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    Happiness Cafe

    4.4 (480 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    HAPPINESS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Happiness Cafe

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    Happiness Over Rice
    Ashwini A.

    SERVICE - located in a large shopping complex near Ranch 99 - plenty of parking though lot can get full because of other stores - very small interior with space for 10-15 diners - looks more like a coffee shop set up than a restaurant - restroom available - seemed like only one person was working in the kitchen and the cashier stand MENU - Asian inspired appetizers, rice plates, and American entrees - all vegan - average price ($17 per entree) FOOD - happiness over rice (4/10): broccoli, bell pepper, onion, pineapple, and vegan soy chunks simmered in a sweet and sour sauce with a side of brown rice. From the pictures this looked very colorful and appetizing. However I was not a huge fan of it once we got it. The broccoli was just barely cooked and there was a lot of onion. The sauce was too sweet and not enough spice or sourness. WOULD I GO BACK? Probably not as the food or ambience was not spectacular.

    C9. Sesame Cold Noodles Set

    The sesame cold noodle is actually one of my favorite dish from Happiness Cafe! I been going here for almost 4 years, and a lot of things have been added to the menu. In particular this one, which was very rich in taste, spiced and the vegan egg was delicious! Overall, 10/10 would recommend!

    Rie M.

    Discovered a delightful vegan eatery in San Jose! After enjoying Lee's vegetarian sandwiches for the past two days, I was craving something different to tantalize my palate. This new spot offers flavors that I was looking for at the time. I ordered the Passion fruit without sugar, without the green tea, little ice and double topping. It was refreshing and light ....though i ordered it without sugar it was still quite sweet. So if you are looking for options, doesn't hurt to try this place and let me know how you like it!

    Noodle's with phish balls
    Warren W.

    This spot has been here a long time, decade or so? I try to stop by more often to support this tiny vegan shop. The owner lady is this nice Taiwanese lady who drags her retired and reluctant husband to work every day. Poor guy, great health and food but so ready to die. LOL. Anyway, the food is enjoyable. I mainly order the noodle dishes as I can make everything else myself easily. It's nice to kick it here with my dog and a book in the post lunch quiet.

    Michelly S.

    Such a cute hole in the wall local spot amongst a busy parking lot! Everything 100% vegan! So amazing We got a vegan sundae and scoops of ice cream. With VEGAN condensed milk Cherry vanilla was surprisingly the favorite flavor. The staff is so sweet and seems to be family owned. They are mostly vegan as well. We haven't gotten the chance to try their food items yet but will definitely be back to do so. 100% recommend to support this local shop!

    Happiness Stir Fry dish

    Very friendly owner and service. It was a comfortable atmosphere although the place is small. We sat outside because our dog was with us. The food was so good and it is good for your soul and compassion nature. Happy to see many people came in and ordered food and drinks. Come support them!

    Creamy Corn Soup with Organic Baguette
    Devi B.

    Very good Vegan food. This is in a small shopping district so plenty of parking space. Place doesn't have lot of seating so plan for that. Vegan hotdogs is good Creamy corn soup is amazing Crispy shrimp is very good Stew over brown rice is mvp Happiness over rice is awesome Tomato pasta with meatballs is very good Iced mocha is ok Tiramisu vegan cake is cold and hard but taste is decent Very good place to try out and would recommend this

    Debbie D.

    Happiness Cafe is one of the OG vegan places that has been around for nearly a decade. I've visited various times over the years when plant-based options were scarcer back then. I haven't visited as often because they were limiting their days during the pandemic and there is an abundance of plant-based options these days. |ORDERING| I happened to be in this area recently and needed a quick bite before heading off to another engagement. I placed an online order (this wasn't an option in the past!) instead of ordering in as I normally do. The process was quick and painless, and my order took 15 minutes to complete. I got the taro smoothie and the crispy vegan shrimp. They do have loyalty stamp cards for drinks. |INTERIOR| I forgot how cramped this cafe was, and it sometimes feels like I'm walking into a cluttered Asian household lol. Two of the tables were occupied by various items so that left customers had about 4 tables to dine on. During this visit the bathrooms were out-of-order. |FOOD| I used to come here all the time for their taro drinks because they were one of the first places to use fresh taro chunks before boba shops hopped onto the trend. This time I ordered the taro smoothie, which did not exceed my expectations. It reminded me of one of those Icees you get at the mall with the remainder of ice at the bottom after all the liquid has been sapped. This was rather disappointing! I'll stick with my usual taro milk tea next time. Moving onto the shrimp, the outside was a perfect crisp! The inside surprised me with its chewiness, and was more similar to boiled shrimp. It also didn't have that fishy taste that seafood has, as tOf course, that's to be expected because it's made out of soy meat. They provided a sweet and sour sauce that made me reminisce dipping shrimp balls in. The "shrimp" looked and tasted appealing, but at about $2/piece, it's hard to justify the price point. Aside from the foods I bought, they also offer ice creams, baked goods, fruit drinks, milk teas, and other savory dishes. Back then vegan food was newly sensational because of the creativity they put into making replicates of nostalgic dishes. Now in 2022, there is a higher standard for better quality and affordable vegan foods that Happiness Cafe hasn't seemed to match. Overall, I'm giving them 3.5 stars as a mom and pop shop with excellent customer service, fast service, but mediocre food for a high price point.

    Jasmine Milk Tea with grass jelly

    This cute Taiwanese-owned cafe has been my go-to Asian vegan dessert spot for over a decade. The customizable shaved ice and grass jelly desserts are my favorite - this time I ordered a milk tea and an old-fashioned ice cream sundae. Their ice cream reminds me of mom-and-pop tapioca stores in the early 00's - brightly colored, nostalgic scoops like mint chip and orange dream - but veganized. Come support this lovely establishment!

