On our way back from my families OBX vacation we were looking for a nice place to eat, and Happy Cafe might be the perfect embodiment of that. A family owned restaurant with amazing service that makes you feel like you're at home. All 6 of us finished our entire plate. I have never written a review for a restaurant before but I felt compelled to after this experience. And even after finishing my entire plate, Miss V offered some of her lemon blueberry pudding, which in the least exaggerated way felt like a kiss on the cheek. I highly, HIGHLY recommend the pancakes and "Blues Browns" especially with peppers and onions. I wish I had some photos to share but I ate too fast to take any! read more

Happy Cafe may be a small restaurant, but it's packed with authenticity and heart. As an African American-owned business, there's something special about the atmosphere that you feel the moment you walk through the door. It's hard to describe, but you can sense the warmth before your food even arrives. We were greeted as soon as we walked in, and I immediately noticed the thoughtfully chosen portraits on the walls that added so much character to the space. I ordered the fried fish with potatoes and eggs, along with a mango smoothie. The fried fish was the stamp of approval for me it was so good that I already know I have to come back and try more items on the menu. The mango smoothie, blended with pineapple, was fresh, smooth, and absolutely delicious. I arrived right when they opened and was seated immediately, but by the time I left, there was already a line of people waiting for a table. That alone says a lot. Happy Cafe is the kind of place that leaves an impression. Great food, genuine hospitality, and an atmosphere that feels like home. I highly recommend it. read more

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-Service with a smile is what they do. I just love the mother of the owner! -Ambiance is small and cozy. The decor is simple yet modern and classy for a brunch spot. Food- I cant get enough of those boubon glazed chicken deviled eggs! I've also had the fish and Grits with Cajun cream sauce. read more

Happy Cafe - Fish and Grits with Cajun cream sauce - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Happy Cafe is located in the Diamond Springs Shoppes in VIrginia Beach. They are closer to the northwestern part of Virginia Beach. They aren't too far away from Northampton Blvd. Coming from I-264, you can get off at Newtown Rd. and head north to it, as the road name does change to Diamond Springs Rd. Coming in while heading northbound is easier than if you were coming in the southbound direction. One thing I noticed is that parking can get limited here when there are lots of visitors to this shopping center. My visit here was on April 17, 2026. The first thing I noticed was parking. Although this is in a shopping center, parking can be hard to find at times, especially during peak times. I was able to find one on this visit, but there wasn't much available. The Yellow signage for the name of the business on the outside helps see it pretty quickly. When my mom and I came inside, it was already busy. There was a wait to get a table, but I wasn't totally surprised at that. It would take about 15 minutes to get a table. Once we got to the table, we had a chance to look over the menu for a moment before the server came around and asked for our drink orders. Water came to the table at that time too. I decided to try their Bloody Mary for a drink and my mom did a Pepsi. The Pepsi comes in a can. I want to note that they have vegan options on their menu, so that adds to the amount of items to choose from. They have a pretty big menu covering both breakfast and lunch options. After having some time to look over the menu, we were finally ready to order. I don't do French Toast too often, so I decided to do the French Toast Meal with scrambled eggs and bacon (crispy). My mom decided to go with the Veggie Egg Scrambler, adding cheese to it. She got white toast and bacon as the sides to go with it. While waiting for the food to come, I tried the Bloody Mary. It was in a tall thin glass. The Bloody Mary was good. After about ten minutes or so, the food came out to the table and it looked really good. The server brought over syrup for my French Toast, but I told her I didn't need it, as I don't normally do lots of sugary items. As we started eating, the food was definitely hot, which is great as it came out pretty much when it was done from the kitchen. The French Toast was really good and it was a great indulgence for me. The eggs and bacon were really good too. My mom liked the Veggie Egg Scrambler too. The only minor issue was that the salt dispenser was low on salt, so it was primarily just the rice at the bottom to keep the salt from binding together. Overall, this was a great first experience outside of events. Even though it was packed, the servers were on point to check things along the way. It was only towards the end where I didn't get a chance to catch them about the salt shaker, but I did let them know when we were headed out. Prices are quite reasonable for the amount of food you get, and there was no surcharge if you use a card of some sort instead of cash to pay. If you're looking for a great locally owned breakfast/brunch/lunch spot in that area of the city, this place is worth checking out. read more

