Fresh Cafe

Small cozy place with about 10 tables…read more The staff is truly great and happy to help Drank black drip coffee which is smooth but no exciting notes Banana chocolate bread was great.

Stopped by today for a 16 oz Strawberries and Dream iced coffee, which was $8. The drink was very…read moretart, tasting mostly like strawberry puree. I was expecting a milder strawberry flavor with a stronger coffee presence, but the strawberry overpowered the coffee. I'm open to trying it again another time. None of the pastries caught my attention during this visit. I also wish the menu was displayed more clearly. Currently it sits on the countertop, and I didn't notice prices listed. It would be helpful if the menu were better organized, especially separating hot and iced drinks with their sizes.

Pumpkin spice latte & bagel

Delicious!!!

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Café

James Coffee

3.9(191 reviews)

0.2 mi

A quick stop for morning coffee turned into a lucky experience for my little leprechauns this St…read morePatrick's Day. We ordered the holiday special (Irish cream lattes) along with two perfectly warmed pastries. While waiting for our order, my kiddos enjoyed the quiet and peaceful ambiance; the shop had holiday coloring pages and markers available to keep the tiny humans happy. Our food and drinks were delivered quickly and absolutely delicious. The service was the icing; what an awesome start to our day! Five star shop with five star staff. PS: Thank you so much for the cute hot chocolate cup!!

I wanted to give this place another shot, I know people love. I was in the area and popped in…read more I ordered a large hot non fat mocha. Which is my standard order. And picked up an almost croissant. They do not shelve non fat milk, but have oat and almond. So I went with oat. Two customers that came after me go thier drinks first. And when mine came up, it was lovely but not right. It was a cold mocha. They remade it. It was just a wee annoying, especially since I was coming here with the hopes of a mind blowing experience. The coffee was fine. The staff seem to know the local regulars and chat them up appropriately. The seating it still hard and uncomfortable. I'll try again one more time to see if hey flip my bippy. So far two stars for they way they interacted with other. One star for the pastry and the coffee mis up and late service was a - of stars. And my picky pastry folks (she knows who she is) would say it's not a true croissant, as there are cuts across the pastry... but it's buttery and flaky..

My first "coffee" experience with my kids. What a special experience! The hot chocolate gives them the vibe.

Seasonal special

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Morning Bun

Better Buzz Coffee Escondido

3.7(552 reviews)

1.4 mi

I Am Still Stunned On How Amazing Assistance Manager Josue. I Went In With Fiance To Better Buzz…read moreAnd I Saw A Super Cool Drink And Was Discussing It With My Fiance. Josue Approached Us, Informed Us Of The Creation, And I'm Guessing Because It Was Never Picked Up Let Us Take It Due To It Being Out For So Long That They Had To Remake It. That Kinda Of Leadership And Customer Service Was Outstanding! Thank You Sir, Sincerely Service Connected Veteran/

Wow! I've been coming to this better buzz to edit and I am thankful for the service Ash, Pedro and…read moreJosh provide. This is the type of customer service all better buzz's should strive for. This location is super clean and well kept. The food is always super fresh and the drinks are always perfection. HUGE thank you to the team here Ash, Pedro and Josh for the amazing customer service this will stay as my go to for delicious matcha and food!

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Matcha Cafe Maiko

4.4(297 reviews)

1.2 mi

Whenever i see a Matcha Cafe Maiko it's a must to go! The matcha itself is delicious , but the…read morebanana pudding topping? AMAZING! (Third cup in) My favorite thing on the menu. My sister got the iced matcha latte with whip cream and loved it! (First drink) my boyfriend got the iced matcha latte with chocolate drizzle, his two favorite things, and wanted to go back for more from how delicious it was. (Second cup) We got the bubble waffle with Ube and Hojicha to share and oh my, definitely something i will keep craving until i go back! Everything tastes so authentic, fresh, and overall just delicious. Super friendly staff and clean dining area. They have some games to play while you wait which was nice as well. There's a few up here in NorCal where i am from like in SF's Japan town, and this one tasted just as delicious! Side note- they also have just a huge variety of other drinks and desserts! Definitely a must if in the area!

Cute space, nice games and activities to take part in. Not great for big groups, but party of 4 is…read moregreat. Menu is huge, ice coffee, tea, soft serve, pastries. Anything matcha here is great. The soft serve vanilla, ube, matcha, any flavor is good. Had the Vietnamese coffee, delicious. Great place to have a drink, catch up with friends, and in a plaza with so many great restaurant and stores. Must try, dragon egg approved!

