The 101 Diner

The waitress was super super nice and was considerate of our allergies to make sure we could eat everything and be okay. The food was all delicious and not too pricy considering it was in Encinitas. The chilaquiles and the Tri tip were delicious and to die for. I’m definitely making the trip to come here again to try more food!

The 101 Diner is a solid spot for a classic American diner experience. The menu has a good variety of breakfast and comfort food options, and everything we tried was tasty and satisfying. Portions are generous, and the prices feel reasonable for the area. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, perfect for a quick stop or an easy meal. Service was friendly, though it can get a bit busy at times. Overall, a dependable diner that does what it promises.

Omg this place was amazing. Service was wonderful and I LOVED the crabcakes and açaí bowls. Would def be back!

I got an avocado, bacon, cheese omelette with hash browns and an English muffin. It was all delicious! This is my third time here in the last year and every time the food and service has been excellent. Had the same waitress each time and she’s always attentive and friendly. Definitely one of my go to places when I’m in town.

Delicious eggs Benedict! One was crab and the other was corn beef hash! Great service and very nice location. Cool ocean breeze too!

First time in and I really enjoyed it. Ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries. I like it without lettuce tomato and onion but that's how it comes if not specified. They had no issue with my request. It wasn't too busy and the service was fast and kind. Ask for Katie! She was great. Cool atmosphere too. Highly recommend. Will be back!

I’m always looking for an outstanding breakfast place. We were passing through and found this restaurant on yelp. I was not disappointed (which I’m sorry to say happens all too often finding a restaurant to be adequate but not great). In writing this I’m thinking how I’m so sad that I live far away and can’t go there today! We chose a table outside on the sidewalk and with great weather that was a nice option . The menu is quite varied which caught my attention when reading the review. If I were in the area, I would return often and try many of the dishes on their menu . However, I fell back on one of my favorites . I ordered the Eggs Benedict with bacon and, as the server promised, the hollandaise sauce was outstanding. I loved every bite! I opted for potatoes and my partner opted for fruit so that we could share. It was a nice option that we could modify the fruit combo so that I could eliminate some things and have more of what I do enjoy. We chose a biscuit for our bread and I was pleased with the overall results. I don’t find biscuits in restaurants to be of the correct texture, fluffiness, and flavor. However, This biscuit was satisfying enough that I would order it again. The quantity of food was generous, but not over the top so that We were both able to finish our breakfasts. This restaurant would be on my list to stop at again if I were passing through.

This is a really fun place to have breakfast. The cook was very skilled. I had the breakfast burger and it was as good as it gets for a breakfast burger. The coconut pancake was a big hit.

A breakfast restaurant is a great spot if they have one great dish or maybe 2. This place has so many different dishes which are the absolute best. It's in the heart of Encinitas on the west side of coast hwy. here are their standouts. 1. Corned beef hash. Whether it is the Benedict or the stand alone breakfast order. It's perfectly flavored and the right amount of food. 2. Açaí bowls. They have the best açaí bowls in San Diego. Fresh fruit and granola and peanut butter. Absolutely spectacular. You can order a "small" and it's plenty of food. 3. Breakfast potatoes. They need their own recognition as they are so flavorful and so well done that it's hard to beat. My favorite breakfast potato anywhere. Everything here is good. There are good lunch options as well. It's just amazing. The truth is that I would rather have you not come so the wait isn't bad but I have to be honest and explain it's the best food in town. The only thing it doesn't cater to is Barneys on vacation from Iowa who need a colorful perfect place for their kids to feel comfy. This place is local for sure.

Went here for our breakfast before returnning back to phoenix. Got outdoor seating and had pleasant time. Here are my takes: Food/Drinks: Overall it was decent. The beef meat was very chewy and maybe overcooked so I had to leave that too when it was recommended by server for being locally sourced and I decided to try. The menu is extensive so it was somewhat overwhelming to choose from. Service: There was a delay but overall no major setback during our dine-in. Ambiance: Great outdoor seating and that was the primary reason to stopped here for breakfast. Hygiene: Very small restroom and not the cleanest but overall it was decent. Price: Reasonably priced food and drinks. Nothing that was overpriced.

