Friends Cafe

Came here as part of an Instagram collaboration, so we got to try a variety of dishes! Their menu is extensive with tons of breakfast items, but also a variety of lunch options featuring American, Mexican, and Italian flavors. We tried the Friends breakfast combo special (with the funky monkey pancakes), corn beef and eggs, Florentine scramble, albacore tuna salad, and the wild turkey sandwich. My favorite was the funky monkey pancakes! The pancakes were thick, soft, and fluffy and had a great banana and chocolate flavor! It was sweet and salty with the syrup and butter! I also enjoyed the Florentine scramble! It was super cheesy and savory! The albacore tuna salad was also light and refreshing and presented so nicely! Our waitress was super friendly (definitely living up to the name of the restaurant!). She checked in on us multiple times. The ambiance is super cute and casual and had a nice diner feel. This place satisfied my brunch cravings and exceeded my expectations!

This spot left a great impression on me. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich with cashews, and it was fresh and full of flavor. The staff was warm, welcoming, and very attentive throughout my visit. I live far away, yet if this place were closer, I would return again and again without hesitation.

We've been coming here a couple times a week for dinner. We love the variety offered on their menu. My husband especially likes the seafood combo. Tonight we tried the French Dip and Shrimp Alfredo. Both were excellent! The people are always really friendly, and it's really quiet in the evening.

Really swell spot for family breakfast. Friendly staff (no pun intended) who checked on us frequently (but not to the point of interruption). Were I to go back soon, I think I’d try the cinnamon roll French toast or a breakfast burrito, but the tuna melt and chili sounded too enticing. I was quite satisfied with my order, and the experience as a whole. Comfortable booths, clean bathrooms, jovial customers, and cheesecake that I…exerted significant willpower to skip!

My bf found this restaurant on maps while searching for something to eat. At first, we were confused because maps took us to a Jack in the Box, but I figured it might be located near the shopping center behind the Jack in the Box. I was worried because when we got there it was completely empty, but the food turned out to be amazing. The staff was so attentive and helpful from the start. I ended up having the spaghetti in meat sauce, which came with mini garlic bread on the side, and my boyfriend the French dip. The onion rings that came with the sandwich were freshly made and big, and the ranch was homemade. I was concerned about my spaghetti because the sauce didn't look red, but it was amazing. It was as good as the one from the Old Spaghetti Factory less the cost! I highly recommend this place for its delicious food, affordability, customer service, and variety. Our tab came out to less than $35 for our large portions of food. We'll definitely be coming back.

The service is amazing here I just thought the Penne Alla Vodka had a little too much oil in the sauce which made it too heavy other than it was good. We also came at a weird time because no one was hardly there. Anyway I gave it a four star because the pasta wasn't bad but I would give a five star if it had less oil in it. But another reason why I gave them a four star is because I haven't tried the other foods on their menu so it seemed more fair to give a four star.

We stopped in on a Sunday for a lunch. They have a huge menu with lots of options. BarBque chicken sandwich. The sandwich was bland and the salad was really disappointing. Their onion rings were great. My dad enjoy his chicken fried steak, he just wish there was a bit more gravy.

Overall one of the best restaurants to eat and also great value for money . Lunch was great , red sauce macaroni with roasted chicken was exceptional , and also we took broccoli soup with garlic bread which we loved a lot ( it was creamy and delicious) , onion rings were great , Tacos better than any Mexican restaurant I have went before . Pancakes are also the best that I had ever . The ingredients are really well measured . The menu has more than 100 types of dishes ( great variety) . The staff is very friendly and the service is really quick . Atmosphere is generally very nice. I will definitely come again and again as I loved the place .

Friends Cafe is one of those places that instantly puts you in a good mood the moment you walk in. The atmosphere feels warm and welcoming, and it has that neighborhood comfort where you immediately relax. It is bright, clean, and has a calm energy that makes it perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even a slow morning coffee. The food was the highlight for me. Everything tasted fresh and well prepared, and you can tell the kitchen puts care into every plate. My meal came out hot and flavorful, and the portions were generous without feeling overwhelming. It is the kind of food that feels comforting but still has personality. I left feeling satisfied and happy. The service was just as impressive. The staff were friendly, attentive, and made me feel like they genuinely cared about my experience. They checked in at the right moments, offered recommendations, and kept the vibe easy and pleasant. Friends Cafe is the type of place that makes you want to return because everything simply feels right. Great food, great people, and a welcoming ambiance. I am already looking forward to my next visit.

