Alans Causeway Cafe in Belfast

As an ex- pat Belfast born I have been going to the backpackers for years on every visit home. The Ulster fry was always something I looked forward to. NEVER again. Apparently under new management and the difference was unbelievable. First we were kept standing outside for 10 mins after the advertised opening time and could see the staff standing on phones and talking. When we got in the place felt cold and unwelcoming and although the girl that took our order was pleasant I immediately got a feeling that the staff were not a happy bunch. Anyway, ordered 3 fry’s and 3 teas and took a seat of which they had plenty. This is the only time I have visited that it wasn’t busy. Teas arrived quickly enough, then the 3 staff proceeded to have another animated conversation which was the only entertainment as no television or radio. When TWO fry’s eventually landed 20 mins later I couldn’t believe what they set down. When we asked about the other meal we were told”It’s Cumin”. Food was uncooked, cold and inedible. When told the staff were rude and aggressive. Walked out and will never go back. Avoid at all costs , these people do not know what they are doing. Really bad experience. Go to Wetherspoons on Dublin Road for a decent budget breakfast or Maggie Mays if you want more choice.

Insanely good price, soo much food for your money, best fried mushrooms I've ever had, really friendly

Hours are incorrect online and on the storefront. Didn't actually eat here. Just unhappy that they say they open at 755am, but are still closed at 915am. No posted sign on door to suggest any change in hours so we initially wasted time waiting for 20 minutes.

Great food and lovely staff. Vegan biscoff pancakes were unreal and the fry was too

Vine a visitar Belfast desde Los Ángeles, pero parece que mi teléfono sabía de antemano sobre mi viaje y desde 3 meses antes comenzó a mostrarme algunas fotos increíbles y publicaciones de comida. Pasé los siguientes meses tratando de ordenar y organizar lo que comería, pero lo único principal que saltó a mi vista fue el "Christmas Chip" de Causeway Café. Parecía increíble, fuera de este mundo... toda una cena de Navidad superada por las papas fritas... era mi primer puerto de escala, la mañana de mi llegada. Mientras estaba en el café teniendo bromas increíbles con el chef jefe y los servidores me sentí relajado y listo para asumir mi propio desafío de chips de Navidad... Tristemente admito que me ganó, dejé unas cuantas patatas fritas remojadas en salsa y coles de Bruselas, pero también me fui feliz, lleno y contento! Estas patatas fritas eran increíbles, el sabor era de siguiente nivel, y el servicio que lo trajo era insuperable. Recomendaría encarecidamente este lugar, y si vas durante las vacaciones, asegúrate de darle una oportunidad al Chip de Navidad.

Great place, great staff, great food. Come here if you fancy a great Sunday morning breakfast. There's a vegan menu, too!

Great breakfasts with options for all dietary requirements

He estado aquí muchas veces y siempre ha sido un placer para los niños, pero no volverá después de esta experiencia. No lo había sido desde mayo, así que desconocía que la propiedad ha cambiado, aunque los menús parecen los mismos. Siempre fue el caso que los principales platos de desayuno venían con bebida caliente incluida, ya no es el caso, elevando efectivamente el precio de las tostadas francesas canadienses con una taza en un 20 %. La comida tardó más de 45 minutos en llegar a pesar de que era relativamente tranquilo. La comida en sí estaba caliente y sabía tan bien como siempre, sin embargo, había un pelo en un plato y un fragmento de tela en otro. Generalmente la cafetería estaba fría ya que las ventanas no se cierran correctamente y la puerta tampoco parece hacerlo. Muy decepcionante en general, estaremos a la caza de un nuevo lugar de desayuno.

Food was nice and big portions. The tables could be cleaner, we were sticking to the table.

Called in Sunday lunchtime, heard great things about the food and it didn’t disappoint! I went for a festive chip (big as a Sunday dinner) and rest of family had pancakes, Nutella etc. we were all absolutely stuffed, great food great value

Our breakfast at Causeway was the best fry we’ve ever bought! Ingredients were top quality, staff were amazing, great value for money. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!!

