Naaaah I had way too many bad experiences with this place. 1. Food is meh. Even the esteemed butter chicken poutine wasn't that great. Could've used more sauce. Mine had little sprinkles on my fries. So when I am looking at these photos in the Gallery, I'm like, "That is NOT what I had." I had better Butter Chicken Poutine at the Night Market. 2. The staff is either rude or incompetent. I ordered a wrap, and the guy who took my order didn't even get it ready until 20 min later after I had reminded him that I was still waiting. Then 10 min later, the middle of my wrap was FROZEN. Ya I guess it was my bad for asking for a new one here, since I could've just taken it home and warm it up there. At the same time though, they could've offered more than just a cup of coffee "next time". The waiting + forgotten order + having another customer give me a dirty look...for what?? Because I wasn't happy with waiting for 30 minutes, which for 20 minutes, the staff had completely forgotten about my order???? Ya cuz that's totally a bad reason for me to be angry about the situation...and lol the apology was not even sincere. The staff is super friendly to certain people here. I came here 4-5 times and they don't even bother with me. Hell, they even forgot about my order. Just awful. 3. Cleanliness Do they even wipe the tables here? How could this place ask for tip when they don't even bring the food to you or wipe tables?? One time, I gave them 15% tip to see if that changes anything...and nothing. I had to wipe down table myself with a napkin on every visit I had there. I still have to bring the food to my table. And do I even get a smile out of the staff? No. Half the times the utensils aren't even properly washed. Honestly, why do people even like this overpriced, ill-mannered cafe? I am reading all these reviews that are giving this place 4-5 stars and I am in utter disbelief. Wake up, people! Tons of better places to experience "cafe" feel. I will never ever come back here. read more

Great atmosphere, Quality Coffee and tasty tasty food is what I found at Roots cafe. Must try the butter chicken poutine ! Absolutely Delicious !! Love the fact you can get a beer as well, not your average coffee shop at all. I will most defiantly be coming back for the fries alone. read more

Roots Cafe is a pretty random cafe on the corner of Main st. & 49 Avenue. It's walking distance from Langara College and as a result, students come here often. The cafe has a tiny little balcony that has an awesome view of too much traffic and the #49 bus passing by every couple of minutes. It's... alright. However, the food is pretty decent (in taste and price) and if you're sitting and eating in the cafe, they give you your food and drinks in proper glass ware. The vibe is very relaxed, sort of homey because the owners of the cafe frequently have family and friends visit them. It's cool, I understand. We all like freebies every now and then. Their desserts are decadent and I usually struggle to finish just one brownie. They have good wraps, a little soggy sometimes, but nutritious all the same. I am a fan of their lattes----they are usually foamy, creamy and done right. This cafe is a decent place to relax between classes or if you're strolling Main street. I usually forget that this cafe is around, but whenever I go, I never feel hassled or stressed. It's locally owned, the staff is full of sweet people, they have good drinks and good eats. What's not to like? read more

Roots Cafe - a cool atmosphere close to the community with good music and a fantastic selection of delicious eats! I come here every now and then to write and I enjoy the different people that come through; travelling hippies, Langara theatre students, business men, moms and of course cute guys. They are well priced for a cafe and have great student deals for breakfast. Their coffee is delectable and they have a GREAT Chai latte! I also love their food, if you need something healthy but sweet to munch on check out their blueberry Quinoa cookies (melts in your mouth and it's pretty much guilt free). All in all, I love Roots! It's definitely one of my favourite cafes in the South side of the city. read more

Oh. My. God. Fish and chips was incredible!! Plus the owners and staff are so lovely. This is not just a great coffeeshop with incredible food (yeah, take your person out to dinner) but also an awesome community hub. I love this place. read more

Cute cafe, great location at Main and 49th. Nice selection of tea and coffee, plus soups, quiches, muffins etc. The coffee is fine. The food less so, but it's coffeehouse food. It's a nice quiet place to chill and read a book or catch up on emails. However, if you're over 40, you might be treated with a bit of suspicion by the servers... or simply not given eye contact. Then again, if you're over 40 and reading this, you're likely as used to this kind of ageist service in local coffeehouses as I am. This, plus lackluster food, is why you get 3 stars, Roots Cafe. But until I find a friendly-to-old-people spot in the area, I will return. read more

