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    Kuma cafe

    4.6 (328 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Kuma cafe Photos

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    KUMA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Trendy
    Casual
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Kuma cafe

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    XL avocado toast
    Jacqueline L.

    We just wanted a small bite and this is a great little brunch place for that. It is located south of Little Italy district/ west of downtown. The guy at the counter was very friendly and polite; our server too. Order at the counter; seating indoors and outdoors. The a/c worked very well which was nice on a humid day. I ordered a latte and XL Avocado toast. Microgreens added a nice esthetic appeal, although the taste was milder than the avocado toast I usually have. The aoli was tasty and I like the hints of rosemary from the bread. My husband had the egg and ham sandwich also with aoli sauce. Although very tasty, the sandwich was a little pricey for what you get. ($11) The latte was ok as lattes go. Not as bold in flavor as I like an espresso drink to be. Overall, a good place if you want something light.

    Iced Americano (small)
    Cari A.

    I was looking for some coffee around the area and came across Kuma Cafe. They have things like coffee, smoothies, and food to order. Pros: -it's a small establishment but they have a few outdoor and indoor seating options -street parking, near hotels and the trolley line -I saw that there was a restroom available -Wi-Fi is available (password is near the water station) Cons: -n/a Overall, love that there is a small business here to try.

    Exterior
    Robert R.

    It was ok. Normally would give 3 stars but the white mocha i ordered was very tasty and well made. The pastry and acai bowl i ordered though were just ok. Not bad but just ok, and at the charged prices, i expected better. The location is convenient though. I probably would only come here for the coffee and look elsewhere for food options.

    Turkey panini
    Stephanie G.

    I ordered an iced caramel latte with an extra shot and a turkey panini. The guy at the register recommended the Olive oil and rosemary bread which was amazing! So much flavor added. Latte was perfectly made. I could taste the subtle sweetness and the espresso which is what I look for. Food and coffee were both amazing. The service was fine except for the girl. She didn't make eye contact or take my order or even acknowledge me standing there.

    Absolutely delicious breakfast! 5 stars!!
    Colby D.

    I was recently fulfilling my civic duty and came here one morning beforehand for breakfast and a drink. I needed something heftier than a plain croissant, but not a full breakfast, so I opted for the croissant breakfast sandwich. I had been having a lot of breakfast sandwiches lately, and honestly, I wasn't super stoked to be ordering another one. I then scanned their menu for an espresso tonic and was sad to see that they didn't offer those, but I did notice a seasonal Strawberry Matcha Tonic drink. I asked for them to throw two shots of espresso in, and again, I wasn't super excited for this item either. When they both came out, they were unassuming. The sandwich didn't appear to be anything special, and the matcha and espresso had mixed into an unappealing green-brown color, but I dug in. Can I just say, holy croissant sandwiches Batman?! This was probably one of the best croissant sandwiches I'd had in a long time. The pastry was thick enough to get the satisfaction of cronchin' on a croissant, while not being so thick as to make up half the calories in the sandwich. It was kinda flat, but in a good, meat & egg vessel way. The avocado spread kept it fresh, and the aioli was a nice touch that really elevated the sandwich and made it stand out from others I've had lately. 10/10 would order again. And despite the color of my drink, it was freaking AWESOME. I actually realized while drinking it that I appreciated that they mixed the matcha and espresso together before pouring it into the cup, because an espresso-matcha-strawberry macchiato doesn't sound super great. The matcha helped balance the espresso, and the tonic water and strawberry syrup gave the drink a pop of personality. I would also order this drink again in a heartbeat, but alas, 'tis seasonal. It is a pretty tiny shop, with some bar seating and a few small tables inside and outside. Service from the person at the cash register wasn't super friendly, but I saw someone who had the confidence of a manager/owner greet someone who seemed to be a regular in a very friendly way. It was cool to see this old dude who came up wearing an expensive suit (who was probably an attorney) hold a pleasant conversation with and seem genuinely interested in talking to this young dude with a dad hat and chain necklace working at a coffee shop. It was cool to see these worlds coexist with mutual respect. Anyway....I'm not over in this part of downtown often, but I hope a future move to Little Italy will change that. Otherwise I will only be back whenever showing people around.

