Wagon Wheel Restaurant

I've been dining at the Wagon Wheel since 1976! Never disappoints! My 103 year old grandmother would pester me for the scrumptious French toast and their hollandaise sauce has no rival. It's always been a sanctuary for us locals. Bravo 👏 for almost 50 years of the best quality of food, service and valley vibes!

Wagon Wheel Coffee Shop is a cozy gem tucked away on Carmel Valley Road. This spot is perfect for a relaxed breakfast or brunch, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday season. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it an ideal place to unwind. The menu features some standout items that are a must-try. The oatmeal is simply awesome—comforting and flavorful. The pancakes are deliciously fluffy, and the waffles are equally satisfying, with a crisp exterior and soft interior. The portions are generous and the prices are quite reasonable, making it a great value for the quality. Another big plus is the ample parking available, which is a huge bonus in this area. Whether you're a local or visiting Carmel, this place is definitely worth adding to your list. Don't miss it during the holidays!

We ate breakfast here this morning. It has a old time western feel. We been here many times over the years and the food has always been really good! Our server Carol was excellent, and we had a fun time with her. We had an omelet with Jack cheese, Avocado and mushrooms. We also had the banana Pecan Buttermilk pancakes. Both were really good and the two pancakes were so big that I couldn't eat it all! One thing to note is that they only take cash or Venmo.

The food was delicious, but a little different from when I worked the for nearly 10 years in the 80's , The portions were good and generous not over the top like they used to be, but with the price of things that's understandable, it's nice to see some of the items that I added to the menu are still there after all this time , Service was great Can't complain top-notch ,The atmosphere was a little lacking from what it used to under Katy management it didn't feel like family I understand it's changed hands three times since Katy passed away... overall, I highly recommend this place can't go wrong It's an institution, But I often wonder what happened to the old gang that worked there they still alive? .. good food good people

Great cash only spot to grab some breakfast. On another Google reviewers recommendation we shared their amazing pumpkin pie pancakes which are delicious. The wife and I also had their chicken fried steak and eggs which we both devoured promptly. Their potatoes are another stand out featured on their menu that I would have to recommend. Definitely try this place out if you get the chance.

The breakfast here was terrific. Pancakes, eggs and bacon were terrific. We heard the French toast and Italian sausage are great too. Only complaint is that the home fries were undercooked which is a bummer.

Old western style restaurant Ambiente. We had breakfast. Bacon and eggs, eggs Benedict with biscuits and gravy, French toast and pancakes. Everything was excellent. The walnut and banana oatmeal pancakes were exceptional. The best breakfast we had during our 3 weeks travel through California.

This place is great! Kid friendly, many different breakfast options, staff was super friendly and the food came out reasonably quick. I had the steak and eggs with potatoes and sourdough. We decided it was so good we went 2 days in a row. Would highly recommend 👌

Best Breakfast in Carmel Valley! Service is great. It's got a lowkey vibe that is cozy and welcoming. Will be back soon I hope.

Stopped in for breakfast before a work-related job. I haven't been in here in years and probably didn't write a review way back then. I was able to drop in without waiting and got a corner table close to window to really scope out the room. I was promptly served up water and a menu and the coffee followed up shortly (the coffee was okay, most likely Farmer Brothers). The corned beef hash and eggs came out shortly. It was definitely a hearty dish and it hit the spot and I didn't eat most of the day. The Wagon Wheel is a Carmel Valley staple and worth a stop when you are craving some comfort food.

Your getting lazy, please keep up the Wagon Wheel. No breakfast should be 20.00. I'm a fan of this family style restaurant, but laziness is getting in the way of what was a golden spot. Stop,Look and see what you have been handed and do it already. I don't mean to be rude but this a golden spot. Take care of it.

