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    Fresh Cafe

    4.6 (148 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    FRESH CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Fresh Cafe

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    Jude G.

    December 16. First time here. Pretty good place. The sexy ass woman on the front helped us out today. We got two Mexican bowls, one supposed to be spicy, the second not. We so got the toast meal thingy that I forgot. Ended up spending around fifty dlars. In the quite small restaurant open seating, parking was just great, when we got here though there was not much peoples. Yet in my opinion the food well my food was absolutely great.

    Marcus F.

    The issue isn't the concept or the food. The issue is the price and the effort. If you're wealthy you could dine here every day for lunch and be very satisfied with the food. If you're not that, you might feel that you've paid too much for a mid looking bowl. At this price point, other similar healthy bowl cafés elevate their bowls. More complex ingredients and definitely a better presentation. Unfortunately, while the salads and bowls tasted good, they're not good enough to warrant a return visit.

    Cathy B.

    We have enjoyed the healthy food and cute atmosphere before so today coming to the big Escondido street fair we came here. I got a salmon bowl and hubby had chicken and the mango salsa was pretty and yummy

    Outside vibes
    Jan L.

    I saw an interview in Magazine about this cute little cafe and We always drive by on the way to church. So, today we decided to try the Fresh Cafe for lunch. They did not disappoint! Greeted by a very nice young lady behind the counter, cutely decorated with a relax bohemian style atmosphere. Inside and outside seating. We sat outside where It felt like we were on vacation. My husband order the Chica-kiles breakfast, which had a red and green sauces. I snuck a bite, it was so good and the green sauce tastes homemade! My order was Mediterranean bowl with Salmon as my protein, instead of a lamb leg. The salmon was beautifully cooked and garlic cilantro sauce was so good. When we go back, because we will, I'm going to ask for extra sauce. Kudos Fresh Cafe for great tasting HEALTHY food and for making your home in Escondido!

    Delicious and refreshing Hibiscus ice tea with strawberries. Must try!!!
    Marie M.

    A dear friend who is vegan suggested grabbing lunch at Fresh Cafe, where I visited for the first time. The iced hibiscus tea with strawberries was so delicious and refreshing and you get a refill for a mere $1.50. I enjoyed the Miami bowl which included sweet fried plantains. Service was friendly and I love the spring-summery tropical decor.

    The table decor!
    Heidi M.

    The people who work at Fresh Café are absolutely wonderful--friendly, kind, and welcoming. The kitchen area looks clean, and the food itself was wonderful! We especially enjoyed the refreshing hibiscus tea. That said, the restaurant itself really needs a major overhaul. While the tables were clean, the restroom was in terrible condition, and the overall space just feels dirty and old. Either there's no air conditioning or it simply doesn't work, because it was very uncomfortable inside. On the weekend, our group of friends was surprised to find a painting class going on in the dining area. The teacher was miked up, making it hard for us to even hear each other talk. The décor also feels very dated--the strings of lights with visible plugs and the worn, homemade-style shades hanging from the ceiling only add to the rundown look. This café has so much potential, and with an investment in a light, fresh redesign, it could really shine. The food and staff deserve a better space!

    Earthy Bowl
    Mags A.

    My partner and I eat here frequently and we're vegan! Although Fresh Cafe is not all vegan, they have tofu and mushrooms as protein options and all of their sauces are dairy free. I got the earthy bowl! It's my go-to. My partner has gotten most of the signature bowls on the lunch menu and the chica-quiles! I'll also get the fruit tea of the day. The employees are always so nice. It's so easy to come back here and get some nourishing HEALTHY food !!! Love you fresh cafe !

    Miami Bowl

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    2 years ago

    I can't decide which is better- the food or the ambiance! The staff is very helpful and friendly as well :)

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    3 years ago

    Love their Buddha bowl but I sub out the tofu and add the lamb. Great food and very fresh. Highly recommend!

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    3 years ago

    The Mediterranean Bowl was perfect. Delicious lamb! Really clean and airy inside. I'll be back

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    2 years ago

    This place is amazing! I don't think I've ever had such flavorful dishes like this, definitely my new favorite restaurant :)

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    2 years ago

    Food is fresh and wonderful. The restaurant aesthetic is lovely and the staff very very nice. This will be my new go to in Escondido!

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    Page 3 of 4

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    James Coffee

    James Coffee

    3.9
    (195 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    The staff is great. The manager is awesome. David Taylor always takes care of us whenever we go…read moremaking sure we get the best quality espresso. We can Definitely a cool coffee shop in San Diego. The pastries here are pretty good. I heard they just changed the bagels only made by their sister Co.. I need to give those a try I got the coffee soda basically like an espresso tonic pretty good the glass that it comes i in his super cool and different to most of the places you get coffee at the side of the building is small, but still kind of spacious in a way gives us pretty cool atmosphere. I heard they're gonna do some more upgrades to the inside, making it feel a little more home like that's cool cause I like cozy spots with a manly touch concrete leather metals. It's just a vibe.

    I wanted to give this place another shot, I know people love. I was in the area and popped in…read more I ordered a large hot non fat mocha. Which is my standard order. And picked up an almost croissant. They do not shelve non fat milk, but have oat and almond. So I went with oat. Two customers that came after me go thier drinks first. And when mine came up, it was lovely but not right. It was a cold mocha. They remade it. It was just a wee annoying, especially since I was coming here with the hopes of a mind blowing experience. The coffee was fine. The staff seem to know the local regulars and chat them up appropriately. The seating it still hard and uncomfortable. I'll try again one more time to see if hey flip my bippy. So far two stars for they way they interacted with other. One star for the pastry and the coffee mis up and late service was a - of stars. And my picky pastry folks (she knows who she is) would say it's not a true croissant, as there are cuts across the pastry... but it's buttery and flaky..

