1. Need To Eat

    1. Need To Eat

    0

    Poway, CA

    Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Need To Eat

    4.9 (108 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Order Need To Eat Takeout or Delivery

    Get pricing & availability

    You can now request a quote from this business directly from Yelp

    Need To Eat Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Need To Eat

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cassidy F.

    This was my first time trying Ukrainian food and I loved my experience so much. I originally found this place because they have beautiful desserts and they are not too far from my place. I came on a weekend afternoon and there was 1 table left inside. The cafe is super small with 3 tables inside and 2 outside. You order at the cashier first and then they bring the food to you! I ordered the mushroom and potato dumpling, and some desserts! The mushroom potato dumplings reminded me of gnocchi. It had a cream based sauce and was so delicious. I don't remember how many dumplings it came with but I felt the amount was fair with the price it charged! I did actually take some home too as leftovers. For desserts, I ordered some sort of chocolate mousse in a skull shape (perfect for Halloween!) and a macaroon. The skull was delicious, not too sweet, perfect for 2 to share. The macaroon is huge! I'm not sure if I would get again but I did enjoy it. The only thing I would change is for the employees to serve water! We were not brought water nor did we ask. So it might just be something we have to ask for. But overall, definitely come and support this local business!!!

    Coffee and macaroon
    John P.

    We recently visited Need to Eat Cafe on Sunday afternoon at around 2 pm and at that time the lunch crowd was just starting to finish up so we had to wait a bit for a table. Nice little Ukrainian restaurant with about 4 tables inside and two outside so they can get crowded at popular times. We tried the Chicken with Mushroom sauce and I believe Peach crepes and they were excellent. I tried the Beef Pelmeni dumplings which were also excellent. Good high quality food but you don't get any sides so the portions seemed small. The staff were extremely friendly, and efficient. Probably best to come at slow times as they can get busy during breakfast/lunch times on the weekends.

    Drinks
    Myphuong L.

    Such a cute Ukrainian cafe that took over Fish Delights. Located in the Oak Knoll plaza directly across from Starbucks. The inside is duck themed. They open at 8am. We arrived at 8:10 and waited for 5 mins, no one was there so we left to another coffee shop. The second time, we came at 8:30 and the guy just barely started to put table and chairs outside and still setting up. Makes me think they operate on European time! Everything after this was just chill time. Very European. So don't expect to be in a rush if you're short on time. All the desserts looked so good and unique like the waffle cake, honey cake, the thickest macarons I've ever seen, and much more. We wanted to get something that was Ukrainian and got the potatoes and mushroom dumplings. Beautiful presentation. Potato filling with a cream of mushroom like sauce on top. To me, it tasted like gnocchi. Very good and filling. We also got the beef and burata salad. Had pine nuts, pesto, tomato, and the beef was sliced thin, almost like beef jerky. For drinks I wanted coffee but there wasn't anything specific to the culture so I got the Ukrainian cold drink called Compote. The flavor was strawberry basil. They say they make it in-house. It was refreshing and wasn't syrupy. There's still more to try here such as their lunch special for $15.50. You get a choice of protein and side. Worth a second visit.

    Warm (grilled) salad. Unique and absolutely delicious!!!
    Adriana M.

    I went back to Need to Eat for a second time, this time with my daughter and she loved it as much as I did. We tried the shakshouka (traditional Ukrainian breakfast) which has a base of spicy tomato sauce, eggs plus bread. It was spicier than I enjoy but it was fun to try something new. We then shared the 3 layer chocolate mousse and it was phenomenal. Can't wait to go back again!

    Sharon B.

    Cute new restaurant in Poway. I hope they make it because the food is really good. You order at the counter and your order is delivered to your table when they come out. It's a new establishment and since they make your food to order, it takes awhile to come out. My friend's order came out much dinner than mine. She was halfway done with hers before her drink order and mine came out. It's a small place so there's only 3 small tables instead with a couch and two bistro tables outside. I was checking out the other food orders coming and being delivered to other customers. Everything looks really nicely plated. The tuna Asian salad was a beautiful dish and my friend really enjoyed it. I ordered the mushroom and potatoes dumplings and that was absolutely delicious. Will definitely come back to try their other dishes!

    Only recieved half a strawberry of the bounty of berries that topped the whole cheesecake before slicing :(
    Carlin T.

