Cute little cafe and the food is amazing! The workers were so helpful and friendly. It’s such a cozy place and it even has a little play area which I love since I brought my son

Take one for the team here. This place has great reviews, which is shocking. Virtually our entire breakfast was just pre-prepared food that was just reheated. And seriously greasy. The only "fresh" thong was the waffles, and they were completely bland and mediocre. A profoundly unremarkable meal -- not recommended.

Friendly staff happy to accommodate our dietary needs. Funky, hip atmosphere. We highly recommend the bacon waffles - so much bacon!!

This place gives me chill vibes. It’s cute, it’s not too big, not too fancy. It’s a good place for a quick stop to meet for lunch. They serve soup, sandwiches, and some pastry. The menu is not overwhelming. They don’t have a private parking lot however, there’s tons of street parking available. The service is quick and the people are friendly. So you order at the counter and then they bring the food to you. I really like that concept because then you do t have to wait for them to come to your table to take your order and can have separate checks if you choose to. The price is very good I believe I spend less than $20 for myself.

Vegan and gluten free options. We had the vegan waffle and the cheesy bacon gluten free waffle. Excellent texture and flavor. Coffee was great. We will be back

A very large and comfortable space with wonderful food and staff, complete with plenty of seating and outlets for the worker on the go. I'll be happy to come by more in the future.

Great lil place for a quick bite! Awesome breakfast sandwiches with the best tomato soup EVER served in a cute space with great vibes and super sweet people --- will definitely be back! Also, very affordable paired with great quality ingredients is hard to come by, but Red Elm Café has nailed it ☆☆☆☆☆

Red Elm Cafe is the kind of joint that manages to pull off a vibe that is both eclectic and unpretentious. One gets a warm fuzzy feeling the moment you walk into the space, a comforting buzz that is both welcoming and predictive of a team keen on plying their trade with the aim to satisfy. The cappuccinos were void of any fancy foam designs, but were some of the best we've had. The food portions were not large, but the ingredients were top notch. At one point, a woman using a walker wobbled into the cafe and over to the counter. I'm not sure how this came about, but Sophie, the co-owner of the Elm Cafe, apparently noticed that the woman had a bleeding sore on her arm. In a scene that was supremely heart warming, Sophie took the time to break out her first aid kit and disinfect the wound. Add another 5 Stars for Empathy. Great place, check it out.

What a great place in an up and coming neighborhood. This area was once known for its depressed economy but is now one of the areas on the rise. Let’s hope that it can maintain its diversity in a diverse community. That being said they offer a good selection of gluten free and vegan fair. I had the waffle and it kept me full up till dinner. Tastey and a generous portion. Definitely give them a try.

Sooo good! I got a belgian waffle and coffee. So yummy. Cute atmosphere with tables and couches and local art. I'll be back!!!

Decided to give this place a try and overall it wasn't bad. They were pretty busy and had limited staff. The waffle was cooked perfectly and I enjoyed the fluff. However, the hashbrowns left a lot to be desired. The coffee was tasty although they forgot to make another cup I ordered. I would go back to see if things improved.

Great panini sandwiches on delicious bread. Very good prices on the breakfast sandwiches for $5 to $6. We visited on vacation and my 13-year old asked if we could eat every meal here.

This place is excellent. We love coming in to grab some coffee and a light breakfast on a weekend morning. The staff is friendly. There's a small but delicious selection of foods and baked goods available. I don't have much to say about this place other than the fact that it does very few things, but does them all well. Highly recommend for families, or relaxing breakfast spots. Give the bacon and cheddar waffles a go if you visit.

Relaxing setting with plenty of comfortable seating and attractive furnishings. The staff is warm and helpful. The sausage stack I got with an egg cost me less than $5, and it was delicious. I now frequent that establishment.

Cozy little cafe work good food and coffee. I had a latte and the turkey sausage stacks with egg and both are good.

Warm and mellow atmosphere with plenty of seating and decor. Staff are inviting and friendly. Food was tasty and affordable, I had the sausage stack with egg for ≈$5. They've made a regular of me.

This was the best gluten free waffle I've ever ordered! The hashbrowns were the best, too! I love this place! Thank you, Red Elm!

Came in from Florida and boy could we use a place like this back home. Everyone who walks through the door is genuinely welcomed. Four businessmen were dining in suits while a homeless man was treated to a coffee and a code for the bathroom. You don't see that everyday, but you wish you did. As for the food? I have Celiac Disease and my gluten-free waffle was fantastic. So chewy on the inside (via buttermilk) and crunchy on the outside. Nibbled on my girlfriend's pesto and feta hash browns, which were delicious too. Thanks for a great meal and stay kind!

I’m going to be honest I wasn’t satisfied with the food although the waffles were amazing the servings were very small and pathetic. it looks like it took no skill or effort what so ever to make most of this food for instance it totally looks like a toddler made the hash browns. Worst 4 dollar tip by those funky scammy iPads I ever spent

While the Red Elm may have a fondness with its regular clientele, it missed the mark with hubby and me. The cafe was self serve in that ordering was at a counter. The breakfast menu was quite limited with waffles being forefront on the menu. The waffles were not crispy at all as though they were reheated (microwaved?) and not freshly prepared. Eggs were only available scrambled, and they were presented as though they were prepared in a waffle iron, i.e. they were flat with grid lines on them and absolutely rubbery! The bacon was undercooked and appeared to be microwaved as well, especially since there was no aroma of freshly cooking bacon, waffles, or anything else at The Red Elm. Overall, the space could have been charming, but when one can hear staff bickering and then customers are asked bus their own tables, especially when the price was as much or more equal than what we would have paid at a full-service restaurant with much better, excellent quality, freshly prepared breakfast. It's a shame the owners are taking better advantage of the space and loyal clientele to offer a better experience overall. Simple improvements here would go a long way. Oh! On the bright side, the coffee was very good, but there was a charge for dine-in customers for even one refill of the modest ceramic cafe cups used.

Walking along MLK in the ❤️of Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood, we accidentally stumbled upon this place! It's a lovely open space with local art for sale. A little play corner for the kids too (play kitchen & play sink). We had tea....epically hot and chamomile (u fix your own sweet at a side table) They have their own version of cake pops that's waffle based. Red velvet or chocolate and kid approved. You can have it drizzled with chocolate or raspberry sauce and whipped cream. The owner and staff are a dream !!! So sweet and super catering to my friends 3 kids i had with me today. They devoured their treats and played. We stayed longer cause the kids didn't want to leave. Please support local. And make this a stop.it was divine!!! A nice lady was here and she said the spinach mozz sandwich they made her was better than the chain...ahem, bucks, ahem she normally gets it from . A hidden gem you need to discover!

Allergy friendly food and drinks! Gluten free and dairy free waffles made for an EXTREMELY happy kid. The coffee was amazing. I only ever ordered smalls for coffee but the second day I ordered a large because I wanted more!!! They have a nice little chalk board for kids to draw on while you enjoy a few sips.