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Welcome to Caffe Central San Francisco

Nestled at 490 Illinois Street in Mission Bay, Caffe Central San Francisco embodies a vibrant blend of community and culinary delight. Known for its fast-paced service and fresh offerings, this café serves an array of delicious salads, hearty sandwiches, and delightful breakfast options, perfect for those bustling through their day. Signature dishes like the King’s Bowl, with poached salmon and quinoa, exemplify flavor balance and generous portions. Customers rave about the inviting ambiance, making it an ideal spot for both quick bites and leisurely brunches. With its modern decor and friendly staff, Caffe Central is a flavorful haven for locals and visitors alike.

LOCATIONS

Welcome to Caffe Central San Francisco, a vibrant and modern café nestled at 490 Illinois St, San Francisco, CA 94158. This cherished local spot has quickly become a favorite among residents and professionals, particularly those affiliated with the nearby UCSF Mission Bay campus. With its convenient location and fast service, Caffe Central serves as an ideal haven for breakfast, lunch, or just a quick coffee break amidst the bustling environment of Mission Bay.

Caffe Central boasts a diverse menu that combines delightful breakfast options with hearty salads and sandwiches, all prepared with the finest ingredients. Start your day with the Marina breakfast sandwich featuring smoked salmon and avocado on a buttery croissant, or opt for a refreshing Yogurt Parfait brimming with seasonal berries and granola. The café’s offerings cater to varied tastes, whether you lean towards savory indulgences like the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich or the fresh and healthy King's Bowl loaded with poached salmon and nutrient-packed quinoa.

  • Breakfast Sandwiches: A must-try is the American breakfast sandwich with flavorful smoked ham and provolone cheese.
  • Salads & Bowls: The High Fiber Salad and Mediterranean Bowl bring a wholesome burst of flavors, perfect for a refreshing lunch.
  • Satisfying Sandwiches: The Garden Roast Sandwich offers a deliciously rich experience of herbed roasted vegetables paired with burrata.

What stands out at Caffe Central is not just the tasty menu, but also the ambiance. With its spacious interior and modern decor, the café provides a stimulating environment, great for catching up with friends or working on a project. Frequent patrons have praised the friendly staff, ensuring that even during peak hours, service remains efficient and warm. Customers like Karla M. highlight how despite its popularity, the café never compromises on speed or quality.

In addition to the savory fare, Caffe Central also excels in its selection of pastries and beverages. Darya S. raves about the divine pastries, while Vivian T. appreciates the strong coffee options, particularly the Central latte. It's a perfect spot to relax and recharge, with ample seating options and free Wi-Fi, making it great for both casual diners and those needing a productive workspace.

Be prepared for a slight wait as this café is often busy, especially during morning rush hours. However, as Stephanie B. mentions, the scrumptious sandwiches and prompt service mean the experience is worth it. Whether you’re looking for a nourishing lunch or a quick caffeine fix, Caffe Central San Francisco is a delightful destination that continues to draw in the crowds with its delectable offerings and inviting atmosphere.

START YOUR REVIEW OF Caffe Central San Francisco
Karla M.
Karla M.

This place is always packed! Even though there is lots of people they always have fast service. Their food is DELICIOUS! It's nice to have good food close to the hospital very helpful!

Janelle D.
Janelle D.

I tried out the King's Bowl today, and it was a large portion with even ratios of ingredients. Lots of complimenting flavors from the bitter greens, the creamy avocado, and the salty dressing. The salmon was very delicious. It's a well suited space to enjoy lunch with a friend or some colleagues.

Leslie M.
Leslie M.

Its a nice moderate noise cafe. They have plenty of options but the upcharges they do aren't worth it. The "extra" meat that they give you for a $4 upcharge is upsurd. I got the smallest extra side. The salad was overall great but double check before you leave if you ask for modifications. I asked for not tomato or onion but add cucumber and they left the tomato and onion there but at least they added cucumber ($1 upcharge) The crème Brule is super good. The sugar crust is soggy so ther isn't that signature crunch unfortunately but its super smooth and creamy. The staff was nice and it wasn't too much of a wait. Overall would try again but I wouldn't ask for any extras and I would just double check my order.

Dipesh G.
Dipesh G.

