Cafe Bella

Hidden Gem!!! Place…read moreis not meant for picking up and ordering out, there is seating there, so more than welcome to go in and sit. Just not spacious enough for me. When reading the reviews the only negative you're going to see is "wait time". If you know take out, you know ways around this "negative". But with that being said me and my lady ordered 2 açaí bowls and they were ready in about 12-15 minutes. Not a problem for us. You can make your own bowl or choose from pre made recipes. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! I am definitely coming back!!! See you soon cafe 88

Cute spot! It's a small place, so I'd recommend getting it to-go, but it was still really nice…read moresitting inside while we waited for our order. We ordered the Fit açaí bowl for our friend to take home, and she absolutely LOVED it. We weren't hungry enough to get anything for ourselves, but I appreciated how the guy at the counter asked if we wanted anything drizzled on top. We chose almond butter (and silently prayed our friend didn't have a nut allergy ). Turns out, that was the best choice because she said the almonds were her favorite part. Now we're definitely curious and will have to come back to try the bowls for ourselves next time!

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The order counter and menu.

Tropifruit 100% Natural Juice Bar

3.9(388 reviews)

2.0 mi

Still a go to! I always order here for lunches when I'm working. Anna is so nice and has amazing…read moreservice. I've been getting the tuna salad which is always packed full and has a good variety of toppings including lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, cheese, avocado, carrots. The special torta is also really good. The prices have gradually gone up but still worth it!

I don't go there very often because I live on the east side of El Cajon but when I do get to go…read morethere I always order the large smoothie with strawberries,pineapple and yogurt it's a little bit pricey, when the fruit is ripe it is amazing so yummy but when the fruit isn't ripe it's kinda sour so it's kinda hard to know if the fruit is going to be ripe or not.

Seating area

Large fruit salad

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Fruity loco

4.7(263 reviews)

4.3 mi

I love all the snack options sometimes the lime tastes artificial so I ask to have no lime juice on…read morestuff but other than that everything is pretty tasty

I've been trying to cut back on caffeinated drinks, so I've been replacing them with healthier…read moreoptions like smoothies. It was a hot day, and a smoothie sounded perfect. The menu had so many fruit options, along with fun snacks like chips topped with fruit and hot sauce. I got to choose two fruits for my smoothie -- I went with mango and pineapple -- and it was absolutely delicious. Fresh, sweet, and super refreshing -- definitely a 10/10! The service was fine, not very welcoming but straight to the point. I'd definitely come back next time I'm in the area.

Avocado Toast

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Menu Mar 2026

Vanitea Café

4.4(256 reviews)

4.3 mi

I love Vanitea Cafe!! I am addicted to their snow bubble drinks and I just want to keep coming back…read moreto order all of their flavors and just in time for summer. The snow bubble drink is the consistency of a shaved ice with milk. You can choose from quite a few milks like whole, coconut, oat, and more. You can choose the level of sweetness you like from full sweet, 50% sweet, or 25% sweet so it's perfect every time because I don't like it too sweet. They have a whole selection of boba you can add to your drink so the combinations to these drinks are endless. They also have a happy hour when you can get discounted drinks which makes it a really good deal. So far all of the cashiers have been friendly and super helpful when I ask them questions. Of you live in the Ranch San Diego area, Vanitea is a must!!

Piña Colada Boba is a MUST…read more Vanitea Cafe never disappoints, but the piña colada boba? Next level. It's perfectly balanced creamy coconut, fresh pineapple flavor, and that smooth boba texture that ties it all together. Super refreshing without being overly sweet. It honestly tastes like summer in a cup. The vibe inside is clean and aesthetic, great spot to chill or catch up with friends. Staff is always friendly and drinks come out quick and fresh. If you're thinking about trying something different from your usual milk tea, go with the piña colada boba. Easy 5 stars every time.

Coconut Snow Bubble

Green Tea with Cheese Foam

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Vietnamese Drip Coffee

Surf City Squeeze

3.9(114 reviews)

1.8 mi

The Strawberry Banana smoothie is a staple at Surf City Squeeze for a reason. It's creamy, fruity…read moreand smooth. The service was also pretty quick. I received my drink in less than 5 minutes and the ambiance was pleasant and quiet since the Walmart is not there anymore. 5 stars!

I've been coming to this location for almost 20 years and it never disappoints, they hands down…read morehave the best smoothies in San Diego county! The owner makes sure to always use good quality products and it shows

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Sprouts Farmers Market

3.7(199 reviews)

0.8 mi

Excellent service nice greeting Huda I enjoy shopping got everything what I need. I enjoy the 50%…read moreoff

Very nice service from Huda today. She was a great help and really kind! Helped me put my food into…read morethe grocery bags.

