Great place with quick service and helpful staff. It appears to be a regular lunch spot for locals. They recommend the pulled chicken Panini sandwich. It's crunchy sourdough bread with soft chicken, pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo, and bell peppers. It's filling and serves two for $14. Menu is tucked on the back on a screen, which is a little hard to see if you're standing in line. They also have popular coffee. Street parking is available, and there's a code-required bathroom with a cute sign to indicate occupancy. It gets crowded around lunch, but you can grab and go or sit inside or outside if it's nice. It is a little tight inside if you have a wheelchair, but they do have a lower table for a handicap folks. It's about a two blocks away from the SD County superior courthouse which is a quick walk for lunch if you're there for jury duty. read more

What a fantastic find!! The awesome reviews brought us in, visiting from Colorado, and the reviews are very well deserved. DELICIOUS iced latte, and a super refreshing açaí bowl got us started on our day in a great way. There are places to eat both inside and outside of the restaurant. The energy here is positive and endearing. Wonderful people work here. Treat yourself to chilling at this wonderful cafe because you deserve the best!! read more

Kuma cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

A cute little small coffee shop! I went for the coffee two days in a row since we were staying nearby. The salted caramel latte was too sweet even though I asked for half sweet. The vanilla latte half sweet was perfect! Will be back to try more coffees! I gave it 1 less star because there was a fly in the danish and muffin area. read more

Thank you Kuma Cafe for being a consistent staple to the downtown area. Delicious drinks, bowls, breakfast, with cute little tables and comfy chairs to relax. Service is ALWAYS excellent, and I leave satisfied, full, and happy, every time. Much love read more

Best smoothie ever. Turkey sandwich had great flavor and the luma bowl has awesome freshly cooked chicken. Highly recommend. read more

Kuma cafe - Turkey sandwich and ginza berry smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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I was looking for some coffee around the area and came across Kuma Cafe. They have things like coffee, smoothies, and food to order. Pros: -it's a small establishment but they have a few outdoor and indoor seating options -street parking, near hotels and the trolley line -I saw that there was a restroom available -Wi-Fi is available (password is near the water station) Cons: -n/a Overall, love that there is a small business here to try. read more

Kuma cafe - Iced Americano (small) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

We just wanted a small bite and this is a great little brunch place for that. It is located south of Little Italy district/ west of downtown. The guy at the counter was very friendly and polite; our server too. Order at the counter; seating indoors and outdoors. The a/c worked very well which was nice on a humid day. I ordered a latte and XL Avocado toast. Microgreens added a nice esthetic appeal, although the taste was milder than the avocado toast I usually have. The aoli was tasty and I like the hints of rosemary from the bread. My husband had the egg and ham sandwich also with aoli sauce. Although very tasty, the sandwich was a little pricey for what you get. ($11) The latte was ok as lattes go. Not as bold in flavor as I like an espresso drink to be. Overall, a good place if you want something light. read more

Kuma cafe - XL avocado toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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It was ok. Normally would give 3 stars but the white mocha i ordered was very tasty and well made. The pastry and acai bowl i ordered though were just ok. Not bad but just ok, and at the charged prices, i expected better. The location is convenient though. I probably would only come here for the coffee and look elsewhere for food options. read more

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Such a great place. Love the food. Will definitely go back and recommend it to anyone.

I ordered an iced caramel latte with an extra shot and a turkey panini. The guy at the register recommended the Olive oil and rosemary bread which was amazing! So much flavor added. Latte was perfectly made. I could taste the subtle sweetness and the espresso which is what I look for. Food and coffee were both amazing. The service was fine except for the girl. She didn't make eye contact or take my order or even acknowledge me standing there. read more

