I admit that I have never stepped into the Hugs Cafe, but I was given a cookie made by them at a charity event I attended. Wow, was this cookie fantastic. It tasted like a lemon-almond cookie. The cookie was cute, it was just the right size and it melted in my mouth. If all of their baked goods and food are as good as this cookie, it makes me want to drive to McKinney to check out their fare. I think I will! read more

My mom and me went shopping and downtown McKinney and decided to stop and hugs for lunch, and let's just say that was one of the best lunches we've had in a long time. I ordered the turkey sandwich with tomato basil soup, and my mom ordered the pecan strawberry chicken salad. Everything was delicious. We could not believe how amazing everything tasted!! Super fresh and hearty. You can definitely tell they make all of their stuff from scratch. The service was phenomenal. We will definitely be coming back!!! read more

Hugs Cafe - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

See all

This is our favorite place to eat while we are downtown. Love their mission and that cherry almond spread.

I was in the downtown area shopping and decided I needed a light lunch. I had heard about hugs cafe and decided to stop in. I had heard about their mission and I wanted to support and try everything out. Everyone at the cafe was SUPER nice and they really do give hugs!! I got the Chicken salad sandwich with a ceasar salad, 2 wedding cookies and 2 chocolate chip cookies. plan was to take the cookies home later to eat for a treat. the sandwich was so good. It was the perfect blend of everything for me. my only problem was the sandwich was a little too big. LOL. it's not really a problem, but I really wanted to finish it and I regretted being so arrogant with my choice with finishing it. lol When I was waiting to pay, a lady in line behind me was telling her friend "OMG the wedding cookies here are SO SO GOOD. They are SO SO GOOD. omg so so good! I come here just for those cookies!!" whatever, lady. they can't be that good. no...she was correct. those COOKIES!!! OMG. I bit into one as I was finishing up lunch and my eyes shot open b/c it was a flavor explosion!!! it tasted like brides cake ice cream from Blue Bell. I ran to the front to buy a dozen so I could share with my friends. What do I get for eating lunch at 2p when the place closes at 3p? Cookies are GONE! All gone!! NOOOOO!!! I will just have to go back and dine here again and buy a dozen of cookies before they disappear. read more

Hugs Cafe - Chicken salad sandwich with ceasar salad - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

See all

Came in for lunch from out of town. Found this cute little restaurant in McKinney. My husband had 1/2 sandwich (roast beef) and potato salad. I had the strawberry chicken spinach salad. Both entrees were delicious. Would come here again! Would have rated this a 5 but they had no tea today. Maybe next time? read more

Hugs Cafe - Half roast beef sandwich with potato salad - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

See all

Love that we found this place! It feels like you walked into someone's home. We were greeted with kindness and the PBLT on marble rye and tomato soup was excellent. We orders 3 dozen cookies to go and every order comes with a chocolate heresy's hug. Great touch. read more

We try and visit HUGS once a month. The service provided by these Special Needs Adults is incredible. The food is awesome with many choices. I love the training they are providing for the employees and we will support them any way we can. read more

Went there for lunch and thought it was OK, not great. I give 5 stars because you don't leave this place without a hug from one of the employees. At first, I was a little uncomfortable but after I left, I just fell warm fuzziness. It's like going home and getting lunch at Mom's. read more

Charming, delicious and serving a lovely mission of acceptance and growth for all. I look forward to returning.

Hands down the best experience ever. Such loving staff and a beautiful patio to sit on. Their wedding cake cookies are amazing! read more

Delicious food and amazing service. Our hostess gave excellent food recommendations. The Wedding cookie completely lived up to the hype! We will be back read more

This place simply left me feeling happy!! This is a special place that is primarily run by adults with special needs. When we walked in, we were greeted by several enthusiastic staffers encouraging us to join in and do the twist, as in the dance. Of course, we had to play along...and the mood was set. They have a special menu with instructions on how to fill out before you go to the cash register and they take your order. Everyone was SO friendly and helpful...I mean, totally awesome! I had a half veggie sandwich on marble rye with a cup of tomato basil soup. When our order was delivered, our plates were presented along with silverwear and cloth napkins. Soup was very hot and tasty. The sandwich was very fresh and had a nice balance of different veggies. The food is simple, fresh, and definitely made with love. Bathrooms were clean and well stocked (always an important factor). For a casual bite to eat and support a wonderful cause, as well as get a huge dose of love and happiness, you must give this place a try. I would love to see more places like this and look into how you can help support in other ways to boot. My tummy is full and my heart is overflowing. Keep up the great work y'all. You MUST go and see for yourself. Enjoy y'all! read more

See all

My friend heard about Hugs Cafe and how they employ those with special needs. We love this concept, and loved the food and service. The staff and volunteers were so sweet. Both my friend and I had the spinach strawberry salad with grilled chicken. The salad was very fresh with sweet strawberries and wonderful housemate candied pecans. We were offered yummy snowball cookies. The sandwiches and soups looked good too. Come support this wonderful cafe and enjoy the yummy food. We will be back! read more

