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    Lightbulb Coffee

    4.0 (626 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Order Lightbulb Coffee Takeout or Delivery

    Lightbulb Coffee Photos

    LIGHTBULB COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Lightbulb Coffee

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    Crumbs of food just sitting here. Nobody cleaning this place.
    Bobby M.

    Like the 3rd time we've been here but this time I had to write a review. We walk in, and order, everything is cool. When we go to sit down there's literal crumbs of food on the benches, food all over the tables, waited 15 minutes for our order even after people got theirs. When we went up to get our order, we noticed like 5 workers just sitting there shooting the shit. It looks like it's run by people who care more about chilling out instead of actually working. I'm

    Reuben
    Jade C.

    Menu changed. My roasted red pepper panini is no longer on the menu and prices have gone up. I ordered the reuben sandwich for lunch instead. It was good but I would not pay $15.50 for it again. I think all sandwiches should come with house chips or a bag of chips. The strawberry vanilla smoothie is still good and a fave! Love it:) I like the decor near my table and love that the restaurant is consistently clean, kind service and quiet. I don't like the 2.5% credit card use fee. It's so annoying. I hope they start offering discounts for cash or debit transactions.

    Best cookies ever! Hunt up this La Mesa coffee shop in San Diego. Your belly will thank you!
    Erika T.

    Stumbled upon this coffee house on the Too Good to Go app when looking for a snack while in the area. Loved the chocolate chip muffin (semi-sweet chocolate, but more of a biscuit consistency, not sweet, just satisfying). And let's talk cookies...absolutely the BEST sugar cookie and oatmeal raisin cookie that I have ever had. Again, not too sweet, but full of satisfying flavor. If you haven't been, swing by and give them a try!

    Catalina G.

    The service here was really good. The coffee was to die for, there is a Middle Eastern spin off of this place and I'm not sure what type of Middle Eastern it is, but it brings a unique ambience to the environment and the flavors are very good and unique. It's a decent size café and there's good seating and it would be a great place to do homework.

    Strawberry,  banana, pineapple smoothie. Was a struggle to even drink this much. Ended up tossing it.
    Jessica S.

    I'm not sure if ownership has changed but it was definitely a different visit/ experience and quality of drink than I've had before. I frequently visit as I go to Pilates nearby and usually come here for an after class drink. I have gotten the strawberry banana smoothie add pineapple before and it was great. Very flavorful. Today I got it and it was not enjoyable at all. I didn't get anywhere near close to drinking even a third of it. It tasted so watered down and had no flavor at all. It also took 20 mins to get the smoothie. It wasn't that busy and they had a lot of workers behind the counter so not sure why the long wait. The barista who made my drink wasn't super friendly either. Just tossed drink on counter. I'm sad because I loved to visit but I think I may have to find another after class treat now.

    Elisa N.

    LIGHTBULB COFFEE This place was highly recommend by my friend's mentor, and this place is a hit! The place itself is so wide, spacious, and very welcoming. The pastries at the front are mouthwatering, and I had to get the pistachio crossiant and almond which were a must! Coming to a total at about $7 each, it isn't super bad. I love the strawberry matcha, it was so delicious, however was a bit too sweet but i'd adjust it next time. The flavor was there and it came to be about $7. Service is welcoming, the owner, Naba is extremely kind and nice! She's always there and is happy to help you. Overall, the place was amazing, parking states it is an hour however usually no one checks. Pretty simple and at a plaza.

    Grace F.

    First time going and the atmosphere is amazing. Very tastefully decorated and a great place to sit down and get work done for a few hours. I got an iced chai tea latte, pistachio croissant, and almond croissant. I would highly recommend it all - especially if you have a sweet tooth. Their menu is also very extensive with a variety of foods in addition to their pastries, which are baked fresh everyday. Parking was easy for a Tuesday afternoon but the lot can get filled easily on busy days. It's located in downtown La Mesa, so there's many small shops and businesses in the area which is great to check out. Overall, the quality of the foods, atmosphere, and service were exceptional and I would highly recommend checking it out

    Pistachio Croissant
    Heather A.

    I decided upon this cafe on a whim and ordered their Baja Mexican spice iced late and a pistachio croissant. I was seriously impressed! The coffee was good but the pistachio croissant was amazing! I'm not usually a frosting girl but whatever it is they put on top of the croissant I could eat by the spoonful. It wasn't too sweet and the croissant was flakey and buttery, with a pistachio cream filling. Over all I had a great experience and will definitely be visiting again.

    Pastries
    Vivian T.

