- Top Rated Bakery in Seattle
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Ada's Technical Books and Cafe
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Vegetarian
Vegetarian cafe inside a technical bookstore in Capitol Hill. Free Wi-Fi. Offers coffee and tea, beer and wine, and a menu that changes frequently with print-out of the vegan and gluten free items available. House-made pastries. Kitchen open 9am-2pm, with pre-made items available all day. Open Mon-Sat 8:00am-8:00pm. Barista only until 5pm, bookstore until 8pm.
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425 15th Ave E (at Capitol Hill), Seattle, Washington, USA, 98112
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- Outdoor seating
- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
- Free Wi-Fi
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Last update on 12 Aug 2023 by veganconnoisseur
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20 Reviews
First Review by The Hungry Vegan
00misha
Points +390
Cute cafe with a fun concept - Edit
Listen, I normally hate vegan breakfast burritos - the tofu scramble is usually gross and there are always slimy mushrooms. But not here!! Ada’s has the only breakfast burrito I have ever enjoyed. I haven’t tried their other vegan options, but it’s typical breakfast/light lunch fare, plus a pastry or two. Obviously as a vegetarian cafe, they have a few more vegetarian options.
Read moreThe coffee drinks I’ve had here were also pretty good - they have non-caffeinated drink specials too.
My only qualm is that it’s usually pretty busy during the first half of the day, so sometimes I end up not being able to get a spot to enjoy my drink. Also, as another reviewer noted, I wish the barista who I usually order from would be a little more friendly… I know I’m not personally tipping them (they include tip in the price of the items) but c’mon sometimes they make me feel like I shouldn’t be there lol.
Pros: Vegan options labelled, Nice atmosphere, No tipping - it’s included in posted prices
Cons: No table service even though tips are charged
Guest
Paigecs
Points +623
Love / angst relationship with this place - Edit
This is a place I’ve had many good experiences at, and in any other town it would be unthinkable that a thoughtful feminist science fiction bookstore cafe with great vegan options, robust community engagement, and minimal indoor dogs would succeed in putting me off, but I have had a very mixed experience over the years. It’s kind of the ultimate “does the barista hate me or am I losing my mind” spot, and has been for years…but I deeply appreciate the recent move to a no-tipping system, which has nudged me back into liking this place again, after avoiding it for a while. Nevertheless, misfires continue.
Read moreThere was that time when the pandemic was easing up that they had an employee walking around telling you to put on a mask while you were literally putting the food into your mouth…the time when they were switching to their time limited WiFi system and I spent $30 on lunch only to have WiFi cut out after an hour…The time I ordered a treat with no price and was so sticker shocked that I had to cancel my order (I am RARELY very price sensitive). I asked why they didn’t put prices on their sweets case and they said “well people freak out sometimes when they see the prices😂” isn’t this basically the same thing as saying that you plan to unpleasantly surprise people at the register?
The time rather recently we ordered ice teas and the teas came out so faint we thought it was water…
idk why my brain holds these crabby little memories but I sure do have a lot of them, side by side with all the perfectly pleasant memories of getting reading done or attending book clubs or attending fun little neighborhood events.
Updated from previous review on 2024-04-14
Guest
EmdotAlice
Points +4649
Unexpectedly good - Edit
I was looking for vegan empanadas and someone told me have them there. I admittedly wasn’t expecting much from a bookshop but I was pleasantly surprised how good the empanada was and the other food here too. I highly recommend the veggie burrito and tofu scramble as well.
Read moreEdit: I stopped in for lunch and tried their vegan gyro. Wow! Loved it! The tzatziki wasn’t too heavy and the seitan is moist and delicious. Highly recommend.
Updated from previous review on 2022-10-09
Pros: Good food, Close to home, The only vegan savory empanada in Seattle so far
Cons: Small menu
Guest
veganconnoisseur
Points +174
Great books and great food! - Edit
Important: Hours are as follows: 8pm books, 5pm barista, 3pm kitchen!
Read moreImpressive book collection, vegan breakfast (with gluten free option too!), Pastries and coffee. Has a sitting outdoor space and indoor tables. Super cozy!
Updated from previous review on 2023-08-11
Guest
des/\
Points +167
So good! - Edit
Super tasty vegan scramble, we had it with gluten free toast. Very cute terrace!
Read morePros: Gluten free options, Outdoor seating
Guest
IngridZ
Points +491
Such a cute place - Edit
Very quiet and cute book store for studying. And so many interesting seasonal special drinks.
Read moreGuest
meearnol
Points +139
Delightfully quirky - Edit
We were greeted by two extremely friendly and engaging baristas, who gladly answered our questions (and complimented me on my skirt!).
Read moreThe food was delicious. I had the breakfast sammy, and my partner had the (faux) chorizo hash tostada. Fresh, flavorful, spicy, and fast. Definitely worth a trip.
Updated from previous review on 2021-10-10
Pros: Everything is vegetarian or vegan , Friendly staff, Cool and smart atmosphere
Cons: Expensive
Guest
kaleyeah87
Points +409
Yummy food, cool books - Edit
I tried both of the vegan empanadas, and they were absolutely delicious! The crust was buttery and crisp and the filling was flavorful and well-seasoned. I tried some of the banh mi that my mom got, and it was one of the best banh mi's I've ever tasted! The vegan chicken was seasoned and cooked really well. The food honestly tasted like something from a fine vegan restaurant than a bookstore café. It would be worth it to come here for the food alone! However, the drinks were subpar. My mom and I couldn't get past a few sips of our drinks. Also, there were no vegan baked goods.