Good food and friendly staff. Highly recommended.

Great portions. Good value for money

Sadly, causeway has went down since its been taken over, staff have chnaged and arent as welcoming the food isnt as good as it was before it was bought over

Food was just okay. Some bits like sausages and hash brown were good. Some bits like eggs and bread were not ideal. Coffee (Americano) was just acceptable. Atmosphere is like a office or hostel canteen. Doesn’t feel like a Cafe. The windows view are blocked. Staff were friendly but not exceptional in the service. Next time, I might try desserts etc, but not their breakfast.

Hace un año que hubiera sido 5 estrellas no podía culpar a los packers como es conocido. Esta vez y en ocasiones anteriores ha bajado cuesta abajo algo impactante. La comida estaba fría y las salchichas no eran comestibles, entonces para colmo escuchó lo que eran pasos o un enemigo peludo o gato en el techo. No volveré.

It's not the best food but helpful stuff. You can take away as well.

One of the best cafes I’ve been to. The vegan options were endless. The food was amazing with decent portions ! Value for money. Would highly recommend this cafe. Staff were very helpful. The coffee (latte) was amazing too. Will definitely be returning !

This cafe was right next to the hotel where I was staying. I'm thankful that it's open early in the morning. Ordered an Irish breakfast. The hash browns, sausage, and bacon are very delicious, and the soda bread is also exceptional. I'm glad that it's quite reasonable at 7.5 pounds.

Update sept 2024. Sad to announce that we won't be back. My breakfast was £8.50 with a tea or coffee... They've crossed out the free tea and coffee from the menu... My last breakfast is now greater than a tenner, sorry, that's a limit I can't swallow.... However, here is the original review...(Which still stands, but there's no value here anymore) Just brilliant. Make any breakfast you like - but i recommend the samson (goliath is a little too much! but go for it if you're hungry!!) For a giggle, goto the website, look at the menu then read the description of Alan's grannys big ding-dong. (i had it once for a laugh, but its essentially a sausage bap - well, two! *wink* )

A fairly decent place for an Ulster Fry, not the cheapest though but food was nice and service was great.

La decepción es una subestimación cuando se visita Causeway Café. Para empezar, entramos y nos sentamos de inmediato, ya que no había nadie más bar 1 pareja que ya estaban esperando por la comida allí. Nos dieron menús pegajosos y antihigiénicos que habían visto días mejores, y las mesas eran horteras y pegajosas también. Cuando subimos al mostrador para pedir nuestra comida, la gente estaba muy desatendida, y yo debería haber visto el cartel cuando la señora allí estaba quejándose del tiempo de espera de su comida. Después de pedir comida y bebidas muy simples, nuestras bebidas llegaron 20 minutos después. Además, nuestra comida llegó 45 minutos después. Si el café estuviera ocupado, habría entendido el tiempo de espera, sin embargo, ya había UNA pareja allí que consiguió su comida justo antes que nosotros, así que Dios sabe cuánto tiempo las pobres almas estaban esperando. Todo el tiempo esperábamos, todo lo que podíamos oír era charlar inapropiadamente desde la cocina, cantando al azar fuerte, que sonaba como un gato chillón. Ojalá me hubiera quejado. Cuando llegó nuestra comida, parecía completamente no comestible, y muy escasa, fría, y no entendemos CÓMO les tomó 45 minutos cocinar un raspador de tocino apagado y una excusa patética para una salchicha. No comimos esto, todo se sentía tan antihigiénico, y en el microondas por decir lo menos. Como somos gente agradable, les dimos las gracias cuando nos fuimos (con prisa) y no queríamos ser groseros y quejarnos directamente. Luego, mientras nos acercábamos a la puerta, una joven camarera miró a su colega y murmuró y miró bajo su aliento sobre nosotros, lo que es INACEPTABLE cuando nos ofrecieron comida tan sucia. Hazlo mejor. Esto arruinó seriamente nuestro viaje. Me sentí mal todo el día después de probar el tocino. Ojalá nos quejáramos y nos devolvieran el dinero, pero dada la actitud de los empleados, probablemente nos hubieran echado el ojo. Molesto. Hazlo mejor. En su lugar, vaya al café del barrio. Más de la mitad del tiempo de espera para la comida, absolutamente delicioso, y la relación calidad-precio

