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    Jewel Box Cafe

    3.0 (441 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    JEWEL BOX CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Romantic
    Intimate

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    Recommended Reviews - Jewel Box Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Brenda L.

    Super excited and happy that this place is still here. It is such a local staple and a Tacoma favorite. Their drink menu is vast! Now featuring the energy drink called Lotus. Which apparently is a plant based energy drink which supposed to be a healthier option. My daughter's friend recommended it. I had the mocha latter with alternative almond milk and ugh it was as good as I remember. The hot coffee was perfect for the rainy weather. I had my usual Tuna sandwich which came with a house salad. The salad had tomatoes and the girl at the front couldn't tell me if it was Roma tomatoes or not. I just asked her to remove them. It would be nice for her ti check because it is allergy related but she didn't bother to go and ask so thats the minus star. It is important to cater to allergies. The sitting arrangements are great. Indoor, outdoor and upstairs. I usually like to seat in the enclosed wooden tables but they were taken. It is such a vibe! Free covered parking across the street or free 2hr parking right at front. Strong wifi to work with too. Overall, if you are visiting and wanna experience local vibes, you must stop here.

    Front entrance of the cafe.
    Jeremy W.

    Beautiful, relaxing cafe in Rustin near the Pt. Defiance ferry dock. Had the "zombie" iced tea, which was made with real strawberries and was heavenly. Staff were relaxed and friendly. Lots of seating. A great stop on the way to the nearby movie theater. Will definitely visit again.

    Gluten free donut
    Jesica V.

    I can't believe it took me so long to peek my head in this place and discover that it's a super groovy coffee house that makes me feel like I'm back in the 90s! The coffee and tea drinks are fine, nothing special, but the vibe is great. The interior is all wood and there's an upper level where you can get cozy in the booths. I've started going here regularly and the best part (besides being able to go for a walk along Commencement Bay with your coffee) is that - even though it's part of the Point Ruston development - it doesn't feel like you're in a mall. The only downside are the gluten free donuts That have taken over Tacoma. The baker must have a fabulous sales team because they're EVERYWHERE but if you're not gluten free they're just not good. Which is a shame because Tacoma has some excellent donut shops ( like Paos!)

    Rosa S.

    Stopped by for a quick coffee drink. We came in just before the big rush. The young lady taking our order was super nice and helpful. I was able to get a good tasting drink for my mom who is a diabetic. They offer a few sugar free options. There is upstairs sitting and plenty of room for downstairs sitting. Super stroller friendly! Bathrooms needed attention. Overall it was amazing experience highly recommend!

    2nd floor seating available

    Jewel Box Café has a nice interior and a blocked-off outdoor area that is blocked off for further use. The parking isn't straightforward, and while they have a QR code for parking info, I didn't see clear signage that it's free for retail visitors. Inside, they offer free Wi-Fi and have two unisex restrooms that can only be opened with a key. It was clean but not the most convenient. The setup is a bit different here; food orders are self-pickup since they aren't a full-service restaurant. What really killed it was the long wait for coffee. I understand weekends are busy, but it dragged on so long that people in line were visibly frustrated and even chatting about the slow service. Once I finally got my coffee, it was fine, but the experience didn't feel worth the wait. Efficient: No First-Time Friendliness: No Would I Return: No JY review

    Jewel Box cafe interior.
    Margery S.

    Comfortable. Cozy. Clean. Relaxing coffee shop with good breakfast and lunch options and friendly staff. A little cheaper than the competition.

    Crepe - berry
    Kim C.

    Cozy place with indoor and outdoor seating. I stayed at the Silvercloud, so this was my go to place when I wanted a cappuccino and something light to eat. I had the turkey deli sandwich and it was good. Another day I had a berry crepe it was okay, felt like the crepe could have been cooked a bit more but I am not a crepe expert. I ate it all anyway. Service was relatively good, some days I waited longer than other days but overall it was good.

    Plate has clearly been chipping away with every use and that is not good.

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    5 months ago

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    27 days ago

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    6 months ago

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    27 days ago

    This place is so slow....it doesn't seem that busy but takes 25 minutes for a late insane.

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    6 months ago

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    25 days ago

    Took forever to get our drinks and food. The crepes weren't great for the price. The coffee was good but not worth the $7.59 price.

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    7 months ago

    The staff here is SO SWEET! Coffee is consistent and yummy. Love the fireplace and fun furniture! Can't wait to enjoy in the summer!

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    2 years ago

    I was craving a GF crepe, so I came here with a friend. Unfortunately they ran out of GF batter on a weekday.

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    1 year ago

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    Ask the Community - Jewel Box Cafe

    What are the good, reliable vegan options?

    They have vegan pastries. A really good one is their blueberry crumble.