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Wow!! Delicious, well seasoned food, good enough that I took a seat at the bar instead of waiting for a table. Get here early! Friendly service and huge portions. I was in the area for some shopping and we got hungry. This little cafe looks unassuming, but do not skip out... will be back to try more! read more

Happy Cafe - Breakfast BLT with potatoes - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

I recently visited Happy Cafe for their Last Friday Happy Hour and again for Saturday brunch to celebrate my birthday. First, the hospitality at Happy Cafe is top-notch. The neighborhood family diner vibes are evident the moment you walk in. During happy hour, the bartender, Tay, greeted me immediately. While at the bar I started chatting with another individual who I later found out was the owner's mother.  Her kindness really stood out, she offered to buy me a birthday drink and invited me back for brunch. Happy Hour: The atmosphere was excellent and the DJ was a great touch. For food I ordered the Bourbon Chicken Deviled Eggs; they were a 10/10- so good that I ordered more to-go. For drinks I tried the Happy Expression (Jameson coffee liqueur, espresso, and whipped cream) and the Peach Tipsy Tea (Maker's Mark, tea, and peach flavor). I would rate both about a 2.5; the Happy Expression was very chocolate-forward without an espresso taste and it was also missing the whipped cream. The Peach Tipsy Tea required extra peach flavor to balance the strength. The food menu felt a bit too limited; adding a simple stand alone sides like fries and some standard drink options such as a Rum and Coke or Vodka Cranberry would be excellent additions. Brunch: Our reservation was for 10 am and we were greeted and seated on arrival.  For my birthday they offered me a complimentary Mimosa or a donut of my choice, which I appreciated. For Brunch they had their regular breakfast menu, a brunch menu, and a verbal daily special menu. For my meal, I ordered the corn nuggets as an appetizer and one of the daily specials (banana pancakes with banana foster sauce, scrambled eggs and turkey sausage). The corn nuggets were delicious, but came out after our food, I think they would be even more enjoyable served as corn ribs. vs coin. The Pancakes were also delcious with a perfect buttery crust, and the eggs were seasoned perfectly, no salt or pepper needed. However, the complimentary Mimosa was a miss for me, as it felt more like champagne and syrup than champagne and juice. Overall, I had a lovely time and experience at Happy Cafe. My daughter's and I are looking forward to returning again for the food and making this our new breakfast spot. read more

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Went here Friday around 7 pm for their Last Friday - Happy Hour. A decent amount of people were inside, but we didn't have to wait for a table at all. There was a DJ playing (10/10) he def had a good playlist. The staff were friendly and service was pretty good throughout the night. To drink: I had a Lemon Drop, a Peach Tipsy Tea, and a Strawberry Margarita. I would give them all a (7.5/10). My favorite drink of the 3 was the strawberry margarita as far as flavor and sweetness, but it really only seemed like just the Tipsy tea had alcohol in it for real bc that's all you could taste; it def didn't taste anything of peach. Drinks really could've been better honestly. To eat: I ordered the The Last Friday : Bourbon Wings, Fries, Mozzarella Sticks, and Salmon Bites (9/10) I really enjoyed everything that came with this sampler; however, the salmon bites were more on the dry side to me. Since we were returning customers, the owner gave our table a complimentary plate of roasted veggies: Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes (10/10) very delicious. I def see myself returning again for another Happy Hour - Last Friday event. Im also very interested in trying their brunch menu one day too. My overall rate of experience : 8.5/10 read more

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I ordered the traditional banana pudding to go and it was really good. I love the texture of the pudding and it's not overly sweet. The container makes it perfect for easy transition. The service was great and I can't wait to return for a full brunch experience. read more

