Harbor House Café

Very nice restaurant. A real seaside vibe. There are a lot of locals that go here. Me and my son had a great breakfast. Would definitely go back too again

A really solid surf themed diner down in Sunset Beach. Established in 1939 there are two locations, this one in Sunset Beach and the other in Dana Point. They are known for their 24 hour service and for having casual but tasty food. I live in Marina del Rey but drove down to OC specifically for this breakfast and I’m happy that I did so. Our waiter was very polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. They have a small parking lot attached otherwise it’s not very difficult to find free street parking if the parking lot is full. They have a very large menu and their most famous dish is the Chicken Fried Steak. Inside is fairly large as well and there are many different sized tables so they can accommodate small to big groups. For my breakfast, I usually order the Eggs Benedict but this time I wanted to try something new so I chose the Guacamole Omelette. I decided to change the bacon to steak and felt it was a good call. The guacamole on top was fresh and added a lot of flavor and overall it was just a really good breakfast. The portion size was very fair and so was the pricing. Diner prices around town have gone up in the last year or so, but I still feel it is worth it. I do plan to stop in again next time I am down in this area.

This place is a standard diner. I loved all the movie posters around the place. The coffee was solid diner coffee and they kept my cup full. The food was decently priced and everything tasted good and filled us up.

What an amazing place, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We ate here twice in one day. The food was great and the service was amazing. Iconic status in the HB area, each section of the restaurant is filled with memorabilia. Well worth a visit... or two, or three.

Cute place I found during my day trip to Long Beach. I'd been craving good bisquits and gravy and this place came in clutch! It's bigger than it looks (like the tardis) so there was plenty of seating. I'll be back!!

I grew up in Yorba Linda, an inland city not too far from the restaurant. I now live in AZ but make sure to come here during every trip back. It’s a staple in my family. The food is great, you get a lot for the cost. Vibe is chill. Trust me when I say you have to eat here

Typical, cute, highway 1 diner. Very similar to the one next door. The shakes are great but they are expensive at $8. Next door at Woody's they are $7.50. both expensive. I got the chili size on my first visit. The chili was really good. The burger was overcooked. The fries were good. My strawberry shake was great. My friend's Pineapple shake was incredible. The next day I got something with hash browns, they were dry. Nice visits overall.

A great location for classic diner food, good portions, great value and excellent staff.

Harbor House Cafe is one of those timeless diners that hits all the right notes. Whether you're craving comfort food, a laid-back vibe, or service that makes you feel like a regular, this place delivers. We ordered a Blue Moon (nicely priced at $6) and a Diet Coke to start, along with a shareable plate of cheese fries with ranch: crispy, cheesy, and everything you want in diner-style starters. For mains, we had the Mexican omelette with hash browns and sourdough toast, and a bacon burger (no tomato) with French fries. Everything was flavorful, well-prepared, and generously portioned. By the end of the meal, we were too full for dessert; yet, we couldn't resist grabbing an Oreo shake to-go. Totally worth it. The interior is a love letter to vintage Americana, with old movie posters, records, and classic rock playing over the speakers. It sounded a lot like 93.1 JACK FM: nostalgic, upbeat, and just the right mood for a relaxed meal. And shoutout to Richard, who's more than just a great server: he's the kind of person who makes you feel welcome every time. Attentive, friendly, and genuinely kind. If you're anywhere near Sunset Beach, Harbor House Cafe is absolutely worth the stop. Great food, great vibes, and even better people.

I've been all over the world. Been to Africa, been to Paraguay, Panama, most of Mexico, all over the United States, Dubai...and holy sh*t, your restaurant serves undoubtedly the WORST iced tea I've EVER drank. Like, now I know how the residents of Flint Michigan must feel like when they try and drink their water: unable to because water you can light on fire. I posted on my timeline on FB as soon as I got home to warn my friends about your iced tea. My ex babysitter responded with: "You know why ... because they don't clean the spicket and it gets all gross and nasty inside. That's when ice Tea tastes like crap." Like, how fu*king hard is it for a company to clean their drink machines every week or so? I'm guessing it hasn't been cleaned in, at least, two years. It was like taking a sip of cold bath water. Like, I wonder the crust it has around it. The two packs of sugar didn't even make dint. It's crazy how dirty your ice ld tea. I bet your raspberry iced tea taste like sh*t water with a dash of raspberry. As far as my meal: it was delicious. Only reason you got 2 stars and not just 1. And the reason I won't be coming back. If you can't clean a drink dispenser, what else aren't you cleaning.

