Academy Cafe

I got charged 17 dollars for two chicken tenders and some fries. Food was decent but I would NEVER pay that much for 2

I visited the museum multiple times and always make a stop for garlic fries. The only reason I gave 4 stars was because of the price. I felt they could have smaller portions for toddlers at cheaper price. That way I don’t have to share food with kids.

Lots of food choices. Caprese sandwich, clam chowder, pizza, and much more. Chicken tortilla soup is tasty, especially on a foggy day. Food has nice presentation but could easily cost at least $20 per person. Seating is available inside and outside. There are metal utensils and self servecondiments.

The chipotle chicken sandwich at the grill is surprisingly good, albeit on the pricier side ($16). Comes with seasoned bread, arugula, and a tiny kick in the aioli spread. Seating can be hard to find if the place is busy. I wish they had a counter table where the aquarium wall is for lesser parties or individuals.

We ate lunch while visiting California Academy of Sciences. The portions were quite large and delicious but on the expensive side.

Food is below average and pricey. It's only goo when you're starving. Advice for folks to eat prior to getting here and only buy few items as a snack. Or better yet bring you're own food/snacks

After this crazy year of being indoors and distant this was definitely refreshing! You want to get into the rainforest or the planetarium get there as early as possible to sign in 😭😭 it was all too full for my two daughters and I to get it 😩

You should fully expect paying for overpriced food here. It's pretty standard food, nothing extraordinary.

The Acadameat Burger was the highlight for me here. I was surprised at how delicious it was with its combination of BBQ sauce, bacon, pulled pork, and crispy fried onions on top of a beef patty. Mac and cheese was average. I liked the cavatappi pasta that was used. French fries were a bit soggy and kind of plain, needed more salt. A good amount of tables inside and also in the outdoor area to sit at. I would come back to eat here again if I get hungry next time I'm at the museum.

This cafe is located inside the Academy of Science (Check out my separate review for the Academy of Science if you want full details). It offers a handful of different options: such as burgers, sandwiches, pizza slices, soups , wraps, coffees and even canned alcohol! Food: 3/5 The food was just standard to me. It's what you would expect eating at a venue like this. The boys got a pizza slice and we got a grab and go sandwich from the fridge. I will say that we were full from the sandwich. One cool thing is about their food though is that they get all their ingredients from local farms. They have the wall in the seating area that shows where all the ingredients come from. Seating: 4/5 They did have a good amount of seating overall. There is more outdoor seating than indoor. The indoor seating was a little cramped, particularly on a crowed day. Price: 3/5 At first glance, I thought the price was reasonable. However, once you add a drink and a small bag of chips it adds up to be a little pricier than you would hope. My boys got a slice of pizza, a sparking water and small bag of lays chips. It ended up being roughly $20 each. However, the coffee prices were pretty reasonable. But, I guess this is kind of standard if you were to buy a meal at a similar type venue (such as an amusement park, ski resort etc). Service: This place is self serve. However, if you want the pizza, burgers, etc. An employee will give it to you from behind the counter. All the employees were nice and courteous.

After exploring the California Academy of Sciences, we stopped for a quick bite and the opportunity to rest for a bit at The Academy Café. For our meal, we opted for a classic cheeseburger from the Academy Grill and a Chicken Quesadilla, along with Macaroni and Cheese and a Caprese sandwich from the Academy Artisan Eats. We weren't expecting much as we were eating here based more on convenience, rather than a gourmet meal. However, the cheeseburger and chicken quesadilla were both delicious. The juicy beef patty in the cheeseburger was perfectly complemented by the sharpness of the cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, onion, and tangy pickle spear. Paired with a generous portion of golden fries, it was a classic comfort food done right. The quesadilla, with tender grilled chicken enveloped in a flour tortilla, had a smoky kick from the chipotle aioli. The macaroni and cheese was a comforting rendition of a beloved classic, with garlic and herb breadcrumbs adding a delightful crunch to the creamy pasta. And the caprese sandwich, with its layers of basil pesto, fresh mozzarella, tomato, drizzle of olive oil, and balsamic glaze, was a refreshing and satisfying option. Despite the cafeteria-style setup, the service was friendly and efficient, ensuring a seamless dining experience. While we did have to stand in separate lines for food from different sections of the café, the ample seating, cleanliness, and well-maintained surroundings made up for any minor inconvenience.