    Açaí bowl
    Michael C.

    Simple, well prepared food and great coffee! Friendly service and a great option for a quick morning bite if you are in a hotel nearby. They have a good amount of seating inside and outside.

    Salted Maple Cream Topped Cold Brew
    Cassi S.

    Cutie coffee shop. Quaint and comfy with the quality. I ordered the salt flavor, salted maple cream foam. If you are looking for a sweet treat, this is definitely the winner. I would've asked for just a fourth of the amount because I just wanted a touch of sweetness but it was still top notch just a little too sweet for my preference. I also ordered a breakfast croissant with ham and cheese. I'm obsessed with croissants lately so this is the spot! Flaky, buttery, delicious and honestly perfectly pressed and toasted. They also cut it in half which I appreciate

    Vanilla lavender cold brew with half and half  Kale smoothie with ginger added
    Heather R.

    Awesome spot for coffee and smoothies! There's outdoor seating as well, but no outlets outside so come fully charged! Loved this spot and highly recommend for potential coffee and nutritious smoothies. Smoothie size was pretty large too which was a plus.

    Breakfast Smoothie (Bananas, Protein, Granola, Cold Brew, Almond Milk).
    Randy B.

    Wrapping up a business trip to San Diego, I decided to stop in for a power breakfast at Kuma Cafe. The Yelp reviews were one deciding factor, along with the proximity to my hotel and the Santa Fe train station. I was immediately greeted by a very nice gentlemen, smiling and asking about my day. After looking over the menu for a few moments, I decided to go with the Breakfast Smoothie and Croissant Sandwich. I had a seat in one of the half dozen tables inside, next to a few counter seats. The place had a good, mellow energy vibe, abuzz with Friday morning customers grabbing their morning refreshments before making their way to the office or an early jump on the weekend. A few moments later, another extremely friendly gentleman brought out my order and served up my tasty looking items with a polite smile. The Breakfast Smoothie (Bananas, Protein, Granola, Cold Brew, Almond Milk) was up first. I was immediately blown away by the flavors as it wasn't like anything I have tasted before. A great balance of balance and brew, all with the power of protein in a very large cup. I really enjoyed it, not only for this flavor, but the perfectly blended ingredients. The Croissant Sandwich (Ham, Egg, Cheddar, Avocado, Garlic Aioli on an Artisan Croissant) was presented on a simple wood serving dish and was quite eye-catching. First impressions after the initial bite were immediately drawn to the wonderfully flaky croissant and delicious garlic aioli. Packed in with large amounts of smooshed avocado and hot egg, ham and melted cheese, and this medium sized breakfast was a home run. Kuma Cafe is a great family-owned artisan coffee house that also serves up delicious, homemade, customized small breakfast items. Stop by for a quick bite, stay for the friendly atmosphere and come back, again and again.

    Ham egg and cheese sandwich
    Chandler C.

    The food is delicious!!! You can tell it was made with love. The flavor was all there. I also got a dirty chai aka a chai with cinnamon and it was deli have no notes it's a quaint little shop friendly staff I will be returning tomorrow

    XL avo toast
    Rhett F.

    Cute little spot nestled amongst the skyscrapers. It's a grab and go style place but the seating area is inviting enough. We were really looking for a more sit down oriented place, but there's not many to be had in this area. We both had the XL Avo Toast, it was very well seasoned and delicious with generous chunks of artichoke, feta, and tomatoes. The garlic aioli was very fresh tasting and not at all overpowering, very good! That said the wood plate it came on has raised edges and makes it very difficult to cut. Luckily it's fairly rigid and doesn't get soggy so picking it up and eating it is a solid option. I got a drip coffee, and frankly I didn't like the blend at all, it tasted very cherry or chocolatey and I didn't finish it. We paid 40 dollars after a 5 dollar tip (the staff was very friendly) for both avocado toasts and two coffees. Making it a little on the spendy side but consider the location, and the times... Overall, would definitely recommend if you're in the area. :)

    Golden Açaí and Matcha Smoothie

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    Photo of Divya M.
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    2 years ago

    Excellent ham, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich on rosemary toast. Quick service and cozy place to eat!

