MAKE Projects

Cafe · San Diego

MAKE Projects

Cafe · San Diego

2

2920 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

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MAKE Projects by null
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MAKE Projects by null
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MAKE Projects by null
MAKE Projects by null
MAKE Projects by null
MAKE Projects by null
MAKE Projects by null
MAKE Projects by null
MAKE Projects by null
MAKE Projects by null
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Highlights

Globally inspired eats, beer, wine, cocktails, supports refugees  

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2920 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104 Get directions

sdmake.org
@sdmakeprojects

$10–20 · Menu

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2920 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104 Get directions

+1 858 633 6852
sdmake.org
@sdmakeprojects

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Oct 4, 2025

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@eater

Make Projects Opening Farm-to-Table Restaurant in Normal Heights | Eater San Diego

"I noted that last fall the group moved from 30th Street to University Avenue and opened MAKE Café, a North Park location that serves a menu of global cuisine; that café will remain operational until the new Normal Heights restaurant is up and running." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/2024/10/22/24275975/make-projects-non-profit-farm-to-table-restaurant-garden-new-opening-normal-heights-san-diego
View Postcard for MAKE Projects
@eater

Farm-to-Table Nonprofit Restaurant Secures New Home in North Park - Eater San Diego

"Its umbrella organization, MAKE Projects, is a nonprofit that also encompasses a catering company and an employment training program for new immigrants who learn culinary and hospitality skills in a 12-week program that prepares them with practical job skills. Headed by Anchi Mei, the social enterprise has collaborated with local chefs and restaurant owners." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/2023/11/1/23939952/make-cafe-restaurant-urban-farm-non-profit-new-opening-san-diego
View Postcard for MAKE Projects

Pauline Steele

Google
Located in North Park, MAKE cafe offers a large and airy space with great food from various cuisines and the business supports women refugees and immigrants. We went here for brunch for the first time and we left stuffed and feeling good! Parking: Just like any other North Park establishment, expect to take time looking for street parking. Service/Ambiance: The place is huge and could accommodate larger groups. It has a rustic feel with high ceilings. You order at the cashier and they serve the food to your table. Our food came out very quickly. Food: Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to order a lot but many items on the menu looked inviting. We ended up order the MAKE Breakfast sandwich ($13) and added beef kofta sausage patty ($5). The flavor of patty was amazing and I really appreciated that the milk bread didn’t crumble/get soggy— big must for me. It was a well-made sandwich which I’d get again. Overall: I’d definitely come back to MAKE cafe to try out many other things on their menu!

Navid Zamani

Google
Incredible food, amazing staff, and an important mission. A delicious restaurant that is also a nonprofit supporting communities in need. The Afghan chicken tacos were insanely delicious. We were with a big group and ordered a variety of items off the menu. All of them were top quality and fresh. Lots of open space and very family friendly. Highly recommend. Will be coming back frequently

Diana A

Google
This place never disappoints. The food is fresh, flavorful, and perfect portions. The chicken n blue corn waffles and Afghan Tacos were delicious! Mimosas with lemongrass and OJ is a great upgrade from the standard. Friendly and attentive staff. Highly recommend.

Kristina Stahl

Google
Absolutely delicious! I wasn't expecting the food to be this good - I came to support their mission & values - but the food & drinks had such yummy and unique flavors. Only complaint is we wish we ordered more!!! Not the cheapest place ever for breakfast but very comparable prices to every other place in North Park with the added benefit of your purchase supporting their mission of job creation & sustainable community-led agriculture! Will definitely be back next weekend!

Kyra Solis

Google
The food and service were wonderful, and the vibe/decor is just darling! I thought the prices were very fair, considering we each got an app, entree and coffee. We came for breakfast and their citrus-yogurt with seasonal fruit and granola was a perfect, lighter appetizer for two. Usually I am the person asking “who goes out for a yogurt bowl?” but this bowl was unique with all of the different flavors and just the right amount of different textures (creamy yogurt, crunchy granola, fruit). The sambusas were also heavenly! They are a must-get item and also work well as an appetizer. I also liked that they had many small plate options for sharing - a little taste of everything! For two people, I think 2 apps and 1 entree or 1 app and two entrees would be plenty.

Clare Herrick

Google
Very sweet employees and great atmosphere! The afghan chicken tacos were packed with flavor and the texture of the tortilla was perfect. Sambusas were crispy and had a great sauce with them. The drinks were also fantastic. Super cool spot for lunch!

