Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Tappi's Cafe

    4.5 (247 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

    Waitlist - Tappi's Cafe

    Waitlist closed

    The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

    Tappi's Cafe Reservations

    Order Tappi's Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Tappi's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    TAPPI'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Tappi's Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - Tappi's Cafe

    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

    Ube pancakes
    Stephanie S.

    Great place to come to for breakfast or brunch! They have so many options to choose from which is great for group settings. We ordered flatbreads, avocado toast, chilaquiles that came with a side of potato's and beans, açaí bowl, ube pancakes, coffee, mimosas etc. this place has it all. The service wasn't too bad and we were satisfied overall with everything.

    Eggs benedict
    Christine S.

    I came here on a Saturday for lunch- food was good, fresh and had fast service. The menu is a bit eclectic-- american, asian, mexican dishes. My daughter was excited to get a smoothie. It's tucked away in the Ralph's shopping center near the car wash- I had to look around to find it. I would consider it on my rotation list for easy items when i"m in the area.

    Rose
    Jackie B.

    We have been driving by Tappi's Cafe for many years. It was always closed. We have never bother looking up the place and realizing its hours is like Broken Yolk; they close at 3pm. Anyways, when I finally got smart and looked up the menu, I was intrigued to see they have Japanese Soufflé. So we stopped by Saturday morning, and we were pleasantly impressed. When you walk in, you are greeted right away. It's a quaint spot with cute decor. They have a few 2 and 4 tops. They were pretty strict with not allowing a party of 2 to sit on a table for 4. This made the table cramped as we got our entrees and had our bottle of wine. Our servers name was Valentina. She was great I came in to order the Japanese soufflé but they had ran out, and they also didn't have German pancakes. I was bummed but decided on the same dish as Tim and we both ordered Steak & Eggs Benedict. As we were enjoying our mimosas and great conversation, either the staffer or the owner came in with bags of ingredients. Valentina came back to our table to let me know that I can order Japanese soufflé if I still wanted it. And of course I said YES! And let me tell you it was SOOO good. It doesn't have the same shape or texture on the top as you would expect. It had a light crust. It was sweet and so delicious. Since we were indulging we also ordered one of their specialty dessert - Biscoff Crepe Noodles. It was heavenly. If you haven't been here, you have got to stop by.

    Carla O.

    I finally had the chance to try Tappi's Café, a little spot I've always noticed but never had the opportunity to visit until now. I wanted to find a new breakfast place with quality food, and thought, why not Tappi's? I suggested it to my daughter, and she happily agreed. It's a smaller café, but cozy, charming, and simply chic, the kind of place that instantly feels welcoming. Their menu offers a nice variety of creative dishes, which made it hard to choose! I ordered the Egg Tacos, which sounded fun and different, along with a side of potatoes. My daughter went with the Steak and Egg Burrito. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and efficient. Our food came out quickly and was beautifully presented. You can tell care goes into every plate. We both enjoyed our meals immensely! The flavors were fresh, balanced, and perfectly cooked. If I could make one small suggestion, it would be to serve a slightly larger portion of potatoes on the side; they were delicious but I wanted more! Overall, we had a wonderful experience. The service, ambiance, and food were all perfect. Tappi's Café truly is a little treasure in Rancho San Diego, and I can't wait to come back again soon.

    Wag
    Julie G.

    Yes , we found a new Breakfast place .. Do make reservations as the place is a little small . Initial service was good . The coffee was delightful and plenty , I asked for a to go cup as I couldn't drink it all . We ordered our food and my son and I received our food . I was waiting for my husband to get his food but he insisted on me eating while it was hot . Good decision to do so . I finished my breakfast and he still was waiting for his food . I had to ask the waitress what was the status on his food and apologized it was taking awhile . It was way too long . The food was good , I would like to see a kids menu. The bacon is a little pricey , two strips for $7 . Overall service needs attention.

    Shashuka w/egg added
    Elizabeth V.

    Tappi's Cafe located in Rancho San Diego in a shopping center located in the same parking lot as the car wash. It appears to be a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian cuisine. Extremely small venue that offers indoor and outdoor seating. They may be able to accommodate a party of 8 at the most but, it will be a tight fit. Customer service was amazing and so was the food! I did not care for their cherry latte at all. It had a very unpleasant flavor. We ordered: Shakshuka - Delish (Mediterranean) Menemen - Delish (Mediterranean) Japanese souffle - Light, fluffy, and delish Ube pancake - Delish We will definitely be back to try more dishes!

