Vegan
Juice bar
Take-out
Asian
Casual place with menu offering veggie-friendly fare like soy wraps, bagel with vegan cream cheese, smoothies, salad, and espresso drinks with soy milk. Previously called Soy Cafe. Open Mon-Sat 10:00am-7:00pm, Sun 10:00am-5:00pm.
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630 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 19123
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Last update on 23 Jan 2024 by Guest
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43 Reviews
First Review by hairgirl
jex
Points +64
Joy Cafe is the right name for this place - Edit
Philly's got some solid vegan restaurants but in my experience, this is the only one where Dr. Michael Greger may drop in to see Chef Alice and crash your lunch party.
Read moreBut that's not even my favorite part about this place — it's a cafe really devoted to the mission of nourishing health through good food. A lot of the meat-free restaurants in town serve tasty food but aren't exactly in the ballpark of WFPB — whereas Joy is looking to add years to your healthspan... without selling short on flavor! Alice is a quintessential crusader restaurateur.
I also appreciate the gluten-free options, and I congratulate myself for the dignity I exhibited last visit when I abstained from eating the paper wrapper of my blueberry muffin in desperation to get every crumb down.
greenbluegray
So great! I learned of this cafe through Dr. Greger!
Read moregreenbluegray
So great! I learned of this cafe through Dr. Greger!
Read moreGuest
GeorgeJ
Points +15
DO NOT EAT HERE! - Edit
My first experience at Joy Cafe was AWESOME. The bagel I ordered (Cutie Tom) was perfectly prepared, as well as the Americano. HOWEVER, when I went back with a friend of mine, it ended up being a HUGE disappointment. First of all, the bagel I ordered (same as last time) came to the table cold and stale. I took it back and asked them to make another one for me. They also forgot to bring my iced coffee with the order. THEN, when I got home and looked at my receipt, I noticed they charged me a (service charge of 15%) which was an extra $3.58. If they're going to charge a service fee, they should at least be transparent about it instead of being dishonest. Oh, and my friend and I also spotted a small roach crawling on the wall as we were leaving our table. My whole experience that day was nothing like the first. Needless to say, I WILL NOT be going back to Joy Cafe. And just a warning to anyone who goes there - CHECK YOUR RECEIPT before leaving the cafe.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-06-29
Guest
devonvolpe
Points +210
A True Joy - Edit
Absolutely delicious every single time. The smoothies are the best in the area and everything is so fresh and satisfying. Always a true joy to visit here.
Read moreGuest
bradmer12
Points +207
Sloooow and not-so-great food - Edit
I've been here multiple times. It's always way too long of a wait for how dead it is. I'll be the only one there and yet it takes 45 minutes to make my 1 sandwich. One time I waited over an hour for my takeout order.
Read moreI really wish I could recommend this place. The food is always not as good as I expect it to be. The one exception is the Spicy Tuna sandwich which is really good.
Pros: Cute spot, Spicy Tuna Sandwich is the bomb, Owner is nice
Cons: Expect to wait a long time, Half the menu ain't great, Ordering ahead is pointless, they don't make it
Guest
maltman23
Points +6560
Nice vegan place to eat - Edit
3 of us ate here for lunch, and all of us enjoyed our meals. The owners are really nice and welcoming. The atmosphere is comfortable and refreshingly not upscale.
Read morePros: Good vegan food, Friendly owners, Comfortable environment
Guest
MarsAttaxx
Points +36
Delish! - Edit
So cute , great food and selection
Read moreGuest
Keyz2026
Points +5708
Vegan Cafe Vibes - Edit
The atmosphere was was amazing. You could literally spend hours in there. You can spend time reading or doing other work related things. Seating was great. Customers service was amesome.
Read morePros: Customer service , Food, Atmosphere
Guest
jaesAse
Points +42
New fav 🚨🚨🚨 - Edit
Ok so this was a place we randomly found and we fell in love. Unlike most other vegan places that have breakfast but are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. This place is open daily. The menu is vast. I looked at it for 10 mins because making my mind up. The good was so good I’m excited to go back already.
Read moreGuest
nperri20
Points +84
Wonderful Food - Edit
They had a lot of vegan options and casual cuisine choices. Overall I thought the food quality was fantastic and did not feel like I was eating ultra-processed vegan food that you see a lot on the market these days. Will definitely be going back!
Read morePros: Food Selection
Guest
acarr94
Points +358
Tried this place the other day and OMG - Edit
Got a bagel sandwich and an espresso milkshake. Both were unbelievable! Friend got a smoothie, mac&cheese and a cheesesteak. She loved her food and we each tried a bite of each other’s- all around a hit! So many options and will definitely be back.
Read morePros: Friendly, Diverse menu, Affordable
Guest
makcurtis
Points +1216
Delicious breakfast sandwiches - Edit
Breakfast at Soy Cafe was definitely one to remember. The mocha-cha-cha was delicious and I loved that it was not too sweet. The breakfast sandwiches were fantastic and giant with generous amounts of “ham” and made-to-order “egg”. They came with orange slices and were well seasoned and absolutely delicious! We did try the dumpling soup, but didn’t care for it. The dumplings were the frozen kind, and the broth was bland.
