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Donna Jean

4.3 (1.1k reviews)
ModeratePizza, Mediterranean
Closed • 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Updated a few days ago

About Donna Jean

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DONNA JEAN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Donna Jean

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Papardelle with "meatballs"
Bob D.

We had an early dinner with friends before a show on a Monday. Service was great. Room was nice. Bathrooms have a "gas station" vibe and need some new lighting and general sprucing up. My food experience was mixed. Some people in our group had great food. The "Vulgar Display of Pineapple" pizza was excellent. I had the papardelle pasta with vegan meatballs. The sauce was excellent but the pasta was too thick. Some bites were like eating dough. I'll definitely give it another try.

Phuoc B.

It was my first time here and the place had a really funny smell. Like an old cheese kind of smell. We ordered the bread, mozzarella, Alfredo pasta and the black widow pizza. The only thing I liked was the bread and pizza. The pasta was very soggy and the mozzarella didn't really have flavoring. Defiantly worth a try but maybe next time I'll try something else. I do want to say the customer service was 5 stars.

Quintin E.

Donna Jean is the dream! This North Park - San Diego gem is an instant favorite. Having been a fan of their former Sherman Oaks - Los Angeles location I knew the OG was gonna be the first place to be. And when bae not only suggested but planned our first stop for eats here, I was too excited to stop in here. We did an awesome pizza and calzone brunch with their Breakfast in Bread, a forever favorite as well as their Vulgar Display of Pineapple pizza pie. Both were a hit, though we did expect an obscene amount of pineapple! There was very much a good amount, though not in the "vulgar" sense. Lots of delicious things here however including but not limited to those Home Fries, Chicken Fried Shrooms (or even the Hot Shrooms), Cast Iron Shells & Cheese (Mac), Fungazi pizza, Badmotorfinger pizza, Really Good Salad (that's actually what it is and also named), Caesar Salad, Raspberry French Toast, Blackberry Buckwheat Pancakes, Desserts, Sides and so much Pizza, Brunch dishes and beyond! Great for Dinner, Lunch, Brunch or even "Linner." Love the service here, our server was super cool and friendly as was any of the staff we interacted with such as the hostess and a few others. Love that they share a space with Evolution: Fast Food next door, which has a front patio outside by the parking lot. It's a plant-based foodie oasis of eats, treats, sips and sensational service. The vibes are warm as well as inviting off El Cajon Blvd/Hamilton Street where D.J. reside, just past the light at El Cajon & Oregon Street. Parking is plentiful, but also limited in their lot, and this place as well as it's neighbor both stay busy, especially on weekend. Street parking is fairly easy as we lucked into some options off Hamilton. Restrooms shared with Evolution can be found on their side. Pup friendly. Family friendly. Lots of good items to go in their display case. Beer, wine and craft beverages for you to enjoy here. Free Wi-Fi available also makes it a great place to not only enjoy meals or beverages, but the entirety of Donna Jean. Swing by and let the, "Great food from the best ingredients," be the experience you never forget. VWL/Q Tip: Don't forget to check out their Margarita Pizza Monday deals, Pizza Making Classes and more.

Pizookie and decaf coffee
Thea M.

Love Donna Jean. This is the best place to catch up with friends while eating great vegan food. We tried the cast iron mac and cheese, olives, and Caesar salad for appetizers. The Heathen pizza is one of my favorites because of the basil. Finished off with the pizookie cookie and decaf coffee for desert.

Cast Iron Mac and Cheese
Jenn C.

Food We have been waiting to try this place for months. We attempted to come the last time we were in town and they were not taking any walk ins, it is more of a reservation only place so make sure to plan ahead. The reviews are right and the cast iron Mac and cheese is a must. It is so cheesy and really nicely crispy since it comes in a cast iron. My partner said it was the top dish he has had all year. The widow is really good, a surprising in a good way mix of toppings that go so well together. The server was right that you need to do it on their regular crust because the Sicilian would be too overpowering. Service Checked in on us, the food did take quite a while and noticed other tables who ordered later got their starters and entrees before us. Helpful with the Togo boxes as well since we intentionally over ordered Ambiance Shares with a fast casual place and each table had fresh flowers and a candle which was a nice touch. They have an indoor area and outdoor patio with heaters.

Daniel J.

Absolutely loved the food here! So much so that I went twice for the week I was in San Diego. The staff was really great and ran service smoothly on a VERY busy Saturday. The restaurant is cute too. One of my coworkers even said this is his favorite pizza place, and he isn't even vegan!

Karishma M.

Okay this was the first noteworthy meal, that left me thinking about it, I have had in a while. I visited Donna Jean for brunch a handful of years ago but this was my first visit for dinner, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will say, off the bat, that yes service is slow as other reviews mentioned. A full hour passed between when we entered and when our food arrived. Fortunately for us, we were not in any rush, so we enjoyed the food when it arrived. Besides the wait, our waiter was also good. He didn't seem stressed out despite the restaurant going from almost empty when we arrived to almost completely filling up. The dessert, the cookie skillet with ice cream, was just average. However, the meal itself was very tasty. We got the lasagna and the pineapple pizza. That was definitely just the right serving size for the two of us even though I thought it might not be enough when the food arrived, it was heavier than it looked. If you have the time to sit and enjoy, and don't have to rush anywhere, definitely check out Donna Jean when you are in the San Diego area!

Badmoterfinger calzone
Brenda D.

Finally visited their brand new location in North Park, and parking was already so much more accessible and open than their previous location in Hillcrest. Service was wonderful, and we got our food served pretty quickly. We ordered a bunch of food but the Heathen pizza was heavenly indeed. It truly is one of the best pizzas that I've had in San Diego. Overall, this revamped version of Donna Jean is already an upgrade and more.