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Matcha & vanilla swirl with banana pudding

Manzanita Roasting Company and Coffee House

4.4(190 reviews)

The good and coffee here are absolutely delicious. I'm not a coffee person really(tea's my thing)…read morebut I really enjoyed the mocha I had here. The turnover 11/10, and I will make special trips just to get great pastries. The service here is very kind, inviting and so helpful. They have some seating inside and a few tables outside as well for ample seating. The ONLY negative thing about this place they have no control over. The parking SUCKS OUT LOUD. I hate trying to park in downtown Escondido. I can't take anything away from them for this but-for me- the frustration in this keeps it from being my regular place. If you live in the area and like good coffee and food, 100% would recommend

I stopped by on a quiet Wednesday afternoon to get some work done. I was really hoping to love this…read morespot since it's so close to my house, but the experience was a bit of a letdown. The Service: The staff greeted me promptly and took my order without any issues. They were polite and efficient, although a little busy amongst themselves. The Coffee: Unfortunately, the latte was the biggest drawback--it tasted quite bitter and over-extracted. I'd love to make this my "regular" neighborhood spot, but the coffee quality needs to be more consistent for that to happen. The Atmosphere: It's a quiet environment, which was good for productivity. Great location and friendly service, but I'm hoping the espresso improves!

Avocado toast, with housemade pickled onions and local microgreens, on levain bread

The front of the shop on Grand Ave., Escondido. MANZANITA is located in the Grand theater complex

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Brown Butter Latte.

Ilustre Specialty Coffees

4.8(62 reviews)

0.5 mi

My sister and I went to this cafe and were wonderfully satisfied with our drinks! It was almost New…read moreYear's Day and the staff member was extremely patient and warm with us. We came right when the cafe opened and were the only ones there so far. Even though the drinks can be on the pricier side, they are well worth it! I got the peppermint mocha and it was delightful. It wasn't too sweet and the taste was great. I would gladly return to this cafe. I love all the decorations and informative signs as well.

I was scrolling on yelp for a good mom and pop coffee shop and found this hidden gem in Escondido…read more You all go not sleep on trying this place! You walk in and the vibes were so welcoming, clean, vibrant, comfy, and spacious. Loved all the details of the artwork and colors they put in to their space. Take time to read the captions of the photos on wall -- it made me feel so connected to the coffee shops origins! I love a good story and knowing the heartbeat of a business. I told the barista how I randomly found them asked her what was their most ordered drink? She told me the De La Olla Latte, Horchata Latte, and Blueberry Matcha. I was in a coffee mood so I went with the De La Olla Latte, got it half sweetened, with oat milk and got it hot. This cup of coffee was one of the best the had. The quality and taste of their coffee beans from Mexico do not disappoint! Also the extra flavoring for this speciality drink was so flavorful too. Well worth the taste, experience, and price! I also ordered a Cardamom Vanilla Cinnamon Morning Bun to go with it. My word the pastry was perfectly made with its softness and outside crunch, and the flavors were so well balanced none of it was over powering or too sweet. The barista's customer service was also so welcoming, kind, and took time to explain their drinks and any other questions I had. She put the cherry in top of my experience there. I am already looking forward to going back to try out their blueberry match or horchata latte! Plus I heard they have bomb conchas. Overall: 10/10 would recommend!

Hot café de la olla latte w/ whole milk

Dirty horchata latte

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Drinks and conchas

Mika's

4.8(186 reviews)

2.6 mi

Honey lavender latte, yum!…read more Place is clean inside, funny coffee signs, but best little shelf with games - screen free time is easy here. Great place to sit and enjoy a latte with a friend.

This is my second review of Mika's.. I am a regular/frequent visitor here..there are many reasons,…read morefirst and foremost being the great healthy and scrumptious breakfast and lunch options besides its plethora of amazing coffee and tea choices... Before, I reveal, yet another amazing addition to the menu that is out of this world, yet so simple, it would be unfair of me to not show my gratitude to the most welcoming staff working at the front desk .. all of them very respectful, and their service is the reason why Mika has such a wonderful, and inviting ambience for young and older people, and has a very family oriented vibe to it!! Finally, the new big reveal.. it's the Mika's Salad... somehow, the chef Dušanka came up with a perfect medley of greens, spinach, heart of palm, black olives, garbanzo chickpeas, delicious sprinkling of feta cheese and pine nuts and to top it off, request two velvety poached eggs that sit delicately on this bed of goodness, you will keep coming back!!

