Aptly named, Simple Cafe is one of the true gems of Southern Oregon. I first tried this lovely shack of a restaurant last year when I was leading our school's trip to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I had recently shifted to a strict pescatarian Mediterranean diet, so I was scrambling to find places that had grilled fish and brown rice. Simple Cafe did not disappoint. I dined here twice in August of 2023, and again four times during my most recent trip to the OSF last month. My review is based on a composite of all six visits. Food: The food is delicious. I exclusively order the fish tacos, which are (possibly homemade) corn tortillas stuffed with grilled steelhead trout (looks like salmon to the layperson, but it's trout), a light sauce, avocado, and veg, served with a side of organic brown rice. Incredible! My wife sometimes orders the tacos as well, while my daughter prefers the teriyaki chicken and vegetable bowl on a bed of organic brown rice. My delighter can't stop talking about how tender and juicy the chicken was. Needless to say, we'll be back. Service: The service is appropriately basic, in the best possible way. There is no table service, but our interactions with staff when ordering at the shack (it's a very nice shack) have always been pleasant, professional, and quick. The food comes out quickly, so listen for your name! Your taste buds want that fresh food! Ambiance: The ambiance reminds me of the shacks you might find in beach towns right by the ocean, selling incredible food to the hungry masses. A number of tables with sturdy attached umbrellas fill the patio beside the shack where all the magic happens, and the staff come out and clean the tables regularly. The street on which Simple Cafe sits is a small tree-lined street off the main thoroughfare, so you'll be able to enjoy your meal in an equally beautiful location. As others have noted, Simple Cafe is right beside the local hardware store, which gives the place that "locals only" secret location kind of feel. To paraphrase Gordon Ramsay, Simple Cafe is simple (duh), rustic, and delicious. If you are stopping by Ashland for a visit or just a quick pit stop, head on down to Simple Cafe. If it isn't obvious by now, I recommend the Fish Taco plate, perhaps two. read more

My sandwich was delicious and would definitely go back I got the Cuban .. Great French fries

A little out of the way place that has great wraps and breakfast burritos. The service is friendly and the food is both delicious and filling. Portions are generous. Definitely a "must try" in Ashland. read more

Friendly efficient staff, tasty & healthy dishes made from scratch, decent prices...a perfect little spot to have lunch & sit in the sun.

Local favorite, and you know it's good because of the line that builds around noon. Good people, fresh good food, and nice place to sit and watch the world for a minute. read more

The name itself says it all. Simple cafe with simple menu. It's right next door to ace hardware with lots of outdoor seating available. I got eh egg and cheese sandwiches which was tasty. The restaurant is a stand and it's a away from the busy part of town read more

Simple Cafe - Outdoor seating - New American Near Me - Ashland, Oregon

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Excellent burritos, hot dogs, and more. Pleasant staff. Quick service. Outdoor seating. We go there often when we're in town and busy doing errands. read more

this food gives me a reason to Live and the staff are always so friendly. Everything has such good flavor and texture and is made to perfection. also, the cutest little outdoor café with outdoor seating, reminds me of island eats. read more

Simple Cafe - chorizo breakfast burrito - New American Near Me - Ashland, Oregon

I was so disappointed after the reviews. Just plain old poor quality food from a truck. I don't get the good reviews at all.

Low key local's spot for a quick bite close to the more pricy downtown options. Food looked and tasted very fresh. The "simple" burger was classically prepared and really tasty. Child and adult approved. Accompanied by potato wedge fries that didn't disappoint. The coconut pork burrito special was good but interesting - next time I'll go with more traditional burrito flavors. Service was friendly and quick. I'll keep returning. read more

This is my go-to spot in Ashland. Not only is the food superb, but the staff is always friendly, quick, and the outdoor seating gives you options for a meal in house or with takeout or call in orders if you are on the go. Highly recommend steelhead tacos and steak and egg burrito. I recommend simple Cafe to many of my customers all day, every day! read more

Food is absolutely delicious every time and reasonably priced. Thanks for being here for us in Ashland!