Michael O

Google
The beet spread and shakshuka was delicious. Love the mission and the food/drinks were very good. Very spacious also.

Katie Wood

Google
Delicious brunch! We enjoyed the Somali Malawian which was absolutely delightful—cheesy, hearty, and spiced. We also had the duck and sweet potato hash that was topped with a super fresh salad. If you enjoy a savory dense bread, the Afghan sweet bread was a great end to our meal, as the citrus butter was to die for. Will definitely be going back!
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Pauline S.

Yelp
Located in North Park, MAKE cafe offers a large and airy space with great food from various cuisines and the business supports women refugees and immigrants. We went here for brunch for the first time and we left stuffed and feeling good! Parking: Just like any other North Park establishment, expect to take time looking for street parking. Service/Ambiance: The place is huge and could accommodate larger groups. It has a rustic feel with high ceilings. You order at the cashier and they serve the food to your table. Our food came out very quickly. Food: Unfortunately we didn't have enough time to order a lot but many items on the menu looked inviting. We ended up order the MAKE Breakfast sandwich ($13) and added beef kofta sausage patty ($5). The flavor of patty was amazing and I really appreciated that the milk bread didn't crumble/get soggy-- big must for me. It was a well-made sandwich which I'd get again. Overall: I'd definitely come back to MAKE cafe to try out many other things on their menu!
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Kim P.

Yelp
I came here because this is a mission driven establishment and that really resonates with me. Also, the food was very tasty and really incorporates flavors from the countries where many of the refugees who work there hail from. I tried the trio of dips, chicken tacos and the breakfast sandwich. My favorite was the sandwich, the added beef patty was very well seasoned and the homemade brioche was pillowy. I love that everything is homemade and that many ingredients come from their local farm. Feels good to support an establishment that makes a positive impact in the community.
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Jennifer B.

Yelp
Great and airy place in the heart of North Park to meet up with friends for brunch. We had a large party and a dog, and they were more than happy to accommodate us on their patio outside. They are part of an organization that supports immigrant women and refugees. Plenty of seating even during peak hours (we came on a holiday weekend for brunch). The menu has so many fun items it was difficult to decide what to try. We ordered the beignets to share which came out so warm and soft. Ordered the shakshuka and it was a tad salty but very flavorful! Our waitresses seemed a little inexperienced and mixed up our party's drink orders multiple times, but everyone was friendly and warm. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to others.
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Eily I.

Yelp
Really good food here and a place with a mission! We got the afghan chicken tacos & breakfast sandwich. Both were really good! I love the regional spice influences in the dishes and the sauces. The breakfast sandwich had this homemade bread (a milk bread maybe?) that had such a nice texture. Overall the food and service here is great. Love that they have a purpose behind what they're doing as well.
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Jiansen W.

Yelp
MAKE Cafe is a non-profit eatery with a flavorful, farm to table menu that supports refugee and immigrant women. MAKE AMBIANCE Rustic, spacious, modern, clean SERVICE Attentive, friendly, knowledgeable DRINK 5/5 Blue Chamomile Tea: hot, floral, and had a deep blue-green hue. Fresh lemon slices adds acidity and changes the tea color. FOOD 5/5 Seared Halloumi: hot, cheesy, smokey seared halloumi served with za'atar focaccia, blistered cherry tomato, over thick pomegranate molasses 5/5 Somali Malawah (like a thick breakfast sandwich in quesadilla format): cardamom crepe, soft scrambled egg, crisp hash brown, jack cheese, creamy peppery bizbaz, choice of side 5/5 side salad: fresh arugula, thinly sliced carrots tossed with sumac and a red wine vinaigrette 4/5 Locally Caught Fish Sandwich: ate this one a bit too late and the bread had gotten soggy, but it was still a nicely prepared fish sandwich on housemade milk bread, sweet pickle, tomato, preserved lemon aioli, choice of side 4/5 tomato cucumber salad: fresh and quite simple, with sumac and red wine vinaigrette
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Raquel C.

Yelp
Literally the best breakfast I have ever had. It's only open from 9-2 so come early! But I will be coming back 100000%. I ordered the wellness soup, my god it was delicious! Perfectly balanced! My boyfriend ordered the breakfast sandwich and that was amazing! Super soft bread, crispy cheese fluffy eggs and well seasoned hash browns. Oh and the coffee and breadbasket pastries were PERFECT! The fact that they also have a beautiful, empowering mission was really the cheery on top. Nourishment for the body and soul! I love this place!
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Anne F.