Disappointment is an UNDERSTATEMENT when visiting Causeway Cafe. For a start, we walked in and was seated right away as there was nobody else bar 1 couple who were already waiting for food in there. We were given sticky, unhygienic menus which had seen better days, and the tables were tacky and sticky too. When we went up to the counter to order our food, people were very inattentive, and I should have seen the sign when the lady in there was complaining about the waiting time of her food. After ordering very simple food and drinks, our drinks arrived 20 minutes later. In addition, our food came a whole 45 minutes later. If the cafe was busy, I would have understood the wait time, however there was ONE couple already in there who got their food just before we did, so goodness knows how long the poor souls were waiting. The whole time we were waiting, all we could hear was inappropriate chatting from the kitchen, loud random singing, which sounded like a screeching cat. I wish I had just complained. When our food arrived, it looked completely inedible, and very sparse, cold, and we do not understand HOW it took them 45 minutes to cook a gone off rasher of bacon and a pathetic excuse for a sausage. We didn’t eat this, it all felt so unhygienic, and microwaved to say the least. As we are nice people, we thanked them as we left (in a hurry) and didn’t want to be rude and complain directly. Then as we stood up to the door, one young waitress looked at her colleague and mumbled and glared under her breath about us, which is UNACCEPTABLE when we were offered such filthy food. Do better. This seriously ruined our trip. I felt ill all day after trying the bacon. do not recommend. Wish we complained and got our money back, but given the attitude on the employees, we probably would have been eye rolled out. Upset. Do better. Instead, go to the Neighbourhood cafe. More than half of wait time for food, absolutely delicious, and value for money.

This is my all time favorite for gluten free breakfast in Belfast. Their vegan gluten free fry is delicious and super filling. I have gluten and dairy allergies and this place caters for both, 10/10.

Found this through trip advisor, absolute hidden gem, wouldn't have went in without the reviews. French cinnamon toast,bacon and maple was delicious. Son says the breakfast was very good. Great value, definitely recommend for breakfast.

I came here for the first time out of curiosity. After that, I ate here 3 days in a row and I'm in Belfast for 4 days.

Excellent vegan options. Multiple traditional English breakfast choices. Menu features vegan sausage, bacon, chicken and seitan dishes. Also vegan ice creams.

Unfussy spot. Good food at a very good price. Fine dining it ain’t, but it more than does the job if you’re travelling and want to fill a hole. Friendly service too.

Fantastic selection of breakfasts, including loads of gluten free options.

Great breakfast food at a cheap price for the city. Lots of gluten free options Too

Cafe style comfortable traditional cafe, the food was excellent the staff are very friendly

I don't like to post bad reviews - and I won't bash you too hard even with this one - but I feel some honest and constructive criticism is in your interest: the service is painfully, excruciatingly SLOW. The grave thing is you even put a cardboard on the entrance, claiming you sell ready-to-go lunchboxes to tour-goers, misleading people in believing your service times are compatible with those of the tours. I came 30 minutes before the departure of my tour, and ordered a coffee & croissant + a simple cold ham sandwich to take away. It took TWENTY MINUTES to get a simple coffee cup ready, and had to cancel the rest of the order because at that point my bus was about to leave. The refund of the missing items was prompt and swift - which is good - but that's also a sign that this routinely happens, so it's clear you have a problem here. I wish you good luck and hope you manage to improve your organization.

The Causeway Cafe is a hidden gem! The cafe is a laid-back place that has outstanding food (try their Ulster Fry!!) that offers all the classic Irish fare. The staff are great, food wholesome, and it offers many choices of beverages. It’s in the southern part of Belfast just blocks from the Queen’s Uni, the Ulster Museum, and the Botanic Garden. You won’t be disappointed. 5-Star + Cafe!

