Raw
Salad bar
Juice bar
Take-out
Bakery
Fusion
Vietnamese
Gluten-free
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Cafe with a towering cactus out front. Uses fresh produce of Costa Rica to create lunch specials such as Vietnamese noodle bowls, sandwiches and salads. All offerings come in a vegan option. Also has vegan banana bread and muffins as well as coffee. Open Mon-Fri 12:00pm-8:00pm, Sat-Sun 10:00am-8:00pm.
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Barrío Amón (at Avenida 7 between Calle 3 and 5), San Jose, Costa Rica
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 21 Apr 2023 by Guest
Update business info -
Added by AnnickF on 05 Jan 2019
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69 Reviews
First Review by AnnickF
Lisa
Points +921
What a treat! - Edit
Read moreReally great art/restaurant concept in a comfy house with lots of different seating options. Vegan options are clearly labeled, staff is friendly and helpful, and food is 🔥! The waiter came out and explained all the different sauce flavors and left a whole basket of the vegan sauces for me. I had the Casado with eggplant, which I recommend because the eggplant was cooked perfectly. I’ll be back!
Guest
AllisonHill
Points +194
Lovely cafe - Edit
This cafe is situated in a lovely building and the staff were very welcoming. There were lots of labelled vegan options. The food was very good and they had a selection of unusual juice drinks that we enjoyed.
Read morePros: Setting , Vegan options , Tasty food
Guest
Alysoun Mahoney
Points +915
Wonderful Vietnamese-Costa Rican Fusion! - Edit
I stopped in for lunch here by myself after a walking tour of the city. The team gave me a warm welcome in a mix of Spanish and English, and seated me at a lovely counter by the window surrounded by plants. The menu was completely bilingual and was very clear about vegan options. I chose a build-your-own bowl with eggplant, plus a latte with oat milk. The waiter brought me my dish along with a basket of different sauce options, carefully explaining which were vegan and how to add them. Everything was very fresh, flavorful and filling.
Read morePros: Delicious food, Clear vegan options in Spanish and English, Welcoming staff and environment
Guest
Grovean
Points +548
Excellent food & service - Edit
Was delighted to find this place on HC - a short walk from our hotel. It was quite busy (good sign!) and we loved the food. We each had Casado one with mushrooms and one with eggplant, along with edamame. Don’t miss the delicious chocolate cake - plant-based treat!!
Read morePros: Excellent food - very flavorful , Awesome service w/servers speaking English , Super chocolate cake
Guest
CamilaSilvaL
Points +7315
Delicious - Edit
Simple, big portions and so yummy. I tried the banh mi with shiitake mushrooms and I loved it. The chocolate cake is the best thing you’ll try! #Veganuary
Read moreGuest
lia89
Points +118
Sehr gutes Essen, viele vegane Optionen - Edit
Viele Optionen, auch vegane Alternative zu Fischsuppe. Vegane Optionen klar gekennzeichnet
Read moreGuest
Ikido
Points +174
Plenty of good vegan options - Edit
Many vegan options for drinks and food, even the wines were clearly labelled.
Read moreGuest
AlvinBon
Points +9344
Excellent service, food and place! - Edit
Located in an old big house with a nice garden with plants, the waiter never lose his smile, even the chef, who passed by, was very friendly!
Read moreThe vegan eggplant bahnmi was amazing!
The chocolate was too big. Thank god they serve it with a raspberry jam. Maybe it would be better to serve a cheaper smaller portion.
Updated from previous review on 2025-01-19
Guest
movergoor
Points +244
Café Rojo - Edit
What a nice place to be! A complete different world when compared to the streets outside. Beautiful old building and very friendly, open and helpfull staff. All we ordered was vegan and super delicious!! Hemos comida excellente! Muchas Gracias!
Read moreGuest
hels86
Points +30
Spot on - Edit
Vegan options clearly marked on menu. Staff asked vegan status so they could recommend the right sauces. Good was delicious and reasonably priced. Lovely vibe and friendly, knowledgable staff.
Read morePros: Vegan choices clear on menu, Staff knowledgable and proactive, Nice vibe
Guest
greencookie
Points +25
Great vegan options - Edit
They have clearly marked vegan options and the staff was beyond friendly. Definitely one of the best stops here in San Jose!
Read morePros: Nice patio to sit in front of cafe , Vegan options clearly marked , Sweet staff
Cons: Not fully vegan
Guest
Avi-m
Points +32
Best Vegan Cake - Edit
El mejor pastel vegano que he probado, la cobertura suave y levemente dulce junto a la compota de mora está en todo. Muy buena atención, porciones abundantes y con buen sazón.
