt F.
Los Altos, CA
1/16/2012
Fantastic food! Really enjoyed the authentic flavors and fresh ingredients. Excellent service. Must try this fun new cafe.
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Review from kim n.
8/30/2011
3G's a new cafe off the main strip of California Ave on Cambridge. The owner is creating a cafe where you can get the usual beverages and eats but bolstered with some Bolivian treats. Right now they've got American sandwiches too but what's exciting me is the eventual mainstream Bolivian menu. Right now there's only a few items and we tried the Beef Salteñas (if you've had a Peruvian empanada it's similar), the Cuñape (similar to the Brazilian pão de queijo cheese bread) and the Pan de Arroz ( a rice flour, cheese pastry). Everything was really tasty. The owner was super nice and she seems very enthusiastic about bringing her food culture forward. Definitely looking forward to the next couple of months when full entrees and such are available
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Review from Nicole G.
Santa Clara, CA
9/3/2011 9 photos
This new cafe is absolutely wonderful. They seek to offer traditional cafe foods, such as salads and sandwiches, but with a delicious twist: Bolivian delicacies. I myself am Bolivian, so I was excited to find a place that offered the foods I grew up on. Their cuñapes and salteñas are very good! I also had the chicken ranch sandwich and it was superb - much better than subway! But my absolute favorite were the hot chocolate and the sweets called "alfajores" and "brazo de gitano" (gypsy's arm). The hot chocolate was the best I've ever had - not too sweet, not too bitter, and VERY foamy (my preference). It also came with marshmallows and/or whipped cream. The deserts I enjoyed are both traditional Bolivian deserts made with dulce de leche - they were soooo goood. The cafe also offers all sorts of caffeinated beverages and regular beverages.
The "3 Girls" were all so attentive and very excited to share their culture and food with people. A very cozy and happy atmosphere. Five stars!! -
Review from Lili Phuong C.
San Jose, CA
1/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
It was my first time eating Bolivian food and it was yummy! I saw their review in the Palo Alto Weekly and wanted to try them out. It is a charming little place with friendly workers. I got the Beef Saltenas and the Quinoa soup....both ooohh soo good!! The pastry of the Saltenas had some kind of buttery goodness to it. I can just eat that alone, but once I got a piece of the inside...yum! =) But be careful, it can be hot. There were little beef chunks, potatoes, a hint of spicyness to it and there was a green olive that had a nice kick to it. All in all, you have to try it out. Oh and the Quinoa soup is delish as well! I tried the vegetarian one and that had a great flavor to it. Perfect on a cold day too! I will definitely be back for more and to try their Alfajores and Cunapes. The pictures here look good and from the other reviews...it's a must! Just thinking about their yummy goodies is just making me hungry...be back soon!
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Review from Brian W.
Palo Alto, CA
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Authentic, yummy Bolivian savory and sweet tastes, healthy ingredients and servings, and very friendly owners.
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Review from A P.
Palo Alto, CA
1/14/2012
Tasty, very reasonable prices, spotlessly clean, friendly service. I had the chicken saltena, quinoa soup and cunape. I don't know what the "authentic" version tastes like in Bolivia, but the saltena was delicious. It was served piping hot and was plump with meat and vegetables and surprisingly filling for its size. The soup was also excellent. No complaints on the cunape, but the saltena and soup were my favorites. Everything is cooked on site from scratch. Slightly off the beaten track but worth making a detour from California St to find it. It would be nice to see some more Bolivian dishes on the menu.
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Review from live to eat b.
Palo Alto, CA
11/8/2011
had an AMAZING TUNA sandwich yesterday... and I am going back again today to get another.
very nice owners -
Review from Rob C.
10/27/2011
awesome. the bolivian items are great, and a rare find for this area. for example, the cuñapes were very close to how I had them in miami -- near equivalents are pan de bono (colombian) and Pao de Queijo. dense cheesy texture inside with just the right amount of cheese flavor = excellent. also had the pan de arroz on a leaf (needs heating), and the beef salteña. the salteña was great. moist inside with sweet raisins and savory olives to provide a nice contrast within the perfect shell. maravilloso!
Listed in: Past few years of many great…
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Review from Zach C.
Palo Alto, CA
1/15/2012
I had never had a salteña before yesterday, now I have had them for lunch two days in a row. Wow. They are so ridiculously yummy. Chicken or beef you can't go wrong. They like the the world's tiniest, awesomest pot pie. Ever. I also tried the quinoa soup, which was quite good, but the salteña is worth going out of your way for.
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Review from Carmen P.
Newark, CA
12/27/2011
Delicious! Decent prices, and the food is so fresh and homemade! The peanut soup is to die for and so are the cunapes. You can't leave before having the staple of Bolivian food, the saltena! Delicous! Takes a Bolivian to know good food, and this is it!
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Review from Sarah A.
Palo Alto, CA
11/12/2011
Delicious early Saturday lunch of the sharing-one-of-everything kind, except the baby who only got a cuñape (he loved it, though). Five stars from each of us.
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Review from Elijah W.
Sausalito, CA
11/3/2011
I had my first salteñas here, they were very tasty! The owner that I met is extremely friendly, and the customer service is great.
