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Beginner's Diner

3.8 (494 reviews)
ModerateDiners
Open Open 24 hours

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BEGINNER'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

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Bloody Mary
Tanner G.

Beginner's Diner is a retro-styled diner with a modern twist. The establishment offers comforting food, friendly service, and unique ambiance; all adding to a nice experience out. Their menu is filled with classic diner foods, but might be a tad different than what you'd expect. I got the BISCUITS AND GRAVY, and though it was good it was different than the usual. Instead of biscuits, it was more of a monkey bread and the meat in the gravy had more of a smokey taste (it could also use extra gravy over all). Their BLOODY MARY was good, not a huge standout but overall had a classic Bloody Mary taste. I'd like to return for another breakfast item, or perhaps a late night bite.

Tuna melt
Gretel Y.

I ate twice at Beginner's Diner during my one night stay at the Lafayette Hotel back in December. It's open 24 hours and so convenient, especially since the hotel doesn't offer room service. I had a late lunch after I landed in San Diego while waiting for my room to be ready. I sat at the bar and ordered a mushroom hash. It was delicious and exactly what I needed at the time. My teammates and I went back to Lafayette Hotel to celebrate after a big, successful event. We didn't have much to eat at the event and were pretty hungry so we hit up Beginner's Diner. We shared a French toast and I opted for a tuna melt with side of fries for my entree. Both were filling and hit the spot! The diner has a great vibe and service was excellent both times!

Nancy T.

Cute old diner inside of the Lafayette Hotel. Diner Menu offered a good variety. We went for dinner so ended up trying the pot roast, chicken fried steak, and patty melt. Their fries and onion rings were also fried to a golden crisp. Service was great. I love that they wear the traditional diner uniforms. Overall great vibes

Grace F.

Beginners Diner is located inside the Lafayette Hotel. I've heard such amazing things about the ambiance of the place and had to check it out. The first thing I will note is that on Fridays & Saturdays the street parking will be very difficult. There is valet as an option, for those who don't want valet you will need to park street in the neighborhoods behind the hotel. Upon walking in, we were greated by the hostess who sat us down and we ordered a good amount of appetizers, sides, entrees, and drinks. To our disappointment, the food honestly wasn't that great considering the price of each item. The best item I think we ordered was the Caesar Salad - probably one of the best dressings ive had. The egg on my chicken sandwich was a little rubbery in texture and the chicken was good but very dry. Chicken skewers were very good but the rest of the food was nothing special. I think this place is really good for the ambiance - if you're planning on wanting a diner feel I would recommend coming here for the milkshakes but not for an entire meal. Another thing that added to my 2 star review was at the end of the dinner my friend noticed she stepped on something squishy at the bottom of the table. We looked under the booth and there was a single slice of bread just sitting there. I added a picture but what my friend pointed out was that toast is a breakfast menu item. We were there at 6:30pm and their breakfast menu stopped being served at 3pm. With that being said - the booth floor had not been cleaned since then. Overall I would not come back again. I was a little disappointed due to the quality of the food and lack of cleanliness of the restaurant. However, the Lafayette Hotel is beautiful

Inside
Jillian C.

Beginner's Diner, located in the infamous The Lafayette Hotel inEl Cajon is open 24-hours and hits all the marks you'd expect for a retro diner from the 1940's, while adding some upscale twists to their menu such as their steak and eggs served with a Wagyu filet and boozy milkshakes. We recommend going around the holidays which is extra special since the property is completely transformed into a winter wonderland ! I was looking forward to trying their French Dip (also made with Waygu), but they were out of it so I opted for their version of a smash-burger. It was okay, but not what you'd expect from a smash-burger since the two patties were on the thicker side and the bread was sourdough toast (not my favorite for a burger). Although they don't have a kids menu, our server was able to provide some suggestions on some options that would be good for kids (both on and off the menu). The bathroom was even gorgeous so I couldn't resist a picture Follow @allthingsfoodinsandiego for more must try San Diego restaurants, date night ideas, food experiences, kid friendly spots, with a sprinkling of home-cooking!

Cinnamon Roll
Tammie W.

