Valhalla | Restaurant & Gift Shop

SHORT VERSION: Nice themed breakfast diner. Good prices. Excellent food and service. Great stop! LONGER VERSION: I love a good breakfast place and search for them everywhere I go. I've lived in the area for nine months and somehow Valhalla had NEVER come up in my searches. It took a small newspaper review to call it to my attention, even though it's been around for more than 40 years! The restaurant is a storefront along one of the older parts of town. It isn't immediately obvious but also wasn't hard to find when I went looking. There was close parking in a lot beside the store. Only one handicap space, but it's a smaller lot. Plenty of parking when I was there. The front door opens into a small gift shop and signs ask you to sign it to be seated. I didn't get a chance, as a staff member had greeted me and asked if I was there for breakfast. I was ushered back and seated in the main restaurant. It looked like there were two separate dining/meeting rooms available, at least one of which was filled with a meeting of about eight people by the time I left. There were plenty of tables, which may be because I visited on a Tuesday. The decor is supposedly Danish-traditional, which it may be. I saw lots of blue and white and the servers were uniformed in stereotypical Danish Girl costume. The tables are all those heavy, wooden, home dining room tables that everyone's grandmother had in the 70s, and all were surrounded by matching dining room chairs. I'm a big guy, so I appreciated how sturdy that all was. Everything was clean too, which is a big plus for any diner, so far as I'm concerned. The menu plays into the Danish theme. There were lots of Danish specialties, but the two that are the obvious house favorites are the Danish pancake (a thin, crepe-like hotcake) and the Aebleskiver (pronounced "able skeever"), which seemed to be a big ball of pancake batter baked in a cast-iron pan and served with lingonberry jam. If you look at my photos, you'll probably note that I actually ordered two breakfasts. I was hungry, the prices were great, and I wanted to try the two kinds of pancakes, but I also wanted the ham and cheese omelet, so that's what I got (and a side of hash browns came with the omelet too). I had them to the Danish pancakes with strawberries and cream, which turned out to be an excellent choice. The service was fantastic! My order was taken quickly and the food was on its way to my table in just a few minutes. The omelet was made right, with the meat scrambled into the eggs and the cheese inside the fold. The photo doesn't do the food justice! You eat with your eyes first, and this sight was a feast even before I took a bite. Everything was flawless! It tasted great. The strawberries were fresh-sliced, not from a freezer or can, and there were plenty to keep the pancakes covered until the last bite. Perfect! Prices were great too - after a larger-than-average tip, my two breakfasts still only came to about $25, which is less than I've had to pay at some places for half the food. I did check the gift shop on my way out. It was my only disappointment. The shelves seemed very bare and it was crowded with big, empty display units. I wondered why they don't get rid of half of the shelves to make their store look fuller and make it easier to wander around. THE BOTTOM LINE: If you're in Visalia in the morning, go to Valhalla! It was simply amazing, and it coaxed an uncommon five stars out of me.

Wonder Danish bakery breakfast place. Good fin in Visalia. We enjoyed the Danish sampler breakfast. Good coffee. Attentive service

This charming family-owned spot serves hearty breakfast and lunch in a cozy, home-like setting. The unique attached gift shop makes it a delightful stop for a meal and a browse. It's a beloved local gem offering comfort food and a warm welcome

The breakfast was delicious! Had the Danish sampler and my boy tried the omelette. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. Portions were pretty great. I also tried the buttermilk pancakes with bananas cooked into them 🤤

We really enjoyed eating here, it was our first time coming. It was a short walk from the historic inn where we stayed on Encina St and on a Saturday morning the wait wasn't very long. The food was so delicious and came out quickly. The restaurant itself is very cute with a lot of danish charm. The service was stellar. All the staff were kind, communicative, and genuinely interested in their jobs and their customers. The bathrooms were clean. My only suggestion would be some improvements in the gift area; some more local items or specifically Danish/Dutch items would be worth seeing and buying while you wait for a table. The Chinese made stuff didn't seem of interest to anyone there, but this didn't detract from the restaurant experience at all

