Joy Cafe is one of those places where, if you had any doubt at all about soy-based drinks, your fears and reservations will be fully resolved by one of the smoothies there. I've walked by this place so many times over the past 12 or so years, always wanting to go inside but never doing so because I chose to eat at the sushi place nearby or the mini market across the street or, back in the day, go to the hot yoga studio two blocks away. On this fateful day, I finished a sushi meal and had an odd hankering for a green drink because I saw it in one of Soy Cafe's promo pictures. I let the kind lady behind the register decide what drink I should get. All I said was I wanted a green drink that was sweet. She suggested a Hangover Helper smoothie. My first thought was... I'm not seeking a cure for a hangover! But I just nodded and took a chance. There were similarly odd names for other drinks. I started reading the ingredients of my drink. Wait a second... pineapple... cucumber... ginseng... wait... cucumber?!!! That can't be good! Ginseng? Bleagh!!! But I decided to trust her advice and not stop the order. It was probably too late anyway. When I received my drink, I thanked the kind lady and started sipping the drink as I left. Whoa. This wasn't supposed to taste good! I could taste the cucumber, but it was very refreshing, like something I could find myself sipping on the beach. The soy milk and agave... this. wasn't. supposed. to. taste. good... As I walked to my car, I kept thinking about how I could've missed something like this all my life, and all because I was too stupid to walk into Joy Cafe when I had a chance. Don't you make the same mistake I did! Go there and get a soy smoothie. You'll be glad you did. read more

I am so happy I tried this wonderful restaurant! I visited a friend this weekend and she is gluten free & I'm vegan. We found this adorable cafe and decided to check it out for dinner! I'm not sure if the woman I spoke with was the owner but it was a middle aged woman and an older lady working. They were so smiley, so warm and friendly. We ordered at the counter and sat and then they brought out our food, it took maybe 15 minutes? Very fast! I got "bao bao bao" buns and the "send noods" with udon and white miso broth. So warming, so comforting, fresh veggies!!! Both were fantastic and exactly what I needed. My friend also got the "send noods" but with soba noodles and the ginger turmeric broth, and she loved hers as well. The store has tons of baked goods, smoothies, breakfast all day, lattes, and a thrift rack too plus jewelry! Tons of cute magazine and books around. Just overall a beautiful vibe and I hope this place flourishes! read more

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This is the perfect coffee/vegan hang. Food and drinks are both excellent. I'm partial to their smoothies. Lots of tables, background music that's relaxing and doesn't overwhelm. read more

Joy Cafe - Super veggie wrap. Beets, avocado & homemade dressing - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Incredible space! Great staff, owner is wonderful and the food and drinks are 10/10. Love the outside section outback and such a cozy welcoming space. Great vegan and GF options read more

The owner is such a delight. This is my second time here and it was delicious both times. The first time I think u had a GF Bagel. This time I had a smoothie. Also, the patio is so cute!!! I will definitely be back. read more

Took over 30 minutes for two juices... Juices weren't even filled to the top of the cup and were warm. It was advertised as 16 ounces of cold pressed juice. The staff was moving so incredibly slow and had no sense of urgency. Ginger shots were not fresh ginger - it was ginger powder and water... very disappointing for my first visit at Joy Cafe read more

Joy Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Wonderful restaurant in every detail. From the warm, inviting ambience to the joyful menu names and descriptions to the fantastic huge selection of healthy meals. Plenty to love for my non vegan friends too. Great service from the owner herself. Everything made to order. Unlike some vegan places, they don't rely on unhealthy shortcuts like deep frying and oil and extra sugar and salt. The smoothies are incredible. And the breakfast options are too many to even name. For dinner and lunch you could come here for a week straight and not get a sample all the tasty dishes. I particularly like the Philly cheesesteak which one awards for the city . When the weather warms up the back patio is a pleasant oasis. Gluten free tasty bagels and desserts as well! Whenever I am in town this is the first place I stop! read more

Joy Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Always delicious meals, drinks and sweet treats during every visit. Love this plan based spot and the name change to Joy Cafe which is on point with how you feel when you dine or just have a drink here. read more

