Kitchen says it's open until 3 but literally always closes VERY early (today we couldn't get any food at 12.40). This is very frustrating and makes it impossible to plan (also no one picks up the phone ever). Still, we have been returning customers but will consider other alternatives going forward.
Sneha Roy
Would give this place 10 stars if I could. Everything about this place is perfect! Starting with the friendly staff, and the flavorful food that just hits the right spot. Seldom outside of India would you find a casual, unassuming and surprisingly authentic tapas/cafe style Indian snacks. We are so glad we made a pitstop here on our way from Santa Barbara to universal studios, we were drawn here due to its unique name (kaapi means coffee in Tamil, specifically, their filter coffee) and the super interesting menu items. We would have ordered everything if we could have (we almost did). The cashew paneer dosa was just heavenly, just the right amount of crisp and the creamy yet aromatically spicy paneer is hard to find! The chef has perfected his recipes to the T. the chicken and waffles was a surprisingly authentic twist on the traditional fried chicken, I was so excited to find something like this outside of the south, and was mouthwateringly yummy. The chana puri was even better than the ones I find at South Indian joints - hands down one of the top three places for Indian inspired food in the country (living in the states for over a decade). Wish them all the best on their culinary journey, a true true gem indeed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amit Bhasin
Very bad quality Indian food. Not recommend to anyone. Waste of time, extremely bad service and food (not at all Indian)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Elysia Guillen
When I’m strolling downtown and want small bites + a coffee buzz (and a place to charge my phone), Kaapicat is my go-to.
Their samosas are exactly what you want for a light snack: three crispy samosas served with tamarind date chutney and mint chutney, perfectly balanced and satisfying without being heavy. They also offer mango lassi and specialty drinks, but I stick to what I love: the iced vanilla latte, which never misses.
The flavors lean authentically South Indian while still feeling right at home in a contemporary café setting. The space is relaxed and welcoming. You’ll see locals, beachgoers, tourists, remote workers, meetup groups, and solo readers all sharing the space comfortably. The staff is efficient and genuinely kind, which makes it an easy place to pop into or hang out for a bit.
Hours • Mon–Thurs: 8am–4pm • Fri–Sun: 8am–6pm
Bonus points for being nestled in walkable Downtown Ventura and offering online ordering for easy grab-and-go days.
Low-key, cozy, and thoughtfully done. A solid downtown stop when you want something simple that still hits.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tupi Cabrera
I had for my first time ever the chicken waffle plate. It was deliciously awesome. It had some eastern spiceness to it that was special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jerome Lazarus
Unbelievable! Perfect place for a South Indian tiffin! Delicious food, affordable, friendly and good vibe.
Food: 4
Recommended dishes: Masala Dosa, Idli Sambar
nancy aguilar
I love Kaapicat. One of my favorites in Ventura, the matcha is good, the specialty coffee drinks are unique and tasty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hailey P
The best coffee shop in Ventura. The cardamon chai is delicious and full of flavor. The breakfast sandwich is hands down the best food on the menu. Rose matcha tastes like they milked a rose of its essence and put it into a drink. Literally insane.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Ali Y
Really good chai
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Leon Pinheiro
I can't believe I didn't know this was an Indian restaurant. Very contemporary. I love the vibe and setup.
I'm glad I gave this place a chance! The employees were friendly and the food/coffee was great. I really like that they have an option for small plates - perfect for when you want something quick but wholesome. I tried their iced Kaapi coffee and it was perfect. I would recommend this place just for the coffee alone, but the food is great too. The samosas were delicious, especially with the tamarind chutney. Everything came out fresh and made with care.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Samosa
Adrien C.
The food is authentic, generous, and surprisingly affordable for that level of quality. They only cook genuine Indian recipe (including their kaapi, served the Indian way which will taste like nothing you’ve tried before) The service was perfect and the personnel is so welcoming, I highly recommend to stop there for a brunch, a snack or a coffee!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
HP ON
Eli the manager went above and beyond the call of duty, very knowledgeable about Indian food…. Don’t lose her! ~Jay
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jeyla Fendi
Its where the locals go! We work above a different coffee shop but we still go out of our way to walk to this one. 😄 Great food and excellent coffee.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Susanne Watson
Sadly overpriced and not authentic coffee beverages. Macchiato is more the size of an espresso lungo and does not taste good at all. Not milk foam either. Dissappointing.
