Joy's Place

Joy’s Place is, true to its name, the place where joy resides. Joy in this case is one of the finest cups of drip coffee I’ve ever had and a generously portioned and delightfully flavorful bulgogi sandwich. My partner’s breakfast sandwich was similarly delicious and served on a soft but sturdy bun. She got the peanut butter cream latte - a delectable treat on a hot day. The vibe is also fantastic; leafy walls and gentle music come together with cozy but not-too-crowded tables to make a very pleasant dining experience. The two folks behind the counter were friendly and efficient, making good use of the compact kitchen/coffee counter setup back there. Bear in mind that the menu on their website is - from what I can tell - not fully accurate to their current offerings. Don’t let that deter you; this is the place to eat!

Excellent Latte! Greta ambience. Kind service.

The staff here is friendly and the shop is cute. They didn't have decaf but the hot chocolate I had was pretty good. The fact that it has seating is great too as that seems to be hard to find downtown. Will definitely stop by again!

Great cafe to get some work done in. Lots tables and good wifi. Bulgogi sandwich and shaved ice was yummy. soy matcha latte was great too

Got a spicy chicken sandwich and a bamboo latte; both were very flavorful. Ate half in the restaurant (a clean but small place with available seating - the staff is polite and service is timely), took the rest home and ate it later - the sandwich still tasted good cold, which was a welcome surprise

I had a super pleasant time eating in here, they have a nice selection of food and drinks. The actual dining space is really mellow, and if you're someone who has sensory issues sometimes like myself, you will be able to eat and/or grab a drink here very comfortably :^)

I had the best latte here. I’m really excited to come back for their food. They decorated the walls with this really cute fake moss and it’s like a indoor garden vibe. I really thought it was cute too because I committed on the wall to my barista and he said his mom did it. I feel really good supporting small businesses and I hope other people would want to frequent this place. I check their website and it’s actually well made and like a son and mother work here. That’s adorable 🥰 highly recommend this place!

Walked by this place yesterday and it looked cute. Decided to come in for coffee and a quick bite this morning. Ordered an espresso shot, vanilla latte, Turkey sandwich, and tuna melt. Everything was delicious. The sandwiches were big and hearty. Definitely one of the better sandwiches I’ve had in awhile. Latte was also nice and tasty. Had only one gentleman working the counter and kitchen. Nice flow of customers but he handled everything well and service was not slow at all.

Great café with excellent service and a quiet setting. Perfect for visitors looking to enjoy a peaceful morning coffee to start the day.

Joy’s Place has quickly become one of my favorite cafés in San Francisco. I came with a few friends and we ordered the mango bingsoo, green tea bingsoo, and one of their waffles—and honestly, everything was spot on. The bingsoo was super fluffy and light, almost like freshly fallen snow. The mango one came loaded with fresh fruit and mochi on top, while the green tea bingsoo had a deep matcha flavor that wasn’t overly sweet—just really balanced and satisfying. They even serve condensed milk on the side so you can customize the sweetness, which I really appreciated. The waffle was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Great portion sizes, super sharable, but also so good you might want your own. The café itself has such a calm, welcoming vibe. There’s a beautiful plant wall, clean design, and it just feels like a nice place to take a break or catch up with friends. The staff is friendly and the service feels genuine—no rush, just good energy. If you’re in the area, definitely check out Joy’s Place. Whether you’re a dessert fan or just want a good hangout spot with quality drinks and treats, this place is worth a visit.

Super cute little place. A quick walk from our hotel and we find the little gem. Fantastic service and food to match. We originally planned to share a breakfast sandwich, but had to get two because it was good. Not overwhelming on any one thing and balanced. Great eggy bread that was light and yet held together. We ordered a Caramel Latte and a Cream Latte. Carmel was nicely balanced and not crazy sweet. The Cream Latte, on the other hand was cool, creamy and again so good we had to get two (because I was for sure not sharing with the husband beyond the first "you gotta try this and give it right back to me" sip). Go and enjoy this cute little spot.

Blown away by the peanut butter cream latte. I then try the spicy chicken sandwich which at first didn’t seem that spicy but the heat creeps up on you as it bursts with flavor. I was delighted to grab a quick bite here and service was friendly. Cannot wait to bring my partner in crime to this place.