Quick take: museum Cafe food Exactly, as advertised. It's food inside a museum Cafe. The menu seems like an exciting read for the kids. My kid loved the Mac and cheese ($10). The older one and I shared a plate of garlic fries ($8). It was a fun day with the kids at the academy. We've been members for some years now. Haven't eaten here in years. Decided to venture into the Cafe and try a few items. Great place for food if the plan is to keep things easy and low stress. There's indoor and outdoor option. We sat right by the exit to the patio, and it was a great balance between indoor/outdoor dining. We normally dip out when hunger strikes and walk to the inner sunset area. Service was fast and friendly. Not a bad option if venturing out is too much of a hassle.

We are members here and come often. There is a restaurant which has more seating and this cafe which is easier if you want grab something quick. The food and service is always good.

Conveniently located inside the museum. We were coming from out of town but knew there aren't a ton of food options in GG park. We wanted something close, so opted for the cafe. It's cafeteria style but sectioned out. There's a separate line if you want a sandwich, a separate line if you want hot food, a separate line for drinks etc. In hindsight this is efficient, but it was a tad confusing at first because it's not just one line- which forces you to walk around to look at the options before deciding, and once we did that the lines all got longer. Also if everyone wants something different you have to wait in multiple lines. I went to grab drinks while my husband ordered. In the short time it took me to get back to him, they had already moved on to another customer so I didn't get to order my food without "cutting" basically which was a little annoying. But- nothing their canned cocktails can't fix. We shared the chicken tenders and fries. It was nothing to rave about but there was definitely different selections that looked great ( I wanted to try the chipotle chicken sandwich, they also had pizzas, salads, sandwiches etc.). We'd eat here again if visiting the museum and now that we know the layout. It was also nice to sit outside and our kid got to play while we ate. If you want something fancy- this ain't it. But it gets the job done!

Cafe is located inside the California Academy of Sciences. You can grab a quick sandwich or salad from the fridge or order a hamburger, pizza, chipotle chicken sandwich or chicken tenders from the grill area. Every grill order comes with fries. There's plenty of tables inside the cafe so you can sit down and eat. Area is fairly clean and there are employees wiping down the tables We ordered chicken tenders, cheeseburger and chipotle chicken sandwich. Fries were dry and cold. The burger patty was dry and tough...it was not worth the price. The chicken tenders were dry and flavorless. Food was below average and not fresh! It's pretty much cafeteria food. I wished I just picked up a salad or cold sandwich from the fridge. The plates from the grill were at least $15 a plate. Tip: just bring your own food and water. It's overpriced inside the Academy of Sciences but it's convenient if you want to grab a quick bite.

We stopped by the cafe during our visit. There was a pretty long line, but it moved fast. Once you get inside you can make line for different things (drinks, grill, etc). I opted for a hot chocolate from the drink area. The price I was charged did not reflect the amount listed which was kinda annoying. The hot chocolate was lukewarm which I wasn't expecting. It forced me to finish the hot chocolate quickly. I don't think you should have to request for a hot drink to be made above room temp. There was seating inside and outside. The inside area was pretty chaotic but the outside seating wasn't as busy. I didn't try any of the food given the steep price points but one of my friends got the tortilla soup and really enjoyed it.

Food is overpriced. Make sure to ask about portion size before ordering. They also have default tip at 18% for a restaurant where you pretty much completely serve yourself? Mac and cheese was good though and a decent portion for $10. The fish tank is a fun feature though and it's not too loud.

While walking around the CA Academy of Sciences, I felt quite famished. So, I grabbed a quick bite to eat at the cafe within the museum. I opted for the Falafel wrap which consisted of pea tendrils, tomato, coconut-based tzatziki, and red onion encased in a spinach tortilla wrap. Each half contained three pieces of falafel and a generous amount of pea tendrils, which made for a refreshing vegetarian wrap. It was my first time trying out pea tendrils and the taste reminded me of arugula. Unfortunately, the falafels were on the soft side and I wished the exterior was more crispy. I also found it interesting how their water is sold in aluminum bottles that are meant to be reused. Would I eat here again? Probably not. Prices seemed steep for a sandwich, chips, and bottled water, but that was expected for a cafe in a museum. I loved the spacious outdoor seating though. Overall, the food here is mediocre, so I recommend having a meal before visiting the museum.

