Highlights
- Great coffee
- Great tea selection
oChef » Lani – San Diego
Lani - San Diego
Photo from Lani
Lani at a glance
San Diego Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District
- ☕ Café
$$
Price per Person $11–$20
mentioned by 86 of the guests
#403 out of 755 places to eat in San Diego
#37 Café out of 65 in San Diego
Good
7.2 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
412
Reviews
72.3%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Cozy atmosphere
- Good coffee
Frequently criticized
- Bland food
- Forced tipping
The cafe Lani Coffee, located in the vibrant Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District of San Diego, offers you a delightful escape. This cozy and casual spot is renowned for its great coffee, making it a perfect destination for your morning brew or an afternoon pick-me-up.
You’ll find a welcoming atmosphere whether you’re looking for a quiet moment or a trendy place to meet friends.
Overview: Introducting Lani
Lani presents itself as a welcoming spot, often lauded for its inviting ambience and genuinely kind staff. Many appreciate the relaxed atmosphere, making it a pleasant escape for a quick break or a leisurely moment.
Despite occasional culinary misses, Lani is frequently noted for its surprising value, offering affordable options that stand out in the area. This balance of a comfortable setting and reasonable pricing often makes it a go-to for a casual meal or a refreshing drink.
Good
7.2
out of 10
412
Reviews
72.3%
Satisfaction
96
negative
18
neutral
298
positive
Lani earns a solid 7.2 overall, indicating a generally good experience for most patrons, aligning well with a 72.3% customer satisfaction rate. This positive sentiment is built on 298 positive remarks against 96 negative ones, out of 412 total customer observations.
The Ambience (8.1) truly shines, creating a cozy and relaxing environment. Food (7.2) and Service (7.1) also perform well, suggesting reliable quality and attentive interactions.
However, Value (5.2) sits in the average range, with some finding prices reasonable while others point to specific items being expensive or issues with payment practices.
What people like
- Cozy, relaxing atmosphere
- Friendly, warm staff
- Delicious coffee, acai bowls
What people don't like
- Inconsistent food flavor
- Forced tipping system
- Occasional long lines
With a recommendation score of 7.5, Lani is certainly worth considering, especially if you’re seeking a pleasant atmosphere and a good cup of coffee. It’s a solid choice for a relaxed start to your day or a casual break.
However, approach the food menu with a discerning eye, as some items might not live up to expectations. If you prioritize a welcoming vibe and affordable coffee over a consistently stellar meal, Lani could be a fitting spot for you.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Lani
Food (7.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 95% of the guests
Lets talk food! This place generally serves up a good experience, with a solid 7.2 score and 71.9% customer satisfaction. Many guests, accounting for 187 positive remarks, absolutely adore the incredible coffee selection, from Kona to unique flavored lattes, and the delicious acai bowls, often praised for their perfect sweetness and generous portions.
Dont miss the tasty breakfast burritos, healthy vegan options, and fresh pastries! However, out of 260 total opinions, 61 negative comments highlight some areas for improvement. Issues included iced coffee being too diluted, and some acai bowls described as watery or bland.
Certain burritos occasionally disappointed, being small, greasy, or flavorless, and a few felt the Kona coffee didn't quite hit the mark.
Food
260
Reviews
71%
Satisfaction
61
negative
12
neutral
187
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Incredible coffee selection
- Delicious acai bowls
- Tasty breakfast/lunch options
What people don't like
- Inconsistent coffee quality
- Bland acai bowls
- Disappointing burritos
Often praised
- coffeeThe staff is wonderful and the atmosphere is great. It’s my favorite spot in San Diego for coffee.
- foodI visited this restaurant twice in two days while I was in town. The place has a chilled vibe about it, offering a great range of coffees and food. It's a must visit if you fancy a coffee in the Gaslamp District.
- acai bowlThe acai bowl was not watery or too thick, with just the right amount of sweetness and toppings. A great feature for me is that the acai bowl is not made with yogurt. Additionally, the portion size was just enough.
- acai bowlsThe acai bowls and their latte selection are amazing.
- breakfastMy experience at this restaurant was fantastic! It's a great spot for coffee and breakfast, especially when you want to avoid the convention center's price gouging. I especially enjoyed my aloha mocha latte.