Its been a while since Ive been here. Rolled in on a Sunday morning and seated right away. Super rad establishment on PCH in good old Sunset Beach. They are open 24/7 and have quite a lot of seating. Opt to sit in the back where there is a lot more room. The main area is very compact with tight quarters. We ordered the breakfast special for $9.99. It comes with pancakes, 2 eggs and choice of bacon, sausage or hashbrowns. To wash everything down we ordered OJ at $7.99 a cup. A little pricey. I hope someone was in thr back squeezing the life out of every orange for that price. Service was friendly. Prices are reasonable for the area. After all these years I am still a fan.

I was craving some biscuits and gravy so I came here. I also had bacon. My beverage was coffee. I couldn't believe the large portion of biscuits and gravy. Its easily double the size of most places. I liked how the bacon wasn't to crispy. The coffee was how I like it, not to strong. I enjoyed the old movie posters on the walls and ceiling. Service here is very good. I like this location more than Dana Point. If you pay cash, it's cheaper.

A really solid surf themed diner down in Sunset Beach. Established in 1939 there are two locations, this one in Sunset Beach and the other in Dana Point. They are known for their 24 hour service and for having casual but tasty food. I live in Marina del Rey but drove down to OC specifically for this breakfast and I'm happy that I did so. Our waiter was very polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. They have a small parking lot attached otherwise it's not very difficult to find free street parking if the parking lot is full. They have a very large menu and their most famous dish is the Chicken Fried Steak. Inside is fairly large as well and there are many different sized tables so they can accommodate small to big groups. For my breakfast, I usually order the Eggs Benedict but this time I wanted to try something new so I chose the Guacamole Omelette. I decided to change the bacon to steak and felt it was a good call. The guacamole on top was fresh and added a lot of flavor and overall it was just a really good breakfast. The portion size was very fair and so was the pricing. Diner prices around town have gone up in the last year or so, but I still feel it is worth it. I do plan to stop in again next time I am down in this area.

This Sunset Beach location is right on the Pacific Coast Highway. There is parking kind of tucked away on the side, as well as right there on PCH. I came here after a recommendation from a friend who grew up just around the corner. I kind of feel like I'm cheating on my beloved Bogart's (a couple of miles down the road at Seal Beach). But this place serves full meals, which the other place doesn't. Score!!! This place is cool. When you walk in, you are in a small, cozy dining room with seats at the counter. There are pictures and posters all over the wall and ceiling. You can't see how big this place is until you walk back, but it is pretty big. The guy who served me was very nice and my breakfast came right away. I ordered scrambled eggs with hash browns and a pancake, and added sausage patties. It was huge--not sure what size their eggs are, but two eggs at my house is half the amount I got served. It was good. The coffee was good, too. I feel like everyone needs a place like this in their lives, and I'm sure I will be back. And no worries, I did make it to my favorite beach, Seal Beach, to sit and watch the waves with my full belly.

First off: LOVE the ambience of this place. The movie posters are just *chef's kiss* Love it. The food is good. From the burgers, salads, and pasta. No complaints at all. I don't think anyone aside from the young woman has served me. I didn't catch her name but she's always incredibly kind, and quick.

I'm giving it a 5/5 for a diner it's everything you want it to be. Friendly and fast service, quirky interior, chill vibe, minutes from the ocean. We went on our way to the beach and really enjoyed the food.

Food isn't anything special but atmosphere is very friendly and welcoming. They're open almost always so can never go wrong on getting a late night bite here.

