Business Details
23 Years
experience
Eritrean & Italian Cuisine in Oakland
Cafe Dejena is a family-owned Eritrean caf established in Oakland, California, offering a unique blend of Eritrean, Italian, and American cuisine. Rooted in Eritrean tradition, we provide a welcoming space for community gatherings, serving freshly prepared meals, specialty coffee, and baked goods in a bright, friendly atmosphere with free WiFi. Our menu features traditional Eritrean dishes like shiro and tsebhe, alongside Italian-inspired pasta and American breakfast favorites.Opened in 2003, we honor our heritage while embracing Oakland's diverse community. Our Grab & Go, delivery, and catering services ensure accessibility for busy locals. The caf occupies a historic building central to Eritrean cultural and independence movements, fostering connection under the ethos of shared meals and community harmony.
Services
Dine In
Grab & Go
Delivery
Catering
Eritrean Cuisine
Details
- Year established: 2003
Highlights and features
- We offer a unique blend of Eritrean, Italian, and American cuisine in a historic, community-focused setting.
- Our menu features house-made dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients daily.
- We provide convenient options including Grab & Go, delivery, and catering services.
- Our caf honors Eritrean cultural heritage while serving Oakland's diverse population.
- Free WiFi and a bright, welcoming atmosphere make us ideal for work or social gatherings.
Services
Catering
Cafe Dejena provides full catering for small events in the Bay Area. Our menus feature Eritrean, Italian, and American dishes made from fresh, seasonal ingredients. We customize offerings to suit your event's needs, whether at our caf or your chosen location. Contact Hiwot Nemariam directly to plan your gathering.
Dine In
Enjoy our full menu in our bright, welcoming caf space. We serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily with house-made Eritrean specialties like shiro and tsebhe, Italian pasta, and American classics. The atmosphere encourages community connection with free WiFi and historic cultural significance.
Delivery
Order Eritrean, Italian, and American dishes for delivery through UberEATS and Postmates. Our delivery service brings freshly prepared meals directly to your home or office while maintaining the quality and flavors of our on-site dining experience.
Grab & Go
Our Grab & Go cases offer quick, healthy meals for busy customers. Choose from breakfast items, salads, and lunch options made fresh daily. You can also order hot menu items in advance for pickup to accommodate your schedule.
Eritrean Cuisine
We specialize in authentic Eritrean dishes like shiro (spiced chickpeas), tsebhe tsome (vegetarian lentils), and fitfit (barley pita with spiced butter). Meals come with taita or basmati rice and seasonal salads, showcasing North African flavors influenced by Italian culinary traditions.
Questions
What type of cuisine does Caf Dejna serve?
We serve traditional Eritrean dishes alongside Italian pasta and American breakfast favorites, reflecting Eritrea's cultural influences.
Do you offer catering services?
Yes, we provide full catering for small events in the Bay Area with customizable Eritrean, Italian, or American menus.
Are there vegetarian options available?
Yes, we offer vegetarian entrees like Shiro (spiced chickpeas) and Tsebhe Tsome (lentil stew) with rice and salad.
What are your operating hours?
We're open Monday-Friday 7:30am-4pm and Saturday-Sunday 9am-5pm.
Do you have WiFi available?
Yes, we provide free WiFi for customers in our bright, welcoming café space.
How can I place a delivery order?
Order delivery through UberEATS or Postmates apps for freshly prepared Eritrean, Italian, and American dishes.
Reviews (7)
Meaghan C.
Mar 06, 2021
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I this place, use to go do homework every morning while having breakfast. Even met clients for a few afternoon business meetings here, then noticed they were on UbwrEats. Great customer service, great food, great atmosphere & I definitely recommend!
Ed U.
Mar 11, 2020
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Well, the brownish red building is certainly prominent at MLK Way and 40th, enough so that I've been eyeing it as a place to have lunch in the area. Same as the clubbier MLK Cafe down the street, I think they're going for a comfort food hybrid between an American diner and Eritrean cafe. I'm guessing something strictly Eritrean probably falls short of the carb overload that a typical O-Townie is looking for. Business was pretty good on a Saturday morning, and I asked if it was too early to order one of their Eritrean specialties. The woman appeared puzzled by my inquiry perhaps because
Tara M.
Feb 13, 2020
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I came here for a meeting last week and was thoroughly impressed. Beautiful, convenient spot right by MacArthur BART. Nice decor and vibe. I drank a very yummy smoothie. I looked at the food other people ordered and it looked and smelled fantastic!
I'll definitely be back again and will add to my review when I taste the food.
I'll definitely be back again and will add to my review when I taste the food.
Shoshana G.
Jan 03, 2020
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Love that Cafe Dejena is in my neighborhood. It truly feels like a community spot and the food is always delicious and well-priced. I was here today working, and there are plenty of outlets and free WiFi. I do wish that there was more table service. Once I got my food, I wasn't checked up on and had to get up twice to ask for my water. Next to Bart and lots of free street parking.
Ronado G.
Dec 17, 2019
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Pretty good food. I tried the Grab & Go Breakfast wrap, which was only $6.50 and came with a fresh little side salad. It was totally enough food and had great flavor. This place has a nice chill vibe to just hang out and work on stuff or even relax. I'd recommend people
Samantha Berg
Oct 29, 2019
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Found this place by accident when looking for a quick lunch spot. They had a mix of salads, sandwiches, and Eritrean specialties. I wanted to try the Eritrean food but my stomach wasn't feeling it so I went for the grilled veggies sandwich. It was just ok - quite soggy, missing some ingredients, and took awhile to make. The Eritrean food others had looked good, I'd want to come back and try some.
Max G.
Aug 17, 2019
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I come in this place weekly because a group I'm part of meets here, otherwise I would never go. The food takes forever and they can never get my coffee right. 3 weeks in a row I ordered iced coffee and I got tea instead. Today I ordered a large iced coffee as usual and they gave me a small cup of ice with a drop of coffee. When I told the barista I ordered a large he was super rude and unapologetic for getting my order wrong. From now on I might show up for my group but Cafe Dejena no longer gets my $$$$. I'm done.
