Encinitas Cafe

I have been coming to this café since high school and every time that I visit it’s always consistently really good. I would say that the selling point is the location and the service, the food is not the best in San Diego, but still it will be a really satisfying breakfast. Parking is very easy because you can find a street space or a free lot space in the park-and-ride parking lot in the rear, however this may be difficult on weekend mornings. All the servers and staff have always been consistently really polite and honestly, it’s one of my favorite parts of coming here. Inside is very large compared to the other diner across the street and it can host many different sized groups. For this most recent visit, I chose the Avocado Benedict and thought it was OK. The eggs were a little bit overdone and the hollandaise was almost peppery, but I still enjoyed it. I also ordered a Cinnamon Roll and thought it was a great sweet treat for breakfast. It’s not as light and fluffy as some other versions but more dense. I would definitely recommend this place and I will be back again.

It's a great restaurant to eat breakfast, brunch and snacks. Right in the heart of downtown Encinitas and few blocks from the beach. We enjoyed our delicious food with outside seating. Their chicken fried steak has a perfect crunch outside and tender inside. The gravy was really flavorful too. Staff was really friendly too an added bonus.

We come to Encinitas, California for our annual family dog beach trip and have come to the Encinitas Cafe for breakfast at least once each time. The outdoor seating for our pup is wonderful, and she loves getting scrambled eggs to have with her kibble. The food is always delicious (try the oatcakes!), the servers are always delightful, making it the perfect place to set the tone for our day at the beach. Shoutout to Dezi, our server today, for facilitating a great start for our morning.

Same breakfast food you’ll find elsewhere, but there’s a charm here that will always bring me back. There’s a magic to it that cures my hangovers better than anywhere else. Blueberry pancake has my heart. I recommend coming here after camping, to breakup with your boyfriend, or just on a whim. Classic diner with its wooden accents and bad ass servers, brings me back in time and warms my heart.

Encinitas Café is the kind of place that just feels right the second you walk in. Cozy vibe, great coffee, hearty portions, and food that tastes homemade. But what really makes it stand out is the staff – genuinely friendly, quick to help, and they make you feel like a regular even if it’s your first visit. You can tell they care about what they do. Definitely a spot you’ll want to come back to.

Great place to eat breakfast! Didn't even know this was here . Food was fantastic,great customer service and the atmosphere was nice. Will definitely be back with the kiddos. There's parking in the rear of restaurant. Going to explore more around this area.

Really enjoyed my experience here. No frills diner. Efficient, friendly, clean. Food was enjoyable too. I had a veggie omelet with modifications that were easily accommodated. Weather cooperated on this day too with their large outdoor patio. I can imagine this place is a machine behind the scenes. Consistency is the name of the game. Keep up the good work!!! I'll be back next week.

This is a local hang out out and I eat here with a friend that eats here almost daily. Good comfort food , great service and lots of breakfast and lunch combinations. They also had a gluten free toast for my breakfast. Also plenty of healthy options like fruit, granola and whipped cream. Looks like they are always busy but plenty of tables and booths.

The stomshere & friendliness of the staff, it's incredibly clean& I've never encountered an unfriendly guest! It's like walking into the Frirnds Bar! Everyone knows your name. They have lots of customers that have eaten there for many generations

Came here today with a friend. Our server was Jen. She was very helpful and knowledgeable on the menu and had some great recommendations. This was our first time here so I wanted to try something they were known for. Great service. Food was good, I got the turkey club. And I'd rate the food 7/10. Nice atmosphere, very diner-ish vibes. Thanks Jen!

Service - Host and person who brought us drinks extremely rude, horrible! Waitress ok Food - average at best, there are much better restaurants in Encinitas where you'll get great food and service. If you're looking for a good restaurant in Encinitas there are a lot, don't go here.

Cute spot for an easy diner-style breakfast. I came on a Thursday morning and there were plenty of seats available inside and outside. No wait time & you seat yourself. Staff was friendly and service was surprisingly quick! Menu is pretty standard breakfast items and I thought prices were fair for being right on the main strip of Encinitas. Would return if in the area but wouldn't necessarily go out of my way for it. Still, a tasty & hearty breakfast!

