Lucky Penny Cafe

Very good food so the patience you have to have is worth it. You know when you run into a restaurant or Cafe and you realize that the people who are running it simply just love hospitality and making food for others? This is one of those places. There's not a lot of seating so if you are walking around downtown Tacoma and want to eat outside this is your place to go! Or if you're bringing it back to the office. Looking forward to going back. Also, it turns out that bibimbop runs out so come before noon!

Everything I’ve gotten here is just simply great! The lady working is a sweetheart and makes some amazing food and drinks 🙂

If you're looking for a hidden gem in the middle of down town, this is the spot. All the food in this little shop is awesome but the fried rice mama is queen. Penny is the best at her craft and is super sweet. Stop in and do yourself a favor.

I seldom write reviews but this little Cafe deserves recommendation! It opens from 6:30 am to 5 pm, and food is really nice!! We tried sandwishes, combo fried rice, omelette, coffee, and lemon tea, all are awesome! Definitely worth trying!

Little hidden gem located inside a building. Lovely owner, her fried rice is delicious! I got the combo with everything in it. It had chicken, shrimps, and bacon in it with a huge egg on top. The portion is huge so the leftover will take care of my lunch ☺️. I’m definitely combing back!

A lovely little coffee shop. Always good coffee, and great food, perfect place to stop in and grab something. Has tables by the elevators around the corner.

The second time that I came in, the food was delicious. I wish it was closer home. Definitely try their Chicken, bacon, ranch if you get a chance, totally worth it.

Love this place! I used to live and work on Pac Ave and would get a bi bim bap once a week from Penny. I moved and changed jobs so I haven’t been here in a while. Found myself in the area and am so pleased that Lucky Penny is still up and running!

Mom and pop's cafe with Korean theme. I needed coffee and went to the closest one. Coffee tasted good but weak. I guess one shot for 12 oz. I recommend to ask extra shot. Ambiance stale. Service ok, slow. Price cheap tho considering the location. Weekend off.

I came far too early for the Bi Bim Bap to be ready and Penny ended up offering the veggies. Her banchan is so good! I can't wait to come back and try her other dishes. I will be here often. I would buy the banchan in large containers it's so good. My husband got the ham and cheese breakfast sandwich and he loved it as well. Jin Jin matcha is one of my favorite places in the city and this place is right across the street. Penny is a sweetheart and very funny I can't wait to come back. The store is just a small corner store but does have a small table right outside that you could sit it if it is empty.

Very hole in a wall type place but the food is great! Nothing fancy, but it's homey for sure. Penny is very friendly and helpful. It was a nice treat to stumble upon.

Honestly, the sanitation behind the counter, or lack thereof, churned my stomach. The staff was perfectly nice but there was a used Kleenex by the coffee and lots of mess. I hope they could improve on that.

Croissant sandwich was amazing, as was our iced vanilla latte. We'll definitely be back! Only one table in the area, so be prepared to get your food to go

I only rate 5 stars when it's an experience!!! This was our family's most derisive review yet, but since it's my account, my rating goes! We all enjoyed our food & drinks, but the service was what we will remember! The owner made my son get off his phone to focus on our company & his food Priceless and then wouldn't give my husband salsa until he tried his breakfast burrito as she was sure it would be flavorful & spicy enough for him. It was... Just like her ‍

Literally happened upon this place because the cafe down the street that i wanted to try was closed. Im visting from San Diego and dropped off my car rental a few blocks down and just found this place through yelp by its good reviews. Every review about this hidden gem is 100% accurate. Tied for #1 is both the food and the service. They go hand in hand because Penny is the sweetest lady you have ever met who wants to take care of your food eating experience. It was my first time there and she treated me like i was family and wanted to make sure her cooking was the best. You really felt welcomed and that a lot of effort and love went into her cooking. The food itself is out of this world, i ordered the combo fried rice and i am a big boy and i couldnt finish half of it because there was so much she packed in there. But its not just the quantity, it was the best fried rice ive ever had. So much flavor, not overly oily or greasy just really good comfort food. The ambiance is a bit weird because its a super small shop in the bottom floor of an office building but when you walk into the shop you feel welcomed Overall the best surprising experience ive ever had. Im saving this place and making note to come here again every time i visit Tacoma. Plus one more kudos to Penny she really left a lasting impression with how sweet and caring she is to each of her customers if i could give more stars i would.

Well, it wasn't what we expected. We wanted to go to a restaurant for breakfast. We got very lucky and finding this place, it is a café within an office building. The food was outstanding and the coffee was just as great. There is only one table, but you can get your meal and sit inside or go to a nearby park. Again, the food and menu were great!!!