I was so disappointed in our experience here. I may have been a little too hyped up from the reviews but I was expecting a lot and I'm such a fan of classic country breakfast I thought for sure this would be a favorite place for us. Don't get me wrong the portion sizes were huge (as they should be) but the food was just okay? I also found an eggshell in my poached eggs which just doesn't even make any sense to me. The eggs Benedict (sans eggshell) was pretty tasty though. I also got the side cinnamon roll and the frosting was hard and crusty instead of being nice and soft and gooey (I did ask for it heated so the inside was warm but the outside was not). My husband got the country fried steak and could barely eat it because it was drenched in gravy which made the steak really soggy. It's possible our subpar experience was due to ordering out instead of eating in but unfortunately we didn't have time to come back here. I would give this another shot for indoor dining.

ima keep it short. BEST pumpkin pancake i have EVER had... incredibly delicious and soft and moist. when you bite into it, it does feel a bit "undercooked" but i think it is because they might use pumpkin puree in the pancake batter. the salted butter and pumpkin sauce they add on top is perfect. i didn't consider it too sweet but a cold glass of almond milk would be delicious with it. we also ordered quesadillas but the pancake was the star of the show. each pumpkin pancake was $8. I give the pumpkin pancake itself 5/5.

4* for the old school ambiance (more of a 3* personally for the food). This is your classic no frills greasy spoon. My boyfriend loved it, he got the banana walnut pancakes (be warned, it's a large pancake), along with some biscuits and gravy. I got the veggie omelette, which was okay, I think it could have done with some salt (and can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe fewer avocados?). Would try something else next step. Cash only or Venmo.

Veggie omelette is excellent! Love the rye toast too. Great, unique ambience with a campy feel. Wonderful food and huge menu with a wide variety of types of dishes !

Spent a weekend in Carmel and found this spot and had breakfast twice during my stay. Everyone was friendly, service was prompt and the ambiance was cozy. Cash or Venmo only options to pay. Will definitely return if I come back to the area.

The Wagon wheel has been a favorite country breakfast place for over 40 years! I haven't eaten here in several years and my wife and I decided to give it another try today on the last days of the 2024 year! We just had a fantastic bench with amazing eggs Benedict with three eggs and three English muffins with the best hollandaise sauce covering the entire plate. Wow!! It's one of the best places I've ever eaten this treasured dish. I strongly recommend this historical dining experience in Carmel Valley to you to enjoy. I'll be coming back again soon. Enjoy

Surprises at Wagon Wheel: - Charged over $4.00 for "extra" chorizo even though their huevos rancheros has always come with it...I mentioned the time before I came the dish was bean heavy and to make sure there were chorizos this time - thus someone translated to a charge they did not inform me about - Charged 3.50 for a small cup of black coffee, no refill offered -and no option for pot of coffee when asked - Charged almost $2.00 for maple syrup for my ONE pancake. The normal syrup that is free is apparently corn syrup - the thing everyone has stopped using since the 1990s because it's horrible for you - Server told us our bill was $5 short even though my friend Venmo her meal to the owner. She verified payment was received and made a mistake but did not return the change. Not going back until they jump into 2025

I've been here a few times but my most recent experiences have changed my opinion on this spot. Service is friendly but that's it. It takes forever for them to come over to take your order and bring your drinks as well as your food. I then have to flag them down to bring me my bill. As for the food, it has to be frozen or something. I've had calamari and chicken fried steak but something was off about them. They tasted like one's you'd get at Denny's. Their eggs are too runny so always ordered them over medium or even hard... I do like their potatoes because they're crispy. Pancakes are wayyy OVERPRICED! $8-9 per pancake is insane. That's basically $18 if you want 2 (and you will as the portions are small). I was charged close to $23 for the berry pancakes. They did not inform about this as the menu just says market price. The price was even more absurd when I find out they're not made from scratch. They used Krusteaz pancake mix... I could have just use that to make them at home and have saved $23... They're definitely trying to scam you. I was sat close to the back and was able to get a look at their kitchen... extremely dirty and messy. Wouldn't be surprised if someone got sick. Overall, this is overpriced, bland food that I would advise to stay away from. Food: 3/10 Service: 5/10

A local favorite for sure. Love the western ambiance, although it is a bit close quarters inside but nothing they can really do about that. Ordered the Wagon Wheel breakfast. Bacon was cooked just right, the link sausage had a nice snap. The scrambled eggs were a slightly over cooked to my taste but that is totally subjective. The pancakes were okay but honestly tasted a little off almost like they were frozen, which I doubt is the case but they also didn't taste homemade necessarily. Service was exceptional, was seated quickly and order came quickly along with drink and refills. Looking forward to next time.