Yelp
I absolutely adore MAKE Café! They began as a pop-up in a church, and you can still see hints of that in some of their photos. This year, they moved into a permanent space in North Park, conveniently located right by the iconic NP sign! Check their website for the latest menu instead of relying on Yelp photos. They use fresh, local ingredients, so their menu changes regularly. MAKE is the perfect spot to meet a friend for lunch. Everything I've tried has been fantastic. The service is friendly, and there's plenty of seating both inside and outside. I think they use Yelp Waitlist for busy days, which is super helpful. My visits have been on weekdays when it's not too crowded. They have cocktails, spirit-free options, coffees, and specialty lemonades. The rosemary lemonade is so good I want to recreate it at home. If you're craving something sweet, the Southeast Asian French Toast is incredible. It's great for sharing or as a starter, but when I had it as my main, I found myself wishing for some hashbrowns to break up the flavors. (To be fair, I was pairing it with the lemonade, so my palate might have needed a reset.) Still, it's absolutely delicious. Last time I visited, I had the Somali Malawah, and wow--it was amazing! I usually don't have an appetite big enough to finish my plate, but this dish was so good I made sure to enjoy every last bite. My friend got the Afghan Chicken Tacos and loved them as well. MAKE also was the star of my Thanksgiving this year! They offered a catering menu, and it was one of the few places with a fantastic option for just two people. Of course, we ended up ordering the larger portion for 4-5 people so we'd have leftovers. Best decision ever. The turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, and cranberry sauce were all delicious. I'd been stressed about cooking, but MAKE took care of everything, and it was such a treat. I was worried I'd miss my own recipes, but honestly, I didn't. Everything was fantastic.
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Cryetti C.

Yelp
Food: 4.5 Service: 5 Ambiance: 4 What an amazing restaurant with an amazing cause! I was going to be in the area and went looking for some good brunch spots and this place popped up! I'm glad it did! Upon entering I was greeted with friendly hellos and was promptly seated. I already knew what to order: spread trio and the shakshuka. I also ordered the strawberry/basil drink. The spread was so delicious and tasty. It was an explosion of flavors but not in an in-your-face type of way. It was subtle. The shakshuka came out piping hot and delicious well! The strawberry/basil drink was so refreshing and perfect on that hot day. Service was excellent and you can tell they care and are doing their best. Ambiance was good but it was really hot I visited and I'm not sure if there's AC. However this minor, as everything else outweighs this. I look forward to returning to try other items on the menu!
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Maryan O.

Yelp
I have been here countless times. When I say I could eat their food daily, I really mean it. As a Somali, I really love their malawah. It's a staple of mine most times I'm here (not pictured unfortunately!), but I love their meals in general. I have had their coffee, tea, dinners (when they had it), breakfast, lunch. It never disappoints. I love this spot so much that it was the spot for my goodbye lunch when leaving a job. Truly the best! The service is amazing. The youth are lovely. The mission is incredible. It's all locally sourced. And incredibly creative + diverse meals. Not to mention very kid friendly! Love love love.
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Jessica L.

Yelp
If you want to feel good about dining out, experience a warm-hearted ambiance, and have an affordable meal... this is a new restaurant to check out!! I am so glad my friends and I randomly walked by this place on the way to Saigon Coffee. Not only was there good food, but also a restaurant concept that I fully support in terms of social justice and awareness when it comes to the ingredients they use. This agricultural kitchen employs refugees and immigrant women and youth which warms my heart because I don't see many of these establishments in San Diego. The staff was super kind, timely, and the owner herself even greeted each table to make sure we had an enjoyable experience. The items we ordered were very potato heavy but the cilantro sauce that comes with the dishes helped balance out the potatoes which had good seasoning. The Shakshuka was my favorite dish! It was full of flavor and the tomatoes were not too sour--it had the rich and sweet flavor of ripe tomatoes. All the ingredients were really fresh and even the fruits were sweet! The interior is super spacious, airy, and clean. Prices are reasonable and I love how they have a specials menu that I think changes seasonally.
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Joyce B.