Happy Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

This place is small but has a lot of character packed into it. The music was flowing and the atmosphere was filled with conversation. I came here during the week when it first opened and the crowd seemed to all be older. The waiting staff seemed attentive enough but they do tend to disappear. Arrival of my food was about 15 minutes, the table has most of your condiments already when you sit down. One thing I didn't like is that I could get no peppers as they were part of the hash brown mix. Overall there wasn't much to say about the food too much, it was your standard run of the mill breakfast with no outlining features. read more

Happy Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

OMGEEEEE!!! Words cannot express how AMAZING this restaurant is! My aunt took me here for brunch to celebrate my birthday, and what an experience it was! The service was absolutely phenomenal! Our server was incredible. Although she had multiple tables to take care of, she handled everything with such ease. She was friendly, attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and always on top of everything. You could truly tell that she cared about making sure we had a wonderful experience. And then... Ms. Vee sang "Happy Birthday" to me! Talk about making a birthday girl feel special! That beautiful moment was the icing on the cake. From the food to the service to the atmosphere, EVERYTHING was top-notch! If you're looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion--or simply enjoy an amazing brunch--this is definitely the place! I left feeling full, happy, and incredibly grateful for such a beautiful birthday experience. next time I'm in Hampton Roads -I'm driving straight to Happy Cafe --10/10!! read more

Happy Cafe - French toast and veggie eggs - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Food very good. Busy place but staff was attentive would recommend Pins colada smoothies delicious

I had the most amazing lunch at Happy Cafe ! First, you walk in and the staff is instantly family! Friendly, happy to see you, and fun! The owner's mom is really sweet , I had a great conversation with her. The decor is calm, beautiful, and I love the trees and natural beauty feel. I got the club sandwich and it was delicious. The bacon is done absolutely perfect. The portion is generous. I picked chips as my side. I also got the warm donut with strawberries and vanilla ice cream. It was sooooo good! I highly recommend this dessert. Parking is ample. It's in a cute shopping area on Diamond Springs. Easy to get in and out of. Happy Cafe! Happy life! read more

Happy Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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I had a wonderful time at Happy Cafe for Mother's Day brunch. It's an intimate cafe with an upscale feel, would be great for a date. It was a little packed as you can imagine but it ran so smoothly that my experience was not impacted. We opted to seat at the bar to avoid a wait and was serve by our wonderful bartender Tate, who took really good care of us. The food was amazing. It was bursting with flavor and cook to perfection. We ordered from the main menu and something from the special menu of the day and were pleased with all the dishes. We were lucky to be able to dine in because I was told it is recommended to make reservations. read more

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I meant to take a photo before I started eating. But I took one bite and I couldn't stop eating them. I had the sweet potato pancakes...she told me to try them before putting on the syrup and they definitely DO NOT NEED the syrup. They are so delicious!! The place was clean and the staff were amazing. I will come back!! 10/10 read more

Happy Cafe - Sweet Potato Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

The food was freshly prepared and the ambiance was appealing. I enjoyed the food and the personnel was very nice.

Great service, nice atmosphere, and most importantly amazing food. The shrimp and grits and Belgian waffle were amazing. The owner was a gem. I'm a foodie and I've eaten all over the world and this is one of my best brunch experiences. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

100% THRILLED over this sweet spot! My friend and I were visiting VA Beach for a couple of days and when I posted a picture of the beach on my Facebook page, a friend reached out and said we MUST go to the Happy Cafe. It's not particularly close to the ocean front, but it is, for the most part, on the way back to Richmond. We decided to check it out. The Happy Cafe is located in a little strip mall, kind of ordinary looking on the outside. Once you step in you notice the attention to the welcoming detail. Every item is placed with intention. The feel is fluid, cohesive, calm. The slow jazz playing on the sound system is unique for a breakfast/lunch cafe and these guys pull it off flawlessly. Any hint of stress, GONE! The entire staff was welcoming...everyone in sight spoke to us as we entered and "hosted" to our table. Our waitress was super friendly and efficient. The menu is varied and eclectic. Even though I went in knowing what I was going to have based on a photo online, I had a tough time deciding. I did order what I originally wanted, Avocado Toast. My friend ordered the Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly. The kitchen had our lunch to our table in a jiffy. OMG!! The fanciest Avacado Toast EVER. Topped with spinach, cherry tomatoes and a drizzling of Balsamic. Soooo tasty! The gooey, drippy grilled PB&J was equally as delicious (friend let me take a bite!) I must mention the restroom...sparkling clean, intentional attention to detail, just like the rest of the space. Hand lotions...one for women, one for men. "High End" if you will.... We didn't consider the deserts while at the table...we just forgot. BUT... warm, decorated, dreamy looking donuts are displayed on the front counter. We stood there for a minute debating...We had no more room and tossed around the calorie and sugar aspect a bit before we sadly declined. Sad, sad walk to the car as we said no to that Graduate Donut and all it's yummy looking friends. We might have to go back just for a donut. If you are visiting or living in the VA Beach area, please do yourself a favor and go have a meal at the Happy Cafe. You won't be disappointed. read more