I really like it here, I think it can be chaotic at times and wait times can be long enough, the staff are always friendly, the food is tasty sometimes excellent sometimes ok like with my overcooked fried egg but overall tasty, Probably should reduce options and make life easier for themselves. It has a nice atmosphere and alternative options for vegan/vegetarian. Worth a visit

I got a breakfast bagel and daughter got a Canadian breakfast which included French toast, bacon, syrup and fruit. Food and service was great and staff very nice.

Long waiting time, with order error with other customers... Dishes received without cutlery, need to ask. Disappointed especially as this is recommended by the hostel next door.

I liked the service here, but the rest was just so so. The kitchen was pretty slow and got backed up quickly with just a few people's orders. It's one of those spots that has a wild amount of menu items that they're doing an OK job of. Would make better sense to cut the offerings in half, and do a better job of whats left. I can't even imagine the prep time thats involved in offering all of these items. We stayed nearby but couldn't go back because we just didn't have the time to wait so long for breakfast. I wouldn't suggest if you have less than an hour. Otherwise though, the staff were friendly and we did enjoy the food we got.

Good wee cafe serving large portions of decent food at reasonable prices. They make really decent tea and coffee actually. And porridge. Friendly service. The porridge took too long , arrived after we'd finished our other food, and we were catching a bus, 🙁. I'd go again for sure, but allow extra time if catching a bus 🚐 🙂

Tried the fin MC cool , awesome 😋

Absolutely amazing veggie fry up !!

Amazing food. Really good vegan selection too. Great value for money aswell

The best spot in Belfast for a fry. Wouldn’t go anywhere else. Great food great prices and friendly staff

Good breakfast for reasonable price, friendly staff

It was the first place we experienced when we came to Belfast, we wanted to try something local for breakfast, we exchanged some ideas with the person we ordered from to get help on this matter. As a result, we ordered two meals and tea. With a combination of our opinions about the food, we decided that it was an average experience. It was also an average place in terms of service and atmosphere.

Great breakfast cafe south of Belfast city center not too far from Victoria Station. Good prices, delicious food and friendly staff.

Lovely little place which serves great Ulster fry!

Has to be up there with the best frys in Belfast. Great value.

The food is great. Service we received was surly and very very slow, almost reluctant. Server did not tell us we needed to order at the counter until after we waited 10 minutes at our table. (He was back and forth past our table several times.) After about an hour waiting for our breakfasts, I asked the server for a coffee refill (he laughed) and how much longer our food would be. Then he produced one of our meals within minutes (fried eggs, sausage, bacon - very nice). But without knives and forks. Brought those when asked. Then several minutes later, the other meal (oatmeal). Most other diners, apparently locals, got their food quickly. Except one couple, who seemed like non-locals like us. Maybe we were there on a bad day.

Delicious breakfast options and gluten free menu available as well. The porridge was exceptional and the Ulster blend tea just what we need first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, there was no coffee available today because the machine was broken so two members of our party were grumpy because of their low caffeine levels. The staff are awesome as well. Reasonable prices, too!

Good tasty filling breakfast sandwiches. Staff was very nice and some good singers too! Large coffee was LARGE!

Food was outstanding, and it was a great value! I would definitely recommend this unassuming little cafe. What a hidden gem.

Perfect to have a pint and enjoy the weather when it's fine. Very friendly village with hardly any people around.

Exceeded expectations. Highly recommend. Aaron is a great representative for your restaurant. Thank you!

Really nice food- 3 of us came and each breakfast was lovely. Excellent milkshakes, friendly staff and reasonably priced!

Great vegan menu! I had the bacon pancake stack

Breakfast and lunch service only, closes at 2 pm. I've been here several times and I'm sure to keep coming back. Great spot for a cooked breakfast, I think they have maybe 10 different variations. They seem to have avoided the massive price hikes other cafes have had to impose so it's also very good value for money.

Lovely food, amazing value and lots of choice

Always a warm welcome. Great food, and plenty of vegan/vegetarian options.