We brunched here for the first time a couple days ago and I'm so glad we tried this Danish gem! This place has a store AND restaurant. The kid in the front desk was extremely nice and personable. He says the place has been family owned for 40+ years and is something to experience while you're in town. We browsed around their store first and they had cute stuff. From kitchen attire to baby toys, there's something here for everyone. Prices of the items are a bit pricey, but that's okay cuz some items are truly unique! Once we were called into the dining area, we skimmed the menu. We ordered the happy face pancakes for my 3 year old, the danish sampler, and the Greek Goddess along with an orange juice and coffee. While waiting, the waiter came in with a bag of toys for my daughter to pick out from (wow). The wait was probably 15 minutes. The place was busy! Finally the food came and omg! They were all delicious ! My daughter enjoyed her happy face pancakes because it was so cute ! Pancakes were also fluffy just the way she likes them! And the orange juice is YUMMMMY because it is all natural FRESH SQUEEZED. The Danish sampler came with a pancake, their homemade danish sausage, a pancake rolled into a ball, and 2 eggs for $11.99 (as of 5/2024). If you're in town and want to try Danish yummy food, don't forget to stop by this place! It's totally worth a try :)

Cute little coffee shop in downtown Visalia, perfect for folks 65+. I felt like I was eating at my Grandmas house, not in a bad way. Delicious omelettes, very fast service, and very cheap prices. I think the 2 of us ate breakfast with tax and tip for under $35. It was pretty crazy.

Nice gift shop at the entrance. Great customer service. They only serve Peets coffee (not a fan).

Valhalla is quite possibly my favorite breakfast place ever since I was a child. I remember way back when they were on Main Street, I believe where Fugazzi's is today. Valhalla is an excellent option for mainstay breakfast items, and also some very tasty Danish options. Their äbleskivers are absolutely wonderful. I like mine with all the jellies and also powdered sugar. You should definitely try that. My favorite menu items have always the Rande omelette or the chicken fried steak and eggs. My family loves this place. The food is great, the service is always fast and friendly, and the prices are great. They also have a little shop where you can pick up a variety of items before or after your meal. Stop in and check out Valhallas for breakfast or an early lunch. You won't be disappointed.

I would give this place a strong 3 based on food alone, but my mom's enjoyment of the food, mixed with customer service, pushed it to a 4. The setting itself, such as the Danish atmosphere, is bonus points as well. Our server gave good advice, and our coffee was always refilled I ordered the chicken fried steak and eggs, with potatoes, toast, and an abbleskiever (sp?) to share. The eggs and potatoes were delicious, and the abbleskiever was a pancake/donut hole hybrid, with a tasty homemade jam. Hot and delicious. The chicken Fried steak, while good, had a gravy that tasted a little grainy...maybe mix it a little more. My mom's Avocado omelet was cooked perfectly (per her), so I think a four is deserving. Definitely recommend and would return, but maybe give the gravy an extra stir

Love this place. Staff is amazing, kind and upbeat. The restaurant has a great vibe, sometimes they even have live music which is awesome. When you first walk in there is a gift shop where they have cute little gifts. Food is amazing. You must try the ableskivers with the apple butter and raspberry jam. I always get the omelette meal and its great!

Killer breakfast/brunch! I've been here each time I've visited Visalia and I adore it. I've had the avocado toast, Greek omelette, and pancake balls (Aebleskiver). Here's what worked: -- really friendly and kind staff -- quick service -- cute gift shop that you can browse through while you wait for a table -- amazing prices!! Coming from the Bay Area, the prices here are incredible. Freshly squeezed orange juice was under $4 which is unheard of in many California breakfast spots -- Aebleskivers were tasty (but really dense and filling!) -- great variety on the menu, both for veggie and non veggie eaters -- right next to the rest of downtown so there's plenty of shopping and walking you can do nearby What didn't work: -- they close early in the day, so no breakfast for dinner! -- the gift shop has some weirdly conservative cards and items. Not a huge deal but a little odd -- there is a wait to get a table but it usually isn't too bad!

This place is fantastic! An unexpected gem. Authentic Danish food and decor. Breakfast was memorably good. Gluten free options were available. The staff is very friendly and helpful, excellent service. Check the hours and days before you go. The entry through the gift shop reminds me of Cracker Barrel.

We came to visit from Las Vegas for our anniversary looking for something different for breakfast. We ran into this spot near our hotel and walked towards the place. Dowtown is accessible and fully lit even after the sun goes down so take a stroll if you can. What a quaint restaurant with tasty dishes. Try the pancakes bites and the original thin pancake, they're both so good. The chicken in waffles was outstanding, not my go to but my husband is a big fanatic, it was so good I still took a few bites. The gift shop has a varied selection of cute gifts and knick knacks, take the time to stop by while you wait to be seated. The staff here is used to a busy floor so their service is fast and efficient without forgetting the friendliness.