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    3 years ago

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

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    4 years ago

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

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    Page 3 of 9

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    Spill the Beans Coffee and Bagels

    Spill the Beans Coffee and Bagels

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    0.6 miGaslamp
    $$

    Super cool ambiance with the coffee shop sharing the space with the bar next door. Country music…read moreand football is viewable through the mini divider between the spots The cold brew is solid and there's plenty of seating. Fun "pot head" themed merch available as well. There's a couple locations around San Diego but this is one of the better ones

    ‼ DISCRIMINATION! RACISM! ‼ I had an extremely uncomfortable…read moreand upsetting experience here while picking up a large coffee order for a wedding. When I arrived, there was a very long line, but because my order had already been placed, I went to the designated pickup area. While waiting, I watched the employee behind the counter speak politely and normally to other customers. When it was my turn, I turned my phone around and politely said, "Hi, I'm here to pick up for" Before I could even finish my sentence, the employee looked at my phone, rolled his eyes, turned away from me, and went to retrieve the order. There was no greeting, no acknowledgment, and no basic courtesy. He handed me the order while staring at me, rolled his eyes again, and immediately returned to the register. The interaction was so noticeably hostile that I looked back at him and asked, "What's your problem?" He immediately turned away and began helping someone else. I then asked another employee whether there was a manager available and explained what had just happened. Her response was essentially that there was "a lot going on" and that they were busy. Being busy does not excuse treating a customer disrespectfully especially when I had just watched other customers receive normal, courteous service. What made this experience particularly concerning was what happened next. While I was still making sure my large order was complete, another customer approached the pickup area. The same employee who would not even allow me to finish my sentence immediately greeted this man with, "Hello, how can I help you?" and proceeded to speak to him politely and professionally. That was the exact basic courtesy I had been denied only moments earlier. As a Black woman, I cannot ignore that difference in treatment. I watched this employee demonstrate that he was perfectly capable of greeting customers, communicating professionally, and being courteous. He simply chose not to extend that same treatment to me. Based on what I personally witnessed, the disparity felt prejudicial and discriminatory. I then walked to the neighboring sister establishment to ask how I could contact management because I had not been provided helpful management information inside the coffee shop. Ironically, the employee I spoke with there was also Latino, and he treated me with complete respect. He listened, offered to get a manager, asked whether I was okay, and apologized that I had experienced something uncomfortable. That interaction is important because my complaint is not about anyone's ethnicity it is about the specific behavior of the employees who dealt with me at the coffee shop. What was also strange was that the coffee shop employees who had just explained that everything was so hectic suddenly had plenty of time to stand at the counter and watch me while I spoke with the neighboring business. They continued watching me until I got into my car. There had been an enormous line of customers, yet somehow the "too busy" explanation disappeared when it came time to watch what I was doing after I asked about management. That made an already uncomfortable situation feel even more hostile. The Smoking Gun needs to seriously evaluate who it places in customer-facing positions. Customers should not have to wonder whether their race affected the basic level of dignity and courtesy they received. If an employee is overwhelmed or having a bad day, take a break, ask for help, or work away from the front counter. What you do not do is selectively discard basic manners with one customer and then immediately demonstrate those same manners to the next. I came in to pick up coffee for a wedding. I was polite. I was there to collect an order and leave. There was absolutely no reason for me to be treated with hostility. I will be filing a formal complaint with management regarding this incident. I hope management takes it seriously, reviews what occurred, and provides its staff with appropriate customer-service and anti-discrimination training. No paying customer should be treated as though basic respect is optional. And yes, they can run the cameras back it'll be in there ! Then to ice the cake, they literally got the order wrong and didn't give me all the items for the party that I was taking it to! Could look me up and down but not look the orders up and down !

