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    101 Diner

    4.4 (879 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 1:30 pm

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    101 DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - 101 Diner

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    Reviews With Photos

    Me at the bar
    Cathy L.

    What went well? EVERYTHING! What a find in Encinitas. Sunday morning 9 o'clock. Got lucky and found parking right on the street, walked in and got a seat at the bar. Alejandro waited on me and what a treat. So nice with lots of smiles for everybody who was there. And the food? Epic. Being able to order a small eggs Benedict and have an açai and fruit bowl pairing was perfect. I wanted to try it all and I was able to. The chipotle Carnitas eggs Benedict was to die for. Not too spicy, but so flavorful. The Carnitas was made perfectly. Lots of crunch. Avocado inside was tasty. The açai bowl was huge with lots of fresh fruit on it. And granola as well...I will be back for sure.

    Crepe with bananas and Nutella. Decadent.
    Craig W.

    Who doesn't love a good diner? Peek inside and the place looks like it stepped out of the distant past, maybe the 1950s or the 1960s. Surely they are masters at greasy bacon and eggs, day old coffee, and probably little else. Wrong. Very wrong. This place may look a little ordinary from the outside but there is nothing ordinary about it. It may look like a classic diner inside but it does not sling food like an old diner. The menu is well-written and the food is high quality, excellent, and borderline gourmet. Do not order eggs, bacon, and toast here. Swing for the cheap seats. We tried the Ham, Avocado and Tomato Eggs Benedict. The hollandaise sauce was fantastic. If I didn't care about remaining somewhere under 350 pounds, I would return every Saturday and eat my way through every single eggs benedict concoction on the menu and there are many such benedict creations from which to choose. The Banana Nutella crepe, with "whip" cream (not "whipped," apparently, we're gentle with our cream here, folks), was decadent. If you like your breakfasts on the sweet side, you will enjoy this one. The Tres Porkitos omelet (made with ham, bacon, sausage, and cheese) was hearty and just as good as it sounds. The breakfast potatoes were very nicely done but could have used a little more seasoning. There is a salt shaker (and numerous hot sauces) on the table for just these types of emergencies. Do NOT leave here without getting a freshly-made biscuit with butter and honey on the side. You have made a serious error in judgment if you leave without getting one of these. Even the freshly-squeezed orange juice was delicious. Our server was wonderful. No complaints. They have dining inside or on the patio. Encinitas is a delightful community. While I loved the old school diner feel inside, you cannot go wrong with the people watching outside on one of our almost always sunny days in So Cal. If you live here, you already pay the Sunshine Tax so get your money's worth and sit outside, if you can. 10 stars.

    Tri Tip Eggs Benedict

    Was looking for breakfast and wanted to give this place a try. Their food was amazing. The biscuit is home made and there was plenty of food for the price. The blueberry pancakes and the tri tip eggs Benedict were really great. Would definitely recommend coming here!

    Shaved ham and avocado Benedict with jalapeño cilantro hollandaise, mini açaí bowl, and side of potatoes.
    Kathy R.

    I don't know why I haven't reviewed this place before. I've been here plenty of times and I LOVE it! It's a pretty small old school diner inside, but I usually choose to eat outside on the sidewalk or 'street' tables because the weather is nice and people watching is fun. This last time I got what I usually get - a half order of shaved ham and avocado Benedict with jalapeño cilantro hollandaise along with the mini (ha ha) açaí bowl, and I added an order of potatoes. I swear I would get this as my last meal if I knew it was coming. SO GOOD! The hollandaise has so much flavor, the egg is perfectly poached, and the avocado is fresh. The açaí bowl is amazing, with more of a solid scoop rather than the saucy version, and they top it with a variety of in season fruits - kiwi, peaches, strawberries, bananas, blueberries. The mini size is very hearty, but if I were to eat it alone, which I never do, I would size up. The servers there are very friendly, but also no nonsense and very efficient. I just really like the whole vibe. If you're there during busy times and there is a line just wait. You'll be glad you did!

    Breakfast - sausage , Egg and biscuits and gravy.
    Pina P.

    Food and service with a breeze of the ocean, it was amazing. Who could ask for anything more

    Cardiff Crack Benedict
    Zan L.

