Blue Whale
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There was a pretty long line, and it was definitely hot inside, but the wait was worth it! The coffee was excellent--probably one of the highlights--and everything we ordered tasted incredibly fresh and flavorful. The ingredients felt high quality, and the food was simple but really well done. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, so you can sit outside if you prefer some fresh air. The inside was quite warm when we visited, so keep that in mind. Despite the heat and the wait, I'd definitely come back for the great coffee and fresh, delicious brunch!
Teen picked this place off of Instagram. Drove down from LA and found a line but luckily it moved fairly fast! Got the ube pancakes which were very good but the standout here are the breakfast burritos perhaps, the best one we've had and we've had a lot. Great coffees and drinks too. Really busy but managed to find a table at the last minute.
There is a bit of a line and there is a good amount of seating but it goes pretty fast so if you really wanna sit down, just keep an eye out and take a table as fast as you can but the decor is cute inside good vibes. The people behind the counter were very helpful. Very nice. It was good. I got the best coffee I've ever had in my life here. I didn't even take a picture of it. I drink it so fast. It was a Hawaii honey latte with walnut milk. It was so good. I have no words I want to come back just for this and I would come back 100 times for it. The breakfast was OK. I'm not big on breakfast. Nothing bad with it. Nothing great about it but come for the coffee. Trust me.
The place is very beautiful, I love the wooden seating to the side as well as the surf vibe inside and the umbrella seating outside. I got their special, which was the s'mores latte and the marshmallows were great- it wasn't super sweet so add sugar if you like that and it had a hint of coconut overall great I didn't feel sick after drinking either Service and staff were super nice
I found Blue Whale on TikTok and was really excited to try it, but unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype. The food was good, but the service and overall experience were disappointing. They seem to have gotten a lot busier from all the social media attention, but they really need a better system for handling large crowds. There was a long line, no clear directions on where to stand, and employees were repeatedly yelling at everyone to line up "along the ramp" even though there wasn't any obvious ramp or signage. If it's your first time visiting, it's incredibly confusing. It's also a first come, seat yourself setup. We ordered our food only to realize there wasn't a single table available, so we were left standing around waiting for somewhere to sit. It would've been nice if that had been explained before ordering. The girl who took our order was especially rude and showed zero hospitality, which set the tone for the rest of the visit. Between the confusing process, lack of organization, and unfriendly service, it just wasn't an enjoyable experience. The food was decent, but not enough to make up for everything else. Next time, I'll just go across the street to the other brunch spot instead.
Food was good but I would just get it to go. Inside was so chaotic and stressful. Burger was good, but needed a tad bit more sauce because it was a lil dry. Fries were delish.
My family was spending the weekend in La Jolla Shores, and I wanted to go to Shell Beach to see the tide pools. Low tide was early in the morning, so I wanted to get some breakfast first. A photo of the Ube pancakes at Blue Whale popped up on Yelp and I had to try them. First of all, Ube is the food of my people. My parents would often bring back a jar of Ube from some monastery in the Philippines. Plain Ube is pretty tasty in itself. It's funny and good to see it in different forms now. My next favorite might be Ube ice cream, and then an Ube cheesecake I had. These Ube pancakes were good, but maybe a little too sweet with the amount of syrup they put on it. If you've ever had an Ube donut, it kind of tasted like that with some syrup on top. Would I get it again? Yes, but maybe a healthy dollop of whip cream instead.
So glad we stopped by here. The food was delicious and came out quickly! So quickly, the seagulls grabbed themselves a slice as soon as the box touched the table (make sure to protect your food ). Everything here is tasty. The staff is friendly & informative. Great place to go before or after your visit to the aquarium Burger & pretzel were my fav
Conveniently located a couple of blocks away from the beach where I had the chance to enjoy this delicious acai bowl! Fast service (for a busy Friday afternoon), and friendly staff. There is seating available but I preferred to get my acai bowl to go so I could enjoy the ocean views! I parked in the two hour parking area down near The Wedding Bowl on Coast Blvd, then walked less than 5 minutes.