Read morePros: Huge menu , Generous portions
Cons: Quality not consistent across all items
Guest
evamariesoler
Points +48
Incredibly flavorful! - Edit
Homemade sauces and dressings are sooooo good!! The cheesesteak wrap was so fricken good. And a plain salad was amazing with the dressing! So tasty and healthy.
Read moreGuest
pennypower
Points +1586
Delicious fresh food - Edit
My family visited here on vacation in Philadelphia. All vegan. Extensive menu. Fresh baked goods. Great ambiance and patio garden. There is something for everyone here!
Read morePros: All vegan, Locally owned, Fresh food
Guest
sanderadio
Points +390
Super friendly! - Edit
We had great smoothies this week. And the staff was super friendly. Cute little patio in the back as well. Would definitely recommend.
Read moreGuest
tessysdb
Points +300
Friendly Place - Edit
Friendly little restaurant with a nice atmosphere. Bella burger and the cheese steak were pretty good. The nachos were a bit salty for my taste. We tried the donuts too which have a dense consistency much like a muffin with dark chocolate topping.
Read moreGuest
jcatanzano3
Points +236
Delicious!! - Edit
We came in from our of town and had a great experience from the food to the service. Philadelphia roll was great! Fresh and delicious!
Read morePros: Great healthy options, Well priced, Helpful staff
Guest
1800CANTWORK
Points +55
Soy far soy good! - Edit
Delicious vegan bagel w/cream cheese and Pho Mushroom Soup. Keep coming back to try other things but always seem to get the same thing each time. #Veganuary
Read morePros: All vegan
Guest
AntGenna
Points +147
i love it here - Edit
their food is really good. the staff is kind and accommodating! i love coming here for breakfast, they make great vegan eggs
Read moreGuest
kbw5044
Points +1242
Good coffee - Edit
We only got drinks here (Chai tea and coffee) but they were very good!
Read moreGuest
averylb
Points +81
Cute little cafe - Edit
I’ve been here a few times and my favorite item by far is the cheesesteak wrap! Fair prices and nice staff with cute garden seating and a nice vibe. Knocked off a star because the wait when eating in is a little long and the one time I called an order in they didn’t start making my food until I arrived to pick it up 30 minutes after I called.
Read moreGuest
veganmarketingpeople
Points +1555
What a find - Edit
Gutted I have been in Philadelphia 2 weeks and just found this little gem. Loads of choice and really good prices , if your in Philly you must check this place out 👍
Read morePros: Choice , Prices
Guest
zoreemoon
Points +247
Cute Garden Seating - Edit
A cute, small restaurant close to Blackbird Pizzeria. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. I got the philly cheesesteak and it was amazing, although I have never had a “real” one, my omni boyfriend agreed it was delicious.
Read moreAbsolutely loved the cute, secret outdoor seating. After we left we even got some pastries to-go; would highly recommend the chocolate cupcake.
Guest
WillPost
Points +386
Exceptional Service & Cool Staff - Edit
The food and drinks here are always amazing, as are the desserts. And as important as those things are, I've traveled to a lot of vegan restaurants around the country and few have the level of service and accomodation I appreciate when I stop in Soy Cafe.
Read moreThe staff here is always incredible. They'll bend over backwards before you even ask them to just to make sure your visit exceeds your expectations, and I appreciate the heck out of them for it.
Couldn't ask for better food or better service. Don't miss this place.
Guest
Shaggy
Points +192
Sooo good!! - Edit
I really love this place. The staff is always so welcoming, and there is such a nice atmosphere. If I had friends, this is where I'd want to hang out 😅
Read moreGreat variety of food on the menu. This place got me hooked on blueberry/peanutbutter smoothies.
The mac & cheese is great, but I wish the serving was bigger. I usually go for their wraps.
Pros: Great food, Good vibe
Guest
SaraNorlin
Points +3970
A place with heart and soul - Edit
The staff here are incredibly friendly and also drew some awesome sharpie artwork on my takeout container. The grilled cheese and salad were amazing. The latte was really good too.
Read morePros: Great staff, Coffee, Vegan food
Cons: The bakery item was different than I was expecting
Guest
jaydizz
Points +37
Healthy light food - Edit
The staff are always so sweet! The food is good if you want a light eat. I really like their Cheesesteak wrap which is soy-based, and you're able to chose what type of wrap you want! They also always write you cute messages that can really bring your mood up! I would stay away from their desserts as they're not that good.
Read morePros: Light healthy vegan food, A lot of vegan options
Cons: A little overpriced, Some foods aren't that tasty
Guest
Duls
Points +334
🙌🏿🙌🏿 - Edit
Treated My Sister Who Is Not Even Plant Base And She Was Impressed
Read moreGuest
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