This place is chill. I found this place when I was waiting to check into my hotel. I got their tuna sandwich and it was surprisingly good. It wasn't anything like your typical mayo and mustard kind of sandwich. There was seasoned caramelized onion and that sauce was bomb. The bread was toasted and tender in the inside. I would go back! Something about it made it stood out from the rest.

Been there on a morning. Breakfast sandwich was very tasty and fresh. Coffee is 2$ and they have fast wifi connection. The only criticism would be about toilet cleanliness which could definitely be improved.

Joy's Place rocks. Great place to grab breakfast. FYI they open at 8 am don't be fooled by Google posted 9 am. The breakfast sandwich is especially good. My wife and I really enjoyed stopping in for a quick bite to start our day.

I come here every day for lunch and order a ham and cheese croissant. Its always delicious and comes with a tasy side salad. Its very reasonably priced, and the service is always excellent!! Today i got my usual ham and cheese croissant and cappuccino, the cappuccino was really good too! Bravo!

We discovered this place when searching for the nice cafeteria missing a bit the European vibe and here it is 💜 Amazing calm place with perfect coffee and not sweetened oat milk which is hard to find Totally recommended 💜💜

Martin Blair

Joy's Place rocks. Great place to grab breakfast. FYI they open at 8 am don't be fooled by Google posted 9 am. The breakfast sandwich is especially good. My wife and I really enjoyed stopping in for a quick bite to start our day.

Christopher Ray

I come here every day for lunch and order a ham and cheese croissant. Its always delicious and comes with a tasy side salad. Its very reasonably priced, and the service is always excellent!! Today i got my usual ham and cheese croissant and cappuccino, the cappuccino was really good too! Bravo!

Kasia Dural

We discovered this place when searching for the nice cafeteria missing a bit the European vibe and here it is 💜 Amazing calm place with perfect coffee and not sweetened oat milk which is hard to find Totally recommended 💜💜

Steven

Great café with excellent service and a quiet setting. Perfect for visitors looking to enjoy a peaceful morning coffee to start the day.

Angie Nguyen

Walked by this place yesterday and it looked cute. Decided to come in for coffee and a quick bite this morning. Ordered an espresso shot, vanilla latte, Turkey sandwich, and tuna melt. Everything was delicious. The sandwiches were big and hearty. Definitely one of the better sandwiches I’ve had in awhile. Latte was also nice and tasty. Had only one gentleman working the counter and kitchen. Nice flow of customers but he handled everything well and service was not slow at all.

Arianna Yoon

Joy’s Place has quickly become one of my favorite cafés in San Francisco. I came with a few friends and we ordered the mango bingsoo, green tea bingsoo, and one of their waffles—and honestly, everything was spot on. The bingsoo was super fluffy and light, almost like freshly fallen snow. The mango one came loaded with fresh fruit and mochi on top, while the green tea bingsoo had a deep matcha flavor that wasn’t overly sweet—just really balanced and satisfying. They even serve condensed milk on the side so you can customize the sweetness, which I really appreciated. The waffle was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Great portion sizes, super sharable, but also so good you might want your own. The café itself has such a calm, welcoming vibe. There’s a beautiful plant wall, clean design, and it just feels like a nice place to take a break or catch up with friends. The staff is friendly and the service feels genuine—no rush, just good energy. If you’re in the area, definitely check out Joy’s Place. Whether you’re a dessert fan or just want a good hangout spot with quality drinks and treats, this place is worth a visit.

Christine Wright

Super cute little place. A quick walk from our hotel and we find the little gem. Fantastic service and food to match. We originally planned to share a breakfast sandwich, but had to get two because it was good. Not overwhelming on any one thing and balanced. Great eggy bread that was light and yet held together. We ordered a Caramel Latte and a Cream Latte. Carmel was nicely balanced and not crazy sweet. The Cream Latte, on the other hand was cool, creamy and again so good we had to get two (because I was for sure not sharing with the husband beyond the first "you gotta try this and give it right back to me" sip). Go and enjoy this cute little spot.

Double J

Blown away by the peanut butter cream latte. I then try the spicy chicken sandwich which at first didn’t seem that spicy but the heat creeps up on you as it bursts with flavor. I was delighted to grab a quick bite here and service was friendly. Cannot wait to bring my partner in crime to this place.

T P

This place is chill. I found this place when I was waiting to check into my hotel. I got their tuna sandwich and it was surprisingly good. It wasn't anything like your typical mayo and mustard kind of sandwich. There was seasoned caramelized onion and that sauce was bomb. The bread was toasted and tender in the inside. I would go back! Something about it made it stood out from the rest.