Quick Summary - Coffee is sour, but after adding cream and sugar, it mellows out - Food is quite good, despite being a family-oriented venue - Portions are light - When ordering coffee, you can pay at the coffee booth Knowing my experience when visiting museums, I knew I needed to eat something after working my brain learning new stuff. Also, knowing from past, food at museums are on the high end and the portions are small. This, I kept in mind and we ordered a beef sir loin sandwich, a cheeseburger, a deli hand and cheese sandwich, and a cup of coffee. We also ate at the outside cafe seat because that was one of the things we wanted to try when visiting the Academy of Sciences. We visited the cafe at around 2pm, so most of the seats were open. Surprisingly, despite seeing so many family visitors with children, the empty tables and chairs were clean and clear of spilled food. Compared to the inside cafeteria, the outside is colder because of the Golden Gate Park air. The food was quite good. I expected lower because of the children audience. The staff toasted the sandwich, so it was warm and I liked the subtly spicy sauce with the sandwich. The burger was good too. The beef patty was juicy and the bread buns had flavor. The cheese in the cheeseburger was the typical American cheese, which isn't really my favorite. However, it was wasn't so strong, so it was all right.

If my friend and I could give it 6 stars, we would!!! KENNY!!! Kenny is the best cashier we have ever had, he gave us a free cookie because he was short of 4 cents. That was amazing by itself. But Kenny further outdid himself as 5 minutes later when we were eating, he came to us and gave us 4 SPARKLING BRAND NEW 2021 MADE PENNIES! Unfortunately my friend yelled at him in shock and enthusiasm and overwhelming joy, which may or may not have scared him. Later on in the day, things went wrong and we were starving, and all hope was lost. But lo and behold, Kenny's cookie was there to save the day!!! BLESS YOU KENNY, MAY YOU BECOME THE CEO OF ACADEMY CAFÉ

Food quality has been going steadily downhill ever we know this place 14 years ago. We don't know whether it has something to do with the chefs, staffing, menu, the pandemic, or whatever. But foods here were like gourmet and then becoming less and less of that in a steady progression. Just last weekend we came to Academy of Sciences and had lunch here. The lunch was very disappointing. The salmon salad with vermicelli noodle was pretty much tasteless. The noodle was only half cooked. The clam chowder was runny and again not much taste. The collection outside collection station next to the recycle bins was filthy. There's food gooey everywhere. It seems like nobody cleans and nobody cares.

Based on previous reviews, I was quite hesitant, but we *were* famished. I expected overpriced (as is the case in museums), but was pleasantly surprised by the quality. My smoked turkey sandwich was thick and filling and the chicken tortilla soup was pleasantly balanced. Wish the tortillas were placed on top though -- completely soggy by the time I sat down. 6 bucks for a triple chocolate mousse cake is practically a steal, and it's not bad at all! Do not stay away. It is lovely.

They only had "kid's menu" food... pizza slices, fries and hamburger and hotdog... and none of it was very good either. They had some overpriced pre-packaged iceberg salad and pre-wrapped sandwiches. THAT'S IT. gross And I can't eat gluten so I could forget about food all together. Since the website and yelp listed these amazing menus for the cafe I didn't bring anything... With no other option close by (their other venue was also closed) I either had to get low blood sugar (which I get really bad when not eating), or get sick from gluten. Just fantastic

On a holiday weekend, on a Sunday, they had no hand sanitizer available. This should be a health department issue, with quick action. This is an institution of science - I know most of us want to pretend there is no longer any pandemic, but the numbers are higher than they were during Delta and there are hundreds of thousands still dying. Simple measures like hand sanitizing before eating and masking in crowded indoor spaces can make a big difference and literally save lives. Again, this is the Academy of _Science_. Do better.

