TLDR: it's a misnomer to call this place a "Tea Pavilion" and is a diminishing experience compared to the lovely Japanese Gardens it fronts. The tea is "good enough" but doesn't rise to expectation given it's location. The food is rather inexcusable, sadly, to the point that Panda Express or Yoshinoya is of far superior quality and flavor. The views on the patio are the most redeemable aspect of this sub-par fast food joint posing as a tea house. The details: Even without COVID the flow of people is mixed up with pick-up and ordering being near one entrance such that customers need to criss-cross each other multiple times to get kitchen and drink items. On the day the A/C was also lined to blow cold right on lined up customers during colder weather. The cashier mistook my tea latte order, but the regular hoji-cha was good. The kitchen didn't communicate what they were out of such that the cashier submitted my kitchen order and it wasn't available. Wanted udon but no udon. Got soba instead. Wanted kitsune, but no kitsune tofu. The kitchen staff did suggest submissions. The broth of the soba noodle bowl was bland and only lukewarm, which was unfortunate for the price and the cool weather. I added Kikkoman soy sauce to give the broth flavor. The tofu and mixed veggies were okay but nothing special. Was about $7 or $8. Fellow diner seemed satisfied with the Thai Iced Tea. Total bill was about $18 (with tip) which wasn't break-the-bank expensive but given the quality and nature of the food it should hover in the $10-$15 ballpark max. All in all the outside patio is the highlight, overlooking the Japanese Friendship Garden. The food was on par with maybe Amtrak meals, below the quality of most airline meals. The tea was satisfactory. The customer service was fast food grade, staffed by younger kids likely earning minimum wage with minimal senior staff supervision or leadership on site. Disappointing. read more

Tea Pavilion - Entrance and sign - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Delicious food. Went in for lunch after a long walk around beautiful Balboa Park. The friendly staff welcomed me and my group. Ordered the miso soup for a hot appetizer on a chilly day and the curry rice bowl both delicious. Look for the shrimp chips and other japanese snacks they offer. read more

Yesterday, my son and I had lunch here. I accidentally said it was the Japanese garden. So, thanks again Jon from Japanese garden. This restaurant is owned by the Cohn group that owns 24 restaurants in Southern California. Well, we had the worst lunch and for another 10 or 15 dollars we could have eaten at The Prado. You would think with several eateries in Balboa Park that the TeaPavilion would take pride in serving some really good food. I did let the nice gentleman up front know our feelings about the food. Sadly, we will not return. read more

In the heart of beautiful Balboa Park its a must, Love the salmon bowl along with a refreshing blueberry Kombucha !!

Tea Pavilion is a tea/coffee place located neat Japanese Garden in the Balboa Park. The location is perfectly situated right on top of the Japanese Garden so you can enjoy the wonderful view when you have their tea and food. Despite its small store size, they offer a wide range of tea, including several types of green tea, black tea, and oolong tea. Other than tea options, they also have coffee, wine, beer. They have food options including rice bowls, noodle soups, and sandwiches. We tried their Curry Rice Bowl with vegetables and tofu and Udon Noodle Soup with fried sweet tofu. Similar to many Yelp reviews, we weren't too impressed by their food. The curry rice bowl was actually okay. The portion was pretty large, packed in lots of rice. However, the curry sauce was too salty and lack of the depths of spice flavor. The sauce did come with a lot of ingredients such as potato, carrot, onion, and vegetables. If the sauce can be less salty, I believe it has the potential to be delicious. On the other hand, the udon noodle soup really missed the mark. The broth was way too salty to be able to taste anything The soup was also filled with seaweed that overpowered the soup base. The udon noodle was very soft. If the soup broth can be less salty, it has potential as well. Although their food really wasn't good, I don't mind coming back trying their tea or other items. read more

Tea Pavilion - Curry Rice Bowl with vegetables and tofu - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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It's ok, but got a sushi roll that was very overpriced and would be $6 in LA for $17. But I also tried a tea and it was very bitter. Better to go explore somewhere else read more