Joy Cafe - What a study breakfast looks like - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I think their name is "JOY" Cafe and not "SOY" Cafe but the address seems to be right, I went there for a simple coffee but they had a brunch menu and inside the cafe they seems to have some thrift items as well, there was also a outdoor sitting at the back garden( it wasn't open at the time I went) it might be request only. It's a pretty cool cafe overall! read more

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Avo toast add coconut bacon sooo good. And one of the best lattes I have ever had. The vibe is so cute and the staff is always helpful and friendly, always a must stop when I'm in town. read more

My friend and I came here on a snowy afternoon, post-blizzard to get a snack and do some work. I had the hot cocoa and mac and cheese and she had the sesame latte and sausage bagel sandwich. Everything we ordered was very tasty and perfect to warm us up! Love that this cafe also defaults to using soy milk, which, as all good vegans know, is the superior plant milk. The atmosphere is also cozy and the person working behind the counter was very friendly! read more

This is a kind cafe. The vibe ; friendly, healthy and fun foods ~ Highly recommend this place for anyone who would like an unique place to have a quiet place to enjoy. read more

I revisit Joy Cafe (which is the newest name/incarnation for Soy Cafe) whenever I'm in NoLibs. It always leaves me feeling incredibly healthy and happy. Soy/Joy Cafe is in my top two vegan restaurants in all of Philly. My favorite dish here is the ramen with BBQ seitan. The seitan is just so very tasty. Everything here, from the seitan, to the vegan cream cheese, is homemade. My husband gets the carrot lox sandwich which includes the housemade cream cheeze along with red onions, carrot lox, and more, on many choices of really excellent bread. Don't leave without getting a smoothie! I tend to get the Green Giant, but the Coco Loco is also really yummy. Eat in the back garden on a nice day! read more

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How have I never reviewed this place before now? Yeah the food is fantastic and the owner is fantastic-er. To give you an idea of how I feel about Joy Cafe, I've just had dinner and a couple of beers... Should I go home? No. Yes I am full, but I'm not in this neighborhood often and I can't imagine the idea of leaving without stopping by Joy Cafe. Another example: My sister bought me a gift certificate to a nearby bar, that has vegan food. Of course I stopped by there to use the gift certificate ... But I also stopped by Joy Cafe to get some takeout so I can eat it at home. If you're in this area and you don't stop by Joy Cafe, Well, I don't want to be insulting, but you are doing life wrong! Okay. :-) Lighten up your heart and your day: get some yummy food prepared by some wonderful people - And have a better day! read more

Incredible food and community-oriented vibes. The owner has curated a magical space that proves you can affordably eat (Amazing food!) w/o hurting the planet! read more

It's disappointing to have to write this, especially as someone who has supported this establishment since its Soy Café days. I've placed my trust in this business for years, having ordered here close to 20 times or more. Unfortunately, my recent experiences have made it clear that there are serious operational inefficiencies that seem to be getting worse, not better. I typically extend grace to small businesses, especially those I truly enjoy. But this is not an isolated incident--it's been several visits now where the wait times have been unreasonably long, even for small orders. Today was the final straw. I ordered ahead at 12:56 PM and arrived around 1:17 PM expecting my food to be ready (I'm aware that sometimes orders can take up to 30mins so I was fine waiting the 5mins they told me when I arrive there, which was still not true) I was on a tight schedule. Not only was it not prepared, I was told it would take an additional 15 minutes due to one of the items being made to order. (the Time "Fries" When I'm Wit-cha) My food wasn't ready until 1:36 PM--40 minutes after placing my order for just two items: a Ham-n-Cheezy and the Time "Fries" When I'm Wit-cha. Additionally, there was an issue with my refund. I had to decline the fries due to the wait, and while I accepted an alternative, I was charged $12.96 and only refunded $9.92. I'm still owed money, and more importantly, it reflects a concerning lack of attention to detail and discrepancies this business has with its patrons. (I've seen others write similar reviews about the discrepancies this business has with its patrons) What's troubling is that this interaction was with the owner, Alice. If this is how business is being managed at the top, it's no surprise these kinds of issues persist. Operational inefficiencies, poor communication, and long delays are not sustainable--no matter how good your concept is. I genuinely liked the health-forward menu, but the food quality/taste does not justify the poor service or the disorganization I've repeatedly witnessed. It's unfortunate, but I will no longer be returning and will be recommending my fellow vegetarian/vegan friends to not return here as well. I hope this serves as a wake-up call for the team to reassess how this business is being run. Because right now, it feels like a recipe for disaster and a near future "out of business" sign on their door. read more