My husband met a man at the golf course who suggested this diner.We waited just a few minutes to be seated.The diner has great seating outside and indoors.I ordered the hillbilly benedict and the carnitas benedict,both were AMAZING.I highly recommended this place for a great breakfast.

I had early morning car service twice this past week. The auto service center I use is in Encinitas and just off the Coast Hwy. Needing breakfast, I tried the 101 diner. The restaurant is truly a "diner", with an old-style counter and table seating in a separate room. They also have outdoor seating next to the Coast Hwy 101. The restaurant has an extensive breakfast and lunch menu. For my visits the counter service was perfect; friendly and fast. The chef was very open to the additional ingredient requests that I made to my egg white scramble. Don't hesitate to try the restaurant

Street parking and lot behind the restaurant. Classic diner located on the 101. Great location. Service is friendly. Food is solid. Great taste and decent portions. Service continues to be fantastic during the meal, with coffee top offs and staff checking in to see if everything is good. Ambiance is a classic diner experience, people having great conversation with the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the air. Good food, great service, would happy to go back.

Love this place - one of the best breakfast diners in North County. Fun and friendly staff, delicious açaí bowls, great sandwiches and a variety of Eggs Benedict dishes that will leave you wanting more. Personal faves are the Salmon Benedict; the Hillbilly Benedict (with gravy!) and the Cardiff Crack Tritip Benedict - you can also get them half and half (half salmon half Tritip, for example). Grab a table, sit at the counter, and yeah you might have to wait 20-30 min on weekend mornings but worth it. Don't hesitate - just go! Your stomach will thank you - then go walk off the extra calories exploring the hippest (and hippie-est) surf town in So Cal. PS - My wife says the oatmeal is good too - I wouldn't know....

Came here a few weeks ago early on a Saturday morning. Seating was plentiful. We decided to sit outside because it wasn't too cold. SERVICE - Our waitress was very nice. Upbeat and spunky. FOOD Pancakes - These were different than what I am used to. Not your classic fluffy melt in your mouth pancakes. More so chewy but soft? Can't say they were my favorite but decent. Breakfast Burrito - Their breakfast burritos do not come w potatoes so I added them in. I gotta say, breakfast burritos need potatoes. The addition was perfect. Burrito was huge and the flavors melded well together. Overall, food was good. I would definitely recommend sitting inside. When we sat outside and there were swarms of flies above that kept trying to get at our food.

Great little family-friendly diner on the 101 with really kind staff. The shaved ham Benedict was delish, and my husband gave 5 stars to the breakfast sandwich on the special biscuit, too. My little one loved his banana nut pancake. Giant portions.

We came here because we have been here before and the food is great! Today let me say I don't know why but we waited 40 mins till our food came! I asked our server why and she said it was be cause of all the takeout orders they were doing in the kitchen before the guests in the dining area. She was so sorry as they were unorganized! She comped our meal! Thank you! The food was so good. Our server Katie was fantastic very nice and sweet she tried so hard to make everything right!

Best breakfast in San Diego. Sweet or savory? Mexican or American? Whichever you choose, you will not go wrong. They have scrumptiously unique dishes. Shaved ham benedict with jalapeño hollandaise or the spicy chicken machaca omelette with beans and flour tortillas....what??!!! Their house potatoes are kind of a cross between hashbrowns and breakfast potatoes with crispy edges but still having a nice pillowy center on the thicker pieces. Yummy!! This joint is located on the coast so you can easily burn some calories with a walk on the beach afterwards. We enjoying the drive along the coast with the windows rolled down and fresh ocean air blowing in your face. This is a daddy & daughter place and we love it. Their staff is always super friendly and talk with you like you're local. We need to go here more often. Oh and the fresh OJ.... Damn.

Not sure how this place got an average of 4.5 stars. It was nothing but barely meeting expectations. Food did not have much flavor, burgers were not seasoned, fries were limp and lifeless, their famous Greek omelettes lacked flavor and the hash potatoes were just sad. The only thing "good" was the service bc they were happy to seats and the wheat bread. Considering what they charged per item and what you got, not going back again.

Customer service was not ok. We were brushed off twice we were asked to have our order taken. Very slow service. Especially when their competitor is right across the street. Cheeseburger was just OK. Not really a seasoned with flavor french fries with grease not cooked enough. also had the monte Krystal sandwich which was good but the fries were not cooked very well little raw and greasy. Unfortunately, it was not a very good dining experience here.

