Janet's Cafe

Wow what a great breakfast spot! I didn’t even realize there was another location other than the santee one. Parking is a bit tight but man, worth it. They do have outdoor seating and saw some dogs on the patio. We came Sunday morning for brunch and our group of 4 was seated immediately. Menu is good size and staff were very friendly. They have this big pie display in the front and the slices are hugeeee! Everything is well priced and it was all so delicious. Heaping mound of butter on the pancakes which is perfect and all our plates were cooked perfectly. We also love we have all the condiments on the table already to make it accessible. I can’t wait to bring more people here it may be my next new breakfast spot!!

Janet's is a down to earth cozy restaurant. Super friendly staff. We had breakfast and ordered the Denver omelet & diced ham scramble. Both were very good 👍 however we ordered the pancakes 🥞 and were disappointed 😞 the pancakes were "rubbery", they were a bit tough. I presume it's the batter? Overall the main breakfast was tasty 😋 Coffee ☕️ was good, especially since I don't like strong coffee. We will definitely return and order something different, but no pancakes 😕

Met a friend here for breakfast today. I forgot our server’s name but she was so sweet. Food was amazing, probably the best home fries I’ve ever had, the biscuit was huge, and my bacon was cooked perfectly. Just wish the cheese had been added to my eggs while cooking instead of being put on top. My friend loved her crepes. The only slight negative was that we were on the patio and there was a man smoking a cigarette a few tables away from us, and the smoke kept blowing in our direction. They should put up no smoking signs. I will be back though, because of the great food and friendly service.

Janet's Cafe is a cozy little spot that serves up some seriously delicious meals. With a menu that boasts of homely dishes like homemade soups, hearty sandwiches, and scrumptious pies, it truly feels like you're dining in the comfort of your own kitchen. The portions are generous and the quality of the food is top-notch. Their house-made sauces and dressings add an extra kick of flavor to every bite. But what really sets Janet's Cafe apart is their warm and friendly service. The staff greets you with a smile and makes you feel right at home. It's no wonder this charming cafe has become a popular local favorite for those seeking tasty, homemade food in a welcoming atmosphere. I ordered the turkey avocado 🥑 to go for my wife's lunch. She enjoyed it very much.

I love this place!! they have the BEST service and the food is delicious. Always on top of it. Very impressed. Thank you to all of the employees, you are all awesome!!

Best service I ever received. Didn't like a dish and the manager came out after noticing I was eating off my mom's plate instead after reordering something and she didn't charge me for the biscuits and gravy even though I didn't ask for it. We began to go back and became regular customer because of this experience. I loved their burgers, the meat was so fresh! The omelets also taste so fresh I'd want to believe they are using farm eggs but highly doubt it since Serv Safe wouldn't allow them most likely.

Neighborhood cafe, can't see it from the street, no frills atmosphere, good service. Had the eggs, bacon, hash browns, pancakes & coffee breakfast. Eggs were over cooked as was the bacon, pancakes were chewy.

Super kind staff, 10 out of 10! Food was also good, 9 out of 10. It's an outdated older diner, but if I lived close I would go every weekend!

Went for lunch. Had a chili burger and potato salad. Burger was outstanding and the chili,cheese and onions on top were fantastic. Potato salad was over the top good. Coworkers got fries with their sandwiches, so I snagged a couple and they were fantastic. Service was great, very attentive and friendly. Definitely going again!!

We love Janet's. We have been going to this location since it was originally Jean &Carl's!!! (Showing our age!) It's a very comfortable place to have breakfast(my favorite). Service is excellent and always warm and welcoming. Food is great and we will continue to patronize Janet's!

I enjoy this place very much. I come here every so often. The tuna melt and biscuits and gravy are my two most favorite things that I always seems to order here. Bacon here is also delicious!!! Their ranch is great for the fries, and the orange cranberry muffins are berry tasty. The service is usually great, but this last experience was so/so, the waitress wasn't very attentive and just seemed too busy to genuinely care for her customers, there were no 'check ups' or 'need anything else' questions, nor did she ask if we wanted dessert. My mom had also asked for a orange cranberry muffin and the waitress was adamant that it was just a cranberry muffin, so when my mom got it she wanted to let her know it was orange cranberry in case someone were to have a citrus allergy she would make it known to let customers know it was an orange cranberry muffin. When she walked away I noticed she rolled her eyes. While I do understand that not everyone has good days, that was just advice and not criticism to her in any way. Regardless I still give 4 stars because no matter what the food is amazing and the staff up front are kind.