Kitchen says it's open until 3 but literally always closes VERY early (today we couldn't get any food at 12.40). This is very frustrating and makes it impossible to plan (also no one picks up the phone ever). Still, we have been returning customers but will consider other alternatives going forward.
Would give this place 10 stars if I could. Everything about this place is perfect! Starting with the friendly staff, and the flavorful food that just hits the right spot. Seldom outside of India would you find a casual, unassuming and surprisingly authentic tapas/cafe style Indian snacks. We are so glad we made a pitstop here on our way from Santa Barbara to universal studios, we were drawn here due to its unique name (kaapi means coffee in Tamil, specifically, their filter coffee) and the super interesting menu items. We would have ordered everything if we could have (we almost did). The cashew paneer dosa was just heavenly, just the right amount of crisp and the creamy yet aromatically spicy paneer is hard to find! The chef has perfected his recipes to the T. the chicken and waffles was a surprisingly authentic twist on the traditional fried chicken, I was so excited to find something like this outside of the south, and was mouthwateringly yummy. The chana puri was even better than the ones I find at South Indian joints - hands down one of the top three places for Indian inspired food in the country (living in the states for over a decade). Wish them all the best on their culinary journey, a true true gem indeed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very bad quality Indian food. Not recommend to anyone. Waste of time, extremely bad service and food (not at all Indian)
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
When I’m strolling downtown and want small bites + a coffee buzz (and a place to charge my phone), Kaapicat is my go-to.
Their samosas are exactly what you want for a light snack: three crispy samosas served with tamarind date chutney and mint chutney, perfectly balanced and satisfying without being heavy. They also offer mango lassi and specialty drinks, but I stick to what I love: the iced vanilla latte, which never misses.
The flavors lean authentically South Indian while still feeling right at home in a contemporary café setting. The space is relaxed and welcoming. You’ll see locals, beachgoers, tourists, remote workers, meetup groups, and solo readers all sharing the space comfortably. The staff is efficient and genuinely kind, which makes it an easy place to pop into or hang out for a bit.
Hours
• Mon–Thurs: 8am–4pm
• Fri–Sun: 8am–6pm
Bonus points for being nestled in walkable Downtown Ventura and offering online ordering for easy grab-and-go days.
Low-key, cozy, and thoughtfully done. A solid downtown stop when you want something simple that still hits.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had for my first time ever the chicken waffle plate. It was deliciously awesome. It had some eastern spiceness to it that was special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unbelievable! Perfect place for a South Indian tiffin! Delicious food, affordable, friendly and good vibe.
Food: 4
Recommended dishes: Masala Dosa, Idli Sambar
I love Kaapicat. One of my favorites in Ventura, the matcha is good, the specialty coffee drinks are unique and tasty.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best coffee shop in Ventura. The cardamon chai is delicious and full of flavor. The breakfast sandwich is hands down the best food on the menu. Rose matcha tastes like they milked a rose of its essence and put it into a drink. Literally insane.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Really good chai
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
I can't believe I didn't know this was an Indian restaurant. Very contemporary. I love the vibe and setup.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
I'm glad I gave this place a chance! The employees were friendly and the food/coffee was great. I really like that they have an option for small plates - perfect for when you want something quick but wholesome.
I tried their iced Kaapi coffee and it was perfect. I would recommend this place just for the coffee alone, but the food is great too. The samosas were delicious, especially with the tamarind chutney. Everything came out fresh and made with care.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Samosa
The food is authentic, generous, and surprisingly affordable for that level of quality. They only cook genuine Indian recipe (including their kaapi, served the Indian way which will taste like nothing you’ve tried before)
The service was perfect and the personnel is so welcoming, I highly recommend to stop there for a brunch, a snack or a coffee!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eli the manager went above and beyond the call of duty, very knowledgeable about Indian food…. Don’t lose her! ~Jay
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Its where the locals go! We work above a different coffee shop but we still go out of our way to walk to this one. 😄 Great food and excellent coffee.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sadly overpriced and not authentic coffee beverages. Macchiato is more the size of an espresso lungo and does not taste good at all. Not milk foam either. Dissappointing.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
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