If you're DESPERATE hit this cafe up. They have like 2 things, a hamburger for 16$ and a hotdog for 8$. The hamburgers literally have no lettuce no tomatoes no NOTHING so good luck y'all. Come in here if ur dying only. A disgrace of a cafe for such a fantastic museum

Super pricey for the options you have. I understand inside a museum you always are short of options, but this time was too much. The food is good though. Demasiado caro para las opciones que tienen. Entiendo que siempre adentro de un museo uno tiene las opciones acotadas, pero esta vez me pareció demasiado. La comida esta bien de todos modos.

Overpriced as one expects from a museum restaurant, but a $14 burger where you don't even get tomato and onion? (You can get lettuce IF you know to ask at the counter). The restaurant overall is a clusterf- well, it rhymes with flustered duck, which is how I felt by the time I got to the register with food from multiple stations, now getting cold after figuring out which line went where. Garlic fries were nice though.

If you are visiting the California Academy of Sciences and get hungry, you can either eat at the Academy Café or at The Terrace. Otherwise you will have to head outside Golden Gate Park for food if you have an aversion to food carts. What I really like about this place is the variety of food options available. You have everything from hot sandwiches to salads & wraps, burgers, and yes, even fresh pizza. I opted for the pulled pork sandwich which came with fries on the side. The bun was room temperature, I was hoping it would be warmed if not toasted. The pork was pretty tender. Not the best I've ever had, but still pretty good. The fries are almost always excellent here, and this visit did not disappoint. They were hot, fresh, and crispy. A ketchup dispenser is located towards the back of the dining area along with other condiments. The people working here are very friendly and welcoming. There is a (free) water station with cups nearby if you don't want to pay for drinks. I love sitting against the left side wall, so I can watch the fish swim by as I eat. It's just a little pricey to eat here, but you're a captive audience.

I ate in the cafe in 2014 after the museum had been remodeled. It's 3 years later and it's completely different. I was totally disappointed. Before, they had gourmet, foodie food. Now there is stale, bland cafeteria food. It's totally off. I asked the lady who worked there how it changed..she said there is a new company. I had the chicken banh mi and it was not very good. I ate it though. I would take your money and eat at 9th and Irving instead of this cafeteria.

4 stars for ambiance - i like how i can sit outside and just people watch and soak up the sun OR sit inside near the big fish tank and fish watch. 2.5 stars for food... i'm sure we ALL have experienced better food than here at the academy cafe lets face it.. you're inside a museum.. so you'd be expecting to pay $$$ for food. There were a lot of selection: from pastries to salads to tacos / quesadillas to pho! yes.. they have pho. But guess how much that small little bowl of pho cost? $10. (and no that was not a typo). So I ended up just getting a ham sandwich w/ cheese. a decent size sandwich that will fill you up. And they didn't go cheapo on me w/ the ham, they loaded that sandwich with ham.. but only gave me one slice of cheese and a couple of small lettuce. The bread was just way to hard for me to bite into and chew.. my mouth was tired of chewing at the end. it was just an "eh" sandwich. even i make better sandwich than they do. i suggest you bring ur own food from outside.

Got the vegan roasted veggie wrap for $12. It was mostly spinach and there wasn't much hummus. Lacking in flavor and other fillings, but I'm happy this place has a handful of healthy/vegan options. Overpriced for what you get, but that's SF for ya. Solid 3 stars. It's convenient if you're at the museum all day, otherwise not worth visiting.

Came here for Nightlife @ the Cal Academy was was shocked on the quality of service and food for such a grand SF event. The workers are beyond rude. They roll their eyes and scuff at you if you don't order right away. The prices are expensive for what little food they give you. The gumbo and rice I had tasted disgusting! Something from a microwaved meal would have tasted even better! Eat somewhere else before enjoying your night here.

The cafe looks nice but the hot food cafeteria opens at 11 AM. The coffee stand was where I went for a cup of latte $4. It was really good. And exceptionally hot which is how I like it. The cafe is now managed by a corporate company since 2014 with controversial news on abusing workers rights in Washington state and had to pay 20 million settlement in New York for overcharging the school districts and NY State University. They do charge for healthy SF. Academy members get 10% off purchases.