Yelp
A restaurant with a story "a hyperlocal urban farm, cafe, and social enterprise with a transformative impact. We provide a paid work experience and one-on-one coaching for low-income refugee and immigrant women with employment barriers..." from their website. Feel good about contributing to a valuable learning experience, while eating delicious food from all over the world. The staff is very friendly and happy to share their experiences and practice their English. The only negative is finding parking in this busy neighborhood. Best bet is the parking garage on North Park Way, one block south, North Park garage at $1 an hour.
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Alissa T.

Yelp
I loved the concept and the food! MAKE Project is true farm-to-table as their food comes from their own farm! Additionally, they help refugee and immigrant women by providing job training at this restaurant. After these women get experience, they help with resumes so they can move onto another job and Make Project can help more people. This restaurant itself is big and spacious. I made a reservation since we had a group of 5, but there were open seats as well, so you'd be fine to walk up. The food was SO good. Everyone loved their meals! Good food and a great concept! Nothing to lose!!!
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Mikey H.

Yelp
They have moved to a new location on University avenue and it's great! I love what they did with the space! The front patio is dog friendly which Cako appreciates! What I also love is that some of my students work here so I can be obnoxious and they have to be nice to me! LOL! I love how the menu changes depending on what's available. We tried the smashburger, seasonal vegetables, and some really delicious roasted dates! The chef sent us out some burrata cheese and bread...sooooo good! We also had the chicken skewers which were delicious! We passed on dessert because we were full! This is an amazing place to come to which gives young people and immigrants food service skills that they can take anywhere. Definitely worth going to for dinner or brunch!!! Cako Approves!
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Sarah K.

Yelp
Such a cute concept to have a nonprofit restaurant. I was walking by in the area with a friend on a Saturday afternoon and stumbled upon this place and decided to check it out. There are a lot of youth and refugee mothers working here making traditional foods from Somalia, Afghanistan, North Africa, etc. They have both indoor & outdoor seating. Their interior is very spacious and beautiful. They also have a clean bathroom There are dairy free, gluten free, and vegan options here making it a good spot to take people with different dietary needs. The customer service is outstanding and the waitress was sooooo friendly! I felt like I had made a new friend from how friendly she was. I ended up ordering the Somali lentils which came with bread and were seasoned very well. The waitress also got us Mandazi which are East African style beignets that came with housemade seasonal jam which was fluffy and had the right amount of sweetness. Go support this amazing non-profit business and make sure to tip generously :)
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Reena A.

Yelp
Couldn't recommend this place enough... Besides all the excellent food we tried, this non-profit has their own farm, sources additional local ingredients, and helps youth and women immigrants and refugees get a job. Everything was fresh and tasty and the service was quick and attentive. The place was not as busy enough as it should've been for a Saturday afternoon so feel free to show up without a reservation. Big space for large groups too. The Somali Malawah was just like a hardy potoato egg and yummy cheese in a thin crepe with fresh sides. The bizbaz sauce it came with is what makes it so good tho. Not sure what was in it... maybe cilantro and yogurt among other things... but so good. Shakshuka was tasty. And the beignets aka Mandazi were really good... not greasy at all and the seasonal jam we had was an apple cinnamon. Looking forward to going back and trying more... especially their dinner
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Michael B.

Yelp
I think this was not only one of the better breakfasts I had here but also it is also such a dope initiative. I made it to their first location which is connected to what I believe is a place of worship in North Park (although they do have a building down the road also in North Park). I ate outside in a patio. The table was a bit uneven since it was outside but nothing too serious. Although it was packed, the server came and checked in on us within minutes to let us know that they are slammed. Which is a good thing because the food is made from scratch and when I did get my meal it certainly did feel fresh. The server was bubbly and when other servers passed by us who wasn't assigned our table, they said hello and checked in. We ordered two drinks, both fruit based and light and refreshing. It's a vegan spot and alcohol isn't served. The menu changes often because it's based off of the people who are cooking. We had something similar to a frittata and something similar to a buttermilk flatbread with various toppings on it. I don't believe in going back to restaurants since there are SO many to try from. But it was such a different array of spices and combination of ingredients that I may have to break my own rule! It's connected to a garden where they grow their own veggies and often donate it. They encourage you to walk around it as your food is being prepared or afterwards to connect more to their greater vision. One of the easier 5 stars I've given. Reservations are needed.
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Anchi C.

Yelp
Delicious food, friendly staff, beautiful venue! Great for private events, too! Also amazing connection to mission.
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Michelle F.