    I first found this place while searching for "hot and new" places within the area. I did some research, found their website and instagram handle, and immediately fell in love with their story and humble backgrounds. The cafe itself is quaint and nicely kept and the employees are very nice. However, for what we got, my honest rating, and I feel bad for giving this, is 3 or 3.5 stars. I truly believe they have a good concept, supported by a talented team. They have a nice selection of sweets, with a good diversity in flavors and types of desserts. It was so hard to choose just one, but we ended up taking a slice of their basque cheesecake to go. The whole cheesecake looked huge, so I was expecting our slice to be pretty big too! However, for $9, we ended up with a pretty small slice (maybe 1/12 of the whole cheesecake?). The overall texture was smooth/lump free, but closer to the center was underbaked and farther from the center was dense. I know basque cheesecake is supposed to be loose/smooth, but ours collapsed nearer to the tip. Additionally, of all the berries that topped the whole cheesecake, we only received half a strawberry (unglazed as well and therefore dried out), which made me wonder if you get "more" if you dined in vs take out. Lastly, the flavor of the cheesecake was one note. It needed a touch more vanilla, maybe some lemon, or more berries to help with contrast. All in all, I'm hoping to give them another try again and update from 3 stars to 4 or 5 stars. Right now though, in my opinion ... great customer service but higher than expected prices and a cheesecake with potential. Maybe this was just a one off experience.

    View of counter/fridge and freezer containing frozen meals all hand made...
    Lee H.

    Amazing food at a very affordable price, I loved the sun-dried tomato and tuna sandwich, I would recommend it for sure along with the rest on the menu. Be warned if you have a sweet tooth this place will have you drooling....

    Cakes
    Snizhana S.

    Love the food so much, varenyki so delicious and the deserts is one love I would highly recommend this place

    Chicken and mushroom crepe
    Sylvester R.

    Great service and very good food. The MORS drink was very refreshing and the Chicken and mushroom crepes were excellent. My first time trying Ukrainian food and it was a good first for me. Small but very cute place. I would definitely try it out. Very clean.

    Yueming Q.

    This place is so cool so cute!! I'm so happy to find out this new opening place which just opened last week. They have desserts, drinks and breakfast, I had a cheesecake macaron, it is probably the best macaron I've ever had in US! My husband had a drip coffee which is very delicious as well. We will come back to try their breakfast sometime soon!

    Iryna N.

    Wow wow wow! Everything is yummy and amazing! Definite will be back! We tried dumplings and it was amazing!

    Vivian T.

    Cutest Goose cafe ever! The desserts at AMAZING!!! The owners are very nice and do an amazing job. Gone twice in one week and both times the food was superb

    So good!! Quality of service, food and coffee were top notch! Definitely coming back for the delicious syrniki

    See all

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    The most tasty pastries in San Diego!!!! Freshly hand-made right there, impossibility beautiful AND tasty!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The cakes were the most delicious I've ever tasted. It brought memories of being in Paris. Highly recommend this place !

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    WOW ! I went there for desserts and was not disappointed. Absolutely delicious . Friendly staff .

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    I had the pumpkin soup and it was amazing!!! Really hit the spot. Love the goose themed decor!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kelsey K.
    0
    248
    96

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Great lunch spot with great service! The borshch (beet soup) with pork belly was excellent. Happy to have a cafe like this in Poway!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Delicious food . We loved the borscht and the chicken crepes are outstanding. Will be back to have some more.

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kay M.
    0
    20
    6

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The potato & mushroom dumplings and the blackberry coconut dessert were absolutely delicious!

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Need to eat offers an amazing food, amazing service and warm atmosphere! Definitely will be back soon!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P S.
    0
    19
    6

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Taras K.

    Taras K.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Need To Eat

    Review Highlights - Need To Eat

    We had Syrniki with caramel and berries, Beef dumplings, Shakshuka, watermelon lime lemonade, and honey cake.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Caterers 10,663 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Kaleis Kitchenette Catering - Chafing dishes with vegetarian pancit, huli, chicken, and teriyaki beef. Dessert not from Kalei's.

    Kaleis Kitchenette Catering

    (52 reviews)

    Rancho Penasquitos

    I ordered catering food for a baby shower and it was delicious. I worked with Morgan who was so…read moreefficient and organized. They were quick to respond to my questions and texted me on day of pick up where to park. The food was INCREDIBLE. All the guest asked where it came from . Especially Loved the mac salad! I would highly recommend Kaleis!

    If there's one thing people remember about a wedding, it's the food. And people are STILL talking…read moreabout ours. Kalei's Kitchenette absolutely knocked it out of the park. The food was beautifully presented, incredibly delicious, and honestly one of the highlights of our wedding. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful and special. This wasn't just wedding food. This was **EPIC**. Chef Andy handled everything from start to finish, which meant my husband and I had one less major thing to worry about on a day when there were about a thousand moving parts. That alone was priceless. He and his team were professional, organized, gracious and simply incredible. I've been to a lot of events over the years, and I always remember the food, especially when it's really good. Kalei's is one I will remember for a very long time. When your guests are still talking about the food days later, you know you chose the right caterer. Thank you, Chef Andy and Khara and the entire Kalei's Kitchenette team, for helping make our wedding so memorable. You didn't just feed our guests. You WOWED them.