Read moreAfter eating, I took a look at the books. There was quite a selection! There were many sci-fi books in addition to the nonfiction ones. They had quite an impressive selection of books about coding. If you're interested in learning or getting a job in coding/tech, def stop by here. I'm a computer science student and I really wish I had a bookstore like this close to my university! If there was, I would go there to work on my coding assignments. The only thing I didn't like about the book selection was that there were a lot of books that weren't technical/science-related and only served to promote an ideological agenda. The place was heavily liberally biased for sure. It was a bit strange that they had so many books about human social justice issues but aside from a few vegan/vegetarian cookbooks, barely any books about ethical veganism or animal rights, and they sold food containing animal products despite the harm to the environment and animals. The speciesism was strong. But that's just my two cents, I'm probably nitpicking too much. I would definitely still come here again for the food and books!
Pros: Delicious, restaurant-quality food , Large selection of books, Great computer science section
Cons: Subpar drinks, No vegan baked goods, Heavily biased and speciesist
Daren
Been years for me! I should go back now.
Read moreGuest
nox
Points +164
Ada’s, I love you - Edit
This is simply my favourite place. Delicious coffee, a good selection of tasty food, and the best-curated selection of books I’ve seen anywhere.
Read moreFood-wise, I love their hand pies (iirc, two are vegan), in particular Second Breakfast (also, great name!), but so far everything I’ve had here has been tasty. One of the places I HAVE to bring friends who are visiting!
Guest
VeganUSA
Points +8267
Light savory and sweet options in unusual setting - Edit
We enjoyed the cauliflower empanada and the tofu scramble empanada. Both were served hot from a heating/warming oven. Of the two, the tofu scramble empanada was the favorite. Both had oddly sweet-tasting crusts not welcomed with a savory filling. The lemongrass tea was delicious; the coffee was just right. Staff said they get limited vegan baked goods, and they sell out quickly. Today, there was a vegan peanut butter cookie, but we did not try it. It’s fun browsing in the bookstore itself. Savory items are clearly marked as vegan; staff will identify vegan desserts as these were not marked.
Read morePros: Fun setting , Excellent service , Delicious empanadas
Cons: Limited vegan desserts
Guest
tinyveganprincess
Points +33
Elevated comfort food - Edit
Couldn’t think of a better title. Ada’s is a staple to me. Enjoying the new takeaway menu. The vegan breakfast burrito is jam packed with potatoes, tofu, spinach, herbs, spices. Fillings are expertly cooked, which I’ve found is not a given when when it comes to tofu-based burritos. Five stars for great food that is comforting but not too unhealthy or overly processed. Love the bookstore, business model, and cafe offerings too. They usually have a house-made vegan treat in the pastry case, and everything I’ve tried has been delicious.
Read morePros: Fresh, Tasty, Good business practices
Guest
CelinaBeas
Points +56
Delicious vegan breakfast burrito! - Edit
This was my first time eating here, so I asked for a recommendation - the vegan breakfast burrito was sooooo yummy! The best I have had in my 4 years living in Seattle. The staff was also so friendly!
Read moreGuest
timefortacos
Points +171
Not much for vegans - Edit
I really wanted to love this place. While I appreciate their place in the community, their vegan options are few and uninspired. Honestly, you can find more vegan options at nearby omni restaurants. With so many better vegan restaurants in the neighborhood, I’ll probably only bother here in a pinch. Between their slim offerings and rude encounters with staff, it’s just not worth it.
Read morePros: Cool concept
Cons: Not very vegan-friendly
Guest
Parttimeplants
Points +15
I love this place! - Edit
Ada’s has it all - coffee, books with a tech and science bent that also honors female leaders in their respective fields, and good food.
Read moreStop in for coffee or a healthy breakfast/brunch in the morning or grab one of their delicious, pre-made salads at lunch. I also like the space, it’s old and has character but has has been updated w/light and airy touches. A good place to hit if you are looking for kids’ books.
Pros: Books , Vegan/Vegetarian food , Cozy
Guest
ChynaCat
Points +332
Bookstore and veggie food...the perfect pairing. - Edit
I love this place. There’s something magical about a place where you can eat good food and peruse books. They have an especially good children’s book section.
Read morePros: Good food, Books!!
Cons: Not a ton of tables.
Guest
ryanrousseau
Points +210
Get some breakfast and check out some books. - Edit
The vegan hash and coffee are both good.
Read moreGuest
LexMC
Points +92
Ada - Edit
They have some vegan options
Read morePros: Vegan options, Very tasty and fresh, Nice people
Cons: Small portions, They made mistake sometimes and don’t do it vegan
Guest
nathany
Points +30
Neat place - Edit
As a developer and author it was cool to see all sorts of geeky books (both old and new). Tried the lentil salad sans yoghurt. The greens tasted a bit bitter, as they do. The Hawaii Blue tea was yum.
Read moreGuest
Catica500
Points +15
Awesome good and books - Edit
There's food is very good quality and delicious! It's my favorite place to go to work and grab some great vegetarian food!
Read moreThe staff is always super nice!
Guest
The Hungry Vegan
Points +3685
Nerdy Little Slice of Heaven - Edit
I love it here! Several of the dishes can be vegan. I had the Kale and Quinoa salad. It was really good. As is the coffee. There are compasses on the table and test tube flower vases. It's absolutely gorgeous. And it's full of tech and science books, fun little puzzles, gadgets, jewelry. Every time I come here I spend way to long and way too much money (on stuff- not food).
Read morePros: Good food, Interesting stuff, Inexpensive
Cons: Could have more vegan items
Guest
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