Food and service here are both amazing! We had a Hawaiian pancake, chilaquiles, and eggs Benedict. Everything was so flavorful and delicious. Can't wait to go back!

10 stars! We've been here twice within the last month! Was hesitant to post a review because it's one of those little hole in the wall places you don't want everyone to know about- you kind of want to keep it all to yourself... I want everyone to experience the awesome customer service from their main waitress, Katie, who makes you feel right at home. The food is delicious and the orange juice is fresh squeezed! My first impression. I would highly recommend the cinnamon roll pancakes without the icing ;)

Left an unfavorable yet constructive review about the service and got an extremely rude response from the owner. Not even the employees were like this, but if this is the leadership they have, I can only imagine. Update, just a bit after posting this follow up, got a message from Scott. No Scott, I want YOU to be heard. I want the people considering visiting your restaurant to know how you respond to criticism with disrespect

Located on what feels like a "Main Street" strip through town, this is fine place to hit up for breakfast or brunch. Given that the weather is typically perfect here, patio seating is a must. Typical breakfast fare that is exactly what you might expect from a neighborhood joint. Juice glasses ate tiny, so that might be something to pass on. But all in all, if you want a good start to your day in a beachtown setting; this will check the boxes.

Good place for breakfast, I haven't tried it for lunch and dinner. People there are very nice services great, kitchy old school feel. We have breakfast there like I said and traditional fair we enjoyed our meal coffee was good, they do have a lot of other items some newer things worth checking out. We come down here once or twice a year on vacation

The service and food were fine and the prices are reasonable unfortunately the place was absolutely filthy. 2 of our spoons and one plate came out to us dirty. Everything inside had a layer of grime. There were splashes and stains on the walls. It looked like the place hadn't been cleaned in a long time. If you are gunna eat here maybe sit outside so you wont notice the filth.

Still like this place but yesterdays breakfast left me underwhelmed. Breakfast w coffee and tip was 26$ at this diner. Yikes. Service good although I had to get my own creamer and ask for fruit in ordered. I think I was at end of breakfast time as I saw others w mango and nice fruit assortment and mine wasn't all that great. Also, the sauce on my Benedict was certainly lacking. Just don't think I'll be rushing back anytime soon/ used to wait in line for this place. Not sure what changed? Owner? Post/ Covid?

One of the best breakfasts I've had at a diner. Great food and service! 10/10. Highly recommend!!! .

Dined at 101 Diner on a Saturday morning. It's rather small so I wouldn't recommend it for big groups but it was great for us on that day. Seat yourself and the server comes to take your order. I had the Burgundy tri tip Cardiff crack egg plate with potatoes and had cottage cheese instead of toast. My man had the Tres Porkitos with potatoes and no bread. Both plates were tasty. The menu is vast so I'm sure you'll find something appetizing. The staff is friendly and accommodating. There is sidewalk dining available and indoor dining. They kept the doors open - probably easier to bring food out to outside customers - but this meant no A/C indoors. We were looking for a place to comfortable place to dine and while the food was tasty, we spent a considerable amount of time swatting away flies while trying to eat quickly. It's not a good feeling to pay good prices for a good meal and not feel comfortable eating it inside.

Came here twice. Our first experience was better than our second time around. Food is better than average. My avocado toast was delicious and my kid enjoyed his pancakes. Our friends enjoyed their breakfast as well and they were decent portions. Service was fast and attentive as we sat outside on their patio. Came back thinking we'd get the same experience sitting inside. While the quality of the food was the same, we were a little dismayed with flies buzzing around us sitting indoors. Our friends and I prefer our 1st experience and would rather go off of those memories...hence the 4 stars.

Brought our family here for my son's 6th birthday breakfast before conquering Lego land and had the PERFECT experience. Started with the Hawaiian pancake, ordered the Greek omelette, Chorizo scramble, Huevos Rancheros and Waffle breakfast - everything was LITERALLY PERFECT. Krista made us feel at home, and she also made us not want to leave. Honestly a breakfast experience we will cherish forever. Thanks Krista!!!

