Plant-based restaurant serving food with Mid-West-meets-California flair. House specialties include Nashville hot shrooms, cast iron mac and cheese, cashew mozzarella, and different flavors of pizza. Also has a separate brunch menu with dishes like French toast, frittata, and chocolate tart. Relocated from 2949 Fifth Ave. Open Mon 5:00pm-9:00pm, Wed-Sun 11:00am-3:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm. Closed Tue.
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2611 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, California, USA, 92104
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- Delivery
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 26 Jan 2025 by DonnaJeanSD
Update business info -
Added by westcornersville on 23 Feb 2017
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256 Reviews
First Review by Mike Weinberg
Ryah.Mayer
Points +311
Quality food! - Edit
The perfect place for a nice dinner, date night, gathering of friends/family, etc. the pizza was amazing, getting a crust dip is a must, and the wine was delish!
Read morePros: Quality food , Atmosphere, Tons of options
Cons: A little pricey
Guest
BetterOffRed
Points +154
Exceptional vegan food - Edit
This place lives up to the hype. Sensational, fresh house-made cheeses pair incredibly well with plant-based comfort foods.
Read moreWe started with the Hot Shrooms which were fried to perfection and mildly spicy. The Lasagna Bolognese shined with fresh squash and the incredible combination of cheeses, lentil Bolognese, and tomatoes. My partner said it was, “spiritually cleansing - one of the best lasagnas I’ve ever eaten.” The umami of the truffle cream was just right as it married with the mushrooms and cheeses on the Fungazi pizza. Each bite was creamy, dreamy, and unctuous. We ended with a chocolate chip cookie that was sweet, slightly chewy, oven-warmed, and expertly salted. Chef’s kiss.
Our wait staff was incredible as well. Friendly, engaging, and went above and beyond. They even wrote a list of their favorite restaurants in San Diego for us to visit while we were on vacation.
Pros: Incredible staff, Delicious vegan cheese
Guest
sydneystark16
Points +182
Amazing pizza!!! - Edit
The entire restaurant is plant based and gives all the information about soy, nuts, and gluten which is extremely helpful. The staff is extremely nice and helpful and the overall atmosphere is great. The music is especially good and I think I ate the best pizza I’ve ever had. I highly recommend the iron man pizza and the hot shrooms!!
Read moreGuest
DestinyVillarreal
Points +68
This is my favorite restaurant in San Diego - Edit
I am a lover of Italian pizza, and I was worried when turning more vegan I wouldn’t be able to eat it anymore. But Donna Jean has amazing vegan Italian wood fired style pizza and I just love it. I always frequently go by the restaurant to purchase their vegan cheeses. Their vegan cheese are hands down the best I have ever had. They are miles beyond miyokos cheese in my opinion. Their new fall menu right now has a pizza called the Gold Lion and it is delicious. Must try if you are there in the right season.
Read moreGuest
arlitopups
Points +908
Amazing! - Edit
Phenomenal pizzas that will comfort your soul and fill up your stomach.
Read morePros: Everything seems delicious.
Cons: The service was slow; food took forever to come.
Guest
danambaker
Points +57
Perfect - Edit
Unbelievable savory handmade high quality pastas and cheeses. The experience is worth the money.
Read morePros: ambience, romantic, delicious
Guest
Maria_Nomas
Points +357
One of my favorites - Edit
It’s a must when we are in San Diego, we just love it, their food is amazing, they have great service, nice outdoor seating. Their pizza is probably the best vegan pizza we’ve ever had.
Read moreI highly suggest to make a reservation ahead of time, specially for brunch, it can be hard to get a table.
Pros: Nice atmosphere, Excellent service , Everything is delicious
Cons: Sometimes is hard for walk-ins to get a table , A bit pricey
Guest
plantbasedgal
Points +457
Delightful, Delicious Vegan Cuisine - Edit
Comfy seating, cool vibes, and dynamic food welcome hungry vegans looking for creative fare.
Read moreTreat yourself to the fabulous brunch. I loved the Motherloade, a plate of yummy tofu scramble, their famous fingerling potatoes, and greens. I swapped the toast for the heavenly tasting biscuit.
