Encuentro Cafe Reviews

My husband and I found this place by accident while staying in Old Town and really enjoyed our delicious breakfast. We asked for recommendations and were so glad we did. We shared the Reina Pepeada Arepas and the Cachapas. Both were wonderful and I'm not sure which I enjoyed more. The coffee was great too! Service was amazing and I know we will stop back next time we're in San Diego.

I visited Congress Cafe several times for breakfast. The food was average-good and I liked the selection (croissants, fruit bowl). The staff were fantastic and I liked being able to sit outdoors in the shade. Coffee was on par with most of the other places I tried in San Diego (ie I did not like it, but it was drinkable)

Most lovely Service and excellent authentic food. Will definitely come back. Thank you for taking such good care of us ❤️

We began visiting Congress Cafe over 2 years ago and have become "regulars". The owners are delightful and they hire the nicest wait staff. The food is tasty, the portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable. Great place to eat breakfast or lunch if you are staying in the Old Town area - or if you are a local, like us, who like to stop in before taking a walk through Old Town State Park.

Best breakfast I have had this year. My mouth is salivating just thinking about it. Fast and friendly service, decent price points, and the food was outstanding. Loved it and posted some pictures. Get the sampler platter

Due to the breakfast disaster which is the Best Western; we stopped by here each day. Fresh pastries and decent coffee was the order.

Our first Venezuelan meal ever and it was a hit. We enjoyed two dishes including a typical American style salad with sliced almonds, strawberries and blueberries and a berry dressing. It was fresh, yummy and large. Our second dis was a Venezuelan cachapa - a slightly sweet corn meal pancake topped with shredded beef, fried plantains, black beans and a soft mozzerella-like cheese. It was accompanied by three different salsa sauces ranging from mikd to hot. Delicious!!!

Cozy restaurant with both inside and outside seating. The owners were both very friendly and helpful and I couldn't resist buying one of the pretty handmade coffee cups from Guadalajara which are also for sale. I had been searching for breakfast earlier than usual before my flight home and found most everything in Old Town opened later than 7 am. As their business card says: "We Wake Up Old town". My order was well made and ample.

This little Venezuelan cafe is a gem. The outdoor seating in the garden is quaint & it feels private even being in the bustling/touristy Old Town area. This was our favorite food in San Diego, and honestly, a highlight of the trip. We were in town for a long weekend & ate there twice. The staff was the most welcoming & friendly! Special shout out to Victor who seems like such a genuinely kind person. We wanted to chat with him all day, but of course he was busy! Really, the people make the cafe a whole experience. And for the food! The salmon arepa with tomato & avocado was delicious & filling (bonus that the arepas are gluten-free). The alma llanera (carnitas, eggs, avocado, plantain, arepa) was a main plate which was such a mouth-watering array of flavors. We also tried one of the sweet corn pancakes with black beans, beef, and plantain (el vainero) which was a nice combo of savory & sweet. My husband loved the Venezuelan cheese. Combine all that with a Mexican mocha=perfection. Everything was fresh & carefully prepared as well as filling, so it is very worth the price. Food sensitivities/allergies are accommodated easily. Overall, such a lovely cafe & a pleasant experience. Pro-tip: Go right at 8am.

We were so happy to find this place when we visited Old San Diego. Small, family style restaurant. Everything is fresh and service is attentive. You can't go wrong with anything here. Call ahead for times-they typically are open just for breakfast and lunch except Saturdays when they have extended hours.

This place is thriving with character from the outside to the inside and even the food itself. With alluring designs choices both on the outside and inside and unique dishes. I had a pelua Arepas (but don't let the translation "Harry" throw you off this dish was so delicious!) Shredded beef and cheese with that yummy to my tummy sauce... ok that's not the official name i just feel that way every time I taste that sauce. My waitress was Natalia, so kind she took time to explain the menu to this Californian with little to no knowledge of Venezuelan cuisine. The Pelua Arepas and a white mocha was $16.50 In my opinion it's worth the experience.

A quiet location on an Old Town street, cute little friendly place, very good breakfast. Fruit cup was only two grapes and an orange wedge--good thing they didn't charge for it. Otherwise great.

Stopped at this quaint little joint over in Old Town to get a bite for breakfast. Service was very friendly and timely. Wife had a breakfast croissant and I had sausage and cheese on an everything bagel. Food was served after a very short wait. Both tasted very good and was exactly what we were hungry for. Wasn't crowded either for a Saturday morning off the beaten path. Reckon you have to be a local to know about this hidden gem! Enjoy!