Date of visit: August 4, 2018 While on the way to the Bon Otori festival inside the Japanese Friendship Garden at Balboa Park, my girlfriend and I wanted to grab a bite to eat. The Tea Pavilion looked inviting enough, and it was next door, so we figured we'd give them a chance. We both ordered the same thing - their Krab Salad sandwich on wheat bread with potato salad. The best way to describe the sandwich is imagine eating a California Roll in a sandwich form - at least the avocado and cucumber was pretty fresh, and the imitation crab was filling. The potato salad had an interesting brown dressing (curry sauce?) on it, but it hit the spot (in fact, I was wishing for an extra scoop). Ultimately, I finished half the sandwich and ate the fillings of the other half... Also, the Tea Pavilion boasts 40(!) different teas to choose from; we both settled on a couple of large iced green teas. There's also a refrigerated section that carries both Japanese and American soft drinks to choose from, as well as various snacks and salads. Not that pricy (especially given that it's Balboa Park), and while outdoor seating is at a premium, at least it's not that crowded. Think I may give this place a few more visits after work... read more

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We saw rotten vegetables inside the salad but they threw into the trash can. But the rest of the foods were delicious! 2/5 stars for the salad was bad And everything we ordered was okay & great Here are the pictures below The second pictures is the vegetable was bad. read more

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3 stars for the excellent selection of tea. But as far as food goes, I highly recommend passing on it here. I've had a few different items on the menu and they're all pretty disappointing. Lackluster and overpriced microwavable meals that, after eating, you think to yourself, "Gee wiz, did I really just eat a box of gravy-smothered rice? Is my impending intestinal discomfort worth it?" Nahhhhh. Stick to the tea. The Cherry Sakura is delightful. read more

Tea Pavilion - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

The curry dish is not that bad, and the patio is nicely situated, though seating is very hard to come by. So, yes. I am having a hard time finding complements. Most everything is so underwhelming. Like, everything. The space is cramped. The service is inattentive and overwhelmed. The food is overpriced. I shouldn't have to pay $30 (excluding the tip) for two rice bowls (most of it rice), one mochi dessert and two terrible coffees. $30?! You know what I could do with $30? Nearly fill up my gas tank from empty (and Cali prices for gas are ridiculous) Go to the drive-in theater and have junk food for two films. Have Starbucks coffee for a week. Buy enough groceries to have breakfast for more than one week. Buy a fabulous bottle of wine. One of the most frustrating interactions here happened with one of the cashiers: Me: Hello, I don't see any iced teas on your menu. Do you offer any? Him: No, none of those are iced. Me: OK, thanks. I'll go with coffee instead. I finish placing the rest of my order and swipe my card. As I am waiting to sign off, I see a printed sign on top of the cooler section, where you can find desserts and prepared to go options. The sign gives mention to "Iced Teas." Perplexed, I reference the sign. Me: I thought you didn't sell any iced teas. Him: Yeah, we sell iced teas. Me: *tilted head, blank stare, fluttering eyelids* Mind. Blown. And that was just one of many mini frustrations at this restaurants. Given the costs, the terrible service and the difficulty in finding a seat, I would recommend eating elsewhere on the Balboa Parks grounds, or eating before you arrive or after you leave. read more

Tea Pavilion - Chicken curry - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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To call this place a "Tea Pavilion" is a disgrace. The matcha latte was awful. No matcha flavor whatsoever. No milk flavor either. It was incredibly watered down and tasted borderline like bad freezer tasting ice. To charge almost $6 is a crime. We came on the third Tuesday of the month so the Garden was free for San Diego residents. Of course it was very busy but the place didn't staff properly so the wait was very long. Higher quality matcha is definitely recommended as this is a "Tea Pavilion" after all. read more

Tea Pavilion - Matcha latte - hard pass - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Came here for lunch on a day in the park. There are lots of Japanese snacks and teas (more Western than Japanese) for sale. I appreciate that they had lots of no-sugar added iced teas, including herbal caffeine-free options, and I would come back for those again, but not for a meal. The food was not so great. The cold soba salad had some nice elements, but the dressing was very thin and flavorless, so the dish as a whole was flavorless. The teriyaki bowl was just "teriyaki" sauce dumped on top of protein and rice, which I guess I should have expected. But the fish was dry and the rice was mushy and seriously overcooked. Essentially, come to put your feet up and rest with a drink, but go elsewhere to eat. The food trucks are around more often these days, so you may have other choices! read more

