101 Diner

This place has great food (especially eggs Benedict) and great service. I go every few weeks and I wish I could go more often. Really good location and a super cute restaurant. Definitely would recommend going there and trying anything on the menu. Best acai bowl, eggs Benedict, crepes, and pancakes I’ve ever had

This place is bomb. The 30min drive was well worth it. Everything on the menu is good.

He had the the Californian, add kielbasa. He said this is in his top 5 of omelets ever! The salsa has great flavor, too. I had the bacon waffle with eggs and bacon (yes, I love bacon!). I would have preferred the bacon be in the batter, rather than on top, but still enjoyed it thoroughly. We also got a small taste of the gravy and if we weren’t suffers would have ordered biscuits and gravy right then and there, but that must wait for our next visit.

I got the stuffed French toast and a side of bacon. I wasn’t a fan. The French toast was just okay and the bacon was burnt

I have been eatting at this dinner for years and have descided that this is the Best breakfast anywhere! Don’t be afraid to try anything. It’s all GOOD! Don’t forget to try the Cardiff crack benedict it’s delicious!

Came here jonesing for some legit diner food after a long run and dominated some really good diner food. The California Omelet and the waffle were on tap and the lady got a California Benedict, both were super tasty. Service was fast friendly and on top of their game with a moderately busy day going on. I would definitely come back to this place for the food, good bacon crispiness, good hashbrowns and all together super tasty.

We always take our house guests here for breakfast. Omelettes, huevos rancheros, eggs benedict at a very cool location. Easy parking and great service. Good coffee and the food comes out super fast!

Hefty old school breakfast!
I was sick and tired of those foofie overpriced skimpy breakfasts you get all over the place, so I asked mu niece for a «real breakfast» place and sent me here! I was so impressed that I called Santa and put in a few good words for her!
The food is delicious, and made with fresh ingredients. The plates are NOT skimpy, and the coffee is not awesome, but good!
Our sever was on top of her game. The food arrived on time and everything was exactly as we had ordered. What else could I expect?! So I have no choice but to go back next time I am around in Encinitas!

Amazing breakfast spot! Hit the spot!! Love the service! Ordered an omelette, the tropical fruit crepes, and tried the Acai Bowl! Everything was delicious ! The bacon and cheese omelette had fresh avocado and taste great with an English muffin!

Though I consider myself a surfer foremost, I don’t go all gonzo over a place just because it’s full of surf-​related posters, boards and photos. If I wanted to see all that crap, I’d simply go to one of the many surf-​shops in the area or spend some time in my garage. My purpose here was to eat and it being our first time, we opted for the whore-​made crab cakes. They spell it «Ho-​made» but I’m sure this was just a ghetto-​inspired spelling mistake. It sounded gross but our waitress assured us they were made in the kitchen by the cook and not by any whores that they knew of. We were relieved.
The OJ was fresh, service, restroom, dining area all proletarian-​basic and you knew that if Hwy 101 didn’t exist, neither would the diner. Such is life in these small beach-​towns.
The crab-​cakes eggs Benedict were good and a little on the pricey side @$ 12. No, they’d never be good enough to get Donald Trump in, even with ho-​made items, but they hit the spot and we left sated especially with the savory fried potatoes as a side. The waitress was outgoing and attentive and it is because of her we’d return, not necessarily any «Ho-​made» anything.
And somehow I doubt the practitioners of the Self-​Realization Fellowship («Swami’s») just down a block are regulars here but it’s obviously very popular with the other locals, even some surf rats.
(apologies to 101 Café)

This place is a true diner through and through!
We ventured out here one scorching hot Saturday to try their corned beef hash. I was craving for some and this joint came up on my search. We also tried their baked apple pancake — which I must say is the crowd favorite and there’s a reason for it! It is baked to order and it’s perfectly sweet and the apples still had a good crunch. My eyes ordered for me and I ended up getting corned beef hash benedict with a side of hashbrowns. The food was simple but done really well! I was really surprised and impressed with this place.
Service was not bad. Our waitress was friendly and refilled our water cups promptly. Finding a parking spot can be a real pain. We ended up circling the area three times before we lucked out on a spot nearby. I suggest that if you go, go early in the morning rather than later.
I will definitely drag DH back to this place should we crave for some more baked apple pancake! :D there’s also a trendy coffee spot next door that we want to check out.