Located across the street from Old Town, parking is on the street. Handicapped parking is about 30 feet from the main entrance. They have outdoor seating during the Covid scare. You are seated and a server takes your order from a menu. I had the arepa (national dish of Venezuela) which is like an English muffin made of cornmeal with breakfast or lunch stuffings. Service was quick and friendly. I would definitely come here again.

I love everything about this spot. I got here doing a google search and decided to pick this Venezuelan restaurant. What a great decision. Their food is delicious, the environment is awesome but the service is spectacular. I was attending by Zony and Camila and both of them rock!!! I highly recommend this beautiful piece of Venezuela in Old Town San Diego. Definitely I will come back.

This place became our breakfast regular during our stay in Old Town. Great coffee and acai bowls as well as a number of other breakfast delights (like the burrito), and all with friendly service. What more could you ask for?

Stopped by for lunch one day and we were very happy to be there! Our waiter was so friendly and helped us make good choices for lunch. I had a burger and it was great! The portions are big and the waiter was attentive and helpful. We will definitely return!

I always like a restaurant that will make what you want. We are light eaters, and they made just what we wanted. fast service with friendly people. eat inside or out. Next to Old Town San Diego. We had breakfast, was very good

We had breakfast in this establishment… the best of our entire tour in California! Great welcome, service and food!

We had a delicious breakfast. I ordered the el grande (Mexican torts sandwich)and my wife ordered the huevos rancheros. Both were outstanding as well as reasonably priced. Very friendly staff too.

I had the Huevos Rancheros which was great, plenty to choose from on the menu and the price reasonable for the location.

I dropped in here for breakfast early on a Sunday morning. Service was very friendly and prompt. I had a made-to-order latte to start things off and then went with a breakfast bagel, going with the very tasty jalpeno option. Included was a cup of fresh fruit, which was a really nice and tasty touch. Overall a great repast, and adjacent to Old Town so very convenient as a starter for a visit there.

We visited here because the reviews seemed to indicate that this was the best coffee in town. We had a Mexican spiced mocha - which was really a sweet cinnamon spiced hot chocolate with a faint taste of coffee. It was very nice but a bit too sweet for our taste. The espresso was terrible - and tasted like drip coffee. If you are after a real espresso give this place a miss!

Family owned, quiet atmosphere.The owners were delightful. We had the sweet corn pancake, arapa arapa pabellon. It was great. I had the arapa loaners with carne asada. It was so delicious. I will be back.

I adored this cozy and cute cafe with the best home style food, great Mayan Spicy Coffe with lots of cinnamon. I enjoyed the Huevos Rancheros with salsa and avocado, light and good portion plate too. Nice prices to enjoy your vacation and perfectly located at the historical corridor of Old Town. I am glad I visited and had the opportunity to eat there. Next time I visit San Diego, I will start my day with breakfast at Congress Caffee

Nice sausage bagel and pancakes. Good value and service too! Not a must but worthwhile to drop by for breakfast if passing by anyway

Had the Huevos Rancheros, very good. Nice medium size place walking distance to Old Town San Diego. Really enjoyed the visit.

I enjoyed having breakfast in this café in Old Town. They have a very friendly staff. I like that they have an outdoor patio so you can enjoy that incredible San Diego weather. I had their bacon, sausage & egg breakfast which I like because I always do a lot of walking when I travel. Love walking around in historic Old Town.

We were staying at a VRBO within walking distance of the Congress Cafe. What a nice place. We ate outside on the patio and they allow dogs which was very nice. We have a VERY WELL BEHAVED mutt so it worked out great. I ordered a special coffee and it was served in a beautiful cup. I loved the "fake but great" boxwood shrubbery on the wall. Really added to the eating patio. Great food and GREAT wait staff. They have inside eating, as well.

Full of flavor - layers and layer. Had the Caribeñas. Halibut, plantains, Parmesan, avocado etc. A real treat. My husband said “a very delicious breakfast full of unique flavors.” He had a corn cake (cachapa) filled with a Venezuelan cheese and beans and plantain etc). The additional sauces provide even more flavors. I highly recommend this restaurant experience!

We found this little gem for breakfast before starting our last day in San Diego. The arepas were amazing! Great place to stop before catching the trolley!

Bar none, this is the best Venezuelan restaurant I've been to in the whole of the U.S. The food tastes EXACTLY like I remember it from my youth. I wanted to show off the Venezuelan cuisine to my Dutch friend, and this place delivered! I was not expecting traditional Christmas food, but they had a Venezuelan Holiday sample platter that was amazing. The Hallacas were PHENOMENAL, the Pan de Jamón was juicy and tasty, the pernil was delicious. Also, the appetizers sampler was fantastic, with tostones, empanadas, the best tequeños I've EVER had; and cachapas with queso de mano. My friend was blown away by the variety, and I was delighted with all the 100% authentic taste. I cannot speak any higher of this place, and its staff (Bianca was like an old old friend I just met). Seriously, this is the best Venezuelan food you're ever going to get.