- breakfast sandwichtried the Kona coffee and breakfast sandwich it was amazing
- food and drinksThe food and drinks are so delicious!
- FoodFood: 4
- Hawaiian coffeethey always have great Hawaiian coffee
- avocado toastnever had an avocado toast before, it was amazing
Frequently criticized
- foodIn summary, my experience at this restaurant was mixed. The iced coffees were good, but the food was very average. If I were to return, I would only get drinks.
- coffeeWhatever they are claiming to be “Kona” coffee is almost certainly not it
- acai bowlordered an acai bowl and it was literally a half bowl
- granolaMy experience at this restaurant was mixed. While the burrito and bagel sandwich were flavorless, I was especially disappointed by the açaí bowls, which were very bland with tough granola and basic toppings. On the positive side, the shop is very cozy and the staff was very nice!
- oatmealI’m going to give them a little slack because it was comic con weekend and they seemed overwhelmed, but my experience with the oatmeal was not great. There was hardly any oatmeal at all; I had to pull out half the fruit just to get to the oatmeal itself. When I moved the bananas on top around, I discovered even less oatmeal.
- 100% Kona coffee100% Kona coffee did not smell or taste right
- Açaí Berry smoothieAçaí Berry smoothie tasted like medicine
- CoffeeCoffee was lukewarm at best
- Hawaiian style smoothieshighly advertised for it’s Hawaiian style smoothies
- Iced caramel machiatoIced caramel machiato was bland and lacked coffee flavor.
If you're seeking a great coffee experience or a satisfying acai bowl, this spot is definitely worth a visit. Just be mindful that some of the burritos and certain coffee preparations might be a bit inconsistent, so choose wisely to ensure a delightful meal.
Service (7.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 53% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot generally hits the mark, scoring a 7.1, which is pretty good! Many of the 46 positive remarks out of 69 total opinions highlight the friendly staff, warm welcome, and overall kindness. Guests often appreciate the quick and efficient service, making for a pleasant visit.
However, customer satisfaction sits at a 66.7%, indicating a mixed experience for some. The 20 negative comments point to issues like rude service, frustrating waiting time, and long line concerns. A few also mentioned a lack of organization with handling the queue, which can definitely be a buzzkill.
Service
69
Reviews
66%
Satisfaction
20
negative
3
neutral
46
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Warm welcome
- Quick service
What people don't like
- Rude service
- Long waits
- Poor organization
Often praised
- staffWhile the burrito and bagel sandwich were flavorless, I was especially disappointed by the açaí bowls, which were very bland with tough granola and basic toppings. On the positive side, the shop is very cozy and the staff was very nice!
- serviceHonestly, the place is worth visiting. I also want to thank the staff; their service was refined and fast. They are simply amazing!
- ServiceService: 4
- peopleThe people, atmosphere, and incredible coffee will always have me going back
- EddieEddie was friendly and warm
- Nice staffNice staff and serving it up with a smile
- checkoutI ordered a Hot chocolate Ghirardelli, and the staff was kind enough to take my order. The checkout was quick, and the drink was served promptly. The drink was as good as I thought it would be.
- coffee shopsone of the only coffee shops that opened early
- family runIt seemed to be family run
- folksthe folks were polite
Frequently criticized
- servicewhen they got told twice it was they still didn't change it
- staffThe staff was gruff and not friendly
- 15-minute waitwait for 15 minutes for my drink
- attendantThe attendant was rude to boot
- attention to coffeelack of attention to coffee itself
- lineThere was a long line at the Waffle House
- long linelong long line
- name of the customerMy experience at the restaurant was negative due to the rude service I received. When I arrived to pick up an order, the staff member was so impolite that she didn’t even let me tell her the name of the customer.
- now-shortened hoursThe really now-shortened hours are disappointing
- older gentlemanI had to repeat my order to the older gentleman a few times as he kept getting it wrong
If youre looking for a place with generally friendly and quick service, youll likely be pleased. However, be prepared for the possibility of longer waits or less organized queuing during busy times, which could impact your experience.
Ambience (8.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 47% of the guests
When it comes to the vibe, this spot generally hits all the right notes! With a solid score of 8.1 and customer satisfaction at a great 89.1%, most people absolutely love the atmosphere. Out of 64 comments, a whopping 57 rave about the chilled vibe, relaxed atmosphere, and cozy feel, often highlighting the plants and warm colors that make it so inviting.
