The Original Park Pantry

Hand-​breaded chicken fingers and traditional-​style ranch dressing are a big favorite! This is a classic diner spot, so you can fill in the rest of the story on that.
Take home a pull-​apart cinnamon cake… you won’t be sorry. Well, maybe your waistline will be sorry…

I’ve become a regular at the pantry. I love their low cal salmon dish and their sirloin with blue cheesethat is «baseball cut,» and exceptionally tasty. I also had a burrito that was really quite good. The desserts are all homemade as are the salad dressings and jams. The veggies are usually lightly steamed and not boiled. It’s a great neighborhood Diner well worth a visit.

Eeehhh, I’ve had better pancakes. Their cinnamon French toast is the best breakfast (to me) they have on the menu.

My goto diner for the past many years. Menu is mixed, you’ll always fine something you’ll enjoy. Staff is friendly and food has always been well prepared.

It wasn’t super duper amazing but it was a yummy breakfast. I got a breakfast sandwich on sourdough bread which was yummy, can’t remember what my husband got. It was yummy but we went to Hot Java across the street for some coffee and wished we would have just had breakfast there… they had yummy pastries and breakfast items!

I’d never been to this place and was always curious to try it. After one of my morning runs I decided it was time.
Service was mediocre. My bf and I sat down and looked at their menu.
I decided on the blackened wahoo salad. And the bf went with the basic breakfast.
Food came out fast. Took a bite out of my fish and could barely chew through it. Talk about overcooked and hard as a rock! I just couldn’t eat it so I pushed it aside.
I took a bite off my bf’s toast and it tasted stale!
How is this happening?! They should really try their own food. The manager did comp my meal after I overheard our server and her discussing the situation and all I heard was «well what does she want then?!» …umm we can hear you. I didn’t even ask for a comp, just make food that is edible! Not coming back ever again. Left with an empty stomach :/

My family and I have been eating here for 13 years. It’s been awhile since we have had the opportunity to have breakfast here. Either this place has taken a turn for the worst or the manager was having an off today.
I ordered and omelette and hash browns. I had to send back my food as the eggs weren’t cooked. The server quickly addressed the situation. I was soon served the same omelette, which was a gooey, melted mess. I was confused as to why they didn’t make a fresh one, so on to round 3.
It’s difficult to serve craptastic eggs and hash browns, but thats what I got for round 3.
Now here’s the best part, when I had a chat with the manager after leaving my uneaten food. He put the blame on me AND the server and said basically that’s what I get for wanting my food over cooked. I pointed out that actually cooked and over cooked are two separate things.
In short, the manager didn’t seem to care. I just wanted him to know. Maybe the kitchen was having an off day, training someone new… You get my point. I’ve also never heard of a manager blaming the server.
At the end, I was the winner because I got stuck with paying the full bill, a lecture by the manager and I left hungry.
Mistakes happen, but I am sincerely appalled at management’s handling. (How about comping the food I didn’t eat?)

Chicken taquitos dinner was awful. Wet on the inside and burnt on the outside. Rice and beans barely warm. I asked for tea no lemon. Lemon was in the tea and the glass was dirty. I took one bite of taquito and spit it out in my napkin. Who puts salsa and cilantro on the inside of a taquito? This 12.00 dinner went into the trash. Did they take it off the Bill? No… the server asked if I wanted a box? I will not return to this place. Very cold and unfriendly atmosphere.

Cute little diner on close by the beach. Ordered the Italian omelette and was delicious! The basil in the omelette made the huge difference. Hash browns were great as well. The 4 instead of 5 stars because the biscuits and gravy was not that good. Other than that, I’d definitely come back. Service was great as well!

Very yummy place. Nice people, but crowded in the mornings. We walk here about once a week. The one thing we have quit doing here is ordering sodas because they’re almost $ 3! Homemade buns are delicious though! Recommended.