    Photos
    My first "coffee" experience with my kids. What a special experience! The hot chocolate gives them the vibe.
    My first "coffee" experience with my kids. What a special experience! The hot chocolate gives them the vibe.
    Seasonal special
    Seasonal special
    Roasting room

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    Roasting room
    Matcha Cafe Maiko

    Matcha Cafe Maiko

    4.4
    (300 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I visited the Escondido Matcha Cafe Maiko for the first time last week! I can officially say I've…read morevisited all three locations in San Diego! There was plenty of parking in the plaza. There were a few tables, and high top bar seating inside the location. I enjoyed a matcha latte with less sweetness, less ice, and with boba. The boba quality was great! I feel like the boba could be hit or miss at the Mira Mesa branch.

    This matcha place is really all about matcha. I got the tiramisu hojicha latte and the tiramisu…read morematcha latte. Both drinks come with an actual slice of tiramisu on top, which surprised me, l thought it would be more like a tiramisu flavored drink with hojicha or matcha mixed in. The tiramisu itself is really good, but personally I don't think it goes well with the drink. The texture of the cake while sipping the latte feels a little off. I also tried the nitro Vietnamese coffee. It was unusual because when you hear "Vietnamese coffee" you expect something strong, but this one was light and you can really taste the milk. I really enjoyed the bubble waffle series-especially the Oreo one. It's really good. The honey toast series was okay, nothing special. I got the honey toast with ice cream, and I remember honey toast being crispy but still easy to eat. This one wasn't crispy at all and the bread was tough. Overall, this place is reall good for matcha drinks.

    Photos
    Matcha Cafe Maiko
    Matcha Cafe Maiko
    Matcha & vanilla swirl with banana pudding

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    Matcha & vanilla swirl with banana pudding
    Manzanita Roasting Company and Coffee House

    Manzanita Roasting Company and Coffee House

    4.4
    (191 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I love the ambience here, but always feel a little meh about the coffee, but let me explain: I'm a…read morebold coffee person. I love a rich roast. Their coffee tends towards a brighter, citric flavor that reminds me very much of cold brew. Which I don't care for. But others might! So if a brighter, lighter flavor is what you enjoy (what up tea people) then this might be the place you're looking for. And again, I adore the vibe here. Probably the chillest work/read spot in all of Escondido. Parking can be rough if downtown is busy, but only if you're adamant about needing to be very close for mobility reasons etc. Otherwise you can usually find something walkable. Beautiful, open cafe with a lovely view of the small park across the street and downtown Esco.

    I stopped by on a quiet Wednesday afternoon to get some work done. I was really hoping to love this…read morespot since it's so close to my house, but the experience was a bit of a letdown. The Service: The staff greeted me promptly and took my order without any issues. They were polite and efficient, although a little busy amongst themselves. The Coffee: Unfortunately, the latte was the biggest drawback--it tasted quite bitter and over-extracted. I'd love to make this my "regular" neighborhood spot, but the coffee quality needs to be more consistent for that to happen. The Atmosphere: It's a quiet environment, which was good for productivity. Great location and friendly service, but I'm hoping the espresso improves!

    Photos
    Avocado toast, with housemade pickled onions and local microgreens, on levain bread
    Avocado toast, with housemade pickled onions and local microgreens, on levain bread
    The front of the shop on Grand Ave., Escondido. MANZANITA is located in the Grand theater complex
    The front of the shop on Grand Ave., Escondido. MANZANITA is located in the Grand theater complex
    Brown Butter Latte.

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    Brown Butter Latte.
    EscoGelato

    EscoGelato

    4.7
    (1k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Just went here today, it was amazing!! I got the s'mores…read moremocha and sweet cream caramel and my boyfriend got the blueberry lemon with sweet cream caramel. They had very cute outside seating and it was absolutely perfect!! It was very light weight compared to ice cream, and didn't hurt my stomach or make me feel sugared out. I would def come back!

    Reasonably priced with generous portions, but the flavors were ultimately underwhelming…read more There were 14 flavors available during my visit, including two sorbets. While the selection was respectable, there were not many particularly unique offerings. Most leaned heavily toward familiar vanilla or chocolate based profiles. The staff was generous with samples and allowed me to try as many flavors as I wanted, but unfortunately none of the three that caught my attention truly impressed me. The espresso was perhaps the weakest rendition I have encountered. It lacked both the boldness and aroma that make coffee flavored ice cream appealing. Whether the espresso itself was too diluted or simply not brewed strongly enough, the flavor struggled to make any impact. The stracciatella featured a straightforward milk base studded with chocolate shards. While this was a very traditional interpretation without unnecessary additions, the ice cream lacked the richness and depth needed to carry such a simple flavor profile. The chocolate provided texture, but the base itself felt flat. The sour cream and brown sugar ended up being my favorite of the three, largely because the brown sugar was actually distinguishable. The sour cream contributed an unusual tanginess that made the flavor more interesting, though the balance was inconsistent. Some bites highlighted the warm sweetness of the brown sugar, while others tasted predominantly of sour cream, creating a combination that occasionally felt at odds with itself. I appreciated that the small size included two flavors, and the employee serving me was generous with the scoops. Still, this ended up being a fairly forgettable stop. Those who enjoy gelato with bold, inventive, or highly concentrated flavors may find the offerings here a bit too restrained.

    Photos
    EscoGelato
    1 scoop pistachio, 1 scoop brown butter pecan with affogato.
    1 scoop pistachio, 1 scoop brown butter pecan with affogato.
    Matcha Strawberry Gelato and Candy Bar Gelato - size small

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    Matcha Strawberry Gelato and Candy Bar Gelato - size small

    Fresh Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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