Cafe Topes

This place is phenomenal. Been coming here for over a year now and looooove ittttt. Their cinnamon rolls are literally to die for… not too sweet… not too much. Just right. Their coffee is so smooth and delicious. The Crack and eggs is definitely Crack. I’ve turned a handful of people on to this place and not one of them isn’t hooked! Plus, for it being cool, hip, and local, it’s got a great vibe — not snooty or rude.

Atmosphere was awesome– good vibes. I had the salmon caper Benedict. It was a bit on the salty side but delicious non the less. I totally Loved the lavender mocha. I wish I could recreate it at home. The flavor was so unusual and comforting.

Came here for breakfast with my fiancé this pass Friday. You order your food first, they give you a number and then you sit. When we came here there was only 2 people in front of us but damn after we were done ordering, the line was almost around the patio. I’m sure it is very chaotic on the weekends. It took a while to order and for them to bring our food but the food was really delicious! I ordered the make your own omelette. So delicious and big! I’m a cheese lover and they loaded my omelette with cheese! I didn’t even ask for extra cheese! My fiancé ordered the pulled pork Benedict, he loved it. The food is filling, both of us couldn’t finish our food. Fiancé took the leftovers. I would probably avoid this place on weekends or if you are in a rush but I would come again during the weekday. The food was really good :)

Wow, wow, wow. Restaurant is 1 block south of Carlsbad Village Dr, it’s a little tucked away. You order at the counter, get a number and a server brings your food over. There’s indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor seating is limited but we found a table right away. We went on a Saturday morning, arrived around 1030am and we only waited in line about 3 min, not bad for being a breakfast/​brunch location.
I ordered the Crack’n’ Benedict and the Gone to Maui pancakes. Each was an entire meal but decided to get both once I asked if the pancake ingredients, (shreded coconut, macadamia nuts, bananas) were added to the pancake mix or sprinkled on top and was told they’re added to the mix. In my opinion, that’s the best way to go! The cream cheese frosting on the pancakes where mixed with banana and it was oh so heavenly, definitely for banana lovers! Warning, they add pretty big chunks of macadamia to the pancake mix so if you’re not into that, you may want to stay away.
The Crack’n Benedict’s had a rich and insanely good Hollandaise sauce. Tasted home made. The tri-​tip was so tender and was very well seasoned. I ordered hashbrowns which were nothing special. After seeing the seasoned potatoes on someone else’s plate, I wish I would’ve ordered that with my eggs instead. Overall the hashbrowns weren’t bad at all, they were just plain. Which was fine with how delicious the Benedicts were.
My friend ordered the French Toast with a side of bacon. The french toast were very average but the bacon was delicious. It was just slightly undercooked, which I prefer but isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So I suggest if you want it crispier, you ask for that. My friend also ordered chocolate milk, (I think he thought he was 5 again) and the milk was lukewarm at best and not very much chocolate syrup was added, even after he asked for colder milk & more syrup.
We left around 1130 and the line was a bit long.
Overall, this place was awesome, service was awesome, food even better. Definitely a must go to place for breakfast/​brunch.

We came here for lunch yesterday with the family. It is a stand in line to order and find a table type of thing. You would think the line would move fast but it took forever for people to order. Cute little restaurant though with indoor/​outdoor seating. Love the succulent wall.
FOOD — They have a lot of Cardiff’s Tri Tip aka Crack on their menu. The only time I have ever had the «crack» was at Petco Park, which is a must at every single game.
Crack Salad — Standard romaine, tomatoes, and onions. They throw in some bleu cheese and bacon as well. The crack was very well seasoned and cooked perfectly.
Classic Eggs Benedict — I did not try it but my brother’s gf seemed to enjoy it. It was nicely presented.
Crack Eggs Benedict — I did not try this either but I assume it was good because the first thing my brother said when he took a bite was «wow». It looked yummy!
Crack & Eggs — Nice piece of crack with two eggs. They give you two large slices of toast on the side. My fiancé got the hash browns and I loved how they were cooked. Crispy but not burnt. Crispy to where it had the nice crunch.
Tuna Sandwich — My dad liked it in general but did not like the side of fries. Parents thought the fries were way too soggy.
Overall, it is a nice little spot for breakfast/​brunch/​lunch. Not sure if we would go out of our way to come here but if we were close, we would stop by again.