Such a cute place to grab breakfast at! Breakfast burrito was so good and fresh. Gets busy so I would say go early! Fast service.
I wanted to try this place because I kept hearing how awesome it was. Everything sounded great about it, the location, aesthetics, food, beach vibe, and service. What do you know I was able to find parking in La Jolla easily. It just so happened I turned on Fay Street which is another busy street in La Jolla, and someone was backing out of their parking spot, so it was meant to be. I walked a short distance to Kline street which was the cross street of where "Blue Whale" is located. At first, I felt like I was not going to try it here because of the line of people and people everywhere outside and a long line inside the place. I decided to wait because I did not know when I would be back. When walking in, the vibe is cute, casual, and beach themed. The music is energizing and happy too. I placed my order with a friendly cashier and told her I wanted it to go because all the tables outside and inside were filled. But, someone was getting up from their table and I quickly walked over to snag the table inside. I had a cute, small table up against a window. Again, another sign I should try it. I ordered a sugar-free latte and avocado toast with an egg on top for added protein. Guess what, my food arrived in five minutes. Shannon, the manager brought it to me. I was so impressed how fast the service was and the friendliness here being so busy! She runs this place so professionally and efficiently. She is super friendly also! The rest of the staff the cashier, waitresses and waiters were also accommodating, friendly, and helpful too! Shoutout and Kudos to the chefs who create such deliciousness with the food. And, kudos to the baristas also who make such flavorful drinks. You all ROCK! The avocado toast with egg was incredible! So artistic with the presentation and the flavor was pit of this world DIVINE! The coffee was superb! I i understand the hype here! They deserve more than 5 stars! Whether you are a local or visitor, "Blue Whale" is a must! Outstanding in every way! #yelpsandiego #sandiego #lajolla #lajollacalifornia
DO NOT GET THE MATCHA OR COLD BREW!! Initially tried their kyoto matcha ($7.54) & there was absolutely 0 matcha flavor. Just plain milk. The workers were not super friendly but did help us replace our drinks when we asked for a replacement. I ended up getting the banana cream cold brew. The cream top was decent but the cold brew tasted like watered down coffee. I couldn't drink it. My friend got a hibiscus fizz tea drink from their seasonal menu but she didn't like that either. We felt bad asking for another replacement or refund so we both just ended up tossing our full drinks. $8 each down the drain :( Also I looked around the seating areas and everyone's matchas looked untouched... so it's not just us!!
It's a cute cafe with cozy beachy vibes. But it was just alright and the matchas were just okay. The two signature/seasonal matcha's we got were enjoyable but tasted mostly milky/watered down. On the weekend brunch that we went the line wrapped around the building too so idk what the hype was all about but I wouldn't wanna wait for that lol. The food looked good but we didn't eat there. Drinks: 5/10 Service: 5/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Value: 5/10
20 days ago
Visiting San Diego for the weekend and saw this place trending on social media, so we had to try it! We were short on time and the restaurant was busy, so we ordered ahead through DoorDash. I can't speak much on the service, but the space itself is super cute and I'd definitely come back to dine in. My partner and I got Iced Vanilla Lattes with oat milk and Vanilla Cloud, plus the Big Wave Burrito with turkey bacon. The burrito was good, but for the price, I felt the portion and flavor were a little underwhelming. Adding the chipotle aioli definitely helped! The latte was really good, a bit on the sweeter and milkier side, but still very flavorful and rich. Overall, it's a little pricey and parking is tight, but we also visited around 10 AM on a Saturday during peak brunch time. I'd come back to try more of the menu, especially their matcha! read more
I'm back!! They changed up their interior look and its so cute. I got the same cali burrito and it was delicious and not too heavy. I paired that with their banana matcha which was okay, like a 6/10 felt too milky. The seating here is always rough at around noon. But we walked by again around 2 ish and it was less crowded. A staple if you're near the area! read more
20 days ago