Love this place! I used to live and work on Pac Ave and would get a bi bim bap once a week from Penny. I moved and changed jobs so I haven't been here in a while. Found myself in the area and am so pleased that Lucky Penny is still up and running!

The owner is a sweetheart. The food is outstanding. You HAVE to try the Bulgogi and jopche(not sure about the spelling). Decent prices. A tacoma gem.

Had the best time at Lucky Penny. The owners were fantastic, especially the chef. She came out to deliver our food and was quite funny and nice. She even gave my friends and me apple slices on the house. The sandwiches were delicious and perfectly proportioned! I was traveling at the time, but if I ever find myself in the area, I'll want to go back and try the bibimbap or other Korean specialities!

Small spot, only a few (3?) tables. Staff are attentive, polite and funny with great service. I gave -1 star because I had asked for a croissant and instead got an English muffin. It still taste delicious and the vanilla latte was perfect.

Wow, truly delicious and freshly-made bi bim bap from a small coffee shop in the ground floor of an office building. Amazing find! (photo taken at my office.)

The owners are the nicest people. Excellent customer service. Super convenient location. The food is amazing. Great menu options too. Looking forward to our next stop!!

What an excellent cafe this is. I've tried this place a few times for work lunches and it is amazing. The menu was absolutely great, a lot of options and the owner is very welcoming and friendly. I recommend this place for anyone looking for a new lunch spot in downtown Tacoma.

What can I say, I'm going to be a regular at this place. Amazing Bibimbop and their Gogi Wrap is a must. It's a small place with just a few seating space right outside.

We ordered a few different breakfast sandwiches and burrito. Delicious! They make it while you wait. Everything is fresh. My latte was good as well.

A tiny, unassuming space which boasts many flavorful options for breakfast and lunch, freshly made there as well as some quick take away items like cookies, bars, drinks, etc. Frrrresh and delicious Bibimbap! Vegetables were crisp, flavorful, plenty of rice. A little more beef would have been nice, but I try to not eat much meat anyway. If you do, maybe ask for double...not sure what they'd charge..There is alot of red hot sauce which for my palate got a bit too spicy over time, but the flavor was delicious...not nearly as spicy as sriacha or sambal as it has a base and is not pure pepper. Next time I'll say just half the sauce, please. Great breakfast!

11/10/2022 7:26 am. I just woke up right before my alarm going off at 7:30, thinking "Lucky Penny cafe". I live near New York now, so I haven't been here since my freshman year of high school. (2016???- 6 years??) I remember coming here with my friends before and in between some of my classes, for breakfast, lunches, and after school snacks while waiting for our bus back home. I really miss the ambiance and this place will forever be a core memory for me. The lady working then was sweet. Sadly, I don't have any pictures, but I'll definitely have to visit when I visit my hometown! I hope this place is still doing well!

Really good nutty Irish latte special going on right now. Highly recommend the breakfast burrito.

The food is amazing and made with love and the owners are the nicest people to ever exist! They have the best fried rice and their lunch sandwiches are to die for! Highly recommend!

If you want food, food in downtown Tacoma...THIS THE ONE BOO!!! The chicken soup I had tooooday was Mama love food! Yessir

My husband and I were referred to this small cafe. Penny, is the owner and operator; super friendly to talk to and very accommodating. Her menu is pretty large for the small size of her cafe. The food is fresh and delicious. I had the bulgogi and my husband a BLT. Serving portions and food quality very good; equated to a full size restaurant. I haven't had a good bulgogi in many years. Quality bacon on her BLT. I recommend the food and service. They offer a small area for seating in the lobby.

Food and service were terrific! I highly recommend the Eggs Benedict. This place is tucked away in a quaint neighborhood.

Small mom and pop shop with satisfying breakfast. Loved how quick and delicious it was

Lucky Penny Cafe is genuinely the some of the best food I've ever had. Their service is amazing and I absolutely adore penny. The ambiance is wonderful and you absolutely get what you're paying for every single time.

The food here is unexpectedly fantastic. Coffee is great, everything is affordable, and this is a go to spot. I highly recommend for locals.

Lucky Penny's food is ok, but today's incident was one of the worst I've ever experienced; ordered a combination fried rice to go, paid for the order, even gave a tip although it was a to-go order, and sat on one the waiting tables - after awhile I heard someone from inside the kitchen yelling fried rice ready, but saw several ppl inside picking up food, so I waited for them to clear out..there were others already waiting for their orders, I figured my food wasn't ready yet. to my surprise, I saw the lady that prepares the meals, who I presume owns the cafe, standing in front of the lobby, looking at me angrily & screaming for me to come get my order. she went back inside & continued her screams & shouts about me not coming to get it when she called it out, about a minute before. I'm not considered overly sensitive & usually takes a while for me to get aggravated by the little silly things in life, but I felt absolutely humiliated to be treated & talked that way by someone who I provide business regularly..goes without saying that I lost my appetite & was in no mood to eat their food, so I ended up giving the food back to the guy manning the register & asked him to please give it to one of the local patrons that frequent that place. Absolutely done with Lucky Penny - they clearly do not appreciate my regular business.