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I was recently fulfilling my civic duty and came here one morning beforehand for breakfast and a drink. I needed something heftier than a plain croissant, but not a full breakfast, so I opted for the croissant breakfast sandwich. I had been having a lot of breakfast sandwiches lately, and honestly, I wasn't super stoked to be ordering another one. I then scanned their menu for an espresso tonic and was sad to see that they didn't offer those, but I did notice a seasonal Strawberry Matcha Tonic drink. I asked for them to throw two shots of espresso in, and again, I wasn't super excited for this item either. When they both came out, they were unassuming. The sandwich didn't appear to be anything special, and the matcha and espresso had mixed into an unappealing green-brown color, but I dug in. Can I just say, holy croissant sandwiches Batman?! This was probably one of the best croissant sandwiches I'd had in a long time. The pastry was thick enough to get the satisfaction of cronchin' on a croissant, while not being so thick as to make up half the calories in the sandwich. It was kinda flat, but in a good, meat & egg vessel way. The avocado spread kept it fresh, and the aioli was a nice touch that really elevated the sandwich and made it stand out from others I've had lately. 10/10 would order again. And despite the color of my drink, it was freaking AWESOME. I actually realized while drinking it that I appreciated that they mixed the matcha and espresso together before pouring it into the cup, because an espresso-matcha-strawberry macchiato doesn't sound super great. The matcha helped balance the espresso, and the tonic water and strawberry syrup gave the drink a pop of personality. I would also order this drink again in a heartbeat, but alas, 'tis seasonal. It is a pretty tiny shop, with some bar seating and a few small tables inside and outside. Service from the person at the cash register wasn't super friendly, but I saw someone who had the confidence of a manager/owner greet someone who seemed to be a regular in a very friendly way. It was cool to see this old dude who came up wearing an expensive suit (who was probably an attorney) hold a pleasant conversation with and seem genuinely interested in talking to this young dude with a dad hat and chain necklace working at a coffee shop. It was cool to see these worlds coexist with mutual respect. Anyway....I'm not over in this part of downtown often, but I hope a future move to Little Italy will change that. Otherwise I will only be back whenever showing people around. read more

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Have to confess this place will make you crave their Lavender vanilla lates , cold brew and rotisserie chicken protein salad. Hidden gem and not to be missed. read more

Very earthy matcha latte! Surprisingly, they make it great warm too! Small cafe, might be hard to get a table during peak hours. Most ppl are in/out though. Line can be out the door since the shop is small and the drinks are good. read more

Simple, well prepared food and great coffee! Friendly service and a great option for a quick morning bite if you are in a hotel nearby. They have a good amount of seating inside and outside. read more

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Cutie coffee shop. Quaint and comfy with the quality. I ordered the salt flavor, salted maple cream foam. If you are looking for a sweet treat, this is definitely the winner. I would've asked for just a fourth of the amount because I just wanted a touch of sweetness but it was still top notch just a little too sweet for my preference. I also ordered a breakfast croissant with ham and cheese. I'm obsessed with croissants lately so this is the spot! Flaky, buttery, delicious and honestly perfectly pressed and toasted. They also cut it in half which I appreciate read more

Kuma cafe - Salted Maple Cream Topped Cold Brew - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Awesome spot for coffee and smoothies! There's outdoor seating as well, but no outlets outside so come fully charged! Loved this spot and highly recommend for potential coffee and nutritious smoothies. Smoothie size was pretty large too which was a plus. read more

Kuma cafe - Vanilla lavender cold brew with half and half Kale smoothie with ginger added - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is hidden gem. Their signature lattes are a must try. We've tried their lavender vanilla latte, honey rose and today their mocha. So so good!!! Especially when paired with their panini sandwiches. Everything taste superb. read more

We were going for a walk through Little Italy and then the Gaslamp District and stopped at Kuma for coffee and sandwiches and it did not disappoint! Friendly, fast service. Excellent coffee and yummy sandwiches. I had the croissant breakfast sandwich with ham, egg, avocado, cheese, aioli - delicious! My husband had the pulled chicken sandwich which he also enjoyed. read more

Coffee latte was very good and nice and hot. Hit the spot. The choc croissant was not good at all. Cold - no option to warm - chunks of chocolate just in the middle. So yes on coffee, but maybe dont get the croissant. :) read more

