Diana Llamas

The cold brew is really good. They have a good selection of food that is tasty and filling. It's a nice little local coffee shop. Support small family owned businesses!!

Apollo Alto

Had the Turkish Coffee and a Nutella strawberry banana breakfast croissant. Set me up nice for the day. Very pleasant atmosphere!

Otis Rauch

In town for the Padres game and stopped at Chiefy for an açaí bowl. Google was quick to recommend this near the Moxy Hotel. It was easy to spot the owner with great customer service and told us about her Kansas City roots and her dog that was named ".Chiefy". We will definitely come back and try other things.

Kel Keen

What a lovely, friendly, delicious spot in the Gaslamp District. I had two lattes and oatmeal. The oatmeal was nicely seasoned with cinnamon. I didn’t need to add the usual sugar to it. And it had delightful perfect fruit on it. All of the fruit was peak ripeness. That takes attention to detail not found everyplace. Great spot!!

Dreaa Inspires

The staff here makes this place one of my favorite family owned coffee shops to sit and read my book to and have small gatherings with my ladies. Their menu is filled with fresh & delicious choices! Sunshine hits so nicely here in the early afternoon!

Morgan Turner

If I could give Chiefy Cafe 1000 stars, I would. I had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful little spot, and they had hands down the best Acai bowls that Ive ever had. (I literally dream about these, they are so good) and I think I had roughly 5 of them in 1 week. The customer service is wonderful, and they learn your name quickly which makes for a meaningful and beautiful interaction. For the quality of coffee and food that you get, the pricing is perfection. From someone who has traveled most of the country, this is hands down a must visit spot.

Marcos Chavez

The acai bowl was well-received, particularly when paired with peanut butter, which enhanced the flavor profile. The Mexican coffee drink was also deemed highly enjoyable. The primary detractor from the experience was the limited indoor seating, necessitating outdoor dining. Unfortunately, the prevailing environmental conditions, specifically the presence of sewage or contaminated water, created an unpleasant olfactory experience. Consequently, the overall rating is a two, primarily due to the compromised atmosphere. While acknowledging the external factors, the lack of indoor seating significantly impacted the dining experience. As a matter of fact you can see it in one of the images the truck in the background pumping sewage.

Lee Martens

We had breakfast here for 5 days straight during our stay in San Diego. The vibe is so good. I love that it’s a family owned business and it’s so cute that Chiefy Cafe is named after the owner’s dog Chiefy (featured in the photo). The breakfast bowls here are amazing. Highly recommend the dragonfruit and açai bowls, as well as the chia pudding bowl with a serve of peanut butter. The coffee is great too. There’s also this coffee I think it’s called the Mexicana. It’s so good’ I miss the Chiefy Cafe already. Good vibes and great times. Thank you Chiefy Cafe for good coffee and good food.

Joe Bevins

Great coffee, good service cute shop. I had my usual cold brew with double espresso. My wife had the lavender lemonade. Both drinks are great. We will be back and I'll buy a bag of coffee, the use brewhound and they donate profit to dogs, I love it. The wow sandwich is great, the waffle was perfect and I loved the blueberry muffin.

+2

Michael Soldate

f you’re looking for a unique and delicious breakfast or brunch option in San Diego, the waffle sandwich at Chiefy Café is an absolute must-try. This creative twist on a classic sandwich combines sweet and savory flavors in a way that’s both satisfying and unforgettable. The Waffle Sandwich: The star of the show is, of course, the waffle itself. Chiefy Café uses a perfectly golden, crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside waffle as the “bread” for this sandwich. It’s lightly sweet, which pairs beautifully with the savory fillings. The sandwich I tried was loaded with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and melted cheddar cheese, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. The eggs were fluffy, the bacon was perfectly cooked, and the cheese added a gooey, indulgent touch. For those who like a little extra kick, they offer a side of maple syrup or hot sauce to drizzle over the top, adding another layer of deliciousness. Portion Size: The portion is generous and incredibly filling. It’s the kind of meal that keeps you satisfied for hours, whether you’re heading out for a day of exploring San Diego or just relaxing with a cup of coffee. Presentation: The waffle sandwich is served with a side of fresh fruit or crispy hash browns, adding a nice balance to the meal. The presentation is simple but inviting, making it clear that this dish is all about flavor and comfort.

