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    The Dez

    4.2 (296 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    The Dez Photos

    Business Info

    THE DEZ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Dez

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    Sarah H.

    Cute little spot for breakfast or brunch! The inside is small but has a lot of grab and go options plus coffee and sandwiches! There's some seats inside and some on the patio so grab them as you can!

    Charmer
    Willy R.

    We ended up going here before the big trek into the unknown of Joshua Tree national Park. Out of 1 million places to stop this was one of them. Wasn't sure if the Dez was referring to the desert and the many treasures associated with a hot, an empty desert, or if it was referring to desert. And my mind melted cheese is quite a dessert and I can appreciate it and eat it after a full meal. So we ended up with the grilled cheese sandwich, a hotdog a sausage, a quiche, some various drink drinks and a cookie. The flavors tickled my tongue. The workers tickled my emotions with too much help. Then I tickled myself after I ate because it was too good. Thank you. if you see me in the desert, don't approach me. I'm usually full. Full of emotions. Thank you

    Rock Climbers Brekkie
    Andrea A.

    Highly recommend this spot for a quick and easy breakfast/lunch. I got a vanilla latte and the rock climbers Brekkie. Both were super good!

    Inside
    Lisa W.

    The Dez is a fun little place to visit while you're in Joshua Tree. This place has tons of snacks and everything you'd need for a little charcuterie board or sweets after a day of hiking or sight seeing. It's also a good place to get gifts or souvenirs. There are apparently two Dez's and I believe this is the bigger one. I came in for coffee and a quick snack. I got a vanilla latte and a spinach and cheese quiche. Service was friendly and fast. I got my coffee quickly and they heated up my quiche as well. It's a good option for coffee but they also have sandwiches, pastries, and lots of unique snacks.

    Charcuterie plate (veggie)
    James K.

    Delicious, healthy food and warm service (4/5 Green Stars) I would definitely come here again and recommend trying it out for a meal or camping/hiking provisions. I had the Hummus & Lentil (V) - seasoned lentils tossed with lemon vinaigrette, baby lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes & red onion served on pita bread. I recommend eating it all together on the pita rather than deconstructing it with your fork, by the way! I also had the vegan sausage roll and thought it was excellent. And I know sausage rolls - they are one of my all-time favorite foods. The Beyond Meat sausage was combined with delicious pastry that was slightly spicy - I think they used Hot Italian sausages. And do not ignore the homemade ketchup that goes with it - it's really good! Staff members were very friendly and the restaurant is fun, unpretentious and stocked with good provisions. It's also dog-friendly, according to a cute write-up on DogTrekker : ) I'm giving the Dez 4/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact, based on the following: * A good chunk of the menu is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Reducing our meat intake is a key action for mitigating climate change, deforestation, water use, water pollution, and of course animal suffering. * Some ingredients for vegan dishes are organic - chickpeas for the wrap, brown rice for the Buddha bowl and cocoa for the almond joy date balls. * It's an inclusive restaurant - an important feature in this climate. * Room for improvement: skip the beef as it really has ridiculously big environmental footprints (carbon and land) compared to eggs, chicken, and pork. Use compostable to-go boxes instead of polypropylene.

    Lentil hummus wrap
    Alexa M.

    Came in with Lauren for a bite before heading into the park. Grateful for Kaylie's help on what to order but as a picky protein eater, didn't feel the kebabs were what I was hoping for. There's a few cute market items for purchase, seating and even gelato and other treats for take away. The vanilla / rainbow sprinkle cake looked AMAZING but I had some restraint and held off. Thankfully, Lauren shared her pita with me and we ate everything and were fueled for the park!

    Regina M.

    The best meal we had the whole weekend. Stopped by here before hitting Joshua Tree National Park. Parking was easy and nearby farmer's market every Saturday. Portions were HUGE and tasted so fresh. Service was FAST. Chai was delicious.

    Storefront
    Jessica N.

    Came here for brunch. I was already craving sandwiches so this was perfect. There is indoor seating and a bit of extra seating in the front patio. Menu is small but all the sandwiches sound really appetizing. While we were browsing through the menu, there was a patron that was ordering and out of nowhere fell to the ground, unresponsive. The entire restaurant went still, but the staff there quickly rushed to her and made sure she wasn't hurt and called emergency assistance. The woman eventually came to and the paramedics came to check her out. These types of situations are difficult and no one really knows what they would do in the moment. I applaud the staff for springing into action and for staying calm. After the commotion, the restaurant, still in shock, slowly went back to normal. I placed an order for the Roasted Turkey Breast sandwich. It came with a chipotle aioli, bacon, white cheddar, lettuce, and tomato. The sandwich came with a side of chips. I was not prepared for how big this sandwich was! I ate half and saved the other half for later. The sandwich was really delicious, fresh, and light. The bread was perfectly toasted. I can be picky with sandwiches, but I would definitely come back and try everything on their menu. Prices were reasonable as well. I will say, a few days later, I was in Palm Springs and the party next to us was talking about The Dez, haha. So I guess it's a place people know.