Must try the butter chicken poutine!!!! Great breakfast Great coffee Great service with super friendly family staff An amazing gem in little India! read more

Roots Cafe is a welcome surprise in the middle of the Punjabi Market. The iced green tea and Butter Chicken Poutine were excellent. A warning to those who are sensitive to spicy food: the BC Poutine had a dollop of unexpected chili on top which I found delicious but made my friend grab a smoothie to calm her tastebuds. The space was very zen and would be a great place for studying or meeting up with friends. I look forward to returning to try the coffee and desserts in the display case! read more

This Cafe is in walking distance from my house, and its always a good spot to grab some breakfast, or a snack/ coffee! The vibe inside is really chill, they have nice couches and a fire place. They serve alcohol which is a plus! The coffees here are very good, highly recommend. I also recommend there butter chicken poutine, it is perfect for a rainy Vancouver day. I have also tried the Calzone, it's a really great snack. My only complaint is the food isn't very fast, so make sure you're not in a rush. Follow my Instagram @inourflavour for more restaurant reviews and food pics! read more

A nice clean modern place for coffee or to get a beer. Their lattes and teas are great and I like their sausage rolls. Maybe need to try something on tap next time. read more

Great service great food, classic breakfast was fresh and very accommodating. Tons of organic snacks and the breakfast was simple and not too heavy. Great flavor and not too salty read more

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Good coffee with a very eclectic and surprisingly labour-intensive menu for a cafe. Nice ladies make the coffee and the prices are reasonable. I enjoy the walk over from Langara to sit in the cafe. I sometimes feel sorry for the staff who keep calm despite needing more than two people during a busy lunch time on Saturdays. My only complaint is that the cups labeled "compostable" which Roots uses for cold drinks are not compostable in Vancouver. They would require a special facility which the city doesn't have. Even worse, they have to go in the garbage since they aren't plastic and so can't be recycled. read more

Very underwhelming. I ordered the quinoa bowl with tofu and had a hard time swallowing it down. Worst vegetarian food I've had in a very long time ( if ever). The "marinated tofu" was not marinated -it clearly was firm tofu chopped up and maybe microwaved (super gross) the beets had to have been grated days ago because they were super dry and unpalatable and the sauce that was dumped all over everything in the weird mix of food tasted like some generic dressing from a bottle. This quinoa bowl would scare anyone away from being vegetarian if it was the first vegetarian dish that they ever had. Additionally, the dish was a pretty small portion for 11 dollars worth of stale vegetables and plain chopped up tofu cubes (yuck). The weird textures and unpleasant flavours make me wonder about the other dishes on the menu. In Vancouver you generally expect way more than that monstrosity. Obviously I won't be going back here ever. The best thing (the only good thing) about my experience at this café was the server on staff who was very nice and professional. This review definitely doesn't reflect the lady that helped me. read more

Nice spot to grab a late breakfast! Like 4 pm! They make there own Chai too! Nice folks too! read more

Roots Café - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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My favorite go to for studying or quick lunch break. I've tried the butter chicken poutine and it's definitely a guilty pleasure. My personal favorite is the quinoa bowl with mango sauce .. mm yum They have gluten free and vegetarian dishes. All day breakfast, nice yummy drinks (matcha mocha my favorite) wireless, power outlets and comfy seats. It can be a bit pricey for a cafe but for what you get it's a fair pricing :) read more

This place deserves huge props for ambition! Unfortunately I'm not sure if there's a huge market for a small coffee shop that serves an overpriced appy platter (mediocre wings, 1/2 serving of decent butter chicken Poutine, tiny over cooked spring rolls for $20), plus a DJ with loud speakers, coloured flashing lights, and odd music choices. A dance party for him and his few friends on a Saturday night! I'm pretty sure the platter was just reheated frozen food from the grocery store. Quite dry as well. I appreciate that this location was open later than most local coffee shops, but with all this other stuff going on it wasn't really much of a coffee shop. The owners obviously have some big hopes but I'm sorry to say it was unpleasant. My humble opinion is try to find a few things that you can do well and enjoyable (besides the butter chicken sauce), rather than doing a ton of things poorly and making for an unpleasant experience. I hope they find success somehow! Not quite a coffee shop, not quite a disco, not quite somewhere I wanna go... read more