Let's Adventure

First thing I was greeted with upon entering the area of Chiefy Cafe was curious. I asked myself,¨I wonder how this place is going to be compared to others?… Lemme look at the reviews¨ Addressing the ¨Slow food times¨: Located at the center of downtown, this part of San Diego is fortunate to have this business. Imagine if it was in a neighborhood. Those wait times are normal. I am in no rush and if you are to get food and coffee then this may not be the place especially if many are in line. You also have 2 people who are working and are still human. Doesn’t cost much to be courteous. Food Quality: Roughly 3 years ago, there were some posts about the Avocado Toast. The one back then doesn’t look as appetizing as the one shown in my photo. I was fortunate enough to try 3 items on the menu ( Photos are attached to this review ). 1. Avocado Toast 2. Habibi Sandwich 3. Wow Sandwich on a Jalapeño Bagel. Each one had a great flavor! I am not a picky eater as well. Coffee: I had the Iced Cafe Latte White Mocha and it was good! I did get to try the Mexican Latte and I was not impressed, it was a little strong but was ok. I have had better but there are other items on the menu! Next item I will want to try the Protein Latte. Customer Service: Walking in ,I was immediately greeted. I did notice some stress in the tone but I am understanding. It’s a cafe NOT STARBUCKS, and these ladies are probably tired, but they were VERY SWEET. They pointed me in the direction of the owner who just so happened to be there. Listen, don’t be an ass. They’re working hard and this isnt a giant corporation. They’re doing their best and they did their job and were still kind enough to give us more information about the menu with a smile. They use gloves, take their time to make sure that every cup or dish is served consistently. Thank you for the kindness ladies. Owner: I had the pleasure of speaking to the owner Dani, and he was kind enough to give me the time of day! Chiefy is the name of his dog! His photo is the mascot of the business and that is just AWESOME! The coffee they have in bags located near the register, are a new project he is working on and a portion of the money is donated. He is a very passionate man and I admire his tenacity with the fast life that everyone seems to have downtown. Keep going and you’re doing an amazing job! I am not a drinker but they now serve some adult beverages. I am not a fan of the location for myself and would love a location in an area where it is not so busy. This cafe is definitely a hidden gem and if you have some time to just relax, grab a bite to eat, and have some good coffee. This is a place I would definitely recommend! Stay safe out there, please be patient, we are all human and just trying to live.

+22

Dude

In A Nutshell: -Chiefy is a place you need to bookmark if you are looking for yummy food & drinks. -The young women who work there are so nice & friendly. -I enjoyed the Turkish Coffee & the breakfast sandwich w/ waffle. -The food is very fresh & tastes clean, not salty or too sweet. Overall, this place has amazing food, drinks & vibes!! Don't miss out.

+1

Disappointing experience. Service was slow and average. Prices were steep, but more importantly, the food and drinks were disappointing. My latte lacked flavor and texture, the waffles weren't worth the price, and the iced latte was just okay. Hopefully, they can work on their menu and service.

Not great. Date smoothie was gritty, waffle wasn’t made correctly… vibe was ok. It’s the only place open early so I guess there’s that…

Douglas

Save your time . We arrived here just before the brunch rush at 11:05am. Ordered a Veggie Maggie and avocado toast, iced latte and regular coffee. Very limited seating. They need more outdoor chairs and tables down on the actual sidewalk, where there is a lot of room. Since a family business they either need a younger brother/sister to bus the tables OR have a sign to say, “Please bus your own table.” Only good thing was the coffee. This saved Chiefy Cafe from a 1 star review. Most important: the service was awful. The cashier didn’t feel the need to even look at us and it took over 24 minutes to get our order. People that had come after us got their food. When we asked the workers whether our food was the one sitting on the counter, they said (non-schulantly) ya. It was not even our food! Had to take it back. Known fact: Small business that have bad service, don’t do well.

+1