Well there you go everyone. My experience stands and is a true account from start to finish. The owner was not on site, didn't speak to customers. He replies with the lies told to him by the bad waitress with added insults. Unbelievable . As a local and someone who supported this place since 1995, I recommend tourists and visitors to steer clear. There's better food, service and plenty of post covid outdoor seating across the street at Encinitas Cafe. : ) Over twenty (20) years I've been coming here. It's been mediocre the last couple years. But today 5/17/24 approx 9am My friend and I come in. Empty inside and out except two booths. No waitresses/bus people to be seen. Grill cook (GC) says "sit anywhere". We choose 2nd booth from back on the south side. Than we wait, and wait. Maybe 10-15 min. Nobody. No sign of a waitress. I was going to get up and see what's up, but than the GC came out and took our drink order. Came back with a coffee and two waters. Took our food order. Me, skater special, eggs over medium, sausage links and sub the pancakes for tropical pancakes. My friend, German pancake, side of sausage.The GC says "The German pancake takes around 20 min. That's fine. Than the waitress comes out of the bathroom. There is a waitress. Walks past us a few times with no notice. Old dude takes the last booth in the back and she's all over him. Brings his regular drink. Brings his regular meal. Looked to be the skater special as well. The two booths across us get filled, the two booths behind us get filled. All drink and food orders taken. All food delivered. Over half hour now and we still have nothing. Worse yet STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE ONE WAITRESS. THE SAME ONE THAT'S BEEN CONSTANTLY WALKING BACK AND FORTH. we were the only booth she ignored. Whatever. FINALLY, she comes over dropps a plate with two eggs and two sausage lines and a plate side sausage links and walks away saying "I don't know who's is who's". WTF. Couple minutes GC brings out plate with the lemon and powder sugar. Now we sit there waiting for the rest. Over 45 min into this now. Other booth are done eating. FINALLY GC Brings out the German pancake and my tropical pancake. We eat. Wait for the bill now. OK, I have a dr. appointment and am not going to wait for the waitress I haven't seen since I walked in to get the GC to bring us the bill. So I'll go up to pay. She's at the counter talling up all the bills. She "what?". Me "can I pay the bill, I'm in a hurry. She "I'll bring it to your table" Me " can I pay it here?". She " give me your card".Gave her my card. She, "I'll bring it to your table". I go back and sit down. OK, she's fn with me now. She's going to deliver all the bills, process them than get to mine. . So I walk back up if I can again just pay it and go. She "I said I'll bring it to the table" gives me attitude look, walks past me slams it on the table and walks to the back. Me " your a bad watress" She "your a bad customer and I hope you never come back" Me " if you don't want to be here you should've called in". Now she's following me out mouthing off in front of everyone. She sniffs her armpits says "you stink, don't come back" Me " you just lost a longtime loyal customer". She kept mouthing off till We couldn't hear her. WTF HAPPENED TO THIS PLACE. I HAD NO INTERACTION WITH THAT WAITRESS UNTIL THE END. Over the years we've over looked the dated inter, the crowds, the slow service when they shared the kitchen with the place next door because it f elt like home. We were regulars. Watched the change in staff over the years, seen them get married and start families. Watched our kids grow. But today will be our last. Encinitas Cafe has been a part of out family just as long and will continue to get our business. Shame,shame,shame

101 Diner is really a local's diner. There isn't anything fancy here and you can get the basics to the healthy. I believe the menu sayings in my menu pic summarize their food philosophy (spoiler alert: "Feeling Great!" has all the calories). Their staff was attentive and helpful. As you can see from my Bacon & Eggs and the Pancakes pics, everything was cooked as expected and was good. The Traditional Eggs Benedict was okay. There was plenty of sliced ham and eggs were cooked well. But the Hollandaise sauce lacked flavor and the lemon tang. The potatoes didn't have any flavor at all - including the center piece with all the spices on top. Their opening hours are great for a coastal morning and the coffee was served promptly.

Absolutely fantastic experience. THE FOOD IS SO GOOD. Eggs Benedict 10/10. The pancakes 12/10. I can't remember her name but the server was great. Tad pricey but welcome to Encinitas.

Well, this is my first time here. They get 5stars for friendliness and how clean it was. Now the food is good, but it's not "I have to have that again food" didn't have lunch, maybe that's different, but that for other time

Solid diner breakfast food. Our sausage was a lil undercooked but it happens. Burger n omlette was real nice . Boats n hoes

The worst tuna melt ever. There were hardly any tuna on my sourdough bread. I had to return it. wow!!! Very stingy!!! Terrible service...will never return.