    Date shake with oat milk
    Sarah K.

    Officially my fave cafe in JT! It's really small inside but they somehow have SO much stuff--lots of gourmet salsas, chocolates, ice cream, and other food items you can purchase to go or as gifts and plenty of ready made meals. There's also some savory pastries and desserts behind the cashier that I didn't try but they looked delicious. They also have a decent sized menu of hot and cold sandwiches. I got a bbq beef panini and omggg it was the perfect bite to have right before I left to go back on the road. Very tender meat, crispy bread, and just the right amount of sauce. The sandwich also came with some chips. They also have an amazing date shake that you can get with different types of milk but the cashier recommended oat milk and I do not regret that choice bcuz the drink was SOOO creamy. There's also so many chunks of dates in the smoothie and it wasn't too sweet and perfect for a hot day. Overall great customer service with very friendly staff and delicious food :)

    Service was super nice at big and little dez. Great sandwiches here. Fast coffee that will satisfy. Tried the dez BLT and the club, both fantastic. Also tried the chicken sausage roll, great little meal. The chai was a miss for us personally.

    Matcha

    DO NOT order the matcha, it's super bitter (not sure if it was the milk or they just don't know how to make it). If you ask to change the drink they won't, they will just tell you that's how matcha tastes and offer to add syrup which doesn't help much

    Caramel vanilla iced latte with oat milk.
    Brittany C.

    I ordered a caramel vanilla iced latte with oat milk. My boyfriend ordered a sugar free hot latte with oat milk. Both drinks were very good. They also sell food, but we did not order any food. It is a small location so they ask you to wait outside after ordering. It was quick and easy to order. Seem very popular and busy. Wait time wasn't long. The workers were friendly. No seating.

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    Tables and AC at our new space just a few doors west !

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    The Dez Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Dez

    Do they have seating indoors or outdoors?

    I don't believe there's any seating indoors or outdoors, at least last time we were there. It's only takeout.

    How did they come up with the name for this place?

    YES! exactly its short for "the Desert"

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    The BIG Dez.

    The BIG Dez.

    4.3
    (32 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    I come in all the time & all the girls are always so friendly and helpful! The food is amazing and…read moretheir matcha is delicious!

    The coffee shop was highly recommended by our Airbnb hosts with a gift card given for it as well!…read moreStopped by Sunday morning around 11am. It's located in a small plaza but parking was easy to find. First entering there r alot of food goodies sold including take away sides/meals. Looks crowded but no one ordering. There was an influx of people past 11am but the line moves so fast! I asked what was their most popular breakfast sandwich and the dyed red haired girl at the cash register said the turkey club sandwich. I dont like bacon so she suggested they remove that and sub avocado so i went with it! And also got the matcha hot with oatmilk. Partner ordered tuna melt and drip coffee. They give u a buzzer tho they ended up delivering it to our table. The cashier was really nice and entertained all my questions about the sandwiches and how they prepared their matcha. (It's not the matcha powder with the sugar already in it, whew! It tasted pretty ceremonial but not sure if it was- added one pack of sugar and sweetness was perfect for me. Just a tad grainy but overall very nice!) Sandwiches were delivered to where we were sitting after 10-15 mins or so. They are huge! And wow i dont normally order sandwiches these days bc i find the meats questionable and not pleasant to eat but this sandwich tasted so fresh. The meat and cheese.. the veggies.. the sourdough bread was cherry in top, nicely toasted with some butter or sauce. I took a half home and it was still tasted good a few hours later. I like how they add chips and the avocado on the side where i can dip the chips and put on my sandwich. My sandwich tasted so fresh with quality ingredients which im so happy about! My partner also enjoyed his tuna melt and coffee.. he said it was huge as each side of the tuna melt had a huge scoop of the tuna salad. Overall, the bustle and service/vibes of this cafe were so enjoyable and all the food so good! Recommend!

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Breakfast bagel with ham
    Breakfast bagel with ham
    The high DEZ date shake!
with locally grown dates

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    The high DEZ date shake! with locally grown dates
    Roadrunner Grab+Go

    Roadrunner Grab+Go

    4.5
    (171 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    A perfect stop before hiking Joshua Tree for your breakfast, lunch or snack grab-and-go needs, with…read moremore than just the usual lame brands and items. Located next to the JT visitor center west entrance and about 5 miles from the park entrance. We arrived to this small local place just as they were opening at 7:30 am and they had breakfast sandwiches being made, mostly with bacon, egg and cheese but they'll make you sausage or other variation as well. They also have a good selection of other breakfast items like hard boiled eggs, cheese, fruits, yogurt parfait, salad and deli lunch sandwiches. Additionally they sell various hot and cold drinks, organic JT coffee beans that they'll grind for you, salty and sweet snacks, California dates and roadrunner t-shirts. Prices are not cheap but comparable to other similar places and Starbucks. We appreciated the friendly staff. The breakfast sandwich was delicious, though it did take a bit to make.