There was a pretty long line, and it was definitely hot inside, but the wait was worth it! The coffee was excellent--probably one of the highlights--and everything we ordered tasted incredibly fresh and flavorful. The ingredients felt high quality, and the food was simple but really well done. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, so you can sit outside if you prefer some fresh air. The inside was quite warm when we visited, so keep that in mind. Despite the heat and the wait, I'd definitely come back for the great coffee and fresh, delicious brunch! read more
Teen picked this place off of Instagram. Drove down from LA and found a line but luckily it moved fairly fast! Got the ube pancakes which were very good but the standout here are the breakfast burritos perhaps, the best one we've had and we've had a lot. Great coffees and drinks too. Really busy but managed to find a table at the last minute. read more
5 days ago
There is a bit of a line and there is a good amount of seating but it goes pretty fast so if you really wanna sit down, just keep an eye out and take a table as fast as you can but the decor is cute inside good vibes. The people behind the counter were very helpful. Very nice. It was good. I got the best coffee I've ever had in my life here. I didn't even take a picture of it. I drink it so fast. It was a Hawaii honey latte with walnut milk. It was so good. I have no words I want to come back just for this and I would come back 100 times for it. The breakfast was OK. I'm not big on breakfast. Nothing bad with it. Nothing great about it but come for the coffee. Trust me. read more
The place is very beautiful, I love the wooden seating to the side as well as the surf vibe inside and the umbrella seating outside. I got their special, which was the s'mores latte and the marshmallows were great- it wasn't super sweet so add sugar if you like that and it had a hint of coconut overall great I didn't feel sick after drinking either Service and staff were super nice read more
2 months ago
I found Blue Whale on TikTok and was really excited to try it, but unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype. The food was good, but the service and overall experience were disappointing. They seem to have gotten a lot busier from all the social media attention, but they really need a better system for handling large crowds. There was a long line, no clear directions on where to stand, and employees were repeatedly yelling at everyone to line up "along the ramp" even though there wasn't any obvious ramp or signage. If it's your first time visiting, it's incredibly confusing. It's also a first come, seat yourself setup. We ordered our food only to realize there wasn't a single table available, so we were left standing around waiting for somewhere to sit. It would've been nice if that had been explained before ordering. The girl who took our order was especially rude and showed zero hospitality, which set the tone for the rest of the visit. Between the confusing process, lack of organization, and unfriendly service, it just wasn't an enjoyable experience. The food was decent, but not enough to make up for everything else. Next time, I'll just go across the street to the other brunch spot instead. read more
17 days ago
Food was good but I would just get it to go. Inside was so chaotic and stressful. Burger was good, but needed a tad bit more sauce because it was a lil dry. Fries were delish. read more
2 months ago
My family was spending the weekend in La Jolla Shores, and I wanted to go to Shell Beach to see the tide pools. Low tide was early in the morning, so I wanted to get some breakfast first. A photo of the Ube pancakes at Blue Whale popped up on Yelp and I had to try them. First of all, Ube is the food of my people. My parents would often bring back a jar of Ube from some monastery in the Philippines. Plain Ube is pretty tasty in itself. It's funny and good to see it in different forms now. My next favorite might be Ube ice cream, and then an Ube cheesecake I had. These Ube pancakes were good, but maybe a little too sweet with the amount of syrup they put on it. If you've ever had an Ube donut, it kind of tasted like that with some syrup on top. Would I get it again? Yes, but maybe a healthy dollop of whip cream instead. read more
2 months ago
So glad we stopped by here. The food was delicious and came out quickly! So quickly, the seagulls grabbed themselves a slice as soon as the box touched the table (make sure to protect your food ). Everything here is tasty. The staff is friendly & informative. Great place to go before or after your visit to the aquarium Burger & pretzel were my fav read more
3 days ago
Conveniently located a couple of blocks away from the beach where I had the chance to enjoy this delicious acai bowl! Fast service (for a busy Friday afternoon), and friendly staff. There is seating available but I preferred to get my acai bowl to go so I could enjoy the ocean views! I parked in the two hour parking area down near The Wedding Bowl on Coast Blvd, then walked less than 5 minutes. read more
1 day ago