    I grew up in San Diego and went to high school in North County but for some reason, I had never been to The 101 Diner. During my last visit home, I decided to change that and stopped in for the first time. I was pleased to see it's a traditional Classic American diner with very fast service, a large menu, and fair prices. Inside is pretty small, which adds to the homey atmosphere. They don't have a ton of seating options but the lines here never seem to be as long as Encinitas Café across the street. Parking in this part of Encinitas is pretty easy because if there's not a space available right on the street, it's easy to find one in the neighborhood behind the businesses. Our waitress was very polite and everything that we ordered arrived shortly after we placed the order. Being a fan of Seaside Market I saw that they have a new Eggs Benedict dish called the Cardiff Crack Benedict, which has the famous tri-tip so I had to order that. I was very pleased with it and the eggs were done just as I like them. I would definitely order it again and would recommend. I plan to be back again next time I am in town.

    A nice French toast breakfast
    Fernanda C.

    I got the French toast, eggs and hashbrowns and all of it was pretty good. The outside seating was very nice and the waitress was an absolute gem. I definitely want to go back and try more of the menu.

    French Toast
    Veronica W.

    We decided to dine in closer to closing time. Seemed quite busy trying to wind down and clean up. The service was good, and we got our food pretty quickly after ordering. Eggs tasted fresh, french toast was classically done exactly how I enjoy it. We also tried the banana Nutella pancake. I was surprised by this, they actually mix the banana in with the pancake batter rather than just using it as a topping. This made for a lighter, more refreshing pancake. I really enjoyed it as pancakes can be a little too sweet for me. Highly recommend this spot for a good breakfast! I will say there were a lot of flies and the floors didn't look to be swept at all but I'm guessing this was because they were about to clean up before closing...

    Chorizo Scramble with Cheese
    Trevor T.

    Never have had a bad meal here. In the heart of Encinitas, 101 Diner has everything you would ever want and more. I LOVE their breakfast that typically comes with crispy potatoes. The staff is so nice and friendly which is their calling card along with the excellent food. You can sit outside and enjoy the people watching or inside where you are almost transported back to a simpler time. Yes you are reminded of the present when you see a surcharge for eggs due to what is happing today, but you also look around and see connections. People talking and conversing. Chatting with the staff and ordering verbally. No iPad in sight and it's a delight!

    Cardiff Crack Tri-tip omelette
    Rick D.

    Delicious breakfast, friendly staff, great menu, solid choice for great food. It's an older restaurant, kinda small, can get busy during the normal rush but I really like this place, it's the quintessential hometown diner. I had the Cardiff Crack Tri-tip omelette (cheese, peppers, onions, mushrooms) and home fried potatoes. This place knows how to make the real fluffy omelette with great tasting fill and perfect home-fried potatoes. I thought I was in a Midwest diner. One of the best breakfast spots In Encinitas! I left full, content, happy and wanting to return.

    Kayla B.

    Was super excited to try this place out for the first time, but unfortunately ended up being disappointed. Food was COLD. Flavor was good but still it being cold outweighed the flavor for me. Everything from the pancakes to the omelette to the chicken & waffle was cold (I had to wait 10 additional minutes for my waffle but that thankfully was hot & good!) Pancakes were also thin. Wish they were fluffier. If the food was hot, I'd recommend coming here. However you can probably find better spots nearby.

    Traditional Eggs Traditional Benedict with Sliced Ham and potatoes
    Brian M.

    I visit the 101 Diner every time I visit Encinitas and the food, service (Katie), overall experience is always on point. The eggs Benedict is great and get the potatoes that feel more like hash-browns.

    Atul S.

    Went here for our breakfast before returnning back to phoenix. Got outdoor seating and had pleasant time. Here are my takes: Food/Drinks: Overall it was decent. The beef meat was very chewy and maybe overcooked so I had to leave that too when it was recommended by server for being locally sourced and I decided to try. The menu is extensive so it was somewhat overwhelming to choose from. Service: There was a delay but overall no major setback during our dine-in. Ambiance: Great outdoor seating and that was the primary reason to stopped here for breakfast. Hygiene: Very small restroom and not the cleanest but overall it was decent. Price: Reasonably priced food and drinks. Nothing that was overpriced.

    Bacon  cheeseburger !!! So good and fresh .

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    4 years ago

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    Scott S.