A cool breakfast and lunch diner. The place has outdoor seating, indoor seating and counter seating. It was cool. The waitress was very friendly and personable. The mimosa was spot on perfect ratio of orange juice and champagne. Very reasonably priced too. The food was made well. The 2 eggs and corned beef hash came with a biscuit and gravy and fresh fruit. The corned beef has is homemade and has great flavor. The biscuit is not the normal biscuit but still delicious. The gravy could have been hotter and more seasoning but I added more black pepper and no problem. The fresh fruit was juicy and sweet. I had my fill there and still able to take some home. Overall, great place. Lots of locals seemed to like and I can see why. A very good choice for dining.

Your casual mom and pop diner with great service and great food! The waitress was knowledgeable and super helpful

Came in for quick brunch while in town shopping and visiting the beach. Just what we needed, my daughter and I shared a Blt with onion rings. The only downside was, I dont think they put enough bacon on their Blt, as there were only 3-4 slices, but it still had good flavor.

Bustling and lively vibe. Friendly, polite and attentive staff. Comfortable outdoor seating. Food was of acceptable quality. Only downside is the rest room facilities - not cleanest, a bit of a stench and was cramped. Decent place to stop by if passing through.

Today we tried the banana bread. It was a five out of 10. It needed a little bit more sugar in the batter. The flavor just wasn't fully there. We had the banana pancakes that everybody's raving about on here. They had no flavor. I thought they would come with some type of amazing caramel drizzle or sweet toppings, but that was not the case. The pancakes were dry and disgusting. They use the cheap LogCabin syrup, which made them taste even worse. We will not be returning to this café.

Encinitas Cafe was solid enough. Great outdoor seating, food was okay. It wasn't the best and it wasn't the worst. I think if you don't have any other option, go for it! It didn't wow me enough to go back. But I did like what we got. Just not enough.

My husband and I were very pleased with breakfast and service. Great location! I wish they had better selection of coffee. Overall satisfied!

Stopped by for a quick breakfast over the weekend and enjoyed it. They have a nice front patio and dinning inside. We got seated quickly which is an upside. I ordered the three egg omelet with hash browns and banana bread. I noticed that the omelet had plenty of onions - great for onion lovers. The has browns were perfectly crispy and the banana nut bread was on point. I also tried the banana pancake and loved it.

Excellent home style nostalgia diner style food. We enjoyed the Blueberry walnut pancake & French toast. Eggs and angus beef patty with home style potatoes were solid choices as well. Great little cafe

Even if It looks busy outside there is always a quick turn around! I love their mini breakfast and It is actually so much food. As you can tell It was delicious I didn't leave a single crumb. Their vanilla latte is also pretty good. So nice to eat and then walk down the Main Street on a sunny day. Also very affordable

Cute and delicious cafe on the 101! Very small town and home-y vibe. We came to celebrate my nephews 6th grade promotion celebration. I had a single breakfast sandwich of bacon and eggs with a side of home fries. The rest of the table ordered things like chicken fried steak, eggs Benedict, pancakes and omelets. Everyone seems happy with their meals and I was too. The breakfast sandwich and home fries weren't anything out of the world or something I couldn't have made at home but still tasty and worth it. Prices are on par with most places in the area, higher than it should be but you're in Encinitas and on the 101, so we expect it. Staff is kind and friendly! If you're in the area and want simple down home food, good place to go!

Totally loved the food here. Also the service was amazing. I went with my mother and she actually forgot her wallet on the chair and we left! The employees there made the effort to contact her and they did! We where worried sick for her wallet for two days when they called our apartment complex in Anaheim! To tell us they found her wallet. Totally trust worthy honest people. I loved the vibe. Recommend the French toast special!

Food is lowkey mid, prices on par with other local diners. Not a bad option, not a great option. Eat at your own neutrality.

Rude service to my girlfriend who ordered over the phone, said food would be ready when we got there and we still waited about 10 minutes, and when we opened the box and picked up the burrito, the whole thing nearly fell apart and was hardly wrapped, i typically have a great experience here but today was not one of those days

As always - we enjoyed Excellent food, with kind and exceptional service. Never disappoints

Such a cozy place. Good old diner food! I love the hot turkey sandwich! I visit as often as I can.

A fine turkey sandwich cut directly off the bird needed only a few more dabs of mayo, which was promptly provided upon my request. My waitress even offered to refill and package up my iced tea to go when I left. The name has changed but the old Coffee Mill lives on in the fresh turkey and vintage fixtures. It was a happy nostalgic trip to my childhood home

My go to spot for sincere friendly local atmosphere and Exceptional food. Stay local~~ Try their "Oat Cake pancakes", just the best and who else serves them, right?!?