Jose is one of the top waiters we have experienced. He informs you, in detail, about the food you are ordering so you are happy with your choice. He is informative, attentive, and efficient. The variety of coffees is satisfying. We had a Mexican Mocha and a Chai Tee Latte. Both are served in hand made mugs. While Jose is not an owner, he treats you with the care and concern that a good owner would do. The owners were on the premises and ready and willing to give you history on the murals in the restaurant. The food was very tasty and homemade. We had tacos, refried beans, and guacamole. We will return and highly recommend it. If you are unhappy with what you received; the staff are happy to hear if it and will rectify it if given the chance.

The food is delicious. And the service wonderful. This is authentic gem, just a block from touristy San Diego Avenue. Try it

Quiet, cozy little place right on Congress St across from Old Town Historic Park. Had a lovely breakfast there on a Saturday morning before heading downtown. Food was simple and tasty. Staff was friendly and courteous. Nothing out of this world but perfect for an easy going breakfast to prepare for a busy weekend.

We came for fathers day weekend call the restaurant and Marcela was very pleasant and put us on the list 10 mins later we got called Table was ready🤗 Came in and Diana best Waitress she very friendly and patient with us Highly recommended we are coming back

We had a most delightful breakfast in the patio, enjoying excellent Venezuelan arepas and very good coffee. My smoked salmon and avocado arepa was utterly perfect, and the salsas that accompany them are really delicious. Service was perfect--super friendly and professional. We would go back in a heartbeat if we lived in San Diego!

My SO and I were looking for another breakfast place actually, when we stumbled upon the cafe. The food smelled good, and it looked nice, so we decided to ditch our original plan and go inside. We were greeted and got a table on the patio right away. Got the menu and ordered just as quick. Our waiter was so-so kind, and noticed we weren't locals. He asked if we knew of Old Town, parking lot just right there; and he came back with a map of Old Town to map out and show us everything we needed to know. He gave a few recommendations and that was super nice of him to do for us once our brunch was out. As for the food, it was also really good. SO loved his omelette, very filling, and I loved my banana-nutella crepes - yummy stuff! Again, the waiters/waitresses were cleaning and super polite and welcoming to all their customers. It truly was the best casual cafe experience I've had in San Diego. Super major kudos to our waiter for being so friendly!

I recommend the Congress Burger, scintillating hot chocolate, chai tea, and chicken burger as the burgers can include a meal such as potato chips and soda as well. Our waitress made us feel welcome because she was nice and friendly. The owner was very friendly as he came out to chat to get to know the guests. I think the ease of opening the bathroom locking cylinder on the customer bathroom could continue to be enhanced. I think the restaurant could easily become five-star if this recommendation was implemented. This is an amazing breakfast and lunch place so I hope to return in the future.

We walked around old town and stumbled upon this place. It was hot, and we were thirty. We originally went to just get some cold coffees but after looking at the menu decided on a Açaí bowl. IT WAS DELICIOUS!!! I would definitely recommend it! Hubby said ice coffee was really good as well. Definitely worth the stop. The lady that greeted and waiting on us was super nice.. Oh and they are pet friendly!

Today was busy day lots walking, Off the beaten path we discovered congress cafe. A great assortment of cold or hot drinks anything could be made into smoothies. Friendly helpful staff, we had ice coffee and iced chi Great drinks in clean quiet spot Will return

Very friendly staff from Venezuela! Explained everything about the menus and even gave us advise on different ways to enjoy the meal. We had never had arepas prior to eating breakfast here but they went with the ingredients well! Very filling and flavorful! Cafe con leche was also delicious!

You must try this Cafe!! The cappuccino was great!! the Burger "Congress Burger" the best Ive had in CA and many other places as well. Great friendly service. Fresh made food so delicious. A must in old town for sure

We went here for a weekday lunch in late autumn. I was ready to continue walking, but my partner wanted to stop here for lunch, so we did, after looking through the menu and deciding what we would order. When we first entered, we asked if they had table service, because the interior looked as if it might have been geared for takeout. We sat outside, in the shade, which was nice,as it was a warm day for November. I ordered the turkey, spinach, and cheese crepes, and my partner ordered carne asada tacos. His tacos seemed fine, but my crepes reinforced a prejudice that I had before going in about ordering French food in a Mexican restaurant. I was not disappointed in my expectation. My crepes were so dry they crumbled at their edges, and the fillings were slices of deli meat with small amounts of spinach and cheese. The atmosphere was very pleasant, though, so we sat for a short while after eating to watch the sun-drenched traffic meander past before going back into the sun to continue our walk through Old Town.