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It's amazing to try different places. My spouse chose this place trying something different. The atmosphere was wonderful, nice clean restaurant. The food was okay, and the service was slow. But you have to remember that they're cooking your food to order, so that it does take a while on the food. I would suggest that when they tell you about the specials to ask the price, so you won't be shocked. When you get your bill, but other than that, the food was worth every time. read more

Happy Cafe - Whiting fish with potatoes and eggs - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Good parking and service . There was a good portion of food not really seasoned. The ambiance was happy lol. You can tell it's a newer restaurant. read more

This was our first visit and we were pleasantly surprised. We were greeted warmly at the door and treated warmly during our entire visit. It is a very quaint spot, so there is not a lot of seating, but the seating they do have is very comfortable. We were given complimentary bread. I don't know if this happens at every visit or was just a special occasion. But it was very very good. Straight from the oven. Our drinks were well mixed and tasty. They have a bar and serve your typical alcoholic beverages. Our food arrived fairly quickly. We both ordered something very simple, a French toast breakfast. My only complaint would be the type of bread that was used for mine. It looked like two different types of breads were used on each plate. Mine looked like it was wheat and his looked like a brioche. It tasted good but a wheat bread is not something that I am used to eating for a French toast. Had my order been a brioche bread or the same bread as his, I'm sure I could've given this restaurant a five. For now it is a solid four-star review. We will definitely be going back and trying some of the other menu items. And hopefully changing our review to a 5. read more

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Happy Cafe was a pleasant surprise on Sunday morning! Great service, atmosphere and food! All staff was attentive and friendly. read more

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Oooooooooo we are still Happy, the food, the service and the experience! We will be back .... Love this place!!!!! read more

Happy Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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First time there on Father's day, and it certainly will not be the last. Warm welcoming greeting especially from Ms V. Bird and the rest of the wait staff were very attentive. The food was Chef's Kiss seasoned very well, portions size very generous. I had the lemon drop martini and was not dissapointed. Looking forward to the next time read more

Great Hostess, Average Experience The best thing about Happy Café was hands-down the hostess she truly lived up to the phrase "hostess with the most!" Super friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable, she greeted us like we were stepping into her own home. She set the tone for what we hoped would be a great brunch. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience fell a little short. Service was on the slower side, and we were disappointed to learn that we couldn't start with cocktails right away because the bartender hadn't arrived yet. None of the staff seemed confident in making drinks, so one of the waitresses gave it a try. We ordered the mimosa flight, and while it looked cute, the flavors were pretty bland. The watermelon mimosa was the standout, but even that one was just okay. As for the food, it was...fine. Nothing bad, but nothing memorable either. I had the French toast, and it was just your basic, average plate nothing to rave about. My friend and I both agreed that we probably wouldn't return, especially with so many other great brunch spots nearby. They've got a great hostess and a charming vibe, but they definitely missed the mark on drinks, timing, and food quality. Here's hoping they find their stride! read more

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Food and service was amazing!!! Great local spot serving bfast all day!!! And the food was delicious I couldn't finish the large portion! I will definitely come back with friends and more family! Me and moms loooved it! Next time we will probably split a Cody. I'm stuffed!!!! read more