Matt

Been there on a morning. Breakfast sandwich was very tasty and fresh. Coffee is 2$ and they have fast wifi connection. The only criticism would be about toilet cleanliness which could definitely be improved.

The breakfast sandwich is the best I have ever had omg. The coffee is so good. I went back 3 days in a row. Such good quality food!

Really really good coffee. Whenever I come to San Francisco, I struggle to find good, smooth Cappuccino. I think I finally found the perfect coffee in San Fransisco. Its a cute place, great chilled vibe, and quiet. Kind of like it this way, but am sure its going to get very very busy as the coffee and vibe is that good!

JJ Ayur

Really really good coffee. Whenever I come to San Francisco, I struggle to find good, smooth Cappuccino. I think I finally found the perfect coffee in San Fransisco. Its a cute place, great chilled vibe, and quiet. Kind of like it this way, but am sure its going to get very very busy as the coffee and vibe is that good!

Amy Reid

The breakfast sandwich is the best I have ever had omg. The coffee is so good. I went back 3 days in a row. Such good quality food!

Very cozy little coffee dessert Place.

Cute cafe. We had the red bean shaved ice and was very refreshing. The sweet potato in the latte just seemed too foreign to me. I didn’t really like it.

Great coffee. Barrista not too enthusiastic to be working on Sunday morning.

Matcha and mango shaved ice used to be good. Please don’t use the outdoor seating; there’s faeces on the street outside pretty much everyday

Went to this cafe one afternoon per a friend's recommendation. Got the ooh-so-enticing peanut butter latte and a bulgogi sandwich. Was not disappointed! Both were absolutely delicious. On top if that, the lady manning the counter was super nice and seemed to put some extra care in preparing the order. Would have added an extra star if the dishes from a previous customer (which seemed to have been left on the table for a while before I arrived) were cleaned up.

Came here about 4 years ago and loved the coffee and honey toast. The cafe had a warm atmosphere and felt welcoming. We visited SF again this past year and had to stop by again, however, it wasn’t the same. The shelves looked empty and they had changed up their menu. They also didn’t offer decaf coffee either. Overall still a decent spot for coffee and a quick bite

We love the green tea shaved ice. If you’re ordering for more than one person, get the large. It’s worth it. Vanilla shaved ice is our second favorite, and strawberry our third. Both are pretty good. They make your order very quickly, and there’s almost always seating when we go at night, though the furniture is showing its wear

Good little cafe. Coffee is "good" but not fantastic, but overall the service is good and they have good food options. The cheese croissant is a good option, as are the waffles. Check it out if in the neighborhood and looking for something simple.

Delicious tuna melt. Cheese was melted to perfection and the bread was toasted well. Hot chocolate wasn't the best I ever had, but still pretty sweet and tasty. Stop by if you're in the area! Didn't get to try their croffles but will do soon.

Food: Had the bamboo latte (green tea latte topped with a shot of espresso) and their breakfast sandwich. I recommend the bamboo latte but the sandwich was a little heavy. Service: Fast. Space: French cafe music is playing and it’s relatively quiet on a Saturday at 10:30am. The door is open for ventilation. The decor is modern but not overly trendy.

Simple little place that gets the job done, wanted a quick dessert and so the joy waffle with honey and ice cream settled for a light and enjoyable dessert. Space is clean and bright, enough seats for around 20. Come stop by if you’re nearby

Great area, great setting with spaces to work?, good wifi, the sandwiches are delicious . Only the service is really bad , they don't deliver food or drink at your table even if you eat in , never smile and they all look grumpy

Cute spot to stop for a quick lunch or coffee and dessert. I had a roast beef sandwich which was served warm and a lightly sweet strawberry shortcake.

Wilson Tsang

Simple little place that gets the job done, wanted a quick dessert and so the joy waffle with honey and ice cream settled for a light and enjoyable dessert. Space is clean and bright, enough seats for around 20. Come stop by if you’re nearby

JennySkyIsTheLimit

Great area, great setting with spaces to work?, good wifi, the sandwiches are delicious . Only the service is really bad , they don't deliver food or drink at your table even if you eat in , never smile and they all look grumpy

Elizabeth M

Cute spot to stop for a quick lunch or coffee and dessert. I had a roast beef sandwich which was served warm and a lightly sweet strawberry shortcake.

