Philly Plain Dealer

Just off the corner of 49th and Catherine rests the Hibiscus Cafe, a cool yet lively spot offering vegan, vegetarian, and some meat based options to its loyal customers. Earl, who is affectionately referred to as “Earl the Pearl” by his colleagues, runs the show. “I’m just about love for the community,” said Earl as he juggled a chickpea patty in one hand and a phone in the other. “Rasta is love!”

After inheriting the Hibiscus Cafe from a dear friend some years ago, Earl carried on her work. “That’s another funny story”, Earl explained. “This place kind of fell into my lap. My friend had an offer I couldn’t refuse and I just took the offer.” Earl, who has been cooking for three decades now, has a passion for food that fills his storefront with a levity and joy that is magnetic to his adoring visitors. 

Hibiscus Cafe embodies the intersection of culture and care. Infusing the organic energy of Rastafarian spirituality with the satisfying palette of Caribbean cuisine that creates a unique and modern twist on the Ital diet that offers the community “clean food.”

Photos by Jah Yeboah-Gyasi.

“What inspires my menu and the flavors I create is my way of life”, Earl spoke with focus and thoughtfulness in his eyes. “I was always vegan my whole life. I never had certain meats and dairy and stuff like that. It was just like an extension of myself onto everybody else so that’s how I always looked at it…To me, food is medicine. Everything that goes in your mouth should have meaning. It should have a purpose [and not just] taste good! My father used to say ‘What’s bitter to the mouth is sweet to the belly and the body’ and that’s something to go by.”

Hibiscus Cafe is intimately connected to the Jamaican roots that its menu and laid back environment sprouted up from. A fan favorite of repeat customers are the vegan patties that are only available in the physical storefront and not by delivery. Their flaky golden crusts are complemented by a soft warm interior, creating a delicious and inspiring snack on the move. The vegan patties come in a variety of options that include mixed veggie, spinach, kale and callaloo, chickpea, and even more. 

Earl also recommends the raw wrap to any first time visitors. “It’s a mixture of different foods that people don’t really look to – but when they come together and when you try them all in one…it’s like a burst of something good and I think it’s a good thing!”

A gem of its community, Hibiscus Cafe sits in its power as a gathering place for many. Beyond the tasty offerings of vegan food, juices, and smoothies that they consistently provide, the Hibiscus Cafe also shares an intentionality and charm that creates an unforgettable experience for anyone who walks through their doors.