The Coziest New Thai Breakfast Spot in Berkeley, Tanzie’s

Last weekend, my friend and I visited the coziest new breakfast spot called Tanzie’s Cafe in Berkeley. A little off the beaten path, this is my new “secret” spot for an amazing breakfast or brunch. Its adorable cozy interior is only surpassed by the incredible food being served. From Thai-style beignets which beg you to get a 2nd order of them, to jasmine chia pudding and the cafe’s delightfully refreshing fresh-squeezed matcha drinks, Tanzie’s elevated breakfast menu is both beautiful and delicious, making it a must-try.

The Tanzie’s Market Salad (left) + their cozy af interior (right) – images from @tanziescafe

Walking into the restaurant, you find yourself in a cottage-like atmosphere with little nooks for intimate seating, plants galore and a sweet fireplace which just adds to that extra cozy feeling. It’s a small space but the team has really worked hard to make sure the space feels friendly and spacious. There’s even a room to the side which is in the middle of becoming a co-working “library” where customers can sit in quiet and work with others in a shared environment while enjoying the delicious food served by Tanzie’s incredible team.

Matcha deliciousness – strawberry (left) and orange (right)

Who’s Behind Tanzie’s Cafe?

Speaking of incredible team, the folks behind Tanzie’s have a long roster of Micheline and fine dining experience. Tanzie’s just opened a couple of weeks ago and is co-owned by an adorable multi-talented couple: Tanz and Jae.

Tanz has been the worked with Kin Khao since 2014. Although initially joining the team at Kin Khao at its inception, she recently departed to launch her own cafe. Over the past few years, she has also contributed her expertise at La Mar in SF and then in April 2020, Tanz ventured into Thailand’s culinary scene, inaugurating Khong Khao Mueang in Thailand’s Chiang Mai. Her Thais restaurant has quickly garnered a devoted following and widespread acclaim.

Jae’s most recent employment was at La Cocina, where he began as a bar manager and eventually transitioned into the role of marketplace facility manager. Before his tenure at La Cocina, Jae honed his skills as a bartender at Nightbird and Alexander’s. Jae has accumulated approximately 18 years of industry expertise and in the past few years that he has exclusively focused on front-of-house operations. He previously served as a sous chef at Kin Khao and played a pivotal role in managing the opening of the Dogpatch location.

There are lots of cozy spots to sit and enjoy your food

Exploring The Menu at Tanzie’s

Wow – just wow wow wow! The menu at Tanzie’s is fresh, flavorful, varied and wonderful. I left nearly speechless and I’ve been looking forward to telling you all about the deliciousness in this tiny space. The experience that both Tanz and Jae bring to Tanzie’s is shown in their attention to detail and bright tasty Thai flavor combinations. What I love most is seeing their own personalities shining through. Many of the recipes featured are straight from the recipes of Tanz’s family.

We started with coffee and ice cold Matcha drinks – both an orange matcha drink and a strawberry drink. My favorite between the two was the orange because the acidity of the orange breaks through the matcha flavor. However, if you love that magical matcha flavor, go for the strawberry option which is as tasty as it is beautiful.

The Thai “beignet” – actually called Pa Tong Go which is served with sweetened condensed milk.

Next, we tried Pa Tong Go – essentially Thai beignets served with sweetened condensed milk. These were my absolute favorite. (okay, honestly… it was hard to pick a favorite but I ordered these twice!). They are light and fluffy like a perfectly fried donut but unlike Nola-style beignets they aren’t covered in messy powdered sugar, aren’t at all greasy and are also not as sweet as you’d imagine which made for a perfect vessel for dipping into the condensed milk you get with your order of 4 Pa Tong Go.

The Chai Bowl with locally-sourced market Fruits, coconut, granola & house strawberry syrup

Then, our next dish was the Chia Bowl made with Jasmine Thai Tea. 100% get it with the Jasmine Thai Tea. Currently this is an add on for an extra $1 but the light jasmine flavor was really delightful and paired perfectly with the gorgeous fruits colorfully plated with the chia. This + the Pa Tong Go and a cup of coffee would be the absolute perfect light breakfast. Local ingredients elevate the family recipes easily and this dish shined in this arena with local fruits in an almost rainbow. Tanzie’s works with local farmers such as Star Route Farms, K&J Orchards, Woolly Egg Farm, Marshall’s Farm Natural Honey and Devil’s Gultch Ranch.

Finally, we enjoyed a version of the Lava Eggs. This savory dish is essentially scrambled eggs over rice with a savory pairing. We got the Nam Prik Ong – Ground pork cooked in tomato and red curry paste, served with fresh cucumber. This mildly spicy pork in curry paste was comforting and filling. My friend and I shared this family style but we peeped others around us with their own Lava Eggs and coffee. However you enjoy this you’ll surely feel satisfied after you eat them.

The delicious Lava Eggs!

Overall, I just felt at home at Tanzie’s. They had a cozy little fire going and felt like I could have hung out there for hours. Good thing they are building out the library area because I probably would want to stay and co-work sometime. From the cozy cottage-like ambiance to the mouthwatering Thai-inspired dishes crafted with locally sourced ingredients, every aspect of Tanzie’s reflects a dedication to quality and creativity. I’m truly looking forward to heading back there soon.

Find Tanzie’s Cafe Online Here:

“Come try our house-made Chiang Mai-style sausage and Thai beignets!” says the Tanzie’s team.

Web: https://www.tanziescafe.com/
IG: @tanziescafe
Address: 1453 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94702
Hours: Currently open from 730am-330pm. They are looking at opening in the evening but that’s still being worked out.
They are also in their “soft launch” period and expect to have an official Grand Opening soon. Go now! They would love to see you and hear your feedback while they are tweaking and perfecting things.

Note: all images, unless noted, are taken by the author, Katy Atchison @katyatch

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