We popped in here for breakfast, greeted with an IMMEDIATE, WARM & FRIENDLY welcome! The atmosphere was charged with 'kindness' that you could feel! The service was fast, accommodating, and they switched-out a sausage (for hashbrowns) on my Danish Breakfast plate. With a smile too! :) Ahhh . . . the Danish pancake. . . smeared with butter and red raspberry jam. Delicious. I want one right now. Theirs are thin with some 'zing' from either buttermilk or sour cream, possibly. They have been in business for 40 years and now you know WHY!

We brunched here for the first time a couple days ago and I'm so glad we tried this Danish gem! This place has a store AND restaurant. The kid in the front desk was extremely nice and personable. He says the place has been family owned for 40+ years and is something to experience while you're in town. We browsed around their store first and they had cute stuff. From kitchen attire to baby toys, there's something here for everyone. Prices of the items are a bit pricey, but that's okay cuz some items are truly unique! Once we were called into the dining area, we skimmed the menu. We ordered the happy face pancakes for my 3 year old, the danish sampler, and the Greek Goddess along with an orange juice and coffee. While waiting, the waiter came in with a bag of toys for my daughter to pick out from (wow). The wait was probably 15 minutes. The place was busy! Finally the food came and omg! They were all delicious ! My daughter enjoyed her happy face pancakes because it was so cute ! Pancakes were also fluffy just the way she likes them! And the orange juice is YUMMMMY because it is all natural FRESH SQUEEZED. The Danish sampler came with a pancake, their homemade danish sausage, a pancake rolled into a ball, and 2 eggs for $11.99 (as of 5/2024). If you're in town and want to try Danish yummy food, don't forget to stop by this place! It's totally worth a try !

This place is amazing! It's inside a little shop and there is plenty of seating. My family decided to try something new today and we found this spot. It's very cozy and homey feeling and the staff is great. We had orange juice which tasted like fresh orange juice, I'm not sure if it is. The food came quick and it was delicious. The poached eggs were cooked perfectly and the waffle was crispy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. Everything was cooked well and very flavorful. I am so excited to have found this spot, we will be coming regularly.

Scandinavia in the San Joaquin Valley! I am sure it's not a secret to locals, but most people outside aren't aware of the culinary gems in Visalia. Valhalla is included. They have classic items as well as some adventurous options for those unfamiliar with Scandinavian style or type dishes. I thoroughly enjoyed my ham and eggs with a great cup of black coffee.

If it's your first time walking in you might be a little confused by the cutest gift shop in downtown Visalia. It's stocked with the cutest things and the hostess is so kind. She always has a smile on her face. I had the Chorizo Skillet which is a Fall/Winter special. It was very delicious and full of flavor. My granddaughter had the kids French Toast meal. It was a nice quiet morning and the server was amazing! Definitely a MUST TRY when in Visalia!! Parking sometimes can be a little hard to find sometimes especially on a Saturday.

The servings were small the food was bland. Qualify has gone down. If you are looking for breakfast:, Corner Cafe or Black Bear are some places where you can get a better meal. I met with an old friend and I surely was disappointed. Presentation, quality and servings can improve. Will mention the staff was great.

The food is great. The service is good too, the servers are really nice. We really enjoy breakfast at Valhalla

I had some sort of breakfast bacon waffle special and it was insanely good! I'm excited to return!

If your looking for good food and amazing customer service. I would recommend coming here. They greet you with a smile and make sure you're taken care of. I got the Danish Sampler and my wife got the French toast. We both agree that we would come back again

I've lived in Visalia for 5 years and did not know about this place. Well, now I do and I loved it! The food was delicious, the service very fast and friendly, and the atmosphere has a nice local feel. This place has been in business for over 40 years and it's easy to see why. I'll definitely be back!

This is a classic breakfast diner. We went in a Saturday morning and it was busy, but they seated us quickly. The servers were attentive but also moving very fast, so this might not be the place for a long leisurely breakfast. It's a cute, quaint little restaurant with the perfect diner vibe. I had the Viking combo with over easy eggs, bacon, and danish pancakes, which I paid extra to add whipped cream and strawberries to. My husband also had the Viking combo, but with regular pancakes, scrambled eggs, and sausage. The Viking combo is plenty of food for the price. I had hot tea, but they only had caffeine-free green tea available, so I ended up getting an iced tea as well because I needed my caffeine. My husband had a coffee, and they offer plenty of refills.

What can I say that hadn't been said? Breakfast staple in Visalia for many years. Consistent food and service. Only wish they were open longer and would love to stop in after church for brunch but alas they are not open on Sundays.

First time in Visalia and this spot is the ONLY reason I'd be back. Great food, great service.

