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Cafe Elena
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Cafe Elena
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Cafe Elena

Middle eastern · San Francisco

3.8 · 34 reviews Google
ladleandleaf.com

About Cafe Elena

Cafe Elena is a restaurant located in San Francisco, CA. Rated 3.8 out of 5 by guests. Popular for breakfast, lunch, solo dining. The menu features coffee, healthy options, quick bite, vegan options, vegetarian options. Offers dine-in, delivery, takeout. Casual atmosphere.

What Customers Say About Cafe Elena

Cafe Elena is praised for fast, healthy, and delicious soups, salads, and sandwiches, making it a great lunch spot. However, it's considered expensive, and the location is difficult to access for non-students. Some customers have reported bland or oddly flavored food.

Popular Dishes

soups salads (6) sandwiches (3) Asian Chicken salad pea soup chicken chipotle salad

Best For

Quick Bite Solo Dining Business Locals

Tip: If you're not a student, be aware that accessing the location for pickup can be difficult; consider delivery instead. Also, double-check the location on Google Maps.

Features

🚗 Delivery Accessible 🌅 Breakfast 🍽️ Lunch 🌙 Dinner 🥗 Vegetarian 🌱 Vegan Coffee
🎯 Casual

What to see nearby

Kezar Stadium
A 452m

Kezar Stadium

estadio

View details
Doelger Building
A 623m

Doelger Building

edificio

View details
Grattan Playground
A 651m

Grattan Playground

parque

View details
Park View Hotel
Heritage
A 720m

Park View Hotel

edificio

View details
Garfield Monument (San Francisco)
A 930m

Garfield Monument (San Francisco)

monumento

View details
Sunset Tunnel Park
A 969m

Sunset Tunnel Park

parque

View details

Data from Wikidata

Explore the area around Cafe Elena

Cafe Elena is located in San Francisco, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.

Historical Heritage

  • Park View Hotel (A 720m) — historic building in San Francisco, California, United States Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos

Parks & Gardens

  • Grattan Playground (A 651m) — park in San Francisco County, California, United States of America
  • Sunset Tunnel Park (A 969m) — park in the United States of America

Other Points of Interest

  • Kezar Stadium (A 452m) — estadio en San Francisco, California, Estados Unidos
  • Doelger Building (A 623m) — historic building in San Francisco
  • Garfield Monument (San Francisco) (A 930m) — monument in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, U.S
  • McLaren Lodge (A 990m) — building in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA

Data from Wikidata

Frequently asked questions about Cafe Elena

Cafe Elena is located at 500 Parnassus Ave RM MU136, San Francisco, CA 94131, San Francisco.
Near Cafe Elena you can find points of interest such as Kezar Stadium, Doelger Building, Grattan Playground, Park View Hotel.
Cafe Elena offers middle_eastern cuisine.
Cafe Elena has regular opening hours. Check their profile for updated schedules.
Cafe Elena offers the following services: dine-in, takeaway, delivery.
The most recommended dishes at Cafe Elena based on customer reviews are: soups, salads, sandwiches, Asian Chicken salad, pea soup.
Cafe Elena is ideal for quick bites, solo dining, business dining, locals.
Cafe Elena is praised for fast, healthy, and delicious soups, salads, and sandwiches, making it a great lunch spot. However, it's considered expensive, and the location is difficult to access for non-students. Some customers have reported bland or oddly flavored food.
If you're not a student, be aware that accessing the location for pickup can be difficult; consider delivery instead. Also, double-check the location on Google Maps.
34
Reviews

Cafe Elena San Francisco Reviews

3.8
34
5★
41%
4★
32%
3★
3%
2★
9%
1★
15%
Reviews (40)
A
American Angler

I sure going to enjoy a big bowl of soup and a sandwich from the Ladle & Leaf as soon as I'm done visiting my pal Joebastis Bildgewater at the hospital where he spending a week after having his leg replaced with an honest to goodness peg leg..just like a pirate! A nastyass rattlesnake bit him, and he figured it'll heal on its own, so he didn't go to a doctor...Well he finally went and the doctor had to cut his leg off, and he's getting a peg leg just for the bragging rights, and the free beers he'll get at the bar! All the while I was laughing at him, I couldn't stop thinking about the Split Pea Soup and a Roast Beef Sandwich from Ladle & Leaf that was soon to be in front of me. And they were amazing! 5 ☆☆☆☆☆

