Small cafe tucked in downtown right by the courthouse. I popped in real quick during a lunch break and the place was clean, a handful of tables inside, and the staff was friendly. I got the veggie panini which was okay. Not the best but not bad by any means. However I got their ube shaken espresso and I think I'll be dreaming about when I can come back for it. Looking at the other drinks people ordered they all looked great. This would be a nice place to work for a bit if needed. read more

Food was so good, and service didn't take too long even though quite a few people ordered after us. Would 100% recommend. read more

Kuma cafe - Açaí bowl, ham egg and cheese, cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been coming to Kuma since they opened and very recently moved out of state. I just visited for work and had the pleasure of lunching on a Kuma Bowl again. If you're anywhere near the area for breakfast or lunch, including while acting as a juror, I highly recommend this friendly and delicious eatery! read more

A coworker of mine recommended Kuma if ever I needed coffee or food. So one day, I headed over there and the staff was very friendly and welcoming. My usual order consist of a large ice white mocha with soy/oatmilk. I don't know what they use, but I love it so much. I like my drinks a little sweeter, so this totally hit the spot for me! I've also tried their *ham, egg, and cheese sandwich *croissant sandwich *Hawaiian bowl (without the pineapple) *açaí bowl I have loved everything that I've tried so far and I will continue to go here for their yummy white mocha. read more

I'm a regular here. Always greeted with friendly faces and great service. The iced matcha green tea with oatmilk blows away the competition, the XL avocado toast and specialty avocado toast are delicious and inventive, and the chef special pork adobo bowl is a must have. read more

Miserably sniffling with a congested nose as I was stuck in jury duty along with what feels like a dried throat...I surfed the Yelp pages for possible places to grab a bit to eat. The half sandwich and half soup deal that someone wrote caught my eye and my interest was piqued. I wandered over to this Kuma Café, following where the location was posted on Google Maps and found it on Columbia Street right across from the Emerald Plaza and the Westin. Outside seating was decorated with a single sunflower in a mason jar, simply decorated to create a inviting atmosphere. As I was feeling a bit under the weather I was opting for soup. Upon asking Stephanie for their soup of the day, she said there was kale and mushroom soup. On normal days I would have said no, and picked something else; but hot soup sounded so inviting especially for a throat that felt so dry. I selected that and the Italian sandwich for the half sandwich half soup deal which came out to be $7.99. By the way, you can ask for a sample. The soup came out once I was seated, and upon tasting the first bite, I smiled. The taste reminded me a bit of a milky broth taste, kind of like miso soup. But it was more saltier, hidden with carrots, corn, peas and other vegetables within. It did have a slight spicy kick to it which complemented the Italian sandwich half I got (of course, without tomatoes). Surprisingly enough, the Italian sandwich was full of flavor - with the salami, ham, proscuitto, provolone, onion, spinach, pepperoni, oregano, mayo and mustard. It was very refreshing. I also perused the rest of the menu on the board and saw they offered smoothies, acai bowls, drinks (cappucinos, etc). Inside has wall seating and window seating along with three tables. Most likely won't be able to do huge groups unless you break everyone into smaller groups. One unisex bathroom next to the wall seats. For parking, the street parking right itside has signs instructing usage. Majority were labeled 30 min parking along with no parking due to street cleaning. Cute place to chat with friends or coworkers for work! Plus everyone working there was super welcoming! read more

Kuma Cafe is conveniently located a short 2 minute walk North/ West of the Union Street Court House, Downtown San Diego. It has many light, fresh and healthy options to pair with your much needed caffeine fix after spending all morning fulfilling your jury summon (at least it was in my case)! I tried the Kuma Bowl as recommended by other helpers and the pleasant gal at the counter. It is a limey shredded chicken bowl with diced tomato, onion and sliced avocado. Very fresh and light but filling. It was good but I probably wouldn't order it again. With that being said there are many other menu options I would come back to try. I also tried the Lavender London Fog and it was perfectly sweetened on the lighter side (I don't like sweet drinks) and a really good lavender tea flavor. I would definitely order this again! YUM DIDDY YUM YUM 5 stars= location to court house + $ Reasonable price point + fresh ingredients and menu options+ friendly staff + lovely tasting tea. read more