I knew this place was going to be good when i parked and noticed the gentlemen sitting outside with his dog. it gave a warm and inviting atmosphere. The decor inside appears it's been collected over many years and I can people come here most likely on the daily. Our wait staff was excellent she made recommendations and gave feedback on what we asked. The menu had Calamari steak and eggs with us a unique option and the Katy Cakes made of oatmeal. They had omelette options not typically combined like the avocado special and loved i didn't have to add or subtract anything from my omelet. Everything was excellent and would recommend to anyone passing through.

The vibe of this place is so cool. Tucked away on a windy road in Carmel Valley, it is easy to miss but so worth the trip. We ordered the banana walnut pancakes and the eggs benedict - both delicious! we will be back

So so soooo good! SO GOOD! If you stay at the Quail Lodge, just scoot on over to Wagon Wheel for breakfast. This was the best part of my trip.

If you're in the mood for undercooked eggs, burnt potatoes and unfriendly service, this place is for you. I simply can't understand why anyone would eat there. Oh, I forgot about the coffee that tastes like black water.

Good experience here. Brought my dog and we ate outside on one of the tables there. Food was good and the service was great!

Very good breakfast experience relative to food and service. Corned beef & eggs were straight diced pastrami, no grainy hash came on plate. Pancake medallions small but tasty. Biscuits and gravy are another strong thumbs up. Felt quality and substance was better than average dinner.

What has happened to the Wagon Wheel? The coffee tasted like hot water, & their once fabulous pancakes are tasteless & hard.Same nice service, but the food just wasn't the same. So disappointed!

We had a great experience with food and service. If you stay at Quail lodge, I recommend to try there for the breakfast.

What a gem! Enjoyed a home country breakfast right next to the Quail Lodge! Ordered eggs, bacon, biscuits and gravy and more. My eyes were bigger than my stomach for sure. Great service and highly recommend.

Long time fan, first time review. The breakfast menu is full of your classic favorites and some with a twist. I'm here to point out the "Homemade Corned Beef hash." I've never been anywhere that has offered an equivalent dish. It's simply amazing! This isn't even remotely close to Hormel in a can, which is, by all means, adequate in my household. This is a Michelin star restaurant version of a traditional classic. I simply can't address what it means to visit on a yearly basis, knowing, that this is part of the trip. By the way...cash is king here so bring it! Thanks for the decades of consistent quality and amazing service.

On 7/5//'24 My wife and I had breakfast at Wagon Wheel. The food and service was good but very expensive. I was surprised when I saw my recent credit card statement. Wagon Wheel double billed me. The original bill was $ 49.80. I gave the waitress a $9.00 tip which created a total bill of $58.80. Wagon Wheel S double billed me another $49.80 transaction in addition to the $58.00. After reviewing the error on my credit card statement I phoned Wagon Wheel numerous times in an effort to get them to correct the duped charge. THEY DO NOT ANSWER THEIR PHONE. (530) 587-7574 which is disappointing. I would advise restaurant customers to review their check prior to leaving any restaurant establishment to avoid what I experienced and any other potential errors. -Brian

Service is great- the place is super cute but very dark and the food was just kind of bland... pancakes tasted like frozen premade that were thrown in the microwave. Was super disappointed:(

I've been eating here for more than 40 years. I came today wanting Eggs Benedict. Which traditionally is an egg served on a slab of Canadian bacon over an English muffin drizzled with Hollandaise sauce. The Wagon Wheel offers THREE eggs served on an English muffin drizzled with Hollandaise sauce. Far too much for myself and my companion. We ordered the Avocado Delight hamburger pictured. Huge portions enough to take home. Super special treat red Jell-O! The interior needs a severe cleaning. There's dust and grease on most of the objects inside the restaurant. This is strictly cash only. So be prepared.

Under new ownership. The service is great. There were a few hiccups but the food is excellent. Particularly the oatmeal and pumpkin pancakes. It's cash only or Venmo.

Awesome local restaurant slightly tucked away in Carmel valley. 100% recommend. Friendly service, though cash or Venmo only. Omelette was solid, the biscuit is very good. Not overly doughy and good flavor. Oatmeal pancakes are also unique. They taste like they sound. Imagine steelcut oatmeal mixed in with some pancake batter. Great earthy taste, moist and dense in a pleasant way. So glad we stumbled on the Wagon Wheel!!!