Hugs Cafe - Spinach strawberry salad with grilled chicken, feta, and candied pecans - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

Hugs Cafe you did not disappoint at all!! This cafe employs differently abled teens and adults and each meal is served with a hug. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich on wheat with potato salad and it was amazing. This place is definitely going on the regular rotation. Along with enjoying a delicious sandwich, I had a wonderful conversation with a busboy whose birthday is next month. He was looking forward to going to Target to shop with the gift card he knew he was getting and then go to Chilis for supper. I have to agree, that sounds like the perfect way to spend a day! read more

Hugs Cafe - Chicken salad on wheat, side of potato salad, served with a huge smile and a "hug." - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

Excellent service and food by a group of special needs adults! Just overall impressed with the entire operation. Keep up the great work!!! read more

This was a fantastic place to have lunch. We arrived just before closing and they welcomed us in and served us as if they were not closing. The staff all thanked us for stopping in and wished us well as we left. It was very apparent that everyone working there today was happy to be there. The food was amazing and I hope more people visit this cafe. 8 read more

Hugs Cafe - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

We were shopping on the square and decided to stop in for some cookies to go for Christmas. Picked up their chocolate chip and Italian wedding cookies. Both were fantastic. The chocolate chip had a wonderful caramel flavor and the perfect bite to it. Crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. The Italian wedding cookies were unlike anything I've ever had. They were moist and had beautiful amaretto flavor. The crumb on them was superb. Can't wait to go back and try their sandwiches! read more

Great experience! Nice greeting at the front door from Micheal. Our server, Cierra was so knowledgeable of kind. Thank you all for the wonderful time. read more

Fun cafe. Supports those who need a little "extra". We enjoyed our lunch and would come again

Bravo to Hugs Cafe for spreding Love to all in Mckinney. From the moment you walk in you feel surrounded by happiness and good feelings. Hugs Cafe is located in the Historic Downtown Mckinney. It is a little off the Square nestled in a renovated building. It has dark stained concrete floors and plastered walls that have cool Texas Symbols engraved into it. Hugs Cafe is the brainchild of Ruth Thompson. She wanted to create a non-profit organization to give job opportunities and training to special needs and down syndrome adults. Then she collected a group of DFW's celebrity chefs to create her YUMMY menu. Then Voila, Hugs Cafe was born. I walked in and was greeted by two friendly young women. They asked if it was our first time and we said yes. Then they explained that you take a menu and circle your order. Each individual person fills out their own sheet. Then you take your order up to the cash register. At the register two extremely energetic gentlemen named Chris and Jerry rung up our order. They were laughing and were loving their job. The happiness and jovial vibes are contagious. My family ate and laughed through our whole meal. If you are having a bad day just come to hugs and all your worries will melt away. Happiness and good deeds can spread too. We were given a number to take to our table. They bring your order out on a cart straight from the kitchen. I had the fiesta pork burrito. It is a flour tortilla stuffed with tender flavorful Mexican pulled pork, chimichurri slaw, and shredded cheese. It was served with a side of salsa. I also had a cup of green chili corn soup. It had a great amount of heat that definitely cleared out my sinuses. My son had the Black Bean soup. It was topped with cheddar cheese. I snuck a bite of it and I would highly recommend it also. It was hearty with thick pieces of onions and tomatoes. We topped off our meal with wedding cake cookies and apple strudel. The cookies were light and airy and tasted like a party was going on in my mouth. The strudel was flaky and delicious. I look forward to many happy returns. read more

See all

DELIGHTFUL! Simply delightful! I was turned on to this place from watching a news story in my hotel room the day before. Little did I know at the time that it was only a few minutes from where I was working that day so when my YELP search turned up this place I was excited! The service is wonderful. You are given a menu to circle what options you would like for your meal. I opted for the half sandwich, soup, and a drink. I was rung up, given a number, and chose to sit by the window facing the street. I arrived a little early so there was plenty of seating for lunch at the time. My food was delivered promptly with happy service on a cart. My sandwich was delicious! I was prepared to be decently satisfied but I finished my meal pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the loaded potato soup (SO YUM) and half of a Roasted Beast. SO YUM. Next time I'll have to try some of their signature cookies. The chalkboard art decorating the place is so cute. I opted to purchase a tray. Proceeds go to help the cafe and it's employees. You can also buy shirts and packs of cookies to take home. I'll definitely be back and will recommend to my colleagues who come to McKinney occasionally. read more

Hugs Cafe - A little bit about HUGS cafe - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

See all

This is one of my favorite places on earth! Good food, great people, wonderful cause.