OMG! If you haven’t already tried this place, you owe it to yourself to get there soon. I recommend getting there early or late in order to avoid the rush.
I had the CT Bacon Steak. I highly recommend it! You can get it cooked medium or crunchy. I went crunchy and must say… perfection…in fact, beyond perfection!
A must stop any time we’re in the area.

This place was great. A neighborhood gem. We came for breakfast on a Saturday and there was a line out the door. The staff was friendly and efficient. The venue was clean and hipster-​like. I like their menu but I didn’t really like what I got — The Bacon Steak. I loved my Pomagranate Lemonade, I also wanted Horchata but I didn’t get it. I still rated it 5 stars. I tried my friends dirty cinnamon roll and it was amazing. I’ll definitely come back for more.

Got to love a restaurant that features Cardiff Crack… don’t be alarmed… it is the famous Tri-​Tip from Seaside Market in Leucadia… my favorite place for lunch or breakfast.
A gastropub without the pub.
Highly recommended to all Foodies.

The first thing you’ll notice about this place is the amazing décor of succulents! What a unique and yet simple design that really represents this place.
We made an accidental pit stop here on our way to the flower fields. Since we figured we didn’t want to be hungry at the fields we exited and looked for this place (since it has a bunch of stars).
We arrived and what you do is you approach the counter and seat yourselves. The host doesn’t you, which I think is a better system than a host sitting you, especially the atmosphere of this place.
The food is amazing here! My gf ordered the Oreo pancakes while I got the country fried steak. All were Very delicious.
I’ll definitely be coming back to this place

Incredible breakfast! Their cinnamon roll is out of this world, fluffy and cooked to perfection. I had the chorizo breakfast burrito and my brother the French toast sandwich. Both were amazing! Best breakfast I’ve had in Carlsbad!

4 ½ stars, really cute place. I went here for breakfast today and sat on the sidewalk patio. It was a beautiful day in Carlsbad today. I loved how easy it was ordering at the counter. You get the benefit of somebody helping you at your table by dropping off the food and cleaning up. But you don’t get the extra expense of waiter service.
I had the veggie omelette which was hands-​down the best that i have ever had. It was filled with onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, arugula and green peppers. I think it even had some basil mixed in the last minute. It was super fresh and healthy. 5 stars.
My omelette came with hashbrowns which were very good and I got sourdough toast. My only complaint is they def need to double the side of hashbrowns! It was a very thin layer on the plate and it needed more of it as I ran out way before I finished my omelette. Potatoes are cheap, serve more hashbrowns with your dishes it’s a great filler and makes it seem like more value.
I met the owner and you can tell he takes big time pride in his restaurant. I cannot wait to come back and bring my wife! The food was excellent and it is a really cute place in downtown Carlsbad.

Great breakfast spot in Carlsbad! I love that they have Stumptown coffee, the menu is simple, and the ingredients are mostly natural. Now that my husband and I are back on the Paleo plan, the choices for eating out are limited. We came here on a Sunday morning, and the line was LONG, but worth it! It moved pretty fast and efficient for the most part
The food: My husband had the crack n eggs, and I opted for the C.T. bacon steak. We both declined having toast on the side. Both dishes were delicious! The tri tip in the crack in eggs was perfectly cooked, and the pork belly had a nice caramelized flavor to it.
Prices: a little high, but expected for Carlsbad. I truly believe you get what you pay for, and the ingredients here are of good quality
Atmosphere: Good ambiance — you wait in line to order, then pick a table anywhere where they deliver the food to you. I love the fact that they go out of their way to NOT have wi-​fi, which is trending now in places like these. It’s nice to become unglued to your phone and just simply eat and enjoy the company of others sometimes. The décor is rustic chic, and I love the succulent wall next to the bathrooms
I will return again in the future next time I’m in the area

A bit confusing as we sat outside waiting for service never to receive any only to find out that you have to stand in line to order. The line took forever and so did the food. I get pork belly all the top and while it looks delish it was terrible. They also charge 50 cents for a refill of coffee.

