Cafe Dejena
Categories: Italian, African, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Oakland3939 Martin Luther King Jr Way
(between 39th St & 40th St)
Oakland, CA 94609 (510) 655-9328
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Breakfast, Lunch
299 reviews
Neighborhood: Downtown Berkeley
"I would probably call Angeline's my hands down favorite restaurant in the Bay Area. Service is always amazing, the owner is awesome and the…" read more »
24 Reviews for Cafe Dejena
I had always wanted to try this place because the building looks so nice from outside - just love the dark colors - eggplant and lapis and terra cotta.
Tried lunch here one day and got the vegetarian combo and was sorely disappointed. The food was only OK and in this area with fantastic Eritrean and Ethiopian restaurants that doesn't cut it. The injera was beyond stale so I won't be trying again...
I like this place but it has very high variance. The food can be really tasty and cheap, or kinda expensive and horrible. but it is a fun place and they have wifi. I always like a place with wifi.
good location.
cool neighborhood are also pluses for me. If this place was in Walnut Creek, I'd probably give it 2 stars instead of 3. But it is in an interesting place and I like that.
I so want to like this restaurant because it's in my neighborhood, it's family-owned, the people who own it are very nice. They are also brave to keep a restaurant running in this part of town because I know they've had troubles with threats and thefts, etc. I love that it's a peaceful, friendly place to get a coffee and hang out with a friend.
The downside is that the food isn't that great. The eritrean food is the best bet on the menu, but it's a little off for me, just not the best I've had - there are a slew of great eritrean/ethipian restaurants on telegraph that are all great. The coolest thing to get is the eritrean breakfast plates.
The hamburger is alright, pretty good, however the fries aren't fresh, and aren't that great. The salads downright suck. And the pastries look like Cosctoc/samsclub treasures.
What this place is missing is a good chef with a real vision to make it great, fresh, delicious. The food just seems sloppy, inconsistent, lost in space. The cafe itself is run really well - it's clean, comfortable, a nice place to hang out, while so many cafes lack ambience, this one is very inviting. They just need to get a chef so that I can patronize this place and recommend it, and love it. I always want to love this restaurant and spend my money here, but every time I go I'm let down by the food - so bad I can't even finish what I buy sometimes.
Neighborhood people would flock to a good food place since we don't really have one within the couple block radius!
I wish I could give it 4 stars for the ambience and 1 star for the food.
Cafe Dejena is walking distance from the Mac Arthur BART station. I went to Cafe Dejena today at 10AM for the first time. It was very clean inside and out, looked pretty new and it looks like the owner has a lot of pride in his shop. There was a guy who was cashier and he was really superb. He was professional, friendly and thoughtful all at the same time.
My total came to $5 if you count the big 27 cent tip I gave. I got a toasted bagel with cream cheese and a large coffee. I sat in a comfy chair and read the paper. The bagel was pretty big, I didn't even finish it and the coffee was far above average. They had a lot of food options, this is a perfect place to eat breakfast. Today on Saturday it was a little bit crowded, but there were still some seats open.
I like this place and if I am hungry or if I want a coffee I will go back for sure. No complaints. Looks like the place has a lot of regulars too and that's a good sign.
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I too am surprised by the high rating. This place is forgettable and so is the food. No really. I don't remember what I got but I do remember getting charged for 2 breakfasts. Maybe the girl ringing me up was thinking "that girl can eat!" She also messed up my order and it took 45 minutes. I don't care how "reasonable" the prices are- life is too short to eat rubbery eggs. Not coming back.
I used to live in the neighborhood and was always curious about this place. Yesterday my boyfriend and I were really craving brunch but wanted to avoid yuppieville and long waits, so we decided to give it a try.
I was absolutely amazed by the prices. $5.50 for eggs benedict and homefries? That's practically unheard of around here. And while it wasn't the tastiest meal I've ever had, it was more than worth the price. The presentation was lovely. My boyfriend was into the coffee, served (bizarrely) in a large glass, though I found it a little too bitter.
Another reason I've given this place four stars is because the owner and one of the employees was so nice to me after I spilled my water in my lap. They really took the edge off the humiliation. They also gave me a free side of (cold) hollandaise.
The atmosphere, as others have said, is very warm and welcoming. I'm interested in going back to try their croissants.
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I've been here twice for breakfast. Not really sure why this place has a 4.5 star rating on yelp. The place is cute and the service was great..... but I'm sorry to say that their breakfast food is not very good at all -- edible, but not enough for me to order any one thing twice. Sorry. But I think you're better off driving a couple more blocks down to the iHOP (and I'm not a big fan of iHOP either).
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My auntie and I decided to try Dejena for our monthly breakfast outing.
We both had the scrambled egg breakfast with home fries and toast. Our breakfasts were good, not fantastic.