Came in on a busy Sunday morning. We had put our name down and they let us know it will be 15-20 minutes wait. After 30 minutes of waiting and noticing people who came in after us were getting seated, we went in and asked for the status and they said they called us, even though we had been standing outside the door the whole time. It is very small and crammed in the restaurant. Both of our coffee cups had lipstick on the lip of the cup, but the waitress changed it out for us right away. The food was good and the waitress was working hard and she was nice, but if it wasn't for her, we would've left before ordering food.

Food was excellent! Some of the best crepes and pancakes we've had. The sourdough was really good too. All 4 of us were happy with our entree.

The food was so good when I ate here I almost burst. The ambiance was great for sitting with your family and enjoying a meal and conversation.

The 5 star rating is based on my opinion if the establishment based on a comparison of other like restaurants. Everything came out as expected. A typical all American breakfast place that are all basically the same across America. Sweet service staff. Attentive and personal. A nice greeting and smile. Fast service. Eggs cooked perfectly and a side of ham. Hash browns were a bit overcooked and a bit too oily. The coffee was normal and the pancakes were just right.

Janet's Cafe is the go to place for pancakes. These were big, fluffy and THICC! I couldn't finish them! Next time I'll get some cheddar cheese on them! DONT JUDGE ME! The young man who took my order was super friendly and talked to me while I waited for my food. Janet's is small but roomy and def has that mom & pops joint feel to them. They have a good selection of pies too, including an invisible pie their pie display was empty cause it was broken. Next time I'll dine in and get some chicken fried steak!

It's always a good experience here. It has a real cozy home feel. They sat us immediately and asked what we wanted to drink. My husband and I both got coffee and iced water. I was so happy because they had vanilla creamer in a heaping bowl on the table. I ordered a classic eggs Benedict with hashbrowns, and my husband ordered a country fried steak with hashbrowns. I was very happy with food, it was delicious. My husband loved his country fried steak but did say his hashbrowns were a little under-done on the inside, but he did enjoy the crispy exterior.

BEST DINER AROUND!! TIDY AND STREAMLINED The place is immaculate. People often imagine diners as old and dingy. Janet's offers you the r diner feel you know and love without any of the dust or grime haha FAST AND TASTY Our breakfast order was cooked SO FAST! Love this! The menu is solid - not overwhelming - contains all your favorites and a few others you didn't know you wanted to try! STELLAR SERVICE Our waitress was so great! Fast and friendly! The coffee waiter was ON POINT! We always had a refill before we urgently needed one! The servers here rock!!! THE CHECK PROCESS A lot of diners make you walk up front and wait in a line to pay. Not here! Server takes your card and gets it done! Easy! SUMMARY Tidy diner staffed with wonderful people cheerfully serving quickly cooked tasty eats! Yum!

Wonderful food for both breakfast and lunch. Awesome friendly customer service. You can sit inside or out. I personally love to sit at the counter.

This place is in a strip mall, but don't let that deter you. The food here is great! We had breakfast and everything was fast, hot and delicious!! The staff is extremely friendly and attentive. Cannot wait to come back!!

Such great food and always amazing service!! Additionally, their gluten free options are so much better than other cafes in the area. They have really good bread, and it can even be used in the making of french toast!!!!!! I haven't had french toast since I was a little kid so I am so excited to be able to eat it there! 10/10 recommend Janet's, also their coffee is great :)

Love this breakfast spot. It's super convenient. The many dishes I've had there are always delicious. Our service has always been great. Coffee is always topped off

Pancakes were heavy Biscuit needs to change recipe, Sorry, Will try back at a later date. Restaurant was very clean and tidy

Great find! Headed home, looking for a good breakfast spot. Janet's is a favorite for locals so you can't go wrong. Short wait for a Sunday morning, about 15 minutes. Cute atmosphere, cozy little country kitchen. Wait staff was prompt and friendly. Coffee was fresh and hot with countless refills. Food order was taken quick. Plenty of options! Good portions are huge! Keep in mind that sharing a plate of an adult ordering from the kids menu will have a fee associated. But just take home some leftovers. Our food was SO GOOD! The biscuit was literally 3" high, my muffin was huge, omelets had no short supply of cheese. I only wish we lived closer.

Met a friend for breakfast here and it was a wonderful little place, a bit out of the way but definitely worth giving it a try. The staff was friendly and kept the coffee filled, it wasn't too noisy so you can have a conversation with someone and it reminded me of an old school diner. The muffins are great but so was the spinach omelette.