Great "authentic old style" breakfast spot! Fast, efficient and friendly staff. Perfect spot to stop by prior to a round of golf!

Just like a fisherman hates to give away the location of a great fishing hole, I was hesitant to tell others about how this wonderful this restaurant is because I don't want the crowds to make it unbearable. The four of us arrived expecting a long wait on Sunday morning, yet were seated rather quickly. The coffee was excellent and the food arrived quickly and was one of the best breakfast I've ever had. We will definitely make the Wagon Wheel our breakfast place when we visit the Carmel Valley

Excellent Breakfast! Great Service, Friendly . Good portions at a reasonable price. A+ Experience

Quick review from the end of Aug. we have come here for decades. The place looks the same with western items tacked up on the walls. Food is average. Service is consistent. What is missing is the personal touch that has existed before. Not worth going out of the way for breakfast.

Apparently this is the only breakfast spot on the peninsula. Interesting! Breakfast was really good and filling. The veggie omelet, which was filled with artichoke, spinach, tomatoes, and other veggies was really good. I ordered two eggs instead of three but after a few bites, I wished I had the extra egg. The waffles were good too. The order comes with 4 fluffy waffles. The scrambled eggs and potatoes were average. Coffee was average but the hot chocolate was good. The waitresses were friendly and gave suggestions of things to do. It is a quaint local spot. Check them out on Instagram @wagonwheel_cv. Enjoy.

#covid19 update: stopped here this morning for brunch - I called in my order to-go and it was ready when I got there. I went for the corned beef hash, with poached eggs and sourdough toast. REAL CORNED BEEF, huzzah! Not super-thrilled with how it was sliced (into shingles, essentially), but it was flavorful and there were bits of tiny diced onion in there which were awesome. The potatoes could've been crisper in it. Sourdough toast was delicious. Eggs were poached to perfection. Cash only here, my friends. Definitely happy to spend my money here for a solid meal!

First of all let me say that my food was delicious. The sausage was very good especially with the syrup. And the banana pancakes were very sweet with very fresh bananas. My bacon was rich and not too fatty. The syrup I got with my Katy cakes was hot and the pancakes were soft and buttery. The food took about 20 mins to arrive and the waiter was nice in providing us with his suggestions and his favorite menu item. Now the environment was unreal. The walls were lined with rodeo style paintings, posters, trinkets and more! We were only provided with one paper napkin each which I wasn't a fan of. The table was also sticky when we were sat and we ended up cleaning it ourselves. Overall, I wouldn't eat here again but it's a great experience to try.

The pigs in a blanket was plated as a pig face! So many good looking items on the menu it was hard to pick what to order. Will definitely be back. Staff were lovely. Outside seating was perfect for a slow hungover morning.

Really good breakfast spot and ambiance. Standard American Breakfast done well. Service was good too

My bf and I wanted to eat at Edgar's, but it was closed for lunch, so we decided to come to Wagon Wheel for a quick bite before hitting the road. We got to Wagon Wheel at 11:00 AM and there was a party before us. We were told to put our name on the waitlist and just as we were about to, the waitress sat us down at one end of a long bench, which worked out for us. We were handed menus and one of the workers took down our drink order. I got orange juice thinking it was fresh OJ as stated on the menu, but it was actually something similar to Tropicana. :/ The plastic cup they used was all chipped on the rim of the cup and I had to ask for a straw. Kind of disappointing. We sat there for about 15-20 minutes and no one took our order. I rose my hand to ask one of the ladies if she could take our order and she said no cuz she wasn't our server. We felt that was a bit rude and she could have definitely been more approachable about it. Anyways, our waitress finally attended us and took our order. The food came out and we weren't super excited about the aesthetics of our entrees at the price we were paying. I got the 1/2 Wagon Wheel breakfast which came with 2-3 eggs along with 1 piece of bacon and 1 sausage link along with 3 small pancakes for $10.50. My bf got the half order of huevos rancheros which came with tortilla, beans, a semi spicy sauce, and eggs for $10.50. Both were pretty bland. We asked for the check and it too our waitress almost 15-20 minutes to give us our change because she was too busy making small talk with other frequent customers and totally forgot about us paying. We had to flag her down a second time to get our change. Overall, not the best food or outdoor dining experience. Note: This place is cash only.

