Vegan-friendly
American
Raw
Juice bar
Delivery
Take-out
Mexican
Fusion
Honey
Breakfast
Part of a collection of organic plant-based restaurants originating from Northern California; this branch est. 2015. Menu comprises both raw food as well cooked vegan food. Everything is vegan except for occasional honey. Reported closed January 2023.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
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1980 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, California, USA, 92101
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 21 Jan 2023 by LorraineGadsden
Update business info -
Added by quiple on 08 Sep 2015
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131 Reviews
First Review by RisBurton
EvaMarie
Points +172
Loved it! - Edit
I walked over a mile from my hotel just to check out this restaurant because it had been recommended to me. It was a great find! So many wonderful looking options on the menu that were all plant-based. That’s such a rare treat for me. The staff was friendly and efficient. The food came out very quickly. The atmosphere was very nice and refreshing. Everything seemed high quality. I so badly wish I had restaurants like this back home. I’d return in a heartbeat.
Read morePros: So many vegan options, Bright, clean atmosphere , Friendly staff
Guest
NikiaGray
Points +50
Ok, not outstanding. - Edit
I hate giving vegan places bad reviews but honestly, I wasn’t impressed. I do realize I’m from DC, which is a very foodie town, but I don’t know why this place has the review it does. I got the cauliflower bbq pizza. I liked the cauliflower- that had a lot of flavor and was well done, but the pizza crust was like cardboard. I actually double checked that I hadn’t ordered gluten free by mistake. It’s not hard to make pizza dough- most of the time it is vegan regardless of where you go, so I don’t know why they went with whatever terrible recipe they found and thought it was good enough. The homemade vegan cheese on the pizza was also tasteless and disappointing. With so many amazing vegan cheese options available to purchase and so many good recipes, it again stumps me as to why the pizza was so…meh. It was the type of poorly prepared food that give’s veganism such a bad reputation.
Read moreGuest
SarahS88
Points +2282
Delicious - Edit
We love Cafe Gratitude and Gracias Madre and have been to several locations. This is a nice space near Little Italy. We got the nachos and Yo soy fuerte! All delicious! 4 stars because they are not fully vegan and the wait for food is loooong!
Read moreGuest
EsraRice
Points +709
Never disappoints - Edit
Best nachos and crunch wrap in town! Everything is made in house, organic and full of flavor. Most of the menu is on the healthier side, not a whole of junk food options. Today I had the nachos and Caesar wrap-both were excellent, as per usual. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Eric is awesome!
Read moreGuest
PiaKay
Points +992
Good food, nice staff, great vibe (but very pricey) - Edit
I really like Gratitude Café. The affirmations, the staff is always nice, the food is delicious, but it’s very pricey. I‘m still gonna give 5 stars because eating at other nice places is expensive too.
Read morePros: Delicious food options , Nice staff, Good vibes
Cons: Very expensive for fruit and vegetables
Guest
LarissaK
Points +3481
Yummy plant based food - Edit
We shared the buffalo coliflower pizza and an apple pie as dessert. It was very yummy and the staff very friendly. It is a bit expensive for the small portions you get though. The ambiente and decor are amazing 🤩
Read morePros: plant based, mostly vegan, nice staff and ambiente , friendly service
Cons: too small portions for the high prices
Guest
mallow
Points +382
Expensive and bland - Edit
Really pricey for what you get and it’s not great
Read moreGuest
jodoyle
Points +134
Well worth a visit but go at the right time to be able to order from the 'all day menu' (10am) - Edit
I had eaten at the Venice branch so looked up this one when in San Diego and visited twice...it's that good! First time round I ordered the blackened tempeh caesar wrap. This was substantial and could easily feed two. I also ordered the turmeric latte but be careful as I noticed this had honey in it which I was surprised about (but it can be substituted).
Read moreI also ordered the smoked tofu bahn mi to take away for my husband who reported it was good (though it was quite small in comparison with my wrap).
I originally ordered the eggplant parmesan focaccia but they didn't have the roll and I dislike GF bread (that was all they could offer which was weird IMO as other wraps were available) so I went with the above.
The following day I ordered a main but it was 15 minutes before their 'all day' menu so they wouldn't do it. I ordered the scrambled tofu instead which was good but not as good value as the mains IMO and some items were a bit too oily for my liking (this is a problem all across the US I find). Still recommended despite some of the issues - just go after 10 am!