Hidden little gem! Great vegan food too with loads of options! 100% recommend, service can be a little slow sometimes but it's well worth the wait so we never mind and you never wait too log for drinks so you can cosy up with and have a chat which is nice! Best Vegan Pancakes I've had so far!

Super-marvellous pancakes and Gluten free menu also. Very cute local. Thanks for such an incredible breakfast on our visit to Belfast ten days ago. Super wonderful pancakes and also many gluten-free options. The place is very nice. Thank you for the amazing breakfast my partner and I enjoyed on our visit to Belfast 10 days ago.

Best experience at a great value!

You would not know this fantastic café was there. We received a warm welcome from Aaron, had a great proper breakfast (the Samson) which was delicious(FYI the samson was only one of a great range of breakfast options). This place is popular and reasonably busy. Great value for money takes bookings. There is some parking at the rear of the café and in some of the side streets otherwise it's quite difficult to park as the main streets are all clearways. But we'll worth the effort 👌

My first, belfast breakfast, not an everyday starter, but it was brilliant. Staff were so good, polite, friendly, and efficient. Love it. Thanks.

I came here for a breakfast before my tour bus, and the staff is super friendly and helpful. I realized i didnt have enough time after placing my order, so asked if i could remove some of the food i ordered, and they did with no problem. I still got my tea toasts and porridge, and the porridge was the best one i ever had (and I have traveled the entire emerald Island). Thank you so much for understanding, help and outstanding service :). Cheers

First time in Causeway Cafe & will definitely be back! Food was good, service was good & staff friendly. Would recommend booking especially at busy times

Been here a few times over two years and can say it's yet to disappoint, fantastic value for money and top quality food £8.00 gets you a full fry with tea or coffee, hard to beat and the service is amazing highly recommend.

This cafe serves as part of the youth hostel next door, although its quite a large seating area of around 100 people it fills up quick at popular times - it's an all day breakfast so whats the hurry! If you're on a tight budget or curious about what most of the locals have eaten this is a must try!

Honestly, I love this little cafe. It has been a frequent date spot for my boyfriend and I and the top choice of cafe for my friends and I when doing uni work. The menu is large and quite affordable and has a lot of options for vegan, vegetarians and those who are gluten free and the coffee has always hit the spot.

Managed to feed a whole hungry floorball team in an hour

This is a great spot to eat out with family! A lot of my family that I went with were vegan and they we're so happy with the amount of Vegan Options the Cafe had in place, we were a bit upset with the lack of Panini rolls e.t.c but it was all good. Had to book two tables for all of us, plenty of space and amazing staff. Milkshakes were delicious so I wasn't able to get a picture before I drank it all. Overall was a nice meal and would definitely recommend anyone to go there!

Good value for money breakfast. Couldn't even finish it. Proper cafe. Only one person working the tables. Go up and order the food yourself and not too much of a wait for it to come

Absolutely lovely place, food and service. Highly recommended, Best breakfast in Belfast !

Absolute the best breakfast ever. Pancakes are heavenly delicious 🤤 the staff is friendly and welcoming. Will come back when I will be next in Belfast! Thank you Rebecca x

Ate breakfast here for 3 mornings, while staying at the YHA hostel. Great choice of glute-free & vegan food. Friendly & quick service in a cosy cafe.

Absolutely fantastic breakfast, all the people I was with thoroughly enjoyed their food and the staff were lovely.

Nice food, large portion size, and good price. Service was fast.

Fantastic cafe, with lots of amazing Veggie and Vegan choices. Really friendly staff and nothing is too much trouble. Definitely worth a visit when in Belfast.

