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    Blue Whale

    3.8 (443 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Order Blue Whale Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    BLUE WHALE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Blue Whale

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    Blueberry matcha
    Michelle V.

    Worth the hype ! Yes the line was long with a 30+ min wait. We weren't able to find seating either so we went to a local park to eat. My bf for the lobster roll and I got the crying tiger with a blueberry matcha. The crying tiger and its fries were soooo good. Tender and super flavorful. My bf loved his lobster roll and appreciate it was a big sandwich rather than just a hot dog bun like other places. The blueberry matcha could've been sweeter and the matcha flavor could've been stronger. Little bit on the milky side tho. Definitely recommend this brunch spot ! Food took a fat min to come out tho due to being so crowded

    Exterior
    Christina M.

    This place is super cute. Love the beachy vibe. We arrived just after they opened and it wasn't too busy. When we walked back by at 9:45 though it was packed with a line out the door. I really appreciated all the gluten free menu items. We got an açaí bowl and the gluten free French toast. I will be back to try the ube pancakes and the gf chicken and waffle.

    banana cream top matcha
    Vi H.

    My friend and I finally got to trying Blue Whale! We ordered the banana cream top matcha, and I loved how thick the cream was - you can also tell they use real banana! I do wish there was more matcha powder. It was definitely very pricy (we spent $8-9/drink) so definitely an option to treat yourself! The space was really beachy, cute, and aesthetic, and the girls working were so sweet! I'll be back for their food (:

    Exterior seating & entrance
    Eliko S.

    I've been to Blue Whale a couple of times. Mostly I've had takeout coffee & burritos. Today I ordered my Big Wave burrito through Uber Eats. I picked it up, and it was ready at the time promised. Ordering through Uber Eats definitely makes the food more expensive though (by $9). I ordered it this way because I was in a time crunch and I had some Uber Cash to spend. I brought my bounty back to work, and noted that there was a nice crisp on the tortilla, although the flavors were somewhat overpowered by the saltiness of the soyrizo. I think this burrito would taste better if the items were mixed together rather than siloed in separate areas of the dish. I could barely taste the hash browns or the eggs really. But overall, it worked to satiate my morning hunger. This is a busy little cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. It is cute inside and has a rustic, beachy feel. When I walked inside to pick up my food, I noted that most of the tables were full, and there was a line of people waiting to order. I wanted to take more photos to show you the inside, but the place is so small, I felt like I'd be in the spotlight if I was bopping around taking pics. Anyway, this is a nice option for breakfast, brunch, and lunch in the Village. They have a solid selection of breakfast items, drinks, smoothies and bowls. There's street parking, and the area is very walkable. Mahalo!

    Tuna salad
    Aryelle S.

    The coffee, food, and service were all great. I was pleasantly surprised with the short wait time for receiving the food and drinks. Seating is limited with how busy the place gets but tables do turnover quickly.

    Julie L.

    We were around La Jolla and looking for something to eat when we stumbled upon this place. The cafe is super cute from both the outside and the inside. They have a little corner inside where they sell their merch + other items such as jewelry and art prints. Their brunch looked so good but they stop serving at at 3PM. They also had a Build-Your-Own Acai Bowl which I really wanted to try but I ended up going with the Ahi Poke Bowl instead. My partner ordered the Crying Tiger Ribeye (the photos looked so good!!) Our food took a little longer than expected to come out, especially because it wasn't really busy during the time we went. The poke bowl and fries were good. The Crying Tiger Ribeye was way too salty for me but was borderline acceptable to my partner. Everyone is different so I think it would've been better if they only lightly salted it so that the person eating it can adjust it to their taste and add more if necessary. Other than the saltiness, the texture was nice and it was yummy. I really enjoyed the vibes of this place. Super cute! Note: They don't take cash payments!

    Interior
    Alique K.

    100% recommend blue whale for breakfast. This is one of the best breakfast burritos I've had, I asked them to put carne asada in it instead of the default options! All my friends loved their orders too! The food is so high quality and flavorful -- especially their steak! HOWEVER! I would not recommend their lattes, we all felt like our lattes were super milky and the matchas didn't have a taste. Still 5 stars because of how amazing the food is!