Do not go here. The pre pandemic Harbor House was great. You did not mind the slightly higher prices or wait. The good news no wait any more on a Sunday 10:00am. Bod knew food was terrible. I have tried it three times before I am writing this review.. it is getting worse. Whoever is running this place has lowered the standards too much. There cook needs to be retrained. I was in the food business. And this quality would never leave my kitchen. But, that must be why the place is not that busy. It was my old hang out every weekend before the pandemic and even during. Now I would never go back. Ps. The service was so bad, I gave the bus boy a few dollars to keep our coffee full and warm.

Stopped by here while out of town for work before heading to the airport. I had the chorizo omelette and my boss has the veggie omelette. Both were great and fresh not fried too hard. We both enjoyed the hash browns. The service was good as we were the only ones present and the ambiance is like a standard regular diner. Will come back when int be area.

Service was lacking.. the place was slow Food... My turkey looked a grayish color, didn't eat it!! Ambiance, NONE!! They need a major restaurant over hauling!! Wound not suggest this place until they update everything!!

This retro-divey diner has character. It's small with a tiny parking lot that would be inadequate most any other time than when I visited (3pm on a weekday). The moment I walked in I loved it; the old movie posters and photos amidst eclectic decor and ragged booths. Music was playing a crazy mix (from Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones to When We Get Behind Closed Doors by Charlie Rich to Obsession by Animotion to Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers...). I sat in a booth and ordered the Harbor House club sandwich with fries as my side. I also ordered a cherrry Coke. Hailey was my server and took superb care of me throughout my meal. The sandwich was enormous. Sliced deli turkey, lettuce, tomato, and bacon with mayo on toast. Simple but really good. The hot-out-of-the-fryer fries were excellent and I appreciated the large side of ranch for dipping instead of the tiny plastic fast-food sized cups often given. I decided to get a slice of carrot cake for dessert. The gigantic slice was pretty good. It wasn't exactly moist but not dry either. The flavor of the cake was muted but the thick cream frosting (did I detect a hint of coconut?) was delightful and somehow I finished it all without exploding. What a fun place to enjoy some diner food.

The same fun themed restaurant we remembered , but the food quality was only mediocre. Definitely not what we remembered. We parked on the side of the restaurant where the kitchen door was open. The outside where I'm guessing used frying oil was disposed was very dirty and unappetizing.

Husband and I are here for breakfast/brunch yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised. It has a dated charm to it, with many things to occupy your eyes while you wait on food. There are plenty of milkshake options and a huge menu with lots of options to choose from. They also serve alcohol and uncommon soft drinks like Shirley Temple and Roy Rogers. I had the open face turkey sandwich. It was delicious comfort food! Husband had a French dip and chili cheese fries. I'm not into French fries because I like mine damn near transparent and crunchy. These fries were the right consistency! So I ate a few of his chili cheese fries. The one thing about my sandwich...the menu states the sandwiches come with fries, onion rings, or fruit. They listed the open faced turkey sandwich under that section, but I did not get an option. I would have liked fruit with my meal but I think the open faced turkey sandwich only comes with mashed potatoes. They should reword the menu or honor the fact if someone complains.

I had no idea this place existed until today and I'm glad to have come here. I ordered an international omelette and it was great. My friend got a stack of pancakes and the food was large and goof quality. My only complaint is their only gluten free bread option I'd a corn tortilla which many gf folks can't eat. You can pay a bit extra for a different side though. Service was good and this place is open 24/7. Parking is tight and the bathrooms are tiny but the restaurant is far bigger on the inside than it looks outside.

Found this place on Yelp. Happy we came, food was amazing, biscuits and gravy were delicious. Of course ordered way too much but glad we did.

I've been coming here since the 1980's ! Great food ! large portions ! music You can bring your doggie in the back patio ! It's a Wonderful old diner ! Love this place ! Breakfast is always delicious. Most of all the ambiance! I'm an old movie lover , there are old movie posters all over !

