Starbucks

Veteran-owned & operated

Drive-thru

Great service , Bryan has a lot of enthusiasm great customer service! People come here !read more

I zipped in here SUPER randomly in desperate need of coffee (after cursing the heavens because I…read morehad JUST driven to Starbucks, but abandoned my place in line because something just told me, "...nah."), and.....i received an utterly life-changing latte. I was ready to go preach on the street. It was *that* good. We're talking coffee Reformation. The whiskey latte (iced with oatmilk) was transcendent. Absolutely life-giving. It was perfect on every level. The flavor was incredible. (Usually if I get a large drink, I have some leftover for later, but not this time.) Completely ruined *all* other coffee shops for me. (Except Honey Haven! Haha) I cannot wait to go back.

Jalapeño bagel

See all

Brew Coffee Spot

4.5(650 reviews)

1.3 mi

I've been coming here for months and seriously love getting the cinnamon roll and cinnamon roll…read morelatte! The latte itself is so tasty, it has a good balance of strong and sweetness. I get it every single time im here. I'd also recommend the Mexican iced chocolate latte. It's also strong yet sweetened to perfection. The service here is always good and the employees always greet you. I like to come here to study and just sit outside to take in the morning air. I love the view of cowles mountain as well. It's a great spot if you wanna study, they have free wifi if you purchase something so that's a plus. I recommend trying the cinnamon roll latte!

For a few years now, I've been buying my beans, five pounds at a time, from Brew Coffee Spot in La…read moreMesa. I like the roasting profile they use, and for a while, they've stocked a Costa Rica Sonora Black-Honey Natural that is just fantastic. Joe Paraiso, the owner, is a very experienced coffee purveyor, and he's been incredibly kind to me, sharing his time and knowledge to make sure I get what I want. And, not for nothing, when I'm at Brew Coffee Spot picking up the beans I ordered online, I always have a coffee. Joe either does a great job of training his baristas, or he's REALLY good at hiring talent, or both. Seriously... his folks make my coffees, usually a cortado or a straight espresso, with a downtown San Francisco or Rome level of competence.

See all

Avocado toast

Public Square

4.5(1.2k reviews)

1.6 mi

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.

Their logo

This wall

See all

It's so beautiful inside!

Elevated Coffee & Confections

4.9(239 reviews)

2.7 mi

My daughter and I visited this cafe back in August. I've been meaning to write a review! Service…read morewas outstanding! We were so happy to find dairy free baked goods (my daughter prefers to be dairy free). We had the Concha and cinnamon roll along with a salted maple latte and lavender matcha. Our drinks and dessert were amazing. I hope to go back some day!

The drinks and food are great! And the service is one of my favorite parts of this coffee shop. All…read morethe servers a super nice and take really good care of you. I even heard some regulars come in and call them family. The biscuits are so yummy you have to try them. I love the teas and cold brews. So good. The place is always looking clean and spotless. Definitely give them a try, you might not even notice their bakery is vegan. So yummy!

Inside

Gluten free cookie

See all

Honey Oat Latte

Ultreya Coffee and Tea

4.7(303 reviews)

1.9 mi•Rolando

Had a wonderful visit last week! Picked up a dirty chai and a bagel. Both were delicious. The cafe…read moreis clean and bright. Excellent service and great baristas. I will return.

Absolutely adorable chill space with a welcoming 60s vibe for work, conversation or just relaxing…read more Several petite bistro tables outside. Ample seating for individuals and small groups inside. The menu is primarily vegan/vegetarian with many creative options. Peak Season: house-made blueberry and coconut condensed milk syrups, espresso, milk of choice (most popular latte) Custom Happy Hippy: jalepeno bagel with avocado, arugula, micro greens, hemp seeds, lemon, chili crunch cream cheesse and house seasonings The craft coffee, creative food and chill atmosphere made it a really enjoyable experience. A few outlets available for power. Free and easy parking.

Look at all the plants!!!

Sale yay

See all

Vietnamese coffee with coconut condensed milk

The Vinam Cafe

4.7(219 reviews)

1.9 mi•Rolando

Great and friendly place! The staff here is so friendly…read more We got the egg coffee, a shake and some pastries. Very good!

Good Vietnamese cafe near SDSU! Came on a Saturday afternoon and it was decently busy. Their…read moredesignated parking lot looked tight, so we elected to park on the street. Service was super friendly and nice, though our order did take a bit. Seems like a nice cafe to study and chill. Cold cut banh mi (4/5): I liked how crunchy the baguette was, yet it wasn't dry. Generous size and amount of cold cuts and veggies. There was a lot of mayo and it overall tasted a little sweet and salty for my taste. Crème brûlée matcha (3/5): the crème brulee top is so cute and it comes with a little crispy bread. However, the matcha wasn't very strong and was on the sweeter side.