Pros: Nice range of good food
Cons: A bit rigid about ordering times for all day menu
Guest
VeganAmy75
Points +58
Yum! - Edit
Healthy and delicious! We tried “I am Fiery” which is a spicy cauliflower wrap and “I am Whole” a green and grain bowl.
Read morePros: All vegan, Friendly staff, Delicious food
Cons: Expensive, Wait time could be better
Guest
FrankPaulin
Points +925
Delicious brunch - Edit
I visited Gracias Madre in Newport Beach and saw Cafe Gratitude next door. I knew I had to give them a try. I was happy to see this location in San Diego. It was brunch so I had the I am Hospitable. It's a fried mushroom on a waffle. This was amazing. It's better than chicken and waffle.
Read moreThe service is amazing. They ask everyone about food allergies. You don't see this often. Just like Gracias Madre they don't rush you. You can enjoy your meal. I also used my Yelp check in to save 10%. I can't wait to come back with my lady friend who is Vegan.
Guest
Amveg
Points +168
Mediocre - Edit
We were super excited to try Cafe Gratitude but like a lot of others, we were underwhelmed. I ordered the Buffalo pizza which was mushy in the middle from the wet vegetables. The waitress seemed reluctant to take our order and we had to wait way too long to even have our drinks delivered. We were hoping that this would be our go-to place while in town but it's just not that good.
Read morePros: Everything is plant based , Nice atmosphere
Cons: Expensive, Inattentive waitress
Guest
eed293
Points +212
‘Real food’ vegan options - Edit
This is one of those ‘real food’ vegan spots. You won’t find junk food or fake meat here! I loved the names for all the menu items. I ordered the ‘yo soy fuerte’ which was the mushroom carnitas crunchwrap and that thing was SO good. I also tried the ‘I am divine’ strawberry shortcake which was also pretty good!
Read moreWhile my crunchwrap was more than I could eat, I have heard that some of the other dishes aren’t as much food for your money.
Updated from previous review on 2022-07-17
Pros: Wide menu variety, Very nice and helpful staff
Cons: Expensive, Can take a while to get your food
Guest
Piggy
Points +406
Brunch Pumpkin Berry French Toast - Edit
I Was Thrilled!
Read moreGuest
KeishaMiller
Points +23
So Good! - Edit
I definitely suggest this place if you’re new to veganism. I feel like this restaurant makes it easy to try new things and not be disappointed. The vibe is great, staff was helpful.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-07-02
Pros: Options are great for newbies or those exploring, Vibe is great
Cons: Pricey for portion sizes, Parking!
Guest
drcleavengergmail.com
Points +71
First time visit for breakfast. - Edit
Nice atmosphere in a stylish restaurant. Had breakfast there. Small portions for the money and the food was just okay. This was my first visit so I will try them again for lunch or dinner to see how it compares to their breakfast.
Read morePros: All vegan options
Cons: Fairly pricey for what you get
Guest
LiesbetDilissen
Points +126
Have to visit! - Edit
I took the breakfast burrito “I am nourished”. One of the best things I have ever eaten!
Read moreGuest
WFPBTestkitchen_SD
Points +254
Just OK - Edit
Agree with the reviewers who were underwhelmed and disappointed with their food. We tried the buffalo cauliflower and spring roll appetizers ~ both have the word crunchy in the menu description but sadly neither one was crunchy. I also had the Indonesian bowl (sorry I can’t remember all their names) in which the beets were severely undercooked. My husband had the smoked tofu sandwich which was just ok. Was a very expensive night out in Little Italy and sorry to say we won’t be going back.
Read morePros: Entire menu is vegan , Nice beer/ wine/ bootch selection
Cons: Hard to park
Guest
Nikki5239
Points +180
Another great meal - Edit
We finally made it to Cafe Gratitude for their brunch, which typically ends at 1 pm. It was busy but did not take long to be seated. The staff are very polite and friendly. Today we had the chick’n and waffles, chilaquiles, a side of tofu scramble, and their cafe mocha, both cold and hot! Enduring was amazing!!
Read morePros: Lots of brunch options, Great customer service, A good dessert/sweets variety
Cons: Parking can be difficult to find
Guest
LainyaCraig
Points +207
I can’t wait to visit again! - Edit
The food beer is delicious, there’s variation which makes it good for everyone! You can tell everything is fresh and made with care as there is so much flavour. What I love the most is the atmosphere here & the constant reminders throughout the restaurant and the menu item named for self positive affirmations. It would be impossible to have a bad day after coming here!
