Swami's Cafe La Mesa

Don't sleep on Swami's! The interior could stand for some updating, but the food is phenomenal and the young woman at the front was so kind and accommodating. I had the lox and cream cheese omelette and it was absolutely delicious.

First about the atmosphere. We showed up 30 minutes before they were closing, at 2:30pm on a Saturday. The whole place was sleeping of chemicals as they were actively mopping the floors. One section was already closed off with the wet floor indicating they started mopping around 2pm. I can't enjoy food with that smell. Can you? They were supposed to close at 3pm but really it seemed the staff wanted to leave at 3. Management, if you want to start mopping at 2pm with stinky chemicals, say you close at 2pm! Anyway, we had to sit outside because it was unbearable. Unacceptable hence 2 starts - not okay. Then I got an acai bowl with expired mushy strawberries and literal mold on blueberries, see photo. Got that replace thankfully but that should never happen. Yes, they did have fresh berries and fresh crunchy granola. I shouldn't need to specify I'd like my food fresh and without mold. Not okay - 2 stars. Yikes!

We ordered a mocha with the Lox Salmon scrabble, potatoes, and sourdough toast . the red velvet waffle with eggs and bacon, along with the watermelon juice. The ABC burger with bacon and avacado, a stuffed French toast , a turkey croissant sandwich, and a BLTA sandwich with a salad. Everything was superb! Perfectly done, and delicious. Great atmosphere and friendly service!

This place is okay! It's down the street from my job. The menu is large, which is great for options but it's hard to read (in person its written in small font to squeeze everything on the chalkboard, but they do offer printed menus too). I would prefer a smaller menu, pricing is a little high ($17 for 1 burger and fries, no drink). Today I ordered a well done burger and it was not cooked as requested. Overall it's alright.

This place was amazing !!! Having been a Saturday morning, my friends and I expected a long wait time , however our order came out within 20 minutes of placing. The food was hot, tasted terrific and I think their ice cream smoothies are my favorite things on the menu :) Cannot wait to do brunch with my girlies again here !

I ordered the ahi salad and it was delicious! I definitely would come back. It is also in the heart of downtown La Mesa.

We had an absolutely delightful breakfast at this spot! The chilaquiles were exceptional—perfectly seasoned, with just the right amount of crunch and spice. Not only was the food delicious, but it also arrived incredibly fast, which was impressive. The service was friendly and efficient, making the whole experience truly five-star. I highly recommend visiting if you’re looking for a tasty and quick breakfast option!

Large selection of great and large portions. Small outside covered patio area with view of La Mesa downtown. Large indoor area with AC, sometimes hard hear your own conversation. But food quality trumps conversation.

We have been there several times for breakfast and are never disappointed, nothing real fancy at all, but the food is really good. I love their selections of coffees that they have available. Service is good. The people they are very friendly, I would definitely recommend swami's Great food. Great coffee! can't get a bit crowded but it's worth it. You will not be disappointed.

The have a wide selection of menu items! So many options to choose from, if you are an indecisive person then you will have a hard time choosing. Prices are reasonable, open seating , order and pay before seating, The ABC OMELTE , Cheese Burger was great! The churro waffle wasn't that great, the waffle itself lacked flavor. The Chai Latte was great! Over all I will be back!

Ordered the chorizo hash and the croissant breakfast. The chorizo hash was delicious however the egg served on top was very clearly old and undercooked. When an egg is extremely old, over time the yolk mixes with the white and turns very watery instead of having its typical thick and rich consistency. The second I cut into it the yolk this fact became evident and it put me off the entire meal. The croissant breakfast sandwich had a big handful of sprouts, making it taste like a grass sandwich with a hint of eggs. We had nobody come to our table during our time sat there, the only person we interacted with was the cashier who was very nice. The orange juice is good.

Second time here, first time trying breakfast. Sadly underwhelmed. The veggie egg burrito and side of potatoes were lacking flavor. The burrito tortilla fell apart quickly and I had to resort to eat the filling without the tortilla. Portions were large again but what fun is lots of food without the flavor? Someone at my table had gluten free chocolate chip banana pancakes with strawberries and we really enjoyed that! It was very fluffy. Food came out fast! The orange juice did not taste very fresh and didn't have a great flavor.

