Serves meat, vegan options available. A gathering place for locals and visitors alike to meet and eat. Eastern-European inspired cafe. Offers labeled vegan options including sweet and savory crepes, along with vegan cheese and mayo for veggie burgers and sandwiches. Most other items can be made vegan upon request. Specialty coffee drinks. Home-like atmosphere with cozy sofas. Personal library of books for use. Artwork for sale. Most evenings features live music and DJs, open mics, and/or beer tastings. Open Mon-Wed 8:00am-8:00pm, Thu-Sat 8:00am-10:00pm, Sun 8:00am-8:00pm. Full kitchen is open until 8pm each day.
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247 Essex St, Salem, Massachusetts, USA, 01970
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 29 Nov 2021 by zachweeks
Update business info
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40 Reviews
First Review by raphanos
Veghiker
Points +53
Good labeling - Edit
Quirky atmosphere and multiple simple vegan options. The wrap was tasty!
Read moreGuest
klhunter42
Points +90
Tasty options all day long - Edit
While visiting Salem we visited Gulu Gulu for breakfast three days in a row. The parfait can be made with vegan yogurt and they make their own vegan granola in house which is fantastic. The Vegan Breakfast Sandy is available all day. Wraps and other sandwiches are also available for breakfast. Staff was very understanding and helpful in selecting vegan items.
Read moreBonus: There's always something going on whether it's Trivia, Bingo, Open Mic, or Drag Brunch. Great atmosphere!
Pros: Easily customized vegan options , Cool atmosphere
Guest
ViennaBradley
Points +145
not too many options, but still good food - Edit
i went here for breakfast and thought i'd have a couple more choices. i got breakfast sandwich that had tofu, arugula and cheese on sourdough and it was a really good breakfast. the coffee was nice too. i liked the atmosphere too
Read morePros: atmosphere, tasty food
Cons: not many options
Guest
NIBsmf
Points +1074
Okay options - Edit
Not as many vegan options as I had hoped. I got a parfait (fresh fruit, yogurt, granola), soft pretzel, and mac n cheese with Beyond sausage and ranch sauce. It was all good but not amazing.
Read moreStaff was friendly. Atmosphere was okay.
Pros: Clearly labeled vegan options
Guest
lh0p98
Points +500
Great spot!! - Edit
Lovely diner with plenty of vegan options. Nice service. Came quick. Nice coffee. The breakfast tofu sandwich with rocket was delicious.
Read moreGuest
Lyd.12.151
Points +141
Atmosphere! - Edit
Such cute vibes several vegan options great central location!!!
Read moreGuest
KatieMcMahon
Points +221
Love this place! - Edit
I had the Crème Brûlée iced latte (vanilla & caramel) with almond milk, as well as the Vegan Breakfast Sandy. Not really sure why it’s called that- to me a breakfast sandwich has egg or sausage, but it was still good!! Great bread and the tofu was well flavored. Overall, they had quite a few choices on the menu, and the atmosphere was really nice. Really cute seating and decorations. Fortunately when we went there was no line!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-11-11
Guest
Nova3
Points +457
It WAS Amazing - Edit
*Update 10/23* I used to dream of this place when I first visited a couple years ago, then I went back this year and learned they got rid of crepes entirely and now their vegan options are good but not amazing. They’ve got tofu and vegan cheese, and they make a good Mac and cheese, but for the wait, I’ll get pizza next door next time.
Read moreOriginal review:
Happy Cow won't let me rate this 5 stars since it's not a fully vegan restaurant, which is a bummer because as a vegan, I can't say enough good things about this place. Although not a vegan restaurant, they have amazing comprehensive plant-based options. I had their sweet specialty veg caramel apple crepe and savory vegan breakfast crepe the first time I went, and the Charles & cheese vegan mac and cheese the second time. Holy macaroni, these were all amazing. I crave crepes always but don't have any great vegan crepe options near me, and I'm very picky with my vegan mac & cheese as they're usually not very good. I only wish I got to go more times! If I ever come back to Salem, this will be my first stop, even if I have to wait 1-2 hours again for it!
Updated from previous review on 2021-10-14
Guest
tarayoon
Points +1680
Overhyped - Edit
I've always been excited to try this place and was a bit disappointed.