This is our new favorite spot. We've been here twice in the last week and both times we left 100% satisfied! Katie WOWED us with her customer service. She had a diner full of people and never missed a beat. She was our waitress both times and we will always make sure to sit in her section! I'm not sure if she's the owner or not, it doesn't even matter because she treats the clientele and her coworkers as if she is. The ambiance is amazing and very reminiscent of the diners back East which is one of the very few things that I actually miss. The food is absolutely amazing, from the Cardiff Crack Tri-Tip to the pancakes, everything is and always has been something to brag about! Can't wait to go back. Food is priced below market value in my opinion for the quality and the portion amounts. Everyone there seems to enjoy being there and it is reflected in the quality of the food, the cleanliness of the restaurant and the amazing service. Oh and get the orange juice, you need to try the orange juice, you won't regret it!

California omelette, banana Nutella crepe, shaved ham Benedict, coffee, coffee milk and sides of bacon. Great food, great location and great service. Definitely 5 stars.

I really like this place: Good and service are great. Food might be some of the best in the area for breakfast food. The only negative: It's smelly, rank, and there's too many flies. I think cleanliness is an issue here unfortunately. This is the biggest reason I end up at Encinitas Cafe across the street more often than here, the food isn't as good there but it's much cleaner.

We've been trying random breakfast places every weekend and this is where we landed. There was a slight wait but we were seated in roughly 10 minutes. The outside seating is on a high trafficked walkway. Lots of people asking questions and saying the food looks yummy. Our initial silverware was dirty but the waitress replaced it pretty quickly. Service was fast but the waitress wasn't the nicest. The coffee was good and we had our refills pretty quickly. The coffee pot leaks and spilled quite a bit on our table. The food was pretty tasty. The eggs Benedict was delicious - sometimes the hollandaise sauce lacks but this was good. The omelette was really tasty as well. We weren't huge fans of the potatoes either. They were odd - hard to explain.

Food was amazing. I was not familiar with restaurants in Encinitas. The ratings were high here on Yelp. I stopped in for breakfast. I am glad I did. The food was great. The service was prompt and my waitress was super friendly. I recommend the chorizo scramble!

I've been coming to this restaurant for years! Great spot for dates and going with friends! Staff is always nice and food comes out relatively quickly! We've only had one or two experiences here where things weren't perfect. Food is always 10/10 here. Portland piggy pile or the hillbilly are must eats (quite possibly the best breakfast in Encinitas). Parking can be a little tricky because of how many people coming to the area for business so finding a spot can be very tedious and annoying. I went here after my triathlon over the weekend to carb up and wow it hit the spot once again. Love this place and will continue to be a local here for years to come. Wonderful establishment.

First thing when you walk in you're able to seat yourself. Service was top tier. The lady that took my order was quick and made sure I was enjoying everything I asked for. I love french toast and I was surprised with the plate I received, which was their strawberry and cream cheese drizzle. I like that you can sit and dine in peace, but someone is a few steps away to make sure you're doing okay. I will definitely be coming back!!!

California Omelette with Bacon - YES! This is the reason you need to visit this place. However, there are many other endless options to choose from (salty vs sweet), and the Crack Benedict also is a staple, given it uses the infamous Seaside Market Cardiff crack meat, which they also happen to have (the Cardiff crack sandwiches at Petco Park recently within the last few years). Nonetheless, this place is a tiny little gem of this used-to-be-Hidden-Surftown-Gem, now bringing in more tourists. It has continued to keep its oldie-but-goodie feels of a diner and may it always remain this way and stay back in time with its delicious breakfast items. This place is only open for breakfast/brunch. Definitely a recommendable must-classic!

This is your basic delicious go to diner in Encinitas. Its been around forever and known for their comfort food.