Tea Pavilion - Soba salad with chicken - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Tea Pavilion is always the place to go to before we walk around the Park. We love the iced tea selections and the snacks. The staff is always welcoming and full of knowledge!! Great Job!!! read more

No bad food. A bit pricey but the food and drinks are pretty good. The iced Chai latte is good! read more

Tea Pavilion - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Checking this place out on our vacay. It's cute . If you just want a quick eat it's a good place . It's little pricy for fast Japanese food but trying it anyway . Their sushi was good . Udon soup was ok . read more

A nice hidden gem in Balboa park where you can get affordable food at a tourist park. I like that they have food that I would actually want to eat but quick and easy with good prices. We got a chicken curry sandwich, and large ice tea, and a seaweed salad to share. The chicken curry sandwich is pretty big and it comes with a scoop of mash potatoes. The ice tea was really refreshing. It was a good simple meal that lasted us until dinner. They also offer soup noodles. read more

I LOVE the Japanese Friendship Garden, and I really really wish this spot held up next to it. The first time I stopped in, it was during the week and the building was empty. I literally tried to order four completely different items off the menu -- soba noodles, a salad, a sandwich, and finally a bowl. Every item, one after the other, the cashier told me they did not have available. I asked what they did have to eat and she named two dishes off the whole menu, neither of which I wanted, so I left empty handed. The second time I came in it was a bit more crowded, and I just ordered a tea to take down to the gardens. It took over 20 minutes for a single iced tea, and once I finally bit the bullet to ask if it was coming, they started making it. I think they forgot my order entirely. In the end, the tea was refreshing but nothing to write home about in terms of flavor and not nearly worth the price or wait. Overall I'm bummed to say this spot is massively disappointing and I don't have plans to try it a third time. read more

Tea Pavilion - Jasmine Peach - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Don't let the long line into the Friendship Garden distract you from getting an affordable, super delicious tea or coffee. Friendly nice staff and so many tea options. Fast, easy and safe during current protocols, definitely recommend. read more

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I've been up and down the coast almost 2 weeks. This was the worst place we have been and we've been eating our 3 times a day. We ordered the teriyaki chicken and udi noodles soup, iced chai, iced Thai tea. It was all terrible. I threw my drink away. I'm writing this to save someone $40. I would rather starve then eat here again read more

I try not to come here if I don't have to but on my lunch break I had nothing else to eat and nothing else is open nearby. The curry is not even as good as instant curry...it's waaay sweet and the rice is over cooked and goopy. The potatoes were alright. Who puts celery in a curry? So odd. I really don't recommend this dish. I've had the teriyaki before as well and it's the same story. read more

Tea Pavilion - Chicken "curry" bowl - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

The staff was friendly but for a place specifically serving tea, they need to step up their game. We got a couple Thai teas, a rose tea latte and a chai latte. We returned the rose latte because it was curdling with the added milk and the Thai tea and chai latte were not good. They have no flavor and really not worth it. read more

Food and service was above and beyond. It's also delicious and a nice place to enjoy your food

Tables are unclean and covered in food. We ordered Chicken Teriyaki bowls that came with a reasonable amount of Chicken and rice, but very dry and bland. Barely any Teriyaki sauce. For being a Tea Pavilion, at least the Chia Latte was very good. We had to get everything ourselves. Just please consider the absolute lack of service when tipping. read more

We came here for a quick snack before heading over to the Comic Con on 7/20/2019. Seating available outside, but it was very busy and we were lucky to find a table after waiting about 5 minutes. We got 1 box of pocky sticks, 2 red bean mochi, and 1 green tea ice cream. The total was $11 for everything which is quite pricey, but that's what happens when you want to snack in the middle of Balboa Park! read more

