I stopped for brunch at this charming Stanislaus County cafe. See what I ordered for $20
Just north of Modesto, you can find a charming cafe tucked away in a shopping center in Riverbank’s East of Roselle Howard neighborhood.
Palo Santo Cafe is at 6333 Oakdale Road, Suite I, nestled between Taqueria Los Compadres and Grand Asia Chinese restaurant.
Modesto Bee reader Mark Meiggs suggested the “great little (brunch) restaurant” for this month’s “On A Budget.”
“I’d be inclined to recommend pretty much anything on the menu,” Mark told me in a recent email. “Actually …don’t pass up anything with the chicken tinga for a try.”
Nayeli Vazquez and her husband, Christian, opened Palo Santo Cafe in 2022 in the former Mail Depot building.
The contemporary Mexican coffee shop is known for its rotating selection of housemade pastries and handcrafted specialty coffee drinks.
The cafe features custom touches including wooden trays stamped with the Palo Santo logo and handcrafted talavera-style mugs from Puebla, Mexico.
Each mug is tailored to fit a specific drink, such as a cortado, espresso or cubano, a thoughtful touch that adds to the customer experience.
On a recent Friday morning, I stopped by Palo Santo Cafe with a $20 budget.
Here’s what I got:
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy we did this story
Let’s face it, living in Modesto and going out can be expensive. That’s why Modesto Bee service journalism reporter Angela Rodriguez is bringing you along on her budget-friendly adventures. Born and raised in the Central Valley, Angela wants to help her fellow residents navigate life in the region (and have fun) without breaking the bank.
What’s on the menu at Palo Santo Cafe?
Before my visit to Palo Santo Cafe, I did some research to get an idea of what to expect.
The cafe boasts an average four-and-a-half-star rating on Yelp that’s backed by nearly 200 reviews from satisfied diners.
“(The) food is so good, definitely the best I’ve had in the area,” Yelp user Jessica S. of San Mateo wrote in her review of Palo Santo Cafe, giving the cafe a five-star rating.
She praised the cold-brew horchata as “fire” and described the taquitos as “crispy and flavorful.”
“Above all, the tinga was bomb,” the Yelp reviewer wrote. “It’s better than my sister-in-law’s.”
Yelp reviewer Yely N. of Hayward called the cafe a “super nice, cute place.”
“The staff is really nice and friendly and the business owner ... has a nice personality,” Alejandra S. of Modesto wrote in her Yelp review, giving the eatery five-star rating. “I recommend this place.”
As I browsed the extensive brunch menu, the lively sounds of Mexican pop music filled the cafe, with hits including “Hasta Que Me Olvides” by Luis Miguel and “Mirala Miralo” by Alejandra Guzmán playing softly in the background.
Palo Santo Cafe offers much more than just coffee and pastries.
The brunch menu features an array of brunch options, including soups, salads and traditional Mexican dishes.
Among the standouts are the chilaquiles, served with a secret salsa, queso fresco, red onion and crema casera for $13, and the mollete, a classic open-faced sandwich made with sourdough toast, black beans, pepper jack cheese, pico de gallo and queso cotija for $12.50.
How I spent my $20 at Riverbank restaurant
Following Mark’s recommendation, I decided to try the chicken tinga tostadas, priced at $13.
With the crisp chill of fall in the air, I craved something warm and comforting to accompany the tostadas.
That’s when the sopa de fideo caught my attention.
A staple in Mexican households, sopa de fideo is a flavorful noodle soup made with a rich tomato broth, thin noodles, garlic, onion and stock. Its simplicity and heartiness make it one of my go-to comfort foods.
Palo Santo Cafe offers a small cup of soup for $7 or a full bowl for $14.
To stay within my $20 budget, I went with the cup.
As I waited for my meal, I took a moment to appreciate the thoughtful details that make the cafe so inviting, ranging from vibrant talavera tiles to charming handwritten chalkboard signs and playful pink LED accents.
The result is a space that feels curated yet effortlessly cozy.
It wasn’t long before my meal arrived, and it more than lived up to Mark’s enthusiastic recommendation.
The sopa de fideo was steaming hot and full of rich flavor, instantly evoking memories of chilly childhood afternoons when I’d come home to a bowl of comforting noodle soup.
The true standout of the meal, as Mark had promised, was the chicken tinga tostadas.
Despite their small size, each bite packed an explosion of flavor — a perfect blend of nostalgia and sophistication.
My visit to Palo Santo Cafe definitely exceeded all expectations.
It’s a place that combines the warmth of home with a thoughtful, elevated take on traditional Mexican dishes.
Is Stanislaus County coffee shop affordable?
Palo Santo Cafe offers a diverse brunch menu, featuring classic Mexican dishes, from comforting soups to crispy tostadas.
Prices for menu options range from $8 to $16.
In addition, the restaurant serves a selection of iced and hot coffees, teas and refreshing lemonades, priced between $3.95 and $7.20.
For those looking to customize their drinks, flavored syrups such as strawberry, lavender and vanilla are available for an additional 50 cents, while milk alternatives such as almond milk or heavy cream come with a 75-cent upcharge.
I got a cup of sopa de fideo and three chicken tinga tostadas for $20.
After taxes, fees and a tip, my total came out to roughly $25.
While I went over my $20 budget after taxes, tips and other fees, I definitely enjoyed my time at Palo Santo Cafe.
Thanks for the recommendation, Mark!
Where should I go next?
Have any ideas on where I should visit next in Modesto on a budget?
Send me recommendations at arodriguez@modbee.com or by filling out the form below.
This story was originally published November 23, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