The Park Pantry has the ambience of a 24 hour diner without being open 24 hours a day. The lights are so bright sometimes when you’re not looking at the Windows, it could be anytime of the day.
This place refuses to market to the neighborhood, it stubbornly conforms to the Diner model. Whether central or Northern California, you’ll find a place like this along the 5 freeway. The cuisine is better, and thankfully the prices are just as reasonable. It kind of reminds me of a truck stop.
The ambience is good, variety in the old customer pool. I once overheard someone call it the gay aquarium. I thought that joke was in poor taste.
In all, it’ a great diner and in the 20 years I’ve gone, it’s always been solidly good food.

Why I like the Park Pantry? consistently good food, PERIOD! Is it a three-​star Michelin restaurant? No, but they never claimed to be such! Look, this is a dinner, plain and simple, with great food that is consistent in its delivery, fantastic specials and really good breakfasts! The service is good, tired and quiet in the mornings, which I like, don’t engage with me in the mornings because I’m also tired, just give me my refills and I’ll be on my way! They have FANTASTIC pancakes for breakfasts (served ALL DAY!) if you are watching your diet, they have low-​carb options in the menu. They have a «sports bar» in the back and tables facing the park for a great view during the summers. Fantastic cakes and breads (the zucchini bread is AMAZING!) and tons of cookies in the front. Cons: parking, other than that, enjoy their breakfast and look up for their daily specials! For comfort and simple good-​tasting dinner food, I recommend the Park Pantry, enjoy…

Great for breakfast lovers. I always get the cinnamon pull-​apart French toast combo… and it’s always delicious! Comes with eggs and great salty bacon. A little pricey @ $ 10.49, but hey, you only live once. Service is reliable and they also offer a rewards program for loyal customers. There’s patio seating if you want a view of the park next door.

Classic diner food and experience every day. I’ve enjoyed their turkey burger and sweet potato fries for dinner, but hands down best meals served here are the breakfasts! They also have alcohol if you’re in the mood for a beer at night or a mimosa in the morning. On weekends they bring out their best chefs so come for Saturday/​Sunday brunch, or to cure a hangover!
Random fact: there’s an awesome photo of Jeff Goldblum on the wall sitting with a model who is so thin she looks like she’s never even smelled a pancake

Tuesday morning around 9am went in for breakfast solo. Sat in a big booth next to the window, the view and bright light was pleasant. The restaurant seemed clean, table tops and floor was tidy. The bakery counter had lots of goodies which looked delicious.
My waiter had no personality, seemed very unhappy and was really abrupt. There were a couple waitresses and a hostess who were really kind, friendly, and happy though.
The coffee was good, nice and hot! They have flavored creamer if that’s what you like. A lot of menu items, you have many choices that’s for sure. I stuck with a weekday breakfast special; two eggs over medium hashbrowns crispy, and sourdough toast $ 5.99. The food was prepared lightning fast! The eggs were cooked perfectly, but they were quite small. My hashbrowns came out burnt. I said crispy not overcooked :/​And the portion ratio was way off, mostly potato barely any egg. They don’t use quality bread, the sourdough toast was flavorless and pretty small slices too.
There were a lot of regulars in there, which is surprising considering how unimpressive my food was.
I won’t be back, not enough wow factor to encourage me to try it again. On to the next place :)

This place is fantastic! It has the sprit of a true American diner. With a warm atmosphere and welcoming demeanor, Park Pantry creates a comfortable environment to enjoy a meal. Their food is classic diner faire, don’t expect anything mind blowingly fancy, but it’s definitely solid.
Upon suggestion, I tried their Portuguese sausage and eggs. It was a welcome change from what I almost ordered, my diner default of bacon and eggs. I definitely recommend it to anyone who might be interested. Apparently it’s quite good with rice and eggs, but I didn’t want anything too heavy.
The service was fast and with a smile. Cindy was my waitress and she was absolutely fantastic. In addition to being extremely attentive, she knew exactly when and when not to ask if I needed anything. I felt like she was always there when I needed something, but she never hovered. She even read my mind and bright me a to go box. Thanks!
I spent most of my life on the East coast and this rainy el niño weather had me in the mood for diner coffee and eggs. Park Pantry most certainly hit the spot. Thank you, again.