Casual diner with great food and friendly service. We waited about 10 minutes for a table. Inside was a bit warm (no AC) and some of the outside tables were in the sun. But … there’s a secret patio in the back. We lucked out and got a shady spot there and it was perfect.
The menu was very enticing so we split 2 entrees. First, crab cakes Benedict. This might be my favorite breakfast ever. Deliciously different Benedict with a not too spicy jalapeño hollandaise, perfectly poached egg and a really good crab cake. We got it with potatoes.
Our second entrée was the baked apple pancake, a specialty of the house. It takes a little longer to bake but so totally worth it! Crispy, sugary edges. Soft custardy middle. Baked apples throughout. My husband suggested they add a scoop of ice cream. I think he was just kidding.
Service was very friendly. Not rushed but adequately attentive. Great vacation breakfast!

I went in here the other day with my daughter. There were people eating at two other tables when we walked in right past the waitress. We sat down and waited a few minutes. The same waitress shows up and says «Oh we are closed now».
Gosh, thanks! How bouts you put a «Closed» Sign out front? How bouts you don’t just ignore the two people that walked in and sat down right before your eyes?
Sheesh Encinitas 101 strip sure has lost its appeal due to poor service.
Scott S, I am not threatening your server with anything review as you claim. I am in fact giving the venue a factual review of my experience there. You should clean up your greasy worn out old shop as well as your foul language and out dated euphemism. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it boy.
Scott S. Thank for expressing your true thoughts about your customers.

THis place is great, food is good, the staff is super freindly, and the prices are right where they should be. My family goes here every weekend, and we wont be stopping anytime soon.
Recommend trying the chicken and waffles, very tasty!

Bit of a wait for a table but that just goes to the popularity of the place! Loved the avocado, cheese and bacon omelette. Highly recommend!

I ate here 2 times the last 3 days for breakfast. Today I had the carnitas Benedict at the recommendation of the waitress. Wow! Absolutely loved it!
I sat at the bar by the grill. Good ambiance and good vibe. Will come back again!

Amazing place all around for breakfast. We went here on a weekday and had no wait at all. I have seen this place get pretty packed on the weekends, so be ware. I get an old school diner vibe here from the ambiance as well as the staff.
I got the chicken machaca omelette that comes with salsa, sour cream, guacamole with a side of their special hash browns. The portions are extremely large and definitely filling. There was a lot of meat inside of the omelette and not too much fillers. Also got the amazing and tasty Baked Apple Pancake. This was packed with great flavor and definitely satisfied our morning sweet. This is something you should definitely share with someone or a few people. We had the waitress treat it as our dessert and bring it out fresh after we ate our food.
Parking is hit or miss depending on the day you go. There are some seats outside that aren’t as comfortable as the ones inside. Dogs are ok outside. They have daily and weekly specials. Check this place out for a cheat day.

Tucked in the town of Encinitas on South Coast Hwy, the 101 Diner is a top spot for breakfast and lunch. I can’t say I’ve tried their lunch, but I can share a review on their breakfast.
The menu is mouth watering. It’s really hard to come to a place like this when you’re on a diet but I opted for something more healthy-​ish.
I ordered the veggie egg white omelette with a side of fruit. Delicious. They have a signature Apple Cinnamon Sugar Pancake that my husband and I had to try. This came for dessert. (I felt it needed to be capitalized it was just that good). This is a must– fresh out of the oven, it is one giant pancake baked with warm apples and cinnamon sugar. It practically melted in my mouth.
The service here is phenomenal. This is what makes the restaurant right? Our waitress was the only one serving that morning and she was on top of everything– nice, funny, personable. Really made me feel as if I’m a regular at this restaurant, although it was my first time. Needless to say, she got a nice little tip ;).
The ambiance is just like your good old fashioned diner– 50s decorations all over the walls, etc. This is a great spot to come if you are looking for a superb breakfast. Did I mention they served breakfast all day? :)

101 is one of our favorite weekend breakfast spots. It’s a really popular spot! There’s outside and inside dining. A lot of people bring dogs and eat out front. You can put your name on a list and wait, or do what we do — look inside and see if there are any spots open at the breakfast counter. We always are able to find 2 spots. No wait and you can watch all the action of the busy kitchen!
We ordered an acai bowl to share. No need to get the large. It’s HUGE. The small is plenty for two people to share if you’re getting something else with it. We ordered the special of the day, a carne asada omelet. They even split it on two plates for us. It was delicious!
The diner is a blast from the past and exactly what you’d imagine for a vintage diner on the 101!
Casual, good food and nostalgia! We’ll be back for sure!

Love this breakfast spot, quick service, usually a wait for a table on the weekends or after 9am so show up early. Sitting at the bar is my favorite way to dine so we can watch the chef make our breakfast right there and the staff is prompt with the coffee and water.
The benedicts are awesome as well as the waffles and acai bowls. Never had a bad breakfast there and have been back several times. You can order a half breakfast, but it is better to bring a friend and just share.