Best Breakfast & Lunch Café I've seen in a long time. I had the burger, with coleslaw, my girlfriend had the hot turkey sandwich. The Burger... I would stake my reputation (as a former broiler chef and food reviewer) on the fact that the meat was of the highest quality. The coleslaw was so good, my girlfriend tried it, and immediately asked if they had some to go. After wolfing down my meal, I looked with hope at my girlfriend, and yes, she was full, (she's tiny) but had left me plenty! I tried her turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes, and quickly got my appetite back, and ate it all... The turkey, was moist & tasty, the gravy, was luscious, and Perfectly seasoned. The mashed potatoes were homemade, like everything else. It was all so good, I'm still feeling a bit emotional. Seriously- it is like homemade. -They close at 2:30pm, Go!

Good food good service home grown. Big portions go in hungry. Cafe ambiance. Can't go wrong.

Great food! I've eaten here several times. I made a to-go order this morning, and the service was outstanding! Ambiance, definitely a fun place! If you haven't tried Janet's, then check it out!! Happy 4th weekend!

Excellent service. Friendly. Good hot food..! You can't go wrong. Cooks are very fast and I sat at the bar so I expected speed but not this fast. Whoa ! Get to Janet's now.

Their food is always good. The muffins are fantastic and they are home made. The vegetable soup was great and made from scratch. I ordered a carrot cake from them for Thanksgiving. It was very heavy. Believe me for a big family the cake would be perfect. The service is always good. I never have to ask for anything. There's always someone asking if you want something. I will give them a 10 for service and good food. I highly recommend them.

Janet's has to be one of the best kept secrets. I have been going here for years and have never been disappointed. Not at the El Cajon location. The service is quick, the food is hot and the staff are nice, and they are personable.Its why I continue to visit. This location is small, and you may miss it if you blink, but it is warm and inviting ones you fet inside . Oh, they have outside seating as well. Go visit, you woill not be disappointed.

It was late afternoon so it was very quiet. Our food was nothing to rave about. A tasteless cheeseburger (no seasoning in the meat) and a soggy club sandwich from too much mayo.

Just the Best in East County! Just came back to SD from Idaho. 1st breakfast on my business trip was Janet's, steak n eggs with hashbrowns and pancakes!!! Perfect! Never changes! I like that!!!

Went there for lunch, super friendly and attentive staff. Great menu, I got the country Benedict my buddy got the grilled ham and cheese. Both were excellent and a ton of food. My two stars comes from the 4 dollar ice tea, seriously 4 bucks for ice tea. Come on how much does it cost to make tea 0 point nothing. Is this the equivalent of the thousand dollar plungers that the government buys?

The food is always fresh and delicious when you order it! The sweet tea is like a southern grandma made it. The staff has great knowledge about the food they have on the menu. I personally love coming here!

Always a favorite! The service is always on point. My fave is their steak and eggs. It's always cooked perfectly!

Good and fresh food Tasty and flavorful Great , friendly and professional service I'd go back and recommend it to others

I love this Janet's location especially for the food and staff! I have been to both locations and love the atmosphere of the outdoor cabin feel at the alpine location but it doesn't compare to the elcajon location by far! The El Cajon one has staff that is super attentive to their tables. The food is fast, hot and yummy. My favorite is their cold brew because the taste as well as they put it in a glass mason jar so when the creamer is added it's very pleasing to the eye to watch. I love the family feel they have here which is why I'm always coming back!!

Extremely disappointed with my first experience at the cafe. Service was so so. My pancakes had a hair cooked into it... made me gag. All server did was replace the pancakes with new ones after I pointed it out. Food overall was nothing to write home about. Most likely won't be back.

They have a cozy atmosphere, pleasant and efficient servers, and good food! Love the 'country' vibe

I asked if they took electronic payment and they said no. It's 2023 and you don't have a way for your customers to pay with their phone? Insane

Food is always good and hot. Service is excellent. This is a great place to go, wish they were open late.

Great place! Foods is great, especially the crepes! , cinnamon rolls and sticky buns

Caveat Emptor comes to mind this holiday season, very disappointed by the lack of service recently this past week...

Thank you for the great service and to our waitress Cheryl who couldn't be more friendly. Celebrated my birthday and had a sticky bun with candle and song. Love going here for breakfast always friendly and prompt service. Thank you to all you made my day. Oct 16 Sunday am. 5 Stars

Very racism at this place. Old lady in front register the most rudest person you can have as a owner or manager. Spilt something on foot waiting for a table never said sorry...Then asked for a booth and instead of little table that cant fit told me i have to wait for they are for four people but other race (white) was sitting in them. Since she took over what a dive..

Food was the worst ever. Service was ok. Ambience was ok. Would not recommend this place.

Me and my husband came to El Cajon Janet's at 9:05 am got seated right away. No rush of people. Server was rude. Cut me off while I was ordering. As we waited we watched two other couples be seated and a party of 4 order, ALL got their orders while we still sat there waiting. We eventually decided to leave. Not to mention our silverware setting was filthy that had been sitting on the table before we got there, had flies and old food on it. The people next to us had to send a coffee cup back because it had old lipstick on it. Called after we left manger offered no explanation or concern and directed me to website. HORRIBLE staff and service. Been going to this location for years I'm not sure what has changed but it's not a good change.

