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    Kitchen In the Desert Cafe

    3.7 (1.4k reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM

    Kitchen In the Desert Cafe Photos

    KITCHEN IN THE DESERT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Marcos R.

    Having traveled extensively this past month and eaten at our fair share of restaurants, this experience unfortunately missed the mark when it came to service. Our waiter, Andrew, spoke proudly about the impressive restaurants he had previously worked at -- I believe I even heard Nobu mentioned -- which raised our expectations for attentive hospitality. Sadly, that level of experience never really made its way to our table. Simple things like refilling waters, checking in, or asking if we'd like another cocktail never happened after our initial interaction. It genuinely felt like we were forgotten for most of the evening, which was disappointing considering the caliber of restaurant this aims to be. Thankfully, the food itself helped redeem the experience, and the rest of the staff we encountered were warm and pleasant. Because of that, we're willing to give it another try tomorrow and are hopeful for a better overall experience next time.

    Shakshouka
    Katie J.

    Visited Kitchen in the Desert on the weekend for their brunch, and it was a lovely experience! We sat inside due to the heat, which unfortunately had a lot of flies buzzing around the table. Otherwise though, this was a great experience. We really liked the shakshouka, especially paired with the sour dough. I thought the tortilla de patata was fine - I enjoyed it, but it could have used more flavor / "brava" sauce. Service was attentive and helpful with recommendations. I'd love to go back when the weather cools down and enjoy the beautiful outdoor seating area.

    Chimichurri Steak
    Noemi S.

    I can't say enough good things about this place! My husband and I went out to Joshua Tree for my birthday weekend and this was a last minute find for a birthday dinner. I'm so happy we found this gem. Make sure to have reservations, as the night progressed I realized how popular it is and for good reason. The ambience is amazing at night when the lights are on it has a beautiful atmosphere. They curate everything perfectly. Our waiter was so kind, very knowledgeable on everything we ordered and shared that the chef was Jamaican which was such a neat surprise. The drinks were strong and still delicious. We ordered Brussel sprouts, broccolini, Jerk Chicken and Chimichurri Steak. Everything was incredible. If you're ever in the area I highly recommend for an unforgettable meal and experience. Will definitely return even if it's not on my birthday!

    Andrew L.

    I came here as it was close to the place my group and I were staying for Joshua Tree. The Jerk Chicken tastes alright and the steak and drinks are pretty decent. I would not recommend the coconut rice though as it tastes funny, nothing wrong with it but just not my style. Best part of the restaurant is the desert theme of the restaurant with a mini gift shop and an outdoors lounge. I would say the service could be a little better but overall not a terrible experience. Not sure I would recommend this place to friends when traveling to 29 Palms but still a fair option if needing a place to dine in.

    Hannah L.

    i've been wanting to try this place for years and finally got to go! i knew it was a cute spot but i was still impressed by the ambiance upon arriving. the outdoor area has so much seating for dining and chilling, there were little activities like a projector room outside and pool table that i thought were nice additions. i love that they're open late, it's def a good night spot for drinks or food. the cucumber martini i got was amazing, one of the best i've ever had! i did family style with the group and we ordered 1-2 dishes from each category. definitely recommend doing it that way so you can try a lot of things since it's tapas style. the food was all really good, on the pricier side but i wasn't disappointed or underwhelmed with any of the dishes despite the price point. it would be best to visit during the cooler months since it was hot sitting outside, but nonetheless a vibe

    Branzino
    Diamond B.

    Really really good. I came here with a big group so it took a while to get seated, but there was a decent sized TV lounge that helped us pass the time. Once seated, my friend also took a while to arrive, so minus one for that. However, everything was delicious. The matcha martini had enough matcha taste without being powdery, and was good enough to be chugged (which I had to resist). Food was really good too. The steak had a great flavor and was paired with a really yummy pepper sauce. Branzino was really good too. Would recommend!

    Gambas Al Ajillo
    Melody L.

