Little Red Hen

Great food and great service! We went here as a regular breakfast spot while staying in the area with friends. The portions are pretty big (eggs come with a side of a choice of bacon, different kinds of sausages, or ham, also choice of grits, rice, hashbrowns, or home fries, and a choice of a pancake, biscuits, or toast). Haven’t tried their lunch. Ask for the «Slap Ya Mama» *hot* one!

We tried this place for the first time recently and it was such a fun surprise. We sat down at the counter after being told the table that we tried to sit at was about to break. We quickly realized the counter was a much more fun spot, as we where entertained by Jo all throughout our breakfast :) I ordered an OJ, but Jo said, «Let me give you some of my lemon mint water first, you probably won’t want the OJ». She was right, it was amazing and FREE!
I ordered eggs over easy with the homemade chicken sausage. Delicious! Boyfriend got the SOS (which included the same sausage mixed up in a pan gravy), and almost finished it, WAY too much to eat! He went crazy for the coffee. I think it was just some cheap Yuban or something, but sometimes its not about that… its about the person making it… and maybe the funky old mug its served in.
Once breakfast was served, we where instructed to use the cajun seasoning salt on our eggs and we where happy we did :) I went out and bought some a few days after.
The place is really tiny and I know some complain about the wait, but we went early and had no issues getting served right away, along with great conversation with Jo, who is hysterical!
We look forward to going back and trying some of the other southern specialties and of course seeing Jo again: D

Worth the wait to eat and enjoy the atmosphere :)
We tried to go to the JPL open house, and after waiting hours on the freeway, we decided to eat in the area instead. We happened upon this little place, and wanted to give it a try — I’m from Texas and my boyfriend loves food.
Limited seating, just a little teeny diner, with the barstools and a couple tables.
We waited quite a bit for our food, but it was actually nice to observe the other customers or the cooks/​waitress or just sit and chat. A lovely experience, the food was great, and wasn’t too expensive.

A week or so back I ran into a firecracker of a lady who told me to come by the Little Red Hen for the best breakfast I ever had. This morning I kept up my end of the bargain and a promise was delivered on. Truth told I don’t know for certain that it was the best breakfast that I have EVER had but (and I’ll preface this by begging her pardon for the harsh language) it was a DAMN fine breakfast and I plan on going back soon.

This place is amazing! Joe, your congenial waitress, will get you good food! Homemade sausage, amazing french toast, breakfast to order, be here soon!

I like to think I’m an ox tail connoisseur. Unfortunately, they were out when I arrived. If you like ox tail, call to confirm they are available that day. So, I went with the smothered steak. Again, anything with gravy is «all good» in my book. Unfortunately, the gravy and steak was under seasoned. Rather than season my food after the fact… I like my meals seasoned while it is cooking. As an option, they have table seasonings with «hot» ratings called «Slap Ya Mama». My advice for the owner (s), cook (s)… add sautéed mushrooms and/​or sweet onions with the gravy. And please, don’t be frugal with the mushrooms and onions. This will make your smothered steak a «Tadow»!

My boyfriend and I came here thinking we would get to stuff our bellies with their delicious French toast. I have been here before with a friend, and it was absolutely a delight. As soon as we put in our order (two French toast meals with a biscuit) we got out coffee and waited happily. About thirty minutes later we get half of one of our orders (eggs, hashbrowns, and bacon). She also gave us toast (?) which we knew wasn’t part of our order. We asked her if this comes with our meal and she said it did. Ten minutes later she comes back telling us that we got the wrong order but we could finish it anyways. When she asked why I wasn’t eating, I told her it was because the rest of our order did not come out yet, and she proceeded to go on about how we got the wrong food. A little over an hour later, my boyfriend and I cancelled the second order and paid $ 10.60 for eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, and toast.
Side note: We were the only Asians in an area that’s predominately African American, and we felt racially excluded. People that got there after us got their food first.
Will not be coming here ever again.

OK the people here are so nice and it’s family owned. The only thing tho is you need to have 2 hours to spare. The cook prepares each order one by one — we waited 90 minutes plus for eggs and bacon. There is a sign on the wall that says this is NOT fast food and man has a tin sign never been more right! Just be prepared to wait a very very long time for your food.

Loved the French toast and their grits! The down home feel adds a nice comfort to good, slow, southern cooking. The owners are welcoming and funny.

One of the best spots in town! I love the food, it is really good. I love the small cozy home style setting. IF YOU ARE IN A RUSH, do not go because it is always busy and only one stove and cook. So wait time can be very long, however, I enjoy Sabrina as the waitress. Jo is nice as well. Food is just amazing. In the last month, I think I have been 4 or 5 times.

While the food is delicious, DONT go here if you’re in any rush to eat. We were the first 2 of 6 customers and our order took 45min to be served. I understand this is not a fast food restaurant, but my goodness this is the slowest service I’ve ever had! For simple breakfast food, And we came in AFTER the lunch crowd! We were quite annoyed that the people that sat next to us ordered after us, but got their food before us. The people seem very nice, but this is some of the worst food service we’ve ever experienced. We ended up asking to have our food for take out. Won’t be coming back anytime soon.