Read morePros: Amazing vegan food, Great tasting , Positive atmosphere
Guest
2picklesNcyder
Points +46
Delicious - Edit
Great options. Well put together flavor and texture combinations
Read moreCons: Expensive
Guest
LorraineGadsden
Points +7208
Mediocre - Edit
After hearing many good reviews about Cafe Gratitude, I was pretty disappointed. The food was not bad, but it was not delicious or revolutionary by any means. We ordered take-out and received 4/6 items ordered; frustrating, but I understand mistakes happen.
Read moreThe food we did receive (I Am Exquisite, Yo Soy Mucho, I Am Thriving, and I Am Fantastic) was all just “meh.” The daily soup (I Am Thriving) was a mediocre green pozole (although I am picky about pozole, to be fair) but probably the best item of the night even though it was pretty salty. The I Am Exquisite (fried coconut “calamari” was decent, while the two main meals, Yo Soy Mucho (rice bowl) and I Am Thriving (salad), were both editable by all means but lackluster.
I would probably be less harsh if it were not as expensive, but for $85 (ish) dollars before tip, the food was nowhere near the standard I was expecting. I will say the portions were decent and the quality was fresh, so I cannot complain too much about the price, but it still did not justify the lack of flavor, in my opinion. I have noticed many reviews commenting on inconsistencies with food flavor, and while maybe this was simply an off night, I was disappointed enough to not try this place again.
Maybe this is just not my cup of tea, and that is okay. I appreciate the primarily vegan (and gluten-free) menu and the healthy options offered. I would recommend giving this place a try if the menu peaks interest to you, and I hope you have a better experience.
Pros: mainly all vegan & gluten free , healthy
Cons: expensive
Guest
idash
Points +65
Inconsistent - Edit
60% of the time the food is great. 40% it’s a flop. The current Covid adjustment (even when state mandate is lifted) is to self order and pay on the phone or order at the counter. Staff is very friendly and polite, but will not take order at the table and be a tour guide of the specials on their menu. The price point is a mismatch with absence of service. #Veganuary
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-02-21
Pros: Very creative , Great cook books , Key lime pie is delicious
Cons: Inconsistent , Almost no service , Wine is in cans
Guest
eatingeggplant
Points +720
I definitely want to go back another time and try more… - Edit
I think it was a pretty good option to have for vegans but I wasn’t super excited about what I got. The things I wanted to try were out for the day so I had to get the yo soy fuerte. It’s basically a crunch wrap and I didn’t taste a lot of the mushroom carnitas… not sure if they forgot to add that or what but I probably wouldn’t recommend. Seemed to lack flavor also but I’m hopeful something else on the menu will resonate better for my tastebuds!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-12-30
Pros: Lots of vegan options , Cute atmosphere
Cons: Expensive , Lacked flavor , Ran out of a lot of things mid day
Guest
jabakal
Points +76
Underwhelmed - Edit
I love it when I see an all vegan restaurant but sadly Cafe Gratitude did not do for me or my family. We ordered the mushroom chicken fried sandwich with fries - mushrooms were tasty and crispy but the fries were soggy. Had the nachos with very little to no noticeable cheese sauce mostly black beans. I really wanted to enjoy the coconut calamari but they were also soggy with a much too fruity taste. Staff and location where nice but a bit too pricey for what we got. I likely would not go back again.
Read moreGuest
RaeFredrickson
Points +207
Amazing EVERYTHING - Edit
Loved the pumpkin latte and avocado toast. So many options! My partner had nachos which he really enjoyed.
Read moreGuest
veganmarketingpeople
Points +1565
Amazing - Edit
I absolutely love this place, all the names are phrases of gratitude 🙏 Food and service is excellent.
Read moreMust try place if your in San Diego
Pros: Huge menu
Cons: Prices
Guest
DestinyVillarreal
Points +68
Great but inconsistent - Edit
My bf and I loved it here but we have found through all our visits they are very inconsistent with their food. We have tried multiple things on the menu but most often he gets the I am fuerte and I get the I am sharing which are their versions of a Crunchwrap and nachos. Sometimes they’re great and sometimes it’s kinda bland. They will completely change cooking methods and the texture will be different almost every time. We like the food but we can’t depend on them to make it at its best everytime. We slowly stopped going here because of the inconsistency. We love it when it’s cooked right and are left disappointed when it isn’t.
Read moreGuest
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