A nice local independent diner with a big menu. Breakfast served all day! We came at breakfast time and had breakfast. There are lots of choices from sweet to savory. Good solid food but not inspired. Hey, what do you want from a cafe? The service is a little slow but it's made up for by how nice the staff is. With places like this how can Denny's etal still be in business? Support your local independent businesses.

Everything, everything is great. Attentive, kind service and pleasant food. They seem especially keen on the older crowd. We had a huge omelet and liked the hash browns.

Cute American diner located in a small plaza by 17th. Food was good and pretty affordable considering the price of dining out now a days. Food was delightful and service was wonderful. This place wasn't super busy, super clean and cozy

Came here late night. Service was friendly and menu had quite a variety. It has that diner feel and is spacious. We just snacked and chatted so it was a good place for that.

Eggs and corned with an Aloha pancake... just let that sink in a bit. The food is great, service is welcoming, and the ambience is that of an upbeat diner. Great dinners as well. Give Friends a try!

Excellent breakfast gem. So glad we found this place. Great steak and eggs, and pancakes are delicious. Affordably priced and good quality compared to so many others. No frills cafe with good food and service.

Ugh. I hate to leave such a low mark but what a disappointment my visit here was. Service was awful and food was just ok. Came with a group early on Sunday morning. Half of our group received water right away, the other half did not. We waited quite a while and then someone had to go ask for a person to provide water and take our order. We were never asked if we wanted anything else to drink, nor were our water glasses ever refilled, despite us all having no water left in our glasses. We all felt the food was ok, but nothing extra. I had an omelette with bacon and cheese. It was incredibly plain. At least put some cheese or a garnish on top to present it better. My food was also served way after everyone had already been served their food. Isn't it standard practice to bring everything out at once? By the time we left, the place was packed. I can't imagine that anyone got great service there today, unfortunately.

The thing about breakfast food is it's hard to mess it up and hard to make it mind blowing. We tried this place for breakfast and found the food to be run of the mill. This would be a three star review, but the excellent service bumps it up to four stars. Ambience wise, it's more or less a diner. The dining room is pleasant enough. The prices are reasonable.

Food was amazing and large portions!! I had the pancakes and they were delicious. Definitely will return!

Came here on a Thursday morning some time ago. It wasn't busy at all and we got seated right away. I ordered the french toast and that was delicious. One of my friends got a sandwich (PCH), and that was delicious too. It's a cute, little hole in the wall and I loved it. Will be back to try everything else I wanted!

Friends Cafe has become our favorite neighborhood restaurant. It is named appropriately as the owner makes you feel as if you are visiting friends whenever you go there! The menu is extensive, the food is delicious and the prices are extremely reasonable! Everything is homemade and the desserts look incredible! A neighbor ordered their large pizza for delivety and said it was huge! The largest he ever saw, and it tasted fabulous! Although they are open all day and evenings, they are known for their breakfasts. You will find people waiting outside on weekend mornings! I highly recommend Friends Cafe! You can thank me later!

This is the third time I've ordered from them for a large party. They always get the orders right but there are just certain things that shouldn't be takeout because once they cool off, they're just not very good, mainly the fried foods. But their sandwiches and wraps are always a huge hit! Also love their pasta!

We stopped in on a Sunday for a late lunch. After reading a few Yelp reviews and reviewing photos I thought we'd give Fiends Cafe a chance. They have a huge menu with tons of options.. I opted for one of their *Specialty* sandwiches the "Cosmopolitan," and added a side salad. The sandwich was bland and the salad was really disappointing, the dressing tasted bottled and highly processed/too thick. Unfortunately I had poured it over the lettuce so the entire salad was ruined. Their fries were great, I thought I would get them with the sandwich seeing as I had asked to "add a side salad," but this was interpreted as swapping the fries for the salad. We also tried the Rueben, but subbed the pastrami for turkey, the sandwich was okay, not very much sauerkraut or meat and the bread was quite soggy as if the kraut hadn't been drained thoroughly. This was a miss for me, but seeing as they have such a big menu and other great reviews maybe I just didn't order the best item on the menu.

Terrific and friendly service. Tasty food. Deducted 1 star for 2 reasons. 1) The 3% credit card service fee, which is hidden on the menu. 2) $4 for 2 slices of white toast with a small helping of preserves? Ridiculous!

Great service - friendly and quick Perfect big fluffy pancake Tuna melt was crispy griddled bread Clean bathroom - great sign

I was shocked that it wasn't full on a Sunday night! What a wonderful place to eat- with a full menu of all kinds of food, including really decorative desserts. The service here is quick and kind- kudos to the chefs who nailed my request of soft poached eggs perfectly! The eggs Benedict is my recommendation as far as breakfast goes. The restaurant itself is well lit, and roomy. All in all, I highly recommend this place!