I visited Caffe Central on a weekend, so it wasn't very busy, but I imagine the weekdays can be a bit crowded. The place is really nice: it's modern, clean and spacious. I only had a coffee, which tasted very nice, and not any of the food, which looked pretty good for a cafe.

Stephanie B.
Stephanie B.

Wow! We ordered lunch for pick-up before heading into UCSF at Mission Bay. Our food was ready timely and packaged nicely. The staff was a little disorganized but super friendly. The food was simply outstanding. The sandwiches were made using the finest of ingredients (chicken pesto was OUTSTANDING) and are generously portioned. The accompanying mixed green salad in vinaigrette was refreshing. I will definitely come again - great food.

Lynn F.
Lynn F.

8am Thursday: Ambience, sparkling clean, modern, plenty of seating with back support. Most of the patrons at this hour were wearing scrubs &/or ID badges, as the former shipping docks have been replaced by UCSF medical building village. I saw a few people outside walking dogs, they most likely live in those slick (expensive ) buildings nearby. Definitely well paid under 40 crowd. I'm sure I was the only person to foolishly drive here, having snagged the last street space 3 blocks away. I have an hour. I suggest arriving just before the 7am opening, otherwise be prepared for a long line. Best to take public transit, T 3rd line stop is a couple blocks away. Finding Caffe Central is not easy. Don't let your gps take you to the downtown Caffe Central. Yes, this Caffe is in 390 Illinois building, but the entrance is on 3rd street, & to further confuse their receipt says 480 16th street. On to the main event. Avocado Toast options 1- sliced avocado & boiled egg 2- sliced avocado & tahini 3- guacamole toast I'm a purist, so #1 please I probably should have ordered the guacamole, which has some kick. Too bad I didn't see the salt & pepper packet. Without seasoning the avocado toast was pretty bland. Those deli level tomatoes, no thank you. No chili flakes, pickled radish or pink Himalayan salt here. The bread was yummy & actually toasted, although this toast was not suitable for eating with your hands, as it was piled high with greens, avocado slices, tomato slices & what I think was a thin layer of melted cheese. Bonus points for the serrated, non-plastic knife. IMO this was a lunch item. In the morning I'm not in the mood for a pile of dressed greens no matter how delicious. I ordered a side of bacon, generous 7 small strips with that perfect combination of crispy & chewy. The menu has a lot of coffee & sandwich choices, the refrigerated case full of juices & snacks. Super friendly staff, 4 people working the counter, so pretty fast service. Bottom line, a solid choice if you're in the hood.

Darya S.
Darya S.

They carry absolutely divine pastries. I had the orange cake and loved it, but had the hardest time choosing! I wish I had room to try their ube puff and croissants. I also got their acai smoothie, which was the perfect pick-me-up on an afternoon. It came out quickly and was quite filling. Their kitchen was closed during the afternoon, so I wasn't able to try any dishes. Huge space if you want to hang out there and work!

Jennifer S.
Jennifer S.

Lovely new spot in Mission Bay for coffee and a place to bunker down. It is really open and spacious with a pretty a good amount of space/seating. Free wifi if you're connecting to UCSF Guest. I took a zoom call from the guest wifi and didn't have any issues with lagging or glitching so it great. I will say it got pretty noisy, so probably not ideal if you're a speaker on the call. Plus the open space really makes the sound reverberate around. Lots of coffee, tea, juice options here. They also have a pretty big case of baked goods, plus sandwiches/toasts and healthy bowls. Definitely recommend coming here for breakfast, lunch, or a coffee run. The lattes are all pretty popular and I saw a lot of people ordering their bowls and sandwiches.

Vivian T.
Vivian T.

One of my favorite local coffee shops to support! The staff are always so nice and welcoming. There is also always the most impressive display of food and bakery items out on their counter - I will definitely need to try their food options next time. With huge windows, the interior is nice and bright. There are plenty of tables and outlets for your work from home or studying sessions. My favorite thing to get here is the Cuban latte or the central latte. Their coffee is definitely strong and it is very much well worth your money.

James H.
James H.

I try to avoid the urge of going to Caffe Central since being so convenient to work located in the lobby. But needed a quick lunch that wasn't too far. The dirty bird salad was actually pretty good to my surprise. The salad had a heaping of bbq chicken, mixed greens, avocados, baby tomatoes, red onions, sliced cucumbers and a small side of vinaigrette dressing. The price was quite high but expected. A solid cafe for some rare lunches at work.