I love this place. thank you guys for being the best and always making a tough day at work easier! The thought they put into everything they make is amazing. It's a special family-owned place I love to support.

I am here for work and found this place on Yelp. Surprised this place didn't have more reviews! Doesn't look like much from the outside and the definition of a little hole in the wall. The owners were so sweet and kind. I got a Turkey wrap that was a good sized portion, super fresh with crisp veggies & made with care. Will be returning for breakfast or lunch again before I leave!

I was vaguely aware that there was a restaurant housed where Lucky Penny is but I didn't pay too much attention to it until an acquaintance of mine that works at a nearby coffee shop recommended it to me. I was excited to try something new and it was a short walk from where I work so a visit here was easily to pencil in during my lunch hour. The entrance to the cafe is inside the World Trade Center building so you have to go in the main entrance off of Pacific and in the lobby turn right. The place seems very popular! There are about three or four tables out in the lobby to eat your meal at but most customers take their orders to go and most likely eat their breakfast or lunch back at their desks at their nearby work. Lucky Penny is teeny tiny so it can fill up fast but they have a good list of menu items and a good variety of snacks like chips and drinks like soda in the can or bottle. If you don't get your order to go and you sit at one of the tables in the lobby chances are someone from the cafe will serve it to you when your order is ready...that doesn't mean waiter service though. Once you get your order you are on your own then. I got an excellent BLT, probably the best one I've had in quite a long time here. It was fresh and the bacon was good quality and not so fatty that that is what you are mostly eating. The bread and veggies that came with it were very fresh as well, always important to me. I will definitely keep Lucky Penny in mind for future lunches since it was very enjoyable and I am eager to try some of their other sandwiches that they offer!

Best bibimbap in the US. Hands down. Plus, Penny is super nice, works really hard, makes great food, and it's super cute to see her and her husband working together. Ever since I moved away, I've been searching for bibimbap as good as Penny's, and so far nothing else compares.

This review is for food only: I tried the bibimbap. I walked up and ordered it like the complete white girl I am and immediately apologized for not knowing how to pronounce it properly. The guy working the register told me not to worry and was very nice. I asked for the meat to be left off. I ordered kimchi and he advised against it because he said it was too spicy this time around. He said his wife had a problem making this batch. She came in and offered to help him. Noticed the order and said something I didn't understand. He goes "I warned her but she still wants it.". His wife completed my order rather quickly. I didn't have to wait more than a couple minutes. I couldn't understand her super well but as she was handing me the bag she said something like "Honey you might not be like those guys who come in here and they can handle no spice! You might like a little spicy. ". I can't handle super spicy foods but the kimchi wasn't too spicy at all! I'd say it was pretty mild. I'm giving 5 stars honestly because I value unique mom and pop shops like this. The couple was adorable, made me feel very welcome and it was obvious they work hard. Across the street there is a Starbucks that I'm sure most everyone goes to but we need to keep these tiny hole in the wall places like this alive! They are unique and give a city character. Please support this shop.

I went in for a quick bite during my lunch hour excited to get that bibimbap. I must say that it's pretty decent for the price. The meat is not as much but what I want is the veggies anyway. The only thing tho is the nice gentleman asked me if I want my egg sunny side up or over easy and I asked for over easy but it didn't turn out either sunny side up or over easy. I can live with that as I love eggs no matter how it was cooked. I recommend this place for those peope who wants a hearty quick lunch around Downtown Tacoma :)

So I thought this was a regular cafe but it is a super small cafe. There are only three tables and a few chairs. It also can get packed so if you are claustrophobic then this is not the place for you. However, I was interested in coming here as they offer Korean food as well as traditional American sandwiches. The Bibimbap was pretty tasty, despite having different toppings than the usual! The owner/cook came by and told us that the traditional toppings weren't favored by their American customers so shows that they care. (: The cashier could have been a bit more friendly though. I also would suggest maybe a few more tables or chairs.

This is a tiny little cafe thats hard to find, and so is parking. Lol I drove around 3 times till i figured out where to park. Luckily there was 1 open spot in the front of the building. I ordered their combo fried rice and their bulgogi burrito!!!! Oh boy the owner is a nice Korean lady. The fried rice was so delicious, and i even topped it with a fried egg. It was very flavorful. The bulgogi wrap was delicious, next time im gonna have to ask to have it with veggies instead of rice. Overall, customer service was excellant and food was delicious!