This is a decent cafe with tasty food that can accommodate moderate sized groups. Came here with a party of 8 for a friend's birthday and we were able to grab seats during lunch rush at 1:30 PM on a Saturday. {FOOD} They consider themselves an "Asian fusion" cafe - you can get sandwiches, baos, noodles, soups, salads, etc. You can't go wrong with a ham sandwich (lots of ham, provolone, in between two thick slices of sourdough) or the spaghetti (al dente and topped with lots of sharp parmesan). All sandwiches come with a side of light and tangy coleslaw, so you don't have to worry about your veggies being drenched in mayo. My vegetarian friends were fans of the spring rolls and peanut sauce. SKIP the baos though. {DRINKS} They have Izze's and other specialty sodas. Or you can get a fresh cup of OJ or lemonade. If you're feeling fancypants, grab a ginger beer or a champagne cocktail. {PRICING} Yes, you will pay a tiny bit more for lunch here than other places in SF. But that is totally reasonable given the limited dining options in GGP. You can easily get food for about $10 if you don't get a drink (they offer free water). However, the proceeds go back to the Cal Academy - think of eating here as making a donation back to education :) {ATMOSPHERE / SERVICE} I'm a fan because not only do you get decent food, there is enough room for groups even during weekend lunch rush. Don't be perturbed by the long line - it moves fairly quickly. And the staff is quick to recommend foods if you are overwhelmed by the vast menu (most of the Viet dishes were highly praised). Overall, I'd give this place a solid 3.5 stars.

This place came as highly recommended through the hotel I am staying in,after I ate the reviews and a bit hesitated I decided to take my family and friends for a dinner! I saw only one person operating this place but this guy is amazing from all aspects and the food is more than good! We got all dishes in not more than 10 min and we are extremely satisfied I will surely come back and will recommend this place to friends

I was here the other day and I got a slice of margarita pizza for my nephew and I to share it was $8 and tasted like overpriced microwave pizza. It was not that good. I was disappointed that the quality has not improved it has gone down. I couldn't believe that the pizza was not warmed before it was given to me. The food use to be a lot better a few years ago. I rather go to Irving street to Starbucks for coffee and food!

The Academy of Sciences will not the Academy of Sciences without the Academy Cafe. This locale is a centerpiece of this place of scientific wonder. This time, we came here to raise glasses to a new journey, new fellowships, and our respective birthday celebrations. First, we had the fruit salad. The nectarines, peaches, and grapes in the mix were especially delectable/fresh. Then, we partook in Merlot wine. It was phenomenal. I sampled the sake last. It was brewed in the traditional way; I enjoyed it; however, it was too sweet for her tastes. For those of you whom take pleasure in enjoying a fine day out through nature and science, there are few greater pleasures than experiencing the Living Rainforest and Aquarium Exhibits of the Academy of Sciences on a weekday where people are far and few in between. Wine + nature= spontaneous fun. I recommend coming here to enjoy one's fill of wine and lunch prior to entering the Living Rainforest so as to experience the tropical paradise to its fullest. This is the true Nightlife Experience for those of you whom favor one-on-one company than large group gatherings. By attending on such a weekday rather than the weekends or the Thursday nightlife, one can have both the Nightlife experience via the Academy Cafe and the secluded beauty of Nature amid the company one keeps. PS- I subtract one star due to the lack of upscale waitresses/waiters and the lack of decorative artwork in the Cafe giving it a plain outward appearance.

Browsing a museum is hard work. Take a break and fuel up here. The Academy Cafe has your typical options like pizza and sandwiches, but you'll also find some less common things like clam chowder, pho and poke. Alas, we didn't have high expectations for the poke, so the wife and I both opted for the clam chowder - in a sourdough bread bowl for her ($10), and in a regular bowl for me ($7). The chowder was enjoyable but a bit salty. Interestingly, it seemed like my $7 bowl had more chowder than the wife's $10 bread bowl, and mine also came with a roll on the side. So in this case, it seems like paying more actually gets you less! There's a moderate amount of seating in the cafe, but if the place fills up, there's more seating in the Piazza in the middle of the museum. Overall, the food prices here seem fair given that it's not only a museum, but also in SF.