These guys take great care to make sure their food is healthy and spiced so excellently. The flavor profile makes it the best Mexican food in town by far. Everything I've had here has been great. read more

Simple Cafe - Fish tacos - New American Near Me - Ashland, Oregon

If only 6 stars were an option... Delicious, Simple, Quick, Affordable, and made with Natural ingredients. Simple cafe is a staple to this community and one my favorite businesses to support! read more

I can't say enough about this gem of a place. We stumbled across this right after we moved to Ashland, and it is absolutely my go-to anytime I'm craving intensely high quality food that is obviously a passion for the owners. Everything made fresh, high quality food that is sourced locally, and the love that goes into the food is something you can taste. Its so consistent, and the big smile that you get from Javier and his family every time makes it the best place to eat in Ashland. A+++++, I eat here 2-3 times per week. Cannot recommend this highly enough. Go try it! read more

No picture needed, and also I ate too fast, this is a beyond amazing burrito place. I'm sure all the locals know, but this humble facade in an unexpecting location has some incredible burritos at great prices! I got the kalua pork burrito and boy oh boy, at medium spice, this was a 10/10. A sweet and spicy kalua pork with pineapple with a slaw was SUCH a flavor. I loved the rice and beans with the rest of the mix. Fast made, freshly made, amazing service and BEYOND delicious. High read more

A small outdoor cafe located in the Ace Hardware parking lot in downtown Ashland. The food is made to order and I feel good about myself for making a healthy choice for lunch with friends. The prices are average (~$10 for an entree). It's a great casual little place to grab a bite and enjoy the sunshine. read more

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This was a great discovery for us since we drive the I5 corridor frequently. The parking lot is shared with a wonderful hardware store. The sandwiches are yummy with a variety of different ingredients including seasonal goodies. The service is cheery and helpful and the sitting area is outside so your pet can join you. This is definitely a place we will come back to. read more

Awesome family run business. They take a lot Of pride in using quality ingredients & cooking it up right. They easily have one of the best burgers in town. The fish burritos are made with fresh steel head. One of my favorite places to grab a quick healthy meal. read more

Food was really good and quick. Order was right and very filling. Prices average between $8 and $13.. seasoning for the burger was spot on. They also have burritos. Will definitely be back to try some more food from here read more

Simple Cafe - Simple Burger $9 Add Cheese $1 - New American Near Me - Ashland, Oregon

The Fish Bowl is the best fish dish in town and the cheapest. Seriously Yum. read more

Stopped here on a whim around brunch time. Both our meals were delicious and satisfying. Special pork burrito was nicely seasoned. Spicy orange tofu bowl was great. Served with fresh spinach and brown rice. Enjoyed it. Lovely outdoor only eating area, great for people watching. read more

One of the best restaurants in Ashland...seriously (and I'm kind of a food snob). The food is fresh, homemade, and locally sourced. The breakfast burritos are out of this world, and the staff and owner are such lovely humans! Highly recommend. read more

Fish taco was pretty expensive $12 and we were sort of intimidated into a 15% tip even though we were just taking out. The fish was funny tasting in the rice was burned. read more

Simple Cafe - Fish taco. The rice was burned and the fish tasted funny and it was $12 plus a 15% tip which we sort of were forced to pay. - New American Near Me - Ashland, Oregon

The food is great, healthy clean simple food. The price are better than most in Ashland. I just wish they offered more variety with their drinks. And they are in the perfect location. I and most who shop at Ace Hardware are in a hurry. Simple Cafe is fast!!! Not in a "fast food" kind of way, just quick to get good food to you. Thank you read more

Fast food with excellent quality. I appreciate the vegetarian options on their menu. Ordering online in easy and pick up times run on schedule. Staff, and owner, are very friendly. read more

This doesn't taste like any Mexican burrito shop in Cali but that's okay. Flavor is very unique, texture is mushier than I'm used to but other than that they make hot, w/quality ingredients, & it's very delicious. What would really elevate their burritos is if they made some salsa roja and salsa verde to go along with them. I really feel like that's missing when eating their burrito. Overall, thoroughly impressed with their eccentric flavors and will definitely be coming back to try everything else on their menu. read more