    If you're looking for a spot that perfectly captures that high-desert magic, Kitchen in the Desert is it. It truly feels like you're dining out in the wild, but with a much more elevated touch. We had a reservation for a large group of 13 people, and sitting outdoors was definitely the move. While they do have indoor seating, the outdoor atmosphere is unmatched, especially since the weather was absolutely perfect for us. We did dinner tapas style, which worked out great for a big crowd. To make sharing easy, we ordered two of every dish for each side of the table so everyone got a taste of everything. The food was fantastic, but the layout of the place is what really makes it an experience. They have a bar area, and there are even some cute stores right around the restaurant to browse if you want to do a little shopping before or after your meal. They even have a photobooth, which was such a fun addition for the group. Between the decor, the open air, and the great service, it was a total vibe.

    Lamb
    Kayla J.

    The ambiance was perfect and I was in shock that this place existed. Such a nice surprise. I ordered the lamb, a summer salad and a margarita. The outside seating area is so cute. I wish I could eat here every day! The food was delicious and the service was fantastic. I look forward to coming back for my birthday.

    avocado toast
    Melissa C.

    My group and I went in for brunch and we got seated inside with the ac. Our sever with blue hair was passive aggressive but we tried to ignore it and continue to stay and dine in, she had zero patience and we felt very uncomfortable with how the rest of our group was being talked to. do better the food was a 6/10 but the experience wasn't the best for us .

    Jerk Chicken
    Rebecca S.

    Three stars - entrée pricing for tapas portions We ordered the lamb, the shrimp, and the jerk chicken. Although the flavors of the dishes were unique and tasty, the lamb was overdone, the shrimp felt boiled and the sections of chicken we got felt like it was a random piece of the back, no leg thighs or breast, more like the back shoulder of the chicken. What bothered us the most were the prices. For tapas portions the pricing should've been less. For example the shrimp was nearly $30 and all you got was five tiny pieces of shrimp and sauce. We wanted dessert, but we had a hard time wrapping our heads around a $17 slice of Keylime pie. I was also sad that their menu rotates often, I had my heart set on the deep-fried Oreos that were all over yelp, but they do not make them anymore. The ambience, however, was awesome, great music that fit the nighttime desert vibe. I would highly suggest coming here for drinks, but probably not dinner.

    Our reservation confirmation.
    Marii G.

    The pictures of the food looked amazing, so we decided to dine here for one of our friend's birthdays. We made a reservation for Sunday night at 8:15 PM and arrived exactly on time. We were greeted by a little lady who directed our group of 4 to the waiting area just around the corner. It was a decent waiting area with couches, and behind us were some pool tables. It was also a very windy night, which made it uncomfortable. I assumed they were just cleaning a table, preparing it, or maybe running 10 minutes behind since it wasn't super busy. WRONG. We waited almost an hour!! If we hadn't questioned why other people were getting seated before us, I honestly think we'd still be waiting TODAY. We finally asked another group if they were waiting for a table, and they said no. So we asked the little lady how much longer. Her response was, "I didn't know where you were, we sent a text a while ago??!!" YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHERE WE WERE AFTER YOU TOLD US TO GO SIT IN YOUR WAITING AREA?! She finally took us to our table with an attitude. Our server was great and very friendly. She mentioned this is a made-to-order restaurant and that the owner, who is also the chef, is from Trinidad. I was really excited to try his flavors and dishes. I had the chimichurri steak, and the sauces were amazing, but my appetite was ruined by the lack of hospitality. Our food arrived a little after 9:55 PM. Honestly, I would want to try the restaurant again because I feel cheated by the service. I'm not sure if our server knew about our waiting experience because she apologized several times. Would I try it again? Maybe. Maybe I should try their brunch instead.

    Dania J.

    Kitchen in the Desert was hands down my favorite restaurant during my brief stay in Joshua Tree. The food was delicious, hearty, and clearly made with love. When I found out the chef was Trinidadian, I already knew we were in for something good. We shared the jerk chicken and lamb pops, along with sides of brussels sprouts and coconut rice, and we demolished every single bite. Everything was incredibly flavorful and perfectly prepared. For dessert, we finished with a slice of pear and salted caramel cream pie which was absolutely delicious. Their ice cream was vegan and nondairy, and you could barely taste the difference. Such a treat. The service was also wonderful. Our server checked in on us frequently, made sure we were comfortable and warm by ensuring the space heaters were working, and even provided blankets. The level of care and hospitality truly elevated the entire experience.

