50 Best Cafes near Lemon Grove

“I absolutely love this restaurant. I discovered this place about a year ago, and ever since that day I have enjoyed every single moment spent there. The retro 50s style with oldie legendary music just fills the atmosphere with a touch of comfort, sophistication, and happiness. The food was extremely good especially the burgers, with affordable prices. The waiters are also kind and caring.“

“Very nice environment and outstanding food and entertainment 👌 😀“

“Tastylife™️. Would buy treats again.“

“The ambience is terrific and the service was spot on and friendly. I really enjoyed the thoughtful update of the old building! The food was good but my scrambled eggs were a tad over cooked. The biscuit and gravy was good, I just wished for a bit more gravy. Gravy has to be about the cheapest thing on the menu to make so why scrimp? The potatoes were excellent as was the bacon and the sausage. I look forward to coming back for the pancakes!“

“Great food, fun and quirky vibe.“

“I’m a local customer for over 25 years. I love this place every thing is well prepare with love. The owners are always happy to see the customers! One of my favorite is the Mexican Mocha, the breakfast sandwich. To say the least everything on the menu is excellent. I’ve rather support this small family coffee shop, then Starbucks. Thank you so much for caring for you’re customers and the great food. Many Blessings!“

“Highly recommend- tell them it's your first and you get the tour of the menu and art. Great prices, food, drinks and outstanding service. See you there.“

“Charming atmosphere and wonderful tasting as well as beautiful dessert s.“

“I just had the most unbelievable customer service here. It was so good that it blew my mind! Like, for real!! It turned out the barista today is Strawbaby by Destinee who bakes some of the baked goods sold here as well. She apparently runs all kinds of adult and kid events, and I will be checking out her business too! I'm so glad I randomly walked in today! 🧋“

“Yummy sandwiches and perfect scones! Also has a cute wine selection and great seating. Got the signature breakfast sandwich which was really good, avocado was a bit brown and they forgot my chili oil (that I paid extra for) so that knocked some points down. Suggested to me by TikTok, pretty good for a TikTok rec!“

“You can't beat the view if you can secure a window seat. Waiting here at the restaraunt is not hard as there is plenty to see as you walk around. Food was good. View was better. I wouldn't hesitate eating here for a great experience.“

“Nice place to relax and chill away from the house“

“Audrey was the best! We came from Maine and short notice we were able to get a dozen cupcakes ordered for pickup with 2 days notice. They were fantastic and gone quickly!! Thank you again!!“

“Love the bakery and matcha latte!“

“Cannot wait to go back and enjoy the the food, excellent service and ambience of this restaurant. We often each brunch here and their chef events are amazing! I savor every bite 🤤“

“I would’ve loved to give this place 5/5, but the heat in the store is miserable. I feel extremely bad for the girls working efficiently in the heat. Coffee is good, matcha looks good but not my thing.

I recommend the owner look into getting a real AC instead of dingy fans. I understand it’s a store-front coffee shop, but the heat was circulating in the shop from those fans. It felt unclean, sticky, and muggy inside.“

“
Normally, one of the better quiet café spots in San Diego, and so the 4.9 rating.

The Xtra thick breakfast sandwich is fantastic...one of the best I've had in over a decade..had it made by the middle aged fellow on Sunday at noon for $11. No meat, no extras. Don't need it. Vegetables on it were very fresh and thick as was egg. You will need patience in preparation. If you have a smaller toddler, ask for a second egg on the side, it's perfect size.

House, Americano, and Expresso are excellent for the reasonable price.

Order at counter, take paging coaster, rings when ready, you have to pick it up yourself. But usually drinks are taken to you first. It's not full service. But food makes up for that.

Improvement? Keep the small backpatio clean and foilage manicured, add some more flowers or plants. Add one-person coffee tables outside to free up larger tables, smaller umbrellas in vacant tables. and stay true to modern and folk Portuguese music (owner) to complement the relaxing vibe, or keep other music quieter as you shouldn't have to prevent people from enjoying conversation or reading.

Cafés in San Diego are overpriced and noisy. Nice to find a gem. Keep up the good work“

“Met Toran at our work event and he shared his story… What an amazing business! Everyone needs to go and try this pudding!!! I will always support a business that supports the community and will always show up when asked! Thanks for the amazing pudding, and for showing up!“

“The chillest Grill and Cafe. The food is fresh, crispy soft chibatta bread, Chai tea latte is perfect and the Berry smoothie is flavorful. Definitely will come back. The atmosphere is blend of city and home style. The staff is very helpful and attentive.“

“Amazing cultural events. Ongoing. Something for everybody: music, dance, celebration.“

“Best corned beef hash ever!!“

“Quaint . Great service and food“

“1st time, won’t be the last....“

“Loved Saturday, and Sunday breakfast at Gillespie Field. A great staff of folks, and a must visit if your only on vacation.“

“This place has a lot of potential but a few things need to be addressed. The food variety and taste were both excellent—everything we ordered was delicious. Our waiter was friendly, and the location right off the main road is super convenient.

