I stumbled upon this little treasure after visiting Balboa Park. The staff was lovely and the food was amazing! My niece and I both had burritos. They were so packed with flavor and very filling. My niece is not vegan and was in love with the place. I also recommend the CBD infused beverage. Very relaxing! Do yourself a favor and go ASAP! A vegan must indeed! read more

Good environment the people were nice and friendly and the food was great. The decoration were very cool. 10000000000000000000000000000000/10 read more

The World Beat Cafe is one of those amazing finds in Balboa Park that makes you come back more and more. First off, the food is Caribbean, vegan, and de-lish-ous! The whole menu is this savory collection of local and ethnic options: curries, gumbos, patties, plantains, fruit juices... much of it comes from their local garden on site. The chef is a pioneer in health food and plant-based diets. Ask about Moringa! Plus, there's always something amazing going on at the Beat, so you get a free show: taiko, capoeria, drumming, dance... all sots of practices and performances. Or just go look at the walls! Or into the garden! The World Beat is a truly magical place that takes care of you with healthy food and feeds your mind with healthy music and community. read more

See all

Food here is fantastic. I had the curry and it was the perfect balance of flavors and cooked by a legend named Makeda Dread. She gave us the best service imaginable and recommended delicious healing drinks to compliment our meals. She even came and sat with us to talk about the garden where she grows a lot of what goes into the food. Can't wait to go back to this place to eat and hang out. read more

First thing that came up when I looked up vegan food in the area. I was passing thru. The place is beautiful, colorful, and eclectic. The staff was so nice I only saw the cashier, she also brought out our food but she was the best! We got complimentary kombucha because she said sorry for the long wait but tbh I didn't even feel like the wait was long. I know that when it takes a bit longer I know it's made with love. Me and my mom got the jerk burger can't remember the exact name but it was THE BEST burger I've ever had in my ENTIRE life. I've only been vegan about 4 years but I will drive 4 hours again just to eat there. EAT HERE NOW! read more

Slow service. Ordered my meal and there was one person ahead. They were complaining that they had waited over an hour. I thought it might of been what they had ordered. I made my order and they said 15 mins and after 15 mins I go over and they wanted another 15 mins. After 15 more mins they said they needed 10 more mins or I can have a refund. And finally after another 25 mins we finally got our food and the quality of the food was subpar. read more

Came in here after a google search for vegan food nearby. The burger and CBD Kombucha I had was so good.. I literally finished everything... and I never finish my food. read more

Visited the cafe on Wednesday loved the look of the place. It's so colorful and vibrant inside and outside. I thankfully found a good parking spot on the street right in front of the center, as I had my daughter with me in her stroller. Walking up to the center they have two parrots in cages that you can interact with and talk to. They were so friendly, and talked as well. Now, for the food and service. When you walk in, to the left is where you order in the little cafe area. I ordered the African curry($7.50) and a bottle of spring water($2). The curry comes with long grain rice, pita bread, plantains, and a side salad. I couldn't believe I was getting all of that food for $7.50. The curry tasted wonderful; it includes broccoli, baby carrots, cabbage, potato & onion. There may have been a few other veggies included, but I ate it so fast I can't remember Lol! The pita bread was a perfect compliment to the curry as well. I'm usually not a big fan of plantains, but they were good and sweet. I wasn't able to try the salad, but I do know there was shredded beets in there which I love. I recommend this cafe whether you're dining in or ordering take-out. read more

World Beat Cafe - Front entrance - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Food was delicious. We loved having vegan Caribbean/African food. However we were here for about 2 hours, checking in frequently and were still waiting on part of it. Time to complain again.. read more

My husband took a bike and scooter ride here and had the combo of all four entrees, two spinach Jamaican patties, brownie, fresh apple juice, and moringa smoothie. We love it and will be back, we're pretty experienced with vegan restaurants in San Diego, this is a top choice. Friendly staff, great atmosphere. read more

World Beat Cafe - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

Really good Vegan food. I got the curry plate and it was so good. Employees were really nice and helpful as well.

The food is terrible and the owner of the establishment dont like blk kids. I ate there 1 time and I was not satisfied. The food was not cooked properly and the rice was mush. I ask for a refund and was told they dont give refunds. I also ask for something else. They told me that I would have to buy it. I seen the owner of the establishment disrespect a grandmother and her grand kids because they went a got mc Donald's. She made the kids stand outside in the cold because they didnt want her food. I will never go back to this establishment again read more

I can't believe I'm just finding out about this place after living in San Diego my entire life. Not only is it delicious but it's vegan !! Everyone needs to come try this place. I will definitely be back again. My 2 year old son loved the cheesy bean burrito! We also got the Soyrizzo burrito it was so good. read more

World Beat Cafe - Cheesy bean burrito - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

