Ro Cafe

Thank you, Unilocal,for leading me to find this gem! After looking for a study spot for a few hours earlier this afternoon, I saw that Ro Café has lots of tables, wifi, outlets, and plenty of food! I ordered a Kurdish coffee and coffee cake which was brought to my table. So sweet! The coffee was made exactly how I imagined Kurdish/​Turkish coffee to be served. You can let the lady know your preferred sweetness level and they’ll add it for the perfect cup. I wish I had the opportunity to try the food because the group next to me all ordered something that looked so delicious! Ro Café definitely has more of a homey, neighborhood breakfast/​lunch feel as opposed to other overly busy, lifeless coffee shops.
Go visit Ro Café! You’ll be so glad you did! It’s located down the street from City Center on Geary — look carefully or you might miss it!

Little gem hidden close to a busy intersection. I almost feel like I don’t want anyone to know about here in a pure selfish way. It’s warm, cozy, clean, just perfect. My new hang out place…

Had an amazing Ro’s Sandwich. The ladies were kind as could be and I will be coming here often.

I’ve never had anything quite like the Kurdish couscous salad. It’s flavorful, fresh and super filling for less than $ 10! Also the service is great as when I ordered my food, the owner told me it might be a long (25 min) wait, but that she would work as fast as she could. I was a little concerned bc I had a place to be within the next 45 min, but I ended up getting my food within 10 minutes!
There are also a ton of outlets which is super convenient!

Havin is great. Her place, Ro café, a cozy little café with good café, Kurdish specialties, and yummy traditional salads and sandwiches. Wonderful little spot on Geary. A great place to study, read a book, or watch the rain or other weather with its greenhouse style glass enclosure.

Great Food and Service! Tried it for the first time for lunch and even though there was an issue with EAT24 ( Unilocal ordering app), my food was still ready by the time I got there. I ordered the Kurdish Nachos with Cured Beef and Ro’s Salad. YUM!!! They did forget the chicken in my salad but called me very quickly after I left the café and when I came back to pick it up, the sweet lady behind the counter gave me 2 baklava because she felt bad :) And that is why they get 5 stars

Amazing place to have breakfast, read a book. They have chill music playing all the time.

Just happened to be passing by this café and popped in to just see what kind of food they have not for that moment but just because it’s so close to my apartment. I’m so glad I did! Although I wasn’t all that hungry I decided to try a few things because they sounded interesting and tasty. I tried a savory pastry called vash I believe (don’t quote me) and this amazing garbanzo bean salad! I definitely recommend!

Had a few hours to do some work and get some food on a rainy Saturday. Ro hit the spot. I sat on a sofa under a glass roof and enjoyed their tasty couscous lavash wrap. It wasn’t very busy so it was easy to get some work done without feeling rushed.

Great kurdish/​greek (similar to turkish) coffee made-​to-​order using a briki (small coffee pot). It’s not cheap at $ 3.75 a pop, but it’s a delicious pick-​me-​up in the morning or early afternoon. There were various preparations (off-​menu) of a milk version as well as different levels of sugar. Make sure you sip slowly and take small bites of the sweet that comes along with it. Don’t swirl the coffee around as the grinds are meant to be left at the bottom. There’s also a small shot of water drink with it. The menu also has full-​on meals if you’re in the mood for some food as well.
Ro Café also offers quiet, well-​lit tables where you can get some reading or work done. There was a cute little bookshelf with some interesting books in case you need some inspiration. Great little café for a taste of Greek coffee and more!

got a ro’s salad, again, poppyseed bagel with spinach and avocado and a pastry. $ 16.95 left a $ 2.05 tip. Just ate the bagel and about half of the salad and I’m so stuffed. :)

OMG! This place was such a good find.
Basically, it is a good example of «don’t judge a café by its outside». If you walked passed by, you probably wouldn’t even notice it. It’s definitely a low-​key café. I only decided to come here because I work nearby and needed some quick lunch. I came in here and randomly ordered the Ro’s sandwich. AND NOW I THINK I FINALLY FOUND MY EVERYDAY LUNCH PLACE. It was serioiusly once of THE best chicken sandwiches I have ever tried. I also really like the beef sandwich. The veggie sandwich and salad are pretty good too!
Although I have only taken my lunch to go, based on the evirnoment, it would be a perfect place to catch up with a old friend and do some afternoon reading. It’s a cozy and quiet little place. Mostly importantly, it really is a non-​pretentious place unlike a lot of the cafes in SF!
The owner Havin is super nice. She is the only one working there right now, so be prepared that there must be a little bit of a wait for your orders. However, she told me if things really get busy, she will hire someone to help her.