Coconut Matcha @ The Vinam Cafe

Cold Cut Banh Mi

See all

Inside

The Simple Coffee House

4.6(333 reviews)

1.7 mi•San Carlos

First time trying this place through DoorDash, and definitely won't be the last (need to visit in…read moreperson). Their acai bowl is so simple but it's perfectly portioned especially the Nutella on top. You get exact portion per spoonful. Their coffee is also very good I grabbed the 16oz hot Nutella latte with oatmilk it was also very tasty. I realize now that I was in a Nutella morning kick.

I found myself in San Carlos mid-day, mid-week. I was running between work and a hair…read moreappointment. I had barely had a chance to have lunch so was really happy to randomly see a coffee shop to grab a cold coffee on a hot day to bring with me to my hair appointment. Parking was easy and I walked into the coffee shop. There was no wait at all at that time. I browsed the menu and decided on an iced Simple Special which was basically an iced mint latte. I ordered it with nonfat milk I waited for only a couple of minutes for my drink to be made. During that time I saw that they were playing records and had several records for sale. That was really cool. If I lived in the area I would definitely hang out and listen to records while sipping on coffee. The reason for only 4 stars.... my charge was abut $8 which felt a bit stiff for only the 16 oz drink. It made me wary of what a 20 oz would cost. All in all, I had a good experience at The Simple Coffee House. My drink had good flavor without being overly sweet. I liked the records and the vibe at the coffeehouse.

Indoors

Toasted iced coffee! wish i took a shot before i started drinking! ‍

See all

Jalapeño bagel with cream cheese

Come Back Coffee

4.5(66 reviews)

1.5 mi

Love coming here and trying new fun drinks and food! Great place to chill and the workers are kind…read moreand attentive.

I absolutely loved my matcha from this coffee shop! It was the perfect amount of sweetness. The…read moreservice was also professional and my drink was ready in 5 minutes!

Bar area

Interior

See all

Inside seating area

Scrimshaw Coffee

4.4(401 reviews)

2.5 mi•Rolando

The Mont Blanc cold brew here provides a smooth and refreshing experience unlike any other coffee…read moredrink I have ever had. I wouldn't think orange would go well with coffee but it really does! The citrus flavor transforms the cold brew into something delightfully tangy and sweet. The citrusy kick works cohesively well with the smoothness of the cold brew. This drink is perfect for a hot day! The barista was pleasantly efficient and quick in making my drink. Excellent service! By the way, I recommend sitting at the bar seats. Occasionally, the smell of fresh coffee emanates from the air joyfully stimulating the olfactory sense.

I have now been here twice within the past month and my average is about 3.5 stars…read more To be fair, coffee and matcha preferences vary greatly by person so this is just my opinion. I felt like overall, the matcha and coffee flavor itself were good quality, however the flavors were not there. The cherie amour comes with a cherry and almond syrup, yet I barely remember tasting it. The matcha also lacked the vanilla essence and sweetness. I just didn't feel wowed. The service was a bit slow the first time but faster the second time, I would have to actively go to see the consistency. I also wish they had another dairy free substitute other than just oat milk.

Latte by the Window

Hot Chocolate by the Window

See all

Latte with a View

Marathon Coffee

4.9(68 reviews)

1.7 mi

10/10 I got a hot sf banana/sf vanilla latte and i must say it was amazing! super nice service as…read morewell :)

Such a cute little coffee shop! They had it decorated for Halloween, which was a nice touch, and I…read moreloved the little Zen gardens they had on some of the tables. The place is a little small but there's still a decent amount of seating and everything was very clean. The gentleman working was extremely friendly and helpful. While we were there, a couple of people stopped in just to say hi and chat with him. I'm assuming he's the owner or manager but either way, it's clear he's well liked by the community, which is always nice to see. Overall, a cute, welcoming little spot with great customer service!

Iced Coffee

Inside

See all

Iced oatmilk matcha latte

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

20 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

L D.