Tea Pavilion - Green tea ice cream - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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This little restaurant is tucked away in Balboa Park, right next to the Japanese Friendship Garden. The restaurant was a welcome option among a limited range of cafes and delis in Balboa Park. The inside is small, but there is plenty of seating outside, with umbrellas at the tables. The menu features sandwiches, curries and soups and a large assortment of teas. It is popular on weekends. I went on a Sunday with a group of 4 people and waited a while for my food. I ordered a beef curry with rice and an iced macha tea. The tea was very tasty, with a good amount of sugar (not too little), though most of the teas are not sweetened. The beef curry was filling. The sauce was simple, but the pricing was reasonable, and I was glad to have found a restaurant with a lot of options. Would recommend the Tea Pavilion for a casual afternoon out in Balboa Park. read more

Tea Pavilion - Overview of Tea Pavilion menu (full menu at restaurant) - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

One would think that the cafe attached to the Japanese Friendship Garden would be ummmm, more unique? But no. Selections are very generic -- sobas and udons, rice bowls, some rolls, edamame, Japanese packet snacks like Pocky and arare, drinks like Itoen brand green tea. The sushi rolls are the kind you find at regular supermarkets, nothing special. The rice bowls (teriyaki) is really like the kind you would find at a fast food Japanese place at a food court of a mall -- same goes for the udon and soba. I guess if you're starving this will suffice, but if you're really looking for Japanese food, get out of Balboa Park and traipse down to the numerous Japanese restaurants in the area -- uh, Hillcrest has some decent ones, at least far more decent than what you would get at this cafe. read more

Tea Pavilion - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

There was such a long line/wait when we came here but we were really craving some refreshing drinks after visiting the Japanese Friendship Garden, which is the same reason that I think everyone else was there. Considering how long we waited, the drinks didn't impress me. The iced matcha latte was pretty overpriced and really sweet. The Thai iced tea was even sweeter if that's possible. Maybe try something else to drink here. The food smelled and looked really good though. read more

A simple place to get simple meals and drinks! Came here after me and my daughter went to the Japanese friendship garden. I got the cold noodles with salad (cucumber, carrots, walnuts, etc). IT WAS SO YUMMY AND REFRESHING. The chicken with it was ok.. Did not taste fresh I would say? I was more focused on the yummy sauce and veggies. When you get your bowl it looks small.. But do not judge because it is filled!! So much noodles, chicken, and veggies.. The sauce is very light tasting.. And the walnuts.. Who would have thought it would balance everything out in the bowl!? It tasted wonderful with the noodles and veggies ^_^ I got my daughter a yummy strawberry soda and she was delighted! Different taste since it was imported from Japan. The line could get really long and it could take up to 15 min for your food to be ready. Since me and my daughter wasn't in a rush.. We enjoyed sitting in the shade and waiting for our food(: The customer service was good. Although the guy wasn't really helpful when it came to picking the most popular dishes here. I will definitely come back here to grab another bite(: read more

Tea Pavilion - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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The ice tea's were great after the walk at the Japanese friendship garden,passion fruit and black cherry tea's read more

Tea Pavilion - Ice Tea - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Service was "oh well", "whatever" attitude for a match latte & latte. Seating was good with Japanese Garden overlook. Music could have been better. Didn't eat anything. Don't believe 5% surcharge was worth it. read more

They ran out of everything we ordered but waited 20 mins to call our number and let us know.

Cold tea on a warm day? Perfection! Warm tea on a cold day? Perfection! In other words they will always have a tea you are looking for no matter what kind of weather we are having. Fun tip: you can get a refill on your tea (hot or cold) during the same visit, so get that refill on the super tasty blood orange tea on ice. I have tried every non-pork item on the menu and have loved every one of them, except for one: due to my distaste for mushrooms the veggie sandwich threw me off because there was a huge shitake mushroom in it as the primary ingredient, when I guess I was expecting more of a "standard" veggie patty. My three favorite menu items are the California sandwhich (think California Roll in sandwich form with tons of Krab), Friendship salad, and the shrimp tempura udon noodle bowl. For snacks, they have edamame, red bean mochi buns, shrimp chips, pokey cookies, and lots of different Japanese candies. There are also always beautiful selections of traditional tea sets and chopsticks you can buy there, too. It's a good thing I practice self-restraint otherwise I would own a dozen different tea sets. The sign says that the sales help support the Japanese Friendship Garden that is attached the the cafe. I think a nice perk is if you were able to get in to the park for free if you spent over a certain amount on food (say $10 per person?). Fortunately I can also time which Tuesday the Garden is open for free on Balboa Park's free museum Tuesdays. Not trying to sound cheap, but I am a gradaute student. I just spend $20 on lunch, may I stroll on your beautiful gardens? read more