I had thought of ordering the grilled veggie panini and I wish I had after seeing someone else eating one. Next time for sure.
The egg dishes are served regular or Benedict style---I wish I had gone for that. There were also several omelet choices and do-it-yourself omelets.
There are also 3 or 4 Eritrean dishes as well as Italian dishes.
The breakfast we had was 3
My chocolate eclair was 4. They had a case of yummy looking desserts, including tiramisu.
The staff was a definite 5; very friendly and welcoming.
Ambiance was 4. Sunny and comfy. Free wi fi. Lots of folks taking advantage of it. I also appreciated the fact that their patrons consisted of some obvious regulars, young moms, business types, Seniors like my aunt and Baby Boomer folks like me.
I've always wanted to try this place after passing by it dozens of time on the Kaiser Bart shuttle. I'll definitely try it again.
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This place is great. It has a friendly, community atmosphere, and the mushroom kiwa is amazing!
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because a) their pastries look way tastier than they are and b) they charge $4 for a medium sized, "fresh squeezed orange juice" that is definitely not fresh squeezed.
I'm also surprised by the high rating.
I live 1/2 block from this cafe and every few weeks or so I go in again, thinking I will have a better experience. I am always wrong.
I do think this is a very cute, clean restaurant and in a very convenient location (for me anyways).
That staff has always been polite to me although twice, I have heard staffers being yelled at - and I mean Yelled at - in the kitchen by an older woman who works there.
Eek!
The food is ok but not great.
While there are inexpensive things on the menu, below it reads that these side dishes are not available without the purchase of a meal. Whether or not they adhere to that policy varies with different workers and the day.
The coffee is also ok but inconsistent and way over priced.
(On average, the same drinks I purchase at Starbucks are $1 - $1.50 less... Seriously.)
The pastries are usually good but on a couple occasions I've gotten stale ones. It's kind of hit or miss.
I would probably not recommend this cafe unless you need to check your email, are falling asleep at the wheel, or are hungry enough to play croissant roulette.
:(
sorry...
I am lucky enough to live within walking distance of Cafe Dejena., so when I run out of groceries on the weekends, this is where I love to eat brunch. The owner is one of the nicest people ever! The food is delicious, and I always feel welcome there. And there is free wi-fi--can't beat that.
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The place is cute, but I am not here for decorations.
Coffee: pretty decent
Chocolate Croissant: decent
Smoothie: decent
Grilled Chicken Sandwich: decent
Very slow service. They really need another person to make the food so the other one can take care of drinks and cash register.
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http://www.cafedejena....
A nice cafe/restaurant by the MacArthur BART area. I was thrilled. I walked in, and the decor was very welcoming at 10:00. I ordered a meat lasagne to go (since I had to be at work). It took a while, and they gave me a veggie one (with lots of carrots, chard?). The noodles were a little hard, and the cheese was subtle, but it did look pretty. Since I hauled it all the way to work and microwaved it hours later, it probably didn't do it justice. It probably would have been very good at this nice looking place.
People were in there drinking coffee and talking. It was relaxed. I almost wanted to melt into the scene and join them instead of go to work. Plus, the menu did look inviting. I wanted to have some of the Eritrean dishes.
It would probably be a great place to meet up with a girlfriend and catch up on a Saturday afternoon... maybe even go over writing and talk about life.
I felt jazzed after I left.
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Very pleasant atmosphere in this cafe a block west of the MacArthur BART station.
I stopped by to get a refreshement before picking up a friend from BART. I had a pastry and the richest, most delicious hot chocolate I've tasted in years.
Will go back to try other items in their menu!
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Ahhh... Cafe Dejena. A very cute little cafe nestled in a not so desirable neighborhood. Or should I say an "up and coming neighborhood"?
Regardless, this cafe is beautifully designed . Not only is this place super clean and has a super friendly staff but they also offer free wireless with tons of power outlets located all along the walls.
As stated in the reviews written before mine they offer an Eritrean, Italian and American menu. On a good morning when my belly is craving for something filling I order off the Eritrean menu. My favorite has to be the Shahan Ful. A bowl of pinto beans served with fresh tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, onions, olive oil, cumin, plain yogurt or feta cheese; served with french rolls. And I must say, the french roll is crunchy on the outside and so soft inside. You know its fresh.
My only negative feedback... they close early at 5pm and during the mid-day its hard to find street parking. But that doesn't stop me from returning. It doesn't hurt to park a block away so my fat ass could get some exercise.
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A welcome surprise.
Cafe Dejena serves Eritrean, Italian and American fare in a surprisingly nice atmosphere for the neighborhood.
I had the Chicken Kilwa and ordered it spicy... it was delicious. It came with a tasty side salad and spongy bread for about $8
it was too much food for one person, so sharing is an option.