119

16 years ago

I have completely had it with this location!! Every single time I get coffee here it sucks. I'm an avid coffee drinker and since this location is drive thru it does make it more convenient to go to when I'm on my way to work but I'm finding it to just be A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY! I get coffee more than I probably should 2 or 3x a day when I'm busy, when the pumpkin latte came out for seasonal I got one it tasted horrible just watery grossness, and of course I gave them another shot, 2nd try I got the coffee so hot it actually burnt my mouth so bad my taste buds were fried. I'm assuming the taste may have had something to do with the temp? Because it just tasted burnt. almost like burnt popcorn. The employees don't seem like they really care that you're paying close to 5bucks for a cup of coffee Today I had to take my friend who is in the navy to work and be there by 6:30 we stopped to get coffee, I always order a peppermint mocha seasonal or not and my friend got a Carmel mocha.. we pull up and she hands me a raspberry mocha and the other drink wasn't even done, I just paid 9$ for 2 drinks 1 wasn't made correctly and I didn't even end up getting the 2nd drink because by that time we had waited 15 minutes and were going to be late! they are always friendly at the drive up window, but constantly seem fake and they must not realize the mic is on when they talk to each other and i can hear them. I HATE THIS LOCATION! i wish it were better but im forced to go to another location which is inconvenient but has better faster service and has yet to make a bad drink! read more

Elite 13

231

18 years ago

Why haven't I seen this before? I literally almost ran the light because I was so busy checking out the swanky drive-thru Starbucks. Listened to the radio and traffic was backed up. Took Lake Murray Blvd. and lo & behold there it was! Jed..I struck gold! No more waiting in lines before work, no more having to get out of my car. All I have to do is pull in, order and go. Let me mention the looks of this place seem to be somewhat retro. Very cool! To be honest with you I have never been a huge Starbucks fan. However, this location is now my new best friend in the morning. read more

Cassidy S.

11 years ago

I love this Starbucks for a few reasons.. 1. It's on my way to work, so it's super convenient. 2. Even when the drive-thru line seems long, they always seem to have plenty of staff working to handle the load. I have never waited longer than 15 minutes to get in and out of there. 3. The employees are always friendly, even at 6AM. Outstanding customer service! 4. Never, not once, have they ever gotten my order wrong...and mine are usually pretty complicated depending on how hectic my morning is going. Overall great Starbucks! Keep it up! read more

Albert B.

5 years ago

Had such as a bad experience with this place. I used to leave next to it and was a nice location for coffee and tea, but they changed barista and coffee become a regular, like everywhere. So last time stopped to get the caramel ribbon crunch, so I got it without crunch and caramel, but with mocha syrup instead. So either they just gave me the wrong order, or they were run out of everything and they didn't explained that. This location is getting worst and worst. read more

Ryan C.

4 years ago

Was driving around and stopped there to get a cup of freshly brewed coffee. I used the drive-through and everything seems fine till they gave me my order. That was definitely not the one I ordered. The size was wrong - not a big deal, but it was a different coffee. So I had to turn around, actually park there, and request to replace it. So I spent like 15 more minutes than planned (with all turning around). Check your order before you leave. read more

Ernest U.

10 months ago

Starbucks is a great place for a quick coffee stop! The store is clean and well maintained and the staff works fast even during busy hours. Drinks are made consistently, and the menu offers familiar coffee and snack options. Overall, a reliable and convenient choice! read more

Frank R.

15 years ago

okay i really had to write a review on yelp about this place. talk about excellent customer service and being friendly. place is always clean and staff is always nice.one those places where you love to go back read more

Kaitlyn D.

1 year ago

evil corporation that won't let you have water unless you buy something. starbucks is greedy and continues to push a capitalistic mindset that cares more about profit than it cares for the people. read more

Justin D.

9 years ago

Its just like every other starbucks, but they drive through goes pretty quick in the morning when i am there. They could be faster, but i'm not really complaining, 4 stars. read more

Sandra O.

7 years ago

The only downfall is the parking lot during busy hours other than that no complaints. Great staff, location and quality service.

Nick S.

170

12 years ago

Love the people that work here, but the drive through is a nightmare sometimes and it takes longer times to go through.....:(

Marlena B.

12 years ago

The people are sweet here! The manager (I can't remember her name :( ) is so sweet! The store is always clean as well.

Klarissa R.

169

193

11 years ago

Love this location, everyone who works here is super friendly. And the drive thru is much faster then most

Karen B.

16 years ago

Awesome place and great people. We went through the drive-thru and Chelsea helped us..what a sweet lady!!

Michael D.

3 years ago

perfect place! service is excellent as always!!!! my favorite latte is perfect. Thank you.

Tim K.

Elite 21

179

545

9 years ago

Quick service inside even thought the drive through was full, well managed and very clean.

Donte J.

16 years ago

I love the fact that it's a drive thru! Other than that it's a typical Starbucks

Hector T.

14 years ago

It was really awesome! Loved the service and the time was quick!