I have my Ashland places that I rotate through visiting, but we have been over here so frequently that we decided to try a new spot. We went to the Simple Cafe today, and it was far from simple!!! We are very impressed. It's affordable, super high quality ingredients, fantastic flavors, and a good variety from which to choose. I'll bring the kids there, and won't hesitate to invite their friends either. I had fish tacos...wild salmon in organic tortillas with pickled onions and all kinds of other deliciousness. I love it when food is a party in my mouth, and this did not disappoint. I opted for a side of kale instead of rice. I also had a pineapple lemonade...oh wow, this was perfect! It was super pulpy, lots of pineapple purée, with hints of ginger, lemon, and turmeric. There was honey in it, but it wasn't SWEET...just really well balanced and delicious. Mmm. My guy loved his huge burrito (free range chicken!), and it had all kinds of interesting flavors wrapped up inside too. He also got a side of fries, which were freshly made, thick cut, and really good. It's a solid lunch spot for sure! Yummm. (They serve a ton of things, but also the basics, like burgers...grass fed beef! and even hot dogs.) read more

Simple Cafe - Special of the day: salmon tacos with pineapple lemonade - New American Near Me - Ashland, Oregon

For years I thought the kiosk beneath the awnings of Ace Hardware's entrance was just another lovely little coffee cafe in Ashland. That's until a friend told me what great food it had too. I stared blankly into space in a sudden flash of enlightenment. "No wonder the entrance to Ace smells more like a taqueria than WD-40!" The Simple Cafe specializes in burritos, wraps and bowls. But get this -- it also has burgers. I was dying to try the Bacon Jam Burger. As an aficionado of all things bacon, including the vegan kind, I have to say I've never heard of Bacon Jam before. That will be Priority One on my next visit. But back to the near past. I had the spicy orange chicken bowl and was delighted with the aroma, the flavor, and the generous portion. I took half home for a quick reheat in a skillet the next morning. Still tasted great.Two meals for eleven bucks? A no-brainer for me. Check them out for great food, bright smiles, and a shady spot to enjoy it all. read more

Their website says veggie dogs! Unfortunately 4 yrs ago they stopped veggie dogs, sad. I liked the toppings for their regular hot dogs: sauerkraut, mustard, onions, catsup on a crusty roll. I ordered a hot dog, hold the meat! It was delicious, flavorful and I enjoyed the bun. This may become my weekly stop. Give them a try! Fresh and delicious read more

Loved the fish tacos. Not deep fried perfectly grilled. Next time I'll try a breakfast burrito.

I'm a hungry local. Who would think, Simple Cafe, next to Ace Hardware, to have some of the best, quality, healthy food in Ashland. Lunch only, but what a lunch in their covered area or to take home. Burritos that shame the town Mexican restaurants. read more

Really clean, healthy. They have a nice outdoor eating area and prompt, polite service. The pumpkin curry had excellent flavor, was not mushy, and just the right amount of spice. read more

We love Simple cafe! Best burrito in town I recommend the chicken. My boyfriend and I are obsessed!! We enjoy the space to eat outside as well! read more

Best burrito I've ever had. Delicious! Highly recommend. Quick service too! The ambiance is nice as well

The lady working the stand was super nice and helpful. She recommend the bacon Jam burger and it was kinda amazing. The bun was a perfectly toasted brioche with nice crunchy iceberg lettuce and a tasty aioli, and the bacon jam was so good. I think they use Portland ketchup which is my favorite, and the fries were perfectly fried and salted really well. It's a cute little spot that is perfect on a sunny day. It'll cost you around 13$ for a burger and fries but I'd say it's well worth its price. read more

Love everything about this place. Their food is so fresh with a lot of amazing options. I almost always go with their specials because I think the chefs are super talented and I am always happy with whatever creative flavors they feel like putting together that day. In addition to be delicious healthy food, they also pioneered the reusable to-go container movement in Ashland. Who doesn't want to support people who not only make good food but are good people!?! It's a no brainer. Come get some take out. You will find them right outside the Ace Hardware. read more

Solid breakfast burrito this morning in an unpretentious and appealing environment. I will go again.

The person behind the counter was such an idiot that I decided not eat there! She obviously had no interest in doing her job. I never walk away from my place especially when I'm starving. read more

We stopped to get breakfast burritos this am and we're blown away! Being from the land of breakfast burritos, New Mexico, we were a little skeptical but boy were we pleasantly surprised. These burritos are huge, full of flavor and do not disappoint! The avocado bacon burrito was outstanding! Eggs, bacon, pepper Jack cheese, Caramelized onions, Reb bell pepper roasted and all in a toasted tortilla! Oh man!!! The owner and wife were super nice, fast and efficient! Highly recommend!! read more