Cool wall art

Honey Lavender Latte, Vietnamese Shakerato, Avocado Toast, and Yugo Sandwich.

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Cortado with Sparkling Water

Teaspoon

4.8(68 reviews)

1.4 mi

Coffee is pretty strong, which I approve of. Greeted when…read morewe entered, and drinks were made really quickly (we went around noon). Whole place is clean and tidy, with some claw machines for prizes.

Cute boba tea place with claw machines and game boards! Located in the Escondido Promenade Shopping…read moreCenter between HuckleBerry's and Subway so there's plenty of parking. I ordered the Black Sugar Assam, Nashville Hot Tater Tots, and Chicken Karaage. My friend ordered the Honey BBQ French Fries. Pro-tip: when ordering on the touch screen kiosk, order the drink first and then add one of the hot food item on as a combo to save $2! The black sugar boba is already included in black sugar assam drink, so no need for extra toppings unless u want more. Service for drinks were quicker then the hot food which took about 15 mins. We dine in so it was a good time to catch up or play games. Great experience overall! The Honey BBQ French Fries are a must-order. The chicken karaage batter was a little heavier than I usually like, but the flavors were still good.

Chicken Karaage with Spicy Mayo sauce and Edamame Rolls

Matcha latte with boba

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New Seasonal Drinks: Honeycomb Banana Latte * Banana Matcha Royale * Honeycomb Banana Milk

EscoGelato

4.7(1k reviews)

Just ate at EscoGelato--my second time, as this place got me hooked as i was here about a year and…read morea half ago as I live in Vista. As a foodie, I highly recommend this place. They offer a champion lunch menu with mostly healthy options; I had the Mediterranean salad and a Caprese panini. The gelato makes a perfect dessert. They let you sample flavors before choosing, and everything is homemade. If you like gelato, this is the place to go. They have seating both inside and outside. The service is excellent, and the staff are very friendly and helpful.

Such a cute little shop in downtown Escondido with a lovely outdoor patio!…read more We stopped here for a post-dinner dessert and it was definitely the place to be. Service was quick. The blueberry mascarpone was my favorite in terms of flavor. The taste was spot on, however, the consistency was a bit runny and it started to melt almost immediately. It became messy. Parking Tip: If you can't find a spot on the street, there is a lot located right behind the shop.

1 scoop pistachio, 1 scoop brown butter pecan with affogato.

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Matcha Strawberry Gelato and Candy Bar Gelato - size small

Kettle On Grand

4.1(621 reviews)

If you love cute coffee shops don't go any further! Kettle is a cute coffee shop with an extensive…read moremenu to fit any person's craving! With ample seating indoors and a dog friendly patio set up, who could want more?! The ladies at the counter who helped my husband and I were very nice and friendly. The menu was extensive and they even had holiday drinks for the winter season. I ordered a white peppermint mocha and my husband the toasted marshmallow mocha. We both gravitated more towards the peppermint mocha for the well balanced chocolatey minty coffee flavor. We felt there wasn't much of a marshmallow balance, but could be we both tried the peppermint and it just stood out more to our palettes.

I checked out Kettle on Grand recently for lunch and found it to be a charming establishment. I…read morevisited the location on Grand Avenue in Escondido; there is another location in Fallbrook. The shop looks really nice inside, thoughtfully decorated, albeit somewhat uncomfortable chairs. I elected to sit at the bar but still had to order at the counter, that's ok. I was given a number sign that was never retrieved. Service was satisfactory, yet somewhat impersonal. I was there for about an hour, watching lunch time service unfolding. They were nice and busy but not suitably staffed for the orders it seemed. Everything just happened at a rather slow, methodical pace. I did observe a few patrons come up to the counter inquiring about their orders and complaining the soup was cold. I ordered the "California Club" sandwich, made with turkey, bacon, swiss cheese, avocado, tomato, red onion, pesto and mayonnaise. Comes with your choice of soup or salad. The sandwich itself was good overall. An appropriate amount of sliced turkey, tasty, crispy bacon on a substantial, dense bread with a nice chew. If there was avocado, it was completely indiscernible. Maybe it was smeared in with all the green pesto, I don't know. The salad was tasty, although haphazardly presented and excessively dressed. Since this place offers wine, I had a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. It was served in an elegant, tall stemless glass, unfortunately at room temperature. There is one restroom here, somewhat unkempt. In summary, a nice neighborhood spot with a classic coffee shop vibe.