Yelp
Visited Make Project on a Friday evening for dinner. The space is huge! We were the first ones in the door that evening. The place is well staffed and everyone was very friendly and seemed genuinely happy to be there. I did my research before hand since a lot of the ingredient names were totally foreign to me. We started off with the: Afghan Laghataq- Eggplant dip. This was just ok. The presentation was not alluring in any shape of form. The taste was subpar as well. Grilled Winter Squash with mast o khiar (persian dip similar to tzatziki)- likely the best thing I tasted tonight. Afghan Chicken Kabab with citrus piri piri - nothing special Batata Harra- Lebanese "spicy" potatoes with lemon, chili flake and fresh herbs- the potatoes looked like they had potential given all of the seasonings however, they were kind of bland to me. Vietnamese grilled lamb shoulder with Haitian pikliz (pickled onions). My husband really enjoy the lamb shoulder! I really wanted my taste buds to go on an adventure while dining at Make Project. Unfortunately, this was not the case this time. I am glad we tried it and that we were made aware of their mission to empower refugee and immigrant women. I'm happy to support Make Project and hope to try it again in the future hopefully once their recipes have improved a bit and or looking forward to trying new items on the menu.
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A T.

Yelp
MAKE is in a beautiful new space now so we were excited to check it out! The food was yummy and the ambiance was open and airy but welcoming. Their cider sangria cocktail was unforgettable!
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P R.

Yelp
I work from home and was looking to order breakfast/brunch for pickup. I remembered about this place because I walk past it often. I decided to order from here because I love their mission statement and what they stand for. The price ordering online from here for a meal was about the same if I were to order a sandwich from the busy/trendy cafe down my street so I thought, okay i'll try here it's going to a good cause. I ordered the North African Shakshuka ($16) plus 2 bucks more for service fees from ordering online (typical at any restaurant). It stated my order would be ready within 15 minutes. I gave it some time and arrived at the thirty. Minute mark. The restaurant was not busy at all due to it being a weekday morning, however, they apologized and stated they had not seen my order and started working on it right away. The lady who I'm guessing is a supervisor or manager, was very apologetic and offered a complimentary beverage while I waited. I thought that was kind, I ordered the Vietnamese coffee. (It definitely wasn't Saigon but it was complimentary and still enjoyed it) It did take about 20 minutes for me to receive my food, but they also gave me a complimentary desert and they apologized again. I would say if I was in a hurry maybe it would have been more of an issue but I worked from home so it was okay. I think I will try this place again but dining in. The meal was hearty and yummy! Exactly what I wanted.
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Sandy C.

Yelp
So many yummy flavors and such a good cause! I LOVE the mission and purpose of MAKE Projects. We got the spread trio, shakshuka, and Afghan chicken tacos and everything was delicious. I think my favorite spread was the laghataq. Everything was so delicious and nicely spiced, with very friendly service. The GM makes her way to every table to say hi and discuss the project too! :)
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David E.

Yelp
I didn't know what this establishment was before showing up. Once we were sat, they explained their concept and business. My son and I loved everything about this place. I will return when back in SD to visit
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Heather D.

Yelp
This was such a nice time. My friend and I both split a French toast with banana flambe or something similar to that and something with eggs and potatoes. I know its a terrible explanation but it was delicious and there were others I would have tried. Staff was friendly and it wasn't too busy even on Saturday. We were a few mins late for the reservation. There was indoor and outdoor seating and seemed plenty of it and it was good vibes.
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Nick C.

Yelp
This place was really good! I highly recommend trying this place out! The service was great and I could talk to the owner for hours. She was nice and very helpful. I absolutely loved everything I ordered. Everything is locally sourced and made in house. I love supporting their mission, helping provide real work experience for low income refugees and immigrant women and youth. Their global menu is delicious and I'll definitely be back for dinner!
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N. P.

Yelp
Brilliant idea, and brilliant food! I had the Homemade Lemonade with Lavender, bright, tangy and slightly sweet. I also ordered the East African Mandazi beignets with jam, light and crunchy, the jam was amazing and fresh, so perfect! The Seared Locally Caught Fish Sandwich was excellent, it featured a delicious lemon aoli sauce and a side of potatoes. My only criticism were the potatoes, they needed seasoning, they had zero flavor. I will be back to try some of the other delicious-looking dishes and to help a worthy cause!
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Julianne C.