However, the dining experience had some major downsides. Despite there being open tables, none were clean, so we had to sit down at a dirty table and wait while a table was bussed. The old plates and cups were removed but there was still sticky honey all over the surface that we just avoided during our time. Also, the staff seemed under-resourced, and the restaurant felt expensive for what we got. I was also disappointed by the $4 upcharge for a fruit side with my breakfast sandwich since the fruit was mostly overripe watermelon and some off-tasting cantaloupe. The number of flies inside and out was also a big turn-off, and parking was a real hassle.

Despite that, I would try it again, but maybe I'd do take out.“

“Me encanto el lugar que es muy familiar♥️“

“Always great service and delicious food prepared fresh. Family atmosphere and worth the wait.“

“Todo riquisimo muy amables y atentos“

“Avocado boba is 💣 - grat service“

“Was only in town for 2 days, saw this spot thought I would try it out, and was not disappointed! They have great coffee, food, and bread! And the customer service was amazing as well!“

“Awesome little coffee shop! Kim's baked treats are to die for. She brightens everyone's day and makes you feel like family. The 1st Avenue neighborhood is lucky to have her.“

“The best! The food is always spectacular and monstrous portions. The nicest family you will ever meet run the place and the service is excellent. Don’t pass it up.❣️👍🏻👍🏻“

“highly recommend this place! AMAZING coffee, DELICIOUS acid bowls and incredible breakfast croissants. The owner is awesome and the staff is incredibly friendly. I will definitely be returning (:“

“I really enjoy the coffee here, it’s consistently great but the overall experience could be improved. The atmosphere tends to feel warm and stuffy since there’s no AC, which makes it uncomfortable to work for long periods. The music is also quite loud, making it hard to have a conversation with friends. Because of these issues, I’ve stopped recommending the café, even though the drinks themselves are excellent.“

“Always a fun visit. Every location has been great.“

“The two time I have been here, the service is beyond! The food amazing. I do not recall the waitress name, but both times she has been our waitress. She's about 5 1' 52'. Dark black hair speaks Spanish as well. She is such a nice waitress & fast. All the staff is great. Its nice to have breakfast/ lunch where kindness still exists.“

“Grilled Shrimp bowl….delicious“

“Great customer service great food Great coffee Highly recommended“

“Awesomeness had great time“

“was able to get my MexiMocha fix Tuesday. so good to see Jen and her dad. She makes the BEST MexiMocha 😋“

“This is the closest restaurant to the Chevrolet dealership where I was having some service performed. Odd setup on the 4th floor of a nice commercial building. Expected cafeteria food and ended up with an absolute bomb of a sandwich. This place is seriously a diamond in the rough. Will be back“

“The food and service is magnificent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Tried:
Matcha Jin Xuan Oolong
Iced - Regular
75% Sweetness

The Oolong tea flavor was stronger than the Matcha but the drink was good.

BA-LA Matcha
Iced - Regular
25% Sweetness

A fruity twist to the classic matcha taste. The guava flavor definitely predominates, so keep that in mind.

Popcorn Chicken
Thigh (Dark meat)

I really enjoyed that Chicken especially with the dipping sauce.“

“Papaleco is a true gem in the neighborhood! Their gelato is absolutely amazing — so creamy, flavorful, and authentic. You can really taste the quality in every scoop.

All of their paninis are perfect, with the freshest ingredients and just the right balance of flavors. I’ve also tried their toasted sandwiches, and they are just as delicious — warm, crispy, and satisfying.

The place has such a charming, local vibe. It’s the kind of spot that makes the whole neighborhood feel cozy and welcoming. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick treat or sitting down for a bite, Papaleco never disappoints.

Highly recommend if you’re in the area — it’s one of those places you’ll want to come back to again and again!“

“Delicious breakfasts 😋 and good service“

“Yummy food and friendly service. Love the carne asada fries and tacos!“

“First time at this hidden gem! Loved the mixed menu, food was great, out hot and fast, and at that price... can not be beat! Stop by if you are in the area, very worth it. I got the tacos, a side of fries, and a Vietnamese coffee. It was tasty AND filling. I took home my leftovers. Additionally, they had tasty bakery items. The cookies were so soft!

Ample parking when we arrived and more than enough indoor seating. GREAT customer service. :)“

“Best coffee in San Diego!!!! ☕️✨“

“I love La Mesa Bistro team working is very nice, friendly and efficient. It’s clean and you can eat indoor or outside The food is all very good and ready quickly! My favorites açaí be wil and grilled Cheese on sourdough with artichokes and avocado. It’s fabulous- sorry I can’t remember the benefits of it. ?“

“Love ❤️ this place..I drive 25+ miles to go there but there the best in town..“