    Rashi T.

    There are bad dining experiences, and then there is this. Highly unrecommended. We were a large party that arrived around dinner time and were told there would be a wait, which is understandable when seating a big group. We were asked to wait outside and order drinks if we wanted, which a couple of us did. Unfortunately, the experience quickly went downhill. The staff was rude, and one of them got into a verbal argument with our friend after automatically adding a 20% gratuity on top of what he tipped to the drinks. Only two of us had ordered drinks while waiting outside, so adding a large-party gratuity felt unreasonable. It would have been different if we had been seated and the entire group was dining, but this felt like penalizing two people simply because they arrived as part of a larger group. From that point onward, the service continued to deteriorate and it completely dampened the mood for the evening. The biggest disappointment, however, was the food. I'm not exaggerating when I say this was some of the worst food I've had all year. The lamb chops were still frozen in the center, the vegetables were undercooked, and at one point the server even turned the heater down where we were sitting, seemingly out of spite. Not surprising ours was the only table that had a "bad heater" To say we were frustrated would be an understatement. It's especially unfortunate because the place itself is beautiful and has a very inviting atmosphere. We had driven quite a long way to come here and left utterly disappointed. The management really needs to invest in better staff training because the experience fell far short of what the setting promises.

    Us with carrot cake and fresh flowers!

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    Kitchen In the Desert Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kitchen In the Desert Cafe

    We're traveling with a dog. Can we bring him to the outdoor seating area?

    Yes, dogs are allowed. I was there early June 2025 and we had a dog with us in the outdoor dining area.

    Is the restaurant pet friendly?

    Yes, well mannered pets are always welcome to co-enjoy the patio and courtyard dinning areas. Pets must keep their owners on a leash.

    Which items are vegan or can be made vegan?

    Hello Rachel, Thank you… 

    This restaurant need to update their Yelp because it is completely different did it get purchased?

    If you’re referring to kitchen in the desert. The answer is no we haven’t been purchased. In fact we’re open 6 days a week at 6427 Mesquite in 29 palms.

    Closed for good?

    Which one are you asking about? The original restaurant in the back of the mobile station is closed; and moved to 6427 Mesquite Ave, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277. Last time I… 

    View All 9 Questions

    One Love Island Cuisine

    One Love Island Cuisine

    4.4
    (711 reviews)
    95.7 mi
    $$

    Our first time at this restaurant. (We found it on Yelp.)All I can say is if you're looking for…read moreJamaican food or something out of the ordinary like Mexican, burgers, or Chinese...you have to try this place! I ordered the boneless jerk chicken plate with plantains and salad. The chicken was tender and flavorful! Plantains were good too. The rice and beans was also a good accompaniment. My fiancée ordered the ox tail plate with mango salad and collard greens. The meat was so tender and delicious! He said it was probably one of the best oxtails he's had. We loved the food, service and will definitely be returning!

    I've been coming to One Love for years and the food has always been consistently good. The oxtail…read moreplate is my favorite, especially with the mango salad and sweet plantains. Everything is flavorful and satisfying, and I usually order it to go. The only downside is the price. It's always been on the expensive side, but seeing one oxtail plate go up to $31 (+tax) makes it hard to justify coming here as often as I used to. The quality is still there, but the higher price means it'll probably be more of once a year meal. One thing to be aware of is that there's a surcharge even when paying with a debit card. Legally you're not supposed to add a charge when using debit card but I paid it anyways. It was an unexpected charge that other customers may want to know about. Ambience was okay. Service was nice. Overall, the food is delicious and worth trying, but between the rising prices and the added card surcharge, I'll likely be visiting once in a blue moon.

