Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Install the Yelp app
    Continue your search on the app. It’s easier!

    Food for Thought Cafe

    4.5 (41 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Food for Thought Cafe Photos

    FOOD FOR THOUGHT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    More like Food for Thought Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - Food for Thought Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Today's specials
    Greg M.

    Thanks for a relaxing Sunday breakfast after a fun weekend in Joshua Tree. Friendly and helpful woman at the counter. Great selection of healthy foods options. Cool musician enhanced the vibe without dominating the scene. Cheers!

    Breakfast tacos
    Lynn M.

    I've been coming to Food for Thought Café since they opened, and it's one of the few places I actually like eating out at. I usually cook for myself and don't eat out much because the food quality is hit or miss, but this place is different. The veggies are always super fresh, and the food tastes like something I'd make at home. Even the dressings and sauces are all made in-house, and they add so much flavor to every dish! Chef Dave is incredible--constantly coming up with creative new dishes. Jackie and the rest of the staff are super friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Whether you're vegan, vegetarian, or just into fresh, quality food, this place is definitely worth it.

    Amber M.

    I stopped by at about 3:30pm on a Friday afternoon, not to many people there and it had a very chill vibe. The guy behind the counter was very personable and gave me good recommendations. I got the tostada bowl with an egg on top and it was delicious and I got it to go.

    Special salad from the chef, dude had talent.
    Gabe P.

    Had the pleasure of stumbling upon this place on our trip. The chef was nice enough to make my girlfriend a big salad out of some stuff he had prepped in the back since they didn't have one on the menu (best salad we ever had) and I got their mushroom lentil stew. It was the perfect spot to fuel up before hiking and the patio was incredibly relaxing. Took a walk through the art garden after. This place is rad.

    Beautiful place
    Jerica M.

    An interesting experience. I came across this cafe as I've passed by the retreat center every time I went to visit JT. We came here for a quick lunch and I needed a place to do some remote work. The potato chips were amazing as well as the vegan burger. However you can tell the difference of how customers are treated as locals vs visitors. Two different customers were staring me down hard... Very strange as this center is a place for spiritual healing...we should all learn to love and show respect for one another. My bf had tried to order some food several times but every time he was inside, the cashier was not there. The rest of the staff seemed nice and polite. I recommend sitting by the koi pond. I felt very relaxed while I was dealing with some complicated work stuff. Even my dog was at peace!

    Working at their comfy couch with a beautiful view with a nice cup of coffee
    Bri R.

    An amazing experience all around. The service was homey and the staff is so kind and accommodating. The breakfast burrito was yummy and we had a coffee and a pastry too. The atmosphere was so peaceful and an amazing place to work remotely.

    The vortex burger is amazing!! Can't recommend it enough, such a unique flavor and perfect crunch to it. The whole area is so cool as well. Come visit!

    In the patio for lunch.
    Charmaine G.

    I have been to the MentalPhysics Center a few times but never had the opportunity to eat here at Food for Thought Café. Well, I am so happy I finally got the chance to try it after seeing that it has a 5-star rating. Since the weather was pleasant we agreed on eating on the patio and overlooking the lovely grounds. We went into the large restaurant to order, Joe was behind the counter and was super friendly, plus gave us suggestions. We decided on three items to share and the thirst-quenching Aqua Fresca. The food was amazingly wonderful. This will be a great place to return to when in the Joshua Tree area. 5-stars for sure.

    Veggie burger and sweet potato wedges

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3
    Photo of Rama B.
    1
    39
    51

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Greg M.
    49
    33
    31

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna R.
    258
    20
    4

    3 months ago

    Absolutely amazing food and prices are great. Loved sitting outside next to the pond.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lynn M.
    26
    18
    10

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Great food, great prices, great service, great views. Go over to the gift shop when you're done, it's great too

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gabe P.
    117
    44
    13

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hila N.
    289
    14
    3

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Good food and Jackie is an amazingly welcoming cool lady. Love her homemade baked goods. Delicious!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jo B.
    123
    178
    12

    1 year ago

    Gorgeous place with great food! Everyone that works here is so nice too! Highly recommend!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Very lovely peaceful atmosphere, very yummy food and low priced, quick and friendly service.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C A.
    0
    36
    0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mehul M.
    2
    188
    199

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Wonderful! Such pleasant staff & good value and delicious healthy meals in a beautiful setting! Love it there!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of erin c.
    4
    37
    46

    3 years ago

    Great food, lovely surroundings and great atmosphere. I love this place to hang out in the morning.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bob M.
    1
    22
    5

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Food for Thought Cafe

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Cafes 344 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The Tiny Pony - Our famous indoor view of the disco ball and our favorite animal art.

    The Tiny Pony

    4.2(578 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    Okay, being totally honest, this wasn't the absolute best food of our entire Joshua Tree-Palm…read moreSprings trip, but a close 2nd. BUT it was definitely the biggest, most positive surprise when it came to expectations vs. actual quality! We landed in Palm Springs late in the evening and were starving on our way out to Joshua Tree. After a quick Yelp search for something open past 7-8pm, this spot popped up. We pulled into a super quiet parking lot and found this tiny little place. Looking at it from the outside, we honestly figured it would just be a quick, forgettable pitstop. Boy, were we wrong. For starters, the place was relatively full for a Tuesday evening! We ordered the duck confit nachos, the kimchi bulgogi sandwich, and the pony wings. Wow! Granted, our expectations were unfairly low walking in, but this turned out to be probably our second-best meal of the entire week--and we ate out every single day! It absolutely crushed it in terms of exceeding expectations. It also helped that we happened to be there on a Wednesday, so all the wines were half-priced! Unfortunately, since we weren't familiar with the area, we didn't know exactly how much further we had to drive to our accommodations, so we couldn't imbibe more in such a welcoming environment. (Missed opportunity, but safety first!) Oh, and definitely save room for dessert--their pie with ice cream of the day was delicious too! If you are passing through, do not sleep on this place. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the area!