See all

Review of the golden açaí bowl just don't waste your money! It doesn't have anything special to it. And the amount of açaí that you get is minimal for a $10.25 price tag, you would think they make their own açaí. Tasted more almond butter than açaí. I was hoping to get a light refreshing lunch too bad it wasn't. Go get an açaí from Appetite and ditch the "fancy ingredients" for a good and fast serving of açaí. read more

I used to work right across the street from this place and visited frequently about four years ago. I went back for the first time in a while, and the staff was still excellent and friendly as ever. They remembered me and provided the best service. I love that this place offers a wide variety of options for food and drinks. You can never go wrong with Kuma. Protip order the breakfast sandwich! read more

Customer service was a 10/10! Thank you for accommodating my good allergy and my coffee was delicious. My only con is that it felt so overpriced! $20 of a coffee and a microwaved egg sandwich. I still very much enjoyed this conveniento spot. read more

Decent little cafe downtown. I only ate the kuma bowl had no coffee so my review will only be about the bowl which caught my eye when I was walking down broadway they had an A frame with a photo of the bowl, looked healthy and flavorful. So I finally decided to try as I was in the mood for shredded chicken. The bowl is a normal portion and the ratio of chicken to the brown rice was not bad at all. I felt like I was eating a meal prep lunch which made me feel healthy and I didn't over eat. The chicken was little bit salty but it had a nice flavor and loved the fresh avocado slices. It was a bit pricey around $8 with tax but at least I got a reusable container out of it. I wish it had a little bit more greens but I will take it... I would recommend this dish for healthy-on the go option. The staff was pleasant and served me with a smile, even came out to personally give me my to go order. I would recommend this spot for the kuma bowl. read more

Kuma cafe - Kuma bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This is a nice little cafe where you can quickly grab some good breakfast. There is a little bit of seating inside and a handful of tables outside. I got the acai bowl and a macha latte. I thought both were good especially for someone who isn't looking to spend more than 15 or 20 minutes (if that) on breakfast. read more

I haven't had Avocado Toast in years, but this place does it right. My girlfriend had the one w/ tomatoes and feta cheese, while I opted for the specialty one with garlic. I told the young lady @ the counter that since I wasn't gonna see my man till tomorrow, maybe the garlic today would be a safe bet. LOL. I wanted to try their soup, but as it cooks and warms in their designated container, the nice lady warned me they would not be able to microwave it or make it hotter. I tend to like my soups @ dragon-fire level. The sign of "So Tired," along with the bookshelf rotation of Tolstoy to Rand, sprinkled w/ other choice literature, adds a nice touch to this quaint family-run cafe. It is a very miniature space, with a few tables outside and counter seating inside. I was a bit nervous about the bathroom situation as it is a code, which means you cannot lock it from the inside. I would like to hope that someone can hear me yell out from the inside, but then again, it is a gamble. Prices are a bit higher, and it may be due to the high rentals from being in the heart of the downtown bustle. Still, it is a good healthy option if you just want to grab a sandwich or smoothie. I had the regular Japanese green tea, and it was good except they were a bit heavy on the honey- even though I asked for just a tad. I think next time I will skip it or ask if they have a honey bear where I can pour it myself. It's a cute space, otherwise, if you need to step inside from the May Gray & the bits of rain that we get here in SD. read more

See all

Amazing cafe that gives you your tea after it has been properly steeped. That's the attention to detail I love to see to tea in this age of coffee dominance. Plus good bowls. Chef's special was awesome. read more