Updated from previous review on 2019-05-11
Updated from previous review on 2021-07-12
Pros: Fabulous food, awesome service
Cons: None
Guest
ndines
Points +832
Can’t miss vegan restaurant - Edit
WOW. Incredible vegan food. The pizza is out of this world!!
Read moreGuest
lavendereyelids
Points +150
Had a good experience but wasn’t wowed - Edit
Food was good but expensive and smaller than average portions. Eg. 6 slices of pizza for 18$. The Mac and cheese was a little too vinegary +smokey for me. It tastes delicious and strong the first few bites but then got hard to eat. The pizza was really great but very thin toppings so more like a yummy bread honestly. Worth it for a special occasion but probably wouldn’t go back anytime soon.
Read moreGuest
JimHerndon
Points +171
Wow best vegan bread and “cheese” - Edit
This was the best all-vegan restaurant we visited during our trip to California. Ingredients were super fresh, with none of the usual reliance on processed “meat replacement “ products. We enjoyed “hot shrooms” , calzone, lasagna, pizza, and Caesar salad. The lasagna was particularly outstanding in that it stood as some of the best ever, vegan or not.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-06-17
Pros: Fresh … no processed “replacement “ products , Best vegan bread!, Best vegan cheese!
Cons: Setting quite rustic, but food wins the day
Guest
codeea
Points +69
Excellent food - Edit
This place is delicious. We just tried it for the first time and got the Thunder Kiss ‘65 pizza and the lasagna which were both super flavorful and very fresh tasting. The staff was also very friendly which was definitely an added bonus.
Read morePros: All vegan, Delicious
Cons: Expensive
Guest
619veg
Points +95
Excellent Vegan Restaurant - Edit
Donna Jean has an amazing dine-in patio, trees, plants and herb gardens fill the area. The food is great and their customer service goes over the top! Will be back soon!
Read moreGuest
meaghan_yo
Points +52
So good! - Edit
We stopped in for pizza and couldn’t resist trying many dishes. Pizza, hot shrooms, caesar salad, and mac and cheese were all delicious! Servers were friendly and the outdoor eating space was beautiful. We wished we lived in town so we could enjoy this restaurant more often!
Read morePros: All vegan and house made cheeses
Guest
gizelle617
Points +1724
From a vegan Chicagoan who loves pizza.. - Edit
Donna Jean is an amazing place with great food, great desserts, and great service (special shout-out to my server, Daniel). I love the patio and the pizza and cheesecake exceeded my expectations. I will definitely be back to visit.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-04-30
Guest
StephanieL14
Points +109
Gourmet vegan food - Edit
Donna Jean is one of the best vegan restaurants in San Diego for a reason. Their food is consistently delicious and the service is always great. Yes, their lunch/dinner menu is tasty, but you must try their brunch at some point! 🤤
Read moreGuest
JamesH42
Points +128
Great Healthy Food - Edit
Great atmosphere and food right in Mission Beach. The food is clean and healthy! A lot of vegan restaurants are guilty of being like other regular restaurants and fill their food up with oil. This place is great if you are a Dr. Mcdougall follower as I am, although I splurged and had the Nachos!!!
Read morePros: Great tasting Food Lots of vegan options pet frien
Cons: Nachos were devoured instantly
Guest
SamanthaKTeng
Points +1469
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wowwwwww - Edit
I am SO happy I tried this place out!! This is some epic gourmet vegan food....legitimately one of the best tasting vegan meals I’ve had. It’s not diet food but it’s freaking amazingly flavorful, well thought out and delicious.
Read moreJust wow. I ordered the casoncelli (rolled ravioli)..immediately upon opening the takeout container....the smell of the charred greens smelled yummy. The first bite I took of that ravioli.....I knew I have to come back to Donna Jeans again one day.
The filling...the fennel...the texture, the taste....the chewiness and perfectly cooked ravioli dough....EVERYYTHINGGG! It was mmm...wow...oh my god...wow..mmmmmmmmmm!
