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Categories: American (New), Vegetarian, Vegan
Neighborhood: Rolando
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CLOSED
Went to get a wrap and they had a sign in the window. "Cafe Zia will close on December 20 after 10 great years".
Sad to see them go. they had amazing wraps.
love the wraps. don't change formats to burger place or salads! keep the funky, unique flavored… Read more »
Looking past sterilized food choices I have made and dissonant memories of times when I was a shallower man I can admit that I have not always been on the righteous path. You see to be a truly enlightened individual you must be willing to accept that some of the bad things in this world can be directly traced back to your own self.
I know I have sinned, but so has Ghandi. People still love Ghandi and I still love myself. I am like an unfinished portrait. That is why I am drawn to Cafe Zia.
Perfection is not what is on the outside and Cafe Zia knows this. Damn everyone to hell for criticizing the owners unfinished picture of horses running somewhere. We would know where they were running to, if the picture was finished, but where is the mystery in that.
Cafe Zia knows that air conditioning is just a tool of the oppresive, and therefore does not run it. Someone must protest of the evils of commercialized atmospheres, even when temperatures reach underworldy levels.
Cafe Zia believes that whats on the inside that counts. And whats on the inside is chicken, potatoes, pineapple, lettuce and chutney.
Yes Cafe Zia, I will follow you to the path of the righteous, and that path is the Original Big Kahuna
Finally tried this place after numerous suggestions and reading the other reviews here.
Went for a late lunch so parking wasn't an issue and we were the only people in the place eating in, noticed a few people just getting their orders to go.
Tried the savory wrap and tried my friends southern style french wrap, was pleasantly surprised with both. Will be going again, probably adding this place to my regular rotation.
Soda machine was broken though...
The wraps here are de-lish! You can't go wrong with any of the wraps unless you just don't go at all. My fave is the Savory wrap, which absolutely lives up to its name. The chicken, potatoes, and the chutney make this wrap so ridiculously savory, it almost doesn't even make sense. If potatoes aren't your thing, go for the Classic wrap. It reminds me of an old sweater I used to have: comfortable and reliable. Beware: the last bites you take of your wrap are like little chutney bombs going off in your mouth (Yes, this is a very good thing!).
The parking lot is tiny but I've never had a problem getting a spot. Prices and portions are reasonable. All you ballers on a budget be sure to bring cash or you will punished with an extra charge for paying with plastic. Perhaps you should also bring your own drinks b/c the soda machine is apparently just for show. This isn't a big deal because you should be coming here for some chutney anyways.
Bottom line: Hands down, Cafe Zia has the bestest wraps. You'll heart the chutney.
Cafe Zia serves the most delicious wraps imaginable and they're actually pretty healthy, too. The chutneys they use in the wraps are out of this world, and I usually ask for extra because they're soooo good! The yogurt/spicy/peach chutney combination is the best (I know it doesn't sound very good, but it's so addicting you'll want to slather it all over yourself)! You have to try the fajita wrap with chicken and ask to add potatoes. It used to come with potatoes inside before they changed the menu, but they'll still do it if you ask. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
The people who work here are super nice, too. The owner always remembers me and likes to chat it up while I'm waiting for my order. Definitely go support this local business - they even feature art work made my SDSU students. How cool is that?
I will try Cafe Diana SOON:)!
OMG I just found out they closed. I'm super depressed now. I ate here almost every day in college. I hope they open again one day :(
I've lived in the College Area my whole life, and have seen businesses geared towards SDSU students come and go. Some places have been great, some mediocre, and some bland. Cafe Zia, I am sorry to say, is one of the latter.
I rode my bike over for lunch on the recommendation of a friend and ordered one of their veggie wraps. The service was good and the place was clean (Two stars for that) but I was greatly disappointed in my flavorless, expensive ($6) wrap as well as the tangy, vinegar based sauce I was given. I'm never one to turn my nose up at new and exotic flavor combinations (Which Cafe Zia seems to be keen on), but I know what tastes good and what doesn't.
Slowly but surely I've been winning over the fame & glory of all my friends....
"Vegan friendly health wraps?! No thank you. I'm hungry dammit... and I want REAL food!!" This has been the ongoing tune of several skeptical friends. Yet once they've gotten their grubby little paws on the miracle of chutney filled wraps, they become immediately addicted.
Don't be fooled by words such as "healthy" and "vegetarian friendly". Cafe Zia also offers chicken for those of you who dare not venture into the land of tofu. But believe me, if you ever do wish to fill any curiosities you may have with tofu, this is the place you'd want to find yourself at!!