I am sad to give this place two stars but the staff member at the counter was so unpleasant she almost made someone in my party cry. Was vising San Diego and stopped here in the morning for breakfast with a few friends. We were 6 in total, all ordering separately. As my friend went up to the counter she was unsure what she wanted since everything looked and sounded good. She asked the lady for the opinion only to be barked at that she should just order what she wanted to eat. Very unhelpful and rude. Then she proceeded to bark at each of us as we went to order and/or pick up our food at the counter (even though we had table #s). The only saving grace here was that the staff member who ended up bringing some of the plates out to us was such a kind gentlemen. Every time he'd come out with our food he'd smile and joke around with us. The food was average with the avocado toast being extremely small but the acai bowl being very filling and fresh. I would have otherwise loved this place if it wasn't for the atrocious customer service from the lady at the front. We ended up leaving quickly because it was uncomfortable to be around her. read more

This review is specifically for the specialty avocado toast; it is very tasty. Flew in from SF and stopped by because I saw a photo of it on Yelp. It did not disappoint. read more

Kuma cafe - Specialty Avocado Toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Great cafe!! Our hotel was on this same block and we wanted to grab breakfast before the conference we were attending. The speed of the food coming out and the coffee coming out was reasonable - it was quite busy that morning with everyone that was going to the conference. The breakfast croissant was delicious and so was the latte I got. I loved that they had a variety of food options - the bowls looked delicious. I tried to come back on a Saturday morning but they were closed before the conference. It's a small space indoors so if its raining and its busy, you might have to stand or take your foods/drink to go. read more

Searched the area for the best avocado toast and found it at KUMA! I had the XL toast which really good; a bit hard to eat with plastic ware but it was really good. I did find myself taking off a bit of the garlic since I didn't have any breath freshener with me but overall; add this cute place to your breakfast rotation! read more

Stop in first this after our flight. Delicious way to start our vacation. Plus the friendly welcoming faces were amazing as well. The garlic avocado toast is a 10/10 do recommend. Light yet full of amazing flavor. Coffees were delicious as well and the perfect way to start our morning. read more

Kuma cafe - Garlic Avocado & Toast Breakfast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This cafe was right across the street from my hotel (Westin Downtown) and I ended up having it every day for breakfast! Both the yogurt and açaí bowls were delicious. Good coffee as well. Outdoor seating typically fills up on weekday mornings. read more

Kuma cafe - Açaí bowl and coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

I was downtown and decided to look for a coffee shop. Stumbled upon Kuma and I'm so glad I did! Ordered a white mocha, which was SO good and -velvety Also ordered a monkey bread muffin warmed up. I absolutely enjoyed both items ordered and although the cafe is small it was cozy. read more

This place is better than you would ever expect for the little cafe. I swear the açaí bowl was made from God's hands himself. Also, equally delicious, if not better, the croissant sandwich (not pictured) was to die for. read more

Kuma cafe - Acai Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Do not get the protein bowl for lunch, you will pay $15 for a tiny handful of salad. Probably worth $5 IMO.

First time trying the açaí bowl here and let me tell you, it is delicious. I've had açaí bowls at other places and it's not as good as this place. I love how they layer the granola and fruit with the açaí so you get a bite of everything each time. I'm hooked! I've been back at least once since my first purchase and I know I'll be back for more. I also love that you can call your order in which saves lots of time because there is usually a line at this spot. read more

Kuma cafe - Acai Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Super cute cafe. I needed a quick bite and coffee. Place was clean, wifi is fast, lavender vanilla latte and the protein and greens bowl were both delicious. Friendly service. read more

This is a small shop in downtown San Diego that sells breakfast and lunch for people on the go. I love the chicken bowls here for lunch (called Kuma Bowls). They are made with quinoa, shredded chicken, and avocado and the bowls are a pretty healthy choice! I do wish they had other bowl options, but this is a start. I haven't tried any other items here, but I heard they have good coffee as well. So, I will have to come back! read more

Kuma cafe - Kuma Bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

This morning, my husband and I visited Kuma Cafe. The cappuccino we ordered was delightful, and the Italian sandwich we tried was truly amazing. My husband opted for the Ginza smoothie, which surpassed the flavor and quality of many smoothies from other establishments. We're looking forward to returning! read more