This is the breakfast and lunch spot to be!!! The service was amazing never let my drink go empty, Always making sure I had anything I needed plus more. I ordered chicken fried chicken with creamy gravy it came with fresh veggies and side of mash potatoes, that came with either a salad or soup. I choose the chicken tortilla soup and it was bursting with flavor. That plate didn't stand a chance. My friend ordered granola French toast and that not only smelt, looked good but was tasty. They do offer outside sitting as well as indoor. They also offer delicious desserts.

I've been coming here since '16 never once had an issue. It's gets pretty busy on the weekend but the food is really good. It's definitely a step or two above ihop.

Delicious, homemade food! They offer delivery, take out, and sit down service. Their delivery service is fast and on time. Reasonable prices.

Always friendly, great service and good food. Recommend for small or large crowds, always accommodating

A great place to eat their breakfast or lunch is awesome thank you very much we loved it

Everything was really good. We samped the sausage gravy, and it really tasted like flour, so we passed on the bisquits and gravy, which is what we were both looking forward to.

Great wonderful food. Big portions taste really good. The service is wonderful, barely any wait time for your food to come out.

I have been to this restaurant once prior a year ago with Ms. Dorothy, a long time real estate agent in El Cajon and was pleased with the service then. This time around, NOT SO MUCH. I had just underwent two hours of surgery and my mother and I decided to get breakfast. I was the one who recommended Janet's Cafe. As soon as we sat down, the busser came over and asked what we wanted to drink. I informed him, one cup of water and one coffee. After he left, I recorded a quick video of the menu and the inside of the restaurant because I wanted to leave a review about how much I had loved it. An old waitress by the name of JEN I believe, walks right up to our table and stands there smiling condescendingly at me without saying a single word. Just standing there. Smiling.. I just looked up and said "Hello! How are you?" She said "GOOD." And still stood there just smiling. I informed her we already ordered our drinks. A few minutes later she walks up to the table again, she is about 1 ft away from me, but this time with her phone straight in my face and laughs and says in a very RUDE WAY "I love recording everything hahaha." So I played it off by saying "oh it's okay, I do too. I love recording beautiful places and leaving reviews and getting others to come experience restaurants that are great." My God, she gave me a disgusting look once I said that. She goes on a rant telling me I'm invading people's privacy and how the world these days is all about social media and how I shouldn't be recording inside a public place and I looked at her and said "Is that why you gave me a pure dirty look?" And she said "hahaha YES" (still smiling like a cruel villain). I completely lost my appetite. I explained that sometimes a quick video holds memories that will last years and years, even though everything has changed, a video or photo captures that time and moment. She was not sold and still was SO RUDE. I refused to eat at that restaurant. My mother enjoyed her breakfast, but MY GOD that was the most horrible waitress I have ever encountered. Horrible customer service. If you don't want any customers having a phone or recording the food or your restaurant to post a review, post up signs that instruct so. I just think this ***** woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I would have reacted differently if I hadn't been in so much pain because of my surgery.

We just got up and left because we couldn't get service. A waitress came and took the order from the people right next to us and ignored us completely. Not a peep. Never again. Thanks for nothing.

I'm not pleased to have to do this but the last visit was HORRIBLE! My score is only a high 3 because breakfast has been on point and I've never been disappointed so they get a 3. So I bragged about this place to my mom and family, so I met my mom there with my spouse for lunch. I can't believe we were even served what we got as in my mom and I. I got a roast beef combo and it literally had 2 thin slices of meat and a huge amount of lettuce and tomato. A TINY amount of mayo in the middle of the thick bread ONLY on one side. The fries were good, the soda my partner had was good as well as her breakfast she got for lunch. My poor mom took a bite of her chicken in her salad and said "oh please taste this" well me being me I smelled it, it was SOUR smell and taste. It was NOT the dressing that it gets marinated in such BS. How would the cook and server like to eat our lunch and pay the fees. I asked for a to go container as I was sickened by what I was served and ask for extra meat. Your server/business had the nerve to charge me 6 bucks for 3 slices of meat. I WILL NEVER go to any of your restaurants after seeing what you give people. I'm still pi$$ed you charged me 6 bucks. So now us 3 will never go back nor will my daughter and her family, nor will my step son and family. As I think about it you don't deserve 3 stars. 2 stars are for your breakfast ONLY. They charged us for toast the amount of a whole loaf in the grocery store shame on you.