Happy Cafe - Cody Breakfast Club (Pork) - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Super excited to try out this hidden gem! We were not disappointed. It gives "family business" vibes for sure! It is a small establishment, but the food and service are wonderful. They were definitely busy on a Saturday, and you can feel it. It took a little long to get our drinks and food, but we didn't mind at all. The food was delicious and the flavors for the mimosas were fun! We will definitely be back. read more

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After seeing so many great food reviews of Happy Cafe, my friend and I decided to do breakfast there last month. We were instantly greeted by the wonderful Ms. Vanessa, who was a family member of the owner. She gladly expressed that Happy Cafe was a family owned and operated restaurant and if we needed anything, to just let her know. We wanted to start with one of their signature drinks from the menu but was told that the bartender (a family member) hadn't made it in yet so we had to stick with something simple. We decided to order two Mimosa Flights so that we could taste all of the flavors, which consisted of strawberry, blueberry, watermelon, pineapple and orange, to name a few. Unfortunately, most of the mimosas didn't have much juice and tasted just like champagne so they did remake them for us, adding in a little extra juice. My favorite was the watermelon. Our food was served fairly quickly. I decided on the Veggie Egg Scrambler with Blue's Browns (minced hash browns) and bacon. The eggs were okay but the hash browns were thick and dry. My friend ordered the French Toast, which was very good and the Fully Loaded Blue's Browns, which were a bit dry and salty to me. Overall, we had a decent experience. Unfortunately, the bartender showed around the time we finished eating so we didn't get to try any signature drinks. We arrived at 10am and barely anyone was there but by 11:30am, it was pretty packed so keep that in mind if you decide to visit! read more

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We got a table quickly. We were then informed they were short staffed and apologized for a potential wait for food. We very much appreciated knowing. And when our food came out, we all agreed it was absolutely worth the wait. Everything was delicious. The shrimp and grits were outstanding and highly recommended. Our server was efficient, attentive and very sweet! This place is a gem. read more

Today was my 2nd time visiting this place. The food is absolutely amazing. Nice small restaurant. Ambiance is nice, however I'm giving it only 3 stars because I'm very big on customer service. There wasn't a wait time to be seated, maybe because I went during the week HOWEVER when I was done and ready to go, I waiting from 12:06 to 12:20 for my waiter to even come back to my table and that was only because I told another waiter to let her know I was ready and even after that it still took her until 12:30 to get to my table for me to ask for my bill and a box. Once that happened it took another 5 mins to come back with the box. Then I asked for a cup for my drink and it took another 10 mins for her to bring my cup. So I basically waited an hour after eating to get fully checked out and out of there. read more

Listen they are the best of the best... my whole household love this place and if you got kids with different taste buds it's hard to narrow down a restaurant that will appease the whole family... every bite is made with love.. if you are from out of town make this a go to spot.. young and old tellem Denean sent you read more

This place is my favorite brunch place. I love irdering the wings and waffle and macaroni and cheese. The staff is always polite and make the best recommendations. read more

Ok Happy Cafe was a nice little jewel tucked away on the side of Newtown Road!!!! The Ambiance is like you're visiting your big loving family on a holiday. Everyone was so welcoming and happy to see us. The service was phenomenal, and the food... let's just say , I plan to return soon. I had the Shrimp Macaroni and it was so delicious I tried to eat it all, but my stomach just couldn't make room. Everyone at the table rave about how much they enjoyed their selections. The prices were about what's average now with pricing going up everywhere. If you're looking for good soul food and a great atmosphere head on over you'll thank yourself for the great choice you made. read more

Service was superb - they greet you when you enter just right at the door, they give you a great welcome smile when you approach to order. I came in to order to go as I figured got places to go and I didn't want to be the last one served as they are closing in 45 minutes. It was a toss up between waffle meal or shrimp and grits. I went with the latter. The order came out within 5 to 7 minutes! Ambiance is that of a neighborhood cozy cafe. They have a cute waiting area with sofa and toss pillows. They even refilled the candy dish while I was waiting. Now the ultimate test: taste. WOW! The shrimp and grits was delicious! 6 large shrimps and the grits was creamy and the sauce was divine! Will definitely go back to try all other selections! read more

