Emjaye Inspired fit all our needs with short notice. We needed an outdoor venue with great food. All these years, I saw her signs around and wanted to know more about it. This is seriously the best kept secret for outdoor venues with catering. Located on the Alliant U campus, just tucked away at the top of the ridge overlooking San Diego, Emjaye Inspired hosted our event reception for our family and friends on a sunny San Diego day. From start to finish, Michelle was attentive, accommodating, and personable. The staff was pleasant to work with the day of the event. To top things off, the view overlooking Miramar with jets flying over were the perfect touch for our event. We appreciated how the event flowed so well with ample parking and guest seating. The next time we need an outdoor venue for a large event, I would definitely come back. read more

Emjaye Inspired catered my son's rehearsal dinner and it was amazing! Every attention to detail was beautiful. They were so sweet to make the presentation of the food beautiful with gorgeous flowers and greenery surrounding it and the food was delicious. Our guests raved about the food and we loved every aspect. We are so thankful for them and their communication and help in making our event so special. read more

Emjaye Inspired - Dessert Bar - Caterers Near Me - San Diego, California

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We usually just order appetizers and desserts. Sometimes even just desserts... Everything we have ordered has been really good though!! Buffalo chicken bites were huge ( as pictured) Best desserts ever! Love the Snickerdoodle Cookies! Softest best tasting cookies ever! * ordered w/ UberEats read more

Emjaye Inspired - Buffalo Chicken bites - Caterers Near Me - San Diego, California

An interesting evening under the stars...then (uh oh!) rainbow, then rain, then clouds with no rain. Make up your mind Mother Nature on this mid-summer Southern California eve as MJ helped gather, "Get the cushions!", stage stuff and other event hosting stuff from the weather. As the very good acoustic (but amplified) band Coral Bells continued their performance, now under the canopies in a more intimate finale to the evening, MJ sat in the back and enjoyed her showcase of the available stage/patio gathering area of Emjaye Inspired / Culinary Art / Comfy Kitchen located on the campus of Alliant International University in San Diego, CA. I still struggle a bit with understanding just how, what and where Chef MJ gets to display, sell and serve her cuisine. Does she serve food here, in the former cafeteria of the university, provide catered meals to big corporate functions, or deliver to those that chose to use local services like Uber Eats or Grub Hub. I thinks it's a little (or a lot) of all of that. The food that I sampled (available at the event) was hot, in large portions and very very tasty. I can't necessarily say the plated presentation was good because I was now eating my Shepherds (was it really lamb?) Pie from a reusable plastic food box. The same plating was used to present our BBQ Pork Mac and Cheese (I was still struggling to find the bacon even the next day). The only plating that seemed consistent with the website picture were the deserts; they were served in small prepackaged plastic cups. Not that any of the plating was lacking or otherwise insufficient, but it seemed to work well this evening at the event. Once ordered, the food came out very fast, very hot and very tasty. As evidenced by the compliments from our table and the comment of the leftovers from my son the next day, the food was really good. I personally thought it was also very good, but somewhat predictable in flavor and texture; and then, what do you do about presenting it in a plastic microwave-safe container? You do just what MJ does, . . . the best that MJ can. A good job all the way around. Take a stop through the campus and check out Emjaye Inspired cuisine. Way in the back, just follow the signs Dicks read more

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Wow! Two weeks later and I'm still thinking about this meal a couple of times a day, and co-workers have stopped me in the hall to talk about it, as well. I highly recommend this caterer. I ordered a catered breakfast for 100 through a 3rd party. Unfortunately, the middleman was not passing along our messages to each other, so when the food arrived, we were missing an item that I felt was critical. In these situations, I'm accustomed to receiving a shrug, a sorry, and a small discount. Instead, I received a first-class resolution, with staff standing by and communicating the steps real-time. I was really blown away by the level of service, the professionalism, and the phenomenal attitudes of the staff while dealing with the unexpected hiccup (which was not their error). That alone would lead me to order from them again, but... Holy smokes! The food was incredible, and such a nice change from what is typically available for a breakfast delivery (which is what prompted me to order from Emjaye Inspired to begin with). While we had ordered most items in disposable aluminum trays for a simple work breakfast ahead of an activity, they set it up for me (unexpected!) in such a way that it looked so much more inviting than it would have otherwise been. Additionally, fruit, bread, and pastry platters were presented BEAUTIFULLY. It was so much more than I was expecting. Lots of thumbs up and, "That was on point!" from those present. Melissa contacted me to follow up on the difficulty encountered at delivery (again, a 3rd party snafu), but her staff had handled it so beautifully I didn't feel any further resolution was needed. It was very professional, courteous, and so appreciated. Definitely use this caterer and DO order through them directly (as I've learned). These are actual, professional caterers, btw. Though our needs were simple, I can tell by the way they carried themselves, communicated (not just with me, but with each other), and worked that they expertly manage higher-end jobs. I will be giving unsolicited recommendations to everyone I know in need of catering. * I'd like to give a special shout out to the breakfast sausage, the likes of which I have never before encountered! I would leave the life I know to hunker down in isolation as a hermit if I knew I would wake up to this sausage every morning (and based on feedback I think there are others that would do the same!). Turkish eggs were incredible (note that some people really just want scrambled eggs), crepes were amazing, and someone on that team really knows how to pick a good melon. read more