    Pretty great selection and prices honestly for a quick stock up before heading into the weeds. We…read moregot cookies, chips, hummus, and sandwiches which were cooked in a pretty good way and kombucha. My family really enjoyed the sandwiches and it was a great pick me up for an overall fun trip. The uglies chips are the item I would skip on the most as they were not as appetizing as the rest. The cookies were good however wish they had more flavors other than the two.

    Photos
    Roadrunner Grab+Go
    Taffy Assortment
    Taffy Assortment
    Roadrunner Grab+Go

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    The Yucca Tree Eatery

    The Yucca Tree Eatery

    4.6
    (220 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    We popped in for a bite at this spot the last couple times we had a desert getaway. Food is solid…read more I like the light healthy choices. We got wraps last time we stopped in, today we ordered a couple BLT's +avocado #delish. We also got the Sabrina Smoothie which is the main reason I'm doing this review. Sooooooo good! The inside is clean with several tables to sit, including a large table for a bigger party. We sat on the small patio and enjoyed the nice May weather with a breeze. We're here for the weekend, so I'll probs be back for another smoothie treat!

    $38 for two sandwiches and two canned drinks. We tried the turkey avocado special and a sourdough…read morebreakfast sandwich. The turkey, while good, wasn't freshly carved, which took a little away from the "special" feel. And while the breakfast sando was light and all alone on the plate, the way the mayo fused the flavors together was delicious. But I do wish the beverage fridge had prices listed so I wasn't surprised at the register. The restaurant, while it's a bit tricky to find on the side of a building, inside is a modern space. It's spotless and very clean. The aesthetic is minimalist and if it were just you, it could feel a bit cold, if not for the steady buzz of activity behind the counter. There were three staff members who moved swiftly. As I watched I was impressed with their efficiency as the kept things running smoothly. When we entered an hour before closing, we made the mistake to sit and pause to look over the menu. It was a mistake because it seemed like the front door kept swinging open as wave after wave of hungry visitors poured in. My guess is these folks were all returning from Joshua Tree National Park. In fact, it felt like nearly everyone there had just come from the park. The business concept appears thoughtfully geared toward travelers, particularly those with a bit of disposable income and a discerning palate. Overall, this is a certified foodie stop: quality over quantity: taste over filling up.

    Photos
    The Yucca Tree Eatery
    Avocado toast plus eggs
    Avocado toast plus eggs
    Sweet potatoes side

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    Sweet potatoes side
    The Tiny Pony

    The Tiny Pony

    4.2
    (582 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $$
    Women-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    Okay, being totally honest, this wasn't the absolute best food of our entire Joshua Tree-Palm…read moreSprings trip, but a close 2nd. BUT it was definitely the biggest, most positive surprise when it came to expectations vs. actual quality! We landed in Palm Springs late in the evening and were starving on our way out to Joshua Tree. After a quick Yelp search for something open past 7-8pm, this spot popped up. We pulled into a super quiet parking lot and found this tiny little place. Looking at it from the outside, we honestly figured it would just be a quick, forgettable pitstop. Boy, were we wrong. For starters, the place was relatively full for a Tuesday evening! We ordered the duck confit nachos, the kimchi bulgogi sandwich, and the pony wings. Wow! Granted, our expectations were unfairly low walking in, but this turned out to be probably our second-best meal of the entire week--and we ate out every single day! It absolutely crushed it in terms of exceeding expectations. It also helped that we happened to be there on a Wednesday, so all the wines were half-priced! Unfortunately, since we weren't familiar with the area, we didn't know exactly how much further we had to drive to our accommodations, so we couldn't imbibe more in such a welcoming environment. (Missed opportunity, but safety first!) Oh, and definitely save room for dessert--their pie with ice cream of the day was delicious too! If you are passing through, do not sleep on this place. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in the area!

    There is plenty of parking in the strip mall here. The ambiance is very divey but also a super fun…read morelocals bar. Do yourself a favor and make SURE to visit the bathrooms! There is a dog friendly patio so we sat out back with our pups and ordered them puppy patties. Service was ok; since we were in the patio and it was a holiday they were super busy so it was understandable that we had to wait quite awhile for things (drinks, check, etc). But they servers all worked together and were nice. They grat parties of 5 an automatic 20%, but it's on the menu so be be mindful of that. The food was not bad. They had a special BBQ menu for the 4th, but didn't have the jalpeno cornbread so we went another direction. We ordered a $5 mimosa and the pretzel bites with BOMB queso and split the smashburger. All were awesome. My friends ordered the chicken sandwich and absolutely RAVED about how good it was!! Overall, this place is awesome and we can't wait to go back and sit at the very lively bar and watch some sports!

    Photos
    We make smash burgers and sauces in our scratch kitchen every day until late.
    We make smash burgers and sauces in our scratch kitchen every day until late.
    The Tiny Pony
    Our backyard is pup-friendly!

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    Our backyard is pup-friendly!

    The Dez - coffee - Updated July 2026

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