However, it's not entirely perfect, as 4 comments pointed out some minor issues. A few found the decor a bit cliché Hawaiian or mentioned a cramped area for queuing. There were also isolated mentions of sticky floors and tables, suggesting there might be occasional slip-ups in maintaining that otherwise clean and pleasant environment.
Ambience
64
Reviews
89%
Satisfaction
4
negative
3
neutral
57
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Relaxed atmosphere
- Cozy and inviting
- Clean environment
What people don't like
- Cramped queue area
- Sticky floors
Often praised
- atmosphereThe people, atmosphere, and incredible coffee will always have me going back
- placenice little place perfect for a light lunch
- AtmosphereAtmosphere: 4
- ambianceIt's a cute little coffee shop with a great variety of both Hawaiian and regular coffees. The ambiance is cozy, making it a charming spot to relax.
- environmentHad a great environment
- interioris clean and well lit
- seatingThe interior has plenty of seating
- vibesthe vibes were relaxing for a morning meal.
- Hawaii ambiencelove the Hawaii ambience too
- Hawaiian and reggae musicThey were playing some Hawaiian and reggae music
Frequently criticized
- cramped areaHowever, there was little to no organization with handling the queue, which made things awkward. It was challenging to maintain order in the cramped area left to queue up without blocking egress points or tables.
- decorUnfortunately, it was underwhelming. The decor is cliché Hawaiian, reminiscent of a 1960s vibe, which I found to be without nuance. While the store was very clean and the staff were actively maintaining it, the coffee itself was disappointing.
- entire experienceVery disappointed in the entire experience
- sticky floors and tablesThe breakfast bagel was tasteless, reminiscent of airplane food. The cafe's ambience was just okay, with standard seating and the usual sticky floors and tables. Overall, there was nothing worth visiting for, and I would consider other options in the area.
If you're looking for a place with a genuinely relaxed and inviting atmosphere, this spot is definitely worth checking out. While there might be a minor decor quibble or a sticky table now and then, the overall good vibes and cozy feel make it a great choice for unwinding.
Value (5.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 15% of the guests
Despite a `mixed` customer satisfaction of 42.1%, many customers found the `prices` to be quite `affordable`, especially for `breakfast` and `refreshments`. Some were even `shocked` by how `cheap` things were for the San Diego area, avoiding typical `price gouging`. This contributes to an `average` score of 5.2 for value.
However, based on 11 negative observations out of 19 total remarks, others felt the value was lacking, describing items as `overpriced` or `expensive` for what you get. The `payment system` also drew criticism for `forcing` a `tip`, even requiring a `custom tip` entry to avoid it, and a `non-cash purchases fee` was a point of contention.
Value
19
Reviews
42%
Satisfaction
11
negative
0
neutral
8
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Affordable breakfast options
- Reasonable local prices
What people don't like
- Overpriced certain items
- Forces tipping system
- Non-cash purchase fee
Often praised
- pricesso shocked by the prices too, so cheap for San Diego!
- affordablequick, affordable breakfast or lunch
- inexpensive breakfastgrab a inexpensive breakfast/refreshment
- inexpensive refreshmentgrab a inexpensive breakfast/refreshment
- pricewithout convention center price gouging
- price per personPrice per person:$1–10
Frequently criticized
- priceSimilarly, the Iced caramel machiato was bland and lacked coffee flavor. I found the drinks to be super disappointing and very expensive. On a positive note, the Acai bowl was pretty good at least!
- tipMy experience at this restaurant was marked by a frustrating payment system that forces you to tip something, even when you have to pour your own coffee. This practice is not cool.
- Pricebought a box of the regular for &20
- custom tipyou have to select “custom tip” and enter 0.00
- non-cash purchases fee1$ fee for non-cash purchases.
- payment systemPayment system forces you to tip something
- pricesPrices somewhat high but typical for area.
If youre looking for an `inexpensive breakfast` or `refreshment` and are mindful of the `payment system`s quirks, you might find some good deals. However, be prepared for potentially `overpriced` items and an enforced `tip` structure that could detract from the overall value experience.