Oh my goodness! The reviews led me here and I'm thrilled they did. Previous sentiments echoed ... people with beautiful souls work here. They welcomed a sweaty me after a long run in Balboa park. The combo platter was recommended - it did not disappoint. So much incredible food for only $12. I also tried the kombucha ... unique and refreshing. I enjoyed my fabulous dinner with a world drumming session going on in the background. What an experience!! read more

World Beat Cafe - World drumming session - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Great tasty options. Filling. And I didn't know the curry came with the salad. It also had fantastic flavor! Will definitely come back soon! Thank you. Contender for best burger ever. read more

I've walked by this place plenty of times. It's quite unassuming given it's on the other side of the museums in Balboa Park but I really had to pee...I'm glad I went in. The owner (?) was this nice lady who encouraged us to try some of the offerings. We got the combo plate to try a little of each entree and they were all delicious! Given this was close to downtown, it wasn't exactly cheap but it wasn't expensive either. There was also a yoga class going on which was pretty cool. The place felt lively and like a good place to hang out. There was awesome Egyptian artwork everywhere to look at and some African/African-American history to learn about. I think if you are in the area, you should definitely stop by at least once. Oh and the sign says bathroom for customers only but they let me use it before ordering anything. I had to go so bad. Thanks again to the kind staff. read more

Got the combo plate. Everything was delicious! Good price for lots of food. Staff was really friendly as well! Will definitely be going back! read more

I have no idea how the food is and don't want to screw up their rating if it's great but wanted to warn that yelp has the hours wrong (or they do). At noon on a Sunday they were closed and said they'd open in a 1/2 hr. Very disappointing after a 25 minute round trip walk away from visiting family to get some vegan food. read more

I love love looooove this place. Probably my favorite vegan place to eat out in San Diego. the staff is super nice, the food tsdtes great and they try and use a lot from their garde . great prices too! read more

I inhaled the food without realizing it was vegan! The food has a sensational burst of flavor that will make you come crawling back for more. My friend and I shared the combo plate and the moringa smoothie. We highly recommend both. The moringa smoothie is truly fresh from their garden and it leaves you feeling recharged. You can't go wrong with the spinach patty either! The customer service was friendly and fun (shoutout to Francine!). Pre-Covid sounds fun here as they had shows! They also have two parrots at the front that may keep you entertained. I wish we had World Beat Cafe in Orange County! I'll have to make a visit every time I'm in San Diego! read more

Stopped by here on a trip to San Diego. It's an entirely vegan cafe with great food inside the World Beat Cultural Center. We had jerk tofu Jamaican patties, Moringa smoothies (they grow fresh Moringa), and the $12 combo platter which comes with all four of their curries. The peanut curry was the best one. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Really cute spot! read more

World Beat Cafe - $12 combo and Moringa smoothie - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

The team was so awesome and the food was so good !! I liked that we got to eat a great meal in an awesome museum like vibe, the workers felt more like friends and I'm leaving stoked !!! read more

I adored this place and I wish I would of came sooner. I did the combo platter with curry, gumbo, chilli, salad, rice and greens. It was amazing and probably the biggest portions I've ever seen a Vegan joint give out. It was well worth the money and then some. I loved the spinach patty, the crust was perfectly flaky. I had been dying for an actual Vegan patty in my travels to the carribean and never lucked out. This satisfied my cravings on a few levels. I'm excited to try the rest of the patty flavors. read more

I'm a meat eater, I'll be honest, but I happened upon this place on a walk and was hungry, and when they started talking about kambucha and vegan foods, I couldn't turn and run or it would've been awkward. They explained the menu and I was intrigued (or maybe just hungry enough to be adventurous). WOW- I have to say the food was incredibly tasty! I tried a sampler of four dishes over a bed of rice and was impressed. The kambucha was interesting, im glad I tried it. I can't see myself seeking it out per se, but I did like it! read more

My friend and I randomly came across this place after a blistering hot day exploring Balboa Park and WOW were we so happy that we discovered it! The food is fresh and filling, while also being completely inexpensive! We were amazed by the level of quality for the price we paid. I had the costa chica chili, which was so rich and tasteful. My friend had the African peanut curry. That one also was good but a little too sweet for someone like me that doesn't like to meet salty and sweet. But she loves that mix and was absolutely in love. We felt so full by the end of the meal. Also, the customer service was absolutely super. We sat in the cute little seats outside, in the back, and they kept coming out to check on us and make sure we were all good. We walked away feeling so satisfied and impressed. We're already planning our next stop at the cafe! read more