    Morning Sando
    Ashley M.

    the line is always worth it! amazing gluten free options (always cures my hangover) and a lovely patio area. the inside is VERY cramped/overwhelming so i'd avoid trying to work/linger. the breakfast sandwich is delicious & served with a hash brown. i got a banana latte & it wasn't very good - ive been disappointed many times by the coffee but not the food!

    Morning sando, steak &eggs and chicken and waffles along with the Strawberry Matcha and Tres Leches latte
    Maria Q.

    Cute spot but way too small of a space and that makes it feel super overwhelming in there. We ordered the Morning Sando (4/5), Steak and Eggs (3/5) and the Chicken and Waffles (3/5) and that 3rd star was because I was happy to see that it was gluten free. But the waffle was crumbly and the chicken had zero flavor. Drinks- Tres leches latte. I didn't taste tres leche flavor at all. It honestly only had a honey and slight cinnamon taste to it. It wasn't terrible but definitely didn't understand why it's called a tres leches. Strawberry matcha had the tiniest layer of strawberry foam and the matcha was all milk with just a small hint of matcha flavor. I will say all of the employees were all very nice and friendly and keep the line moving at a decent pace. Don't think I'll be back but glad to have tried it.

    Inside
    Mei Jie W.

    Definitely too small for the amount of people coming in on weekends. It's overwhelming with the tight space and the large line plus the people waiting around for their food/table. I would suggest ordering to-go just in case you can't find a seat. The portions are large. I got a Cali burrito and it was really solid, but my family said the lobster roll (more like a sandwich since it was on two slices of white bread) was average for the price.

    Sharon B.

    Small restaurant in La Jolla that gets pretty busy so expect to wait a bit for your food. We came here on a weekday for brunch and were luckily able to snag a table by the entrance before a big group came in. Counter order and find your own table. The blue whale brekky, steak & eggs, and French toast were all delicious. I really like the sauteed greens that came with the brekky. The French toast was beautiful and was basically desserts for breakfast. Yum!Portions were big.

    Chloe K.

    servers were so nice!! they accommodated our needs and gave us to go boxes etc food was absolutely amazing and id def go back too for their other stuff i got their cookie oreo special latte and tres leches latte lox toast and chicken and waffles were good too

    Mango Sticky Rice Matcha  açaí bowl
    kelsie m.

    honestly, the food was absolutely terrible and super overhyped. I saw it all over TikTok and was super excited to try it, first of all they had barely any things in stock, they ran out of more than half of the menu. I ordered the mango sticky rice, Matcha, as it was a special. it was so watered down in the chunky and it taste expired. It was literally sour. The açai bowls also tasted very cheap and super processed. Really expected more from this place !!! and more for a $10 matcha that's pre whisked !!!!

    Chicken & waffles, avocado toast

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    27 days ago

    It was pretty good. Standard breakfast! Obviously better than Denny's but nothing out of the ordinary.

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    2 months ago

    Staff was friendly and nice. Great matcha, good looks great. Just wished the WiFi worked.

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    Page 3 of 12

    Blue Whale Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Blue Whale

    What is the parking situation like?

    I recommend going really early. Its street parking.

    Is Blue Whale dog friendly?

    Yes definitely! They loveee dogs there.

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    Immersion Coffee - Orange latte and black sesame snickerdoodle cookie

    Immersion Coffee

    4.0(108 reviews)
    0.8 miLa Jolla
    $

    Came here on a Saturday around 12 PM, and there wasn't a long line, which was nice especially on a…read morehot day! The cafe itself is very small, simple, and cute. I ordered a few drinks for my friends and me to try since it was our first time here, and we were heading to the beach after. They hand-whisk their matcha for each drink, which I really appreciate because most matcha spots in San Diego pre-make theirs. I got the regular matcha latte. I assumed it would already be sweetened, but it wasn't, which wasn't a big deal for me since I prefer little to no sweetness. It was still really good: perfect consistency, and you can definitely taste the matcha. My cousin got the matcha cream top (similar to a matcha einspänner), and I loved their vanilla bean syrup(?) that was included in the drink. It had the perfect balance of sweetness and creaminess. My friends also tried the orange latte, and they were pleasantly surprised by the cream on top. The orange flavor was noticeable but still subtle, and the coffee itself was strong. The syrups balanced everything out nicely. Definitely would come back again!

