A new brunch spot has dedicated clientele.
Tanzie’s Cafe in Berkeley opened up earlier this year and every time I’ve passed by the restaurant, there’s always a good amount of people waiting outside. They don’t take reservations so if you come during the weekends, be prepared to wait as it’s extremely popular due to its cozy vibes and Thai inspired brunch.
Iced Mango Matcha and Iced Strawberry Makrut Matcha.
We started off with fruity matcha drinks and we both preferred the mango matcha more as it was sweeter. However, neither matcha was actually that sweet so if you’re looking for a sweet matcha beverage, this isn’t that.
Khanom Krok (7/10).
I’ve never heard of khanom krok, a Thai coconut pancake, so we were both intrigued to try it. The coconut pancakes had an intense coconut flavor where the pancakes were soft and slightly giggly. Each pancake was garnished with different toppings such as corn, sweet potato, coconut, scallions, or carrots. I’ve never tasted anything like it before as it was a harmonious balance of sweet and savory.
Grilled Pork Jowl with Lava Eggs (8/10).
This was my favorite dish where grilled pork jowl was brushed with local honey and topped with crispy fried garlic served with a lava egg and white rice. It’s simple but well executed and flavorful.
Nam Prik Ong (7/10).
The ground pork fried rice was cooked with tomato and Thai curry paste served with a fried egg and sliced sai oua (Thai sausage). I really liked the spices and herbs in the Thai sausage but wanted more than a few slices. The fried rice was also tasty but I overall preferred the other savory main dish.
While all the food was pretty delicious, I wouldn’t wait an hour again. I’d recommend coming on a weekday if you’re interested in trying their food but it’s definitely not a must so my rating is a 7.5/10.