Wrapping up a business trip to San Diego, I decided to stop in for a power breakfast at Kuma Cafe. The Yelp reviews were one deciding factor, along with the proximity to my hotel and the Santa Fe train station. I was immediately greeted by a very nice gentlemen, smiling and asking about my day. After looking over the menu for a few moments, I decided to go with the Breakfast Smoothie and Croissant Sandwich. I had a seat in one of the half dozen tables inside, next to a few counter seats. The place had a good, mellow energy vibe, abuzz with Friday morning customers grabbing their morning refreshments before making their way to the office or an early jump on the weekend. A few moments later, another extremely friendly gentleman brought out my order and served up my tasty looking items with a polite smile. The Breakfast Smoothie (Bananas, Protein, Granola, Cold Brew, Almond Milk) was up first. I was immediately blown away by the flavors as it wasn't like anything I have tasted before. A great balance of balance and brew, all with the power of protein in a very large cup. I really enjoyed it, not only for this flavor, but the perfectly blended ingredients. The Croissant Sandwich (Ham, Egg, Cheddar, Avocado, Garlic Aioli on an Artisan Croissant) was presented on a simple wood serving dish and was quite eye-catching. First impressions after the initial bite were immediately drawn to the wonderfully flaky croissant and delicious garlic aioli. Packed in with large amounts of smooshed avocado and hot egg, ham and melted cheese, and this medium sized breakfast was a home run. Kuma Cafe is a great family-owned artisan coffee house that also serves up delicious, homemade, customized small breakfast items. Stop by for a quick bite, stay for the friendly atmosphere and come back, again and again. read more

Kuma cafe - Breakfast Smoothie (Bananas, Protein, Granola, Cold Brew, Almond Milk). - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Super cute cafe, and a nice spot for a quick breakfast on a walk around the city. They have a great menu selection of acai bowls and avocado toasts so I was very excited to try it! I ordered both the specialty and garlic avocado toasts. The specialty toast was just okay, and overall kind of lack luster in my opinion. But the garlic one was super delicious! The garlic really came through and there were bites of it one every pieces. I would highly recommend that over any of the other avocado toasts. I also added an egg to the specialty toast and I was not a huge fan. This was the first time I have seen a scrambled egg on an avocado toast, and I much prefer the sunny side up or poached version. The flavor profile of a scramble just doesn't work well for an avocado toast in my opinion. A friend also ordered the egg croissant sandwich, and by the time it got to us it was cold. Taste was good, but I'm not sure why it wasn't at least warm. Other than that, the restaurant was really cute, and everyone was very friendly. The inside is small so seating could be a challenge but I can see how it can be frequented by a few locals for some coffee. read more

The food is delicious!!! You can tell it was made with love. The flavor was all there. I also got a dirty chai aka a chai with cinnamon and it was deli have no notes it's a quaint little shop friendly staff I will be returning tomorrow read more

Kuma cafe - Ham egg and cheese sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Quick and friendly service, great drink menu including matchas, smoothies/juices, flavored lattes & specialty coffee. The food menu looked good--however seating was limited so we just ordered drinks. Would love to go back and try a breakfast bowl or avocado toast next time. read more

Cute little spot nestled amongst the skyscrapers. It's a grab and go style place but the seating area is inviting enough. We were really looking for a more sit down oriented place, but there's not many to be had in this area. We both had the XL Avo Toast, it was very well seasoned and delicious with generous chunks of artichoke, feta, and tomatoes. The garlic aioli was very fresh tasting and not at all overpowering, very good! That said the wood plate it came on has raised edges and makes it very difficult to cut. Luckily it's fairly rigid and doesn't get soggy so picking it up and eating it is a solid option. I got a drip coffee, and frankly I didn't like the blend at all, it tasted very cherry or chocolatey and I didn't finish it. We paid 40 dollars after a 5 dollar tip (the staff was very friendly) for both avocado toasts and two coffees. Making it a little on the spendy side but consider the location, and the times... Overall, would definitely recommend if you're in the area. :) read more