Yelp
make projects is a very special establishment because they hire refugee and immigrant women and youth and also source ingredients from local farms. this new location has a beautiful and bright interior, the ambiance is lovely! the service is also friendly, but for our group our food took a little bit to come out. i'm not sure if it's because we had a bigger group or if that's the standard wait time, but either way i didn't mind. the shakshuka was quite good and very tomato based. the fish sandwich was really delicious and knowing the fish was locally caught 1-2 days ago was really great! definitely recommend make projects for some local healthy food and to support an amazing mission.
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Shay M.

Yelp
When was the last time you dined at a nonprofit restaurant? Have you ever? I don't believe I had either, until I tried MAKE Projects (shout-out to Jennifer A. for the review that brought me here). The experience left me overjoyed and beyond excited to return; one could say that I was full, and fulfilled. Nonprofit restaurant??? Some of you may be asking, "How?" or "Why?". Well, this mostly sustainable restaurant, isn't just looking out for our planet in terms of growing their own produce, but they're also looking out for our people, and growing them too. You see, Make Projects has several very special missions in mind, when serving you these unique and delectable eats. "Make Projects merges agriculture, kitchens, and employment; it is their mission to empower refugee and immigrant women and youth with the job readiness skills to achieve their dreams". Their vision is "to see San Diegans cross social, racial, economic, and geographic lines as we gather over our love of food, flavors, and culture". With MP, it's more than just words. Once you dine here, you'll see this vision come to life, as you soak in the genuineness and kindness of the staff, and the flavors of the food. Now unfortunately, the restaurant is no longer in the garden next to the church. I wish I had dined here then, as I was really looking forward to dining in the garden setting. However, expanding to the new location on University has allowed them the ability to serve more guests, and empower more young women; it's a win-win in my eyes. The service: Although the hostess and the manager were both new in their roles, they both did a great job. The hostess was great at recommending several dishes that you could tell they really liked; their recommendations were spot-on. The manager did a great as well, answering all of my questions, as well as giving us insight into the restaurants future endeavors. I'd just say keep in mind that there is a lot of training, and care, that goes into the food and the service, so be kind. The staff were gentle, kind, and smiling ear to ear, we should be too. The food: Don't be afraid to try things you might not have heard of. We did just that, and I am thankful for that opportunity. The Afghan breakfast taco plate was full of fresh fare, and came with a fruit salad, crispy breakfast potatoes, a cucumber and tomato salad, and 3 well built tacos. This plate was not only delicious to eat, but all of the beautiful and vibrant colors made it a pleasure to look at; it looked so good I hesitated to dive in, but only momentarily as I was ready to get my grub on. We also enjoyed a sample of the beignet-like African Mandazi (Thanks Chef Andrew), a must if you're looking for something warm and slightly sweet. The homemade apple jam that accompanied the Mandazi was excellent; I would have loved to slather that all over a double cut Duroc pork chop. Lastly, we also had the smash burger, which wasn't much of an actual smash burger, but it was tasty nonetheless. I prefer the thickness of a robust burger over a smash burger, so I wasn't bothered by this at all. I would recommend the burger only as a third or fourth dish, as the plate wasn't as substantial as the taco plate, and the burger was pretty standard. Thank you to MAKE Projects for their wonderful mission of empowerment and inclusivity! Thank you to all of the wonderful staff for making this a dining experience to remember. We'll see you soon.
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Jennifer A.

Yelp
This is the most amazing non profit ever in Northpark please come and show support it helps out a lot of refugees transition, the food grown by Robbie and Created by Chef Andrew is just so magical what wonderful things that happen here, pls pls come out on Sat or Sun 9-2 for Brunch such a beautiful place :)
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Tania C.

Yelp
What a gem! We saw this place weeks ago. Walked By one afternoon. Then one Thursday we finally made reservations (via Yelp!), and voila. We dined in this lovely place and I must say, the food was fantastic. Service was lovely as well and the ambiance felt like you were surrounded by nature. I guess is the feeling that their garden gives you. Dessert was yummy and there is so much behind this organization. I highly recommend this to you wheaten you are in the are or not. It is worth es to make a special trip just to try the whole experience. Special shout out to Samantha Forusz for being so kind and come to our table to explain the organization. Amazing experience!!
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Tofer M.

Yelp
great concept: a non-profit restaurant training immigrants and refugees in hospitality and food service. they train for three months and then help them get jobs.really good food.
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Felicia R.