5 years in a row for Thanksgiving dinner take out! Generous and tasty! Going back for Christmas!

This place is siiick. Got hash browns, pancakes, bacon, Diet Coke and some bacon. Got the pancake sweats from how massive the pancake patties are. Good stuff.

Once again had The Best Turkey dinner here. Every year its just as good as before. All the Trimmings everything hott service is Quick. You will never have a Turkey Dinner this good Anywhere

Not what it used to be but what restaurant is? The biscuits used to be 3 inches tall and the gravy was incredible. Now shorter biscuits that don't have the fluffiness and flavor and the gravy isn't quite as delectable as it was 25-30 years ago. I'd rather pay more and get the goods. The chicken fried steak is wimpy compared to what it used to be. This is how I judge a breakfast place because anybody can cook two eggs and bacon. Yeah, some better than others I guess but you know what I mean. Service is still great, good place to go if you want two eggs etc.

Came here with a party of 5 on a Saturday morning. We were greeted and seated right away. This place is a straight forward good breakfast place. I ordered the mini special with 1 scrambled egg, bacon, house potatoes and a banana pancake, all delish! What made my meal was the homemade salsa, omg I added it to all my food. My only complaint was the coffee was pretty weak. This restaurant was located in the heart of Encinitas. It's adorable and feels just like grandmas house. I would definitely come back!

Waitress Jenny was yelling at other employees and slamming things. I overheard another waitress asking her nicely to stop yelling and slamming thing. Over all food was great

Came in for a late breakfast at 1:30 pm. Since it was Saturday, we arrived at the end of the lunch rush and the restaurant was busy serving people for inside and outside dining. I ordered biscuits and gravy with two eggs, fried over hard. The other person in my party chose to order pork chops with scrambled eggs, hash browns and toast that was posted on the Daily Specials board at the front of the restaurant. While we sat waiting for our food, we noticed how attentive the wait staff was during this busy period. Our food took approximately 20-25 minutes to arrive, I'm sure this was mainly due to the pork chops and the fact it was listed as a daily special. It was probably ordered by a number of diners. The only thing I felt was odd was that my biscuits and gravy and fried eggs arrived first and the only thing the other person in my party received was the toast. The rest of their order arrived 4 minutes later leaving them with cold toast by the time the order was completed. It would have been better to hold the toast and bring it when their entire order was ready. Just a minor thing, but I thought it would be a good suggestion. Overall, the food was delicious and worth the wait. The biscuits were sweet and the savory gravy made them delicious. The fried egg completed the dish and made it an excellent combination. The pork chops, scrambled eggs and hash browns that was ordered was cooked perfectly. The food really reminded me of good home style cooking and fit well with the decor of the restaurant. So...if you're in Encinitas on Highway 101 and want some good food that reminds you of Mom's cooking, pull over and grab a table. You won't be disappointed!

Great food big portions and it served by a happy staff who makes you feel welcome. The restaurant is located in a very quaint, boutique area. The restaurant is an old fashion diner look but with all modern furnishings.

Encinitas Cafe is nothing fancy. It's one of a vanishing breed of restaurants along the 101: your basic, straightforward diner. It boasts no peach kombucha frappes; there are no vegan buffalo sliders. The simple decor has been the same since I first graced its doors over twenty years ago. For the twenty-something hipsters and the thirty-something Tesla-driving New Agers, this is definitely not the place. It has no riz. For everyone else, it's hard to find a better all-rounder. They have a broad assortment of breakfast and lunch offerings, ranging from minimal to the ample. Coffee rolls like the Jordan River. And they have some surprising strengths: their Reuben sandwiches, for example are better than you find in local Jewish delis. Their meat loaf is excellent. To be sure, like everywhere else, prices have risen considerably in the last few years. And much of their food is pretty standard fare; some dishes might be stronger (the omelets come to mind). But it says a lot for any establishment that much of their staff and menu remain the same. The quality is generally good, the service friendly and attentive. And the vibe at Encinitas Cafe is what it should be: a local eatery that continues to favor substance over fads.

Originally from the East coast this was your typical diner food. Easy and fast seating when we got there for breakfast. Downside: they don't offer waffles.

Great service and that cozy hometown feeling as soon as you walk in the door. Kids eat free on Tuesdays and the carafe of mimosas for a brunch kindof day is a great deal. My regular pick is the turkey dinner, it's the best!!