Great breakfast spot and with breakfast served 24hrs a day you can’t go wrong. The service is at a relaxing pace. I can enjoy breakfast and the company. Large or small group… they’ll make it happen. Omlettes are my favorite but it all looked amazing. Enjoy!

I highly recommend their Cinnamon Pull-​A-​Part French Toast. This dish was amazing! Super sweet and filling, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Get this if you have any type of sweet tooth craving.
I also tried their Black Bean and Cheese Taquitos, Mozzarella Sticks, Fettuccini Pasta and Pancake Combo. The food was all good. Me, my sister and nephew ate till we couldn’t eat anymore. The portions were big. One dish could easily feed 2 people. But hey leftovers are great too.
Just so you know, this place has a diner type feel to it. However the prices are a bit higher than most diners. The 3 of us cost about $ 45.

I came across this gem when I went to brunch. I told myself I’d come back to try this place out ! Totally worth the drive !
The service was a little slow but I didn’t mind since it was just one gal on her own waiting over 5 tables .
Me and my mother decided one person gets breakfast and the other lunch so we can try each others food !
I got the cinnamon pull apart French toast combo came with two over easy eggs & I chose bacon (sausage available as another option)
OMG so good ! Literally you can pull the French toast apart
My mother got the park burger wrk their homemade bun !
It was super delicious ! We couldn’t finish out food it was a good sized portion !
Each plate can run from $ 6-​$ 12 some are more .
Great waitress’s ! Super nice talkative and friendly .
Definitely felt comfortable .
You can sit outside if you’d like as well !

I’ve noticed that most of the reviews for this place are a solid 3 stars. I’m going on a whim and rounding up to 4, simply because the place makes freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and serves mimosas and madrases which as I see it, are the perfect addition to any breakfast or brunch.
Located on the corner of Junipero and Broadway directly across from Hot Java on the cusp of Alamitos Beach and Bluff Park lies this somewhat adequate alternative to IHOP let alone Denny’s.
Wait times can vary as my partner and I have driven up and walked directly in on a few occasions yet at others, the wait has been a good 35 – 40 minutes (I refuse…). Leading me to the food… The food here is — «Mehhh…», and while the menu is large in quantity, I can’t necessarily confess that anything really «spoke to me» while viewing it. We tend to support the non-​franchise establishments quite a bit, yet Park Pantry is quickly succumbing to the competition and guys,…this is NOT a good sign for a quaint, family friendly neighborhood establishment.
An extra star for the fact that pancakes here are made from scratch using REAL buttermilk, something you just don’t see these days. I’ve ordered everything from the breakfast burrito to the salmon yet neither struck me as being groundbreaking or revolutionary.
While the establishment boast an outside patio for basking within Long Beach’s «not so fresh air’, no doubt, it’s rendered null and void by all of the flies, gnats and mosquitoes that are certain to enjoy your meal twice as much as you probably will. I suppose I’ll charge this one to the game as you can’t fault an establishment for not providing mosquito repellent.
#funny-​how-​time-​flies (see what I did there?)
Customer service here rarely ever disappoints either yet I can’t shake the feeling of disorganization upon dining each time and attempting to render payment. Once… I handed my card to the server and the fool went into hibernation. No additional car payments or gym memberships were deducted that day but still… On another occasion, we walked directly to the register (to prevent the aforementioned fiasco from transpiring an additional time) and upon paying, the system completely shut down creating a line of impatient patrons all possessing full bellies and looking at us like we were dessert, …and the last time, I/​we simply elected to use cash yet —- within the ENTIRE establishment, no one was available to break a $ 50!
REALLY??? Were we paying in yen? Come on now!!!
From what I gather though, they’ve somewhat recently added «Happy Hour» to the menu and well, that’s definitely star worthy as I see it, lol. When in doubt, get em’ drunk!
I’m just led to question a few things and as always, provide my humble words of wisdom as a method of conclusion. In short, this place encompasses a plethora of potential. My suggestion however is they acquire wifi, peruse the reviews and politely commence with the implementation of all of our suggestions.
—-End review.