There isn't too much happening in this part of town foodwise, so having a well designed Cafe that serves good food is going to help change the neighborhood for the better.
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Really tasty Eritrean food (similar to Ethiopian) and decent regular cafe food as well. A great spot for lunch or to camp out with a coffee and wireless. Plenty of tables and outlets and uncrowded. A very pleasant space, despite the run-down neighborhood. Highly recommended.
This place deserves more business - any place that locates very close to BART, has great latts and mochas, and great breakfast food and Eritrean dishes, deserves lots more business. Loved every meal I've had there. They're in a beautiful building, too.
Hopefully we get more high-density building around this area, so more people can live near BART, go to nice restaurants close by, etc. :)
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Not in the best of neighborhoods, but definitely up and coming. It is in a convenient location--very close to the freeway (1-2 blocks away), bus lines (right outside their doors), and the BART (2 blocks away). The staff at the counter are very friendly and the cafe itself was welcoming, clean, and very cute.
I went on a pretty hot Wednesday to take a break from the office and work with WiFi, and this cafe was perfect! It didn't appear to have any a/c but with the windows open, the fans going, and the cool design of the cafe it was pretty easily overlooked especially with my mango & banana smoothie. The smoothie itself was okay--nothing spectacular but it was a great hour or two that I spent there. Everyone was friendly and the cafe is all windows so you can people-watch if you get tired of staring at your laptop screen.
They also have sandwiches and pastries, but I haven't had the chance to try them yet. But when walking by other tables with sandwiches and salads, it looked tasty and they sure seemed like they were enjoying every bite. Oh yeah, although I love the staff there they are a bit on the slow side. With 2 orders on their plate, it still took about 5 minutes for them to start on my smoothie and another 3 minutes for it to finish.
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The decor in Caf Dejna has a sophistication and general cleanliness that, quite frankly, looks out of place for the area.
They have a very nice breakfast menu; I had the lox omelet, which came with small pieces of salmon inside and was absolutely spectacular. The coffee is good, the staff was friendly, and prep time was quite reasonably. The reason I gave four stars instead of five is that in my opinion, with such a complete breakfast menu, they really should offer table service or at least counter service. At the same time, I understand that as a coffee shop they don't want to be just bringing people a cup of coffee.
They do offer free wireless, which is a plus.
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If only, if only I lived near Cafe Dejena. I would do all my studying here -- and that's saying a lot, because I usually hate to study in cafes. ; ) This place is so relaxing, though, and so clean, and so friendly, that I would like to live within its walls for the rest of my days. Not too loud, either: came here with gramma and had no problems whatsoever with hearing/being heard. Fantastic man working the counter was very helpful with choosing teas, and ended up bringing me and my family a free plate of two massive slices of strawberry shortcake (see pic): now THAT is an awesome cafe (and man)! And let me re-emphasize the cleanliness: I would have little compunction about eating off the floors, truly. Clean sidewalk, too. And a rather nice neighborhood, considering the broader region; again, immaculate, and a mix of people strolling about. And how about convenience: the Macarthur BART station is literally across the street, and street parking was abundant. Dejena, how I love thee.
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This place makes one of the best cafe lattes that I have ever had. I am super picky about coffee, and espresso...and I am always blown away by just how good it is here. The service is always very nice, and the atmosphere is perfect for enjoying a coffee and reading the paper on a weekend morning. Wow do they ever know their way around an espresso maker. Oh, and the food is good, too.
OK- I am editing this...I am in LOVE with the breakfast here.
it is now my favorite place for breakfast. The food is ultra fresh, and cooked very well. The presentation is awesome. The price is amazing. You can get a giant not greasy breakfast here for less than $10 a person. It does take a while to get your order (everything appears to be cooked fresh for each order), so I recommend grabbing a newspaper or bringing a book or laptop or something to sit back and relax- it is so worth the wait. Still want to try the lunch/dinner- they sound amazing.
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Great salads and sandwiches. Hospitable staff. The restaurant is only a few years old and provides a nice anchor to MLK/40th. Across from Sacred Heart Church and near BART.
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Free wireless, good food, lots of sun!
This is at the corner of 40th/MLK, kitty corner from the historic Marcus Books. It's sunny and has free wireless, though the signal isn't uniformly strong throughout the cafe (yet). There are power outlets by every table (unlike other nearby cafes). Their menu is ample and you can get an egg (plain or benedict) for $1.25, which is a good cheap snack while working. They have vegetarian items. Their website is pretty bare, but you can see the menu, which has Eritrean, Italian, and American food. Staff is friendly, music is playing. The one bummer is it closes at 5pm, but who knows, with more traffic, that could change. This neighborhood could use a good cafe, and this one is almost there.
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