Plant-based restaurant serving food with Mid-West-meets-California flair. House specialties include Nashville hot shrooms, cast iron mac and cheese, cashew mozzarella, and different flavors of pizza. Also has a separate brunch menu with dishes like French toast, frittata, and chocolate tart. Relocated from 2949 Fifth Ave. Open Mon 5:00pm-9:00pm, Wed-Sun 11:00am-3:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm. Closed Tue.
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2611 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, California, USA, 92104
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- Delivery
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 26 Jan 2025 by DonnaJeanSD
Update business info -
Added by westcornersville on 23 Feb 2017
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244 Reviews
First Review by Mike Weinberg
hrn126
Points +583
tasty and unique - Edit
there’s a reason this place has as many reviews as it does. phenomenal food and unique flavors. the cheese on the pizza is also really good, which i find can be hard to do
Read moreGuest
CíntiaS.
Points +72
Great vegan food - Edit
Donna Jean’s pizza is amazing!
Read moreThe place is also really nice.
Guest
dea_larissa
Points +771
Lovely spot for brunch! - Edit
My family and I went to Donna Jean’s for Mother’s Day brunch. It was a cute little spot with a beautiful outdoor area. Service was a little slow but we didn’t mind. The food was definitely worth the wait! I just wished they served their full dinner menu during brunch as well but it was a lovely brunch nonetheless.
Read moreWe ordered:
- blueberry pancake (it was delicious and had crispy edges and fluffy center) topped with blueberry compote, powdered sugar, and maple syrup
- strawberry french toast with a side of homemade nutella, macerated strawberries, and coconut whipped cream
- baked mac and cheese (I added mushrooms and I was so glad I did. I scraped the cast iron skillet clean!)
- Nashville hot shrooms (it’s their take on hot chicken but with deep fried king oyster mushrooms)
- breakfast potatoes (they were so good that we ordered a second round!)
Guest
EsraRice
Points +741
Great spot - Edit
Out of the 4 things we ordered and split, the mac n cheese with mushrooms was the best. Chicken Fried shrooms were a bit disappointing. The coconut whip cream that came with apple pie French toast was incredible. The Bronx pizza was good, but it could haven better if it was a tad less cheesy.
Read moreGuest
ElissaBVegan
Points +3197
Love This Place! - Edit
Delicious fare in a charming atmosphere. Everything we had was excellent!
Read morePros: 100% vegan , Delicious food, Patio w heaters
Guest
garyMLR
Points +63
Wowee! Awesome menu - Edit
Cute hideaway just steps from Balboa Park. Excellent selection of food and bevs.
Read moreHad the Biscuits & Gravy and Tofu Scramble Motherlode. Outstanding flavors and textures and service was very friendly. Patio dining is a plus. Beware of parking constraints
Guest
Spaceprincess1997
Points +78
yummy - Edit
Donna Jean has an amazing ambience. Their pizza is really great, we love their vegan cheeses, and the staff adored our doggies. The only reason I am docking it one star is because I was a bit let down by their lasagna. At the time, I hadn’t had lasagna since I had become vegan and I was very excited to try Donna Jean’s version. Unfortunately, it was kinda meh to me. I love a good pesto sauce, but for a lasagna I prefer the rich flavors of marinara sauce. It lacked the cheesiness you would expect from a lasagna-based dish. It also lacked the meatiness that could have been obtained with Beyond or Impossible meat. Donna Jean, I love you, but please for the love of god, fix your lasagna so I can update this review.
Read moreGuest
RM12
Points +40
Best pizza EVER - Edit
Hands down best vegan pizza. Lasagna is unique and creative (not traditional), but may be not what people are expecting for “lasagna.” The Mac and cheese is the stuff dreams are made of. Bravo!
Read moreGuest
Vegan4Life303
Points +629
Best “fancy” vegan spot - Edit
One of the best “fancy” restaurants I’ve ever been to. I went on a Sunday during brunch and got the biscuits and gravy. The biscuits came with an order of 4, which for $12 was an amazing deal. They were flaky, rich, and had a melt in your mouth quality. The gravy was a little cold, but it had a very deep flavor profile. I was salty, peppery, and a kick of lemon to it. I also got the cast iron Mac and chz skillet for $17. The portion size was kind of small; think 7 inch skillet, BUT the flavor was amazing. With hints of truffle and a super smooth and creamy finish it definitely is a must get when you go there. #Veganuary
Read morePros: All VEGAN , Super flavorful food
Guest
frankien
Points +87
Amazing vegan cheese - Edit
If you like cheese, you have to try this place. Me and my non-vegan friends were blown away by how good it was. Definitely recommend the pizza and the hot shrooms. Wasn’t too pricy either.
Read moreGuest
SarahS88
Points +2455
Best vegan pizza ever - Edit
House-made cheese was delicious, staff was very friendly and helpful, pizza was amazing!
Read moreGuest
VagrantVegan
Points +1333
Delicious - Edit
This was fabulous. The lasagna was some of the best I have had, vegan or not. The chicken fried shrooms were crunchy and had a great, creamy gravy. The greens were just the right amount of salty. Our server was friendly and helpful. The atmosphere was nice, although the music was just a touch loud for my taste. Everything was beautifully presented.