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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    Scott S.

    Thanks for the great review! We are so stoked you enjoyed our diner!

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    11 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Scott S.

    Amazing review! Thanks AJL

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    12 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Scott S.

    Thanks Kathy!

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    15 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    Scott S.

    OMG! Looks incredible!

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    5 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Nice diner. Reasonable prices. Good food. Check it out! Maybe not if you are in a rush tho.

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    13 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Had a great time here came for lunch with the boiis. Christa was amazing and super hilarious definitely coming again!!!!!!!

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    4 years ago

    Hawaiian pancakes are the bomb!! Love all the food here!! Great service. Highly recommend.

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    Scott S.

    Thanks Gabe!

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    3 years ago

    Great ambience!! Great food portion and quick service! Friendly service and close to the beach. Worth the drive from LA!

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    Scott S.

    Thanks Anna! Glad you made the trip!

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    8 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Decent breakfast place! Not the best pancakes or waffles I've had, but good. Quick service!

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    8 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    Scott S.

    So flipping delicious! Glad you enjoyed!

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    5 years ago

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    Scott S.

    Thanks PJ!!

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    3 years ago

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    Scott S.

    Thanks Deb!

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    3 years ago

    Cool little diner - go with the jalapeño and shaved ham Benedict - ridiculously good.

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    Scott S.

    Thanks Glen. One of my all time favorites dishes.

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    5 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Scott S.

    Thanks for the great review Lisa! Two of our many favorites!

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    8 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    Scott S.

    Great idea on the eggs or fruit with the Mickey! Thanks.

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    5 years ago

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    Sorry about that Mickey!

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    7 years ago

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    Page 7 of 22

    Ask the Community - 101 Diner

    Is there a cut-off time for ordering breakfast?

    Breakfast served all day until closing!

    Is the Cardiff crack Benny always available? It isn't on any of the menus I'm seeing in the photos. Also, are mimosas available?

    Crack Bene hits the menu full time beginning this Friday! We do not have a liquor license as restaurant is small and serving mimosas would create very long waits for a table on weekends

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    This is my new favorite restaurant…read more The place is nicely decorated, feels inviting and spacious at the same time. The service is prompt and friendly. The foods and drinks are beautifully presented and it's difficult to resist licking the yummy molé.

    Came to Cocina de Barrio with several friends and overall, we thought it was okay. Some dishes were…read moreranked highly whereas most were middle of the pack. I ordered the mahi mahi fish tacos and a house coffee. The coffee was actually pretty good! Cream and sugar were delivered separately to finish with your preference. As for the tacos, it was okay. The fish was a bit dry for my liking, cabbage could have been chopped with more finesse, and I wished they QC'd their limes a bit before putting them on the plate. Both were bone dry and I had to ask for more. Moreover, the cilantro lime rice was also a bit bland. It needed salt to lift the flavors in my opinion. There weren't even flecks of green if it was supposed to be cilantro? I tried boyfriend's veggie hash but was disappointed to find that it was almost all potatoes. Having said that, it was an extremely generous portion so he was filled up. While I didn't try it, our friend that had the chorizo hash also said it was okay so I'm guessing the ratio wasn't quite right. Anyways, ask for their chili sauce on the side, that's actually quite surprising. It had really good heat and was more like a chili crisp than a vinegary hot sauce. The plates that did score favorably at the table were the carne chilaquiles and the divorced eggs.

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    Honey's Bistro

    Honey's Bistro

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    Came here on a sunny Monday afternoon to meet a friend and her kid. As I approached the entrance, I…read moregot a little nervous as there was a huge line, but it turned out to be Taco StandBell, and I let out a sigh of relief. I have no doubt that this cozy spot is crowded AF on the weekends though. They have outdoor seating with umbrellas for shade. Most of the shaded tables we're taken so I opted to sit inside. You order at the counter and coffee & water are self service. After looking at the menu I decided on the corned beef hash and my friend asked me to order her kid a grilled cheese sandwich so she wouldn't have to wait to eat since it was a long drive for them. The hash was good. I should have asked them to make it a bit crispier though as is it has a lot of flavor and I saw some celery in there. Happy to eat more fiber I asked for my eggs to be medium over and they were cooked as asked. Food came out in a reasonable time and overall experience was good.

