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. Open Mon 5:00pm-9:00pm, Wed-Thu 5:00pm-9:00pm, Fri-Sat 5:00pm-10:00pm, Sat-Sun 11:00am-3:00pm, Sun 5:00pm-9:00pm. Closed Tue.
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2949 Fifth Ave, San Diego, California, USA, 92103
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- Delivery
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 11 May 2024 by DonnaJeanSD
Update business info -
Added by westcornersville on 23 Feb 2017
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217 Reviews
First Review by Mike Weinberg
ChrisCather
Points +273
Reservations required - Edit
Get a reservation the day before, otherwise the wait for brunch is very long. Chicken fried mushrooms, Mac 'n cheese, and the Widow pizza. Every bit of it was outstanding. Portions could have been a little bigger for the prices.
Read morePros: Excellently prepared food
Cons: Expensive, Reservations required
Guest
VeganRhyno
Points +222
Date night or just to grab a bite favorite - Edit
I’ve been coming to DJ since they opened years ago for everything from date nights to just wanting a bite or something delicious to go. Never had a bad experience with the food or the staff, I just really miss the focaccia lol.
Read morePros: Fresh, house made deliciousness, Rotating seasonal menu, Proudly use local suppliers
Cons: No more focaccia 😅
Guest
Jōjia_Momo
Points +504
Wonderful atmosphere - Edit
Beautiful atmosphere on the front patio. Pretty romantic and quaint.
Read moreThe hostess was incredibly friendly and kind that sat us. Our server was a bit less enthusiastic but didn’t ruin the night at all.
Pretty underwhelming gluten free options. $25 for a small plate of gnocchi was pretty steep. Even though it was very good. I was not thrilled that the reason there’s no more gf pizza is because it “didn’t sell well” as the server informed us.
Outside of this, the food was fantastic along with the atmosphere. Everyone enjoyed their meals!
Pros: Atmosphere , Delicious food
Cons: Expensive , Very little gluten free options
Guest
jcartz
Points +355
Fully vegan spot - Edit
Great ambiance outdoor seating. Wine/beer and they specify what their pairings are with each meal. Fantastic service. Amazing pizza!! Got the hot shrooms and cheese plate as well. Definitely recommend.
Read morePros: 100% vegan, Great ambiance, Great service
Guest
Bushtitty
Points +501
Good vegan place - Edit
Great spot for vegan food. The sea bean Caesar salad was pretty good. The house bread with the pesto and garlic butter was excellent. We got the spuds pizza because other reviewers sang praise about it, but I found it underwhelming. I liked the crust, but prefer if it was crispier on the bottom. Great service and we loved hearing all the birds in the outdoor patio!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-03-27
Guest
LainyaCraig
Points +207
Best vegan pizza! - Edit
I came here whilst on a vacation in San Diego and I’m really sad I didn’t come more than once! I got the Four Horsemen pizza with garlic butter dip and it was phenomenal. I can’t wait to be back!
Read morePros: Amazing pizza, Good variety , Nice atmosphere
Cons: More dessert options would be good
Guest
ChristineMiller
Points +22
Favorire vegan restaurant - Edit
Donna Jean has the best mac n cheeze too!
Read morePros: Lots of choices , Everything is delicious , Menu always has new items
Guest
alannahneedham
Points +379
Best pizza ever - Edit
Best vegan pizza I've ever had and the service is very pleasant.
Read morePros: All vegan, Delicious
Guest
ScottCline
Points +2837
The best thin crust vegan pizza! - Edit
This was so delicious. I am surprised that I have not visited sooner. I had the “I Believe in a Thing Called Spuds” pizza and the Nutella Cheesecake. This was probably one of the best thin crust vegan pizzas I have ever had.. and the cheesecake… oh boy!
Read morePros: Vegan , Friendly staff, Indoor/outdoor seating
Guest
LorraineGadsden
Points +6449
Instant Favorite - Edit
This place is just amazing. The caesar was good, but the Bronx pizza and mac & cheese were out of this world! I am very picky about vegan cheese and don’t really like any pizzas or mac & cheeses. The pizza, as described by my non vegan boyfriend, tasted “just like a really good (cow milk) cheese pizza,” and the mac and cheese were equally as good! No weird aftertaste, just really good food. We ordered take-out, but my boyfriend who picked it up said everyone was very kind and the restaurant itself was clean too. Try this place!
Read moreUpdate: I have since eaten here many times, and I have to say Donna Jean is one of the best vegan restaurants. The pizzas are out of this world, especially the ones with potatoes. Their cheeses are delicious; I love buying them and eating them at home. The dill havarti is my favorite. Today we tried brunch for the first time, and the french toast was so delicious; my boyfriend said it’s the best french toast he has ever had as a french toast enthusiast. The only downside is their desserts have been disappointing.
Updated from previous review on 2021-06-13
Pros: amazing food, friendly people
Guest
jkseoulcraic
Points +648
Phenomenal vegan food - Edit
This place has it all! Excellent vegan food, awesome staff, and outdoor seating was really nice. Their food was phenomenal. The biscuits and gravy, smashed potatoes, and fried shrooms brunch items were so tasty!
Read moreGuest
CandyB
Points +16
One of my favorite places when I visit San Diego - Edit
I absolutely make a point to go to Donna Jean's everytime I am in San Diego. Every dish that we've had their has been absolutely wonderful
Read morePros: Hot Shrooms are divine, Pizzas are great, Good service
Guest
BreaunnaLake
Points +56
Pizza - Edit
My kids are new to eating vegan and they loved the cheese pizza here. Also my personal favorite is their Mac n cheeze.