My first experience at Joy Cafe was AWESOME. The bagel I ordered (Cutie Tom) was perfectly prepared, as well as the Americano. HOWEVER, when I went back with a friend of mine, it ended up being a HUGE disappointment. First of all, the bagel I ordered (same as last time) came to the table cold and stale. I took it back and asked them to make another one for me. They also forgot to bring my iced coffee with the order. THEN, when I got home and looked at my receipt, I noticed they charged me a (service charge of 15%) which was an extra $3.58. If they're going to charge a service fee, they should at least be transparent about it instead of being dishonest. Oh, and my friend and I also spotted a small roach crawling on the wall as we were leaving our table. My whole experience that day was nothing like the first. Needless to say, I WILL NOT be going back to Joy Cafe. And just a warning to anyone who goes there - CHECK YOUR RECEIPT before leaving the cafe. read more

Joy Cafe - receipt - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The food is fantastic and most everything is made from scratch. Great atmosphere and service. The best vegan restaurant in the Philadelphia area in my opinion. read more

Love the atmosphere and cuisine of this place! The Om...elette's are delicious and love how they make it with chickpea and flax, as well as their cashew cheese sauce all made there. Everything bagel sandwiches are also one my favorites. Fresh baked goods and smoothies are delicious too, not to mention the great friendly service. Always a joy to visit, thankyou sincerely! read more

Love the breakfast menu. Good coffee and tea options for a lactose intolerant vegan like me.

Great cup of coffee... I popped in to grab a cup of coffee for me and a matcha for my girlfriend and we were not disappointed. Will be back to try some of the pastries. Will check out there outdoor garden area when the weather gets warmer. read more

We continued our vegan day out after blackbird pizzeria with coffee from soy. Ordered a specialty red velvet and a specialty mocha cha cha. Coffees were just warm and red velvet had nothing red velvety. Definitely not worth the steep price of $7+. Mocha cha cha was also pretty average. It was better than the red velvet though. I'll probably come back to try some of their sandwiches but their coffee is not something I'll be ordering again. read more

Excellent coffee and donuts! I think it's cute and good marketing to change the name from Joy cafe to Soy cafe! Smart business owner. The entrees have a unique flavor profile that isn't exactly to my taste but the patrons love it! You can often hear people saying "WOW!" at the presentation and flavors of the meal. Peaceful vibes and perfectly located in Northern Liberties. read more

I have been wanting to try this place and finally got to yesterday because my typical smoothie place, Bimini, was closed already. I loved that they had outdoor seating out front! While entering I was shocked how big it was inside with lots of tables and a lot more options on the menu than I ever would have assumed. I noticed how vegan and vegetarian friendly they were- I am neither but wouldn't stop me from trying different options. I went with the coco loco smoothie and it was cheaper than the smoothie I normally get at Bimini by $2. I was pleasantly surprised that it was the same size if not bigger! It was delicious. My only complaint was the consistency a little bit down seemed to be very liquid- as in my picture. It was my first time having soy milk so I'm not sure If that was why?! I will be back to try more! read more

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As a NON-vegan, I can say that their mac 'n cheese is delicious (and VEGAN!?!) In fact, most things I've tasted at Soy Café are delicious. You have to take in consideration that everything here is homemade and NEARLY everything is vegan. If you're a hearty carnivorous beast like me, I can highly recommend Soy as a chance to expand your taste buds for some earth-friendly, tasty dining. Prices are little on the higher side, as expected a super trendy, vegan-friendly destination. Their menu is very vast, so there are lots of options. I'm personally a huge fan of their smoothies - they are refreshing, freshly made, and insanely satiating. I can make a meal out of one of their heartier smoothies with peanut butter or bananas - om nom nom. I did give their vegan chocolate chip cookie a try, and I'd stray away. It was pretty crumbly and dry, so I'll probably just stick to my Tollhouse. The straws are paper, and are virtually unusable for the smoothies so BYO or go sans straw. I appreciate the thought though. Save those turtles, baby. Soy's space is very big! It's a great place to grab a seat for a chat or to read a good book. Everything is freshly made, so it's good for a quick bite, but not if you're in a rush. Overall - 5 stahs. I've had lots of not-good vegan food, and their food is delicious, vegan or not. read more