5/3/18 Ever do a review just to say you've been there?--well consider this my version of a checkin then. Just here for the Academy of Sciences "Nightlife" party and I totally didn't eat before so I would be glowing hotter than the sun if I just started drinking.... You know the drill. It's a cafeteria. I got a white sauce pizza with pancetta on top $7 for a large slice. Got bottled tea for $3.50. Pizza was lukewarm and forget about melty cheese. It's probably not real mozzarella is my guess. Tastes okay. Not too much of a rip cause the slice was pretty big. Anyway, if u can eat outside do it. Otherwise the food at least won't kill you. 3/5 #sanfrancisco #californiaacademyofsciences #goldengatepark

I visited the cafe when the Academy first opened after the remodel. I don't remember any of the food except for 1 dessert. I was wowed by the chocolate pot de creme. It was the best chocolate pot de creme I have ever tasted. It had a deep, dark and intense chocolatey goodness that got me dreaming of this specific chocolate dessert for days, no weeks. I remember trying the mango and caramel flavors, too. They were OK, but the chocolate was to die for. I was so obsessed, I even tried to talk my way in on another occasion, not to see any of the exhibits, just to grab a jar. Fast forward to today. No chocolate pot de creme available. Just OK cafeteria food. So disappointed. I think the Academy changed food vendors. Guess my future visits will just have to focus on getting educated on oceans, planets and stars and stuff like that instead of getting my chocolate fix.

Hear ye, hear ye. High prices a-plenty. So, you're in a huge museum. Huge. Has an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and plentiful exhibits for you to enjoy a good portion of your day in. Like I said, huge. And, because there really is no other food in the area unless you try going to another museum (after you pay for their admission), it shouldn't be too surprising on the high prices in this cafe. Regardless, it's kind of painful shelling out $30 for a meal for two, especially when the meal isn't too big. One thing that the bf and I learned is that SF has pretty high prices for everything, and it's frequently not worth the price. The cafe itself is always busy. You basically have different "kitchens" that you can try and go to. For example, one's pho, another place is sandwiches, another one is a bit of a bakery, etc. You put in your order, pay for it, and you get the food. Then find a place to sit, which can sometimes be a challenge. Bf ordered pho for the both of us. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't the best we've ever had for pho. It was a good amount, but we were still hungry afterwards. Soup wasn't bad, and noodles weren't that plentiful. We also tried their cupcakes, which tasted more like muffins. Very thick, not very soft, and cream wasn't anything that great. Place was pretty clean and service wasn't bad. Just fairly high prices, and food wasn't spectacular for the prices. May come back if we're desperate or forget to bring food.

Despite the prominent yelp review highlights, Charles Phan has not run this cafe since 2014; the Moss room also closed in 2014. Food service at the Academy is now run by Sodexo, the international food service giant. Food is tolerable, high-end cafeteria food, at museum prices. If you are looking for a truly good meal, in a nicer dining room, head across the way to the De Young Museum's cafe. You don't need to pay for museum entry to eat at their cafeteria, and it serves truly local, seasonal, and very tasty food.

The menu is family oriented, with entree's for the kids, although I was tempted: hot dog, which looked good and mac & cheese (looked like it might be canned cheese sauce, but I didn't try it. If you order the bacon cheeseburger, make sure you get bacon. We had to wait in line longer to get it on the second delivery instance. The pulled pork sandwich is quite good. If you sit outside, watch the slatted ceiling near the entrance. The birds sit on there and are quite accurate with their droppings! Enjoy :-)

Probably the least tasty food you can find in this part of the city. It's basic food that you could expect in any museum or public place in america. Come on: this is San Francisco where there is a ton of yummy restaurant everywhere in the city; you cannot serve that here !!! we are used to better food. I do not recommended their sandwiches and burgers. The sushi bento will be just OK if you are not too hungry. My tip: make sure you can re-enter in the afternoon and go out for lunch in the sunset district