We loved our experience. Everyone was super nice, the food was great, and the prices reasonable. I love the concept as well. We absolutely will go back. I would enjoy sitting on the patio when it is a little cooler out. Bathrooms were clean. read more

Great company, with an awesome story. The food is perfectly cooked every time, with more than enough on portion size. The service is definitely top notch! Anytime you're even close to the DFW, please stop by and give them a shot! Check the hours of operation before heading that way. read more

Yummy food with a great mission behind it! Servers are very friendly. Inside the restaurant is comfy and cute- the patio outside is also a nice place to eat read more

If you are in ANY part of Texas you must come in for a bite! The food is delicious, but the love and positivity you feel when you walk through the door is AMAZING! I can not wait to come back on my next visit to McKinney! read more

Amazing place - doing an amazing work. If you're I. McKinney, Tx pls stop in and enjoy the warm hospitality and great food. Fact 87% is the unemployment rate for developmental challenged workers - who are able to work. Hugs is giving these good people the dignity of gainful employment. Can't make it? Consider a donation as they a genuine non-profit read more

This place is amazing with great sandwiches. It is also a great place to support a local business and help with disabled persons. Great experience for all. read more

I honestly was kind of uncomfortable when I went in. But I had my hair done at the adorable place next door with the cactus out front so decided it was so close and I was so hungry. Excellent service, courteous and well trained staff. I will definitely go back. Service was good, food was great, prices were very reasonable. read more

If you love Special Needs people and love supporting them; also if you enjoy delicious food, this restaurant will not disappoint! It's on the edge of Old Town McKinney read more

What a great place for lunch. Right off McKinney Square and an easy walk. Great service, great food and a wonderful cause! read more

Hugs Cafe - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

The signs are easily missed as you walk in. We asked questions that we later saw answers to on signage. For example, the soup of the day is on a completely different sign than the other items of the day. There are footprints on the floor to lead you to the back of the restaurant to order, but no signs. It was a bit of an odd layout...store at front, but order around the corner in back. The service and food were good. It was a great place for a sandwich. They use high quality breads. The wedding cookies are absolutely amazing! Its worth stopping in just to get cookies. read more

Wow. What a fresh lunch. I had the special - rueben on rye with potato salad. I have not been that excited by a sandwich in ages. Love the atmosphere, location and the staff. Lovely patio. Five stars before we even get to the fact that they support folks with disabilities on staff. Don't get me started on how awesome that is. I am in the area a few times a year and I will go out of my way to come back. Highly recommend! read more

The sandwiches were really well made. The atmosphere is like any popular deli, but with the extra special component that it's a non-profit doing good for the world. The cookies were good. Ordering took a bit because you order at the counter. I'm rarely in McKinney but would go back. read more

Heard about Hugs a while back, but never had the chance to visit until now. As with any new place, I didn't really know what to expect. Having just finished my meal, I can say Hugs is a place all who can should visit. The staff is awesome, with all offering a warm smile. By extension, the customers were all easy going as well. As a bonus, one of the young men working there sang a Christmas song that he created! read more

Hugs Cafe - Half Roast Beef with fruit - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

This place is not just a great restaurant but is on a mission to employ adults with special needs and develop them for life. It's unbelievably good food. Those who have read my reviews before know I love to eat and brag when I find gold. This one is surely a double platinum find! It's 5 stars solid with over 150 reviews and a unicorn among restaurants. They even make their own jelly they use on their own sandwiches. I had a Monte Cristo with fresh thinly sliced turkey and cherry almond jelly, then fine 6x powdered sugar sprinkled on top. The tomato basil soup is an every day menu item and I see why. I ate an entire bowl and it rivals my wife's secret creation. You must try this if you are in downtown McKinney. It's also to the greater good as you get great food, help people, and have a blessed day afterwards. Enjoy! Try it, you'll like it. I did take several photos ti help you get your appetite. read more

See all

Food is very good service is excellent have no complaints whatsoever definitely come back here every time I get a chance.

The food was great. The Cobb Salad was just what I needed before shopping in the square. The staff is so accommodating and smiles are all around. We were offered tastes of the spiced and sweet pretzel sticks and they were so delicious we bought a total of 6 bags for Thanksgiving snacking. I'm afraid to open a bag before the family gathering because I know they would be gone before the night ended. And you MUST try the almond sugar cookies. So delicious that I will go back for a tray of them for the holidays Hugs is a delightful cafe with a great purpose of training people with disabilities. I will be back to try their sandwiches and soups! read more

What's a great lunch spot! Not only is that staff friendly, the location is fun, and the food is great. Hugs does a great job incorporating a unique staff with learning differences and was such a wonderful experience from the moment we walked in to when we walked out. read more

Hugs Cafe - Pimento Cheese and Potato Salad - Salad Near Me - McKinney, Texas

This is in of my top places to eat. The staff is amazing and always have a smile on their faces. The wedding cake cookies are to dye for.