So happy I was able to experience this lovely cafe. The gentleman behind the bar was there was so pleasant. He answered all of my questions and engaged with each customer in a such caring manner. For dinks they had coffee, regular kombucha, and hemp infused kombucha. (There were probably more options but that's what I saw)Both flavors of the hemp infused kombucha were delicious. That was my first time having hemp kombucha and it totally relaxed my mind and body. I ordered 2 Jamaican patties cabbage & tofu. I had to wait a while because they were being made fresh. When they came out both were so delicious they were seasoned, soft, flaky, and had the right amount of spice. My picky 5 year old loved the tofu patty. This is the best cafe I've ever been to. It's afrocentric, healthy, and everything is of the highest quality!
David X.
Walked in with kids and a couple family members enthusiastic to try the place. The guy at the front was just visibly annoyed by our presence (we weren't being loud or obnoxious, we just had a short conversation deciding what to order) and answered our few questions in a short manner at one point visibly sighing. There were no other customers so I wasn't clear what the antipathy was due to, but we still ordered and then waited a long time for small portions of cold, mediocre food to come out. The curry patty was okay I guess. As we were finishing up, my son got a little too close to something or other on display and the guy condescendingly told him no touching (he wasn't and wouldn't), so I just gathered everyone and left. Life's too short, hit a food cart around Balboa.
Izzy C
Kind owner/ workers, good food, and all vegan! Indoor/ outdoor seating available, along with lots of cultural art, and historic information. I got the chili and berry smoothie!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Costa Chica Chili
Jennifer Wang
I got the combo bowl, so delicious I loved everything in it. Friendly staff and cool atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dusty
Beautiful place to stop by Balboa Park. Amazing, authentic, fresh vegan food and the staff was absolutely lovely and welcoming. Highly recommend. Prices also VERY affordable. Absolutely loved visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Combo Plate, Vegan
Old World Outsiders
BEST VEGAN FOOD IN TOWN.They grow their own vegetables, the gumbo plate is to die for!Don't sleep on this hidden gem.
James Levine
Worth going just for the experience. I had a 20 minute conversation with the parrots.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Zoe Gardner
Delicious and fresh food - salad from the garden next
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Combo Plate, Vegan, Mico Green Salad
Ariana C.
Amazing food. Hands down FANTASTIC! We have a Jamaican born chef in our friend group who came with us who gave her stamp of approval which is very high praise. Special shout-out to the African peanut curry, the red curry, the Jamaican patties, and the tamales! Very interesting spot with a cool community/cultural history behind it. Prices extremely reasonable and the serving portions were generous. Will defiantly return and recommend!
I'm not vegan. I will not ever be vegan. And this food is GREAT. The spinach patty and coconut curry (with micro greens) are absolutely delectable. And this jazz band that just started up is setting an entire Sunday afternoon MOOD. I'm just stopping through SD for the day, a friend wanted to stop by this spot and now I'm having a whole-ass experience.
Jesus McGann
Africa is one of the seven kingdoms of planet Earth!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tom Brisk
What a hidden gem. I was just wandering through Balboa park and spotted a sign for vegan food. I cannot recommend this place enough! I had the mushroom burger which was one of the best vegan burgers I've ever had. I think I won't need to eat for a few days now.Vegetarian options: All veganWheelchair accessibility: Plenty of space and no steps
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jamaican Veggie Patty, Vegan
caw
Peanut curry was fantastic, had some heat to it and lots of flavour. Really friendly staff, nice atmosphere. Updated from previous review on 2023-06-04
Feven R.
Food was AMAZING!! My friend and I ordered the Jamaican Red Curry and the African Peanut Coconut Curry and we were completely satisfied...it was full of flavor and decent prices. Definitely recommend vegan or not.
Vegetarian options: We had a delicious curry.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan
So happy I was able to experience this lovely cafe. The gentleman behind the bar was there was so pleasant. He answered all of my questions and engaged with each customer in a such caring manner. For dinks they had coffee, regular kombucha, and hemp infused kombucha. (There were probably more options but that's what I saw)Both flavors of the hemp infused kombucha were delicious. That was my first time having hemp kombucha and it totally relaxed my mind and body. I ordered 2 Jamaican patties cabbage & tofu. I had to wait a while because they were being made fresh. When they came out both were so delicious they were seasoned, soft, flaky, and had the right amount of spice. My picky 5 year old loved the tofu patty. This is the best cafe I've ever been to. It's afrocentric, healthy, and everything is of the highest quality!
Walked in with kids and a couple family members enthusiastic to try the place. The guy at the front was just visibly annoyed by our presence (we weren't being loud or obnoxious, we just had a short conversation deciding what to order) and answered our few questions in a short manner at one point visibly sighing. There were no other customers so I wasn't clear what the antipathy was due to, but we still ordered and then waited a long time for small portions of cold, mediocre food to come out. The curry patty was okay I guess. As we were finishing up, my son got a little too close to something or other on display and the guy condescendingly told him no touching (he wasn't and wouldn't), so I just gathered everyone and left. Life's too short, hit a food cart around Balboa.
Kind owner/ workers, good food, and all vegan! Indoor/ outdoor seating available, along with lots of cultural art, and historic information. I got the chili and berry smoothie!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Costa Chica Chili
I got the combo bowl, so delicious I loved everything in it. Friendly staff and cool atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Beautiful place to stop by Balboa Park. Amazing, authentic, fresh vegan food and the staff was absolutely lovely and welcoming. Highly recommend. Prices also VERY affordable. Absolutely loved visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Combo Plate, Vegan
BEST VEGAN FOOD IN TOWN.They grow their own vegetables, the gumbo plate is to die for!Don't sleep on this hidden gem.
Worth going just for the experience. I had a 20 minute conversation with the parrots.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Delicious and fresh food - salad from the garden next
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Combo Plate, Vegan, Mico Green Salad
Amazing food. Hands down FANTASTIC! We have a Jamaican born chef in our friend group who came with us who gave her stamp of approval which is very high praise. Special shout-out to the African peanut curry, the red curry, the Jamaican patties, and the tamales! Very interesting spot with a cool community/cultural history behind it. Prices extremely reasonable and the serving portions were generous. Will defiantly return and recommend!
Restaurantji Recommends
I'm not vegan. I will not ever be vegan. And this food is GREAT. The spinach patty and coconut curry (with micro greens) are absolutely delectable. And this jazz band that just started up is setting an entire Sunday afternoon MOOD. I'm just stopping through SD for the day, a friend wanted to stop by this spot and now I'm having a whole-ass experience.
Africa is one of the seven kingdoms of planet Earth!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a hidden gem. I was just wandering through Balboa park and spotted a sign for vegan food. I cannot recommend this place enough! I had the mushroom burger which was one of the best vegan burgers I've ever had. I think I won't need to eat for a few days now.Vegetarian options: All veganWheelchair accessibility: Plenty of space and no steps
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jamaican Veggie Patty, Vegan
Peanut curry was fantastic, had some heat to it and lots of flavour. Really friendly staff, nice atmosphere. Updated from previous review on 2023-06-04
Food was AMAZING!! My friend and I ordered the Jamaican Red Curry and the African Peanut Coconut Curry and we were completely satisfied...it was full of flavor and decent prices. Definitely recommend vegan or not.