We were going to JPL for their annual open house, but sadly never made it because it was too packed. That’s a story for another day, but it’s the beginning to our story of discovering The Little Red Hen in Altadena.
We were disappointed and starving, having sat in dead traffic for nearly 3 hours. So we decided to make the best of it and look for a nice place to eat before heading back to the Valley. The Little Red Hen (love the name) is a little, unassuming spot and has little sitting room. There was no two free stools next to each other when we stepped in, but the lady behind the counter kindly asked other patrons to scoot over so my girlfriend and I could sit together. It was nice because it gave a sense of community.
That lady, whose name I didn’t get, couldn’t have been gentler and nicer. Very welcoming and motherly. My girlfriend ordered the pork chop and I ordered chicken and waffles, and then we waited. We admired their decorations and cooking appliances that were decades old, and waited some more. We had pleasant small talk and enjoyed the ambiance, and continued to wait.
So…yeah, we had to do some waiting for our food. I’m amazed we didn’t pass out from hunger. The restaurant reminds you politely that they are not, for better or worse, a fast food place. Indeed. They also gently remind you that no swearing will be tolerated. It’s just a nice, kind place. Thankfully, our food came eventually and it was scrumptious! Buttery, crispy, nutty waffles (the scent of which makes you want to take a nice, deep breath to fill your lungs before you fill your tummy) and crispy, tender chicken bursting with spices. My girlfriend loved her chop too. Would try again when I’m in the neighborhood. We loved that lady!

The epitome of comfort food.
Well seasoned southern style cooking. As if you were transported to a rural dinner in the South. The delicious food is accompanied by an energetic, often comical hostess. Is as if she knew you growing up and you’ve stopped by to say Hi.
Awesome atmosphere. It’s not pretentious, just down to earth honest to goodness home cooking.
Everything we ate had a kick of flavor. The French toast as suggested were «to die for». Home made sausage was full of flavor and the grits concave to create a reservoir for a pull of butter.
Leave your diet at the door, and prepare to unbutton those skinny jeans, but trust me… it’s totally worth it.

This place is as old school mamas kitchen as you can get.
Nothing fancy, great pictures on the wall, music was old school 70’s R&B.
Lemon or Mint water, sodas or coffee that’s it for the drinks.
Food was great. I had the low rider on a biscuit. Delicious!
French Toast was amazingly perfect.
You do have to wait a bit for your food but it’s way worth it.
People that were working there as well as the other customers were welcoming and funny.
It’s a great gem for our little neighborhood in Altadena.
We will be back!

So I’ve been in the Altadena for several years now and this place always comes up when I look for breakfast places but for some reason I always skipped over it not sure why exactly.
Recently a friend and I decided to stop in for breakfast — well I’ve got to admit I am glad I didn’t discover this place before because if I had of I would be big as a house. This food is pretty great, I honestly felt like I was in my friends mother’s kitchen.
The french toast is GREAT, didn’t need to put anything on it, you can eat it without syrup, it’s that good. Everything else I had had great flavor and was truly satisfying. I will definitely be going back to try a few things on their menu but I really do have to limit myself. This is not a place for dieters or health consious eaters but if you are going to treat yourself this is the place to come.
Prices are reasonable, service is awesome, and food is DELICIOUS !!!

Pretty good, yummy food. Like eating a hearty home cooked breakfast! Used to be our go-​to breakfast place, despite the impatient attitude of who works there AND the fact that everything you order, no matter what, takes 45 – 60 minutes to get. Minus 1 star for that.
Because of how slow they are, we made it work by ordering for pick up. With a new baby, it was a great treat from time to time without having to deal with the production of dragging baby out and waiting in a restaurant for a couple hours. But I was angrily informed last time I called that they no longer do phone orders because people don’t pick up their food, in a way as if I was personally responsible. Was told very angrily I have to walk into the restaurant, order and pay then I can leave with it. We’ve never EVER not picked up our breakfast. was honestly a bit offended. So minus another star for that.
We’ll never have time to come in, wait then eat, can’t order for take out; basically, we’ll never eat there again. Quite unfortunate.

Great neighborhood hang out. Good simple All-​American breakfast served until 2 PM. The French toast and homemade chicken and pork sausage are to die for.
Also homemade-​tasting burger-​very popular with my son!
Very friendly lovely people… this will definitely become a regular hang out now that we live in Altadena!

This is an attempt at soul food in a messy restaurant. As if that’s not enough they go out of their way to cook as slowly as possible.
I ordered two omelets with hash browns. The place had only two other customers that had already ordered, but it took almost 45 min for me to get the food.
The taste was indistinguishable from any chain restaurant — ie IHOP or Dennie’s.
Go somewhere else and save your time.

Absolutely love this place. Saturday they have a chicken and waffle special that I get and my wife loves the French toast. Potatoes are good too.
My wife and I always order to go since we recently had a baby but food is always good and staff is friendly.

My son and I wanted not just any breakfast, but a good breakfast. I love the home potatoes with onions,