Omg...happy to find this cute lil place for a breakfast stop before jury duty....they have unique & yummy specials, plus their daily menu options. I'm loving their lavendar vanilla latte with the special avocado toast with feta & cherry tomatoes!! read more

Kuma cafe - Reasonable prices & fresh eats! Gotta return for lunch choices!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

WOW. This place was the highlight of my San Diego trip. I only wish I found it earlier! I got the following: - avocado toast: perfectly toasted rosemary bread, with a generous amount of sliced avocado - acai bowl: blended acai with lots of strawberries, blueberries, bananas, granola, and coconut toppings - matcha latte: legit matcha powder blended in, and not just a pre-made mix (like Starbucks uses) This made for a great lunch and only came out to $15. The acai bowl was $6 some, and the cheapest I've ever seen for that amount in California. I would definitely recommend all three items. If there's one thing you MUST try though, it's the toast. Trust me. Service was fast, and the servers were friendly. There's some seats both outside and outside. read more

See all

Excellent food and drinks! Tried a couple of items from the menu this past week and everything turned out yummy. My favorites are viennese coffee, taro smoothie, and special avocado toast. read more

I only had an iced matcha latte with oatmilk but I threw a shot of espresso in there and it was amazing . The ladies behind the counter were so nice in our short interaction and the outside seating was perfect for me. Definitely recommend this little place to anyone passing by downtown. It doesn't have that downtown stink outside which is super pleasant. read more

I was staying at the Westin across the street and this was my coffee spot every morning. I would have a coffee and açaí bowl every morning. The staff was super nice. They are closed Saturday and Sunday's btw. read more

If you work in the downtown or Little Italy area, definitely stop by at Kuma for lunch. Love their Kuma Bowl. It's so simple yet packed with flavor. Also really enjoy their smoothies, particularly the Umi smoothie. read more

OMG. I went here every day while in town for a conference. The lavender vanilla latte is amazing. The avocado toast...so damn good. The rosemary bread and the aioli are so tasty. I also had the turkey sandwich and the zucchini bread which were both good. They are at a slightly higher price point, but well worth it. On top of that, the staff were kind and accommodating. I can't wait to come back my next time in San Diego!! read more

I laugh at the "Panini Turkey Sandwich." This is not it. The wait time for this simple sandwich made it even more unenjoyable.

Just found this gem searching for coffee on Yelp and my daughter and I loved it! The coffee was very good and their croissant was delicious! We got the Greek Yogurt Bowl and the Golden Açaí Bowl. VERY good! Great vibe and lots of books to read. read more

this place is fire perfect jury duty food. i had the specialty avocado toast with the tomatoes, cheese and pepper. whole experience made having jury duty worth it. honestly hoping i get called back to be a juror so u can come back to kuma café and try more of their menu. the staff was a delight as well. i'm glad i tipped, y'all are worth it! - had the specialty avocado toast - dirty chai w/ oat milk and a double shot of expresso 10/10 would recommend pricey but definitely worth it read more

Delicious! Friendly! Great coffee! Espresso is fantastic! Love the cuteness of the place and their merchandise.

A great breakfast/brunch/ cafe shop place with friendly staff. Only the tricky part is the parking, but it's downtown. It's unfortunately normal. We went there on Tuesday at 11am. Greated by the friendly and polite staff. We order 2 different types of avocado tosts and mocha. They were all good and yummy. It's one of the best avocado toast I've tried. I also loved the decorations and the books. We were in rush this time, but I'll definitely go back to enjoy the book area as well. read more

I've never had an acai bowl but omg it's so good here. The acai had the perfect texture and mild flavor. The toppings were fresh fruit or crispy granola. There was the perfect amount to have a bit of topping in each scoop of acai. Really refreshing and I've been craving it since I had it here. Also had a honey latte but it was nothing special and was really diluted. Super sweet staff and adorable little coffee shop. Go here for an acai bowl! read more

Kuma cafe - Acai bowl and latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

See all