SO FREAKING GOOD! Ok first off, upon arriving I got a spot right in front of the entrance: how awesome is that?! Secondly, I love the «order your food and then find a table» dining. Gets the job done fast! It was such a nice day out and eating brunch there definitely made the day better. Last but not least, my boyfriend and I ordered the chorizo benedict (with soyrizo) and my boyfriend got eggs sausage and the kapn krunch french toast.
Let me TELL YOU… the french toast though! WOW! Probably the best french toast I’ve ever had. Cripsy, sweet and fluffy. So good! But let me tell you about the benedict: melts in your mouth, the soyrizo was the perfect amount of heat and consistency and the hollandaise sauce was really, really good. I’m telling you, waiting 15 min or so in line was so worth it. I could come here every day for breakfast, if I only lived in Carlsbad!

Total fan. I had no idea this place was even here but so happy that I was brought here. Open and airy with herbs on the wall and a very natural and casual ambiance. You order at the counter, they give you a number and they bring your food to you. Fantastic menu of fabulous salads, burgers, grass fed of course, sando’s and breakfast options that will make your mouth water.
We ordered one french press coffee and they brought us the whole press, full pot! My friend had the chicken sandwich with cheese, avocado on a nice grainy wheat bread. It was a bit greasy from the buttered and lightly grilled bread. It was just ok. The chicken could use a little seasoning. I ordered the choose your own omelet. Added avocado, soyrizo and mushroom. The eggs were a bit overcooked, I really like my omelets a bit softer if you know what I mean. The wheat toast is really nice and the fruit is berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and not just melon. They have scricha available which is a must for me. I have to mention that a lot of patrons were having some type of benedict. Soy or chorizo, ham etc but they looked delish. Maybe next time, I will order one of those. Worth a lunch stop.

I really loved this place! It was super cute and the food was delicious!
My husband and I came on a weekday for brunch and we were surprised with how delicious the food was and how large the portions were!
I got the T-​Breakfast which was scrambled eggs with bacon and cheese and a side of potatoes and toast. My husband got the steak and eggs and some hot tea.
We both were very happy with our meals and were absolutely stuffed when we left!
Parking in this area is kind of sucky but we were able to snag a spot right in front!
I highly recommend!

This is a small brunch place that has awesome interiors… And of course, awesome food.
They serve Stumptown coffee which is in and of itself, a great start to any day. The food is just seasoned right. I got the Mexican scramble and it wasn’t too salty, neither was is bland, it was just perfect. Food came out pretty quickly too with great service!
The line when I came here was not for waiting tables but for putting your order in. They only have one cashier which is a downer but the turnover for tables are pretty quick so you can find a spot as soon as you have done ordering.
Will definitely come back here for more as their menu is pretty extensive and everything looked good and worth trying.