The wraps consist of chicken, mock crab, or tofu as their base. They are as big as your typical Mexican breakfast burrito, if not bigger in size. If you're a first timer and find yourself at a loss for what to order, I highly recommend "The Big Kahuna". A delicious blend of potatoes, thinly sliced tomatoes, zucchini, and other veggies draped in a pineapple chutney that is to die for. It will leave you full and craving more for months to come.
For a long time now I've suspected that the owner of Cafe Zia is a witch. I don't know exactly why. Probably because he's got David Blaine's demeanor, which is to say that he has a creepy-but-admirable "I can fly" sort of confidence. He has also got alarmingly green eyes and I have seen him read eastern philosophy on more than one occasion. And he also makes ridiculously good food.
The recipe is relatively ordinary -- fruity chicken (or tofu) and potato wraps -- while the result is anything but. Cheap (under 10 bucks), healthy and delicious, the food at Cafe Zia is extraordinary to say the least. It tastes unlike anything else in San Diego. Be nice though, or he might turn you into a frog.
AV
The best thing about food is the limitless combinations you can put together to make an amazing meal. The best thing about Zia is the fact that they take these combinations and wrap them up in a whole wheat tortilla.
I'll admit - we've never actually eaten there - usually we take it out. But the burritos are unique and delicious. They really seem to have taken the care to combine the right ingredients. Many of the burritos are pretty spicy, but because everything is freshly made, you can always ask for substitution or for them to ease up on the sauce.
Oh - and as a bonus - the owner really is the nicest guy!! And he is so proud and excited about what he does. That doesn't make for good food, but it does make his good food, that much better.
My dad always says: Son, the next time you're tempted to trust popular opinion, remember these words: fanny pack. Bearing that in mind I was excited yet nervous about trying Cafe Zia on the basis of its fantastic reviews, provided though they are by you fine people. But I must say: Cafe Zia is no fanny pack. It's delicious, *cheap* (read: 6 bucks for a wrap) and generous in portion.
The only words of caution I can offer are that if you, like me, enjoy the occasional spicy entree, articulate it clearly. They asked me if I wanted spiciness, and I said yes, but it was relatively mild. I can't hold it against them though; I don't feel like they gave it their full effort--I'm a pasty white guy, and I don't give the impression of someone who can handle jabanero hotness.
Note: they do accept Credit/Debit cards, but there's a fifty cent surcharge--not a big deal, but if you have the option to bring cash, bring it and save yourself some coin.
I miss Cafe Zia sooooo much!! They had the most delicious wraps. I went there at least twice a week. I liked the classic wrap with tofu. I like how they had a healthier selection of food rather than your typical pizza or sub place. The owner is so friendly and nice and he's very passionate about his food. He is now running Zia gourmet pizza on Adams st. The pizza there is amazing but I really do miss the delicious wraps. Nothing compares to Cafe Zia.
This was definetely one of my favorite spots to eat when I went to SDSU. I'm glad to see that its still there and from the other reviews is still as good as I remembered.
The chutney sauces that they used for their wraps were all awesome and when there was a need for alil spice you'd get it. I think they also used some kind of yogurt that added to the flavors. The potatoes here were incredible and definetely tasty with a little chutney on the side. The ingredients are simple but the results are flavors that will have you craving it for days.
I remembered the service to be absolutely friendly and the decor was basically art that the owner had made himself. I really can't wait to go back to SD just so I can get my Cafe Zia fix!!!
Sadly, Zia's is no more :(
Love, love, love this place. The food is fresh and excellent. Serving size is generous! Two meals… Read more »
I am sad that this place closed down. I used to eat here all the time and would love to get my favorite breakfast wrap in whole wheat once more. Every wrap on the menu is delicious and their prices are cheap. Long Live Cafe Zia!
I believe this place opened back in 1999. They had coupons at the music trader across the street for buy one get one free. I am pretty sure I was one of the very first people to eat at this place. The first couple of months they served bagels with dark meat chicken and chutney (a fruit/vinegar type sauce). The potatoes were not cut very thin so it took 40 min to get your food, which you paid and the owner gave you change straight out of his pocket. They had a soda machine, but he poured the soda in your cup from a 2 liter.
Down the road he started serving wraps and cutting the potatoes thin. Soon the place became busy and infested with frat boys.
