50 Best Cafes near Santee

“We go to Donutopolis a couple times a month and they are always so friendly and the donuts are delicious! ❤❤“

“Cozy little Cafe. Very clean. Friendly staff. Great coffee drinks. Delicious pastries. Love this place!❤“

“Their avocado toast is bomb!!!“

“The sandwich was good“

“First time there for lunch and I'll be going back again. Food was tastey. I had the Oklahoma onion burger and fries... tasted similar to a patty melt in best of ways. Friend had the Madi wrap and enjoyed it. It was loud with all the tables filled but could still have convos. Sat on the patio.“

“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.“

“Todo riquisimo muy amables y atentos“

“Oh my goodness- the food at this coffee house is so good. We ordered the “Signature Breakfast Sandwich” , the 2 Scone w/ flight of 6 Butter Sampler and a Vanilla Latte. The total bill came to $31 (not bad for the quality of food and drink). The breakfast sandwich was flavorful (bacon, egg, cheese and sauce). The bread was toasted to perfection and the house chipotle aioli sauce added an excellent touch. The butter for the scones were out of this world delicious; scones were baked perfectly. A+ is the score I’d give to this establishment.“

“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.❣️👍🏻👍🏻“

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

“
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“

“Best corned beef hash ever!!“

“This is my favorite place for chilaquiles verde. Best chilaquiles I’ve had. The tortillas have just the right crunch to it and the salsa is delicious. The only complaint I have here is the under staff. Took awhile to get our order in and out. Only saw to ladies serving and it was not that busy. Other than that it was great experience.“

“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!“

“I don't know what they put in their homefries, but this place belongs in the clean plate club. Maybe cuz they don't throw so so much sodium like a chain breakfast place would so I can enjoy it without feeling like crap afterwards, so thank you. I really do love this place and look forward to my takeouts. (Chicken fried steak was fire, ordered the #16 and added bell peppers and onions to my homefries [highly recommend]). Give this place a try, they've never let me down.“

“Me encanto el lugar que es muy familiar♥️“

“Exelente servicio y todo de primera calidad súper recomendado“

“Delicious breakfasts 😋 and good service“

“Quaint . Great service and food“

“Good matcha, not overly sweet. I prefer matcha bitter. They have so many choices for matcha drinks and fun seasonal flavors.

Alternative (plant based/vegan) milk choices.

Love the patient and friendly staff.

Plentiful seating inside and out. Normally not at all crowded when I go in early evenings, but it can get busy. Still totally worth the wait.

I love that they serve hot drinks without a plastic lid so I can be mindful of plastic consumption.

They also have snacks, sandwiches items for sale.

Thankfully they have a restroom for customers! Definitely a necessity in this neighborhood.

Five 🌟 stars - worth giving a tip.“

“Great customer service and delicious tea!! Love the custom drinks and adding coconut to anything is fantastic. Erica is a great barista and I"ll definitely be back and bring my friends! So friendly, knowledgeable, and professional.“

“1st time, won’t be the last....“

“Service and food were amazing! Unexpected gem of a little food spot on the 4th floor of an office building. My Gyro burger was great! Very flavorful, thick burger patties, perfect Gyro meat, veggies paired greatly, and the Tzatziki sauce helped tie it all together. Portion was perfect to have the burger by itself without any sides, you can get the half (1 patty) or full like I did (2 patties). The burger plus the Pastrami came out to around $30 and for the amount of food and quality, I’d say it’s a great deal. Will be back for sure to try the many different options that are offered. Too many good choices!“

“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. ?“

“This place is truly a hidden gem. The sandwiches are tasty and combo is ridiculously affordable. The food is made with love and you can taste it..On top of all that the owner is super sweet. I only wish I had reasons to come out this way more often.“

“Cozy and friendly best coffee ☕️“

“Great vibe and crowd! Kava is excellent!“

“Best soup and sandwich in years! Homemade tomato soup on a cold day is just the thing, and this was outstanding. I added ham to the grilled cheese sandwich but don’t bother—you’ll be more than filled up. Mack is friendly and efficient; I didn’t meet the cook but he deserves a raise. This place is just a small deli in an industrial park but that means quick, quiet and with plenty of parking. Highly recommended!“

“usually a restaurant in a shopping mall is suspect, but the food was Really good and menu was large“

“El mejor restaurante de comida casera ❤️❤️❤️❤️“

“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. :)“

“strawberry matcha is the best try one for sure“

“Love, love, love El Cajon Bistro! It really is the best breakfast in town. Almost as if the North Park brunch scene found its way to east county, and I'm so happy it did. I always get a Benedict, the poached eggs are always perfect and the hollandaise is satisfying. The salsa that came with the breakfast potatoes was SO GOOD. I will be dreaming about it until I can have it again. My grandma and I always come here whenever I am in town. Highly recommend.“

“Wow, such great food and awesome service! Had the lobster roll and it was quality lobster and overflowing with actual meat. Everything was delicious.“

“The Live Music and Veteran Owners“

“Coffee is really good !! Owners are incredibly nice !“

“I cannot recommend Green Leaf Catering highly enough! They provided an absolutely stunning spread for our annual holiday party, and their dedication to excellence truly made the event unforgettable. From the moment we began planning, their team demonstrated impeccable communication, ensuring every detail was thoughtfully considered and executed.