    My family and I visited the The Tiny Pony for the fist time. Upon walking in, the walls were FILLED…read morewith pictures. My toddlers favorite was the picture of snoopy by the kitchen. The young lady who served us was very sweet and understanding. We had a 2yrld with us and we requested extra pickles (cuz that's all that toddlers want).Eventually another staff member visited our table for some chit chat and had a laugh. We ordered 2 entrees and an app. Crispy chicken sandwich - the crispy coating slid off of the chicken thigh but still had some good flavor. The jalapeño ranch was expected to have somewhat of a kick but was more of a love tap. Imo, the crispy potato chips were a nice touch. Pretzel balls - excited for pretzels and cheese, the plate arrives at the table looking more like falafel than pretzels, they taseted burnt. The cheese they come with however, SPOT ON! My fiance had the Tiny Pony burger and stated the caramelized onions were top notch. Then she proceeded to scarf the burger down and say "it was alright"..... make it make sense. Overall, we will be visiting The Tiny Pony again in the future.

    Photos
    The Tiny Pony - We make smash burgers and sauces in our scratch kitchen every day until late.

    We make smash burgers and sauces in our scratch kitchen every day until late.

    The Tiny Pony
    The Tiny Pony - Our backyard is pup-friendly!

    See all

    Our backyard is pup-friendly!

    Royal Siam Cuisine Thai Restaurant - Pad Thai

    Royal Siam Cuisine Thai Restaurant

    3.9(393 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    We again tried Royal Thai in Joshua Tree, new management…read more I have fairly extreme problems with any ethnic food not designed vegetarian...and while they did not have any meals meals designated vegan or vegetarian, after the explanation that after 55 years, my body could not handle "oyster sauce" or anything animal. Believing that I was ordering "incredibly bland", asking for my mixed vegetables only with "garlic and ginger"...they offered "salt". I asked for no salt as well. It was not busy and the kitchen agreed... My meal was FABULOUS...the produce used was fresh and flavorful, and the meal was incredibly NOT salty...so I could taste the robust flavors. My wife, not vegetarian also ordered mixed vegetables...normal...and added shrimp...and her verdict was the shrimp tasted as fresh as any quality shrimp she has had in CA. Hint: their levels of "spicy hot" may exceed your levels of comfort...order and amend to taste. We are delighted that we do not need to drive to Palm Springs for Thai...less than 2 miles from us.

    I'm writing to share a very disappointing experience we had with a recent order this restaurant…read more We ordered the pork salted and the beef larb. When I picked up the food, I noticed the beef larb was made with ground beef rather than sliced beef, which is what we normally expect. I even looked over the food at pickup, and your staff member kindly asked if everything was okay. Unfortunately, after eating the food at our Airbnb, we noticed a strong and unpleasant aftertaste. We didn't want to waste the food, so we ate it anyway--but both my husband and I became sick the next day. My husband had significant stomach issues, and we both experienced diarrhea throughout the day. It was especially upsetting as this happened during our vacation and impacted our plans. I wanted to bring this to your attention because this was not just a matter of taste, but of food safety and quality. We were very disappointed by the experience and hope you take this feedback seriously.

    Photos
    Royal Siam Cuisine Thai Restaurant - Inside

    Inside

    Royal Siam Cuisine Thai Restaurant - Pineapple fried rice. Pad Thai noodles.

    Pineapple fried rice. Pad Thai noodles.

    Royal Siam Cuisine Thai Restaurant - Outside

    See all

    Outside

    Roadrunner Grab+Go

    Roadrunner Grab+Go

    4.5(171 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    A perfect stop before hiking Joshua Tree for your breakfast, lunch or snack grab-and-go needs, with…read moremore than just the usual lame brands and items. Located next to the JT visitor center west entrance and about 5 miles from the park entrance. We arrived to this small local place just as they were opening at 7:30 am and they had breakfast sandwiches being made, mostly with bacon, egg and cheese but they'll make you sausage or other variation as well. They also have a good selection of other breakfast items like hard boiled eggs, cheese, fruits, yogurt parfait, salad and deli lunch sandwiches. Additionally they sell various hot and cold drinks, organic JT coffee beans that they'll grind for you, salty and sweet snacks, California dates and roadrunner t-shirts. Prices are not cheap but comparable to other similar places and Starbucks. We appreciated the friendly staff. The breakfast sandwich was delicious, though it did take a bit to make.

    Pretty great selection and prices honestly for a quick stock up before heading into the weeds. We…read moregot cookies, chips, hummus, and sandwiches which were cooked in a pretty good way and kombucha. My family really enjoyed the sandwiches and it was a great pick me up for an overall fun trip. The uglies chips are the item I would skip on the most as they were not as appetizing as the rest. The cookies were good however wish they had more flavors other than the two.

    Photos
    Roadrunner Grab+Go
    Roadrunner Grab+Go - Taffy Assortment

    Taffy Assortment

    Roadrunner Grab+Go

    See all

    Food for Thought Cafe - cafes - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...