The coffee was good but food was average, reheated food stuff. They didn't seem to have a kitchen so relied on a toaster oven to heat up the precooked potatoes. It was decent enough for the price but I won't be rushing back any time soon. read more

Friendly staff and comfortable space, but I can't give it a good review because I've had too many bad meals here. On some days something will be great and others the same order will taste dry and warmed up (I'm thinking of their vegetarian dishes such as the vegan breakfast or falafel burger). The coffee is decent and the desserts are good. They just need to be more consistent with their cooked food. Also, it's a great place for people watching from time to time. I've seen an orthodox priest, British dudes watching soccer and drinking beer, etc. read more

The butter chicken poutine is mouth watering awesome fusion. The fries are my favourite kind- they have that crisp, deep fried texture on the outside- similar to duffin's donuts fries but a shade below. I've always enjoyed the atmosphere and look of the cafe and the staff are always great, especially the owner! They are all sociable and friendly. Yeah definitely check this place out if you haven't and not only for the butter chicken poutine. They have solid breakfast items. I have yet to try much else but I really don't think any of it would disappoint. read more

What A Joke ! I went there for breakfast . For 15 dollars I got scrambled eggs , 1 slice of bread some hash brows a coffee and a glass of milk. I totally felt ripped off . I will never go there again and you should not either !!!! read more

I stopped in here at the end of my morning walk today, for a fabulous chai and treat - I ended up choosing a "homemade sausage roll." The owner was working the counter, and the service was warm and friendly as usual. He mentioned that he was going to finish off warming the sausage roll in the regular oven which would take a little longer; I appreciated the heads-up and was in no hurry, so I got to enjoy the delicious crispy-crunch texture of the wrapping along with the soft and savoury filling. Very satisfying treat indeed :) The chai latte was creamy, spicy, and just the right amount of sweet for my taste. read more

Cool mix, but they've messed up my order twice now. I've been at the cafe for at least 40 minutes now and still haven't eaten!

passionate people, and they really take pride of what they do. my first reaction in the store was "jeee, this guy just made the sh!* out of my coffee!" maybe i'm just a dumb american, but that was one of the best lattes i've got. read more

This place is an interesting mix. Pros: service is friendly. Their in-house pastries are good, especially the blueberry scones (when fresh) and their garlic biscuits (great!). Fries are tasty. Lots of space to read or study - so much space! A great little booth, too. Their lattes are lovely! Cons: Their burger and breakfast sandwich are tasty, but they don't have a grill so food is seemingly cooked in an oven of some kind (this is a personal preference thing). All in all, a decent cafe with great pastries. read more

YAY, I'm a fan. Decent coffee. Friendly service. Delicious snacks and nibbles. Glad to have them in this location. The area needed a good coffee house and now they have it. read more

Lots of chicken in our Butter Chicken Poutine! Delicious as always! And the desserts are incredible too!

The food is pretty decent, but the staff are horrendous. When I walked in the old indo-Canadian woman in her 40s walked to the till, however I wasn't ready to order. She walked away with a heavy sigh. When I was ready to order I walked to the till. She gave me so much attitude and said in an exasperated tone "are you ready now?" Many friends have also complained about the staff being explicitly rude as well. I'll never go back. read more

Five star latte because it's so well balanced, not too milky or bitter. Very comfy couch & great staff. Another customer was eating buffalo wings & it looked & smelled awesome!! read more

I had a latte and a chili soup. Both were surprisingly excellent. Chili soup was one of the best I had with lots of ground meat and deep flavor. I wish it was spicy but still it was very good. read more

I love this place more as Roots then b4 they were bean around the world. They have great choices, even ones u can induldge in guilt free. I'm currently addicted to their Quinoa bowl, Their gluten free, wheat free and dairy free choices are so good, and I don't have to eat gluten, wheat or dairy free, but i choose them anyway beacuse they are so good. Bonus is I live right across the street.... :) I used to work at sbux and have to say that this place has done a great job in creating the third place environment that starbucks has to teach their staff how to do. Casual but professional, affordable high quality food and drinks... including alcohol. read more

Love it! My favourite spot in the neighbourhood! Good coffee, beers and yummy breakfast. Perfect for meeting friends, or just grabbing a butter chicken poutine or a brew after work.. read more