For museum food, it's a real treat. They offer a wide variety and much of it is made from scratch. Anyone with a sweet tooth should be pleased to find pastries, mini ice cream sandwiches, cupcakes, cookies, mini moon pies, and more. The food on other people's plates looked good - tacos, steamed buns, sandwiches, spring rolls, pasta, etc. The fair trade coffee is quite good and you can also get fancy iced teas. They deserve an extra star just for offering steamed chicken buns...steamed buns at a museum, I didn't think it was possible. * Mini ice cream sandwich: housemade raspberry ice cream, housemade graham cracker cookies - cute (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ufYxEyTivH8HumO9yieXpw?select=2neMJZUm-gygb0RixtN_Og) and really good too, the ice cream was firm and fruity, the cookies were thick and firm. A steal for $1.50...I'd like to dart in to the café just for an ice cream sandwich. You can sit inside or outside. I was surprised that you don't have to bus your own table and they have real silverware. It's definitely eco-friendly.

Inside the marvelous California Academy of Sciences is the Academy Cafe. I was surprised to see the wide variety of food available here. We had no trouble finding something interesting and tasty for everyone in the family. We also solved the mystery of how the funds were raised to construct this great museum. Obviously the cafe opened long before the CA of S opened and began squirreling away the profits from the $6.50 PB & J sandwiches and $14.00 noodle bowls. Don't get me wrong, the food was pretty decent and the variety was good, but my daughter and I shared an almond butter and jelly sandwich, a noodle bowl with shrimp and a 1/2 pint of chocolate milk at this cafeteria. $25.00. For a family of 4 plan on leaving the Academy Cafeteria around $50.00 lighter. Ouch. So if you're visiting the CA of S, which I recommend highly, pack a lunch.

The food here at the Academy of Science's little cafe is actually quite decent. The selection is great. They have various food stations offering different cuisines. You can find Chinese steamed buns, Korean BBQ, Hawaiian rice plates as well as American Sandwiches, Italian Pasta and Mexican Tacos. The menu selection also includes a good amount of healthier alternatives and vegan/vegetarian choices. It won't be too difficult to find something to your liking no matter what your food preferences are. Food is hit and miss. While the Vietnamese spring rolls and the Ahi Tuna Poke were freshly made and fairly likable, the Saimen has undercooked egg noodles and tasteless toppings. Food weren't cheap but the quality is better than most museum cafeteria. They also have good selection bottled drinks and desserts from local brands. Make sure you pick up a gelato bar before checking out at the cashier. Everything from Bar Gelato are excellent.

Chips and salsa, 0 stars $7 pumpkin curry with lentils? 9$ for lunch? 3 stars how come this place cant have any type of vegan soup, sandwiches or burritos- this place was really disappointing and almost ruined our whole trip. skip it and bring your own snacks.

Overpriced and bland! That place is like a freaking zoo during the lunch hour. I appreciate the multiple food choices but to get into a big ass line and then scatter like bugs all over the different stations was too much - especially with young kids in tow. I'd wish they set it up ala Fresh Choice and we can just skip what we don't want. I got fish and chips (or malnourished fish nuggets/boogers and fries) for DH and I ordered a spaghetti marinara for Kid #2 because he won't eat any of the "too much for a child's palate" stuff on the menu. Kid #1 got the chicken quesedilla. Spaghetti was horribly bland and tasteless. Kid #2 refused to eat it so I got stuck with it. I think the total bill was $40+ bordering $50 for our meals with tap water. Yup we have no money for their $3 Izzy pop that you can buy in bulk at Costco for pennies on the dollar! To add insult to injury they lobbed a "healthy SF tax" onto the bill. That totally obliterated the 15% member discount that they blatantly advertised out front. Sorry this isn't a fancy restaurant and we already paid through the nose via membership. Yes you guys are non-profit but considering how much you nickel and dime us on everything you can at least pay for the employees' health insurance. Also isn't this a municipal organization? If so why the need for Healthy SF? Tables are packed close together ala Chinese restaurant style. That means you can barely sit if the person on the table behind you doesn't bother to scoot their chair closer to the table. They also have these ridiculous cheap Ikea chairs that a kid in our party fell out of because they were flimsy. I didn't know green=cheap ass chairs. Next time we're going to leave before lunch. It is not worth it.