I used to eat at Harbor House Cafe quite often and the food was always decent. I decided to visit the place again for lunch with a few friends. Being a big fan of French dips, I decided to try theirs. Unbelievably bad. When I was served the sandwich, I shocked. It was an average looking French roll with so little meat that you could barely see it. I figured that somehow the meat must have shifted elsewhere within the roll. Looking more closely, I discovered that there was no more meat! The first bite told me what a miserable sandwich this truly was. The bread wasn't very fresh and, what's worse, the couple of slices of roast beef that it had were dried up and totally flavorless. I didn't want to make any problems since I was enjoying my time with friends, so I did not return the sandwich, but I certainly should have. No restaurant should serve this. No cook should slap this on a plate and send it out. Harbor House, you REALLY missed the mark. Please see the picture in case you don't quite believe me!

We have been going to Harbor House for a while. Last visit, a 4% credit card fee, OUCH! They are making money on using a credit card. Was told by wait staff the 4% fee applies to debit card too. I hate these junk fees and won't be back.

Harbor House Cafe absolutely nailed it again! This was my fourth visit, and while the first three were already excellent, this one was on a whole other level--just incredible! I had the Top Sirloin Stir Fry with fresh, colorful veggies over a bed of fluffy white rice, all smothered in their amazing teriyaki sauce. Every single bite was bursting with flavor--the steak was so tender, the veggies had the perfect crunch, and that sauce? Chef's kiss. This place is such a gem. It's been around since 1939 and has served tons of famous celebrities over the years, and you can totally feel that classic diner charm mixed with a warm, welcoming vibe. It's the kind of spot that keeps pulling you back in--and for good reason. If you've never been, do yourself a favor and GO. And if you've been before, you already know--you're in for something special. I'm already looking forward to visit number five!

Our go too spot for after the beach shenanigans with my kid and wife the food is always great the waitress knows us by sight and my kid by name The place is old and decorated with movie and music nostalgia and it works the prices are decent and is favored by locals all in all this place gets a solid 8 on all counts

Leslie E, you are wrong and shame on you for repeatedly attacking a small business. I came here today for the first time since pre pandemic and the service and food was wonderful! Just like I remembered! We ordered a pancake combo and the eggs came out exactly how I ordered it, eggs Benedict came out piping hot! All the food came out quickly and the shakes are still large and delicious like I remember. Leslie E, if you left so many terrible reviews here why don't you just leave this place alone for the rest of us to enjoy!? I will not be waiting another 5 years to come back. Fantastic time!!!

I love this place it's been so long since we came here. I was craving a delicious breakfast today so suggested Harbor House. What can I say, been coming here for like 20 years wow that's such a long time! It doesn't even feel like that long, this place is amazing. I love their corn beef hash and eggs, I always have them make it extra crispy, the hash browns extra crispy and I got a side of extra crispy bacon. I remember they used to have the home style potatoes if I remember correctly, but it's been a while since we have been here so sort of forgot. I also had a coke with grenadine so delicious. My husband ordered the Denver Omelette with cheese with hash browns and coffee. Was a nice brunch/lunch. Usually this place is always packed with lines out the door. Today it wasn't too busy maybe we came at the off time of day. The parking lot is small and is a little crazy when it is busy but I love that it's near Sunset Beach. I love coming down here such a beautiful drive and area. Our server was super friendly and helpful. Brought our drinks and food out quickly. I love the ambiance here with all the posters of old movies and the pictures of the movie stars on the walls, the lights too, they have posters hanging on the sealing's as well. Where we sat at the top part in the back area they have these old bingo games all over the walls to which I love. Nice that they haven't changed anything for the last 25 years. Still cool atmosphere I forever love. We usually always sit in the top area of the back of the restaurant so we can overlook everything and have a private sort of area which is nice. All the food here is delicious! I highly recommend this place if you haven't been here before. 5 stars for great service, delicious food, cool atmosphere and for being one of my favorite breakfast places to go for so many years! Thank you for always having delicious food and being consistent for so many years. Have a beautiful day :) Aloha

My wife and I frequent the Harbor House and love the food ambiance and vibe are great except when we are waited on by the brunette with the glasses. This gal really must hate her job! I know, it's a busy place and sometimes it gets a little hectic but you have an unfriendly attitude even when it's slow. Try smiling and being pleasant every once in a while, and when someone asks for a coffee refill, instead of rudely saying "I'LL GET TO YOU WHEN I CAN" Politely say, " Sure, I'll be right with you" you'll be surprised just how far being kind to your customers can go.