Been passing this place to go get my coffee. Then I stopped in and fell in Love with this place! Great food, big portions, friendly and personable service. I can only comment on breakfast but the pancake combo is large enough to share and they also have alcohol! Great friendly no frills place with amazing food!

I don't usually write reviews like this, but I believe in accountability--especially when it comes to how people in positions of power treat others. Last night, I picked up a pizza for a coworker at this cafe. When I arrived, the employee handed me the pizza, and I stood there awkwardly before asking, "Do I pay?" She replied, "No pay," and gave a small nod. I stood there for a bit longer, still unsure, but she didn't follow up, so I left thinking it was already covered or a system error. Looking back, I think there may have been a language barrier, and this was an honest miscommunication--not me trying to avoid paying. But what happened next is where the real issue lies. About 40 minutes later, the manager came into my workplace and confronted me abruptly, saying I hadn't paid. His tone was intense and completely unprofessional, especially given the context. As a manager, he could have chosen many other routes: - Humor - A calm, respectful conversation - Or even letting it go if the mistake came from his staff But instead, he chose pride. This isn't the first time I've heard of this manager handling things poorly. Others I know have had uncomfortable experiences with him too. There seems to be a pattern of entitlement and rudeness over very small issues. And while this situation may seem minor to some, it still deserves to be addressed. Because when someone in power chooses confrontation over compassion--especially toward women, customers, or neighbors--it leaves a lasting impression. I hope this feedback encourages more care and professionalism moving forward. I'm not looking to stir up drama--just offering awareness. If the manager (or the person who confronted me) sees this, I hope he takes a moment to reflect. Accountability isn't an attack--it's a chance to do better. If he ever wants to have a real conversation or offer a sincere apology, I'm open to that. Until then, I'm simply sharing my experience so others know what kind of energy they may walk into.

I had high hopes for this cute place, what a disappointment. Waited for 5 minutes to be seated in a half full restaurant that holds maybe 80 people. Busboy brought me my water, I waited another 10 minutes for the only waitress to bring the menu. Order was finally taken, food came out pretty fast but uggghhh. Omelet was ok a little underwhelming, hash browns were barely cooked/raw, and toast was incorrect. I ordered sourdough and got white. I sent hash browns back to get cooked, they burned the outside still leaving inside raw and cold. I won't be back, such a shame

The morning menu for breakfast was great . The ambiance was pleasant. The staff were all friendly and quick . I would def try this place again

The Philly steak was a big sandwhich! It was cheesy, meaty, but I wish the bell peppers and onions were more cooked down. 4/5 The spaghetti and meatballs were okay. The meatballs were big and not dry which was nice but needed a little more seasoning. They were a little bland. The noodles were extra al dente so pretty undercooked sadly. The garlic bread was the best part because of the melted cheese crust. Overall the spaghetti and meatballs were 3/5

This is the best little Café in all of Orange County. they're so friendly and the food is outstanding. The prices are lower here than any place you will ever go. today I ordered the biscuits and gravy. It comes with scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, sausage, and biscuits. I also ordered the breakfast croissant sandwich with ham, and I got the fruit with it. Huge sandwich and a huge amount of fruit. I don't know how they do it for the prices they charge then I ordered the club sandwich. Everything here is so good. I'm ordering on GrubHub and DoorDash from this restaurant and the food lasts me for four days for $46 including tip. Can you believe that?!!

I ordered the corned beef hash and it must have been the worst corned beef hash that I have ever had in my life... I image that maybe they had this can since the 1980's. It literally tasted like dog food or what I would imagine dog food would taste like, a sloppy mush of bland un flavorful so called "beef" or most likely "mystery meat" I literally did not even come close to finishing this dish, I put it where it should have naturally been from the beginning, the trash!!! I will never come back, ever!

Best place in Irvine! Can come here anytime of the day, they have it all and it's all so flavorful. Friendly people there too. Always so welcoming :) I'm obsessed with the shrimp francese and the lasagna...

This place is fantastic, a local gem . We went there for brunch and it didn't disappoint. The staff was so nice and welcoming, and we were like please come in, sit wherever you want, and we were helped right away. Our hostess, Tracy, was super friendly, made great recommendations and the food was delicious.