If you want a place to eat on the healthier side. I recommend soy Café. They have gluten free/vegan options The food is made to order. They also have a lot of delicious specialty drinks hot and cold. There is Wi-Fi in the café if you need to get some studying done read more

Have been here many times and it's always a pleasure! Food is creative and yummy! Haven't had a bad meal. The portions are generous too! Thai iced tea is my fav go too & a nice friendly reminder to "smile more" on the lid definitely made my day today. Taco Tuesday special was also amazinggggg! Forgot to take a photo. read more

Joy Cafe - Thai iced tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Our son has an egg allergy and with all of the amazing bakeries in the area it's a bummer that we can't usually pick from the cases of cookies/baked goods. Soy cafe is the best place to go look in the case at tasty treats our little guy can actually choose from. The choc chip and oatmeal cranberry cookies last weekend were HUGE and yummy enough for the non-vegan parents to eat as well. We've also tried their donuts and LOVED the cupcake pop-up you all had last year! read more

Joy Cafe - Chocolate chip heart-shaped Vegan cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Guessing bagels aren't their specialty but not exaggerating may be the worst bagel I've ever had. I was sad eating it. They put almost no cream cheese on and the overall taste was meh. Smoothies are good tho. read more

Joy Cafe - a person holding a piece of bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

They didn't put napkins in my togo food, also my food was supposed to come with salad but didn't. Also they claim they're serious about covid to the point that you can't even wait inside for the food but the cashier lady started cutting apple without washing her hand right after putting the orders and touch the tablet that every customer touches to pay. read more

Love This place. Great juices and smoothies and gluten free baked goods. And they're so nice. read more

Joy Cafe - Gluten free muffins, gluten free cupcakes - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I got the healthy wrap with avocado, cucumber, and vegan ham in a rice wrap and it was absolutely delicious. I wish I would have realized there was a vegan quesadilla special, or else I would have gotten that. I'll be back for one of those. I also got a gluten free dairy free marshmallow, coconut and chocolate donut. This was not good. It was dry and super dense. After reading other reviews, I will avoid the baked goods. Overall a really comprehensive menu of both veggie, meat, gluten free, and vegan options. I'll be back! read more

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On a hot early summer day, I came to Soy Cafe with a wish in my heart. A cold, vegan treat...maybe ice cream or one of those brownie sundaes on the bottom of their menu. Unfortunately, they were out. Instead, I tried a chocolate donut and a Philly wrap. It pains me to say this, as I love when menus have vegan desserts, but this donut was truly inedible. I'm not sure if it was just old/stale, but I couldn't even finish! The Philly wrap was not bad, but was about as good as I can do...so not really worth the $ to me. The atmosphere was a little dark and unapproachable to me, but I can see it being a nice hangout spot if you are reading. Overall, I would probably check out one of the many other vegan options in the area. read more

Joy Cafe - Chocolate vegan donut - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We saw good reviews so we gave this place a try. we were so excited that they have outdoor sitting but it wasnt what we thought. First of al it was noisy and next to their garbage, secondly there were so many flies and mosquitoes so we decided to get our order converted to go, but we ordered a soup which wasnt fun to eat in the car as you can imagine. the chef special soup was made with a type of noodle that cant be grabbed easily and wasnt delicious at all, it just tasted like ginger. The only thing we liked was the mango mama smoothie. Also they dont let you stay inside to wait even though covid restrictions in most places have been removed and we were wearing masks. i dont recommend this place, the pictures are fooling! read more

Im from Alabama and this place is so good!!!!!!! I got the dumpling soup and a smoothie and devoured both! Love the atmosphere here. So calming and cool. Food was quick and the people were nice :) read more