Great service and good food. Glad to be coming here with my family for years and knowing we are in the best hands

Great place to have breakfast with family. The portion is big. We got the impossible burger and it's great. I'm glad that that have vegetarian option. Green scramble egg is also good. Kid meal portion is big as well. Good customer service and good place to take kid.

Always great service, love seeing the owner and his family working every time we come in. Such nice people. Huge menu selection, very quick service, great food.

This is for the owner... I got a pitaya bowl that at first had no idea what I bit into but it felt like a rock or very hardened fruit but I couldn't tell what it was. I came across several of them and pulled them out of my mouth and placed in a napkin to show the waiter. I explained that these hard things almost broke my tooth. The waiter explained that they were indeed dried fruit and several people have complained and one person already broke a tooth. This is not good for a frozen fruit bowl because it hardens and feels like rocks in your mouth. I would advise the owner to be considerate of others eating that so they are not surprised when biting into to what seems soft to be hard and break teeth. Dental work is not cheap!!!!!

Whenever I go to Swamis , it's always great customer service awesomeness quality of food definitely get a generous portion of whatever I decide to order, a go too place for a variety of breakfast, lunch, dinner items.. no complaints from me about anything because everything is fresh. I Will continue to bring my appetite and leave with a smile of satisfaction as always.. Thanks again Swamis

Food is good but the service was slow and, oddly, kind of rude today. It was if the person delivering our food was out out by having to do it. Other than that, as always, good food and atmos.

Gluten Free Options Swami's seems like a traditional breakfast joint with your favorite breakfast classics. Got their gluten free pancakes which they can't modify for their other fun flavors, but having a soft fluffy pancake that isn't dry was already a treat! The pancakes were huge and worth every penny. The bacon and the eggs were also cooked to my liking. In terms of service, the most they do is take your order at the front counter whether you eat in or take it to go. From there, you can bring your number to any table, inside or out, and they'll bring your food to you. Parking is metered and it wasn't too busy on a Monday morning, can't speak for the weekends though! I would expect it to be pretty packed. Overall, I enjoyed the food and the experience.

Swami's is hands-down the best place for breakfast in the area, and the best breakfast place I've ever been. Customer service is always excellent here. The place has a wonderful hometown feel and ambience to it. There are so many options for any time of the day, ranging from various coffees and smoothies, to any and all breakfast and lunch options you can think of. There are no bad selections here. There's always something new to try, too; I tend to prefer savory options, though the pumpkin pecan pancakes were an excellent choice this time. I simply have too many photos and tidbits of feedback on everything I've ever had here; this is only a small selection. There is something here for everyone! This is a place you really can't get tired of, and I highly recommend coming back to try everything.

Talk about a plate full of fresh, yummy goodness. It doesn't matter what you get, or your diet, you will leave full and happy. I love the large coffee selection and the friendly service.

We love coming to Swamis for breakfast, I always get the lobster Benedict on top of potatoes muffin on the side and the hubs always gets the chorizo hash...sometimes we get a Belgian waffle on the side with strawberry compote...never am disappointed!! Service is great and food comes out fast always! Family restaurant with planting of seating but get there early because it gets busy pretty fast after 830AM.

One of my favorite breakfast places in La Mesa for sure!! The place was busy which was expected but the line moved quickly and the food also took no time to arrive We ordered the healthy breakfast burrito, spinach omelette, and French toast with strawberries everything was SO GOOOD!! The service was also great as my plate was quickly cleaned out of the way and I noticed the same for the tables around us

I love Swami's! The cook here is seriously amazing. My salmon Cesar salad was so tasty and the salmon was cooked perfectly. My mom loved her beef and cheddar dip too! I watched another customer get two eggs over easy that looked fake they were so perfect. The folks here really know how to cook well and the service is great!

Service was ok. The food came out a lot quicker than the drinks. Salsa was kind of watery and lacked flavor. The Mediterranean omelette was good. A little dry. I would have liked more feta cheese in it but it was minor. The three cheese omelette looked very good a lot of cheese and my friend said it was really good. The English muffin was ok but not toasted too much and was kind of soft (I do like my bread really toasted but it was good. Hash browns cooked perfectly and were crispy. And had butter flavor and was delicious.