    Opera cake
    Joyce L.

    I have been coming here of several years now. The owner is always super friendly and excited to share about their offerings. I love the variety of sandwiches and melts offered here. There are also great snack items you buy for after your visit like teriyaki jerky and soy floss (think shredded fried pork) that you can use to add extra umami to your sandwiches, soups, and salads. I can't pick a favorite sandwich but my go-to snack has always been the avocado rolls. It's all things amazing! Avocados wrapped in crispy flaky roti. You can't ask for much more in life, really. It's convenient that Happiness Cafe also sells milk tea, milk shakes and desserts like ice cream and cakes! Today, the opera cake is what brought me in. I'm looking to hone my cake baking craft and came for inspo. The owner was eager to share with me what each layer of this beautiful cake contained. I simply love her passion and enthusiasm to share the cafe's offerings. This is such a wonderful change to Veggie Grill. Stop by and see for yourself!

    Vegan beef stew over rice
    Tony Y.

    I'm so glad to have come all the way from San Francisco to give this place a try. The one wait staff running the front was nice and friendly, store clean, food nice and delicious. Love there is an option for good vegetarian food and boba spot. Food arrived pretty fast within 5-8 minutes The shop is quite small and only has tables for four indoors and out on the walkway. I asked for a recommendation on a drink and has recommended the hibicous tea, which was quite refreshing and flavorful for a tea. I was amazed by the vegan beef stew over rice so I ordered that. Amazed that the vegan beef they used had been cut to feel like eating beef. Of course, it doesn't taste like beef, but the stew was quite good, yet lack a little depth in flavor, maybe a bit more tomato paste? I finished the entire dish feeling full, but not in a good coma state associated with eating an actual meat stew. I definitely want to come back and try their other noodle soups, dishes, vegan cake, and drinks. Leaving here that day, the place truly lived up to their names, I was happy....I know that kinda sounds corny but if you can eat lunch feeling you had something good for the body, why not.

    This is the best vegan desert with waffle I have ever had. This place is always nice and clean with great vegan choices

    Food and service excellent. A great vegan spot for anyone looking for something delicious with excellent customer service. This is the best Vegan waffle desert I have ever had. I highly recommend.

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    Amazing food!! So many options! Very friendly staff too!! Pet friendly. Actually very pet friendly. Can't wait to go back!!!

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    Page 1 of 12

    Happiness Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

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    4.2(1.3k reviews)
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    Excellent experience today. So appreciated Morna helping us with choosing and really caring about…read morehow we liked dishes. Three of us shared: crispy spring rolls, 4 - pronounced crunch and substantial contents and orangey dipping broth pleasant. Potstickers 4 - wonderfully crisp outside, contents had nice texture and brown dipping broth a good accompaniment. Pad Thai and Crispy? Chow Mein - tossup on which we liked best. Liked smooth texture of pad and tofu strips but one didn't care for the shrimp looking yam crescents. Loved the crunchy peanuts and wouldn't mind a bit more. Loved the mushrooms in chow mein. BBQ tempeh bowl with kale and carrots over rice - enjoyed spicy tempeh classic flavor. Shared Cacao pecan cake and New York cheezcake. Loved the subfloor pops and silky texture of both. Bravo to all and look forward to returning! Note: chose them from Bay Area Check Please reviews

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    Golden Bamboo is such a great vegetarian spot. Everything on the menu is vegetarian, but you…read morehonestly don't feel like you're missing anything -- the flavors are full and really satisfying. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. I usually order the lemon chicken pho (vegetarian), and the broth is light with a fresh citrus flavor that's super comforting. The spring rolls and egg rolls are always on my table, and the Vietnamese salads are fresh and well balanced. The Thai fried rice has a slight spice to it -- just enough heat to make it flavorful without overpowering the dish. The food is thoughtfully prepared, tasty, and never feels like an afterthought vegetarian option. I always enjoy eating here.

    This Vietnamese vegetarian spot does a creative job reimagining classic dishes. I tried their…read morevegetarian version of bún bò Huế, which is essentially bún Huế without the bò (beef). As expected, the broth wasn't as deep or rich as a traditional beef-based soup, but it was still really yummy and comforting in its own way. The bowl came with fake-looking spam and other soy-based mock meats that resembled chả, which was fun to try. The bò lúc lắc had bold, heavy seasoning, but I personally didn't love the texture of the fake meat... it didn't quite hit the same as the real thing for me. The standout, though, was the nem nướng appetizer. Absolutely delicious and probably my favorite dish of the meal. The sauce really made it and tied everything together. Overall, a solid spot for vegetarian Vietnamese food, especially if you're open to plant-based twists on traditional flavors or just want to eat clean for one dish!

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    Fox Tale Fermentation Project

    4.8(192 reviews)
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    Absolutely one of the most unique spots in downtown San Jose. Fox Tale Fermentation Project somehow…read moremanages to feel like an experimental brewery and community gathering space all at once. The fermentation concept is woven into everything from the beers and botanical mocktails to the food and it actually works incredibly well. The drinks are creative without feeling gimmicky, and the flavors are layered and thoughtful. The food was surprisingly memorable too, especially how vegetable-forward dishes still felt rich and satisfying. The atmosphere has this warm, artsy, almost hidden-gem energy that makes you want to stay for hours. What really stands out is that the place feels intentional. You can tell the owners care deeply about craft, community, and creating an experience instead of just another brewery. Easily one of the coolest and most distinctive food/drink concepts in San Jose right now.

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    Merit Vegan Restaurant - #30 BBQ Vermicelli - very good

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