    Eggs Benedict

    Presentation is amazing! The hollandaise sauce has a unique taste (very good). The ham isn't the traditional think slice, they service it with several thin cut slices. I like it. Potatoes are crispy and soft. I enjoyed my experience.

    Japanese souffle 2pc
    Shirley O.

    Yum! The Japanese soufflé took about 20 minutes to arrive which is standard. These generally take longer to cook based on my experiences at other restaurants. When the pancakes finally arrived, they looked beautiful and were delightful to eat. They were light, fluffy, moist and not too sweet. They tasted slightly eggy, but still very good. I also had a Turkish coffee which was strong. The ambiance was casual and comfortable. Service was friendly. Overall, it was a 4.5 star experience. They have some interesting menu items and if I'm in the area again, I would consider returning.

    Egg drop breakfast sandwich
    Kim D.

    What a great little Cafe! Our server was the sweetest, full of advice and insight. We had Turkish coffee for the first time. That was an interesting experience, I was a bit wired for the next 4 hours. The flavor was very different than anything I've ever had. Coffee that tastes like tea is how I would explain it We ordered a japanese fluffy egg sandwich with kafta, khachapuri with beef and cheese and the special. I loved both of the Mediterranean dishes. The cheese on the khachapuri was so delicious the bread was crispy but soft. The special came in a cast iron pan, sort of a breakfast pot pie with bread that tasted like Naan. The eggs were perfectly poached in a light but flavorful tomato sauce. I would probably pass on the breakfast sandwich next time. I love japanese fluffy eggs but the eggs were cooked in the grease of the kafta making it unappealing to me. Great brunch spot, don't sleep on this place!

    Turkish Coffee  + Sugar Cube
    Smurph P.

    My family and I were craving some soufflé pancakes. We used to go to Morning Glory, but Little Italy is a nightmare for parking- especially on a Saturday morning. (Not to mention the hour+ wait) I searched yelp for some soufflé pancakes and found Tappi's Cafe. Not only is it closer to us, but tons of parking! It was relaxing and cozy, not stuffy or pretentious. We got seated right away, and all the staff were very attentive. We loved our server Valentina, she was so sweet. She even asked me (quietly) if she could offer my toddler some candy, after our meal. All the food was delicious. My Turkish coffee was delightful and strong, exactly what I was looking for. We will absolutely be weekend morning regulars.

    Menemen and Sausage
    Lin J.

    Cute place. Food was delish. Only downside is the time to wait. Waited a while for food to be served. Other than that it was good. I thought that the French toast was a bit dry.

    Tokyo Sandwich
    Samantha G.

    The drinks we ordered were the chai latte and cappuccino which were delicious. There's seating available Tokyo Sandwich was okay tasting. The farm egg breakfast plate was good but felt like they didn't give enough food. The French toast Nutella tasted like Pinesol cleaning solution. It was not edible at all. Luckily they did remove that from our bill. The ube pancake was okay but they are very stingy when it comes to syrup. They give you a big old pancake with two small one inch tubes of syrup so the pancake just tasted very dry. Although the staff were very nice the food was not so great.

    Wrongly priced menu

    See all

    21 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    26 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Nice staff!! Liked my caramel macchiato. Avocado toast was good. WiFi was fast! Good experience overall

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R R.
    5
    28
    14

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Elizabeth R.
    47
    138
    510

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Gerrie H.
    5
    164
    299

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    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 Eva G.
    214
    1235
    12157

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of G4g G.
    0
    10
    0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of amy
    1
    4
    2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Tappi's Cafe

    I see they have outdoor seating, do they also welcome pets?

    I don't remember them having outdoor seating, the space doesn't really have room for it. I'd call to confirm, they're open now.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    Mal Al Sham -The Taste Of Damascus

    Mal Al Sham -The Taste Of Damascus

    4.2
    (661 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    Holy huge portion sizes! I got the beef tikka and the beef was pretty tasty especially with the…read moregarlic (?) sauce. I really liked the flavor in the rice and salad that came with it as well. The salad was pretty fresh. I just thought the meat to rice ratio was pretty bad for this entree. There was sooo much rice, but only 2 kebabs :( My friend got the chicken shawarma tho and the meat to rice ratio seemed a lot better for that entree, so I probably wouldn't get the kebabs next time. The chicken was a little bit dry but still decent. It was nice that it was a sit down restaurant too, but it was kinda crazy that they charged for water :/