I haven't been in quite a few years, but this is a MUST stop if you are in the SDSU area. If they still have it, get the chicken wrap with spicey and yogurt chutney mixed.
I hear there is still no cash register or soda machine...
This place is totally underrated.
Great wholesome food
Great prices
The owner is super cool too! I met him the first day they opened...
I seriously haven't found another place that makes wraps quite like this place. Despite the fact that their soda machine is always broken, the parking is atrocious, and the place feels like a sauna in the summer, it's still the bomb. My only real complaint is finding an enormous scary looking insect in my ice water once, but that's what happens when you make food this damn good!
Cafe Zia closed, however Cafe Diana is in its place. It has a completely different menu than Cafe Zia, and in my oppinion, its better! I ordered the veggie wrap (DELICIOUS!) that comes with a green salad with an amazing dressing. My pal ordered the Basalmic Chicken Wrap and it was also very good. (veggie wrap was better). The veggie wrap had grilled veggies (zucchini, avacado, red peppers, onions...)
Besides the owner being a hell of a nice guy, the food is an experience that open-minded food aficionados and college hangover cure-seekers can agree on. The order is wraps of all kinds, like giant burritos, but not your typical flavor inside. Just like that deceptive 1981 Datsun 510 with a hidden 350 chevy V8 under the hood that smoked you off the line in high school, Cafe Zia is a total shocker. A small, quaint college eatery, Cafe Zia has some of the most eclectic and delicious flavors in the san diego area. I don't even know what the term "tropical food" means, but i'll take it any day of the week. Who can put pineapple and chicken together in a wrap with some delicious chutney and make it taste other-worldly. Cafe Zia. Get some.
This place is an old favorite of mine, and a regular place when I visit San Diego. These "tropical" burritos are a refreshing change from a "regular" mexican burrito! i am in love! Ingredients such as sundried tomato, walnuts, pineapple chutney are just a sprinkling of what you can get in your burrito. The ingredients are flavorful, all the food fresh, and I tried bribing the green-eyed (owner maybe?) worker for the yogurt sauce recipe..well it would have taken a gun to get it outta him! I love the chicken burritos, they also have fish, veggie, and breakfast wraps.
Try the rosewater lemonade! I only wish they had sugar free, it's lightly sweet but beautiful!
The decor is different, dare I say wierd? Im not sure what theme they were going for, but it is clean and it is casual.
I will come again for sure, but I will try my damnest to replicate that yogurt sauce buddy! Hah!
I'm not even sure exactly what kind of food this is. I think it's like fast food Polynesian meets burritos or something. It's the bomb though. Inexpensive, healthy and big wraps for like $5. They are served with a choice of chutneys (fruity, spicey and other stuff). I got the chicken and I think they throw other veggies and potatoes n' stuff in too.
I think it's probably a good vegan selection. They're supposed to opening up a store on Adams in Normal Heights sometime soon.
They take a few minutes to make your food, but the quality is there and good things come to those who wait!
Great place. Very quaint. Nice outdoor setting (and indoor too). They were revamping the place while I was there with my mom but we both had the most delicious wraps there that were the size of some of the larger burritos you get a fast food mexican places. The Milano wrap was sooooo good and I didn't feel at all guilty because it was so healthy....arugula, tomatoes, chicken...yummo. Careful though when they say spicy - they mean it, lol. But very great bang for your buck!
Mmm Sweet and Southern French wrap. Zia is healthy and way too delicious, but I still have to limit going because its so good I'll finish the giant wrap myself. Only thing I wouldn't recommend there is the turkey pastrami, sub chicken. The adorable owner Khaled is eye candy too, food and love definitely go together! XOXO
After reading the high praise for Cafe Zia, I decided I had to experience the delicious chutneys for myself. I took the cashier's suggestion and ordered one of their recommended wraps, except with tofu. I wasn't particularly impressed...the tofu tasted like fried egg, and the vegetables were barely there despite their prominence on the menu. I headed back a second time (I tend to give places another shot to impress, since I might just order the wrong thing), and this time got the "Not your typical burrito" or something to try out the potatoes people have raved about. This time it was better, but I'm not sure I'd head out of my way for a third try. The restaurant is pretty bare and relaxed, and the employees are friendly. I do give them points for incorporating tofu and different types of vegetables into their menu, this food is probably a lot healthier than what local students usually eat!
Truly unique wraps. I travel extensively and I've never seen another menu like Zia. If this was in a location other than a tiny strip mall with poor parking it would be huge. I'd suggest calling ahead because the food is great, but not fast!
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