This has been on our bucket list for years to come by and visit; finally the day came and it met our expectations and then some. This place is wonderful and a great alternative to the Denny's or IHOPS's of town; a gem in downtown Visalia. Immediately on entry you are greeted by a quaint little store, great for gifts, afterwards you are taken to the dining area. The dining area can easily accommodate small to medium sized groups; they serve delicious Peet's Coffee, and have dozens of pastries that appear to be made in-house. We enjoyed the atmosphere, great selection of food options, a nice fall menu selection with some pumpkin themed foods. We will make it a point to come back again, we love supporting local businesses where possible. Please make this your next stop while in downtown! You won't be disappointed!

FINALLY made it to Valhalla for breakfast. Haven't been in Visalia that long and browsed Yelp! for places I'd like to try and Valhalla was on the list. Great family owned place (40+years!) We met the owner Kim (she bussed our table!) Very nice person. At our servers recommendation I had the Banana Foster French Toast which came with two eggs and bacon or sausage (or both) I expected the French toast to be "My teeth ache" sweet, but no! I really enjoyed the dish. Not overly sweet as expected. My sweetie had an ABC omelet with red potatoes and bell peppers . The house Peet's coffee was great also. If you haven't tried Valhalla you're missing a great local institution . I can't wait to go back!

This is a contender to be a frequent breakfast place. I enjoyed it. From the food the hostess and waitress. All very nice and great customer service. Our first time here. I never heard about this place until recently. It's Danish and American breakfast. It's a cute diner/ gift shop that you can distract yourself with while you wait. The decor in the restaurant is danish nordic decor. We had the danish sampler which was perfect because it gave us a taste of what truly is a top seller. Biscuits and gravy is always a must to try. The omelette and the salsa that came with it was good! The cute pancake face for the little one was a hit. Not to mention the kids menu comes with picking a toy from the basket. Very sweet touch. I loved the ambience very cozy diner. A lot of the older folks frequent the place and I love that. We will be coming back frequently to try the rest of the menu. Great first time experience.

The food was good but nothing to brag about. The service was really good. The atmosphere was old school restaurant feel. They have a front store similar to Cracker Barrel.

The food was very un flavorful, and it hurt to pay almost 40 dollars for something so simple with not a whole lot of seasoning.

we were at the downtown car show so we Thought we would stop in for breakfast bc the last time we were there it was amazing... wish I could say that for today, left disappointed and hungry. I had to send my country potatoes back bc they were not cooked.. they came back as just plain potatoes and BURNT and they smelled horrible. My husband asked for his hasbrowns to be crispy and they were way under cooked as well. Not sure if they got new cooks or owners but they are de not what they use to be .

Wow wow wow We go up to Hume once a year and decided to try this place on a whim. We truly cannot wait to come back!!!! The food was delicious! Every. Single. Bite! And the people there were so friendly. We will be making this a stop every year now on our trip.

I love this place. It's nondescript from the outside. Looks like an old drug store or something. When you get in the front doors it looks like a gift shop. But talk to the very friendly staff and ask for a table and get seated at a table like you were in your grandmothers kitchen. It's a great breakfast menu with Danish heritage. Danish, crepe style pancakes, abelskiver (pancake balls), danish sausage and more. Personal faves are the blueberry streusel French toast and the biscuits and gravy. Gravy is so smooth and creamy.

Slow service. Unfortunately service has declined as some servers are slow. I been a patron for 26+ years. Last four time my order has been come out wrong . Sorry to write review but true.

Wonderful food, homemade original food. A gem hidden in the Central Valley. 5/5 Aebleskiver- Homemade round pancakes - non fried, paired with a wonderful raspberry jam 5/5 Medisterpolse - The homemade sausage is mild wonderfully balanced sausage with cloves and allspice. 7/5 $2.49 fresh squeezed grapefruit juice is amazing and sweet, such a steal. They must lose money on this. It's amazing Sarah is a wonderful server - very nice and kind, thoughtful and listens well. What a gem. Completely recommended.

I go to Valhalla every Friday morning for a Bible Study and breakfast. Our server, Darlene, is wonderful. She quickly learned the names of 12-15 guys plus our normal orders and always brightens our day with great service. Oh yeah, and the food is incredible! This is a local gem!

Maybe I've been away for too long, but it wasn't the same tasting meal. I do love the cards in the gift shop, though.

Great breakfast in downtown Visalia! Traditional choices. Eggs cooked to perfection. Warm, friendly service.

For me this is a beautiful place to get some breakfast and if u have a large Ohana they have rooms that can fit a family of 15 this is it plus the food is great with good service.