    View All 2 Questions

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    Sandwich Starr

    Sandwich Starr

    4.1
    (34 reviews)
    3.6 mi

    We were going to Poquitos on Division but looks like that place fell prey to the Tacoma curse. A…read morelot of places don't hang around too long and that spot in particular has seemed hard to keep in business. But then we looked cross the street on 1st, where there used to be an Anthem, and even though it was already 6pm, this sandwich shop was still open and...there was a BINGO game happening. Whaddya know? So we took a peak in and they were not only serving sandwiches but they also had a cooler full of microbrews and kombuchas, beer on tap, wine, and a whole list of cocktails made from prosecco and other non-hard liquors like Amaro. Truly something for everyone. So we gave our order to the sweet human at the counter and took our seats I'm not kidding, my Amaro sour was one of the best cocktails I've had in a while in Tacoma and so were the pretzel sticks. I want my cocktails cold, tart, and refreshing with a little kick of funk or herbs and I want my pretzels salty. You wouldn't think that's such a high bar to clear but you'd be surprised. Sandwich Starr nailed it. Our Zatan sandwich was tasty but even though the bread felt a little stale. Otherwise the decor is kinda '90s coffee house and they've got bingo! Overall, this is an odd spot but the drinks are really good and it's got heart and it's the heart that makes it Tacoma.

    Food was pretty good, but the sandwiches weren't really that big. The atmosphere is pretty inviting…read more and they have lots of games to play.prices are a little high for the size of the sandwich. I did enjoy the pickle. It seemed home made.

    Photos
    Sandwich Starr
    The Serenity, with salami, pepperoni, bacon, pepperjack, tomato, gochujang, and lettuce.
    The Serenity, with salami, pepperoni, bacon, pepperjack, tomato, gochujang, and lettuce.
    The Starrk, with roast beef, salami, brie, tomato, red onion, and sweet chili mayo

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    The Starrk, with roast beef, salami, brie, tomato, red onion, and sweet chili mayo
    Tatanka Take-Out

    Tatanka Take-Out

    4.2
    (164 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I'm not sure why we have never been here!…read more What a perfect place to eat after leaving the zoo, park, etc. I am vegan and the menu how such great options. My boys ate everything on their plate very quickly! lol The meal was so refreshing and light , on a beautiful day it pairs great together. Makes you feel like you are at a family BbQ enjoying a delicious meal. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu. Highly recommend stopping by here you have to try it! It's hard to describe the meals. Delicious, fresh, and comforting.

    Not a lot of places serve bison so I am glad to find one to try it out! I went here on a Saturday…read moremid afternoon meal and was greeted by a very friendly staff who took our order and cooked the meal. We wanted to share one bison burger and he was willing to serve it up in 2 plates, cut in half, so that we don't need to do all the legwork that usually comes with splitting a dish, and this is with no extra charge. Additionally, we signed up for their email newsletter for a 15% off the order. Cheese comes at an extra 99 cents but it was all good with the discount. The bison burger is pretty good. It definitely tastes a bit different from the usual beef that you are more likely accustomed to, but it was delicious nonetheless. The bison patty was juicy, and the fixings are good though a bit standard for a typical burger. We opted for spuds for the side and he gave a very generous amount of it for each of us. Overall, friendly staff and delicious food, all around a nice restaurant to check out in the Tacoma/Ruston area, pretty close to Point Defiance. Take a look at some of the items around the restaurant while you wait, as it is all bison themed and quite interesting!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Homemade sauce
    Homemade sauce
    Outside - IG @bougiefoodieboi

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    Outside - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Canna Cabana Subs & Shakes

    Canna Cabana Subs & Shakes

    4.6
    (419 reviews)
    20.9 mi
    $$

    So I've lived less than five minutes from this place for 11 years, and somehow it never caught my…read moreeye. Then I saw their TikTok last night, and let me tell you, that video had me craving it instantly. The scrumptiousness was living rent free in my brain all night, so today my son and I had to stop in and see what the hype was about. We ordered the Sour Diesel, the Fire, and the Afgoo, all on their toasted jalapeño cheese bread. First of all, the female employee who helped us was so friendly and welcoming. We do not eat out much, so we were genuinely excited and maybe a little impatient to try them. When they handed us the sandwiches, I immediately noticed how heavy they were. And the smell in the car on the way home, oh my goodness. Pure torture waiting to unwrap them. Then we got home and opened them up, and I was honestly shocked in the best way. There was actually a MEAL on that bread. Not one of those sad sandwiches that's 80 percent lettuce and air. These were loaded. My teenage son even commented on how good his was, and trust me, teen approval is not handed out lightly. The portions were generous, the flavors were bold, and each sandwich was totally unique and delicious. I can confidently say I have found a new favorite sub spot. Total hidden gem if you love a good sandwich that actually fills you up and tastes incredible. I did not grab a shake this time because it was freezing outside, but after seeing all the flavor options on the menu, I will absolutely be trying one next visit. Highly recommend in every aspect. I love when you try somewhere new and it completely exceeds expectations. This one is a must try.

    Horrible place to work. I quit and the owner is withholding wages. First red flag was on my first…read moreday the owner was drinking on the job and it was 10am.

    Photos
    Canna Cabana Subs & Shakes
    Super Dank
    Super Dank
    First time here and just pulled in.......

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    First time here and just pulled in.......

    Jewel Box Cafe - coffee - Updated August 2026

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