The nicest couple, Karen and Andres, own this restaurant and their employees are all just as nice. They strive to make your experience a great one--you don't like something and they will make it right. They are dog lovers, so bring your dog and sit on their patio to enjoy your meal. Great Mexican coffee and their regular coffee is great too. Anyone can find something they like on their menu. I will always go there when in San Diego. Reasonably priced too!

Excellent location right in front of the Old Town San Diego parking. Nice terrace, great environment. The food is AWESOME, their coffee and chocolate amazing. The Arepas (Venezuelan food) is out of this world. Absolutely delicious, we had the Pelua and the Pepiada, definitely worth it. Sweet Staff, 100% recommended!!!

We had just arrived in San Diego and were walking by and decided to stop in for a little bite. We loved it!! The owners were amazing and super friendly, the food was super yummy and I found the perfect art piece for my kitchen, hanging on their tree. It truly was a great place, run by welcoming people and I'm glad we found it! Don't hesitate, it's a gem! The food was fresh and delicious!!!

loved this place for breakfast - we went twice, once for a stop and take out once for a site down. My daughter loved the cinnamon roll and talked about it all week so we had to go back. Great simple house coffee in addition to a variety of choices on the menu. Very good breakfast menu. Pricing was great for the value and as I said, we went back a second time - great area too, love Old Town.

This is a cute little cafe right across the street from one of the side entrances to Old Town. The decor is cute and the place is cozy. The staff is very polite and friendly. Our waitress was helpful with giving us information about visiting Old Town. The menu had a decent selection. In addition to egg dishes, they also serve pancakes which was good because one of our children does not eat eggs. I wish there had been more Mexican egg dishes to choose from, but what we all ordered was still very good. Loved the Spicy Mexican Mocha! Delicious!

Great coffee. Laid back, outdoor seating. Breakfast options include Mexican or American. Open only for breakfast and lunch.

You really must try the Arepas. I had no idea what was the food and the waitress recommended it to us as a Venezuela’s specialty and it’s was delicious.

Amazing flavor. First visit. Will come here often and recommend this to locals and bring visiting guests to. Cute simple place. Family home food and vibe.

I realize I just wrote a review on the Congress Cafe last month but I was in San Diego again last week and I just HAD to go over to this lovely restaurant again. This time I bought two of their mugs which I will treasure one and the other will give as a gift. Love the wait staff and ALL of the people that work there. Food is very good and very very fresh. I went there on a Wed and Thurs and parking was not a problem at all.

Breakfast later in the day. Omelet was ok, nothing special. Butter was frozen, so had dry toast. Service was super slow and table was sticky.

Our family stopped here for breakfast and had a great experience! Fabulous food options for breakfast and lunch. Huge portions, unique coffee options too. Nice outdoor seating area and the staff were so friendly. We will probably return again this week later on our vacation!

El Criollo dish was amazing! Everything fresh and delicious. Liked the three sauces that come with the dishes. coffee very good.

This Lil gem in Old Town is lovely. Ambiance is super chilled and outdoors. Service is friendly and prompt. We loved the arrepas with cheese and plantains as well as the El criollo plate. Delicious. We were stuffed in the end. Our 4.4 years old absolutely enjoyed her time as well and fell in love with arrepas :)

Food is okay, but overpriced and service was very slow and inadequate. We paid a $.50 surcharge for jalapeños for the tacos -- they should have been included. Like a lot of San Diego restaurants, they added a 3% surcharge for "government regulations" (I.e., an increased minimum wage). I am happy to pay more to give waitstaff an adequate wage, but I don't appreciate the anti-government rhetoric, and I would rather they reprint the menu and slightly increase the prices. They also add a $.50 charge for credit or debit card payments. Really? Not recommended.

My friends and I were visiting Old Town San Diego and we had breakfast at the Congress Café twice. We all liked it so much. There is a small indoor seating area and a larger outdoor area. You feel like you get some real home cooking at the Congress. Their menu is modest in size and they are only open for breakfast and lunch. I enjoyed the Huevos Rancheros plate one day and a breakfast burrito the next. There entrees mostly come with meat but I was able to ask for vegetarian options. What really shines here, is the friendly service. The staff were like old friends the second day we visited

Picked this place because of the reviews, the food was great. Tortillas and breakfast burrito with chorizo is very tasty. Have the Mexican coffee, it’s very good. The only reason I am not giving it 4 stars is because our waitress kept forgetting stuff. Otherwise, the food was good and the place is clean which is very important for me. We would def visit again.