Being around the restaurant industry for more than 15 years visiting local restaurant and receiving the service the food quality I just experienced. If so, disappointing as much as you wanna go to local places and enjoy meal. It's very disappointed to receive the type of service and quality of food that I received at this restaurant. Where do I start? It is probably that is probably not the waitress fault but management. I asked other waitresses for refills and they looked past our table and one even smirked as she passed by and looked the other way. Our food arrived and 5 minutes later we received our utensils. My stake and eggs had completely 0 seasoning retuned it right away, the egg Benedict's sauce 0 comments, burned French toast and we never received our side pancakes and still got charged. Please save yourself some money and dine elsewhere.

We used to go to places like dennys but one night years ago we said we wanted to support small businesses more and decided to try out friends cafe. To put this review short we never went back to dennys because friends cafe is far superior in quality of food, cost vs value, and service. With all those boxes checked why would we ever go anywhere else. I've taken many friends and family here when they're in town for a great bite to eat. I've tried everything from breakfast to sandwiches to dinner entrees and haven't been disappointed. My favorite are the breakfast choices. I'm a big fan of the friends combo breakfast.

Cashew chicken salad sandwich. The menu said $13.50, I was charged $16.54. I asked why I was charged $3.00 more and was told because of the bread choice. I was not told there was an additional $3.00 charge for a croissant roll versus a "sqaw" bread. The chicken salad wasn't all that great; it was less than average in taste and quality. In addition, the tip "suggestion" was calculated on top of tax. You don't add tip to tax when calculating the amounts. This cafe is a ripoff! Won't be returning here ever again.

Last Sunday my family and I went for breakfast but unfortunately we're discriminated against. We are a Mexican family and waited there for 40 minutes and in those 40 minutes they let 5 white families in. We let the host know we know we were a large group but we were okay splitting up but we still waited. There was an empty large table but unfortunately we did not get serviced as fast as everyone else. Once we were seated they were very slow to tend to us. Our pancakes didn't even arrive on time, everyone had already finished eating and we had to take the pancakes to go. We definitely did not feel welcome. This location needs a lot of service training, we had a horrible experience. We will never return. Do better.

I've been there a couple of times and leave feeling the same way. Food is decent but service is so so. The waitress takes your order and someone else delivers it. But no one stops by to see if you like it, if you need more water, napkins, etc. The next time you see them is when they bring you the bill. This time my charge in my credit card account was .45 more than the bill I signed. Do they charge extra to use a credit card?

Not very helpful or friendly for groups Will not be going there again. Very disappointed.

You can tell this place is hoppin on a weekends but during the week there are only a few customers dining in this diner which seats 92! The menu has everything you expect for breakfast-all the American fare plus a couple of Mexican items like chilaquiles and chorizo con huevos. According to my receipt, mine was the 28th ticket of the day at 8am. I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy plate which comes with eggs, hash browns and two meats. This is the right combination for me to test out the food. The eggs were perfectly scrambled like an omelette. The single sausage link was large and skinless, cooked through and golden brown. The bacon was not thick or think but just right and as crispy as i like but others who like flabby will have to request that. The shredded potatoes were perfectly cooked from frozen but not seasoned. The B of the BandG was a real biscuit split in half and griddled. The gravy was just ok. Tasted like a mix or a can, like artificially thickened and glossy. It was not bad, though, so I ate it all. I always wonder why restaurants don't make it from scratch when everything you need is there and it starts with something you pay to throw away (animal fat). The atmosphere and service were 5/5 so I need to come back and try other dishes.

I've been to Friends a few times and I loved their breakfast. So I decided to come for my birthday with a party of 10. The staff rushed to get a table set up for us right away and had us seated within 5 minutes. As usual, the food was amazing. A special shout out to our server Monica who was so sweet and patient and accommodating. There was also a Hispanic man (I wish I would've gotten his name) helping her with drinks, who was also very sweet and attentive to our table. Thank you to all of the staff, because the cooks were cranking the dishes out as well. This is now one of my favorite breakfast spots. Great food, awesome staff and lovely atmosphere. Til next time friends cafe! Ps. Pancakes and French Toast are the best!

This is an amazing little place on 17th. great food at reason price. Service is friendly and prompt

I've finally tried this place after months of seeing long lines on the weekend. I had the good earth sandwich and it was very good considering there was not meat. I like the seasoned fries that came with it, crunchy and not overly seasoned. My friends had an omelet which she said was excellent. It looked very soft. The pancake was huge and good as well. The waitress who helped our table of 7 was awesome. I will definitely come back.

Food is so yummy. No silly fads, just good homey style cooking. Friendly service too. Breakfast all day.

Came here for lunch on Saturday and was seated right away. The servers were very nice and attentive to us. We ordered the country fried steak and eggs and the biscuits and gravy. We enjoyed both dishes. The steak was well seasoned and the biscuit and gravy was simple yet delicious. Overall we had a great experience and would come back again in the future.