Such a cute place to grab breakfast at! Breakfast burrito was so good and fresh. Gets busy so I would say go early! Fast service. read more
I wanted to try this place because I kept hearing how awesome it was. Everything sounded great about it, the location, aesthetics, food, beach vibe, and service. What do you know I was able to find parking in La Jolla easily. It just so happened I turned on Fay Street which is another busy street in La Jolla, and someone was backing out of their parking spot, so it was meant to be. I walked a short distance to Kline street which was the cross street of where "Blue Whale" is located. At first, I felt like I was not going to try it here because of the line of people and people everywhere outside and a long line inside the place. I decided to wait because I did not know when I would be back. When walking in, the vibe is cute, casual, and beach themed. The music is energizing and happy too. I placed my order with a friendly cashier and told her I wanted it to go because all the tables outside and inside were filled. But, someone was getting up from their table and I quickly walked over to snag the table inside. I had a cute, small table up against a window. Again, another sign I should try it. I ordered a sugar-free latte and avocado toast with an egg on top for added protein. Guess what, my food arrived in five minutes. Shannon, the manager brought it to me. I was so impressed how fast the service was and the friendliness here being so busy! She runs this place so professionally and efficiently. She is super friendly also! The rest of the staff the cashier, waitresses and waiters were also accommodating, friendly, and helpful too! Shoutout and Kudos to the chefs who create such deliciousness with the food. And, kudos to the baristas also who make such flavorful drinks. You all ROCK! The avocado toast with egg was incredible! So artistic with the presentation and the flavor was pit of this world DIVINE! The coffee was superb! I i understand the hype here! They deserve more than 5 stars! Whether you are a local or visitor, "Blue Whale" is a must! Outstanding in every way! #yelpsandiego #sandiego #lajolla #lajollacalifornia read more
1 month ago
DO NOT GET THE MATCHA OR COLD BREW!! Initially tried their kyoto matcha ($7.54) & there was absolutely 0 matcha flavor. Just plain milk. The workers were not super friendly but did help us replace our drinks when we asked for a replacement. I ended up getting the banana cream cold brew. The cream top was decent but the cold brew tasted like watered down coffee. I couldn't drink it. My friend got a hibiscus fizz tea drink from their seasonal menu but she didn't like that either. We felt bad asking for another replacement or refund so we both just ended up tossing our full drinks. $8 each down the drain :( Also I looked around the seating areas and everyone's matchas looked untouched... so it's not just us!! read more
It's a cute cafe with cozy beachy vibes. But it was just alright and the matchas were just okay. The two signature/seasonal matcha's we got were enjoyable but tasted mostly milky/watered down. On the weekend brunch that we went the line wrapped around the building too so idk what the hype was all about but I wouldn't wanna wait for that lol. The food looked good but we didn't eat there. Drinks: 5/10 Service: 5/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Value: 5/10 read more
4 months ago
Was across the street and I've been wanting to try the coffee here for a while! I'm glad I stopped by the line was long but moved pretty fast. The coffee menu looked super good and the special drink menu caught my eye right away. The drink I ordered was bomb and I added an add shot. I got the lilac dreams w/ oat milk iced, I give it a solid 10/10. I love that you can taste the ube flavor and the espreso in the coffee was nice and smooth. Service was kinda mid, lines were out the door and the location is very small with some seating inside and out. It does get crowded but it could be a vibe. Also, the playlist was on point. I'd come back to try the food menu and another coffee. read more
Blue whale is a super popular cafe near La Jolla shores! Because of social media it blew up so a lot of people come here to try their unique dishes. I specifically wanted to try their Ube pancakes. The pancake was good! However the Ube flavor is not strong but if you just love a good pancake then you'll like it for sure. The downside is because there's so many people there is not enough seats. So I asked for my food Togo in case a seat didn't open up. In summary, it's a cute little cafe, try to come here during off peak hours for a more calm vibe but even if you come the wait isn't super long. read more