I love harbor house cafe! When I lived in Long Beach it was my go to place, and though I've moved I still go when I can. Large menu, great for breakfast and lunch. Seriously, it's the toast. Their toast is fantastic. Get some wheat toast, and tell them to make sure it's hot and you won't be disappointed! Toast is buttered for you as well.

A funky interior, not much updated YET it was fun, neat and tasty. Will visit again. The server, Susana really hustled as she handled my order and all the other customers.

A fun cafe on PCH In Sunset Beach. Interior loaded with pictures and memorabilia with a friendly staff. Lots to pick from on the full menu that should please everyone. This is a beach Cafe so casual it is. Not a fan of dogs in restaurants especially horse size ones.

I have been coming here since I was 7 years old. It is a hidden oasis. I would come here with my mother, and we'd play Scrabble and eat chili fries. This place has amazing dinner-like food. The service has never lacked. If you've ever been to Tommy's, I used to love their artwork and vibe. This place is very much like that. Now, it isn't a Michelin restaurant. This is a classic diner. However, it has been a place I've visited my whole life. I have never had anything here that I didn't like.

this diner is a small shop on the coast. we came in to get some pancakes and ended up ordering more than what we came for. everything we ordered was ok but the pancakes were super disappointing. would not be back ~Food~ french fries: ok fries, nothing special. i did like how the portions were large corned beef hash and eggs: these were pretty good, loved the corned beef but the hash browns were a bit soggy. nothing too bad though pecan pancakes: i was expecting something other than plain pancakes with pecans on top. this was very disappointing especially since the pecans were so stale overall this place seems like a hit or miss. i do like the large portions but quality needs some work as a diner ~Service: mediocre service. service was quick but they did not seem like they wanted to be there ~Cost: $ affordable diner food ~Parking: limited parking in front of diner

Love the ambiance. Came here for brunch and didn't disappoint with the California chicken sandwich. Servers were friendly and offered helpful suggestions. They've been open since 1939; support local!

This used to be an amazing place to go all hours of the day; fresh, hot food with great taste, great service, and a fun atmosphere. Came here the week of St Patrick's day, and the changes that have been made honestly make Denny's a better choice. I have ordered the corned beef hash in the past, and it was always great, fresh chopped slices of corned beef, onions, potatoes, the flavors always worked well. Now, sadly, this is "Dinty Moore" corned beef hash, from a can, a flavorless salt lick on the plate. Insult to injury, the cook didn't start the eggs at the same time, so one was close to over hard and one was over easy, and the request was for over medium. The other order was bland, scrambled eggs runny to almost scorched, hash browns undercooked. Harbor House sadly is not what it used to be, and for basics, Denny's would be more consistent, and possibly a bit cheaper.

What a hidden gem! When you think of a classic burger like the ones you see in the movies that are perfect and so moth watering good... that's the burgers at Harbor house. Along with their crispy golden fries and ice cream shakes An amazing and very nostalgic place to get great diner food!

The main attraction of Harbor House was the fact that they were open 24/7/365. Unfortunately, post-covid, that no longer seems to be the case. Their food is more that palatable and the ambiance of this diner is literally unmatched. Come in for an early breakfast or a late craving, have an average cup of coffee, eat an average meal, listen to amazing music, and enjoy the vintage decor. "Harbor House: You didn't come here for the food. And if you did, you're drunk. But either way, you'll still enjoy it."

Friendly greeting and prompt service. Waited too long to get served. No greetings when arrived; slow business on day arrived; after no service attention, waitress said she was busy taking care of $300+ take-out order

Went in for breakfast this morning and it was awful. Worst French toast I've ever had, I didn't even know you can screw this up. Breakfast sausage was from the freezer section of dollar tree. No refills on my drink for an hour, until I asked for it, then the waiter rudely says, "no free refills". I didn't ask for anything free; I asked for my cup to be filled up... I didn't even eat my food it wasn't worth getting sick, I would have brought it home, but my dog probably wouldn't have liked it either. Overall place sucks and waiter sucked