    I'm so glad I stumbled upon Immersion Coffee while looking for a good matcha spot in La Jolla…read more I ordered the strawberry matcha and the black sesame latte. The strawberry matcha was good -- I'd rate it around a 7/10 (and I say that as a matcha lover). It had a nice flavor, but I've definitely had stronger matcha elsewhere. The black sesame latte was my favorite. You can really taste the sesame, which gave it a rich, nutty flavor that stood out compared to other lattes I've tried. Overall, I'm really happy I found this spot and would come back. Next time, I'd love to try more of their drinks -- especially to compare their sesame latte with others.

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    Immersion Coffee
    Immersion Coffee
    Immersion Coffee - Flat white

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    Flat white

    Parakeet Cafe - La Jolla

    Parakeet Cafe - La Jolla

    4.2(596 reviews)
    0.1 miLa Jolla
    $$

    Aloha Yelpers,…read more Reviews can be subjective and often just reflect how we felt in the moment--sometimes good, sometimes bad. As a business owner and someone who frequents a lot of establishments around the world, I'm always paying extra attention to how different brands and teams operate. After being a regular at Parakeet for the last 6 years, I felt inclined to finally write a review, based purely on appreciation for the all-star team at this location (Kayla, Janelle, Neda, Hailey, Regina, Michelle, Calvin, and all the cooks crushing it in the kitchen daily) and everything they bring to the community. BIG VIBES & Customer Experience Biggest one on the checklist. The energy is always on point from the second I walk in to the second I leave. The entire staff is friendly, welcoming, authentic, and genuinely cares about making the experience top-tier. Also worth noting, they're up at 5 AM to open at 7 AM... which is already heroic. On top of that, this location gets its fair share of entitled, unfriendly, and straight-up rude customers (I've seen it firsthand on the daily). Even then, the ladies and Calvin handle it with patience, professionalism, and still keep the good energy going. That shit is not easy. Attention to Detail Regina and Hailey run a tight operation day to day. Their attention to detail and consistency is honestly unmatched. I've been to plenty of spots around the neighborhood, and no one has it as dialed in as they do. They are also better dressed than other managers in the biz. BIG STYLE POINTS Problem Solving I've watched this team navigate everything--broken equipment, unhappy customers, clogged toilets (lol), bad weather, and difficult delivery drivers yelling at them through Google Translate. And they handle it all without missing a beat and staying composed. Meanwhile, I've seen other places completely implode in similar situations--blaming each other or arguing instead of solving the problem. Not the case here. Always solution-oriented. Extra props to Janelle for unclogging the toilet and Kayla for chasing a grasshopper out the door when it jumped on a table. Yessahhh Consistency Food and drinks are always consistent--fresh, well-seasoned, proper temp, and clean presentation. The cooks are back there working hard but still somehow having a good time while pushing out orders for both dine-in and delivery. The girls and Calvin on bar are always crushing it. Espresso is never burnt, matcha is smooth (no clumpy, low-tier stuff), and the latte art is always on point. Shoutout to Neda, Hailey, Regina, and Calvin for keeping things fast and high quality. Cleanliness Everything is always clean, smells good, and actually put away where it belongs. No shakshuka stains on tables, no scone crumbs everywhere, no sticky coffee floors, no overflowing trash cans--things that, somehow, have become the norm at other nearby spots. All in all, I never leave reviews, so the fact that I'm writing this says something lol. Hopefully whoever reads this--regulars, upper management, or owners--recognizes that this all-star team is what makes this Parakeet location special, and a big reason it continues to bring GREAT VIBES to LJ LET'S GET THEM A PAY RAISE!! Mahalo, Brady

    LVE Parakeet La Jolla. Everyone is so sweet. Kayla and Calvin serve the best care and cappuccinoread more

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    Parakeet Cafe - La Jolla - Order and pickup

    Order and pickup

    Parakeet Cafe - La Jolla
    Parakeet Cafe - La Jolla - Green Goddess Smoothie

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    Green Goddess Smoothie

    Blue Whale - cafes - Updated May 2026

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