How are the prices at Lani?
On average, you’ll spend around $12 per person – from 86 guests. That puts this Cafe in the $11–$20 category. For a Cafe, that’s comfortably mid-range, maybe slightly above.
Looking at what everyone else spends, most diners stick to the $1–$20 range, with very few opting for pricier options. So, it seems the pricing really clusters around that sweet spot.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 86 reviews.
See how this Cafe’s value stacks up against similar spots in San Diego.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Cafe. It offers good value for those looking for a casual, mid-range experience without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Lani
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Service Intent
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
Noise Level
- Quiet
9
Excellent Coffee, Atmosphere, and Service!
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The coffee was great, and you can really taste the quality in every cup. The atmosphere was also wonderful, and the staff were incredibly friendly.
I'll definitely be coming back!
- coffee9
- quality9
- atmosphere9
Service Intent
- Regular Visit
Service Type
- Dine-in
8
Big Coffee and Nice Place to Work
My experience at this restaurant was great! The coffee was big and tasty, and it's a very nice place to work. The wifi took a bit to connect but eventually did.
- coffee9
- place to work8
- wifi6
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Service Intent
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
Noise Level
- Quiet
10
Best Coffee Place Experience Ever!
WOW! I have never had my expectations blown away by a coffee place before. The food here, specifically the blackberry nut muffin, was THE BEST!
I also enjoyed the coffee; the brew was strong, just as I ordered, and the nut milk was very yummy. The menu offers an array of items that could satisfy anyone's coffee and snack desires. I am so shocked by the prices too – so cheap for San Diego!
I will definitely come again.
- food10
- blackberry nut muffin10
- coffee8
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
2
Disappointing Steak and Egg Burrito
I ordered a steak and egg burrito, hoping to salvage the filling since there were limited gluten-free options. To my surprise, there was a second tortilla inside. The filling itself was meager, containing less than one egg and only five small squares of steak.
It was definitely not worth it.
- steak and egg burrito2
- gluten-free options2
Price per Person
- $1–$10
Service Intent
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
Noise Level
- Quiet
6
Confusing Tip System, Good Food
My experience at this coffee shop involved ordering at the counter with no table service. While I usually don't mind this setup, the tipping system here was unusual. When it came time to pay, the default tip was 20%, with no option to decline tipping.
To avoid tipping for non-existent service, I had to select 'custom tip' and manually enter 0. 00. The food itself was rated a 5, indicating a positive experience with the quality, but the service aspect related to the tipping mechanism was a point of confusion and frustration.
- drip coffee6
- food10
- service2
- tip2
- custom tip3
What Lani offers
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
- Tourists
- College students
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Kids' menu
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Solo dining
- Lunch
- Breakfast
Amenities
- Restroom
- Free Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
Offerings
- Healthy options
- Coffee
- Vegetarian options
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Catering
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Dessert
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Takeout
- Delivery
Pets
- Dogs allowed outside
- Dogs allowed
Parking
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Cozy
- Casual
- Quiet
- Trendy
FAQs
Is Lani Coffee accessible for everyone?
Yes, Lani Coffee ensures a comfortable visit for all guests. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance, seating, and restroom facilities, making it easy to enjoy your time here in San Diego’s Asian Pacific Thematic Historic District.
What kind of dining experience and food options can you expect at Lani Coffee?
At Lani Coffee, you can enjoy a cozy and casual atmosphere perfect for a quick bite or a relaxed meal. They offer breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dessert, with healthy and vegetarian options available alongside their great coffee and tea selection.
What is the overall customer sentiment for Lani?
Lani generally receives good feedback, with an overall score of 7.2 and 72.3% customer satisfaction. Its Ambience (8.1), Food (7.2), and Service (7.1) are well-regarded, though Value (5.2) is considered average.
Is Lani a good place for coffee and breakfast?
Yes, many customers praise Lani for its excellent coffee, including Hawaiian varieties, and its well-made acai bowls. It’s often highlighted as a great spot for an inexpensive breakfast or refreshment.
Are there any common issues customers experience at Lani?
Some customers have noted issues with inconsistent food flavor, particularly with certain breakfast items. There are also mentions of a payment system that can feel like it forces a tip, and occasional long lines.