Coated Cafe

Hidden hole in the wall Filipino desert cafe. Offering drinks like halo-halo, Sago at gulaman and much more. Grace was very helpful and knowledgeable. She recommended the Coco Mocha, and glad she did. I would best describe it as a lighter version of halo halo, without all the beans and heavier toppings. And made coconut milk which add another layer of flavor. Plus it helps with lactose issues. Definitely a great alternative for halo-halo. They also have savory snacks like empanadas and siopao. You can also pre-order desserts too. Will be back to try other things.

I found this place through Yelp and decided to stop by since I was in the area. It's a small little cafe, mom and pops own typa shop. I heard they were known for their empanadas so I got 1 chicken and 1 beef. Unc's notice it was my first time there and swear they are delicious. Well HE SURE AS HELL WASN'T LYING. These are the best empanadas I've had by far! It was $2.25 a piece. They are delicious!!!!Please come by and support this cafe! You won't be disappointed!

Wow, this family makes excellent Filipino food. I had the bulalugaw which is rice porridge with beef. It was savory and Filipino comfort food. I also had the chicken empanadas, The stuffing and the pastry were perfect. Lastly, I had the egg pie which was creamy and not too sweet. This is a small, unassuming cafe in a less busy part of National City so it can be overlooked. They aren't into mass production with lots of food products and their menu is limited, but what I ate was some of the best Filipino food I've had. The woman at the front counter was genuinely kind, very nice and welcoming. I'll be back!

I only come for the Filipino style chicken and beef empenandas. I will drive clear across town for them. But always call ahead -- because I, apparently, am not the only person in San Diego County who is hooked on this place. It has happened more than once that I have driven 20 minutes whilst nurturing a craving for Coated Cafe only to arrive that they have been for hours sold of of the thing I absolutely need. The owners are caring and absolutely dedicated to their craft. That alone is a draw. And you can taste the love in their food (all desserts with a few savory options). Here, you can find ube items, pan de sal, cheese garlic bread, cakes (sometimes chocolate cakes), mango fruit cups and drinks like passion fruit tea. Lots of other items, including soda to go. There is ample parking and indoor seating for a few people, though I have never seen a person stay. Everyone seems anxious to get their orders and run. Coated is a great spot to grab a bulk buy for the family or the office. Or, if you are like me, just get 6-8 empendads and enjoy them over the next several days. Tips: The cafe is closed on Sundays and Mondays. You can call in your oder in advance, or even call to ask them to hold inventory for you (they will hold for an hour), which is something I have done frequently.

Been coming here for the past six months now but haven't posted it's deserving review till now. I've always support small businesses/Veteran owned like Coated Cafe, especially they provide great customer service and delicious desserts. We keep coming back for their empanadas and egg pie. Generously loaded with meat fillings in a thin and crispy crust the way I like it. Best empanadas ever!, even better that my in-laws recipe. They have special menus during the week so I recommend to call the store first and check. Highly recommended if you're looking for some Filipino treats in the National City area.

My dad and I stumbled upon this place in maybe May or June 2020 when we were picking up halo halo from Erlinda's. I saw a sign for ube cheese pan de sal and just had to try some.While I thoroughly enjoyed the Ube cheese pan de sal, what's kept my family coming back are the chicken empanadas - something about the dough and the filling hits just right. They have become a constant for family gatherings or whenever we're craving them. When my grandmother passed in February 2021, we wanted to find a way to feed funeral guests while still taking into consideration Covid safety protocols. I called Coated Cafe and asked for an order of 4 dozen empanadas. When I mentioned that they were for to go food bags for a funeral, they offered to individually wrap them as seen in my second photo. This was so helpful- it lightened the burden during a difficult time.When Coated Cafe was temporarily closed, the family group text was so sad. My family and I love Coated Cafe and were overjoyed when they reopened. I have since move to LA, but as soon as I get to my parents' house, they have a box of chicken empanadas waiting for me. Nothing but love for the team at Coated Cafe.

Amazing looking and amazing tasting. It's rare to have both. The empanadas are the best.

The bulalugaw available on Saturdays is soooooo good. This quaint little bakery cafe has really good bread and desserts. Definitely going to be a weekly thing. The staff is super friendly, and the place is kept clean. Not many chairs for dine in but definitely worth coming to bring all the goodies home.

They have THE BEST empanada! The crust is perfect to begin with, light but crusty, with very light buttery taste. And the filling either beef or chicken , were both amazing .The arroz bulalo - taste fantastic!The maja mais - taste great!Next time I come back , I will have to try their ube pandesal and egg pie- but will definitely buy more empanada- which my son described as "elegant"- not sure why he said that- but my family loved everything I bought from that bakery.

This is an amazing hole-in-the-wall Cafe. It's run by mom and pop with amazing and tasty pastries. I'm a big fan of their empanadas. They come in beef and chicken. Soooooo yummy and flavorful! The kind lady that runs this Cafe is so so sweet and so welcoming. I've only went twice so far because I was craving empanadas and the place I usually go to ran out, and the kind lady remembered me from just meeting me once. She's so sweet. And everything else is just as amazing. So instead of the other place I usually went to, I'm only going here from now on!!!