Filipino Dessert Chain Café 86 to Expand in California
Café 86, a dessert and beverage chain known for its Filipino-inspired offerings, has signed two new franchise agreements to expand its presence in California. The specific locations for the new stores and their planned opening dates have not yet been disclosed.
- The new franchise agreements for locations in Monterey County and Indio, California will bring Café 86's total number of locations to nearly 50. - The chain was founded in Chino, California, in 2014 by husband-and-wife team James and Ginger Dimapasok. The name "Café 86" was inspired by James' love for his 1986 Toyota Corolla and the car meetups the cafe hosted. - Café 86 is known for its focus on ube, a purple yam with a flavor profile similar to vanilla, which is a staple in Filipino desserts. Popular menu items include ube leche flan cupcakes, ube truffles, and ube cheesecakes. - The company has a central commissary kitchen in Chino that provides most of the baked goods for its locations, creating operational simplicity for franchisees. - Recent grand openings in California include Placentia, Milpitas, Lancaster, and Roseville. - The expansion reflects a broader trend of growing interest in Filipino cuisine, with the global Filipino bakery market valued at $2.1 billion in 2024 and projected to grow. - Beyond California, Café 86 has locations in Arizona and Nevada, with plans for future expansion to the East Coast.