Read moreGuest
Reneeleslie96
Points +204
Unique menu right by Balboa Park - Edit
They offer a wide variety of options including pizza, brunch (on weekends), entrees and desserts. There is convenient street parking and Balboa Park is nearby. The menu is thoughtful and everything I’ve had is great!
Read morePros: All vegan, Variety of options, Easy parking
Guest
Ryah.Mayer
Points +301
Quality food! - Edit
The perfect place for a nice dinner, date night, gathering of friends/family, etc. the pizza was amazing, getting a crust dip is a must, and the wine was delish!
Read morePros: Quality food , Atmosphere, Tons of options
Cons: A little pricey
Guest
BetterOffRed
Points +154
Exceptional vegan food - Edit
This place lives up to the hype. Sensational, fresh house-made cheeses pair incredibly well with plant-based comfort foods.
Read moreWe started with the Hot Shrooms which were fried to perfection and mildly spicy. The Lasagna Bolognese shined with fresh squash and the incredible combination of cheeses, lentil Bolognese, and tomatoes. My partner said it was, “spiritually cleansing - one of the best lasagnas I’ve ever eaten.” The umami of the truffle cream was just right as it married with the mushrooms and cheeses on the Fungazi pizza. Each bite was creamy, dreamy, and unctuous. We ended with a chocolate chip cookie that was sweet, slightly chewy, oven-warmed, and expertly salted. Chef’s kiss.
Our wait staff was incredible as well. Friendly, engaging, and went above and beyond. They even wrote a list of their favorite restaurants in San Diego for us to visit while we were on vacation.
Pros: Incredible staff, Delicious vegan cheese
Guest
sydneystark16
Points +176
Amazing pizza!!! - Edit
The entire restaurant is plant based and gives all the information about soy, nuts, and gluten which is extremely helpful. The staff is extremely nice and helpful and the overall atmosphere is great. The music is especially good and I think I ate the best pizza I’ve ever had. I highly recommend the iron man pizza and the hot shrooms!!
Read moreGuest
DestinyVillarreal
Points +68
This is my favorite restaurant in San Diego - Edit
I am a lover of Italian pizza, and I was worried when turning more vegan I wouldn’t be able to eat it anymore. But Donna Jean has amazing vegan Italian wood fired style pizza and I just love it. I always frequently go by the restaurant to purchase their vegan cheeses. Their vegan cheese are hands down the best I have ever had. They are miles beyond miyokos cheese in my opinion. Their new fall menu right now has a pizza called the Gold Lion and it is delicious. Must try if you are there in the right season.
Read moreGuest
StaceyP
Points +609
Amazing! - Edit
Phenomenal pizzas that will comfort your soul and fill up your stomach.
Read morePros: Everything seems delicious.
Cons: The service was slow; food took forever to come.
Guest
danambaker
Points +57
Perfect - Edit
Unbelievable savory handmade high quality pastas and cheeses. The experience is worth the money.
Read morePros: ambience, romantic, delicious
Guest
Maria_Nomas
Points +216
One of my favorites - Edit
It’s a must when we are in San Diego, we just love it, their food is amazing, they have great service, nice outdoor seating. Their pizza is probably the best vegan pizza we’ve ever had.
Read moreI highly suggest to make a reservation ahead of time, specially for brunch, it can be hard to get a table.
Pros: Nice atmosphere, Excellent service , Everything is delicious
Cons: Sometimes is hard for walk-ins to get a table , A bit pricey
Guest
plantbasedgal
Points +449
Delightful, Delicious Vegan Cuisine - Edit
Comfy seating, cool vibes, and dynamic food welcome hungry vegans looking for creative fare.
Read moreTreat yourself to the fabulous brunch. I loved the Motherloade, a plate of yummy tofu scramble, their famous fingerling potatoes, and greens. I swapped the toast for the heavenly tasting biscuit.
Updated from previous review on 2019-05-11
Updated from previous review on 2021-07-12
Pros: Fabulous food, awesome service
Cons: None
Guest
ndines
Points +551
Can’t miss vegan restaurant - Edit
WOW. Incredible vegan food. The pizza is out of this world!!
Read moreGuest
lavendereyelids
Points +130
Had a good experience but wasn’t wowed - Edit
Food was good but expensive and smaller than average portions. Eg. 6 slices of pizza for 18$. The Mac and cheese was a little too vinegary +smokey for me. It tastes delicious and strong the first few bites but then got hard to eat. The pizza was really great but very thin toppings so more like a yummy bread honestly. Worth it for a special occasion but probably wouldn’t go back anytime soon.
Read moreGuest
JimHerndon
Points +171
Wow best vegan bread and “cheese” - Edit
This was the best all-vegan restaurant we visited during our trip to California. Ingredients were super fresh, with none of the usual reliance on processed “meat replacement “ products. We enjoyed “hot shrooms” , calzone, lasagna, pizza, and Caesar salad. The lasagna was particularly outstanding in that it stood as some of the best ever, vegan or not.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-06-17
Pros: Fresh … no processed “replacement “ products , Best vegan bread!, Best vegan cheese!
Cons: Setting quite rustic, but food wins the day
Guest
codeea
Points +60
Excellent food - Edit
This place is delicious. We just tried it for the first time and got the Thunder Kiss ‘65 pizza and the lasagna which were both super flavorful and very fresh tasting. The staff was also very friendly which was definitely an added bonus.
Read morePros: All vegan, Delicious
Cons: Expensive
Guest
619veg
Points +95
Excellent Vegan Restaurant - Edit
Donna Jean has an amazing dine-in patio, trees, plants and herb gardens fill the area. The food is great and their customer service goes over the top! Will be back soon!
Read moreGuest
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