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Regular sandwich menu (as of 10/2/2025)

Blendees

4.7(54 reviews)

0.9 mi

I have wanted to try this place for years but was never around when they were open but I finally…read moregot to try it today and we left incredibly happy. I believe Monique owns the place but she was there with the best attitude. She was so welcoming and kind that I knew we would return even if the flavors were mediocre. Thankfully, our smoothies were delicious. I ordered a large Royal for $11 and my daughter got a medium Majestic for $8. Sounds kind of pricey but considering the superb customer service (which is hard to find these days!) and fresh ingredient smoothies, it was well worth it. The large was also HUGE with perfect consistency. I would much rather support Monique than a corporation. We will definitely go back. Hoping to make it a weekly stop for us!

The person who took our order and made it was very nice and professional. Very personable too…read more Outside of the tiny building has pretty murals. Generous portion for the large. Delicious. We enjoyed

Large Royal and regular Majestic

ImLarge pomegranate, mango, strawberry

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Incredible Hulk on the left. Piercing on the right!

Extraordinary Fruits

4.3(360 reviews)

4.8 mi

Nice spot for a quick small bite to eat or grab a smoothie! Shrimp and chicken tacos were good.read more

I come here at least once a month. This place been here for years and I love it. They do get busy…read moreat times. The menu is great. The food is delicious.

Caesar Wrap

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NEW!! Chilaquiles de la casa.

Sweet And Green

4.5(177 reviews)

1.4 mi

Ordered the chipotle chicken wrap, açaí smoothie and the Malibu smoothie…read moreBoth of the smoothies were really good and massive. Mondays and Fridays they do a special for them whether a dollar off or buy one, get one half off. The chicken wraps were also good, I'm not a huge fan of a lot of sauce and im 90% sure that they use frozen chicken, so those were the only downsides, but preferences Service was super quick. We were in and out in about 10 min.

The tuna was just tuna. It was really bland, even with the jalapeños it was nothing exciting. The…read moreservice wasn't great either. I asked about the free Agua Fresca with purchase of a sandwich and she pretty much yelled at me and told me that I got a wrap not a sandwich so it doesn't qualify. The inside was clean but pretty warm and there wasn't much airflow. The only good thing was the chipotle sauce and cilantro sauce. I was pretty excited about the tuna based on reviews but it was a let down.

Inside

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Cucumber and watermelon Aguas Fresca

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Gerrie H.

165

303

2 years ago

Cafe Bella is a fantastic new addition to the El Cajon coffee scene and absolutely worth supporting! They offer an awesome selection, including breakfast bowls, bites, smoothies, coffee, and tea--everything you need to start your day or enjoy a midday pick-me-up. The prices are super reasonable, and the quality is spot on. They even have a drive-through for convenience, though I've always opted to eat inside. The place is clean, airy, and has such a welcoming vibe that it's hard to resist staying for a bit. Plus, there's ample parking, making it super easy to stop by. This spot has quickly become a go-to for me when I am in the area and I highly recommend it! read more

Leann L.

331

5 years ago

I get an Italian soda 2-3x a week and it's never consistent. :( had to start asking for light cream because ended up with a flavored cup of half n half one time. This is the aftermath of my Italian soda "light cream, light ice" Will continue to go back though because it's the only Italian soda in the area! read more

Loren S.

164

5 years ago

The BEST to come to El Cajon!!! Ever since they opened Ive gone every day before work and the drive thru makes it all the more convenient! If you want amazing açaí bowls this is your place! Love supporting small businesses! read more

Delia K.

5 years ago

I go there and I get my mocha Bellaccino from drive thru always the best frank the owner makes sure hundred percent good quality before it goes out of the window I loved it I will definitely keep going back read more

Demian G.

4 months ago

Who is the lease holder? I just wanna talk lmao So sad my favorite reading/writing spot while my dog got groomed is gone. The way my heart fell seeing the building entirely stripped... :( read more

rick V.

4 months ago

The only people that gave five stars must be family members cause this place really sucked. Glad they're gone.Next

Socorro F.

4 years ago

This place is so good and they have many options on their menu. If you like good coffee give this place a try!

Fawaz K.

4 years ago

Best place for açaí bowls and coffee. There empanadas are great fresh bagels ,very friendly staff. read more

Cafe Bella - coffee - Updated September 2026

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