Yelp
I finally got a chance to check out this cute location with fresh veggies and tried out a couple of light items - although as I watched other people's dishes come out, I had some great ideas for what to order during my next visit. All of the seating is outdoors which is great, and it's a small location which creates a fun intimate feel. All of the staff was great! Kind - and positive. I tried One of the specials - the Strawberry jam roll. It was really flavorful. The Avocado toast was my favorite - Flavor wise and visually. The coffee was great too - looking forward to trying a larger dish on my next visit! Coffee
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Bailey V.

Yelp
We were seated outside where colorful place settings and fresh flowers adorned our table. Wanting to try everything on the menu, my partner and I settled on the following: - Botanical Sunrise (a sparkling citrusy/gingery mocktail, one of my favorite items of the day) -Prosecco Muse Spumante -Make Dip Trio (this came with a beet hummus, Afghan Laghataq and Syrian Moutebal. I hate beets but the beet hummus was to die for! It was by far my favorite dip of the trio) -East African Coconut Mandazi (the seasonal jam it came with was mouth watering) -Homemade pancakes with orange syrup (both my partner and mine's favorite food item) -Chicken Tacos (also delicious) The food was magnificent, the people were incredible, and the decor is what I envision for my own home some day! I already can't wait to come back and support this incredible nonprofit and their mission. I highly recommend you all give them a try and spread the word!

Susan H.

Yelp
This place is great!!! The food is amazing!!! I service was very good!!! And the restaurant and ambiance are beautiful!!! I love that it is run by women and helping women refugees and immigrants!!! I highly recommend this place!!!
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Todd P.

Yelp
This is hands down the best brunch spot in North Park. I'm a vegetarian, and they've got plenty of great veggie options, but I always end up going with the Somali Malawah or the Shakshuka. Both are incredibly flavorful, savory dishes that perfectly satisfy that breakfast egg craving. Lately I've been going with the Malawah because the crispy cheese is so unique and delicious. If you don't think of yourself as an adventurous eater, don't worry about trying the Malawah--while it might sound different than common San Diego breakfast fare, if you like the flavors of a good breakfast burrito, you'll absolutely love this. The coffee drinks are also excellent, especially the new orange mocha which I had iced. I really can't say enough good things about the food here, and that would be reason enough to go, but the fact that this place also employs refugees and immigrants and helps them build community in San Diego is just awesome. As someone who lives in North Park, it makes me very happy that we get to have such a uniquely delicious, purpose-driven establishment in the neighborhood. Lucky us!

Lynda C.

Yelp
Eat well. Do good. This restaurant embodies both statements in their logo. The four people in our group had different entrees from their lunch menu. all agreed they were delicious very nicely presented. The roasted potatoes were well spiced and crispy. My Afghan chicken tacos with pickled vegetables were very tasty. Eat Well. Our servers were very attentive and knowledgeable, answering our questions about the different drinks and dishes. We had an informative conversation with the restaurant manager about their internship program for immigrant women and the large agricultural project near Snapdragon stadium. Also their plans to move to Normal Heights and combine the restaurant with a garden in one location. Do Good.
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Ron G.

Yelp
Great food and great mission. The staff is really friendly. Great place to come hang out and hang out. Highly recommend it. We tried the trio and the chicken both were great.
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Julia W.

Yelp
Love the cause that this restaurant has behind it, and the farm grown food! Features several dishes from around the world which were such a treat to try. Will be back to try more dishes!

Eugie L.

Yelp
Food was great! The tomato cucumber salad that came as a side of the tacos was amazing and perfectly seasoned. Next time , I will get a separate order of it. The chicken tacos had a little bit of a spiced kick to it, but were not spicy. The Shaksuka was great too. Flavoring was perfect, but eggs were a little too done. Focaccia was amazing!! We loved the Mandazi (beignet) as well. It was so soft and the jam was so tasty. Overall, they had amazing food with a unique flavor profile. We loved the big open space inside and the green-space patio. It was not that busy when we went for a Saturday mid-morning brunch. The staff was very attentive and answered all our questions about the unique and varied food option.
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Evelyn K.

Yelp
Everything was a 10/10 here! This place needs more love. We got the dip sampler, the beignets, and the omelette crepe. All of these were sooo unique and so delish!
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Yasmine F.

Yelp
It was delicious! The servers were friendly and attentive. I love the mission of the restaurant. Super cute spot and I want to visit when they move too.
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Goli P.