Kuma cafe - XL avo toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Kuma Cafe has excellent Açaí and Smoothies! Prices are a little more expensive being located in the heart of downtown but it is very good. Service is very friendly and store is very clean. I got the Golden Açaí and Matcha Smoothie. Highly recommend. You will find almond butter, bananas and caco nibs, and tumeric mixed berry sorbet in the Golden Acai! Matcha smoothie has a good consistency and thick. read more

Kuma cafe - Golden Açaí and Matcha Smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Located just across from the Westin Hotel we were at during our San Diego visit was an opportunity for a healthy breakfast. Ordered the : Golden Acai Bowl Keto Smoothie Avocado Toast. The Acia Bowl was yummy for the tummy, the Garlic Avocado Toast was just as delicious (recommended by another patron) and the Keto Smoothie was great (unsweetened) , so we added bit of liquid stevia. Purchased another Keto Smoothie next day and opted for no cacao nibs. read more

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Great place for a quick breakfast before heading out for the day! I got the Kuma bowl, which has great flavored chicken with brown rice and quinoa for a healthy energetic start to the day. This is also a great post workout meal for plenty of protein as well. My only nitpick is that the chicken is a bit on the dry side. The Croissant sandwich is very tasty and the skin is nice and crisp! I love that they put avocado in it as well. And finally for the drink, I got an Iced Lavender latte with oatmilk. It tastes smooth, silky with the lavender taste just right. This is not too sweet and the coffee tastes very good!. Service is quick. Pay at cashier. Self serve clean up. Good music and nice indoor / outdoor seating for people watching! read more

Kuma cafe - Kuma bowl - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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Kuma Café is a true gem. The açaí bowls are fresh and delicious, and everything is made to order. The staff make you feel like family from the moment you walk in--special shoutout to the tall gentleman with the hat and glasses and Tiffany for their warm smiles. Great food, great service, and a cozy vibe that keeps me coming back. read more

Kuma cafe - Quick stop at Kuma Café Loved their seasonal drinks and cozy vibes--definitely a hidden gem in the city. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Based on reviews I decided to try this café while waiting for my son to finish jury duty. I was glad to see a 30 minute parking spot in front. As soon as I walked in, I could see the menu above and a display of pastries by the register. No one else was in line, but I couldn't tell if they were ready for me to order, as the girl at the counter was quiet. When she looked directly at me for longer than a second, I gathered she was ready for me. Wanting something savory for breakfast, I decided upon the garlic avo toast. I already had coffee that morning, but got tempted into ordering the lavender fog latte as well because I can't resist anything lavender. After confirming it wasn't super sweet, just lightly sweet due to the lavender and vanilla syrups, I gave in. I sat and waited maybe 5 minutes for my order at one of the small tables inside. First, the latte was ready, which was exactly as promised - lightly sweet, hint of lavender but not strong, very balanced flavors. Then, when the toast was ready, which I had ordered to go, the girl called me and thanked me by name. It was wrapped nicely in a sandwich baggie with a napkin as well. Wow, I wish I could make avocado toast this well myself. The garlic was very fresh, tasted a bit pickled, but carefully sliced and very well distributed across the toast. The avocado was generous and well proportioned. The seasonings and sprouts were balanced as well, and I really liked that the toast was thin and crispy, which made it easy to bite and break cleanly, but not so much that it hurt my mouth, a pet peeve of mine. One of my takeaways from visiting Japan is that a lot of care and attention to detail is put into what is served, and this is apparent at Kuma Café as well. I'm definitely bookmarking this as a go-to when I'm in the area. Perhaps I won't be dreading jury duty after all if it means I get to come here! read more

Kuma cafe - Garlic avo toast to go - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

If you work downtown, this is a great lunch spot! Their menu is simple and concise. They're drinks made, both coffee and smoothies are great and worth the wait (esp. during lunch hour). I ordered the kuma bowl. The chicken was tender and the rice was flavorful. I wish they gave more of the pico and avocado. They serve breakfast foods and get their pastries while they last!! Cute little spot, I'll be back for more! read more