My family followed Ro Café to its new address on Geary because of Havin’s fresh sandwiches and homemade Kurdish baclava. Unlike the old spot in the inner Richmond, the new location on Geary offers a great deal more space in a sunroom on the ground floor of a victorian, perfect for the steadily growing fanbase. My favorite item so far is the Khelifornia sandwich which I am going back for at the earliest opportunity. I would say place is definitely a gem of stealth cuisine in San Francisco. Ro café is also family-​friendly and a fantastic place to stop in for a bite during the work week.

This was my first Kurdish food experience and it was a good one! Cute little café, friendly people, reggae tunes, I had the Kurdish Couscous Salad. They use a tomato paste in the couscous which was delectable. I could see it being nice as a shared dish, and sharing one other item to get a little more variety. I plan on going back to try the Kurdish Nachos soon.

I was looking for somewhere to get a few hours of work done before my doctors appointment at Kaiser. It needed to have coffee, lunch, outlets, and WiFi. Ro Café was a good candidate, so I decided to try it out. AND NOW I’M IN LOVE!
Ro Café has only been open for six months, but it’s one of the coziest and non-​pretentious cafes I’ve ever visited in San Francisco. There’s even a fireplace… though I’m not sure if that’s real. The seated portion of the café is lined with comfy seating and electrical outlets. The free WiFi is strong too. More importantly, the coffee is strong, and the service is delightful. The barista who works here (and perhaps owns the café) works hard to ensure that your experience is top notch. I think this place already has regulars that she knows well!
Since I was here around lunchtime, I ordered the garbanzo bean salad that was recommended by the barista. So hearty and delicious. For anyone who works remotely like me, or anyone looking to catch up with a friend over coffee or lunch, check out Ro Café!

Such a gem!
AT and I were walking down Geary this afternoon and stumbled upon Ro Café. From the outside, it may not look like much, but the food was really good and the employees are really nice.
We got the Kurdish Nachos (Kurditos) with the added cured beef, which is plenty for 2 to share (the woman at the counter overheard AT say he wasn’t very hungry and told us the nacho dish was big enough for two! Thank you for not upselling us!). The nachos are made-​to-​order with ooey gooey melted cheese layered throughout the dish and was much better than most of the nachos I’ve had at other restaurants. The sauce is a savory, slightly spicy sauce which is juxtaposed with a fresh, creamy yogurt sauce with mint that brightens each bite. The cured meat was a nice addition, but I think the nachos would have been good with or without the extra protein. It was big enough for two somewhat hungry people to share. We also got the baklava to-​go, which was super flavorful, slightly acidic (it was lemon-​flavored!), and accompanied with plenty of sweet syrup.
Swing by – the people who work there are super friendly and the food is fresh and good.

First of all, I’d like to emphasize that owners are very cool people. It’s a friendly, spacious, nice looking café/​bakery! I’ve had the couscous but I loved it so much that I had to order one more plate. If you want to taste the original couscous, ask for the spicy version. If you are into mezopotamian style (Turkish, Kurdish, Iraqi, Syrian etc) spices, you will definitely like the spicy version better. They also have nice bagels, sandwiches, tea and turkish coffee (espresso like, unfiltered but tastier and stronger)
If you are around and into Middle Eastern style bakery food, give this place a try!

Ro Café is the best and possibly the only Kurdish restaurant in San Francisco.
While the location is a little difficult to find, you will be amply rewarded with the quality of food and the excellent service.
Any of the Kurdish salads are delcious, especially the Kurdish couscous which is unlike any I have before. All the food is cooked to order and fresh with spicing unique to this region.
Give it try and you won’t be disappointed.