Came here on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. It was busy and full of tourists (expected as it's located in the middle of Balboa Park). By the time we arrived, sushi was already sold out. They have a large selection of teas. It took about ten minutes for our buzzer to ring and in that time, we swiped up a table (only outdoor seating). Food: - salmon curry rice bowl (loved it, potatoes and carrots were tender, curry had a kick of spice) - grilled chicken curry rice bowl (boyfriend liked it but he didn't think it was spicy at all, he's got a much higher spice tolerance) Drinks: - green sencha tea (really tasty, notes of toasted rice) - iced passion fruit black tea (just ok, not sweet at all, couldn't taste any passion fruit) Overall, would definitely come back if I was in the area. read more

Tea Pavilion - Salmon curry rice bowl and iced passion fruit black tea - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Family and I came for a late lunch on a weekday, it was quiet. We ordered the beef curry and soba noodle salad, both dishes were delicious, we cleared our plates, or bowls! The ice coffee was good and I like their selection of Japanese snacks! Prices are a bit high but you get to enjoy the beautiful scenery! The staff were patient and friendly. Would return! read more

Tea Pavilion - Front - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Rude awful service - they took our order and did not give us a receipt which you need to know your order number. Waited 45 minutes for one rice bowl. A sign explaining how their ticket order system works would have been helpful, or at least workers who were kind enough to smile and explain. Do not recommend, better to eat at the zoo. read more

COULD A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT BE ANY LESS EFFICIENT? On a weekend afternoon in Balboa Park, you expect to wait a little while to get food anywhere, but this place sets new records for inefficiency and bad service. The whole setup is designed to fail, which I suppose you have to blame on management. The same two workers who take orders and collect payment also prepare drinks, so no one is there to take orders much of the time. As a result, even when there are only half a dozen people in line, it can take a half hour to place your order. Once you order, the wait for food is considerable, which suggests the kitchen also is understaffed. And then, to pick up your order, you have to get to a counter which is across the line of people waiting to order. The food is ok, but definitely not worth the hassle. There are far better options nearby, e.g., Panama 66 and the Mingei Cafe. read more

Located in the middle of Balboa Park, right outside the Japanese Friendship Garden, Tea Pavilion is well situated for a quick drink or snack during a day of exploring Balboa Park. The seating area outside is really lovely. There are many covered tables so you can sit in the shade and enjoy the view or people watch. I ordered an Iced Chai Latte, and I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful it was. The cinnamon was a bit stronger than usual chai, but personally, I prefer it like that! The service was good and fast, and the servers were very friendly and gave good recommendations. Would recommend stopping here for a quick pick-me-up if you're nearby! read more

Tea Pavilion - Iced Chai Latte - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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the chicken teriyaki bowl wasn't worth getting. I asked the cashier which rice bowl was best, and that's the one she recommended, so I doubt the others are much better. it's about jack in the box quality at best. all tables are outside and you come up to the counter to get your order. if you're in the area, I'd go to the prado instead. some annoying music was playing in the background around the tables. not really a suitable entrance for the japanese friendship garden. mediocre overall read more

I was wandering about Balboa Park with my family when we decided to pop into the Tea Pavilion for lunch. The menu was pricey but I've got no issue with paying for good food. We ordered beers and they had to be repoured several times because the cashier was pouring them straight on and they were just filled with foam. When our food arrived, it was actually gross. The tuna roll smelled especially fishy and tasted disgusting. Neither my husband or I are more than one piece of it and we love sushi. His teriyaki bowl was flavorless and my udon soup was over cooked and mushy. The edamame was undercooked. This cafe might pull you in with its location and ambiance but keep walking- your taste buds and wallet will thank you! read more

Not only are the prices incredibly high for a can of soda, but they will short change you. When I said something, the person working the register said "oh well." read more