    Unique coffee flavors and yummy pastries lined up on the shelves provided the perfect vibes for a Sunday morning! I like Light Bulb Coffee because they serve more than just the classics and they have food options for a hungry gal like me! They have smoothies and even milkshakes in addition to their menu so if you are not a coffee person, they have many options! I was interested in the Cali Pistachio and my friend ordered a Chai latte. My Cali Pistachio was light and creamy, with a hint of pistachio flavoring. For a bite, I went for their Egg and Cheese Bagel. It could use some sauce of some sort as it was really simple, but overall a filling sandwich bagel. I'm considering coming back soon to try some more food and coffee options + study and lounge for a bit!

    Tavelle A.

    PRE GAME SPOT!!! Vibes vibes vibes! Says it all you know how every business is trying to make there establishments feel like a place you want to keep going to. But have you ever went to a place that looked so nice... but then order food or drinks and now they look like your X..... Well that's not Lightbulb coffee.... Light bulb coffee not only looks good she is smart and likes to read books oh yeah and she can cook.... She's Marriage Material.... Don't believe me Try her for yourself We Love Lightbulb Coffee!!!

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    Page 1 of 16

    Ask the Community - Lightbulb Coffee

    Do they still have the light bulb cups? When I've been there they were not given to us.

    Hello, The light bulb cups are not given with every drink it is a separate purchase that we put the drink in. We give it upon request. We will have them in about a month!

    Are the Light a bulb cups reusable?

    Yup

    Do the have outside sitting?

    Yes They have a few outdoor tables

    Do you sell food all day, such as the paninis? Or do you stop selling them at a certain time?

    We do everything throughout the day

    Are there outlets available?

    Yes, there are many outlets! As you're coming in, there are side tables lined on the left side and there should be outlets nearby each one. At the couch/high table area, there is one outlet as well.

    Do they have sugar free flavor options?

    Yes we have a many sugar free flavor.

    How much is the light bulb cup?

    A double espresso is $2.25. Their coffee is NOT the usual burnt Buck coffee.

    Are dogs allowed?

    They appear to be allowed.

    Do they have any vegan pastries?

    No just gluten free pastries

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    We have been to Toasted probably 5 or so times since moving to La Mesa and love it! We definitely…read morerecommend it. AMBIANCE: The ambiance is very nice. The restaurant is cute and not too noisy. There is an indoor and outdoor area. SERVICE: We have never had a bad service experience at Toasted. Our waitress today in particular was great. My niece wanted a mimosa without alcohol, and she happily accommodated and even suggested adding some soda water to make it more like a mimosa. FOOD & DRINKS: In the many times we have been there, we have had the following; DRINKS: -Mimosa Flight: Too be honest, I did not love the flight. The Prickly Pear was my favorite, but I tend to prefer sweeter drinks, and I would say overall, the cocktails are not super sweet there, which for many people is a plus (just not me). -Lavender Cocktail - Good but also not super sweet -Chai Latte - I have had it hot and iced and liked it both ways FOOD: -Santa Fe Scramble - My favorite dish I have tried to date. Our waitress compared it to tortilla soup in an egg dish, and I would say that's a new perfect description except I think this is way better than tortilla soup -Denver Scramble - Very good and would order again -Breakfast Sammy - Good. A typical breakfast sandwich, so if that's what you're in the mood for, get this. That being said, I wouldn't say there is anything that sets this breakfast sandwich apart from others. -Stuffed French Toast - Good but not my favorite. Would not order again. -Fried Chicken Benny - Good but not a standout that I would order again -Breakfast Quesadilla - Just okay. Nothing was wrong with it, but I would not get it again and would do the Santa Fe Scramble over this. -Sliders - My favorite lunch item. They are the same as the old Sammy's sliders (this location used to be a Sammy's) -Red Velvet Pancakes - Good but very rich -Chocolate Chip Pancakes - Great and very fluffy with excellent texture Overall, even though not every food item or drink is a hit for me personally, that's the case at pretty much any restaurant, and there are some great items and the food, service, and ambiance are great

    Great bottomless service, our waitress filled up my glass as I drank which was amazing lol. I…read moreordered the chicken and pancakes which all together I rate a 6.5/10. - Comes with 3 THICK pancakes and three southern fried chicken tender with "hot" syrup. - Syrup tasted like regular syrup mixed with hot sauce which I wasn't really feelin. I think it would've been better with hot honey and syrup on the side? - Again these pancakes are THICK and flavor was "meh" so you prolly won't even finish them all and you might need to ask for extra syrup (like myself) I honestly think the chicken and French toast would've been a better option and I might ask for that accommodation next time if I order the same thing (I prolly won't, I like to try new tings hehe). Overall pretty restaurant with great natural Lighting but it still needs to prove itself in the flavor department.