My friend and I finally got to trying Blue Whale! We ordered the banana cream top matcha, and I loved how thick the cream was - you can also tell they use real banana! I do wish there was more matcha powder. It was definitely very pricy (we spent $8-9/drink) so definitely an option to treat yourself! The space was really beachy, cute, and aesthetic, and the girls working were so sweet! I'll be back for their food (: read more
I've been here many times and I always feel like it's hit or miss. It almost always has a line so I often don't go for that reason. It's super cute inside and some of the items are good - my favorite is the Build Your Own Acai Bowl because it's one set price for as many mix ins as you want which is shocking in this economy. The Ube pancakes were too dry when we got them but they were pretty. The coffees are often too sweet so I get them half sweet and they're pretty good. The pastry options are always nice; especially the cronuts since I don't see these in other spots in San Diego. The breakfast sandwich is solid and I've heard the burrito is really good. read more
I've been to Blue Whale a couple of times. Mostly I've had takeout coffee & burritos. Today I ordered my Big Wave burrito through Uber Eats. I picked it up, and it was ready at the time promised. Ordering through Uber Eats definitely makes the food more expensive though (by $9). I ordered it this way because I was in a time crunch and I had some Uber Cash to spend. I brought my bounty back to work, and noted that there was a nice crisp on the tortilla, although the flavors were somewhat overpowered by the saltiness of the soyrizo. I think this burrito would taste better if the items were mixed together rather than siloed in separate areas of the dish. I could barely taste the hash browns or the eggs really. But overall, it worked to satiate my morning hunger. This is a busy little cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. It is cute inside and has a rustic, beachy feel. When I walked inside to pick up my food, I noted that most of the tables were full, and there was a line of people waiting to order. I wanted to take more photos to show you the inside, but the place is so small, I felt like I'd be in the spotlight if I was bopping around taking pics. Anyway, this is a nice option for breakfast, brunch, and lunch in the Village. They have a solid selection of breakfast items, drinks, smoothies and bowls. There's street parking, and the area is very walkable. Mahalo! read more
Love this place! It is crazy busy ever since it went viral on social media so you have to get there early. They food and drinks come out really quick but seating is limited. We got their seasonal drinks and were so impressed with the quality and taste! I will definitely be back even if it's for a coffee on the go! read more
3 days ago
Ambiance is good but the disappointed about the food. The pancake was dry and same with the steak. read more
We were around La Jolla and looking for something to eat when we stumbled upon this place. The cafe is super cute from both the outside and the inside. They have a little corner inside where they sell their merch + other items such as jewelry and art prints. Their brunch looked so good but they stop serving at at 3PM. They also had a Build-Your-Own Acai Bowl which I really wanted to try but I ended up going with the Ahi Poke Bowl instead. My partner ordered the Crying Tiger Ribeye (the photos looked so good!!) Our food took a little longer than expected to come out, especially because it wasn't really busy during the time we went. The poke bowl and fries were good. The Crying Tiger Ribeye was way too salty for me but was borderline acceptable to my partner. Everyone is different so I think it would've been better if they only lightly salted it so that the person eating it can adjust it to their taste and add more if necessary. Other than the saltiness, the texture was nice and it was yummy. I really enjoyed the vibes of this place. Super cute! Note: They don't take cash payments! read more
2 months ago
I used to like this place but had a recent visit this last Saturday that just really put me off. The line was pretty crazy so we ordered pickup. The instructions in the pickup site and text were to wait until the staff lets you know it's ready. We waited outside for 40 mins before I walked in to check and saw my bag with my food on the counter. I asked one of the staff if this was ready for pickup and she had rudely told me that next time I need to let the staff know I'm here. Um...im not sure if they forgot to update the status of my order to let me know that but how would I know? Then they made my drinks after I asked another staff member that I was still waiting on my drinks and those came out in the next five mins but to be honest they were mid. The breakfast burrito was good though, but service was bad. Just another hyped up spot thanks to tiktok... read more
2 months ago