Valhalla has excellent food and everyone is always friendly and accommodating. The menu is extensive and food is delicious. They have a few private rooms that can be reserved for 10-15 people. We like to invite our family for brunch. Everyone is always very satisfied. Shhhh, my very favorite time of year to go eat at Valhalla Restaurant is summer. They make fresh fruit pies. Make sure you save room for dessert.

Food is amazing and the service is outstanding and attentive. The menu is very inventive and seasonal variations are always great.

We can get away with a husband and a new town and we love to try local places to eat. This breakfast was amazing I had the spinach mushroom cheese omelette added bacon, bacon was amazing best bacon I've ever had. My husband has a chicken fried steak and homemade biscuit with homemade gravy. Coffee was strong hot and fresh. Staff was super nice. Place was clean, had to wait a little while to get a table because they were busy but service was fast and definitely worth the wait.

Excellent breakfast stop today. Quant & cute mom & pop shop off the downtown path. Greeted by the nicest staff, huge breakfast menu to choose from (with a strong danish influence), and quick! I brought a book in and one got a couple pages in before my food was brought out. Simply excellent quality, taste, and service. Will be back next time I'm in town.

I'm not a fan of breakfast food, but Vahalla's is the number 1 exception! I always get the 2-egg breakfast and I eat every single thing every time. The ladies who serve us are always kind and the service is top notch. I've brought friends here from out of town and they love it! The decorations also bring a little joy to my meal it feels so homey. Their food always puts me in a good mood for the rest of my day

Always love the ableskiffers. Staff is friendly and food is always great flavor and good quantity for the money. Love eating here, always a new experience.

Great place with amazing breakfast and excellent service, very friendly staff, Highly recommended!!

Love this place! It is a great little breakfast spot... reminds me of Carla's Kitchen in Morro Bay with the gift shop/restaurant. If you come... try the Ableskivers! They are great with Ligonberry Jam!

This is an amazing restaurant. I loved the great food and service. I would like to recommend the Danish Pancake. This is an amazing place not to mention the warm welcome on the way in and out! Food wise, I tried many of the different categories of food. The omelets and pastries were delicious, as well as the breakfast burrito. Had to go twice, would recommend.

Definitely a ma and pa feel good restaurant. This has been booked marked for some time and was finally able to make it out. I dug in and realized I didn't take a picture. We have the Chili Verde omelet. So delish!!!! The young lady who helps us was super sweet. We will be back!

Was looking for something different to eat and stumbled upon this gem. The decorations inside were different and made it feel as if I were in a different country, the food was delicious as was the coffee.. added bonus for the nice little gift shop.. staff was also extremely friendly

Thankful to simply be able to dine out again! Recently reopened post COVID and boy are you in for a breakfast treat! We started off with French toast for the table. We all agreed they were above basic, tasty and worth trying again. We ordered the 2 egg breakfast with added bacon, avocado toast and a side of their original aebleskiver danish pancakes. Everything was cooked as requested, fresh and delicious. My favorite part of the meal were the crispy hash browns and their homemade jam. Plain and simple....great food at extremely reasonable prices. Use the extra money to shop at the attached boutique!

Great customer service, food is fresh and really gives a home made comfort food feel. I've only come here for breakfast but you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The kids love the smiley face pancakes and they have a great selection of items to choose from. Most recently I got the ham and eggs and the ham was way over seasoned and were way too salty but it definitely won't prevent me from coming back and trying more options off the menu tho. They had a seasonal pumpkin coffee that was delicious so I highly recommend trying their seasonal options if they have more!

Very fast and quality food. Was very happy with my experience here and I recommend making your was over there. Great service as well

Breakfast at one of my favorite spots. I was afraid this restaurant wouldn't be able to survive the pandemic. This is my first visit in around 2 years. I was glad to see they were busy. I decided on the Danish Sampler for breakfast. It's the same as the Valhalla Breakfast Special except I get a Danish pancake instead of hash browns. The pancake is thin like a crepe. It's folded in half in the photo. It has a nice homemade flavor. The aebleskivers are like hush puppies. I know they are made in special pans on the stove, not fried like a typical hush puppy. The sausage has a slight onion flavor. They say taste leaves a lasting and powerful memory. Today's breakfast brings me back to simplier times.

Service was great and super friendly. Second time here and food was still just ok which is a surprise from what I've heard. The rest of my small party agrees.Worst avocado toast I've ever had and I'm easy to please. ambiance is simply and plainly ok. Clean, but no effort in decor except the gift shop when you walk in from the sidewalk. It looks like an office space turned into a restaurant which could be charming if done right. Can't tell it's a restaurant at all from the entrance.