Read moreInsanely long wait for average, overpriced sandwiches. I got the delta force which was good, I loved the cheese and tofu but it wasn't anything spectacular.
My friend got the shiitake happens and only half of it was filled with mushrooms while the other half was just lettuce.
Cute interior with tons of unique art. They share bathrooms with Flying Saucer Pizza Co so it's a bit hectic.
I did some research about this place afterwards. Seems like this place used to be a gem of Salem, but things seem to have shifted since they got new management.
And they got rid of the vegan crepes which used to be a popular item for them.
Pros: Friendly staff
Cons: Long wait
Guest
heatherfn
Points +30
Insanely long wait - Edit
Ridiculously long wait. Rude staff. Mediocre food
Read moreNot worth it
Guest
zachweeks
Points +240
Vegan options come and go, service is despicable - Edit
EDIT SUMMER 2023: THEY DO NOT HAVE VEGAN CREPES ANYMORE. THAT WAS A BIG REASON TO COME HERE!
Read moreFavorite cup of coffee in Salem, and their vegan menu was really solid up until earlier this year when they dramatically reduced the number of vegan options available. More importantly, the service is just so so terrible. Most of the kids who work here now do not care at all about anything and the prices you pay just aren’t worth it. Sometimes I’ve been charged $5 for an iced coffee, sometimes $7 for the same thing. Huh? Why? What’s that all about?
I’ve been coming here since 2010 and they’ve added and subtracted vegan options from the menu several times so it’s kind of a wildcard. Similar to Flying Saucer, this place used to be consistently great, same staff for ages, and I was a regular for years but since reopening after the pandemic it’s been super hit or miss (and usually a swing and a miss).
ONE THING TO BE AWARE OF is that the location in proximity to all the corny stuff downtown makes this a tourist hotspot on busy days or weekends. Forget about coming here for a sit down meal in October if you’re a local because you’ll have to fight off a dozen angry Karens to even get in line for a seat.
Most menu items are way too expensive for what they are bordering on "rip off" territory. Coffee is still awesome though! Can highly recommend the coffee!
Updated from previous review on 2023-07-06
Pros: amazing coffee , good atmosphere (not in October)
Cons: Vegan options are unreliable , really expensive, Objectively terrible service
Guest
kale_queen
Points +474
Used to have more vegan options - Edit
They took away the vegan crepes and I’m really sad about that. The vegan options are kind of lacking now.
Read moreGuest
rorororoxy
Points +106
Amazing Little Spot! - Edit
Super cool café with a good few vegan options and very friendly staff!
Read moreI had the Vegan Breakfast Sandy and it was soooo good. Didn’t think a big slab of tofu in a toastie could be so yummy but however they marinate/season it makes it work beautifully!
Pros: Several Vegan Options , Dog Friendly, Lovely Staff
Cons: Coffee is not too bad but not great either
Guest
Crystal-nMarie
Points +22
Underwhelming - Edit
I came here with my sister who lives in Salem because it had vegan and omni options. I didn’t expect anything amazing, just a decent option while dining with omnis. I got the Beyond burger, which you would think is hard to get wrong, but no. The bun was pretty stale and the patty tasted like it was microwaved or something like that. I’ve never had a Beyond patty so dry. They didn’t put any condiments on it either which was weird. The pickles tasted expired.
Read moreI know I sound like I’m picky, but I swear I’m not. It was really just that bad.
My sister said they’re not really fans either. They just thought it would be a good option for me. 🤷🏻♀️
Guest
CarolinaSoria
Points +1155
Cute and cozy cafe - Edit
Very cute & cozy cafe with a lot of clearly labeled vegan options.
Read moreI’ve had the breakfast crepe and it was very good and also a good portion size!
Also had the grilled cheese that was very tasty!
It has good wifi and it’s very quiet for working.
Coffee was good too only downside is that they charge extra for oat milk 🙁
Pros: Clearly labeled vegan options
Cons: Charges extra for vegan milks
Guest
veggiegurll
Points +495
the crêpes!! - Edit
both the sweet banana and savory tofu cheese spinich were so good. and they have a large selection of coffees and plant mills!