My tummy was saying "BREAKFAST SANDWICH!" but my mind went with the lunch option. So a veggie wrap was ordered. I opted out of cream cheese (dumb move) and went with pesto (had SOME working brain cells). This little hole in a building left no shortage of love in my wrap. Crisp, fresh vegetables were had, and I'm definitely not having a meal-induced midday nap... yet. I intended to come back at an appropriate hour for morning delights!

Little gem in downtown Pac Ave. Family run. Quick for take out. There's a little dining area just in the lobby if you want. You can order their fried rice with whatever modifications you'd like - eg style and number of eggs, choice of proteins. You can do the same for their bibimbap. Super friendly service. They show they care about their customers. You can also pick up other little snacks here. Overall, it's an affordable tasty lunch.

Tucked away in Tacoma's World Trade Center building, Lucky Penny Cafe would be hard to find if you aren't looking for it. I'm so glad I stumbled across it though while on a visit to Tacoma's Chamber of Commerce. First of all, Penny, is the sweetest lady ever! She makes mean sandwiches but also a few Asian dishes. I regularly get her combo fried rice. It's now my go-to place when I'm working in downtown Tacoma and need a quick but hearty bite to eat. Don't be surprised to hear some authentic Korean music playing in the background-- it adds to the eclectic Penny! Also note: there are only a few places to sit... a couple of tables just outside of the cafe, so it's not really a sit-down restaurant. Be prepared to take-out!

Lucky Penny Cafe is a decent place to grab some bibimbap. The owners are really nice and the food is good if you can't go far to grab a bite to eat. The Bibimbap - The bibimbap was okay. I've had bibimbap in Korea and in some shops around seattle. It's good, but I would like it if there was a bit more meat. Pricing - The price is a bit expensive, but nothing unreasonable for a small shop in downtown Tacoma. Some of the items on the menu are a bit overpriced and smaller items such as ramen and water are marked-up for convenience. Seating - There isn't too much seating, but I haven't found an issue as I tend to come here alone. Customer Service - The owners are really kind.

I was trucking on a job and notice this little Cafe while me and my partner were delivering something. I went in and was greeted by a nice lady and two gentlemen. It a nice small little cafe with some tables to dine in or wait for your food. I got a Smokey Turkey Sandwich and an Oreo Shake and was pleasantly surprised with how good it was. The Shake was honestly one of the best I've ever had. Along with them offering a lot of good sounding food they had a lot of smoothies as well. I wish they were open on the weekends I would definitely swing by now and again. If your in the area though anytime Monday-Friday I would for sure stop by here and grab something.

Best place to get breakfast or lunch. The family that's runs it is the sweetest people I have ever meet. Their soups are so good especially the new tomato soup recipe. Keep it up guys !

Came here for the Bibimbap, and even got a bit of Kimchi and was not disappointed. It was to say the least, fantastic! So many flavors in one plate, all good stuff and very well prepared. Peny and her husband were very attentive and helpful, we talked for a bit, the food came out quickly and hot, and it was delicious, they came out to check on me a few times eve though its kind of a take out place. I gave the 5 stars because it is what it is, its a very small shop, so don't expect anything fancy or sit down tables, even though there are 3 right outside, but the entire experience was just awesome. I hope that one day they can move into a cafe type deal with tables and more space, cause they sure deserve it and it would be a success!

Omg! Why is this the best bimbimbap I've ever tasted!? This isn't even a restaurant! I thought they only served coffee and pastries! I was starving tho and I saw bimbimbap on their menu, I was a bit scared to be honest, but this was AMAZING! Must try!

Penny is the greatest! Coffee is always fantastic and her food is to die for! Can't be beat.

I love this place! This is my regular lunchtime spot. The bulgogi wrap is my favorite! If I end up not working downtown, eating lunch from here will be the thing I miss the most. Amazing food and fantastic customer service all the time. 10/10 recommend checking this place out.

This place is a wonderful coffee shop and the food is worth the price and coming back for.

What a wonderful little place---excellent to grab a quick bite for lunch! Had the bi bim bap just the other day & it was one of THE BEST I've ever had, this is my favorite Korean dish & one of my all-time top most loved dishes, Penny did a fantastic job! Friendly, warm service & light conversation made this a wonderful experience! I will try to stop here at least once a week for a take-home dinner that's sure to please!

Yesterday was my last night in Tacoma. Of course, my choice for dinner was Lucky Penny's fried rice which I never tried before. Thanks to the owner, I enjoyed my dinner with variety of kimchi. It was a kimchi festival! I highly recommend this restaurant if you ever have a plan to visit Tacoma.