American Angler
American Angler

I sure going to enjoy a big bowl of soup and a sandwich from the Ladle & Leaf as soon as I'm done visiting my pal Joebastis Bildgewater at the hospital where he spending a week after having his leg replaced with an honest to goodness peg leg..just like a pirate! A nastyass rattlesnake bit him, and he figured it'll heal on its own, so he didn't go to a doctor...Well he finally went and the doctor had to cut his leg off, and he's getting a peg leg just for the bragging rights, and the free beers he'll get at the bar! All the while I was laughing at him, I couldn't stop thinking about the Split Pea Soup and a Roast Beef Sandwich from Ladle & Leaf that was soon to be in front of me. And they were amazing! 5 ☆☆☆☆☆

C
C C

I didn't get to taste the food, but I was able to get some chips and a Spindrift as they were closing. Thank you for obliging, I was starving!

D
Dan Ciccarone

Yummy soups, salads and sandwiches.

J
Jennifer Nielson

Fast! Healthy! Delicious!

m
manuel lara

Very good

A
Adam Frank

Great lunch spot

s
stephanie strunk

Very good food

manuel lara
manuel lara

Very good

Adam Frank
Adam Frank

Great lunch spot

C C
C C

I didn't get to taste the food, but I was able to get some chips and a Spindrift as they were closing. Thank you for obliging, I was starving!

Dan Ciccarone
Dan Ciccarone

Yummy soups, salads and sandwiches.

Jennifer Nielson
Jennifer Nielson

Fast! Healthy! Delicious!

stephanie strunk
stephanie strunk

Very good food

K
Kevin L

I ordered online for pickup but had a hard time getting to the location. Not sure if you need a badge to access this area. I ordered the Asian Chicken salad and pea soup. Both tasted great. Salad was filling with the chicken and edamame. Split pea soup was seasoned very well and will order again.

P
Patricia Saylor

Removing a star because this location was very hard to find to pick up my order. It is across the street from where Google Maps says it is, so don’t use that! You need to go to the Medical Sciences building, go up the stairs to the second floor and out into the courtyard and you’ll see it across the courtyard in the School of Nursing building. Not sure if you need a badge to get in to this location. I eventually found one sign in a hallway that tells you how to get there, otherwise I would have had to call the cafe to find it. Got two vegetarian sandwiches and they were pretty good but probably not worth the time it took to get them. Would recommend if you are at/around UCSF already.

Kevin L
Kevin L

I ordered online for pickup but had a hard time getting to the location. Not sure if you need a badge to access this area. I ordered the Asian Chicken salad and pea soup. Both tasted great. Salad was filling with the chicken and edamame. Split pea soup was seasoned very well and will order again.

Patricia Saylor
Patricia Saylor

Removing a star because this location was very hard to find to pick up my order. It is across the street from where Google Maps says it is, so don’t use that! You need to go to the Medical Sciences building, go up the stairs to the second floor and out into the courtyard and you’ll see it across the courtyard in the School of Nursing building. Not sure if you need a badge to get in to this location. I eventually found one sign in a hallway that tells you how to get there, otherwise I would have had to call the cafe to find it. Got two vegetarian sandwiches and they were pretty good but probably not worth the time it took to get them. Would recommend if you are at/around UCSF already.

K
K.C. Rogers

Great for a quick good lunch, not cheap.

J
Jonathan Ramirez

Delicious. Expensive, but delicious.

A
Ana Vega

Todos me parese bien

S
Stephanie Kim

It’s good, but picking up your order for non-students is very difficult to get inside because you need a badge to access the building. You have to ask someone to let you inside, which is inconvenient and a security issue. I usually just get delivery from here and haven’t had any problems, but I wish it was in a better location so that I could pick it up myself.

K.C. Rogers
K.C. Rogers

Great for a quick good lunch, not cheap.

Stephanie Kim
Stephanie Kim

It’s good, but picking up your order for non-students is very difficult to get inside because you need a badge to access the building. You have to ask someone to let you inside, which is inconvenient and a security issue. I usually just get delivery from here and haven’t had any problems, but I wish it was in a better location so that I could pick it up myself.

Ana Vega
Ana Vega

Todos me parese bien

Jonathan Ramirez
Jonathan Ramirez

Delicious. Expensive, but delicious.