We were in Vancouver for the weekend and turned to Yelp for help finding a good breakfast cafe. We came across Roots, which had several good reviews, which also referenced an, "extensive gluten free & vegan breakfast menu." Boy were we disappointed! Upon arriving, we were greeted by the staff and began looking over the menu. It was obvious from the start that there were no "gluten free" breakfast options--not even GF toast! When we inquired, the staff member explained that we were the second, or third set of customers to come in saying they'd read about Roots having GF options. She went on to say that they had recently changed owners and staff and that probably people were referencing the previous owner's menu. BUMMER. We none-the-less thought, we're here, might as well give it a go! Disappointing--the bacon was completely over cooked--to the point of nearly being burnt. The egg was a mess--appearing almost microwaved--chewy and also over done. The hash browns were actually jojos, not shredded hash browns but they were "fine;" nothing special but edible. Ironically, the one really good part of the meal was the toast! Only one of the members in our group needed to remain GF, so the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed the whole grain toast! The espresso was good and worth going back for. The meals were not. Overall, it was a disappointment and does not meet up with what others have written previously. If you're just going in for a cappuccino and cookie, you're probably fine. But don't go expecting a good breakfast, or any kind of GF, or vegan options. read more

BEST AUTHENTIC CHAI IN VANCOUVER! I love coming here to chat with the owners and to listen to their life story and how their business is doing. Really relaxing atmosphere and they have a few plugs around if you wanna do work on your laptop. The poutines are amazing... They use veggie gravy i believe and it's so yummy. Try the butter chicken poutine! read more

So I've read quite a few good reviews about this place, and thought I would check it out. I looked on Yelp, as well as the Roots Cafe's website, and it said they would be open at 8am. So I scheduled a breakfast meeting there with some of my colleagues. I showed up at 8:05am, and it was closed. No signs with available times, nobody inside...nothing. I tried calling, and no answer. I was looking forward to trying this place, but it messed up my plans, and inconvenienced myself and 3 other business professionals! read more

Great food! And very nice staff every time I go! Haven't had any bad experiences but just a bit pricey.

I want to like this place, I really do. But ever since they got new owners, things have been pretty bad. Food takes forever, and when you finally get it, stuff is missing, or wrong. The only things made fresh in house are the coffees, while the majority of meals are made by a microwave (all gravy, sauces, buttered chicken, etc), and the fries/tenders/fish were clearly brought in from a grocery store and reheated, and it tastes like it. All this could've been overlooked, since you can just avoid ordering certain items off the menu; however the last 4 or 5 times I've been in here, my order has been forgotten or completely wrong. Sometimes it's forgotten in the oven, sometimes I'm given something completely different than I've ordered, and most recently was completely forgotten about, with the server/owner not remembering even taking it. There's always apologies, but the better apology is just not doing it next time. Unfortunately, it keeps happening, and I'd rather just go to a place that's on top of things and gets their orders out correctly and quick. read more

Only had a cappuccino to go and was dry as requested. Not sure which Espresso they use but it was not the most flavorful brand. Would go back if in neighborhood. The menu reads tasty and they do brunch so surely would,try that. Will be back and test the food too eventually but for to go 3 stars which in my eyes is a good everyday rating. read more

To skip the after work rush hour me and my bf stopped here to have a quick dinner since we were very hungry . We ordered chicken burger side with fresh salad and fries. We loved their fries. There's a light batter that gives extra crisps to the potatoes. Salads were freshly made but I asked for 'no onions' in my salad and burger, which they somehow ignored. So both had a good spice kick. They never warned us that there's hot sauce or shriracha in burger. My tongue was on fire and I drove home wagging my tongue out . Customer service was ok. Washrooms were clean. We sat at the very end,comfy seats that felt like throne. read more

They got the best coffee. Tastes much better than Tims or Starbucks. Their entire sitting arrangement is too good. It feels like home. Must visit there to give a boost to your day. :) read more

We stopped here last on the way out of Vancouver. We had a salad and the butter chicken poutine. The butter chicken was really tasty and done well. The salad was a typical salad- not bad, but nothing special. The staff was friendly and the tables were clean. Free wifi was nice too. read more