Service was great. Food was amazing. Big portion able to share. Coffee is strong folks so be aware. We came down for the weekend and got to sit w friends and talk and eat. We weren't rushed and wasn't a wait which was great. Lots of cute shops nearby to walk. Parking is a bit rough in the area. After we walked Down D street to the beach and got to watch the waves. Really good day

My friends and I ate a late breakfast there today. 101 Diner was highly recommended by friends. We waited a while to get a seat as very busy ..good sign. We were seated inside and a pleasant young lady served us water and asked for our choice of drinks. Our food orders were taken by the manager..she seemed to be in charge ..very loud and talking down to the other employees. I ordered French toast with bananas and Nutella, and side of bacon. When I asked her for a separate check, she had a look' on her face. Order came without the bananas and Nutella. Wasn't about to ask her for them! I wasn't charged for them at least. Onto my friend ordering. He asked for French toast with strawberries ..no strawberries, so he looked at the menu again and she rolled her eyes. I wasn't the only one who noticed this and we thought it very rude. So overall, we thought the food okay, nothing special, would not return.

Oh. My. Gosh. One of my favorite brunch spots for sure. I've been many times and somehow have never reviewed it. I've gotten a couple of different menu items here, but my go-to faves are the combo where you get 1/2 of an eggs Benedict with a mini açaí bowl. I always get the shaved ham Benedict which comes with avocado and jalapeño hollandaise. I could drink a gallon of that hollandaise! And the mini açaí bowl? Simply the best! It always has a great variety of fruit like kiwi and mango - not just the usual suspects, and the mini is actually quite large. I like to sit outside on the front patio where the people watching and vibe is fun. I think it would definitely qualify as a hole in the wall type of place but do NOT let that deter you. The food is so good. The servers here are super friendly, quick with the orders, and you can customize your dishes. Just a tip - on busy days there is a little pad of paper on a pillar across from the front door. Write your name and number in your party on it so you don't miss out on a table. One thing I wish is that they would expand their coffee selection to include cold brew, but that's not going to stop me from returning again and again.

I got the pork chop meal which was good but not great. Service was good. The menu is huge. You can sit inside or outside which is a plus. I'll have to give this place another try to see if it's 5 star material

We had an amazing breakfast with the best food. The service was beyond superb, and everybody was very happy.

The food was great. I tried the baked apple pancake, my son (his birthday) had carnitas Benedict. Both were very good! Only one server was working however!

Yum! We loved trying this classic spot as it's always pretty busy on a weekend and even weekday mornings can be poppin amongst the locals. No frills, great spot for your classic breakfast diner food with a twist on some of the classics. The eggs Benedict's were great, I tried the tri tip one and the classic topped with the jalapeño cilantro hollandaise which was pretty tasty! Potatoes were cooked to perfection. And the pineapple upside down pancake was so yummy and different! Loved it and definitely will be back.

Okay, I stopped by here during a rainy day drive from San Diego to OC - it was also to break my commute to smaller distances. I am happy I went with this diner because the waitress who helped me was so pleasant, she made me feel so welcomed and even helped me decide on what to order without any fuss. I would come back here and bring my cousins or friends with me, they have a cute old town vibe as well!

A cozy diner on the 101. Cute old school waitresses ready to serve which is great!! Biscuits and gravy. That's all I'm going to say about that. Get it eat it love it. Everything here is great!

This is a small but cute diner. If your looking for hood old fashioned diner food the quality is really good. It's not going to be organic fyi but the food is amazing. It's like going to grandmas when you were a kidZ. Service was excellent. Biscuits and gravy were amazing. The eggs Benedict were very good. Will have to come bs k for the avocado toast. Parking is on the street so it's a little bit of effort to get a parking spot so allow extra time if your meeting someone. You seat yourself but the server is prompt once you are seated. I ordered a small orange juice and it is very small (child size). It was fine for me but others may want to order a larger size. This was about 4 oz.

Stumbled upon this diner when my parents were in town and we wanted breakfast in Encinitas. So glad we found this hidden gem!! The food was fantastic and prices were great! Our server Christie was superb. At one point we counted she was waiting on 16 tables and still was extremely attentive to all guests, making everyone smile and giving her full attention to whoever she was waiting on. Definitely coming back just to see Christie and get some fantastic food again!

It was a beautiful day (last Thursday) to have breakfast outside. The server was terse and appeared scattered, possibly because she was only server working outside tables. She was not overtly mean but I can't say I felt welcome. The food was decent to good, coffee not so much. Can't say whether I would return or recommend. Possibly if the ambiance is more welcoming.