Simply sensational pancakes I collected to enjoy at home for Pancake Tuesday to dress in my favourite endless toppings 🤤 They even made these vegan, soy and gluten free and have something for everyone!! 😇Their food has always been simply faultless, staff always super helpful and unbeatable value! For variety of food options too, their menu is absolutely HUGE - nowhere like it whatsoever!! They're the best!!!! 🙌🏼

Simply sensational pancakes I collected to enjoy at home for Pancake Tuesday to dress in my favourite endless toppings 🤤 They even made these vegan, soy and gluten free and have something for everyone!! 😇Their food has always been simply faultless, staff always super helpful and unbeatable value! For variety of food options too, their menu is absolutely HUGE - nowhere like it whatsoever!! They're the best!!!! 🙌🏼

Went here for food and it was so nice and the staff were so friendly and the service was excellent would highly recommend

Great cafe, lovely food, and nice environment

The customer service was amazing, and the vegan menu has such a large range. We are so happy to have discovered this hidden gem! :)

This is a great spot for breakfast. The food is fantastic and very reasonably priced.

Wow wow wow portions are generous, staff is incredibly nice and attentive we couldn't spot a fault so we'll be back tomorrow !

Excellent wee place with top notch fry ups!

A great stop for a quick and delicious breakfast, before a full day exploring the city. Had such a lovely breakfast, I came back a second time during my weekend trip in Belfast. Highly recommend!

Wonderful vegan options! Close to bus depo

The best fry in Belfast, especially for the price. The Samson fry is their “smallest” fry and it is huge. The staff are amazing and good craic. Can’t recommend this place enough

I love this place. It has a cool vibe, and the food is generally very good. It has become a regular place for me to visit - for a veggie fry - and it has yet to let me down.

A really good place to have a full breakfast or lunch with LOTS of vegan options. The Titanic Breakfast is massive with so much food it's insane. The hot chocolate was ok but it was more like a lukewarm chocolate. However there was lots of it which is good. Service was relatively quick and very nice.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Vegan fry up on a rainy day. Amazing, just amazing. So much food. Lovely service. Great price. Highly recommend!

The food was incredible, and the people were lovely! Has a real community vibe about it, well worth seeking out.

Nagyon jó árban kiváló szolgáltatás. A palacsinta isteni volt. Mindenkinek ajánlom reggelizéshez🙌🏼

Super prix, super cuisine rien à dire. Je vous conseille les pancakes ou les bagles.

Good ulster fry, great service and in a good location

Called in yesterday morning for a breakfast with my family. My sister is a coeliac and we always have issues finding places that are 100% gluten free. Causeway Cafe had so many options including a full gluten free menu and they had many other items that are gluten free. Our breakfast were very filling and one of the nicest frys I have ever had. The servers were so friendly and helpful and the cafe itself was nicely decorated, clean and cosy. I would highly recommend this place to anyone coming to Belfast.

Everything is perfectly toasted and fried, with a delightful crispness. It not greasy at all. So happy that I came here before flying out! Building my own breakfast is a little more expansive than the set, but customization is fun. It’s my first time trying the veggie roll (beef sausage) and it’s very flavorful. I also like the crunchier texture of the clonakilty black and white puddings. The potato and (slightly salted) soda farls are also tasty. Didn’t expect latte art in the simple looking cafe, but here it is. I appreciate it despite the probably ordinary beans. It was empty when I went in. Did the hostel people already left or are they still sleeping :3 Then more people from the neighborhood came. The elderly are always a good sign. The staff is really welcoming. No fancy decorations here, but the anti-instagrammability attitude is cool isn’t it ;) Focus on the food. The atmosphere is chill and relaxing— you can hear the laughter, singing, and cheerful good mood in kitchen.

Nice comfy place for an early breakfast before going to the day tour. Just everything you’re looking for in a breakfast place - lots of vegan and gluten free options, from sweet to savoury. Prices are reasonable, very filling, very friendly staff. 100% recommend!

Very nice spacious cafe where the staff are friendly and the food is excellent. Tried the Sampson and the goliath breakfast bothe great value and very filling

Popped in for breakfast on a Saturday morning after spotting the vegan and vegetarian menu online. Really glad we did! Food was really fantastic and great value for the portion sizes, top quality vegan bacon and sausages with everything cooked perfectly. Coffee was great too. Friendly staff, zero complaints about the food or service. The toilets could use a bit of a clean as they were in poor shape on our visit and didn't look like they'd been done properly for a while so that's one negative of an otherwise very positive visit. We'll be back!