Went in for a hamburger and a Cobb salad not many people were in there. Got the quarter pound burger which was as thin as could be, I prefer a thick Quarter Pounder and it was undercooked as well. I did not return it as we were tired and just want to be and run I asked for medium and it came out rare and like I said it was so thin with the guacamole and lettuce and tomato you really couldn't taste the burger at all because of that. The Cod salad had very little lettuce and the majority of that was the base of the head of lettuce. They did put a lot of bacon in it but still the better part of the lettuce and more of it would have been much nicer. Service was okay, but just okay nothing outstanding. The burger really was a big disappointment and the overall experience no think we will be returning.

Great local restaurant. On vacation we like to find little local places to try and this place didn't disappoint us. Food, atmosphere and service were great.

Wholy nostalgia! Used to come here in high school and in my 20s after a night of drinking lol! So many good memories at harbor house. This was when harbor house was a 24/7 diner, unfortunately not anymore :( Came in this morning after a hike on christmas day! There was a wait as this was one of the only places open on christmas. But thats ok, we sat at the bar right away. Service was fast and friendly like i remembered. Menus looked totally different, no more big binder books. Menu still looks extensive but not as big as before. Sure covid cut some of the food options and their hours. Ordered a blueberry milkshake and it was so good! Now they offer a small and large size. I got the small and for 5.99 its still a large shake! So good! With chunks of blueberry! I got their grilled cheese with fries and a side of ranch! So good like what i remembered and probably one of the cheapest things on the menu. My friend got their belmont omelet - Spinach, Mushrooms, Onions, Tomatoes and Cheese. Prices have def. Increased to $15.50 for an omelet but its a huge size and comes with a side and toast. Prices have risen everywhere these days so not really surprised. We tipped well because it was the holiday and everyone was working so hard and fast! Place was busy! Love the nostalgia of this place. Def. A great local spot. Highly recommend!

This place has gone way down hill... used to be one of our favorite places. Service was bad. Food was even worst.. dry and rubbery... cold. Tiny little portions for a $17 sandwich. Save your time and money and go somewhere else. Worst part about it was when we told our server how bad one dish was, and completely untouched, she asked us if we wanted her to take it off the bill. It's like... uhhh... should be a no brainer. Was great back in the day but now it's just absolutely terrible. We will not be coming back.

A nice "later-night" diner that's been around for a long time in Sunset Beach. At one time I think they were 24-hours, but not sure, so call or check first. Having "all-day" breakfast is always a plus for any diner or coffee shop. The food was very good, the service was fast and friendly. I like sitting in the cozy front part, but there is more seating in the back. Happy this nice local place continues to thrive.

I'm all about Americana culture- especially cute dinners. This place has is all! The decor, and selection of classic diner classics for breakfast, lunch and diner. Service was great and they even have beer and wine on the menu. So-Cal gem! Get the pancakes!

No handicap entrance, the only one is locked on the outside. Came for entree from their on line menu to find out no longer available and has been an issue for some time. Food was marginal and overpriced Service was two wait staff, three tables with 7 total customers and we received bad service. Asked to talk to manager, but was too busy to be bothered with customer feedback. Save your money and avoid this place.

I grew up in SoCal and the Harbor House Cafe has always been a goto place for me and my friends growing up. In my 20's I knew a girl that would only get the Guacamole omelette. I on the other hand really like the California omelette. HHC hasn't changed much in 50 years. Great food, big portions, lots of nostalgia and great service. If you're in Sunset Beach you have to go to HHC. You will not be disappointed!!!

Great breakfast. Will definitely be back. I love the ambiance. Very old school diner feel.

What happened to all of these restaurants in sunset?? Garbage food combined with half dead servers that have zero want to be there. The prices are not a big deal but when the food and service is gross it makes you think twice about going here. Something has got to change but I doubt it will.

Great food and great service! This is an old school place that's been around for as long as I can remember.

I've always loved this place especially when I worked down in HB. Killer omelets and their open face beef sandwich is notable as a keeper.

Food was bland. Service was slow and they put their tip on your tab. Never again. Woodys next door is WAY better.