Had a quick bite after camping, and we found wagon wheel. It was so delicious and exceeded what we expected. It had a huge variety and you can definitely find something you want. I had a chicken steak with gravy and eggs (huge portions). It also came with a side of country potatoes and toast. For sweets, we got the Belgian waffles. The syrup and butter on top made it *chef kiss* in addition, the servers were super nice and the vibes were cool too ! Note: They only accept cash and Venmo, but they have an ATM inside if ya forget cash.

I just left this place 9/3/23. I was next in line. The woman at the cash register (pony tail) let two gentlemen walk up to the counter next to me and served them first and made me wait. I don't know why. He handed her a $20 and told her to keep the change. She could tell I was not pleased even though I was silent. The nice woman with short hair served me. I can't believe it. I can't explain why I was treated so poorly. No apology or explanation given. I literally did. I thing or said anything. So not deserved.

Food was amazing and really good and hit the spot. Lovely service and super nice. We were able to sit outside with our dog!

I was in town for the Big Sur running event and stopped by to grab a bite. I ordered the country fried chicken steak and first bite was good, but after the second bite I noticed the meat was stretchy, and rubbery. I could not finish my meal. The most edible items were the eggs and potatoes. They don't offer many options for coffee creamer besides half and half. Tourist prices and mediocre taste.

Had to find breakfast somewhere in Carmel and this is one of the few places open before 8:00 a.m. When I entered the restaurant there were no customers and I think there was a cook sitting at a table looking at his phone. He acknowledged me and said I could sit anywhere and handed a me a menu. It was a pretty big basic breakfast menu and I really couldn't figure out what I wanted but I always go with my staple corned beef hash. They said it was homemade so I decided to go with that and it came with three eggs which I had cooked over easy and chose an English muffin. Eventually the host came in and took my order. I didn't have any thing to drink except for water. So when the food came out I was a bit surprised because the corned beef hash looked a little bit odd to me. I definitely wasn't expecting the can stuff but it just looked different because it looked like it was sliced corned beef hash that was just chopped up with some potatoes and onions. I was hoping for something more dense. Mostly meat, not much in terms of potatoes which were chopped pretty small. So when I tried it it was actually pretty good. It was a bit on the greasy side but not bad. The eggs were fine and the English muffin was burnt a little burnt. So while I was eating my meal more people eventually came in so it was a better atmosphere. The hostess/server was attentive as he filled my water cup when needed. This place is cash only or Venmo so be prepared for that. Overall a pretty good breakfast place even though I probably have to be back to try other dishes. Solid ***.

The food is wonderful comfort breakfast food. Haven't tried anything else. Love the busyness of the mornings.

This was an awesome place to stop. I had breakfast my wife had lunch. Dog friendly outside. The service was outstanding. Must use cash or Venmo.

Nice outside seating but very limited. Otherwise this is a pretty expensive breakfast joint with a western themed decor. It's more quiet here than downtown Carmel if you're looking for that.

So cute. Tucked in the mountain quite and beautiful environment. Service was great made great recommendations. Food was tasty and will definitely go back.

Grub 'n Go. The location next to the Quail Lodge is very convenient for those on a golf weekend, and probably accounts for the highish prices at this longstanding breakfast place. Since Cafe Stravaganza closed, my honey and I were searching for a quick breakfast place in the Carmel Valley vicinity. This cafe serves up very traditional breakfast selections, and my husband ordered a large breakfast spread with bacon, eggs, hashed browns and English muffins. I opted for a poppy seed muffin, as there were pretty much no vegetarian options other than fruit or oatmeal. His breakfast was well cooked, and the muffin was actually large and delicious. Service was decent and we were on our way quicly. This place is the bookend to the Baja Cantina Grill & Filling Station, which is located nearby. Between the two of them, they provide grub for breakfast and dinner.

One of the best coffee houses restaurants in Santa Cruz friendly great food round table if you are alone and want company in

Excellent traditional breakfast at Carmel.We all loved it.Buttermilk Pancakes with walnuts and banana was the best.