Is it too late now to say Soy? Cause I miss more than just your smoothie. I'm Soy to say that I wasn't really into the Vegan Muffin and the Vegan Smoothie from here. Not as obnoxiously overpriced as some Vegan cafes, but also not as tasty as my favourites. One caveat is that I don't really usually enjoy Vegan food (I wish I did), but with the benchmark being Strong Hearts in Syracuse (the greatest Vegan Cupcakes, and the best milkshakes of any kind - Vegan or otherwise - on the planet), it's hard for anything else to come close. I think we got the Funky Monkey which sounds like it would be right up my alley, but I wasn't thrilled. My Vegan travelling friend, though, said that her half (or more than half in the end) of the Muffin and the Smoothie were excellent. Service was absolutely lovely. And since it wasn't too crazy expensive like other Vegan places, I'm more than happy to give it a 4. I think if you love Vegan places, there's a good chance you'll love this one too. But as I said, when in Syracuse, make sure you try Strong Hearts, especially the Cesar Chavez shake and the Blueberry Cupcake. read more

Joy Cafe - You ain't seen nothin til you're down on a muffin so I heard - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My brother and I LOVE Soy Cafe! Chef Alice and her employees are super kind and I'm glad to be supporting a small local business. We first experienced Soy Cafe at a Halloween Vegan event. We loved the nachos and the mac n cheese. The mac n cheese was gluten free but it didn't taste like it! The coconut bacon and breadcrumbs were delicious along with the cheesy sauce. The nachos are incredible. We loved the edamame guacamole and it has inspired me to make my own! Chef Alice's cashew cheese is no joke, it's super delicious. My brother literally dreams about it. Soy Cafe makes the best vegan nachos. Period. We came to the cafe a few weeks ago to enjoy more nachos and some sandwiches. We ordered the Bella Burger and the Super Veggie Wrap. The Bella Burger was delicious and we had it on sun-dried tomato bread. The portobello mushroom was very juicy and flavorful. It paired well with the bread. The salad that came with the sandwich was very fresh and satisfying. The super veggie wrap was also amazing! It had lots of vegetables with ginger hummus and avocado. It was very creamy and refreshing! We will definitely be back for more! read more

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This is becoming my go-to local shop. They're the local quirky cafe you've always wanted but vegan style - so for me, a dream come true. Their food & drink menu is expansive and I'm slowly making my way through it. My favorite so far would be the soy wrap on rice paper. They cut it up so you get several bite size pieces. They're extremely friendly, casual and fast! read more

Soy Cafe is like an old pair of jeans: familiar, comfortable, tasty. Maybe not that last bit. Mismatched chairs, potted plants on the sill, and window art make Soy a charming Northern Liberties destination, perfect for a low-key date or casual meetup. Seating up front and a cozy back room ensure there's plenty of space to relax. Soy churns out special soy drinks ($2.75 at the time; cash only), so I tried a cocoa mint soy, served warm. This uncouth soy drink virgin found it surprisingly soothing. Friends and I shared steamed dumplings and shrimp shumai (6 for 4.50). Not bad, but their sammiches are where it's at. Try their mushroom omelette sandwich (7.25). Choose between shitake, oyster, or portabello mushrooms (I had portabello), then enjoy eggs (or eggwhites), garlic, sweet onion, and soy cheese. On the side is a refreshing spring mix salad dressed in a homemade garlic mustard. Their toast on whole wheat sandwich is a gourmet treat; the sauce in it made my taste buds backflip. Stop in for lunch, dinner, or a soy drink, and don't forget to tip the friendly help. read more

I've ventured to this adorable café pre Memorial Day as I was craving vegan food with such a fiery passion and drove from South Philadelphia to Northern Libs where Soy Café is located and the experience I've had and food made the trip worth it and I'll do it again. I purchased the mushroom dumping which was already filling enough, they were perfectly steamed and melted in my mouth! The soy wrap pictured was amazing, the blending of all the ingredients made me feel as if I was in Nirvana and so filling that I couldn't even finish it. You have a choice of soy chicken or soy beef and I chose the beef. It was wrapped with hummus, cucumber, avocado, carrot; and had a yummy sesame dressing that went with it. I can't wait to be a frequent customer here at Soy Café. Their service is marvelous and the food enough makes me want to come back! read more

Joy Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania