Cornerstone Cafe

Excellent value for the money:) moist juicy cheese burger, very crunchy hot fries, and drink (shake or soft drink) no strawberry so I just got a coke all for $12. Lunch time special. This is not the kind of meal you try to finish in one sitting especially if you are headed back to work. Eat half and save half for later. You'll be glad you did.

I've been coming here for years. While I miss having their buffet, pre-COVID, I think their grab-n-go Korean bowls are delicious and I'm super happy with the extended Korean food offering. Always delicious and staff are very friendly! Post-Covid, they no longer have a salad bar or open buffet (which is why its empty). Go to the back of the cafe to order food from the grill. Breakfast, sandwiches, & fries are great. We got cheeseburger and chicken tenders one day and the kids were happy. There is also a coffee area in the back. This is really a grab-n-go place and bring back to your office (or hotel), but there are tables & chairs if you need a break and the weather is nice.

We didn’t know how famous this place was when we walked in on Tuesday afternoon April 2 and ordered the grilled chicken combo and a hamburger. Service and food both excellent and a huge meal we enjoyed that was well priced. My husband likes his fries well cooked and they put them back to cook longer because he asked for that. We couldn’t believe how huge the grilled chicken was! The veggies on the sandwiches were fresh and tasty, even the bread was yummy. We had a chocolate milkshake with the combo and enjoyed it so much. Everyone was so pleasant even close to closing time. Thank you for our great meal.

Clean place, not to much many choice at 11:00 am, the cashier is very kind. I missed air conditionner.

Great value for money! Having spent 5 days in DC, we found this place on our last day. We had the pancakes, blueberry muffin, chocolate shake and a cappuccino all for less than $20! The pancakes were freshly made and delicious as was the shake. The restaurant itself was a little strange as it used to be a buffet style but now it has 2 counters at the back where they will make food and coffee fresh. Would recommend a visit.

Went in for a chicken sandwich as I had never been there before. The chicken was very dry and tasted like it was sitting for quite a while even though it was made to order supposedly. I got through about half before having to throw it away. 8 hours later I'm suffering from some extremely violent food poisoning. That was the only thing I'd eaten this day. None of the staff acted like they wanted to be there either. Will never go back.

Not sure what was going on but there were barely no food nor drinks available at all, trashbags in corners and all chairs upside down on the tables. And this was on friday morning at 9am.

Wow best breakfast sandwich I have had in a long time. I had a croissant with eggs and ham wife had a bagel ham and egg

We had breakfast here. My hubby got the western omelet and I got an egg, ham and cheese croissant. They both were good, not bad, just not amazing. The prices are really reasonable. I also had a vanilla latte and it was really good. I would go back for another one.

I went into the Cornerstone Cafe to make a purchase where the cashier ignored my presence in the store. She was more interested in talking to a person who apparently was not making a purchase. She did not acknowledge me to ask if I wanted to make a purchase or not. Very disappointed in the customer service.i

I ordered a western omelette from here through door dash. The menu indicates ham and cheese and as pictures, you can see that all I got was cold eggs with vegetables. I even asked to be charged for extra cheese and received nothing. There was an issue and the initial dasher never picked up my food as confirmed by door dash. It appears that they just gave the next delivery person the same food that had been sitting and waiting for pickup for over an hour. The food was ice cold and the avocado was brown. They either gave me bad spoiled avocado, or the avocado turned brown because it was left steaming in a food container before the transition into iced eggs.

The best lunch counter cafe in downtown DC. The sandwiches and salad are excellent, and generous portions but still affordable--a hard combination to find these days!

I stopped in today (8/12/2020) to grab some lunch since it's right around the corner from my office. Cornerstone used to have a salad bar buffet and hot food buffet (breakfast and lunch) pre-COVID (which was ALL delicious) but they had to change their offerings due to COVID. I was pleased to see that they still have their sandwiches, but what I really liked is that they now offer pre-made Korean platters and rice bowls. I decided to try the Spicy Dwaegi (Pork) Bulgogi and it did not disappoint! You get SO much food in one platter. Mine came with rice, bulgogi, steamed veggies, 2 pieces of shrimp that come with a creamy spicy sauce,, 2 chicken dumplings, grilled veggies, jap chae, an egg omelette, and kimchi/radish. Everything was super fresh and delicious. They also have other flavors (Salmon and Chicken Katsu platters among others) and Chicken rice bowls. The staff is really nice too and shout-out to Kookie, the owner! I will definitely be back to try the rice bowls and other platters. If you are in the Logan Circle area, you should definitely check Cornerstone out!

First confession, I live around the corner from this place and often stop here on the way to work when I'm in a rush and haven't cooked breakfast. This is a neighborhood gem where the owners take time to get to know their regulars and are very friendly to others who eat there. I've patronized them for years and have never been disappointed. The owners are a friendly couple who work to keep things going smoothly. I've only seen the chef/cook once, the guy who produces outstanding dishes for the hot bar (pre-COVID), but he knows how to season food well, and it's never over-salted. This was one of the few delis that survived COVID closures and were quick to adjust their menu and delivery services to give the folks who still had to work from their offices, a good place to get lunch. Plus it is within walking distance of several hotels, so it's convenient for tourists who want something other than hotel food or chain fast-food fare. The two guys who work at the grill are phenomenal. They've worked here for several years. They have this low-key demeanor and are really good at making delicious sandwiches whether hot or cold. Each week as I stop by, I discover that they constantly add to the menu, so the Korean bowls, the fresh Cobb and Caesar salads, and the bento boxes (different combos) were new additions that I tried and enjoyed. If they ever return to the hot bar, please try their crab-stuffed salmon. It is always served on Fridays and is delicious and moist.

Tried this for the first time doing a pickup order. Will certainly come back and try some more things. One thing that really stuck out was that all the produce seemed fresh and tasted great -- even the tomatoes in September. Plus the portions were generous. Steamed dumplings: yummy, well seasoned, and a reasonable portion for the price. "Korean Tacos": Tried both the chicken and beef bulgogi tacos. The beef was really good, the chicken less so. The tacos themselves had more Latin ingredients than Korean, so I don't know the toppings did much with the meats (lettuce, cilantro, onion, salsa verde, shredded cheese). I appreciated the grilled tortillas. Mostly the tacos made me want to try other beef dishes that are less fusion-y. Maybe one of the bento boxes. Teriyaki Chicken kup-bop: An enormous portion of food, especially for the price. Again, kind of an unusual mashup of ingredients for my palette (chicken teriyaki, rice, kale, tomatoes, japchae, bean sprouts, black beans, and pickled radish). Not sure it was a coherent flavor profile, but everything was tasty and this would certainly be a good way to satisfy a big appetite.

Absolutely amazing food here, especially for the price! The bentos are around $11-$13 and they give you SO MUCH FOOD! The salmon is delicious and tastes super fresh. The teriyaki sauce is one of the best I've tried. We came on a Wednesday morning and the owners were super sweet, even though we had to wait a little longer than usual (only 20 minutes though). She offered us tea or coffee! The next week we came, she saw we brought friends so she gave us a couple extra wings. During this scary time, I try to support as much local business as I can. Coming from a college student, I can tell you this place is 100% worth your time and money.

Food was great. HUGE grilled chicken sandwich and freshly made fries. Prices were good and service was quick- just a short wait for food and to pay.

Had a blugogi kup-bop for my lunch and got really pleased with it. Blugogi on top, lettuce, tomato, korean sweet radish, beansprouts and some black beans underneath, and rice at the bottom. Oh and chopped korean traditional noodle in it too. The portion is more than enough for my appetite, nutrion is well balanced, and the best part is that it's just delicious. Loved it. A little cafe is also there. I had an iced mocha. :) liked it.

Fantastic, wonderful fresh food I especially love the shrimp fried rice. Even the next day is still good. I got ordered from them as much as I possibly can.

I've only had delivery when they used to be on DoorDash but their lunch bentos are one of the the best in I've had in the city. I like to search for bentos and really theirs are so good. It's simple food but the variety and quality of the food they give you is solid and if you're ever feeling like a couple bites of omelet, teriyaki chicken, garlic shrimp, jap chae noodles, dumplings, and some steamed veggies all in one sitting - this is your go-to. It's a lot of food and I would often order it and split it into two lunches. Please come back to doordash for those of us who work from home and have so many meetings we forget to get up and get food.

I've been coming here for years. While I miss having their buffet, pre-COVID, I think their bento boxes are delicious and I'm super happy with the extended Korean food offering. Always delicious and staff are very friendly! We also got some food from the grill- cheeseburger and chicken tenders. I look forward to the day we can return back to having a buffet again.

It's one of those office cafes. The pictures make it seem like a standalone cafe. Good pictures but not as good in person. I got a burger and bottle of water. It was okay. My only complaint is that it is too hot if you're eating in in the summer.

Got a pickup breakfast order from here on a Monday morning. Food was ready super quick, in 15 minutes. Chicken biscuit was great.

Never knew this place existing so thank you yelp for popping it up on my feed. Working out of a hotel in this area and needed a quick takeout lunch to take back so ordered on Ubereats. (After I picked up, it does look like you can order directly from their site, so support them directly if you can.) I ordered a bulgogi bento box and a latte (great deal at $3 for a large 20 oz) and since I'm a sucker for a deal, the $9.95 BYGOF fried boneless Korean chicken deal. I asked for one box of soy garlic and one of the sweet and spicy. When I picked up, there were a few patio tables set up outside but the inside of the deli is huge! My order was ready and I brought it back to the hotel. Everything was well packed, the chicken boxes were vented to maintain crispness, the latte had a stopper to prevent spillage and the bento box was way bigger than I expected. Everything was delicious - definitely get the chicken if you like boneless, it had good crispness and not overpowering flavor. An amazing deal at $10 for two boxes and two sides - I had both the Cole slaw and the radish, which was sweeter than I expected but still good. But the winner is the bento box. Clean, organized, it came with a bunch of small sides like shrimp, flavored egg omelet, jap chae glass noodles, even a large serving of fresh veggies. I mean, it was such a complete meal! I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a lunch spot. 5 stars for quick service, delicious food and value, and great to go packagin

There's a lot of selection at this food bar, all arranged neatly and well organized. Some options when I was here ranged from salad, roasted veggies, soup, BBQ, to more Chinese buffet foods such as egg rolls and orange chicken. Prices are by the pound, and we were full after eating our trays of food which were about $8-9 dollars. The food itself tasted fresh and I love the variety here. Overall a good place for a lot of variety and if you want a quick meal.

This is a great place to grab lunch while downtown.  It got the Little Italy sandwich and ate off of it for 2 days!

Freakin awesome! I adore cornerstone cafe. Such good value and DELICIOUS. Just had a breakfast bagel sandwhich and frappe, delivered, and completely made my morning. Sure the uber eats fees add up, but if I hadn't been so lazy I could have had a dank sandwhich, frappe, and hash brown for like 11 dollars. Bless!

I love this cafe! The food is tasty and the price is extremely affordable. Probably one of the cheapest lunch deli/hot food bars in DC. Breakfast consists of a full hot bar of things such as: bacon, sausage, potatoes, omelets, burritos, hash browns, french toast and a bunch of other stuff, as well as a full salad bar. The made-to-order sandwiches are great as well. I usually get the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich and if I get it on a croissant (extra $$) and add avocado (extra $$), my sandwich is still only around $5 with tax. Lunch is great as well. Full salad bar and a large selection of food at the hot bar. The food is typically "Chinese" food (fried rice, lo mein, sweet and sour chicken, etc.) but also some American food as well, such as pulled pork, fried chicken and mac and cheese. They also have a lot of grilled vegetables. Come here after 3:00 for half-price everything from the hot bar and salad bar. Oh yeah and the best part about this place is that there is no credit card minimum!

Got the chicken teriyaki bento box! Did not take that long to come out and it was super good and filling. They give you a solid amount of rice and chicken alongside 5 small portions of two small dumplings, shrimp, etc. Would go again for lunch

My office is right next door/same building. I use to fill up Two of There frequent punch cards a month- but I will never eat here again after being treated so rudely today! Woman in a black dress has a major attitude. Simply and politely asked if the grilled chicken was cooked with any sauce on it-I have some allergies and she scoffed and rolled her eyes! Plenty other delicious places in the area. I'll pass for good.

Cornerstone Cafe is a true Gem in my neighborhood. They have gone thru a unique change due to Covid. Typically, the Cafe features a buffet that you pay by the weight of your meal. Due to covid, buffets are not allowed. Now, they feature tasty prepared meals and also a grill where they make breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, etc. The food is amazing. The staff is wonderful as well. Cornerstone is there for everyone even though Covid has lessened the amount of people in downtown DC. Their prices are good as well. I highly recommend Cornerstone Cafe.

I got delivery and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of food. I got a bento box with bulgogi and everything was really good. It's a lot of food for the price and definitely worth it!

I just walked in there the guy behind the deli counter was eating he looked at me he would not help me he looked at me like what do I want the girl was mopping the floor I just walked out of there I was standing there five minutes watching him eat behind the counter and he wouldn't tend to me hopefully management see if this it's 6/8/2021 2:13am

This is one fo the few places in this area that is open right now and it is a good thing. They have changed from buffet to customer order which I am sure was not easy but the food is still good and the service is great. Best value I think get the small fruit platter and the two egg breakfast this is easily enough food for breakfast and lunch.

The korean pre-made lunches are really good. Everything in the bento box is delicious. The cup-bob is really good too. I havent had a bad thing here yet. Its also reasonably priced.

I took a class around the corner and tried several food places in the area. For quality and price this cafe is the best. I loved the salad I got here, with lots of veggies, seafood and sushi. It was about $5 less than a similar meal I had ordered around the corner.

Dined on a cold, rainy day in DC and it was a great place to happen upon on this type of day. This place has a great concept but the flow of the space and the staff working this particular shift made it feel like the dining guest didn't really matter. Food was fresh, full and correct temperatures for style of dishes I selected. Prices were too high, yes... even for the DMV inflation. Drop the price just a bit or offer a water or fountain drink with the current price. The 10-inch plate below was $14 and included cheaper items like basic lo mein, and mashed potatoes.

Soooo... Glad to see Cornerstone Back in business...neighborhood staple for so many of us here. I'v tried their fantastic bento style lunches, bowls with amazing toppings, and the grill works daily special are a definite winner!!!

I've been a regular at this place for almost a year now. And the relationship between me and this business had ended with the store owner physically assaulting me that ended up in a police report. This morning, I've ordered a breakfast sandwich online. When I came in and picked up my order, the egg was overcooked and dry so I requested that they make me another one. The female owner was visibly displeased when I requested for another one, then her husband came out, stood there and just looked at me and had asked me to leave. I replied, "Why are you asking me to leave?, What did I do wrong?" There was no explanation. At that point, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. So I too became frustrated and ended up tossing my sandwich onto the ground. He lost his cool and then violently dug his hand into my chest and grabbed my shirt from the chest up and demanded that I pick up the sandwich for him. One of the store employee had screamed at him to "STOP!". He kept on grabbing me , so I shoved him back to protect my self and left the store. So I decided to place a police report after being assaulted by the male store owner and was injured as a result. There were obvious scratches on my left chest. This store owner had no right to touch me, regardless. But we'll let the court decide on this case. I would strongly advise that you do not come to this place. These people seemed very nice at first but some reason, this happened.