What a delicious meal. I can’t wait to try other menu items!
Guest
ccporcu
Points +264
Excellent - Edit
Excellent food and service in a lovely atmosphere.
Read moreGuest
ShanChat
Points +177
Gourmet - Edit
Donna Jean taught me that vegan food can be gourmet. It is in my top 2 vegan restaurant in San Diego. Delicious rotating menu. I love the seasonal pasta! It is exciting to see their seasonal menu changes but my heart breaks when my favorites leave the menu. I miss the cruciferous bolognese and the gold lion pizza!!! But it is always fun to try something new. At lots of places I get stuck in a rut but that is impossible here and that is beautiful!
Read morePros: Vegan stuffed pasta (ravioli like), Amazing vegan cheese and butter, Pizza is legendary
Cons: I miss the gold lion pizza, I miss the cruciferous bolognese
Guest
russelta
Points +49
Best vegan food ever - Edit
This was the best vegan food I have ever had... hands down!
Read moreThe fried mushroom with gravy was very good, and the pizza was beyond amazing.
They seem to be doing a really nice job keeping customers and their staff safe during COVID.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Guest
heahayitsme
Points +43
The pizza is fire - Edit
My friend and I split the Caesar Salad, the Mac n cheese and the pizza. This is my new go to place when I want pizza!! The Mac n cheese was also phenomenal.
Read morePros: Best vegan pizza!, Cute outdoor atmosphere, Friendly service
Guest
MarieSoriano
Points +479
Nice vegan brunch - Edit
It was nice to find a 100% vegan restaurant that serves brunch and is able to accommodate at least a party of 4. We were able to enjoy our meal even though it was 90 degrees, and only outdoor seating was available. Both the Chicken Fried ‘Shrooms and the Stuffed French Toast were excellent. The server was kind and patient with my stepson who follows a keto diet and was struggling to figure out what he should order. The closest keto option was The Mother Load which includes tofu scramble, greens, potatoes, and toast. Additional greens and veggies replaced the potatoes and bread.
Read moreMy husband snuck inside and bought focaccia and a cinnamon bun to take home, the food was so scrumptious.
Why am I giving this place only 4 stars if it’s so wonderful? Because there are literally only 4 choices for weekend brunch, and the regular menu is not available until Noon. I don’t expect 20 different dishes, but it would be nice if they expanded their repertoire a little.
Pros: 100% vegan, Dishes taste fantastic , Exceptional service
Cons: Limited brunch menu
Guest
feelgoodpicks
Points +397
Best Vegan Meal! - Edit
Ordered 3 pizzas: Widow, Sinister Kid and Thunder Kiss. All of them were amazing but Widow was the most flavorful. The dipping sauces are a must: garlic butter, truffle cream and aioli. Their Summer Panzanella salad was fabulous. The Hot Shrooms app tasted like calamari.
Read moreThe creative flavors that went into each dish was appreciated. Outside seating. A experience in every way. Will definitely be back.
Guest
Seatown_vegan
Points +9005
Delicious Pizzas - Edit
HappyCow is a perfect 5/5 on food recommendations here in San Diego!
Read moreDonna Jean was delicious! I ordered the Widow and it tasted lovely. I also ordered some type of truffle oil dipping sauce for the crust that was good as well. I would definitely return to try other pizzas and maybe even the skillet macaroni
Pros: All vegan
Guest
maleea
Points +63
brunch visit - Edit
On my trip here I got the French toast which was pretty good, wasn’t disappointing. My partner got the chicken friend shrooms which were okay, he was disappointed with the portioning. We also got the strawberry lemonade which I dont recommend unless you like super sour lemonade. Overall I think we just aren’t fancy enough people for this place lol
Read morePros: nice staff, pricey
Cons: small portions
Guest
melanievel
Points +34
Never had a bad dish there! - Edit
I’ve been coming to Donna Jean since it opened. Every single dish is amazing. Lately, I’ve been loving the caesar salad. All the pasta dishes are amazing. You can tell the level of effort put into every dish is well thought out.
Read morePros: Everything is good!
Cons: Pricey
Guest
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