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    Interior seating
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    El Paso Benedict
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    Potato Shack Cafe

    Potato Shack Cafe

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    It's been a few years since I've been to this iconic restaurant located in downtown Encinitas…read more Parking was very difficult on a Saturday around noon. Had to park across the 101 and trek it. Walking in there were no customers dining in but a couple of people on their outside patio at the entrance. The server was really nice and took our orders. We ordered the option C: A plain Manhole sized pancake with eggs & bacon and the Tuna sandwich w/ fries. Food arrived fast and was given salsa as well (which was delicious!). The manhole sized pancake was huge as expected and couldn't fit on the oval plate. The scrambled eggs were hanging off the smaller plate it was on with the bacon. The tuna sandwich was impressive. It was in what looked like slices of Texas Toast bread. The food was good and glad we didn't give up on the parking situation. They are still cash-only and thankfully an ATM inside. They also take Venmo.

    Old school American diner in all the best ways, diner coffee, pancakes are HUGE and fluffy, and yes…read morethey still have biscuits and gravy on the menu! Team there will get you food fast. It feels like a jump back to breakfast out with your parents in the 80s or 90s...put your phones away, be ready to pay cash, and it's still ok to enjoy stacking all the jellies into a pyramid even if your in your 30s or 40s with your own kids. Hope y'all enjoy one of the best classic breakfast diners in north county San Diego

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    "Addison's Brunch"…read more Placed perfectly along the sunkissed Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas is a quaint brunch spot serving up culinary wizardry. I've gotten the chance to visit a few times and I'm always impressed with how they balance serious cooking with approachable flavors. Chef Andrew Bachelier (Addison, Jeune et Jolie, Campfire) brings his take on a foodie workshop that dazzles with amazing brunch food and an imaginative drinks bar. The food was phenomenal. Turkish Eggs were super flavorful and fresh. Almost like eating an herby ramen egg on crusty toast with all the fresh herbs and chili oil. The hamachi crudo was delicate and fresh. The pork chop was sumptuous with an excellent sauce. But my favorite had to be the sourdough french toast. It actually blew my mind how the outside was crispy and crackley but the inside was moist, gooey but not mushy. I heard from the waiter they soak the bread in a custard or syrup for 72 hrs to get that texture and yet the outside is crispy. Sorcery. In short, this is the brunch spot of all brunch spots, combining michelin star level cooking with beloved breakfast foods. This place really punches above its weight class and I highly recommend checking it out! Best Bite: French Toast

    Really enjoyed my visit to Atelier Manna!!…read more First, they are now TAKING RESERVATIONS. We didn't realize that until morning of. It's easier for them and easier for us - they can count how many people are coming & you don't have to worry about waiting an hour. Vibes are great. Food is lovely (though expensive!). My fave dish was the amazing summer porridge. Sure it's $32 for the dish - but this is a Michelin-quality place (Bib Gourmand, not a star) so not for every day and it was delicious. Basically like a risotto, ate every grain. Check out the gorgeous pic! People are high on the Turkish eggs - but I thought they were meh, and tiny for $23. Not one of the best values here, IMHO. We wanted to try the vaunted French toast, but they had run out by the time of our reservation. On the recommendation of our server & my friend Jiansen in his review here, we also ordered the Pistachio Bread Pudding. It was beautiful, tasty, light and photo worthy! And also on Jiansen's rec, I tried the jasper, which was like a cold coffee mocktail on the rocks (steady state coffee. cherry. chaga. vanilla. rose vinegar. lemon). Tasty and interesting! We really liked the vibes too. They take reservations for 1:30 pm, though they're closing technically at 2. The manager (whose name I am forgetting - but he is from Philly and super nice!) told us "they don't close" and we could sit and enjoy & not be in their way while they closed up, but a few of the other staff members seemed to be wanting us to leave. So keep that in mind if you get one of the last reservations; lingering with a friend might be a bit challenging. But we had a great time, and I especially enjoyed the summer porridge. I'll definitely come again (and know I should make a reservation) - but it's probably better to come earlier before they run out of anything & before we're in their way while they're cleaning up! Oh - and parking can be a real challenge. Come early and check out the side streets!

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    Main patio
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    Main dining area

    101 Diner - diners - Updated August 2026

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