The California Academy of Sciences is a wonderful, magical place, just don't buy your lunch there. Bring it instead. I went with my wife and 3 year-old daughter a few weekends ago. Ordering food is very chaotic, the food is very expensive but not tasty. A 1/2 pint of milk and a somehow banana cost $6. We spent $42 and literally left hungry. The dining room is loud, and jam packed (granted, it was a Saturday at noon) with poor, weird lighting. Bland tuna fish sandwich. Bland chili. Seeing the broken feedback machine really got my goat.

All 3 times I've been to the California Academy of Sciences, I've always managed to eat here - because I love it! The prices are ok to me, not too exorbitant as the dishes are tasty and light and so worth it. Today, I had the Vietnamese chicken salad - yum! & a pork bun - also very tasty! My bf had a ham sandwich, which was pretty good and satisfying. You can get free refills on coffee during your visit at the Academy, just keep your receipt handy and fill up a new cup when you need a pick-me-up throughout your day. We came back later for a little ice cream sandwich (oatmeal cookie with honey cream ice cream) and a separate cup of coconut & lime sorbet - we enjoyed these immensely! Next time I'm at the Academy, I'll be here at the Cafe for lunch! Lunch for 2+ice cream = $36

I get you need to charge a premium like every other "pay experience" But the food should at least taste good and be cooked thoroughly if you're going to rip us off. Very disapointed.

Lowered expectations is what comes to mind about cafés at museums and zoos. Thankfully the food at the Academy is tolerable-to-good. It's not so good that you would come here *just* for the food, but it's nice to know you won't feel regret after lunch. Chicken Pho: The chicken had that yucky cold chicken taste. Enjoyed the deep fried shallots which aren't always commonplace, even at good Vietnamese restaurants. The broth was ok and the noodles a firm texture. Quite a measly bowl though compared to the huge ones you can get in Little Saigon. Ham & Swiss Sandwich: Simple and tasty -- fresh crusty bread, smoky ham and nice cheese. Better than typical crappy museum food, but not fanatic worthy like an Ike's. Caramel Pots de Crème: There was some caramel on the bottom of the crème. Liked the concept, but it wasn't stick-to-your-spoon gooey enough for me. The crème itself wasn't sweet enough so tasted more like milk than caramel. Chocolate Pots de Crème: Dark chocolaty and not too sweet. Can't go wrong with this classic.

The prices may be high, but the food is good! Portion-wise it ranges from "that's decent" to "do you expect me to finish that?!". So maybe for the prices we have to pay they could at least make sure that all the portions are at least a step above "that's decent", but to be fair, most portions were more along the line of "do you expect me to finish that?". Anyway, food is good, but try and come with a large group of people so you can taste different things from the very wide menu here. There is a lot on the menu, seriously. But that's my one regret here: I didn't get to try everything. Note to self: come back with more people!

We needed a quick snack break while wandering around the Academy of Sciences so we popped into the Cafe at around 2pm for an order of fries. We were not disappointed at all, and the fries tasted and appeared freshly prepared, crispy and piping hot! We got a cereal bowl filled with them and completed our 5 dollar order at the register, and then went to sit down. We found a table quickly, although the cafe was surprisingly crowded for being well past the lunch hour. I suppose it was people wrapping up their meals, as the lines to actually order food weren't too crowded. Anyway, the Cafe is nothing to scoff at, and offers a wide variety of freshly prepared food ready for quick consumption by guests wanting to get back to the Academy.

Nice cafe, have everything. It was a hard decision but I decided to go w healthy and got a sashimi box, tuna was cut up in small pieces and it was yummy, i enjoyed :) They have both indoor and outdoor seating and although it is self service they have workers coming around to pick up your finished dishes. Yes it is pricey here but then everything is pricey in San Francisco...

Charles Phan's casual international cafe is in full effect. Unfortunately, it's not the culinary outburst I was hoping for. Sandwiches, tacos, noodles and other ethnic representations, basically targeted towards the families and visitors that are tired from the exhibits and just want a fast bite to eat. You'll see some of the "Out The Door" goods floating around which unfortunately puts this in the food court genre. I The space is somewhat generic too though they do have a nice aquarium in the back. The Outside area is probably the best part of the space as it looks out into an open grss area and beyond the fence is the museum across the way. f you're looking for a more compelling meal, try the Moss Room downstairs.