You order up at a counter and then take a seat to wait for them to serve food to you at the table. The food was good quality and we all loved what we got. My reason for not giving Swami's 5 stars is because of the price stand point. My friend and I both got the red velvet waffle. The man who was ringing us up asked us, "potatoes or fruit?". The way the question was posed made it sound like our waffles came with a side, to our dismay after we had read the receipt we were charged $4 extra each for a small bowl of fruit with our meal. I also ordered some bacon on the side which was very measly. Side note: we came to this restaurant around 12 and it was PACKED. Be prepared that this place will be crowded and finding a seat may be difficult.

Swamis Cafe in La Mesa is loved by locals and consistently delivers delicious and fresh breakfast and lunch options. During my recent visit, I opted for the chiliquiles with scrambled eggs, complemented by black beans and rice. The dish had a taste, as if the corn chips were crafted by hand. Its spiciness and rich flavors left an impression, making it a choice I was happy I made. In my experience, every meal at Swamis Cafe has never failed to please and satisfy my taste buds.

Selection selection selection! I'm always weary of places that have really large menus with like a million items! Sometimes I feel like do they really make French toast and Indian curry in the same kitchen!?!? Non the less swami's seems to pull it off .... though I have only been twice I'm still interested in returning to keep exploring the menu to find something that makes me go wow.... I love how much space this place has plenty of seating to cut down on long lines! There food is just good nothing crazy special yet that I would rant and rave about but it's not bad at all! The avocado toast I ordered I added bacon on it was very satisfying and to my surprise came out with four half Slices which I wasn't expecting and I enjoyed every piece. My wife is on the search for the perfect French toast so (she's very critical) all that said she was underwhelmed BUT!!! she still didn't stop eating it. With a menu this large you can't get everything right! But we will keep coming back! Until we strike gold or strike out! (Any suggestions let me know)

Swamis Cafe in La Mesa has a variety of breakfast and lunch options. AMBIANCE The interior is casual and almost retro like a diner except more spacious and with painted murals of mountains and the seaside. There is also exterior seating in the quaint village of downtown La Mesa. FOOD 5/5 One Buttermilk Pancake with eggs and bacon: For $6 I wasn't quite sure why a regular pancake would cost so much, but to my pleasant surprise the buttermilk pancake was huge, soft, fluffy, and had a sprinkling of powdered sugar on top. I added a side of scrambled eggs and bacon to make it a breakftrifecta. 5/5 SERVICE The staff were welcoming and genuinely helpful with my order. When I had dropped my fork and knife while having a handful to do with my dog, they swooped in and replaced my utensils quite attentively without me having to ask.

We love coming to Swami's. This one, doesn't always have as many coffee choices or the pots always full, but the food is good (though sometimes portions seem a bit smaller than the one in North Park). But parking in La Mesa is easier for sure !

Swims has Great portion sizes,and tons of good food options. Everything I've ordered has always been super yummy. You order & pay at the register and they bring your food to the table. It makes it quick and easy! Super yummy food, try it out if you haven't!

Yes, the wait was indeed long. You order your food at the counter and then pick your table to sit. The food was good and the horchata iced latte was amazing!

The food here is to die for. I had breakfast and lunch here and both times the meals were exceptional. I had the salmon salad for lunch. You won't be disappointed. The service is excellent ! It's nice place to meet friends for get togethers. I hate that side on the patio for lunch and inside for breakfast and both places were great.

Stopped in at La Mesa before visiting our daughter at college. There was no line and they had a GINORMOUS menu of items to choose from. We chose to split the chorizo hash and ordered a latte to try. The star if that chorizo dish was the salsa that comes with it. We asked for more salsa and they didn't hesitate to give us another cup of it. The hash had good spicy flavors and textures as well as being more than enough to satisfy me and my wife. The latte was good but you're better off ordering from Public House via the app. With so many options overflowing with people, the extensive menu and available tables along with healthy portions make this a great breakfast stop in La Mesa sure to satisfy everybody in your party.

Always great food! Ordering is easy, you need to walk up and order, but the food is delivered fairly quickly. I've been to Swami's in La Mesa several times and have never been disappointed. There's a lot of seating so even if they are busy you'll have somewhere to sit and enjoy your meal!

I thought this place was going to be a lot better but the food isn't great, i got a burrito and it tasted like water. I got my son a kids pancake and it was super dry he took one bite and didn't touch it after. They also put my son's kids steamer (warm milk) in a plastic to go cup with a straw.