This cafe redefined how you imagine a business. It feels like a home and a church rather than a cafe. Past the makeshift storefront outside the building is treat. Entering the building takes you to a new space, serving as a coffee shop, dance studio, restaurant, healing space, and community cultural center all in one. The owner Makeda is a delight to talk to. She has an energy that is felt all over the building. The building has high ceilings and artwork everywhere! The blend of cultures on the walls is as present in their programs. The cafe offers a variety of diverse dance classes and health workshops, from African beat to house, hip hop, etc. The World Beat Center prides itself on collective knowledge and effort in achieving total wellness. Well done! read more

I came here for lunch looking to try a different style cuisine than what I normally eat, I Thought Caribbean style sounded interesting so I decided to give it a go, I ordered the combo meal which is their 4 most popular dishes all on one plate, Its the best choice in my opinion because you get to try a little bit of everything. And it was so delicious, I also ordered 2 of their Jamaican patties, one was filled with spinach and the other was a spicy tofu, both were extremely warm and fresh, they were soooo good The food here Is vegan so that is also a plus for me, the girls working at the front were extremely nice and the inside is very interesting, there is alot of cool stuff to look at. I would definitely recommend coming here. read more

I love traveling and trying new Vegan restaurants. This place has some great food! I ordered the chili and it is amazing!!! I can't wait to try more dishes. read more

World Beat Cafe - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

Love this place! I didn't realize there was a vegan cafe inside the world beat center. They also let me bring my dog inside to play with their shop dog called Legend. The food has a good variety of flavor and texture. I will definitely be back when I'm on the area. read more

World Beat Cafe - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

I had the gumbo, wow it was full of flavor. Very relaxing atmosphere. A nice place to chill! read more

Attention vegetarians, vegans and everyone else! This place have the nicest people and amazing food combined. I was a fool not coming here sooner. Don't be like me. eat, listen some great music and meet new people from all around the world. They also have cool events and classes. You are welcome. read more

World Beat Cafe - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

We happened upon this place and stayed for hours! The combination plate, the spinach and cabbage patties were amazing! The chef has blessed hands for sure. read more

World Beat Cafe - Combination plate - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

I can't believe I hadn't reviewed this before now. If you're reading this, GO SUPPORT THIS PLACE NOW!!! The staff is filled with terrific vibrant energy. Creative, delicious flavors. 100% vegan. A rare gem in Balboa Park and with that said really in San Diego as a whole. You cannot find this environment anywhere in San Diego. Take a deep breath, indulge and enjoy yourself. The combo plate is always a great option and their Flaky, Crispy patties are to die for(The Spicy Jerk is the one!). Long Live World Beat! read more

Food is amazing Try the combination plate Lots of good Delicious juices and smoothies Those plantains are fire! Good vibes Thank Yah! read more

Came here on a whim. I've driven past this center my entire life and saw signs for Kombucha but had no idea they offered food. Before heading to a free concert in balboa park we decided to check it out. OMG this will likely be a new favorite. They offer vegan curries- $12 for a sample of all 4. I Feel like we only noticed 3 in our container but regardless it was tasty. They also had 2 options for kombucha on tap, one of which was a CBD infused drink and we tried that one. It was refreshing especially on a summer evening. Would highly recommend. Maybe f we came earlier in the day they would have all 4 curries read more

Oh I love this place.... my first time eating there and the food was delicious! I thought this might have been because I was hungry, so I decided to return that next week! This time I took my niece, who is a picky eater; well I told her to get the burger and if she did not like it, I would finish it! Needless to say, I did not eat the burger that day but what I did eat was wonderful! Oh yes, the service was excellent, the two women were so nice and polite and explained everything u asked! I forgot to add that the food is affordable! read more

World Beat Cafe - The next time I will take a pix of my food! - Caribbean Near Me - San Diego, California

Amazing food I had no idea it was vegan and the food is not bland must must come eat here. The chili was bomb the chorizo burrito was bomb!

We had the $12 combo which came w/ 3 curry dishes, rice, pita bread, and side salad--a yummy plate of VEGAN goodness!! Great customer service w/ fairly quick service. I also loved their outdoor seating, it felt like I was having a nice meal outside of my grandma's house. The staff was very friendly & approachable. Our server even checked up on us a couple of times to make sure we were enjoying our meal. Took one star off due to our $7 moringa smoothie that came out warm. read more

I could not believe this was all vegan!! It was so creamy and delicious. The plates were huge and definitely enough to put you into hibernation or else split into two meals. I had the combination plate to try a little bit of everything and nothing disappointed. read more

One of the most underrated restaurants in San Diego. Walked it excited to experience vegan soul food and left with an over satisfied palate and a walk down my cultural background. The owner of the Resturant was very warm and welcoming, and my Zimbabwe sister was a very gracious and warm host. I can't wait to go back and am not even vegan, but that food is definitely pulling me to expand and enjoy vegan more often. Bravo zulu!! Great job read more