Sheena D.

13 years ago

wish this place was drive thru....but they have a good staff

Steve M.

15 years ago

I love the vanilla chi it was an excellent.

Starbucks - coffee - Updated October 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of La Mesa, California Restaurants near Starbucks

BEST of La Mesa, California Desserts near Starbucks

BEST of La Mesa, California Parking near Starbucks

BEST of La Mesa, California Breakfast near Starbucks

BEST of La Mesa, California Boba near Starbucks

BEST of La Mesa, California Things to Do near Starbucks

BEST of La Mesa, California Lunch near Starbucks

BEST of La Mesa, California Cocktail Bars near Starbucks

BEST of La Mesa, California Thrift Stores near Starbucks

BEST of La Mesa, California Shopping near Starbucks

Best of La Mesa

Things to do in La Mesa

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed Starbucks also viewed

Starbucks

3.1

(46 reviews)

Where do I even start....i order coffee from this location 3 times a week, spending anywhere from…read more50-70 bucks a weeks depending on how rough my work week is going. My husband's order is pretty straightforward but mines....its pretty out there and complicated, the kind of order that would make any seasoned barista cringe or roll their eyes. They're all super nice, but this particular group that works together makes an awesome team. Last Thursday I accidentally placed an order but to the Eastlake location by my house. I work in La Mesa so I usually order from the Jackson location. Well I walk in and they noticed me and asked if I ordered. I thought I did but when I looked at the app I didn't. I started to stress out but they took care of it quickly and helped calm me down. They got to it right away knowing I had to be at work and I was in and out rather quickly! I still made it in time! I love this location, they already know me by name, but this particular crew on Thursday is my favorite group. Thank you for always taking care of me and keeping me well caffeinated!

Great location, located on the corner, located right next to Vallartas…read more It is so easy to order in the app and pick up or go through the drive through! The employees are also very nice.

Starbucks

3.0

(61 reviews)

This starbucks really has a special place in my heart I stopped by this location as I usually do…read morearound 6am and was having a rough day until Emily brightened my day by remembering my order! Truly an amazing worker

Stopped by this morning and was very warmly greeted by several employees, I ordered a breakfast…read moresandwich a shaken espresso and bought a couple of chocolate milks for my grand babies, I was pleasantly surprised to see how many options they have for kids. I forgot to tell them I wanted my sandwich warmed opened face since I love a crispier bacon and without hesitation they offered to make me another one. The place is very clean and staff goes above and beyond to make sure you are satisfied with your order. Thank you Bella for making my drink so good it was literally perfect!!!

Coco's Coffee

3.0

(8 reviews)

A little stand that sells coffee in the Viejas outlet. We…read moregot a hot chocolate, two small coffees and two tiny sugar cookies for roughly $12. It was alright. Not crazy good just okay.

I really like this little coffee cart. Ordered a caramel macchiatto and it was the perfect…read morecombination of espresso and sweetness. The temperature was just right too: not too hot where I was unable to drink it. The barista was very friendly too. I did ask her what Irish Creme was and she wasn't able to give me a solid answer, but she was so friendly and it really wasn't that big of a deal. Very bummed that this place can't be my typical coffee stop.

Dutch Bros Coffee

3.5

(145 reviews)

I had the salted caramel cold brew with splash of oat milk, extra soft top and caramel drizzle and…read moreit was absolutely delicious, I wish there was a Dutch Bros in Scripps Ranch !!!

Ordered through app for the pick up window. Order was supposed to be ready at 9:28. I choose the…read morepick up window as the drive thru line is always exceptionally long. 23 min later standing at the window my order was ready. I should have used the drive thru. Please give us accurate pick up times when ordering through the app.

Dutch Bros Coffee

3.9

(34 reviews)

Always love going to this Dutch Bros. Drinks are incredible and so customizable (I always get mine…read morehalf sweet- most people find Dutch too sweet)! Staff is almost all young people which is awesome! Even when there's long lines, they're efficient and most of the time they're still so friendly and happy. My mood lifts when I go here here and it's not just the fact I'm getting a fun drink- it's the whole vibe of this place. Now I did get one drink a month back and there were two gnats in it - the young man at the window immediately got his manager, they started investigating the source, he covered me my whole order and gave me two free drinks- never had an issue again with bugs.