Fast service and friendly workers. The food was presented nicely but didn't taste as good as it looked. The ube pancakes were extremely dry even with the provided syrup and had no ube flavor at all. The sandwich was good, but nothing crazy. Besides that, the drinks were good. read more
2 months ago
My friends and I were staying in San Diego over the weekend for the fourth of July. We needed a place with food that would revive us for the journey home and my review sidekick, Meg, found Blue Whale! The line was long but for good reason. The food, coffee, and vibes were unmatched. We ordered quickly, snagged a table, and waited for our food. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but my friends did say the coffee was some of the best they've have. And Megs KNOWS coffee. I got the Big Wave Burrito and I could cry thinking about how good this was. Avocado, eggs, cheese, hash browns, bacon, and a slice of heaven wrapped up in the best flour tortilla that was crisped to perfection. The best spot to grab a bite and head to Seal Beach when you're done :) read more
Food is incredible. Coffee is pretty good as well. There are lots is drink options! Only comment I have is that seating can be very difficult to find as it is such a popular place, so it can be a bit tight if you're trying to dine in on a busy day. read more
3 months ago
Worth the hype ! Yes the line was long with a 30+ min wait. We weren't able to find seating either so we went to a local park to eat. My bf for the lobster roll and I got the crying tiger with a blueberry matcha. The crying tiger and its fries were soooo good. Tender and super flavorful. My bf loved his lobster roll and appreciate it was a big sandwich rather than just a hot dog bun like other places. The blueberry matcha could've been sweeter and the matcha flavor could've been stronger. Little bit on the milky side tho. Definitely recommend this brunch spot ! Food took a fat min to come out tho due to being so crowded read more
100% recommend blue whale for breakfast. This is one of the best breakfast burritos I've had, I asked them to put carne asada in it instead of the default options! All my friends loved their orders too! The food is so high quality and flavorful -- especially their steak! HOWEVER! I would not recommend their lattes, we all felt like our lattes were super milky and the matchas didn't have a taste. Still 5 stars because of how amazing the food is! read more
3 months ago
This place is super cute. Love the beachy vibe. We arrived just after they opened and it wasn't too busy. When we walked back by at 9:45 though it was packed with a line out the door. I really appreciated all the gluten free menu items. We got an açaí bowl and the gluten free French toast. I will be back to try the ube pancakes and the gf chicken and waffle. read more
23 days ago
The blueberry lemon matcha is fire ! The drinks, food, ambience, hospitality, and the service was on point! Highly recommend this place if you are in La Jolla or surrounding area! read more
Small restaurant in La Jolla that gets pretty busy so expect to wait a bit for your food. We came here on a weekday for brunch and were luckily able to snag a table by the entrance before a big group came in. Counter order and find your own table. The blue whale brekky, steak & eggs, and French toast were all delicious. I really like the sauteed greens that came with the brekky. The French toast was beautiful and was basically desserts for breakfast. Yum!Portions were big. read more
4 months ago
The coffee, food, and service were all great. I was pleasantly surprised with the short wait time for receiving the food and drinks. Seating is limited with how busy the place gets but tables do turnover quickly. read more
2 months ago
blue whale is definitely a very cute spot and popular for a reason. you can't beat the cottage-feel of the cafe, and their food / drinks are pretty good! i am taking off a star though from my latest experience. we had ordered coffees online for pickup and had been waiting for probably 30 minutes when they still had not been called out/ready yet. we finally asked someone if the drinks were coming out, they said that they don't start making the online drink orders until you "check in with someone at the cafe" which was not clear at all when we ordered online. they finally made the drinks after that but it was a very confusing experience. if that is their policy they should definitely make that way more clear moving forward! read more
5 months ago
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More info about Blue Whale
834 Kline St
La Jolla, CA 92037
La Jolla
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(858) 352-6580
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https://www.bluewhalesd.com
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Blue Whale - cafes - Updated August 2026
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