The food was not only visually impressive but also delicious—our guests couldn’t stop raving about the variety and quality. Every dish was crafted with care, and it was evident that Green Leaf Catering takes great pride in what they do. The presentation was elegant, and the flavors exceeded all expectations.

Beyond the food, the team’s support throughout the process was invaluable. They were flexible, responsive, and a joy to work with, making what could have been a stressful experience feel seamless and easy. Their professionalism and warmth added a personal touch that made all the difference.

Thank you, Green Leaf Catering, for your hard work and dedication to making our holiday party a resounding success. We are incredibly grateful for your partnership and look forward to working with you again in the future!“

“Absolutely LOVE Ultreya! Both locations are top notch. We love it so much that we get coffee beans sent to us in Illinois. Great staff, great coffee, great tea, delicious food and pastries, and amazing owners. If you haven’t been here, you will be in love after you go!“

“My baby girl loves Smoothies and we drive past everyday so figured today we should try it…& I’m so glad we did!! These smoothies are very yummy!! Baby girl drank all of hers and even wanted mine…. We will definitely be back for more soon!“

“I’ve been going to lestats since I was just a child really. I haven’t been since 2018 maybe when we moved. But I can tell you I’ve known horrible humans in my life not by choice. But fate led me to John a sweet gay man who ran a 24/7 coffee house. And I’ve loved coffee since age 5. When times were hard a lonely girl could get a hot cup of coffee and use the wifi even and hang out. John took in many of us. I was one of the pre 98-2006 post crew that practically lived here. Idk why John never charged us rent he truly should’ve! Hell he probably could’ve for our cars even. I was pregnant here. They fed me when I was hungry. They kept us warm in the cold months. Lestats was always a shelter in the storm we call life. I was but a passenger for a while. John let me park my Honda accord out back for some time when an alternator wasn’t the only problem even. When I think of angels and I think of gods I think of folks like John. They gave us life without even knowing it. My daughters 20 this year and we’re both alive because of John’s goodness and kindness he has a huge heart most have no clue. He’s just the sweetest man. He was a woven interact part of my life. He’s one of those people who is why I am here today. Because when I needed a safe place in the storm we call life. I could lean on Lestats and John. Whom I knew well. To think my neighbor would lead me here he worked there eventually and was a lady’s man 😂 Travis was his name and I laugh cuz I knew that boy from just a little boy. To see him become a man and even a dad around when I was a mom. Seemed then something was surely in the water 😂 or so we’d all joked. Maybe it was just knowing we had a safe place to land for awhile that truly helped us all survive. But a huge part of that was John! So thank you John. Idk if you remember me or not. But I was that blonde girl with short hair and a damaged heart. 90s-2006 was my life there then I’d come when I was in town very rare then. But I always loved your veggie chili and your sandwiches. And the coffee ☕️ gosh if I miss anything from San Diego it’s Lestats and their amazing teas and coffee and food. Because when I had no home even I always had a safe place to go when the storm of life was crushing me. I met a boy in 2006 and disappeared really. But John was always like family for me. So I wanna thank him for being the light in the dark for a young street kid. Who didn’t have much but I always had enough for a cup of coffee and some safe space to enjoy it. I know it’s been 20 yrs because my baby is 20 now. But we wouldn’t be here without John. Thank you for being a safe place for us in life’s storms.“

“Best bagels in San Diego county.“

“My favorite place to go ... great tasting & friendly stafff :)“

“Best coffee in San Diego!!!! ☕️✨“

“Hit up the New Nutmeg on Danielson Street in Poway. I heard their Scripps location closed because the landlord raised the rent so high it was unaffordable for them to stay there. We were a large group so we were able to order a bunch of menu items. There was a line but its a very popular place so we were not surprised. We started with some espresso drinks, and agua frescas. We had the Hearty Bowl, Avocado Toast, and Amazing Burrito. Some in our group had the new Grandpa's Breakfast Bun with the egg and spam, and the Porky. They are very flexible with special orders including one in our group who is gluten sensitive. We finished, sharing their in-house baked pastries (they have gluten-free pastries); the warmed espresso scones and cinnamon buns (don't ever leave without having the "buns"). I work in the area so Nutmeg is now my go-to for breakfast before work, or lunch. Its also located nearby Costco and Home Depot, convenient for a weekend meal before or after my weekly Costco runs.“

“Such a cute place. The food was good, service was great, and the coffee yummy.“

“Customer service and knowledge/quality of their product is stellar! Oh, yeah...and the coffee is amazing, too! My first time experiencing horchata and I strongly recommend! If I lived in San Diego, this would be a regular!“

“This coffee shop is right when you pull into the Salvation Army Kroc Center. Parking there is busy. There is one parking spot dedicated to the coffee shop - I think it has a 10 minute limit - but that means whoever gets there first can apparently stay there in their car for as long as they want. The coffee shop should look into another spot so people who want coffee don’t have to park across the entire parking lot. Good customer service, coffee is aight.“

“Wow what a nice call work they are the best“

“Swami's has the perfect local vibe with great food and great service! We recommend them to visitors and locals who don't know yet. It is a great La Mesa dining option!“