We got outdoor seating which is what we initially wanted. The food was great and the workers were very nice. I recommend going to this place.

The food came out looking like a big mess. I was told I could fix it myself. There was no mayo on the bread. I was given mayo and told to put it on myself. Order fruit and they gave me fries. Not even busy. My food came out 7 minutes before my husbands food. Last time we were here they got order wrong also. So disappointed.

Endless options for breakfast! So happy Swami's opened in downtown La Mesa--they have a cute little spot with a lovely patio area right on the main drag. Their menu is very diverse and they always have tons of specials. One of my favorite specials was their Tex-Mex Benedict (pictured here)--I so wish this was a permanent menu item!! Chipotle hollandaise with avocado and chorizo...YUM. Swami's is definitely a staple for us, and great for groups as there is something for everyone. TLDR; They always have tasty specials and a huge menu to choose from.

Long line but fast service. You can tell right off the bat that this is a popular place. Large portions and the eggs Benedict was on point. I love that they have outdoor seating so you can bring your pup if you like!

The food was tasteless ,felt like cardboard and absolutely disgusting first and last time here .

Amazing humongous gluten free pancakes! Lots of good stuff to choose from breakfast to lunch/brunch. We are definitely coming back.

We had the pleasure of finally trying Swami's a week ago and it lived up to the hype! My husband got a corned beef hash breakfast and I got a bacon breakfast. Both our protein options were a little on the salty side, but perfectly balanced by our eggs and potatoes! Can't wait to try more menu items!

Deciding I wanted to gorge myself with a typical breakfast, I stumbled into Swami's. And goodness do they deliver on breakfast. You order up front then seat yourself where they bring your food to you. I opted for Arnold's Omelette which is kinda a huge mess of chorizo, jalapenos, cheese and I forget what else. As messy as it looked, it was filling and generous in toppings though. My goal of being inflated was complete here. If indoor dining's not your thing, there're a good handful of outdoor seating though don't expect an amazing spot during a typical San Diego day which is perfectly sunny with just the nice amount of warmth.

The eggs Benedict were good, but the Reuben sandwich had too much sauce on it. That's all.

Swami's has a massive menu of breakfast and lunch items--and that's not including the specials found on the in-person chalkboards. As a result, if you order an unpopular item, some of the ingredients don't taste the freshest. We took a while to find free street parking before entering the simple, but large building. There were two main rooms in which we placed our order at the window on the left, before taking a seat in the right room. Our food took a while to prepare and the smoothie wasn't provided until afterwards. =ORDERED= *O'boy Boysenberry Smoothie: tasted like the color purple. Boysenberries can best be described as sweeter and smoother blackberries. Surprisingly thick and not icy. *Lox Smoked Salmon Scramble: came with plenty of salmon but lost most of its smokiness. Side of chips and salsa was disappointing. Chips tasted stale and the salsa seemed store bought. *Seared Ahi Sandwich: the ahi was a bit overcooked, most likely because the tuna steak itself was so thin. The lettuce, tomato, and onions were wilted. Bread was standard, definitely not artisanal. The side of fries was the best part; they were hot, crispy and seasoned well. While the staff seemed friendly, the food was underwhelming. I loved the various smoothies, sandwiches and breakfast staples that were offered but nothing was executed particularly well. Factor in the lack of ambiance and rather dated decor and I find it difficult to recommend Swami's for brunch. Swami's is due for upgrades: in the kitchen and dining areas.

I absolutely loved this brunch spot! It was not the typical place with beautiful, aesthetic seating and interior, but I LOVED the more cozy, small town atmosphere that I got from the place. The server was absolutely so patient as he helped me and my boyfriend figure out the perfect choice and we were both very happy with our dishes. This is not a place that serves a pea sized amount, we were both walking out with full bellies by the end! Check this place out:)

The food there was good, I got a belgian waffle w/ fresh strawberries. It was very tasty and not too sweet. My brother tried this hormone free burger, I'm not sure the name exactly. But he thought it taste good. The place is very small/cramped. Tables weren't fully cleaned. But it was okay, for sure coming back again.