Loved this place good coffee and the breakfast buffet has lots to pic from And very reasonable prices. Want to go for the lunch Buffet. Clean and only complaint good was not real hot but they had a microwave so that solved

This place used to be my daily breakfast sandwich spot, until I was gaining weight. Now it is my occasional sandwich spot. To be honest, this is just like any other per pound place with a deli, but the shining star of the establishment is Ledi. She runs the deli in the back and she has got it down to a science. Are these the best sandwiches I've had? No, but they're pretty good if you want something greasy. Some of my preferred sandwiches to order are the chicken cheesesteak and the reuben. So generally, anything that involves heating on the flat top grill. If you want something less greasy, there are better deli's, but this one is still sufficient.

Staff were friendly & professional. Breakfast was fresh & yummy. Coffee & tea are good. Prices were fantastic.

The restaurant located across the street where Westin and Lowes Madison sat. Open from morning to afternoon, only served breakfast and lunch, in buffet type. Foods would be re-arranged/re-set after 1030AM from Breakfast to Luncheon menu, which would formally begin around 11AM. Cost of foods measured in weight: 5.99/lb. for breakfast and 7.49/lb. for lunch. Additional for coffee. Many people took carryouts (store had boxes for you to take out) and let the weight determine the cost of take out, how convenient. We spend less than $10 each for breakfast or lunch. The restaurant did not open on Saturday and Sunday. Foods were a mix of Chinese and Americans. Many fruits/veggies for choosing. We loved it. We would have to spend plenty if used the diners in hotels.

Awesome buffet. Quality and diversity of food is great, well-maintained throughout the day, and half-priced after 3pm.

Breakfast on on 1st was so good, returned on the second day while staying in D.C. Bran muffins were really good but omelettes were outstanding. Fried potatoes were tasty but not quite warm enough.

This place is delicious. The food is fantastic and reasonably priced for the area. The coffee is hot and fresh. I am always greeted with a smile and hello. Ask them about their frequent meal card!

This place apparently had pay by weight hot bar but removed because of pandemic, so now they have prepackaged asian meals that are quite extensive--beef bulgogi, rice, shrimp, sweet potato noodles, steamed vegetables, omelet, etc. Or you can get a hot or cold sandwich made to order. There is indoor dining, but it looks like they never bothered to take the chairs off the tables or separate the tables, so the tables are all jammed together and still have chairs on them, which you have to take down yourself. I think they canceled indoor dining for a while and just started up again, but forgot to take down the chairs when they started up again. It's annoying and does not make for a welcoming experience. I shouldn't have to take chairs off tables and separate tables before I start eating. Hopefully the salad bar and hot bar will come back soon. They give large portions, enough for 2 meals.

I've been to the cafe twice. I got an upset stomach after the first time I visited but was not certain the food was the cause. I went back again and when I was near the salad bar, I saw a baby mouse racing around the floor. I told an employee nearby (who used the rag he was cleaning the food surface with) to grab the mouse. He was very calm about it which made it seem like this was a common occurrence. Needless to say, I didn't buy anything and won't be returning.

This was an excellent hot and salad bar. Went with a group of ladies for lunch and it was packed, but things were moving along. Everybody tried something different and liked it. Large selection as compared with other hot bars in the area, and quality stuff. Love the selection of fresh fruit available. This was a serious deli/cafe. Definitely a wonderful place to go for lunch. Plenty of seating in and outside. The clerks are very friendly and the food is very good.

Secret buffet downtown? Yes! You read that right ladies and gentlemen. We all know there's not a lot of options downtown. Well, I finally discovered why. Cornerstone Bakery IS all the options in 1 PLACE. Crazy talk, I know, I know. Though this place is a GIANT buffet that charges and extremely good price for incredible by-the-pound food. It also is the answer to those wasted conversations with coworkers that always go like this: Corinne: "Yo, who wants lunch?" Rachel: "I do!" Corinne: "Want to go get salad?" Rachel: "Well...not really. I want Jalapeno Chicken." Guess what, they can both get what they want at Cornerstone Cafe! So check it out, and downtown will never be the same after.

Great weight bar restaurant located near work. They offer a punch card & after 12 visit you receive $6 off! Hot bar menu changes every day which provides a good variety and very tasty food. Excellent customer service and always clean. The owners are wonder and work the restaurant preparing food, cleaning and interacting with customers all day. I probably visit 3-4 days a week!

Thank the lord they FINALLY take credit cards now. Am I the only one who only carries cash on their person after fisting ones into their pocket after drunkenly skipping away from a gay bar? Whether looking for a freshly made breakfast or lunch sandwich at their rear deli or pay by the pound salad/entrees stations - this place has everything. My colleagues rave about the coffee (I drink the gross free stuff at work) so I wouldn't stop you from hitting up their coffee bar in the morning. Maybe I would too if they had baileys. When I first moved to DC I thought CC was a bit expensive - but when comparing to its competitors it is well worth the price. I really like that they have a variety of selections for their by the pound plates and they are always rotating the menu. I think I'll have the mac'n'cheez with a side of chicken parm. LAY OFF ME I'M STARVING.

Disclaimer: Cash only. Stop the presses, I think we've found the best deal yet for hot food and salad bars. Cornerstone Cafe offers lunch a $6.29/pound and breakfast at $5.29/pound. This is compared to Jack's Fresh, Market to Market, or Sizzling Express that charge $6.49, $6.49, and $6.89 respectively. Oh yeah, my rating is premised on the perception that all four hot food/salad bars are comparable in selection and quality. The trick still remains loading the most expensive food items with the least amount of weight. This means to avoid cheap and heavy items like stir fry noodles, fried rice, and mashed potatoes. In fact, skip the all carbs and starchy foods because carbohydrates are cheap. If you must have carbs, pick up a few pieces of sushi - which saves space while preserving value. Also, avoid cheaper salad bar items like Cesar salad or mixed greens when you can load up on more nutritious and richer selections like avocado salad, mozzarella salad, broccoli salad, or asparagus spears. You're best bet will always be lean proteins like roast beef and seafood - but not chicken - because you get the best bargain per ounce. 4 Stars - I recommend coming around 11am. Most of the dishes are fresh out of the kitchen and at the peak of its presentation. You get the first pick at the food and there are fewer people.

"Hi, can I get the [sandwich that comes with chicken breast and many other delicious things that I love]?" "No. We are out of chicken breast." "Oh, well can I just get it without the chicken breast?" (That's how much I love the other stuff.) "No." "Wait, you can't just make that sandwich, but just not put the chicken breast on?" "No." Okay then! Bye forever, Cornerstone.

This is that kind of fast food place that reminds me of Korean-owned cafes in college food courts. You come here to grab a bite on your way to work because you couldn't get up early enough to have a proper sit-down breakfast at home, or a sandwich for lunch because, well, who has time to eat lunch anyway? The breakfast bar and the buffet are pretty typical. I find most of the buffet items a bit too greasy, even the toast. But there's fresh fruit you can help yourself to. And it's not cheap, either - but compared to Whole Foods a whole lot better. It's so hidden that even after having resided in the very same building for three years, it didn't dawn on me it existed and that I should try it out. Compared to Peet's across the street, it's definitely got better real food (no I don't want to pay $6 for a sugar-laden scone that doesn't give me real nutrition for a meal) and reasonably priced coffee. I once paid nearly $20 for a pound of ground coffee at Peet's; it's good, but definitely not five times as good as my everyday cup of joe that I can get from a Dunkin or regular cafes like Cornerstone.

This a nice family run place. As other reviewers have said, it is a pay by the pound food bar. They have breakfast in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. They open early and close at 4:00 PM. They have a pretty extensive salad bar and a nice hot bar. The salad bar is cleared out of any lettuce (spinach, romaine, iceberg, greens) by around 1:30 PM so come early if you want that. They also have two folks working the grill in the back to make sandwiches, subs and gyros (the latter only on certain days). They have good lunch specials as well. The people are nice (Cookie is the one of the girls up front--very nice and good service). They also offer a frequent customer card. You get a stamp for every $6 you spend and once you get ten stamps you get $6 of free food. ALSO: They now accept credit cards.

Good place to grab a bite to eat on a budget. This place offers a breakfast buffet which allows for a variety of foods in a quiet environment. Quality of food is not best but still worth it