Locals spot. Those biscuits though… now, on to the review…
Just came back from a very action packed weekend in Carlsbad/​San Diego County. What a weekend it was! Belle T. spotted this location while searching for a solid breakfast joint close to the marathon area. Parking was tight on this particular day due to the event and street closures. Not an issue or a deterrent. It’s Carlsbad — you’re by the ocean, the weather is gorgeous, what more do you need?
Anyhow, there was a line, which for a Saturday morning should be expected in a place like Café Topes. But, don’t get discouraged. We were in line for MAYBE 5 – 7 minutes, max. Our food was delivered in less than 15 minutes from the time ordered and that’s being conservative. It was closer to 10 minutes, to be honest.
I ordered the Crack’n Benedict and Belle ordered The James — both plates were huge. SO.MUCH.FOOD! My dish, which was composed of their specialty tri-​tip, a perfectly poached egg and a kick ass homemade hollandaise sauce sitting on top of one hell of an english muffin, was served with breakfast potatoes (needed a dash of salt) and I could only eat half. Believe it or not, it was even better the next day! It was absolutely delicious. Like, ridiculously good. Like, can’t stop talking about it good. Like, looking for reasons to drive to Carlsbad for the sole purposes of eating it again, good. Yes, that good. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, I took a bite of Belle’s dish. C’mon son. Stop. Just stop. That biscuit alone will make you close your eyes for a moment and take a deep breath before you catch the holy ghost and celebrate it’s divine goodness. The chicken fried steak was probably the best I’ve ever tasted. They had the nerve to top the steak with fried eggs, gravy and then strips of bacon. Really, Café Topes? REALLY? Truly, that dish was the best version I’ve ever had. And I’ve had my fair share of CFS — Café Topes’ version is at the top of the list. The bar has been set.
Belle had the french press coffee, which she seemed to enjoy. The service itself was solid. It’s kind of DIY/​SomeTableService hybrid model. Your food is delivered to you but if you want water or a to-​go container, it’s on you to get it. I didn’t see that much actual wait staff during our short time there. That said, it wasn’t an issue. Believe me, it didn’t negate the quality and taste of their food.
I strongly recommend and will make it a point to return!

Had this place bookmarked for a while and decided today to come for breakfast. My boyfriend and I arrived around 11:45am on a Sunday and the line was out the door. We decided to wait anyway because of the great reviews this place has. 30 minutes go by and we finally ordered our food, you order at the counter take a number and find a table. Something I disliked was people who haven’t even ordered yet were grabbing tables left and right, I think that’s a bit unfair for the people who have already ordered and need a table; luckily we found a table outside.
Once we sat the wait for the food wasn’t long at all, it came out in about 5 minutes, and our drinks came a couple minutes after our food. I ordered the Mac n Benedict which had crab and avocado on it and also a lemonade, my boyfriend ordered the crack n eggs and orange juice. I loved my Benedict and my lemonade, the crab tasted excellent and fresh. Overall very delicious Benedict. The potatoes that came with it were very delicious and was a tad bit spicy with the peppers in it, it had excellent flavor. The downside on the lemonade was the amount of ice they put in it, I’d say no or low ice next time so I can have more lemonade to enjoy throughout my meal. My boyfriend wasn’t a huge fan of his food, he thought it was just average and the steak and eggs could of been cooked more he also only got 1 piece of toast, but he did agree that the potatoes were great.
The décor is really unique and cool, a good size of outdoor seating. Unfortunately you get no service here, if you want a refill on a drink you have to go back to the counter. With how good I thought the food was I think I would like this place more if it was more of a sit down restaurant. Overall I will probably come back to try more of the menu, but I definitely won’t be coming back during a weekend.
Also they do not serve alcohol here. I would of loved to have a mimosa or a Bloody Mary with my meal, so that was really unfortunate that they do not serve those.

My husband and I came here for brunch/​lunch the other day since we were in the area strolling down the beach and he chose this place. I like that it’s kind of hidden and has a rustic mom and pop shop feel to it, which I love. It wasn’t too busy since it was on a weekday but menus were located in a bin right outside the door, there’s a scroll on the wall with today’s specials and a wall of succulents that was really pretty.
I also love the sign about no WIFI, talk to one another which I totally agree! I went with the eggs benedict with «crack» as in the «cardiff crack» that we all know and love and my husband got the breakfast sandwich with hashbrowns. It may sound small but they came out with this huge bread slathered with eggs, bacon and cheese. We got our lattes and iced tea almost immediately so it gave us a chance to just talk and hang out while waiting for our food.
The place is small with limited seating but there’s also outdoor seating and it gives it a great cozy feel to the place. I think that as I get older, I prefer smaller places with less people.
As we were leaving, we also noticed that they had a dog bowl of water out, very cool so it means it’s dog friendly.