    One of my new fav restaurants in SD County! I don't go out to El Cajon much but I happened to be…read moreout there, so I decided to stop by after hearing so many good things about them and I'm so glad I did! I can easily say that Mal Al Sham is my new favorite place for Middle Eastern Food! They have so many great options on their menu but I ordered the Mixed Grill, Hummus, and Fries. The mixed grill came with a chicken kabob, chicken tikka, and two beef kabobs and rice - all the kabobs were well seasoned and the rice was so flavorful. Everything was delicious and the portion sizes are so generous. There was enough food for two people for two meals each. I ordered to go and the food came out quick after I ordered despite how busy they were. The downside is that the parking lot is extremely small. I'm really looking forward to coming back and trying other items.

    Photos
    Mal Al Sham a taste of Damascus, Syria cuisine in El Cajon.
    Mal Al Sham a taste of Damascus, Syria cuisine in El Cajon.
    Platter for (3 People) ( beef shawarma swapped out with chicken cream chop)
    Platter for (3 People) ( beef shawarma swapped out with chicken cream chop)
    Leftovers from two meals

    See all

    Leftovers from two meals
    Ali Baba Family Restaurant

    Ali Baba Family Restaurant

    4.1
    (924 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    The location is right on the corner you can't miss it. They have their own small parking lot. There…read moreis a lot of similar restaurants in the area that we have tried. They just don't compare. The quality and flavors are out of this world. The inside is very cute. it is clean and welcoming. We enjoy lunch dates and dinner here as a family. The owners are very friendly. Definitely recommend the lunch for 2. FYI it feeds 4 people easily. Dinner for 3 feeds 6-7. Large portions. The hummus is soooooooo good. Pro tip: ask for extra olive oil. Give this place a try!

    Haven't been here in years, decided to take a trip to El Cajon to have lunch at this mom and pop…read moremiddle eastern restaurant with my mom and pop. They definitely invest their time on the taste of their food and serving large portion sizes instead of fancy tables and decor. It's not upscale fine dining... the interioir looks the exact same for past decade. Although a little dated the place is very clean and fits large or small groups. Not a date night spot -- more a friends and family stuff your face kind of place. They have a dedicated parking lot with plenty of spots. We ordered a ton of food to share. Half roasted chicken with side of fatoush salad, beef kabob plate with side of rice, lamb tikka with side of fries, a large plate of hummus, and an order of falafel (Best Falafel in SoCal). EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! I personally didn't like the lamb tikka but everyone else destroyed that plate. We ordered a pot of black tea (mint flavored) and they brought our large pieces of steaming hot fresh bread. Service was very friendly and fast. They modified any order to your liking. They also thanked us for coming and meant it when they said it -- Mom and Pop shops are The Best! Highly Recommend if you're looking for good quality middle eastern food with large portions.

    Photos
    Feast for 4!
    Feast for 4!
    Pita Bread the Size of a Pizza
    Pita Bread the Size of a Pizza
    From the newly renovated parking lot =D

    See all

    From the newly renovated parking lot =D
    Shawarma Guys

    Shawarma Guys

    4.7
    (1.1k reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Casual dining

    I can for the viral Wagyu Shawarma Cheesesteak. It was very tasty with a mix of peppers, onion…read morecheese and sauce. Whatever sauce they used gave it a bit of spiciness. I went at 3:30 pm on a Saturday and was surprised that it was pretty busy at that weird time The sandwich was huge ( probably 12 inch sub) so depending on how hungry you are, you could easily split it. I loved the fries. Whatever seasoning they used gave is perfect

    Man I really wanted to like this place due to all the rave reviews. Our first experience was mixed…read morewith some meats being great and others dry beef bits that weren't very tasty or appealing. Our second experience we got the chicken shawarma Brian's way. Everything was cooked well, but I guess although I like pickles, I'm not as big a fan of Mediterranean pickles. The first bite or two were actually good, but subsequent bites the pickle tanginess was overwhelming and just not so pleasant as I finished it. I thought maybe I'll get it without the pickles next time. However, after eating I got an unexpected headache that usually comes from ingestion of MSG. The fries were tasty... maybe there was MSG in those? Not sure. I've honestly had much better phenomenal shawarma in San Joes CA. I have yet to find a great Shawarma here in San Diego. Feel free to recommend.

    Photos
    Ordering counter
    Ordering counter
    Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!
    Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!
    The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !

    See all

    The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !
    Ney Restaurant

    Ney Restaurant

    4.6
    (371 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    I loved this place! The night before coming here for takeout, I had Mediterranean food down at…read moreSeaport Village. It was tasty and satisfying... but this place BLEW MY MIND. The moment I walked in, I was warmly greeted and asked if I wanted a table for one. I said no, I was hoping to order takeout, and she kindly invited me to sit at the bar while I looked over the menu. Right away, the atmosphere felt welcoming, beautiful, and relaxed. I ordered my food, sipped my water, and honestly didn't think I had ordered that much. Then she came out with multiple filled brown bags of food! First of all, the prices were amazing. Second... the food was TOP NOTCH and completely different from what I had the night before. Everything was packed with flavor without being overloaded with salt. Fresh, vibrant, rich, and incredibly satisfying. The waitress/hostess was knowledgeable, friendly, and gave great recommendations on what to try. You can tell the staff truly cares about the experience. I will absolutely be back the next time I visit San Diego again. And not that I recommend eating while driving ... but the next day on my drive back to Ventura County, I spread out my leftovers and happily snacked on hummus, baba ghanoush, and dolma all the way home. That alone says everything about how good this place was.

    There are restaurants you visit, and then there are places you feel, where the intention behind…read moreevery dish is unmistakable from the moment you walk in. That was my experience at NEY. From the first bite, it was clear this isn't just food, it is craft. You can taste the care, the precision, and the pride. Every element felt thoughtfully prepared, balanced, and deeply satisfying without trying too hard. The standout for me was the biryani, comforting, and perfectly executed. But everything impressed. The tzatziki was bright and refreshing, the hummus topped with beef shawarma was rich and flavorful, and the ney classic plate was generous enough to easily feed two, maybe even three, without sacrificing quality anywhere on the plate. It was the perfect way to try a lot of their items at once and that one disappointed! What really says it all is that I am already looking forward to the leftovers, which is rare for me. This is the kind of place that stays with you, not just because it is good, but because you can feel the heart behind it.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Filet Mignon Tikka with Baryani - delicious too
    Filet Mignon Tikka with Baryani - delicious too
    A hidden gem, look for it.

    See all

    A hidden gem, look for it.
    Mr Shawarma

    Mr Shawarma

    4.3
    (269 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    I rarely leave reviews, but I had to recognize Mohammad. We stopped by around 11 PM, and despite it…read morebeing late at night, his energy, attitude, and hospitality were absolutely outstanding. He treated us like valued guests, not like customers walking in near closing time. What impressed me most was that he genuinely seemed to care about our experience. He was friendly, attentive, made great recommendations, and even surprised us with a small piece of chocolate on the house. It's the little things like that that people remember. Restaurants are only as good as the people who represent them, and Mohammad is the kind of employee every business wishes they had. If management sees this, please recognize and support him--employees with this level of professionalism and kindness are rare. We'll definitely be back because of him. Thank you, Mohammad!

    I was really disappointed with my experience at Mr. Shawarma. The first thing I noticed was that…read moremany of the chairs were dirty and stained, which didn't leave a good impression. On top of that, the front doors were left wide open, allowing flies to come in and buzz around the restaurant while people were eating. Parking was also frustrating. Every parking space appeared to be limited to 30 minutes, which adds unnecessary pressure if you're trying to enjoy your meal. The food was another letdown. The prices are what you'd expect for a full adult meal, but the portions were so small they felt more appropriate for an infant than for a paying adult. It definitely wasn't worth the price. What bothered me the most was the service. One of the employees was snacking while taking my order, which came across as unprofessional. In the middle of everything, she suddenly left, and I later saw her moving her vehicle after it had been parked in a handicapped-accessible space. From what I observed, she did not appear to have a visible need for using that space. That, combined with the other issues, left a very poor impression. Overall, the cleanliness, tiny portion sizes, and lack of professionalism made this a disappointing experience. I won't be returning.

    Photos
    Fantastic and delicious selection.  Great food - nice music.  Great for lunch or dinner.
    Fantastic and delicious selection. Great food - nice music. Great for lunch or dinner.
    Mr Shawarma Rice, Mr Shawarma Fries & Hotdog
    Mr Shawarma Rice, Mr Shawarma Fries & Hotdog
    Chipotle Wrap Combo

    See all

    Chipotle Wrap Combo

    Tappi's Cafe - cafes - Updated July 2026

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