So this is my second time ordering take out from them. Overall a good restaurant but perhaps the attention to detail could be improved. Good: * Fried food was packed safely in aluminium box. * Fresh cut veggie tastes clean * Roasted vegetables were tasty Not so good: * Online order wasn't processed on time. I arrived at the indicated pickup time but had to wait outside for another 10 or 15 minutes. There were no other customer besides me. * I asked for an extra BBQ sauce for my chicken tenders. This is in addition to the original ranch dressing. However I end up with NO ranch dressing but extra BBQ dressing. * The extra BBQ dressing must be for my cut veggies but who eats carrots with BBQ dressing? Overall the dinner was somewhat ruined by the incorrectly packed dressing and late preparation. However I am still willing to return. Hope they do better with completeness next time. read more

The best catering company in the greater San Diego area! After going to an event that was catered by Emjaye, I was impressed first by the presentation of the food. Everything looked and smelled amazing and the display was beautiful. I have used them on numerous occasions for simple desserts like cupcakes for my daughter's birthday to a full spread for small parties. From appetizers and charcuterie boards to full meals, food is always delicious and presentation is almost too pretty to touch. I have to mention, the chef, Melissa, is wonderful at accommodating food allergies. My husband has celiac and the Chef Melissa always works with us on the menu to provide tasty alternatives he can enjoy from cookies and cupcakes to the best baked ziti he has had since being diagnosed. Their cheesecake with a gluten free crust is his absolute favorite and don't forget the brownies! Hire Emjaye Inspired and you will be blown away. read more

Emjaye Inspired - Gluten free personal cheesecake - Caterers Near Me - San Diego, California

Review is for the food I ordered off of Door Dash, not catering. I didn't know what I was craving for but I saw Emjaye Inspired had Shepherd's Pie and I just.... had to have it. No other businesses had food like what was being offered from Emjaye Inspired for delivery, so I was a bit excited! Everything is very comfort food -- there were chicken and dumplings, beef stew, biscuits and sausage gravy... everything sounded so delicious. I was almost tempted to order some desserts because they all sounded so decadent as well, but I'm trying to control myself :P So I ordered the shepherd's pie with a side of German potato salad and also roasted brussel sprouts. I really enjoyed all of it and I'm looking forward to eating my leftovers tomorrow lol. I am definitely ordering from here again. read more

My review is for a lunch order I picked up directly from the kitchen of Emjaye Inspired (specializing in personalized and highly recommended catering; but also offering access to their menu as a restaurant with orders to-go) on the campus of the old Alliant University [United States International University] at 1pm on a quiet afternoon. I ordered an appetizer of freshly cut celery & carrots (not in sticks like they are pictured on-line) which came with a premium brand Ranch dressing dipping sauce that was very good. I also chose a side order of their delectable brussel sprouts which were nicely browned and flavorful and came topped with chunks of parmesan; a nice touch of flavor and texture - a favorite menu item of ours. For our main course entrees we picked the pulled-chicken chili fries (even the cut and flavor of the fries was perfect) smothered in a robust chili-bean sauce covered with a generous portion of tangy shredded cheddar cheese; along with the fantastic shepherd's pie which was a huge serving of a very meaty filling and well-seasoned vegetables covered with a hearty serving of parsley-topped mashed potatoes that were wonderfully surprising and tasty with a homemade flair. Our servings were plentiful and well presented (in their to-go containers) and it was obvious that the chef is well versed in stylized catering techniques that highlight each individual serving without sacrificing the quality and unique flavors of the exquisite selections available. For dessert, we truly savored the coconut cake & key lime mousse parfait (the mousse was as rich and buttery as a cheesecake-style filling) and some wonderfully decorated sugar cookies (just in time for our Valentine's day celebration)! Including our 15% gratuity added on during the on-line ordering process the night before, we spent $40; for what I felt was a great value considering the quality and quantities. [No beverages were available] I highly recommend Emjaye Inspired to those looking for unique flavors, superb presentation, a great variety of choices and extremely delicious food. The campus location is easy to find; just off the 15 Frwy at Pomerado Road in Scripps Ranch. The kitchen opens at 12:30pm and they coordinate with various delivery services who can arrange for pick-ups if you don't want to drive there yourself. My hats-off to the chef and owner, Emjaye - what she is doing to elevate our experience of the mundane, is bringing a wonderful choice of delicacies and sumptuous desserts to an area starved for something new and exciting! read more