Read moreGuest
hatszepsut
Points +668
Recommended - Edit
Really good food, generous portions. The staff was so sweet and welcoming. I would definitely recommend this place :)
Read moreGuest
Marlena_n
Points +234
super azjatycka opcja w San Jose na piątkę z plusem - Edit
Ogromny plus za to, że wszystkie główne dania mają podstawę wegańską, a dodatki wybiera się według upodobań.
Read moreJedliśmy wietnamski bowl z makaronem ryżowym i dodatkami, sosy dostaje się osobno, tylko jeden nie jest wegański o czym poinformował nas kelner.
Byliśmy naprawdę zadowoleni, danie było pyszne i porcja bardzo duża 😊
Updated from previous review on 2024-05-28
Guest
ThatPaddyGuy
Points +93
Authentic and lots of options - Edit
Outside of Vietnam this was one of my favourite and most authentic Vietnamese lunches. They just hit the right notes and tone. Fresh herbs, great table sauces, well cooked food, fresh and imaginative fruit juices (try the BlackBerry and Cinnamon and pour a little sugar syrup in to make it sweet to your own taste) and good coffee to boot. The staff were very welcoming and rightly proud of their restaurant. Even the building and decor was fun. Vegan options wise, you just don't select the meat and choose from caramelised Aubergine (Egg Plant) or Shitaki Mushrooms and don't use the fish sauce. Even a few vegan desserts and almond milk options too. I'm going back tomorrow to try the Báhn mí as I had the Bun bowl today.
Read morePros: Fresh , Great flavours, Amazing fruit juices
Guest
amymg
Points +165
Great Casado - vegan - Edit
Delicious vegan Casado option and have alt milk for coffees - huge service. Lovely outdoor table (have indoors also)
Read moreGuest
TatianaKwamsu
Points +1521
Amazing - Edit
Cute place and amazing staff. I had the Casado with eggplants, portions are big, it was delicious. Vegan sauces. They should add tofu on the menu😉
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2024-03-11
Guest
PaulinaKarwowska
Points +85
Really good - Edit
Great choice and all labelled properly for vegans.
Read moreNice vibes and good beer!
Pros: Vegan labels , Desert, Vibes
Cons: Nope
Guest
Nanna
Points +986
Great for Desserts! - Edit
I had the cas with spearmint and chocolate cake. I really liked the drink, they serve without sugar so that you can sweeten it according to your preference. The cake was delicious! Highly recommended
Read moreGuest
DDDennis
Points +1615
Nice desert - Edit
Several vegan options (4 deserts). Very friendly staff and place looks nice and clean
Read moreThe main dishes however were just ok. Nothing really special. Hongos were too salty, berenjas were good. The noodle dish was quite small too.
Desert (chocolate) was very good!
A 3.5 star rating
Guest
AmyMcKennaHomes
Points +26
Tasty, whole, healthy, charming - Edit
Oh God, this place is wonderful. Not only with tons of well-labeled vegan dishes but it was real, whole, healthy, tasty food! I came here after a day of travel food and Cafe Rojo was a godsend. Friendly, warm, helpful servers who spoke excellent English too. I may come back to San Jose just to come to Cafe Rojo.
Read morePros: Healthy, Tasty, Atmosphere
Guest
FrHoB
Points +32
Clear recommendation - Edit
Very nice place. Good concept, good food. For the mains the basis is always vegan. Different clearly labelled desserts. Very friendly service.
Read morePros: Good food, Very friendly service, Clearly labelled options
Cons: n/a
Guest
Carito.o
Points +159
Favorito - Edit
El casado con hongos shiitake y el queque de chocolate vegano son mi pasion. La salsa de hongos es imperdible. Se puede encargar queque entero de chocolate vegano.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-07-28
Guest
DebbiePennock
Points +291
Excellent service and food - Edit
Excellent vegan options, well marked on menu, vegan wine is labeled as well. I went back a second time on my trip since it was so good.
Read morePros: Great vegan options , Staff knowledgeable , Great portion sizes
Guest
stulave
Points +1702
Well worth the walk to find - Edit
Fusion restaurant - Vietnamese and Costa Rican. Build your own mains, with several vegan options. The vegan chocolate cake is divine!
Read moreGuest
Tiffanyeatsveggies
Points +34
Amazing vegan Vietnamese food - Edit
Had a delicious and fresh noodle bowl with lots of fresh herbs and eggplant
Read morePros: Good selection of vegan options, Very warm and cozy atmosphere , Amazing service
Guest
Brock_Lee
Points +16
Back-alley but incredible - Edit
Amazing vegan options and super friendly service. Their take on the traditional „Casado“ is insane, you absolutely have to try that with the eggplant.
Read moreGuest
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