    Photos
    Spill the Beans Coffee and Bagels - Inside--love the cleanliness and cool retro feel.

    Inside--love the cleanliness and cool retro feel.

    Spill the Beans Coffee and Bagels - Lox, stock and bagel

    Lox, stock and bagel

    Spill the Beans Coffee and Bagels - Chagaccino

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    Chagaccino

    Hatsuzakura - Salmon Onigiri

    Hatsuzakura

    4.4(609 reviews)
    3.5 miUniversity Heights
    $$

    Decent service food was smaller than expected but overall very delicious would come againread more

    WOW!! This place is legit! Happened to be in this area and was looking for great place to get some…read moreomurice and stumbled into this little gem of a place!! First, street parking only but don't let that deter you from coming coz every inch or foot that you spend walking to this place is all worth it. Secondly, love the ambiance. Reminds me a lot of those ikazaya pubs in Japan but a little more chic and modern. They have bar seating of about 10 and 6-8 tables inside. But they also have outdoor seating. So I came at exactly 11 am and I was the second guest and they sat me at the bar. By 11:30 am, the entire resto was full, not granting it was a Saturday morning but people prolly got smart to come here early before the lunch crowd gets bigger. So for the food, I had to order their Hayachi Omurice and Chef Soichi's Chicken karage and both were BOMB! 11/10 each! Love the flavor of the rice and nice touch of thin slices of meat and the egg was perfectly made. I just wished there were heapings of those egg. The sauce was slightly tangy but love the flavor. The other star of my meal was the karage. Prolly the Top 2 karage I've had. I liked how they sliced in lengthwise and there not too much coating. And it wasn't oily and very juicy inside. Well seasoned and it came with lemon wedges and kewpie mayo. All I did was sprinkle some Nanami Togarashi for an added umami flavor. Overall, this should be on your top 10 restos in San Diego. Service was excellent, the servers were all friendly and always smiles!! Kudos to you guys!! I'll be back for sure!!

    Photos
    Hatsuzakura - Interior view from front to back

    Interior view from front to back

    Hatsuzakura - Hayashi Omurice

    Hayashi Omurice

    Hatsuzakura - Ichigo Daifuku - Original and Matcha flavored

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    Ichigo Daifuku - Original and Matcha flavored

    Spill the Beans - Basic Sitch

    Spill the Beans

    3.9(455 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    The bagels TOP NOTCH…read more The location cute and quaint, but I do like the Mission Valley location more. This location seems to have a limited menu whereas their other location has more options. It was a busy morning, so they doing their best to keep up with orders while people were asking if their bagels were ready. The workers were being so patient and communicating with customers that they were on it. The coffee TASTES like coffee! Silly to say, but it's soooo delicious and I love when coffee doesn't taste like a complete sugary drink. We had two iced coffees (basic sitch and blondie mocha) and their drip coffee. Would definitely order again. They were out of some ingredients, but they advertised it, so customers were not lead astray. Easily, their bagels make this the place to go!

    Scheduled my day to make sure I could stop by their anniversary celebration before heading to the…read moreairport. Left, extremely disappointed... When I arrived a few minutes before opening the lights were off, turned the corner to find things still being unloaded. Waited, until 6, nothing, waited 5 more minutes, some movement but still not open. Finally ask what the situation is and they said they were running behind and needed maybe 15 more minutes. I didn't have confidence that would actually happen, and left hungry to fend for food at the airport. Not worth waking up early and planning for.

    Photos
    Spill the Beans - Fendi and the Ube Bagel w/ Ube cream cheese

    Fendi and the Ube Bagel w/ Ube cream cheese

    Spill the Beans - Spill The Beans Seaport Village is beneath that lookout tower

    Spill The Beans Seaport Village is beneath that lookout tower

    Spill the Beans - Hot Blondie Latte and Sugar-free Vanilla decaf latte were great! More people need to talk about their quality roast!

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    Hot Blondie Latte and Sugar-free Vanilla decaf latte were great! More people need to talk about their quality roast!

    Kuma cafe - coffee - Updated September 2026

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