Hugs Cafe

This is a truly special place. I love the concept and I loved the food even more. I had a tuna sandwich with a Caesar salad. Both were delicious. Everything was very fresh. Add a great environment and a great location and this place is a winner!

The food is FANTASTIC! The atmosphere is great. I will be comin here again and again!

Had my first lunch at Hugs Café on Friday and was very impressed. I was greeted at the front door and treated top notch all the way through my meal. I arrived around 1pm and did not have to wait in a long line. The food was excellent, the portions were generous, and every employee had a smile. I will definitely be back for some of this goodness!

Fantastic food and nice atmosphere. We went two days in a row! Wedding cake cookies are the best! Pimento cheese and veg sandwich also delicious.

Went to Hugs for the first time today and was beyond impressed, the staff and food were amazing! I heard the food was good but it’s actually the best sandwich I’ve ever had. Actually, everything we had was amazing. Can’t wait to go back.

Homemade bean soup, fresh bread, garden salad has chopped cucumbers Delicious and great cause.

This place is amazing. The staff are so friendly, sweet and funny. The food is superb and the service is outstanding. We got here at the right time because the wait is out the door. Enjoy !!!

Bravo to Hugs Café for spreding Love to all in Mckinney. From the moment you walk in you feel surrounded by happiness and good feelings. Hugs Café is located in the Historic Downtown Mckinney. It is a little off the Square nestled in a renovated building. It has dark stained concrete floors and plastered walls that have cool Texas Symbols engraved into it.
Hugs Café is the brainchild of Ruth Thompson. She wanted to create a non-​profit organization to give job opportunities and training to special needs and down syndrome adults. Then she collected a group of DFW’s celebrity chefs to create her YUMMY menu. Then Voila, Hugs Café was born.
I walked in and was greeted by two friendly young women. They asked if it was our first time and we said yes. Then they explained that you take a menu and circle your order. Each individual person fills out their own sheet. Then you take your order up to the cash register. At the register two extremely energetic gentlemen named Chris and Jerry rung up our order. They were laughing and were loving their job. The happiness and jovial vibes are contagious. My family ate and laughed through our whole meal. If you are having a bad day just come to hugs and all your worries will melt away. Happiness and good deeds can spread too.
We were given a number to take to our table. They bring your order out on a cart straight from the kitchen. I had the fiesta pork burrito. It is a flour tortilla stuffed with tender flavorful Mexican pulled pork, chimichurri slaw, and shredded cheese. It was served with a side of salsa. I also had a cup of green chili corn soup. It had a great amount of heat that definitely cleared out my sinuses.
My son had the Black Bean soup. It was topped with cheddar cheese. I snuck a bite of it and I would highly recommend it also. It was hearty with thick pieces of onions and tomatoes.
We topped off our meal with wedding cake cookies and apple strudel. The cookies were light and airy and tasted like a party was going on in my mouth. The strudel was flaky and delicious.
I look forward to many happy returns.

Just got some lunch for takeout from Hugs Café, and it was delicious! The peach chutney on the Peach Gobbler sandwich was amazing — just the right amount of sweet and spice. And they piled the sandwich high with turkey and yummy bacon. The potato soup was recommended by one of the staff, and that was also delicious. Creamy but not too heavy like some potato soups can be.
And the teammates were great — so excited that adults with special needs have a place for meaningful employment! The greeter did a great job greeting me at the door and offering a menu, the cashier was funny and handled the bill perfectly, and another teammate did a great job bagging up my order. Everyone was extremely friendly and the atmosphere at Hugs is very family-​like. I definitely recommend this spot for a yummy and heart-​lifting lunch!

Excellent little café! Friendly staff~ we were greeted at the door and given menus. You circle your food choices and hand it to the cashier. After paying, your order is handed to the kitchen. Take a seat, your order will be brought to you shortly.
We ordered The Roast Beast and Peach Gobbler sandwiches so we could share; I ordered a cup of cream of mushroom soup and my boyfriend ordered a side garden salad (see photos). All were very good, though we were both especially happy with the Peach Gobbler

I’ve been following this restaurant since before it opened and Halloween was the first time I’ve been able to come check it out. I have to say I am thoroughly impressed! The food was well made and tasted organic, the staff is extremely friendly and immediately greet you with a hug when you come in the door. The fact that an organization made it a point to start a restaurant where special needs children and adults can come to work, when other companies might not hire them, is something I will always support. The fact that they start each morning off with a prayer sealed the deal for me. I’ll definitely be returning to the hugs café!

Ate there for the first time yesterday & can’t wait to go back. The Veg It Up & Chicken Caesar Salad were awesome! Wedding & Chocolate Chip cookies topped everything off Plenty of seating & wonderful staff especially the cashier, Mike

As it happens, I haven’t gotten to eat at The Hugs Café yet, as I don’t live near McKinney, Tx. But if I did, I run over there, but quick! The menu looks fresh and sound delicious and I LOVE the premise of Ruth Thompson’s idea: giving adults with special needs a sense of purpose and a paycheck of their own.
BIG HUGS TO YOU, Hugs Café!!
Hope to dine with you one day soon!

Fantastic! Super clean and extremely friendly environment. Their sandwiches and soups were excellent. Their mission is:
«The Mission of Hugs Café is to create an inviting place of training and employment for adults with special needs while providing dignity, self-​worth and developing respect in the community.»
I would encourage anyone visiting the McKinney Square to check this place out for lunch or one of their delicious cookies!