    Photos
    Jerk chicken, BBQ beef, Mango Salsa, Steamed Cabbage, Potato Salad
    Jerk chicken, BBQ beef, Mango Salsa, Steamed Cabbage, Potato Salad
    Oxtail, rice, collard greens, plantain. Such great comfort food!
    Oxtail, rice, collard greens, plantain. Such great comfort food!
    Beef patty inside Coco Bread with Kola Champagne to wash it down! Jamaican Patties Coco Bread Jamaican Soda

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    Beef patty inside Coco Bread with Kola Champagne to wash it down! Jamaican Patties Coco Bread Jamaican Soda
    Mama Wale’s Rice

    Mama Wale’s Rice

    4.2
    (202 reviews)
    71.2 mi
    $$

    Absolutely amazing food I still think about it to this day! I ordered fufu and a soup I don't…read moreremember but it was amazing (i got beef tho and it was a little tough). I don't have much to say about the service but it was average (average is nice though). I ate in the mall, it was quiet and empty because it was pretty late. The price was a little over what I like to pay for but the food is memorable. First time trying fufu, great experience.

    We had the traditional plate with selections that included the yam, egusi, and beef for protein…read more Waited about 10 minutes for prep and I was excited to try some authentic Nigerian food! The collared greens was tasty, the yam reminded me of Hawaiian poi that was starchy and earthy. The beef could've been cooked better, though. It was really hard and tough to chew: I was a little disappointed. If the beef had been served tender and juicy (soaked in the collared greens sauce) I would've given 5 stars only because I don't think it was worth what we were charged for our dishes. Two pieces of beef that wasn't serving standard in my honest opinion. The store front is located in the food court of the Moreno Valley mall. There's a lot of dining tables and chairs throughout the food court and other food shops surrounding the dining court. There's tons of parking spaces and the mall wasn't very busy so parking is easy. I love African food and compared to my favorite spot in San Diego, this one is not on my list to revisit, unfortunately. Not for the price or quality.

    Photos
    Patiently waiting
    Patiently waiting
    Chicken fried rice bowl
    Chicken fried rice bowl
    Ewa & dodo( beans & plantains)

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    Ewa & dodo( beans & plantains)
    Havanazucar Cuban Restaurant

    Havanazucar Cuban Restaurant

    4.7
    (671 reviews)
    75.3 mi
    $$

    Having just moved to victorville, we are still looking for our go to spots we can enjoy and…read moreintroduce to our family and friends. Someone told us to check out Havanazucar; and I'm glad we did. We got there when they first openedEd at 11am so everything was friesh, hot and delicious. They were serving bottom-less mimosas and let me tell you something; I haven't seen my wife smile this much since we got married . The staff is friendly, attentive and kept the mimosas flowing. It's a great spot whether you are riding solo or you are with your family. Will definitely be a staple spot when we are in the mood for Cuban food.

    We wanted to try something different for lunch on a Saturday afternoon after running chores…read more Our order: Cubano sandwich with banana chips with a Coke. Pastrami sandwich with fries and an unsweetened iced tea First, the customer service at this small spot was great. Even though we ordered to go the cashier brought our drinks and food right to our table. Both sandwiches were top notch and muy delicioso. Cubano sandwich was filled with smoked grilled ham, Juicy roasted pork, cheese, pickles and pressed. It was served with the most amazing garlic aioli. I opted for the banana chips that were light and crispy and a perfect accompaniment to the sandwich. We also ordered a pastrami sandwich with fries. The fries were well seasoned and thin. Pastrami was so delicious however my only gripe is that it needed a touch more mustard. I shared some of my garlic aioli with my partner but hogged the rest for my other half of sandwich. Sandwiches were cooked to order, hot and fresh. The bread was soft with a slight crunch due to it being pressed. It was a very nice change from the usual burger or fried chicken fast food. We can't wait to go back !!

    Photos
    Order counter what a great customer service.
    Order counter what a great customer service.
    Havanazucar Cuban Restaurant
    Small seating eating area, however still does a job.

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    Small seating eating area, however still does a job.

    Kitchen In the Desert Cafe - caribbean - Updated August 2026

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