Yelp
Wow there is so much to love about this place. First of all its mission is all about kindness, inclusion, and education. Love that! Besides the wonderful reason why they are present, the food is delicious. We went for brunch last week and let's just say that everything was super yummy! We ordered the following: -warm apple rose cake -house made pickle plate -Somali malawah -Afghan chicken brunch tacos -botanical sunrise Besides being so happy with the taste, the service was great too. We loved watching the team work together. Can't wait to come back over and over!

Weegee D.

Yelp
A breath of fresh air! from the diversity to the quality of food, friendly and excellent service, and Unique ambiance with simplicity, a true gem of San Diego with a great cause will return and spread the word. Thank you

Julie W.

Yelp
Food was delicious, space was great, but the service was extremely slow. It took over 40 minutes to get 4 drinks.
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Luke F.

Yelp
I've never felt better about spending money at a restaurant. Seriously. The fact that MAKE Projects is a non-profit and is self-sustaining gets a lot of the press, but it goes so much deeper than that. They also offer a 12-week program for first-generation kids to learn a trade and if they decide the service industry isn't a fit, they will help them put a resume together and offer ESL assistance to get into other industries. I'm doing a terrible job with my overview but you get the gist. Oh and by the way, the food was amazing. We went family style and tried about 7 different dishes between 3 of us. The Afgan chicken was my personal favorite but everything was fabulous. And we were all so impressed and touched by the mission. Ashley the manager was great as well. Keep up the great work and I'll be back!

M M.

Yelp
Fabulous space and very pleasant service. I had been to the original location (outside by the church) when it first opened. The drip coffee at this location definitely needs improvement. I had the Somali Malawah - cardamom crepe with eggs inside. The crepe itself was fantastic, but the eggs, cheese and hash browns inside (fine by themselves) completely overwhelmed any possibility of tasting the cardamom. It is too bad they don't offer a stack of the crepes with eggs on the side so you could get the [slightly] sweet and savory in one meal but not in the same dish. The babaganoush was different from others I've had and truly excellent. My friend had the lentils and said they were fantastic.
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Joey S.

Yelp
A stellar dining experience. We were in town for a few days and wanted to find a distinctive place to eat for a party of 8 with different food preferences. We were just blown away by the top notch service and the delicious food. The coffee was delish, too! I highly recommend this place, which is doing good work in the community while creating amazing meals.
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Edzel Peter B.

Yelp
We decided to try this place because of all the good reviews that I have seen and I really to try and see if we are going to like this place, I ordered the three dip and my wife and daughter love it so much that they almost finish it before I got back after getting my cell phone from the car. The chef gave us some beignets to sample, their really good, I got the crepes with chicken, my wife got the tacos and May daughter had the Shakshuka, I'm not a big potato person so I did not really enjoy the crepes. we like the atmosphere here, the place is big and they have plenty of server working that we didn't have problem when we needed something from the kitchen. I had the Vietnamese coffee which is pretty good but the regular coffee is a lot stronger than the Vietnamese coffee that I have. We will be back because I have to try the French toast and the fried halloumi .

J C.

Yelp
I read about this place in San Diego magazine, and decided to try it out. The restaurant has a mission quote to empower, refugee and immigrant women and youth with the job readiness skills to achieve their dreams." It has an interesting brunch menu within ethnic flare. We came for lunch on Saturday at noon. It wasn't very busy, which was surprising, considering the quality of the food. We started off with the trio of spreads served with focaccia bread. My wife really liked the eggplant spread. For entrees, I had the North African Shakshuka, and my wife had the trio of chicken brunch tacos, which had a little bit of everything: spiced potatoes, cucumber tomato salad, fruit medley. It was all very tasty and so much food. The only criticism/suggestion would be to improve the attentiveness of the serving staff. Maybe because it wasn't that busy, they were a little more lax. At any rate, it's a good training opportunity if they'll be working with the public. I would definitely recommend it and look forward to coming back to support their cause: giving refugees the skills and confidence to become productive members of our community.
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Courtney H.

Yelp
Come and support an amazing organization! I have been following this non-profit and their cafe since they were in their garden spot by the church but didn't make it out to try the food until they moved to Crushed's old location. The spot is huge, room-y, and beautiful. We tried: - Afghan Lagharaq - East African Mandazi - Somali Malawah - Afghan Chicken Brunch Tacos Really big portions for the mains, really yummy, and filling! We also ordered coffee and it was huge. I love that I am able to try things I typically would not find on other brunch menus. We also received great service from everyone. Parking was relatively easy since we came right when they opened. I will definitely be coming back to try more of the menu!