Julia Hesse-Fong

Food: Had the bamboo latte (green tea latte topped with a shot of espresso) and their breakfast sandwich. I recommend the bamboo latte but the sandwich was a little heavy. Service: Fast. Space: French cafe music is playing and it’s relatively quiet on a Saturday at 10:30am. The door is open for ventilation. The decor is modern but not overly trendy.

Great quiet place for good coffee/espresso drinks and breakfast; tried another place on Saturday am and the line was ridiculous. This place we clean spacious and a nice menu. Recommend.

Marlene Z

Great quiet place for good coffee/espresso drinks and breakfast; tried another place on Saturday am and the line was ridiculous. This place we clean spacious and a nice menu. Recommend.

I usually don't common on restaurants since what I need is basic. The guy works in the shop is mean and rude. He kept asking me" what? ", " I couldn't hear you..." I am not a native American, but I don't have these problems with any coffee or restaurant run by American. The service is DISAPPOINTED. This guy doesn't what he is doing. Food is basic and pricey. So many better coffee shops or cake shops in this area.

Updated review: As of April ‘19 Joy’s Place is under new ownership. They took out the sweet potato latte and the shaved ice desserts. I am very sad to experience this as Joy’s (to the best of my knowledge) had one of the best specialty drinks. The menu is revamped to include more food items. Perhaps I’ll come by for a bite or two. Previous review: It does get a little crowded here at certain times. My favorite drink to get is the sweet potato latte. Their honeyed bread is also good

The pastries are great. Really soft and flavorful and crunchy in the right spots. But the coffee is really mediocre. I've gone here a couple times and most of my time is spent mixing the syrup into the drink so it isn't a solid puck at the bottom.

Over priced and average. Asked for an extra hot coffee in a mug and got a tepid coffee in a glass. Cookie had a wierd taste to it - spongie and strange. Super ££££ too!

Molly Daniel

Over priced and average. Asked for an extra hot coffee in a mug and got a tepid coffee in a glass. Cookie had a wierd taste to it - spongie and strange. Super ££££ too!

A very average little coffee shop with mediocre food and service. I'm not sure what people find so exciting here. I've just left this place, with a cold cup of coffee in hand. For me the server was kind of abrupt and despite a couple of requests I never could get a simple glass of water. There's so much good coffee in San Francisco, it would be a shame to think that this was the best.

Lewis Rhames

A very average little coffee shop with mediocre food and service. I'm not sure what people find so exciting here. I've just left this place, with a cold cup of coffee in hand. For me the server was kind of abrupt and despite a couple of requests I never could get a simple glass of water. There's so much good coffee in San Francisco, it would be a shame to think that this was the best.

I had a tuna sandwich here, and it was genuinely one of the most disgusting things I've ever bought. I wouldn't even consider myself a picky eater eater, but this place has been burned into my memory. Sandwich was gross and had big chunks of raw non-diced red onions like someone just threw left over scraps on there with no care. I wish i just asked for a refund... Also this place looks nothing like the photos. In reality, its not warm and cozy, but stale ...bland...almost bleach like. It looks like a cafeteria from highschool. I also bought an over priced cake dessert that was not worth it. Probably store bought and marked up... Bruh, im shocked by the 4.3 (currently) star review of this place. Do not eat here.

Food was good but my cashier didn’t even say hi when I walked into the shop, she put my food for there when I clearly said to go, then she didn’t even bother to hand me my food and put it on the counter for me to walk up to her, and then left my coffee in an open container and went to help the next customers with a completely unapproachable demeanor. I tipped her up front and was kind but she treated me like a burden just for being a paying customer, she also put my waffle in an upside down container. Don’t do her job right and she had a terrible attitude, I work a high volume food counter so when I say her service was lacking I know what I’m talking about. It’s a shame to have a negative first impression like that. I hope she has better day.

Isabella Perez

Food was good but my cashier didn’t even say hi when I walked into the shop, she put my food for there when I clearly said to go, then she didn’t even bother to hand me my food and put it on the counter for me to walk up to her, and then left my coffee in an open container and went to help the next customers with a completely unapproachable demeanor. I tipped her up front and was kind but she treated me like a burden just for being a paying customer, she also put my waffle in an upside down container. Don’t do her job right and she had a terrible attitude, I work a high volume food counter so when I say her service was lacking I know what I’m talking about. It’s a shame to have a negative first impression like that. I hope she has better day.