So I have only had this food from Eppig Brewing (never had them cater for me)... but it's really good! I thought they deserved another review on here. :-) Pros? The potato salad is to die for... crunchy and savory Their cheese trays come with a generous portion Everything is fresh Love the presentation Cons? I don't know where else to get their food but that's okay... I can have it when I go to Eppig! read more

I ordered the chicken waffle, mashed potato and the german chocolate cake thru DoorDash. I love everything! The chicken is crispy on the outside, juicy inside. The waffle is very soft and fluffy. The mashed potato has the perfect balance of flavors and tastes very homey. I usually don't like mashed potato (depends who made it) but for this one, it's really delicious. The german chocolate cake has a nice texture and balance, not too sweet. So glad I found them and they deliver thru DoorDash. read more

WOW! I was absolutely blown away by Emjaye Inspired. Chef Melissa's creations were out of this world with how delicious they were. All of our guests kept raving about the food and asking where they could get more. Not only was it delicious, but it was BEAUTIFUL. Minah and Melissa also made this process seamless from start to finish as I had to make several changes to the order. And to top it all off, the pricing was very reasonable for this outstanding service. 1000% recommend and Emjaye Inspired is at the top of our list for our future catering needs. read more

I never knew a small cafe could provide so much happiness! Thank you for always having my back when I forget my lunch! So good!!!! read more

Emjaye Inspired - #workbreakfast - Caterers Near Me - San Diego, California

Emjaye Inspired catered my sister's baby shower and it was amazing! Melissa was fantastic to work with! All the guests loved the food! Everyone was asking me who catered. Their presentation, the quality of the food, desserts and the service was definitely A plus! I recommend them to anyone looking to cater an event. I definitely plan to use Emjaye Inspired for future events. read more

Trying to support solely local business during COVID. Ordered on their website for pick up. ETA 30 minutes. Received text message saying order was ready. They handed me the wrong order and I checked it in my car only to head back in the restaurant. They had not even started my order which confuses me how I received a text that it was ready in the first place. I had to wait another 25 minutes in the cold while they finally prepared the order. No updates given while I waited. I had tipped and paid beforehand so no taking that back. No comps after it took twice as long to receive my food. Food was mediocre. Ordered about 5 items. Best item was the corn salad. Currently headed to chick-fil-a to get my fill on for a fourth of the cost. read more

We have used Emjaye for various professional events within our organization. Everything is ALWAYS delicious, beautiful and amazing. Many of the participants in the reoccurring events note they come for the food! I can not recommend enough. The glitter cookies are to die for! The icing on the cake is the staff. So incredibly kind and reliable! read more

Great service with quality food, what more can you ask for. The food presentation was amazing definitely a 5 star!

The owner (Melissa) and her staff are top notch. Professional, always on time and willing to go the extra mile. I can't recommend Emjaye Inspired enough. This is the best catering company in Southern California. We have a specialty catering menu only offered to our clients that Emjaye designed to meet our needs for boating applications. read more

If there was an option to give more then 5 stars I would. I cater​ food for our office every day​. There are so many options for food out there but ever week I order from Emjaye. Not only is there staff incredibly kind, helpful, and hardworking​ the food is fresh and so delicious. They have such a variety​ of options that it never gets boring​. We loved their​ food every week that we now also use them for catering events held inside and outside the office. Every time we order from them they always give us a platter of cookies or fruit to finish​ off the meal right. read more

Melissa and her wonderful team provided catering for our Friday night welcome event, the night before our wedding. They were so easy to work with and Melissa was extremely helpful in coming up with the perfect menu for our guests within our budget. Our family LOVED the food. So glad we worked with them! read more