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    Unfortunately, our experience at Curbside was very disappointing. We were seated right away and…read moreserved waters while we looked over the menu, so that wasn't the issue. The problem came at the end of our meal when we were ready to leave and waiting for the check. We waited an unusually long time while several tables around us, including guests who were seated after us, received their checks before we did. What was even more concerning was observing the server eating while standing behind the bar, then handling ice and items going into customers' drinks without washing her hands. This raised serious concerns about food safety and hygiene. The place is a cool vibe and always has the game on, but service and quality of food is not the highest.

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    Sunshine Pancake House

    Sunshine Pancake House

    4.2
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    Casual dining
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    For my family's last morning in El Cajon, I was given the task of finding a breakfast place for 9…read morepeople. And everyone had their own array of preferences when it came to grub. The staff and food at this cafe were WONDERFUL! They accommodated our larger-than -expected group without hesitation, and served up a super array of breakfasts to everyone's specific requests. The coffee, tea and juices kept flowing throughout the meal, and our waitress didn't miss a beat. And with a smile! They even treated our table with a serving of some incredibly delicious pear pancakes! They were quite memorable!! OMG! I had no idea pear pancakes would taste so great! When next in the area (we're from Arizona), we'll definitely be back!

    Great family owned restaurant for locals to support. We went around 0830 on Sunday and by the time…read morewe left many more breakfast goers were arriving. We were greeted and quickly seated. We had our pick of indoor or covered patio. We chose the patio. We ordered the strawberry, Nutella waffle, 123 kids meal, eggs/ sausage breakfast and egg/bacon breakfast. Both egg meals came with choice of three large buttermilk pancakes, hashbrowns or toast. Food was good. I enjoyed my bacon and sausage. Prices are very similar to other breakfast restaurants but they give you a good amount of food here. I saw signs about paying with cash to avoid the fees to small businesses. We didn't have cash but they also accept zelle! We had a great Sunday morning start here- definitely recommend:) Oh you can check-in and get a hot chocolate. I didn't participate but I saw the yelp sign.

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    Main dining room
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    Black Bear Diner

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    Big bear Burgar & onion rings are great. Just fries was to salty…read more warm . Not Hot fresh I would go back. nice place for FAMILY

    Food: Well, okay... we came here once and my daughter got chicken and waffles. It was SO good…read morethat she begged us to come back. The rest of our food was okay, nothing amazing, but solid. So we got back a second time and sit down to order, "Chicken and waffles please" - they are out of chicken. Oof! Strike 1. That sucks. She was disappointed but she got something else and we shrugged it off. Then about 2 weeks back we came in again... this time I asked first, "Do you have chicken for the chicken and waffles?" They are out of waffles. Oof! Strike 2! And isn't it just batter? I don't get it. We didn't stay that time because my daughter was visibly sad this time. So I think we are done trying or else this just becomes a running gag we try to get out of, like Groundhogs Day or something... Atmosphere: It's cozy inside. I love all of the details, like the wood carvings and all of the bear stuff. It's like you're in a log cabin. And I like that they have paper menus and throw them away (because plastic reusable menus are germ magnets). The newspaper-esque theme is pretty cool too. Price: It's no more expensive than say, Dennys or Ihop. Middle of the road and they have lots of options. A decent meal for two - 50$. Service: Each time we have been, the servers have been great. Nice servers and even when the guy had to tell us they were out of chicken, he was super apologetic. No complaints on the service. Overall: It's a nice place... when they have the advertised food. So I honestly don't know if we will be back or not. Maybe we will give it a shot but I don't want my daughter to be disappointed again. I get it, if it was something they only made 50 of a day, I'd understand. But... chicken and waffles? Hmmm...

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    Public Square

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    4.5
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    My new favorite coffee spot! I'm currently in my pandan obsession era and this place does it RIGHT…read more I've already been back more times than I can count. So far, I've tried the pandan, the brown sugar, and the sesame latte all iced w/ oat milk and they've all been a hit. The pandan is easily my fave, but if you're trying the brown sugar and don't love super sweet drinks I'd recommend adding an extra shot to balance it out. The drinks are consistently good and you can tell they really care about the quality. It's one of those spots you keep thinking about and end up going back to without even planning it. Customer service was solid and there's plenty of seating, which makes it a nice place to hang out or get some work done. Parking was also easy, which is always a win. Highly recommend checking this place out especially if you're a pandan lover like me!

    Public Square has been closed since April after staff walked out and eventually quit due to unpaid…read morewages. Unfortunately, this place was on the decline leading up to these events. It would usually take a half hour to get a simple drink order. Food that was previously wow turned into meh (I'm looking at you, shashuka). I don't blame the baristas. I don't think the business owners ever properly streamlined their ordering process / menu to get items out effectively. I hope we get something nice to replace this space.

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    Coffee grinder
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    Avocado & Beet-Hummus Toast
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    Breakfast Sandwich

    Lightbulb Coffee - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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