I first went to Ro Café a little over a year ago when Havin had the little shop on California Street. The space was a little tight, but the food and coffee were great. Plus, the owner was so dedicated and hard working that it was hard not to pull for her. When I drove by the saw that it had closed, I was sad because I assumed it hadn’t worked out. Turns out, the situation was quite the opposite!
Really happy to see that Ro Café found a new home. The food and coffee are excellent, good lighting, free WiFi, plenty of seating (with power outlets).
5 stars

Ro Café is a block away from Pig & Whistle. a big tree blocks initial sighting of Ro.
brew: american best coffee (2.25)
–not as harsh as usual A.B. brew, must be premium blend
eats: blueberry cake (3)
–moist with taste of blueberry
drips:
–large menu, no time to peruse, on the meter
–seating plenty, 2 rooms
–non metered parking on side street (hopefully still is)
3.5 stars

I visit Ro Café when I want to unwind in a friendly atmosphere, have some good coffee, some home made delicious dish and fresh pastry. Also, want to check on how the café is growing, since the owner Havin has just moved to a larger space, renovated it and is ready for big time! (It was already becoming very popular on 5^th Avenue, but the kitchen was too small.) Highly recommended. Wishing her huge success.

Small, quiet, family owned with great food and coffee. The menu offers both Kurdish food, as well as your traditional American variety. Ro’s is great!

This is my third time here but my first check in and review. Everything I’ve tried here is super delicious. So far I’ve tried an avocado bagel, a chicken sandwich and now the beef sandwich. I love dark roast coffee (peet’s) and theirs is so satisfyingly delicious. Tried their ice coffee and that too was extremely cooling today. :)
On my next visit I’ll try the nachos or the salad the other Unilocaler talked about.

This place is conveniently located near my work. I like the Ro’s salad and their sandwiches are huge! I had the veggie sandwich and it was really good. I also like the bagel selections. I will definitely be back.

Has a pleasant atmosphere and the front of the room is enclosed in a sun-​room like glass wall. The helpful proprietor said that their Turkish/​Greek coffee is actually Kurdish coffee, but is named so, since people are most familiar with it. it is thick and quite flavorful. They have conventional coffee drinks too.
The Kurdish couscous salad is good. Lemon, cucumber and tomatoes make it a very refreshing and light lunch.
The Ro sandwich is surprisingly good. You get chicken with some melted cheese along with their own savory sauce. It’s served warm.

This place is delicious! Wonderful, fresh, homemade Kurdish and café treats for breakfast and lunch. The kind of food that tastes good and makes you feel good. Great coffee, cool atmosphere, and free wifi! A sweet little spot you should definitely check out if you’re in the neighborhood. Thanks, Havin!

Ro café is amazing! The Kurdish couscous is delicious and fresh, and they have the best (and strongest) Turkish coffee around. Havin, the owner, does it all– taking orders, cooking the food, making coffee– and with a smile on her face!

Mint on nachos? I’m down! Interesting & delicious food, big portions, super nice staff/​owner. The décor’s kind of odd, it was a little too quiet for comfort (granted, I went at an odd time of the day), and it was humid up in there, but the food definitely made up for it.

Surprise move.
First it was opening an outstanding Turkish café in the Inner Richmond:
Then it was owner Havin Gavgasi moving her café to a larger location on Geary Boulevard.
Finally it was mixing greens, veggies and chicken in a sweet pomegranate sauce vinaigrette to make the excellent Ro Salad. Served with pita for a well worth it $ 10.
Just one of a few new menu items. What hasn’t changed is the friendly, welcoming and personable Havin. Was a pleasure to see her again.
New location. Same rating. No surprise.

2^nd Visit
Food (café) — 4 ½
Yup … confirmed same Ro Café
Used to on Ca & 5^th
More convenient for me
Have some rare Kurdish delicacy
Looking forward to try the rest
Beautiful inside and pleasant.
Very clean … of course new place
But, she always keep her original place
Spotless.
Like back then …
she put effort into each thing she makes
Kinda like my mom’s cooking
attention to details, … effort

— — -
1^st drop by …
not realized til later …
Same lady … moved from 5^th & Ca.
Hit and Run for espresso
Upon leaving …
Then the sandwich board outside struck me
Is this the same lady who was
California and 5^th
Served rare unique Kurdish delicacy
I hope it is.
Will revisit