Read morePros: plenty of vegan options, cool vibe , tasty
Cons: coffee took half of meal to come
Guest
blayziethekid
Points +511
Lots of vegan options! - Edit
In the heart of Salem. Ordered a breakfast sandwich and a banana crepe 👌🏽
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-11-11
Guest
KittenxWitch
Points +52
Lots of vegan options! Delicious! - Edit
We loved tho cafe! There are just as many vegan options as non vegan options. Everything is delicious and during our stay in Salem, we went back multiple times. Friendly staff and dope atmosphere.
Read morePros: Tons of vegan food choices, Awesome environment , Friendly staff
Cons: Not entirely vegan
Guest
Justgoplay
Points +271
Vegan Crepes - Edit
I have never seen vegan crepes on a menu before, they were soft and fluffy, and gluten free as well. They came with tofu, vegan cheese and spinach, I added on tomato and avocado for an extra cost. Which I was a little disappointed that they had several add on options that were all an extra fee.
Read moreVegan mac’n’cheese is also on the menu along with a beyond burger, a few appetizers and a salad.
Pros: Several vegan options, Menu clearly notes vegan items, Rare vegan options
Cons: Many items sold out by 2:00pm, Service was mediocre
Guest
HollyGilbert
Points +26
Service is lacking - Edit
The service was slow and lacking:( I had high hope with the reviews. I ordered a salad with extra dressing, it came with an incorrect dressing and no extra dressing. Also no utensils…I had to get up, find the server and ask for a fork…lol. I also ordered a drink that was served way after my salad and it was mediocre at best. Disappointing visit.
Read moreGuest
Starlet2931
Points +426
Amazing! - Edit
What a gem. Tons of clearly marked vegan options, cool vibe, dog friendly, and amazing service. We had the vegan breakfast crepe (with some extras), pretzel with vegan boursin (!!), and beyond burger melt. Great coffee and cocktails too. Highly recommend, and I can’t wait to go back.
Read moreGuest
cautious_nate
Points +68
Yummy - Edit
There were lots of good vegan options on the menu. I got the Beyond Santa Fe Crepe and it was delicious!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Clearly marked on menu
Guest
TommyHayes
Points +180
Hearty crepe - Edit
The vegan crepe was a nice hardy portion of food and taste really good.
Read moreGuest
charlouie
Points +714
Best Brunch - Edit
They have a few vegan options, especially the sandwich was awesome imho, as it was different to other sandwiches, I’ve had before (with lots of different fruits on it)
Read moreBut they also have scrambled tofu and sweet stuff
Guest
LydiaBerger
Points +383
Mixed feelings - Edit
So many vegan options, I’ve eaten at this place at least five times! The service has been extremely strange lately though with either tiny versions of the menu or super slow service. The food can also be hot and cold. I’ve had the Charles and cheese (vegan Mac and cheese) like 4 times. 3/4 times it was amazing but once it was super lemony and gross. Still would defiantly recommend! There are vegan crepes, ranch, parfaits, sandwiches and Mac and cheese!!!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options , Inexpensive , Typically delicious
Cons: Slow service , Unreliable
Guest
stephbaggz
Points +283
CREPES! - Edit
Their vegan cozy crepes were DELICIOUS! Wish I could have them where I live! Also got the breakfast sandwich on a bagel and it was good but it wasn’t as good as the crepes!
Read moreGuest
Prajna
Points +5824
Vegan crepes but terrible service. - Edit
I used to go to Gulus many years ago. The atmosphere is super chill and nice. You can sit on one of their couches, play a board game or listen to live music.
Read moreWith that being said, I would never go back again.
The quality has really gone downhill and the service is now awful.
You get yourself seated and the severs will walk by you like nobody is there.
We got up to get someone. The person came and I asked about the two vegan and gluten free dishes they had. I settled on one; a tofu and spinach dish served with cheese and bread.
The server came back and said they were out of the bread and the cheese. I said that then I didn’t want it. She said ‘well, I already put the order in’. Basically saying I had to eat it anyways.
When I said no she confronted me, asking why I was getting upset and then walked away. She walked by just to throw the check on the table.
I left there a bit shaken up.
There was the last time I went.
Updated from previous review on 2021-08-19
Guest
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