Great waffles and great coffee This is my second time here and I'm from Colorado to visit my daughter but drive miles to eat here

Not sure why I had only 4 stars. But had to change it to 5, because it deserves it. There's a reason why I've come so many times over the years and choose it as a place to meet with others. It is centrally located in the East County. Everything is good. And the selection is tremendous. It can actually be overwhelming if you don't know what you want! Just know it's all good. Ok, I'll be very honest. The coffee selection is ok. So what I do, is order from the app for Public Square next door and just go to the walk up window steps away and grab my pour over coffee. It's the perfect combo. And then chill for a sweet meal w/ a friend of fam in the middle of quaint La Mesa Village! I must also add that the staff here are very welcoming, helpful and kind. They help to make sure we are comfy and have all we need. I'm so thankful they all made it through the pandemic crisis.

I always like to try new cafes around me, this was far from where I live, but we gave it a try. We ordered dirty chai, avocado toast and special hash brown. The dirty chai was awesome, my husband and I loved it. But the food was not good. They gave options to select for bread. We went for sourdough bread with avocado toast. The toast was not good, did not had basic spice in it, we barely ate it. The hash brown doesn't looked like hash brown, it was just a salad with potatoes, onion, peppers, tofu, broccoli and feta served with bread. No good options for vegans or vegetarian who does not eat eggs. They had impossible burger and tacos. I am not fan of impossible, I opted for it and went for basic dishes.

This place brings back lots of nostalgia for me because I used to come here during my high school days with friends since it's in the local area. I will say it really hasn't changed much over the years! They have all the same decor & interior as I remembered it in high school, so it was like stepping into a time capsule lol. They do have quite a large menu, with breakfast and lunch served all day. I thought they used to have a dinner menu but they probably changed that over the years. On my last visit, I got the Chicken Swiss Melt, and it was really tasty! I also enjoy getting their fries, they are perfectly crispy. My friend got the Tofu Stir Fry, and let me try a couple bites. It was good, but a bit under seasoned (I personally like tofu to have a lot of seasoning!) Overall, their food has kinda a healthy diner-feel, nothing super impressive, but still yummy and good portions. The staff is really friendly and super attentive, this place really does have a small-town local feel. I would definitely return for a casual brunch.

First time ordering from Swami's and wasn't sure what to expect. The food arrived and it was in steamy containers. We were provided with sufficient to-go dinnerware & napkins, though they weren't excessive, I appreciate this. We ordered the lobster Benedict, chicken &garlic omelette, and the upside down pineapple pancakes. Lobster Benedict: Delicious, beautifully poached eggs, delectable hollandaise, plenty of chopped up lobster, avocado (when I order this dish again I will order without avocado, it's good but I don't think it's necessary for the dish), and I went with hash browns as my side. Everything was perfection! **swami's has 3 different poach times, soft poach, poached, or hard poach. Garlic & chicken omelette: chicken is garlicy, omelette is well cooked, they provide a salsa that puts the omelette over the top! A Garlic lovers delight. Pineapple upside down pancakes: two hefty cakes with chunks of pineapple cooked into the pancakes. Absolutely delicious, not too sweet, nor too heavy. The pancakes have crispy, crunchy edges and are really fluffy. Overall we will be (either) returning or ordering delivery from Swami's. Their food is fantastic, portions are huge, and reasonable prices. Plus their menu has a lot of yummy sounding food we plan on sampling in the future.

One of my top go to spots in east county. I enjoy coming to Swammi's for a delicious and healthy breakfast or lunch. I usually come by after my Lake Murray walks. They have a ton of options here. I enjoy their omelettes, salads and sandwiches. Their smoothies are really good too. Very consistent quality at this location. They have a lot of seating but it can still get pretty busy here.

Service was good but food was alright. My husband ordered the benedict and the eggs were over cooked. We didn't get the nice spill of the poached egg. It was disappointing. My waffle was good, it wasn't amazing enough for me to recommend coming back. We were visiting in town and wanted to try a new place. This was a miss for us.

Located in downtown LaMesa, order at the counter and then choose your seat and servers will bring the food. Huge breakfast menu with eggs, pancakes, French toast, and sandwiches. Both the omelettes and the French toast are great, large portion sizes. The drip and iced coffee are free refills. It gets crowded on the weekends so go early!

I love Swami's food. The PB Coffee smoothie is a decadent treat that I have to limit myself on. Everything else on the menu I've had is just perfect. I love their burgers.