The restaurant is so dirty the restroom can't believe the restaurant is so nasty the walls and the entrance floor are black and greasy now is so different lay before the owner had to clean everything and when I said everything is everything and the food is not good anymore I never going back

The food is fabulous. The service is great. This place needs to be packed all the time.!

I really like this simple restaurant. Prices were good and portions were big. I had the French Toast and it was extremely delicious. Very big inside with plenty of seating. Remember to do random acts of kindness as it will make you feel great Happy Yelping and follow me for more awesome reviews

Got seated right away though the the restaurant was busy. Somebody came to ask for my drink after I got seated comfortably. The waitress said she'd be right with me and she was and took my order promptly. She checked on me during my meal. Love the service. Love the friendly decor. Large clock. "Let's be friends" which goes with the theme of the Cafe. I ordered there Mexicali scramble with chorizo, chili's and cheese. Avocados and sour cream on top, though I ordered mine without the sour cream. I asked for corn tortillas. For the side I had fruit instead of their hash Browns, but their hash browns looked pretty good. Overall, very good and the scramble. Had a nice kick to it. Will definitely come back again to try their other offerings. Still busy when I left with even a wait on a Saturday morning. Please note the credit card surcharge. Most places absorb the cost. If you want to avoid the surcharge just pay in cash.

This place is a well-oiled machine. Got there at a really busy time but all the staff were on top of it, helping each other out to ensure everyone got great service. Their food is fantastic too. Pancakes bigger than my head! And, not many people know this, but they offered very low cost meals to seniors during the height of the pandemic. I know because I was one of the volunteers who helped deliver the meals. Great place, great people.

Was close by with my daughter so we wanted to try this place! We came 1030a Wednesday and there were a good amount of people still here but plenty of room. Pretty large place. My 9 year old go loved her French toast and described her fruit as, "amazing" and elaborated, "It's like fresh", said with a big smile. I couldn't just take her word for it so I tried her French toast, you know to "test" it for her to be safe, and it was delectable (and safe). She ate all the fruit too lol. The country fried steak was cooked perfectly and the gravy was so tasty. The breading wasn't too bad at all, in fact, it was one of the best county fried steaks I've had in a long time. The hash browns were also cooked superbly and after some salt and ketchup it was heavenly! It came with eggs and I did over easy but you can chose how to prepare of course. It's pretty roomy inside and the service was quick and amazing. If we are ever nearby we would return no questions as the other food that came out looked great as well!

Super cute family owned diner with excellent service! The menu is extensive and breakfast is served all day. My husband loves the chicken fried steak with hash browns here. The bathrooms are also clean and well stocked.

We have enjoyed our meals at this place, but since the pandemic, it's been a challenge to know what hours the local restaurants are open. Hubby and I were happy to see that Friends Cafe is now open until 3pm. We have had good breakfasts and lunches in the past, so were looking forward to a nice lunch last week. When I saw the Chicken Tostada Salad on the menu, I knew I had to order it. The deep-fried tortilla shell was filled with chicken, mixed greens, Cheddar cheese, sour cream, and tomato. I liked the avocado slices (not guacamole) and that it came with black beans rather than refried beans. Hubby got the Philly cheesesteak sandwich with onion rings. The roll was huge! The service is always great, and we love the large and varied menu. We are on the portly side, so I need to remember to sit at a table. The booths are not as forgiving.

We went on a Sunday afternoon to a full house. We got eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, and French toast. Pros - everything was really tasty. The French toast was some of the best we had. The bacon wasn't overcooked. The sausages were good too. - friendly waitress - generous portions - reasonably priced Cons - (December 31st) a little cold inside/no heating Overall 8/10

It didn't take all that much time to get a booth for our party of four after church. That was cool. Everyone enjoyed breakfast and lunch. Finally a restaurant that puts some bacon on a club sandwich. Sometimes we are in a hurry and Norms and Spires have just failed on the club sandwich. I'm going to check Dennys next. Yes we are low budget and I would order this again in a heartbeat. My pal John had some leftovers and staff hooked him up with extras... It's a big menu and I was afraid that it might be hard to cover all that ground but so far my fears have been laid to rest. A nice brunch and friendly staff. Great for after church and we will come back again for sure.

Great food... great prices... even better service! Best Coffee anywhere! San Francisco's Farmer Brothers!! The menu is great! Something there for everyone's taste!All the servers there are so kind and fun! So great to have this awesome neighborhood cafe.... We highly recommend!!!