Cassava Bakery at 3519 Balboa. Inset: Owners Kristoffer Toliao and Yuka Ioroi
After several recommendations from readers and friends, we finally stopped by Cassava Bakery (3519 Balboa) for lunch a few weeks ago. They opened in early March.
Cassava is open for breakfast and lunch, offering a menu that appeals to a variety of palettes. Breakfast items include pastries, a croissant sandwich ($7), quiche ($5) and a scramble with toast ($7). The cafe also serves up Ritual Roasters coffee drinks.
The lunch menu is more robust offering a soup of the day ($5), quinoa salad ($7), hot sandwiches, shrimp and avocado sliders ($10 with side salad), and even a meatballs in curry dish ($10). During our visit, we tried the herb turkey grilled cheese, quinoa salad, and a brownie for dessert.
It was all delicious, and the atmosphere in the tiny cafe is warm, inviting and relaxed, due in large part to the friendly service and cheery, baby blue decor.
Cassava was started by newlyweds Chef Kristoffer Toliao, and Yuka Ioroi, who is the managing partner. Both work on site at the cafe, greeting customers, taking orders and preparing the tasty menu. Kris is a 2003 graduate of Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts in Pasadena, and before opening Cassava, was working at Luce at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown San Francisco.
In addition to the usual daily offerings, the couple also hold “pop-up” dinners on Friday nights, offering special tasting menus where Kris can spread his culinary wings a little bit. In June their “Good Bye Foie Gras Supper” menu featured Foie Gras Mousse, a Mosaic of Beets salad, and Cornish Game Hen.
Space is available for the next round of dinners in August (8/3, 8/10, 8/17, 8/31). To make a reservation give them a call at 640-8990, or email them at info@cassavasf.com. The cost is $45 per person.
Kris and Yuki are eager to meet more neighbors, and have provided us with a two $25 gift certificates to give away to readers. For a chance to win, fill out this form. We’ll select a winner at random. Entries are due by 5pm on Friday, July 27.
The cafe is also running a promotion with nearby Balboa Theater. Eat lunch at Cassava and then use your receipt to see an evening show at the Balboa for a matinee price ($2.50 per ticket discount). The promotion begins August 1.
Cassava Bakery is open Mondays from 7am until 3pm, Wednesday through Friday from 7am until 5pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 8am until 5pm. They are closed on Tuesdays.
Sarah B.
My wife and I stopped in a while back after reading about Cassava on your site. Kris and Yuki are the nicest people you’ll ever meet and are excited to be a part of a the community. Good coffee, good food and good people. I hope they become a long-time staple of the neighborhood.
Oops…Yuka, not Yuki. Sorry.
Yes, this place is delightful. The curry turnovers are fantastic and the service is unbeatable. I am glad they are doing well and they seem to have some creative marketing ideas that will take them far. I would love that gift certificate!
that mug is pretty :))
thx for sharing, i’ll have to check it out sometime soon
I, my husband, and my 5yo daughter love this place. When we found this place, we said WOW! Yummy food and friendly relaxing atmospher, etc. Kris and Yuka are extremely nice. They often add new menu, so almost everytime we are able to try new food. It is fun! That is the best lunch place around there, even though it is little bit pricier than others. And of course walking distance is always +. We hope they will stay the location and provide great food forever!!!