I stopped here for breakfast my last day in Encinitas after a two day staycation. The ambiance is old school cafe, which I loved. I was able to be seated right away. I was offered coffee which I definitely said yes! I ordered two eggs with sausage links (my go to) and home fries and toast. The eggs were done the way I liked (no runny yoke, yay!) and the sausage links were amazing! I was able to get in and out within 45 minutes on a busy holiday weekday (Presidents day). I'd definitely come back here in another stay in Encinitas!

This place never misses I've been here many times and always had a good dining experience! Friendly staff great food sunny outdoor dining. Make sure you give this place a try if you're in the area you won't regret it also shout out our server Claudio she's amazing and always treats us right. Appreciate you Claudia!

Not what you'd consider one of those super snazzy, overpriced breakfast dance-clubs, but really just very good, home cooked food. We've eaten breakfast at a few spots in Encinitas and this was tops them all. Friendly service, good food! Will be back!

This is a must try when visiting Encinitas. Breakfast, lunch are always good with as you know it... Great service from all, employees and locals

Busy but efficient...the staff work well together to keep patrons served. Good food. Good sized portions

I rarely leave reviews but I felt compelled to after how horrible my service was. The server was really mean and rude. She was very racist and entitled towards my friend, which is crazy to me. We tried to brush it off but she was completely standoffish the rest of our brunch there. I didn't say anything in person but I wish I did. Reminding servers everywhere that even if you are having a bad day you do not need to be mean to others, ESPECIALLY at your place of work!! I will not be returning.

7/10. Solid spot in Encinitas but there are still better options here in the same area

Super cute inside. The waitress was very kind. I ordered the Benedict - bacon avocado, it was delicious, top 3 Benedict's I've had. I also got the mimosa which was premixed and also delicious. I would recommend and I'm definitely coming back.

We were in town and thought let's give this local place a try. Mistake - service was awful - food was below average. If I was you I would try a different pace in town. Coffee was cold, the lady served one person in our party then we had to wait 15 minutes for everyone's else's food. They never came out to check on our food. Maybe this just one a one off bad experience, but we'll never go back.

Good breakfast spot. May take too long, but if willing to wait and enjoy just being in the glorious town called Encinitas, just sit back and take it easy!

Best place in Encinitas! Homestyle Ma & Pa cooking at its best. Banana Walnut Pancakes are to die for!! The daily specials are fabulous. Waitresses are super fun & nice - even the busboys are friendly. Would rate it 6 stars if that were possible!!

Great food. Great service. Health portions. The banana walnut bread is scrumptious! I recommend.

Classic diner food that's no frills - walked away super satisfied! Giving them go 4 stars because Honeys across the street is honestly better (sorry y'all)! This morning we had the bacon avocado cheddar omelette, hash browns, biscuit and gravy, with a cinnamon roll. I would highly recommend the biscuit +gravy as a side instead of toast - was def my favorite of everything - gravy is super tasty! Could have skipped the cinnamon roll - i like a decadent cream cheese icing on my CRs and in this case the icing was meh more of a thick glaze and came out cold but we took it to go and heated it up at home - was much better warm! Herb and sea across the street has a bomb cinnamon roll if you're looking for something sweet after - could probably call and grab one to go :) I've had the corned beef hash before too - it's really good try that too if you're into it!

After seeing this across the street from Hwy 101 cafe, we chose to make this our final spot for breakfast. They had plenty of seating and it was nice and shady. I felt like a breakfast burrito and was not let down by my bacon, egg and cheese combination. I was a little surprised they didn't put the has browns in so I had to order those on the side. They were crispy and delicious. My girlfriend ordered two eggs over easy with bacon and hash browns. She chose to have their biscuit and gravy and she enjoyed it very much. The service was good and we are happy of the suggestion of this place and of coming here. Hopefully, with every other place we had breakfast, I can give a more detailed account of what things look like inside.

Wonderful local cafe! Food that warms your soul, the service blew my mind... our coffee cup was never empty and just all around everything you want from a neighborhood breakfast spot.

What a great place! We had lunch today. My daughter and I shared a club with onion rings and added a side of fries. Food was so good! My husband got a chili omelette and biscuit and gravy. He said his omelette was very good, great chili. And the biscuit and gravy, one of the best we have had. Service was outstanding. We originally were seated at a restaurant across the street, Diner 101, and after waiting and asking if someone would take our order we left for this place. So much better, I highly recommend.