Darkhorse Cold Brew Coffee
Nikita B.

I went here with my husband for my birthday brunch, and it was the absolute best experience! It's a fully vegan restaurant, but to our surprise, we couldn't even tell--everything tasted exactly like our non-veg favorites. Our waitress was also incredibly sweet and attentive. The overall ambiance is laid-back, with plenty of indoor, outdoor, and bar seating. It was a fantastic experience eating vegan food, and I'll definitely be back!

Chicken Fried Shrooms was so so good
Robin M.

I went to the Donna Jean location in LA before (RIP) but this was my first time here. I think it's in the location where Anthem used to be (RIP yet again). I went with friends for dinner, but I really want to go back for brunch sometime. We ordered the mushroom chicken fried steak, the Heathen pizza, the caesar salad, and the bread with garlic butter. Our server was AMAZING. I love the ambiance. Parking wasn't bad on a Saturday night. My only issue is that they use metal plates and I have this weird thing with utensils on metal. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Michelle R.

Donna Jean is one of those places that reminds you how good plant based food can actually be. Everything is vegan but this spot is just as great for non-vegans who love flavorful, well-done food. Their newer location on El Cajon Blvd is also a huge plus with plenty of parking in a dedicated lot. They do allow pets and animals in their patio area. The service is always fast even when the team is busy. We've been coming here for years and the dinner menu staples never disappoint. The beet hummus is incredible, the cast iron mac & cheese is rich and filling enough to share and my husband has loved the lasagna. For pizza, the Widow Maker is our go-to. We get it with the thin crust but they recently introduced a thicker crust. So far, we still prefer the thinner crust. And you absolutely have to save room for the cast iron cazookie with vanilla bean ice cream. It's always worth it! What we just learned (and are very excited about): they now serve brunch six days a week. We tried the raspberry French toast and it was honestly one of the best breakfast dishes we've had anywhere. The warm jam purée and their house-made oat and pumpkin seed toppings were so good. We love that the French toast fruit changes seasonally. The biscuits and gravy were also a great savory option. Bonus: in the same space is Evolution, their fast-casual vegan spot, perfect if you're in a rush. Next time we're eyeing the California burrito and the Evo burger. Highly recommend if you want plant-based food that's creative, comforting and consistently delicious.

GF Badmotorfinger pizza (missing one corner because I couldn't wait)

I had a recent dietary restriction change in my life a few years ago and have been craving a good dairy free gluten-free pizza. I can tell you I almost cried because of how good this pizza was. It felt like the most amazing pizza I've eaten in so many years. I ate the. badmotorfinger AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!!! I will be back REGULARLY. I never leave reviews and this place deserves and earns every 5 star review.

Kristie B.

We came in on a Wednesday for the dinner special, and it was such a great value! The special included a beverage, an entrée, and a dessert, which made it easy to try a few of their favorites. I ordered the Badmotorfinger pizza on the thin crust, and my friend got the same pizza on the Sicilian crust. Both were absolutely delicious, but the thin crust had the perfect balance of crispness while still letting all the flavors shine. We finished the meal with the Snickerdoodle cookie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, which was the perfect sweet ending. Everything we had was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The food exceeded our expectations, and the Wednesday special makes it an even better reason to visit. We'll definitely be back to work our way through more of the menu!

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Donna Jean Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Donna Jean

Do they have wine?

Yes!

Is this completely vegan or vegetarian? Are there also soy free vegan options?

Yes it's completely vegan & yes, there are soy free options. Fabulous food! My meat-eater husband was pleasantly surprised!

Is it safe to eat there with sever dairy allergy?

Yes, because there are no dairy products in the building.

Do they have NA wines and beer?

Yes, they have a non-alcoholic beer option (currently Athletic Brewing's Golden Ale) and a non alcoholic kombucha on tap.

Do they have gluten free options too?

Yes! Tons! There is a key on every menu for what contains gluten, what can be ordered gluten free, and common allergy ingredients so you don't have to worry.

Do you have gluten free + vegan pizza options?

Sadly, they don't offer gluten free pizzas anymore. But! The menu has a LOT of gluten free options, and their most recent menu has several pasta options gluten free.

What type of nuts do they use?

Cashews, pistachios, walnuts - it changes from time to time since they seasonally make changes to the menu. There are no peanuts in house, though!

Phone number is out of order, are they still open?

Yes, we are still open. There is an issue between T-Mobile and ATT that is out of our control.

Is this restaurant completely vegan? How come I see mozzarella, ricota and cheesecakes in the menu?

Yes it is all vegan! The things you see in the menu are all made with vegan ingredients not dairy.

Do you cater? If so, is there any catering menu or quote rate I could get?

Yes, Donna Jean does catering. They have done many weddings and events. Email their general inquiry address at:… 

Do they have heaters in the patio?

Yes!

Is there a patio; or are they dog friendly?

Yes! They also provide water for your dogs, and even sell their own dog food. Ask your server about "K-9 cuisine".

Do they serve lunch on the weekends if they do what time does it start?

Full menu is available at 11am; before that it's the brunch menu. I eat there about 1-2x/month on the weekends.

Do they take reservations?

Yes through their website

View All 15 Questions

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Shawarma Guys - Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!

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After watching the restaurant featured on triple D on the food network we wanted to experience this…read morefirsthand. This place is located in a small square so parking can be tight. Inside is decorated well and has plenty of room for groups. The menu has depth with starters consisting of salads, bread and entrees. For drinks it ranges from nonalcoholic, wine, beer, tea and a house made coffee. W For drinks we had the fresh lemonade with mint. This was sweet but not overpowering. I recommend this drink. I ordered the fisherman's rice and it is enough for two hungry adults. The love dessert is a showstopper! Save room for this delicious dessert! We see many returns visits to experience this delicious food! Enjoy!

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