Read moreGuest
AmandaSakiye
Points +3309
100% amazing - Edit
Luxurious vegan food. Totally amazing. Every bite was quite impressive. I loved the seasonal pumpkin items on their menu - including the vampire pizza and gnocchi. All their cheeses are made professionally in house. Cheeses are also available for purchase to take home.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-10-31
Guest
skymyers
Points +52
Legendary - Edit
Donna Jean has a stellar reputation for a reason. In particular, their pizza is some of the best you’re ever going to find, vegan or not. The outdoor seating area, which is surrounded by plants, is charming. I will say, their lasagna was quite disappointing (it is pesto based with no mock meat - not exactly what comes to mind when I crave lasagna), but everything else is so good I have to keep it 5*. Good wine selection as well.
Read morePros: Top quality, Good wine, Atmosphere
Cons: Slow service
Guest
ErikFranks
Points +139
Delicious vegan food next to Balboa - Edit
Great food and prices. Enjoyed everything
Read moreGuest
Wolfy_
Points +87
Amazing service and food. - Edit
I had a wonderful experience. The food was delightful. The atmosphere was great. The noise level was absolutely perfect. The ambience was amazing. The saff was great. The only thing I didn't care for was to have dinner and have two waiters talk about other patrons in the restaurant and how they're being a nuisance or a pain in the [censored]. That is none of my business and I should never ever overhear that conversation in a restaurant or in any business. So food for thought. Keep your comments in the back room off the floor and out of the ears if someone that can hear you is unprofessional and it made me think what are they saying about me after I leave or when they're not around my table. But my waiter would. He was absolutely amazing. The food was delightful. I will be back
Read moreGuest
AdrianaJade
Points +16
Go here - Edit
Super delicious food and kind staff
Read moreGuest
BanezaM
Points +652
Best Italian Food Ever - Edit
Everything about Donna Jean was fantastic! Our server Aspen gave amazing advice and suggestions, and the food was fantastic. We had the gnocchi, the lasagna, and the tres leches cake. All three were magnificent and the lasagna was extra delicious. Can't wait to go back to try more things.
Read morePros: Delicious food, Brilliant wait staff, Cute patio
Cons: A little pricey, but definitely worth it!
Guest
missfury
Points +285
Cannot go wrong with this place. - Edit
Donna Jean stands out in a very crowded field. Pizza, beverages, salad, dessert : all perfect! Great service, can’t wait to go back. Go!
Read moreGuest
MariaLupitaFigueroa
Points +50
Just do it - Edit
Literally everything is incredible! You will not be disappointed! I still remember the first time I had their warm bread dipped in the butter… oh my gosh! Something so simple, but so incredible. The pizza is amazing, the pasta, the desert, literally everything
Read moreGuest
CarolineVegstar
Points +218
Outstanding - Edit
Loved loved loved the zaatar ranch dipping sauce/ never had anything like it! The garlic butter was wonderful along with the 4 Horsemen pizza. We also tried the pesto gnocchi and Mac n cheese.
Read morePros: Delicious 🤤 Dipping sauces + pizza, Next to Evolution Fast Food= vegan zone, Multiple vegan cheeses
Cons: Parking
Guest
JulieDarner
Points +1118
Just. Yes. - Edit
This place is the only reason I spent 3 days in San Diego, and I’m so glad I went on my last night. Boy, it lived up to all of my expectations. No calzones when I was there, but I made do! Fantastic place that I’d recommend to all.
Read moreGuest
eed293
Points +212
Best vegan pizza I’ve ever had - Edit
The title says it all-after two years of being vegan (and subsequently disappointed with most vegan pizza options) I have finally found the perfect vegan pizza. This wasn’t just ‘good for being vegan’, this pizza was AMAZING. The sauce and crust were incredible and the vegan cheese is made in house. You won’t have to settle for follow your heart mozzarella here😄
Read moreI ordered the four horsemen pizza. The vegan mozzarella was amazing but I did notice as it got cold, the vegan ricotta started to taste a little like play-doh. If I went back I would definitely get a pizza with the mozzarella though.
I also got a side of fresh bread with some garlic butter and olive oil. The bread was HUGE and fresh and tasted amazing dipped in the olive oil. I didn’t care much for the garlic butter but I wasn’t even mad about it.
Pros: Great tasting pizza , 1000% worth the wait, They deliver!
Cons: Perfection takes time, unfortunately
Guest
BonnieJoStufflebeam
Points +30
So good - Edit
The wait was long when we went, but the food and atmosphere were great
Read moreOrdered cheese plate, wine, mac and cheese, and the gnocchi—all were really good!
Guest
KeishaMiller
Points +23
Loved it - Edit
The vibe is awesome. We ate outside and had the lasagna, mac n’ cheese and bread with pesto. Everything was delicious!
Read morePros: Great food , Good vibe
Cons: A bit pricey, but you expect that with vegan food
Guest
01nataliam
Points +158
Great pastas/pizzas - Edit
I really enjoyed this all vegan restaurant, although it was a bit pricey but everything is made from scratch. The environment was chill too!
Read moreThe lasagna was tasty, the pizzas were so realistic and delicious, and the bread with all the dipping sauces are a must -try. Would definitely visit again if ever in San Diego
Guest
voyagerpma
Points +155
Delicious, but pricey - Edit
Incredible vegan Italian food. Great atmosphere and location. Staff was very friendly. Tried the pastas and bread, which were very good. Quite pricey, but well worth it.
Read moreGuest
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