Happy Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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I must say, this spot was a good happy place to get good food and service. It's in a shopping center with many other businesses so the parking can be difficult. I went on a Saturday about 1pm and the place was still packed. Reservations are recommended as we were told, but luckily there were seating at the bar. My husband ordered the chicken and waffles, which consist of bourbon sticky wings! Omgeee so yum! I had chicken sausage, gluten free toast and loaded hash browns. It was such a simple meal but so yummy and flavorful. They also offer cocktails and it wasn't too heavy on the liquor which for me was fine. This is definitely a place I will make as my regular rotation when dining out. read more

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Simply...Everything! Service and everything that we have ever ordered has been great.

Best Brunch spot in the 757 and Black-owned! Good atmosphere, friendly service, delightful owner, and, most importantly, delicious, well-prepared cuisine. read more

After two experiences spread apart over 10 months I now feel comfortable weighing in with a review. I regret it was no more than average for me on both occasions. The combination of food, service and atmosphere were all considered. The location is tucked away off North Hampton Blvd beside Subway in a strip. Surface parking was not an issue with plenty of availability on a weekday before noon. As you enter the kitchen it's wide open for viewing. No hostess was present. Staff was welcoming and invited us to take a seat anywhere. The room that you first enter is a holding area when they are on wait. It has couch and few chairs and is nice. Also it was clean. The dining room is combo of table and chairs with booth along the walls. They offer an accent wall for photo ops. There is a small bar that was busy both visits. Everything was tidy and nice background music played that was just the right volume. Menus and utensils are placed on the tables with salt, pepper and coffee creamer packages. Both visits service was slow to start and blah once service began. I will highlight my second experience with it being most fresh. However, my initial thoughts were average after my first visit ordering the same dish. I decided they needed another look. Our waitress after a delay got drink and food orders. It appears there was only one wait staff for the business. She also covered the bar. I ordered French toast which comes with two eggs and meat. They could not do over easy per staff as someone called out. My son got a Cody Breakfast Club. My coffee came out quickly and did not taste good. Food was pushed out quickly which was super appreciated. Everything looked great! I requested another cup of coffee which was delivered in no time and much better. The plate for my son was pretty good, no wow but huge! He enjoyed. My dish was completely underwhelming with French toast that was dry and unflavored even with syrup that is prepped prior to serving. Eggs better, sausage patties were great. Checkout was timely. The price point high with tax and tip $45. I'm unsure what other see that I missed with a current 5 star composite rating. I'm 3.5 rounding down and feel good about this placement. I personally will not rush back with other options to try. read more

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WOW! Happy Cafe deserves to score a perfect 10! Ample parking. Spacious CLEAN Happy atmosphere. Clean restrooms. Happy Cafe's menu has a variety of selections for everyone. From toddlers to grandparents and vegan eaters to soul-food lovers this menu is unique! Happy Cafe creates avocado toast, farm fresh eggs and bacon for a traditional breakfast, or yummy and truly SOUTHERN fares for a hungrier Big eat. Vegan friendly. Heart healthy. Almond or oat milk for coffee. And, dont forget your mimosa, or Bellini! Hungry for sweets? They've got you covered there too! Homemade family- recipe sweets honoring Grandma's originals. Perfect price point. We will be breakfasting here again. read more

It takes a lot for me to give one star because I grew up in a restaurant and I know the struggles. It took an hour from when we walked in to get our food. When we got it, the eggs were wet like they water was added to the beaten eggs before it was cooked. My son was given a fruit cup with mold on the grapes and blueberries. $80 for 2 adults and on child is wild. The quality of the food does not match the dollar amount. Atmosphere was cool. Yes it's loud but it's a lot of people having a good time. The waitress was nice. read more

You know how you ride by someplace in your neighborhood all the time and you go in one day?? Well I'm so glad that I stopped at the Happy Cafe on Diamond Springs Rd. I got the special for the day Seafood and Grits and it was delicious. The service was amazing and the owners mom is the hostess and she was fabulous. Happy Cafe read more

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