    Buckboard Catering & Events - Bride and Groom

    Buckboard Catering & Events

    (135 reviews)

    Amazing food and catering. Very affordable. We ordered everything well ahead of our party and…read morepicked up the day of. It was amazingly delicious and our friends and family raved about it!

    What makes a great reception and wedding day, food and the bar... Buckboard was a true highlight…read morefor my husband and I, and our guests! The food? Absolutely unforgettable. Every course, from the appetizers to the main courses, was incredible and beautifully presented. Many of our guests reached out about how it was simply such good food. One of our deciding factors was the fact that Buckboard is actually a restaurant here in San Diego, so their food was not just "wedding food" but actually restaurant quality. We fell in love instantly after our tasting. Knowing they are a local San Diego restaurant gave us so much confidence in food quality, and they absolutely delivered. Their service on the day of our wedding was seamless. It felt like everything was handled effortlessly, which allowed us to enjoy the day stress-free. My husband and I planned our wedding on our own and one of the biggest reliefs for us was that Buckboard took care of so many details - from linens, plates, and bar service to the propane for the heaters. Having one point of contact for everything was a great aspect. We truly didn't worry about their services at all day of. Buckboard's familiarity with our venue was another huge plus. They worked in perfect harmony with the venue staff. And as a same-sex couple, we were deeply touched by how welcomed and respected they made us feel throughout the entire process. We wholeheartedly recommend Buckboard Catering for their incredible food, great service, and outstanding communication. They made our wedding day not just special, but unforgettable. Thank you, Buckboard, for everything, you're truly the best!

    Taquizas José

    Taquizas José

    (638 reviews)

    $$

    We've used Taquizas José for three years in a row now for our daughter's birthday party in our…read morebackyard, and they always are wonderful to work with. Most recently, they came out last Saturday and served our 50 guests with ease. Everything from communication to set up and clean up is easy and smooth. Their email response time is always incredibly fast and they make booking so efficient and quick. They are also very transparent about pricing and very reasonable in their pricing. They also offer discounts and sales often and often give a cash discount when paying too. Our guests always rave about the food and they are the only taco company we know of that offers fish tacos as an option. We also love that they offer more unusual items such as grilled veggies and churros. We highly recommend Taquizas José for your next event.

    This is your sign to book with Taquizas Jose! Awesome food and a super communicative, professional…read morestaff. From the moment we inquired to the day of the party, we received several emails confirming the location, setup area, menu, and guest count. I had zero concerns about their ability to execute the plan, and I especially appreciated their 48-hour final confirmation. Our guests (95 total) raved about the food. We ran out of beef a little earlier than expected, but our people do love to eat and appreciated that the staff didn't skimp on portion sizes. I think my guests took "all you can eat" seriously--LOL. My only suggestion would be to let Taquizas Jose know if your group loves to eat, as you may want to factor that into the amount of meat they bring. We've been feasting on leftover beans, rice, and tortillas this week--thoroughly enjoying it. Safe to say no one left hungry, and we're still enjoying it days later. 10/10 would (and hope to) book again for any event!

    Bekker's Catering - A gorgeous spring wedding buffet set up by our Awesome Bekker's Crew!

    Bekker's Catering

    (525 reviews)

    Navajo

    Outstanding Food and Exceptional Service!…read more We used Bekker's Catering for our son and daughter-in-law's wedding, and they did a fantastic job from start to finish. The food was delicious and there was plenty of it! We received so many compliments from our guests about how much they enjoyed everything. The Bekker's team was also wonderful. The staff was friendly, professional, attentive, and very accommodating. They were flexible with our requests and made sure everything ran smoothly throughout the evening. Most importantly, the bride and groom were thrilled with their menu choices and with the entire experience. Bekker's helped make their wedding reception exactly what we had hoped for. We were so happy with everything and would definitely recommend Bekker's for a wedding or any special event!

    I shopped around for picnic vendors, and Bekker's was not pushy at all. They just helped me develop…read morea quote that was well within my budget, and we signed the contract! Other vendors would say that they could work with my budget and then tried to upsell and upsell. Bekker's wasn't like that at all. The communication with Tatiana leading up the company picnic event was smooth and professional. The day of the party, Luis and his crew were on time, efficient, and so easy to work with. Very friendly, and the food was great. They even helped us pack up the leftovers and put them in our vehicle. From the moment I called them to the moment we drove away from the picnic, the whole process was just very pleasant. 10/10 will use them again.

    Need To Eat - catering - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...