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This is such a cute little cafe! The staff was super friendly and patient with me while I decided on what I wanted. I ended up going with the Garlic Avocado Toast and I absolutely loved it! They give you a great amount for the price, which shocked me since most places are way more expensive and give less. Normally I would never pay for avocado toast, but this place absolutely nailed it! My only complaint is that it wasn't filling, so I ended up going somewhere else to get more food. Defeats the purpose of a decently priced meal. This is the only reason it gets 4 stars instead of 5. read more

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The worker with the glasses and her customer service was uncomfortable. I use to work in the fast food place. I get it, but damn. The attitude was so noticeable. No tip was given due to the rudeness. The rest of the staff was 10/10. Also, it wasn't just me that she was rude to. I saw it with other customers as well. The date this happened was 3/20/26 at around 12pm. read more

Kuma was a great casual, quick stop. I enjoyed a pork bowl. I didn't see that it listed onions on the menu, but it did serves them as pickled on top. I would have preferred to remove that option (I likely didn't read it thoroughly). Flavor was nice, rice was a bit sticky and stuck to the bottom so it took some mixing. I enjoyed a smoothie, as it was fresh and made to order. I would definitely stop by again for more options here as I bet they are all good. I also ordered a dirty chai which comes with 2 shots in the medium size. Not too sweet, decent little chai. Staff was very nice and friendly. I said the food was for here and they brought it to go, and apologized and asked if they could swap the container/presentation which I declined. That made me feel like they do care about customer experience, which was very nice. I sat outside, which had around 4-5 small tables. Inside is also small so i'd imagine a lot of people are solo or get food to go. There was a friendly group of 3 on the patio when I was there, so as long as your group isn't too big I think everyone can enjoy this spot. read more

Kuna cafe was a great experience, it's has a great atmosphere and gives off good vibes right when you walk in. The service was great and quick, food came out hot and fresh. I ordered the Kuma bowl and the açaí bowl smoothie. The kuma bowl looked amazing when it came out and was one of the freshest meals I have tasted. The chicken was seasoned perfectly and the veggies were so refreshing. The açaí smoothie also tasted wonderful. Definitely will be back read more

Kuma cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

Croissant Sandwich was delicious! Great service and a short walk from our hotel along the water.

Nice little cafe with super nice staff. I was welcomed with a warm good morning and they staff was genuinely kind. The cafe and a little small comfort feeling while I was there. There were books on display to read. The hot matcha latte was awesome and it even had a little nice design. Definitely will go again and try something new. read more

Kuma cafe - Matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

In the downtown area today we got hungry and thirsty (I know what a combination). We came across this place and we decided to give it a try. We ordered adobo and pulled chicken sandwich for lunch. I got an Americano and a cold mocha drink. Our order didn't take too long. The adobo was nice and soft and definitely different from what I am used to. The chicken sandwich was not bad. The drinks were good and it complemented the meal. We sat outside and enjoyed the view. read more

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3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Service was great, very friendly & quick. Lots of coffee latte options. I got the lavender tea latte and pork bowl. Both were tasty. However the reason I knocked a star off was the portion size seemed small for the price. However, it was conveniently located as I had been summoned for jury duty. read more

Pretty good! The matcha latte was quite sweet and the croissant sandwich was flavorful. Solid meal! The staff is also nice and the interior has a fair amount of seating even though it looks small. While it's busy I was still able to snag a chair which was really nice. Cute shop ! read more

Kuma cafe - Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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This cafe is right across the street from the Marriot Hotel in which we stayed at during SDCC. It was a delightful way to start the long day off! Luckily, when we went there was no line and not that long of a wait. Service was quick and prompt. It seemed like a small shop, but we were able to find space and eat there before heading off to the shuttles. What we ordered: - Honey Rose Latte with Oat Milk (5/5): I loved this latte SO much that I had my husband pick some up for me again the next day. - Croissant Sandwich (5/5): This sandwich is filling, so my husband and I shared it. The garlic aoli is the star. (Yes I know, eating garlic in the morning, but who cares lol) I know that I will definitely come back here when in SD! read more

Kuma cafe - Honey Rose Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Diego, California

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