G
Gary Richmond

Expensive and delicious and healthy; closes early =(

Gary Richmond
Gary Richmond

Expensive and delicious and healthy; closes early =(

C
Carlos Molano

Protein offered in the full plates are abysmal and the salads are one of the most saddest looking ones. Expensive for what they offer and none of the protein is cooked on site. This is what you would expect from Wendy’s and not a local chain

Carlos Molano
Carlos Molano

Protein offered in the full plates are abysmal and the salads are one of the most saddest looking ones. Expensive for what they offer and none of the protein is cooked on site. This is what you would expect from Wendy’s and not a local chain

A
Adriana Scioscia

I ordered the chicken chipotle salad and I just can’t explain exactly why, but it was the most bland salad I’ve ever had. The lettuce to toppings ratio is like 95/5 and the chicken is probably pre made chicken they use for everything therefore it had zero seasoning and it tasted so bad. Couldn’t eat it.

C
Colin Germer

The prepacked pastries are edible. Otherwise, most of their food tastes really wrong. Sandwich with chicken, pesto, and brussels sprouts? Whole thing tastes like a lemon. Burrito with avocado, chorizo, and Sriracha? Smells like copper but no taste.

Adriana Scioscia
Adriana Scioscia

I ordered the chicken chipotle salad and I just can’t explain exactly why, but it was the most bland salad I’ve ever had. The lettuce to toppings ratio is like 95/5 and the chicken is probably pre made chicken they use for everything therefore it had zero seasoning and it tasted so bad. Couldn’t eat it.

Colin Germer
Colin Germer

The prepacked pastries are edible. Otherwise, most of their food tastes really wrong. Sandwich with chicken, pesto, and brussels sprouts? Whole thing tastes like a lemon. Burrito with avocado, chorizo, and Sriracha? Smells like copper but no taste.

D
Doug Faunt

Menu looked good, but I couldn't get there, while waiting to take a friend home. Sucks.

R
R.

Automatically tossed salad when I had absolutely no desire for this, ruining a meal that was already going to cost upwards of 16 dollars. Portions of protein are small. Lack of good substantially vegan options (tofu sandwich, please) Clearly only survives because it is preying on students and faculty money :( (location poach)

G
GS F

Expensive, rude and quality has gone down hill so not sure why go back here. Too bad, was the only semi healthy option on site. But between the wilted brownish greens, the one slice of turkey on their sandwiches and the bad service I think will need to look elsewhere.

R. Rock
R. Rock

Automatically tossed salad when I had absolutely no desire for this, ruining a meal that was already going to cost upwards of 16 dollars. Portions of protein are small. Lack of good substantially vegan options (tofu sandwich, please) Clearly only survives because it is preying on students and faculty money :( (location poach)

Doug Faunt
Doug Faunt

Menu looked good, but I couldn't get there, while waiting to take a friend home. Sucks.

GS F
GS F

Expensive, rude and quality has gone down hill so not sure why go back here. Too bad, was the only semi healthy option on site. But between the wilted brownish greens, the one slice of turkey on their sandwiches and the bad service I think will need to look elsewhere.

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About Cafe Elena

How to get there

500 Parnassus Ave RM MU136, San Francisco, CA 94131

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Cafe Elena
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Highlights

💰
Budget Friendly
Price level
👨‍🍳
middle_eastern
Cuisine type

Services

🥞 Breakfast
🍽️ Lunch
🍾 Dinner
Coffee
🥗 Vegetarian Options
🌱 Vegan Options
🥡 Takeout
🚚 Delivery
🍴 Dine-in

Dining Options

🍽️ Dine In
🥡 Takeout
🚚 Delivery

Restaurant Info

Status
Verified by owner
🕐 Hours Today
7AM-5PM
Rating
3.8/5
💬 Reviews
34
💰 Price Level
$
📞 Phone
+1 415-740-9488
🌐 Website
ladleandleaf.com

Amenities

Wheelchair Accessible
🚻 Restroom
💳 Credit Cards
📱 Mobile Payments
🏘️

The Neighborhood

Kezar Stadium

estadio en San Francisco, California, Estados Unidos

A 452m
Doelger Building

historic building in San Francisco

A 623m
Grattan Playground

park in San Francisco County, California, United States of America

A 651m
Park View Hotel Heritage

historic building in San Francisco, California, United States

A 720m
Garfield Monument (San Francisco)

monument in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, U.S

A 930m
Sunset Tunnel Park

park in the United States of America

A 969m
McLaren Lodge

building in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA

A 990m
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