I was in this area running an errand. I do not live near a…read moreDutch Bros so I decided to swing on by. I have had it one time before when my sis and niece brought me a coffee. I will admit I was a bit frustrated trying to use the app, it wouldn't accept any credit card info and I had to start over a few times. My plan was to order ahead of time and pick it up. I ended up having to go there to order. I parked and went inside. The girl Crystal was absolutely amazing, a complete and utter gem. She was so outgoing, nice, patient and full of energy. She just had such great vibes, even while I waited, another customer noticed it as well. The drinks I got: 1. Caramelizer Zero Sugar Added -Espresso, Sugar-Free Caramel & Sugar Free Chocolate Breve (less ice) This drink was ok, I tasted less coffee flavor. Instead of it being watered down, it might have been 'milked' down. I think too much half and half. I will keep note of this for next time. I think the flavor was good, but honestly too diluted. 3/5 2. 911 -6-Shots Espresso & Irish Cream Breve (made it sugar free and half and half, less ice) My sister said they did like this, but the coffee flavor was not strong enough. 4/5 3. Iced mocha latte with oak milk, add almond. My niece got this and they did not really care for it. They noted they didn't really taste the almond flavor and it was not sweet enough. They said it tasted watered down. I guess they could try again next time and tweak their order. 3/5 I really hope to find a sugar free carbonated drink that is really good here, as well as a favorite coffee drink. I feel it's trial and error for the menu. Ambiance: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food: 3/5

Cup 'n Go

4.1

(82 reviews)

Ok. They turned it around…read more Thank you to the lovely baristas who WANT to work and show up each day to help get my day started. My lattes are back to being delicious

The Waikiki Mocha is my favorite, they are quick and kind, perfect stop early morning on the way to…read morework. Also they have great seasonal flavors, it's super cute!

Cinnabon

3.1

(36 reviews)

•$$$

Cinnabons are hard to come by these days. I've had a number of fancy, done-up cinnamon rolls, but…read morepersonally nothing compares to the humble classic roll at Cinnabon. Recently Cinnabon had a $1 per classic roll promotion going on, so we signed up with an account and were able to score 2 rolls for the two of us. It was so indulgent and delicious. I like that Cinnabon doesn't try to be some fancy thing, or do viral gimmicks with their flavors. It has a small and simple menu and delivers on what it does best. Oh and the employees were so friendly :)

A fresh, hot, Cinnabon is one of the best things in the world to me. I love that they are not over…read morebaked and crispy. They are soft, pillowy and gooey. Everything that I could want from a cinnamon roll. This location is fairly accessible if you enter from the back of the mall near the food court. The employees are always very friendly. The food is always great, I zero complaints about this Cinnabon!

The Coffee Corner

4.2

(124 reviews)

This place is still one of those small, locally owned businesses, and I love it. The staff is…read morealways friendly and helpful. I enjoy their signature lattes when I'm in the mood for a sweet treat. On my recent visit, I ordered the Havana Latte. The vanilla powder helps give the drink a slightly creamer texture, and the caramel adds a nice touch. Obviously this drink is on the sweeter side, but I'd also say it's not overpowering, you can still get some of that coffee taste. Their americanos are strong, and their drip coffee is good. When I'm ordering those, I like to keep them black and avoid the creams and sugars, but they do offer simple creamer and sugars at their coffee station if you want to doctor hours up a bit. I haven't been to their other location, but this one does have some small food items and prepackaged pastries if you need a quick bite. My friends have also purchased their retail coffee beans and enjoyed them. I'll have to grab some myself and update when I do. If you're going to get a sweet drink, I'd highly recommend ditching the Starbucks usual and give this place a try instead. They do have a drive-thru as well, but PLENTY of parking is available.

Amazing! I got the Black Forest signature drink blended and it was the best coffee I've had! I will…read moredefinitely be back! Service was excellent and the ambiance is like a coffee shop. Nice coffee shops aren't too different from each other in terms of ambiance I think :)

Sea Ridge Coffee

4.6

(21 reviews)

This little coffee kiosk is located as you enter Alvarado Hospital. I happen upon them as I was…read morevisiting a friend in the hospital and ordered the Christmas Blend in the form of a Cafe au Lait. I purchased the 16 oz version for only $2.50. A great price indeed. The blend was great. It was rich and smooth and yes, it also had that Christmas flavor. Shoot, I would buy this on a regular basis if they offered it year around. The young lady who made the coffee provided the perfect ratio of coffee to hot steamed 2% milk. Speaking of the young lady, she was quite friendly and good spirits even though it was a cool and windy day. They are a couple of out door tables of the the side of the kiosk.

8/4/2025. Small and cozy and on the sidewalk. Very nice guy there and polite. Should have taken…read morephotos when they were open. Happy with my coffee. They were closed when I left.

7-Eleven

3.0

(23 reviews)