JOi Café - Westlake Village, California

Arlene K.

I loved JOi Cafe! I keep thinking about the grilled cheese and kimchi sandwich I had on the organic sourdough bread. Super yummy and I enjoyed a gluten-free donut with a delicious cappuccino with oat milk. The presentation was so lovely and I cannot wait to go back. Staff were very friendly and very accommodating as I was traveling with a senior with a walker and they were so nice to her.

ayush K.

Joi Cafe in Westlake Village offered a vibrant atmosphere for a Sunday morning coffee, but the drinks themselves fell short.

The first thing that struck me was the energy of the place. They had both indoor and outdoor seating, and we opted for the bright, modern interior. The space was well-lit and wasn't as loud, making it perfect for catching up on things.

The menu offered a variety of healthy options, from smoothies and salads to breakfast items, snacks, and even some toasts. We decided to grab something quick to go, so we placed our order at the counter. The process was efficient. They give you a number to place on our table if you are dining in. Since we were taking our food to go, it was a quick wait, and the service itself was very fast.

Now, for the drinks themselves. I opted for the iced chai, hoping for a refreshing and flavorful pick-me-up. Unfortunately, it had a peculiar aftertaste, almost grassy, which wasn't quite what I was expecting from a chai. My friend got one of the smoothies, either the "Powerhouse" or the "Machine" (the name escapes me now), but his experience wasn't much better. The smoothie had an unpleasantly strong aftertaste as well, and the texture was quite grainy.

One positive aspect of Joi Cafe was the location. Situated in a strip mall, there was plenty of free parking available, which is always a plus. It was clear why the place was bustling on a Sunday morning – the convenience, healthy options, and relaxing atmosphere were attractive. However, their drinks need some attention.

Dr. F. H.

The food is delicious, staff is nice and kind, and the place is neat and clean.

Great selection of foods, desserts, and coffees and beverages.

You can also eat very healthful foods here and things are not soaked in oil and salt.

Highly recommend.

Ellie M. M.

Joi cafe is our FAVORITE place to eat healthy and nourishing vegan food (and I’m not even vegan, YET!) and drink delicious exquisite beverages and enjoy this unique and magical cozy high vibe community. So excited by the dining experience here many of us from Malibu make the fun and devoted pilgrimage over the hill to this oasis and Mecca of truly GOOD VIBES ONLY simply because the experience here is amazing and truly worth it. Finding a peaceful, soothing and still social, happy and lively hub of wonderful souls and guaranteed nurturing energy is a gift in this face paced world. Remember discovering this real magic place of culinary and visual delights when it first opened over eight years ago and I’m a dedicated follower…and I don’t follow anything or anyone usually and this is my first time in my life I’ve ever written a review. The BEST!!!!! All the stars and beyond for this great cafe. Thank you for creating a welcome inclusive atmosphere of love and conscious eating pleasure. Own your magic. Warmth. BRB. 💛

Phil K.

Awesome! Plant-based food, vegan restaurant with amazing coffees. You don't even realize you're eating vegetables. Very good. They also have a new location called JoyBirds. Located at 299 Thousand Oaks Blvd #4, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Eva K.

I'm amazed. I had so nice lunch over here. It was so perfect, all the flavors in all the dishes. The huevos rancheros (I forgot to take a picture) with 'egg' is a bomb, everything on the plate tasted so much! I felt like I was dining in France lol. We also ordered breskfast beyond sausages with hashbrown and veggies, and it was perfect too. As a side it came with pancake. It made us think to order the whole pancake menu, but we were already full....what else to say. They have very nice display of very unique all vegan desserts, high quality vegan cheeses and I bet the smoothies are delicious too, because as I've seen on other tables, they have something like whipped cream on top! I can't wait to have another opportunity to visit this place! (If you come on Sunday, there is a farmer's market going on that day and you can buy nice organic local fruit and veggies after having this great food)

Christopher M.

All the food is fantastic and it's all plant based. All the people that work there are kind and polite. The owner is also super nice. The menu is fantastic all around. I always look forward to going back. Also, on some Sundays there's a big farmers market in the parking lot that's got a great selection of stuff.

The K. V.

I have been plant based for 8 years. I've eaten at hundreds of vegan restaurants. I am also the author of a NYT Bestselling and James Beard award winning cookbook. I first had the pleasure of eating at Joi Cafe before I knew anything about them because I did what every vegan does when they roll into a town they're unfamiliar with: type the word "vegan" in Google maps.

I believe in grading vegan restaurants solely upon their merits. I do NOT believe in grade inflation because "they're vegan," "they're trying," "they're nice people" (other than customer service). Indeed, I find grade inflation to be at least partially responsible for the amount of "meh" vegan restaurant options and, now, their rapid demise, which ultimately hurts the movement by reinforcing the notion that vegan food = bad food. In sum, the overwhelming majority of vegan restaurants I've tried in the past 8 years have been... "not great."

I say all of this to bolster the credibility of my evaluation for Joi Cafe. My first meal consisted of their Caesar Salad and Broccoli Cheddar Soup. I instantly knew that whoever created these dishes understood not just flavor (the soup), but was a master of texture (the salad). I delighted in each caper buried between conveniently sized hunks of purple kale; was soothed at the sight of nori (an ingredient not usually found in Western establishments) sprinkled between the greens; and utterly amazed by the tang from the dressing.

Do I like everything on the menu? No. Joi's menu is far too diverse to please every taste every time. But I love so much of the menu, I go back at least 5 times a week. Sometimes it's the Caesar Salad, today it was the bagel sandwich, and tomorrow, it'll almost certainly be the Acai Bowl (the best I've ever had--the creator was smart enough to understand you can't just put the "toppings" on top!). I love that there are plenty of options that do NOT have alternative meat--just plain beans, potatoes, greens, and fruit.

The dishes on this menu weren't thrown together by someone who watched 17 YouTube videos and now thinks they know how to cook (which is what I sometimes think is the case for most vegan restaurants). Whoever designed the food on this menu knew what they were doing, employed skills that obviously took decades to develop.

If you found the food tasteless, bland, or subpar, it's likely you went on a very very very bad day (which is hard to believe since I've gone hundreds of times and NEVER experienced this) OR your tastebuds are defective.