SOL CAL Cafe

They didn't serve meat when I went there 2 years ago and I gave them a 5-star rating. They just lost my business.

This place is cute, but lacking in so many ways. When we ordered, I tried to order something off the paper menu they had by the door, but the guy told me that menu was wrong and to look at the digital one above the register. OK, but why have paper menus out then? After we ordered, it took a good 15 minutes for my husband's Acai bowl to come out. He nearly finished his bowl by the time my Healthy Hash plate came out. I saw other tables around us half-served as well. Don't expect your food to come out at the same time!

I was surprised to see this place had such good reviews after I ate there. While it is good, it carries a price tag for something mind blowing or semi-great. Their food is neither. From what I understand, it seems that they used to be vegan and that's when they got the majority of their reviews on here. It's unfortunate, but we all know there's a trend for us vegans to rate all vegan restaurants artificially high, in terms of taste, just for providing us with options. I think the majority of their 4 & 5 star ratings is due to this. People were giving them higher ratings than they deserved simply for being vegan, especially since that was before many of the vegan options we have today were open. Now that we have ample vegan spots all over San Diego, I think we should recognize that this place is overpriced and overrated.

Incompetently gave me somebody else's burrito. Mine was supposed to be VEGAN but I took a bite and horrifically tasted DEAD animal flesh for the first time in decades... pretty distraught right now!
DON'T GO HERE if your VEGAN, cos "sorry about that" doesn't make up for it!

I had the socal burger with chili and guacamole and it was solid. The side salad was great, too.

All pastries are vegan.

The service was friendly and the food was great. Decent prices too. We had the kids meal corn dog, Buffalo 66 burger and Baja fish tacos. All worth it! And try the blueberry soda. It's Delilah!

I was on a business trip and found Sol Cal via Happy Cow. Pleasantly surprised to find an organic non-GMO vegan option close to my hotel, so most grateful for that. Food was generally reasonable priced, although there were some juices for $9 for an 8-ounce bottle. Overall, food was a bit bland with mediocre flavors; it appears that a professionally trained chef did not create the menu. My wife and I had the Chipotle Lime Quinoa Panini, Teriyaki Bowl, Veggie Quinoa Chili, and desserts. The Panini was really a wrap heated in a Panini press, which was fine, but the flavors were just not very good. The chili for example, was bland and had a bit of sourness to it due to the acidity of the tomato sauce not being balanced by sweet, salt, or oil. Service was friendly and prompt. Food was ready quickly. If you're looking for a wholesome organic meal in the Gaslamp Quarter, this is a decent choice, but Jimbo's Naturally nearby has a much wider selection.

Extremely good food. The acai breakfast bowl and the Oreo dessert are both worth going out of your way for.

I had the fajita Buddha bowl with vegan chicken and it was delicious. Nice vibe, decent service (the guy taking my order wasn't that friendly, but the other lady that brought me my food was pleasant ). Simple menu, but high quality.

Without explanation, this formerly 100% vegan eatery went over to the dark side (tuna, chicken, eggs), creating quite a stir in the local vegan community. Jacob, the owner, is a nice guy, so hopefully he'll reconsider and someday return to the vegan fold whereupon I'll happily restore my 5-star rating.
Vegan Sun Shines on Downtown San Diego! (10/18/14)
The brainchild of former NFL star, Jacob Bell, and former Food Network dessert guru, Anne Thornton, this bright new eatery is the first, and so far only, 100% vegan restaurant in downtown San Diego! It’s a welcome addition within walking distance of our downtown condo. Our first meal on opening day was on the smallish side but tasty & filling. My wife and I will be inviting lots of our typically stubborn omnivorous neighbors to join us there. Surprisingly, many seem to be moving towards plant-based eating based on doctors’ recommendations, so it will be an easy sell. Located just north of Padres Petco Park, Sol Cal should be a hit with baseball fans looking for healthier food options.

Visiting from Va and I loved the atmosphere here ! The food is also so freaking good and I wish I had this place in my town. Will come back.

Had a great breakfast burrito. Nice decor and vibe. Friendly staff.

I had the Pitaya bowl, it was GREAT! Very fresh, I could eat one every day. Friendly atmosphere/counterservice/staff. Accessible. Many options.

This place was incredible. We were in San Diego for three days, and ate here three times. First night I had a fantastic burger, the next day I had a delicious bowl of tomato soup, and the third day my partner and I shared a waffle and breakfast burrito.

All of the food was incredibly delicious and the prices were pretty decent too. But as most vegans know, sometimes we have to pay a little more for better food.

They also have a great selection of cold drinks and take home options like hummus, guacamole, and granola. I would go here every day if I lived in San Diego.

Cute, clean, and bright vegan spot in Downtown San Diego. Love the modern design, seating area, and artwork painted onto the walls. Excellent customer service by Alexa. Food is pretty healthy (they don't overdo it on oils, salt, and fat). It's a little bit on the spicy side - I had the Mediterranean panini and breakfast burrito. There is a vast variety of desserts. I recommend the mint brownie - fabulous.

Parking tip: 2 hours free at the nearby library - with validation.

2nd workout of the day was a 3-mile run downtown San Diego in search of vegan delights. Boy was it worth it. Sol Cal, next to Padres Stadium, is earthy, organic and pure. No deep fried or oily comfort foods, and mostly raw! I'm Happy!

Wonderful place. Healthy and tasty food, big portions, a lot of choice. I would eat there every day if I lived in San Diego.

Little cafe, very clean with friendly staff, food caters to typical American tastes, which for me is way too sweet and way too much fat.I liked the green juice I had, but disappointed it was in a bottle, not made fresh. Very limited breakfast menu.