Came to Beginner's Diner on a Tuesday at 12:30pm and were shocked to see an hour+ long wait to sit at the counter. The hubby and I ordered coffee, buckwheat pancakes, a cinnamon roll, and the breakfast sando to share. The breakfast sandwich was great, piping hot, salty from the cheese, fatty from the homemade breakfast sausage, and nice with the eggs inside. The cinnamon roll was our next favorite because it wasn't overly sweet, rich from the cream cheese frosting, and very naughty. Last was the buckwheat pancakes which were very dense but tasted good since they were very thing and were cut with the fresh berries. Breakfast is only served from midnight to 3pm which is why we went for lunch, just in case we wanted sweet and savory without having to order a shake. As always, the service is great and the Lafayette is a beautiful hotel with solid options for food and drinks.

Teressa W.

You know when you have the insane desire for a super solid, totally fire breakie? Like.... The one you think you remember from lifetimes past? But every time you follow a solid Yelp review your stomach ends up hurting and the food is just super mid? As if "super greasy and average" became the new "hit food?" Well- NOT this place. This place is "forget your words, mind blowing, borderline orgasmic" kind of fantastic. It's a worth its wait kind of diner. All nestled in the most fantastic hotel in SD. Go. Don't think. Just..,, go. You will never feel like you're in a cooler place than when you are here.

Menu - November 2025
Michelle C.

We were staying at The Lafayette Hotel and wanted to grab dinner downstairs at Beginner's Diner. Was hoping they offered breakfast options all day but they only offer it from 12am-3pm. We wanted to try the Reuben but they were out. Noticed a few other people trying to order it as well, but to no avail. We ended up ordering the dinner portion Chicken Fried Steak w/ creamed spinach ($32) and the dinner Pot Roast w/ sautéed corn ($34). Both were solid options, nothing to write home about, and on the smaller side. We also got a Chocolate Hazelnut Boozy Milkshake ($18). This was delicious and got me buzzed. Service was friendly. Cool diner interior with so many eye-catching details. Bathrooms are located outside of the diner, across the bar, and at the hallway near the pool. Will definitely need to try the Reuben sandwich next time though! And also the breakfast options.

Private labeled beer(Fall)
Jason B.

The Lafayette was so packed this time of the year because of the amazing decorating, so we found a spot at the bar in this joint u til we could scope out a table in the lounge. Started out with a craft cocktail for my Bride and a private labeled IPA for me. Opted to split the pimento cheese, and liked everything! Ambiance is retro diner, service was at the counter, and prices were high but this is clearly a tourist trap!

Boozy eggnog milkshake
Brooke T.

24/7 diner open inside the Lafayette hotel. Super busy when I went, with hour waits even at 11 pm and past midnight. They always overestimate the time though, so don't let it scare you away. Took one star away for how hard it is to get in and get a table, but I can't really blame them--Lafayette is a zoo during Christmas time. For a 24/7 diner the food is really solid. Good american diner food, albeit a little expensive. The fries are super good and my favorite is the boozy eggnog milkshake. I loveee eggnog and the booze makes it the perfect sweetness. The other milkshakes on their own are much too rich and couldn't finish them.

Smashed Avocado Benedict
Zan L.

I grew up in San Diego, so I have visited the hotel many times over the years but have not seen it since this recent remodel. I think that they did a wonderful job with the redesign of the hotel and Beginners Diner as well. They also did a fantastic job with the Christmas decorations this year and really made an awesome space that you want to spend many hours in. We stopped in as a party of four on Sunday morning and were able to be seated after a 10 min wait. We had to sit outside, but it was really a nice location because it had great views of the pool and there was a nice breeze. Even in late December the weather in the morning is great in beautiful SD. Our server was very friendly and everything that we ordered came out very fast. The hotel offers valet otherwise it will be street parking. We were able to find a space directly across the street so it was a short walk. The menu is not very large, but it has a lot of great options on it. For my breakfast, I chose the Bacon Avocado Benedict and honestly loved it. I really appreciated how they crumbled the bacon which I thought was a unique touch and the smashed avocado was also a good combo instead of just avocado slices. The hollandaise was made fresh and my egg was perfectly poached so overall it was honestly really good. Pricing was fair and the whole experience was really nice so I would definitely recommend to any local or tourist and I plan to be back again in the near future.

Menu
David Z.

Came here to eat after getting some drinks in the lobby. We found a seat outside. This place as a whole was decorated so well for the holidays. Service was a little slow during the middle of the day, but there were a lot of people here. The food was mediocre, but we did not come specifically for the food. I don't know if I would be back for the food, but the ambiance was second to none.

Lemon meringue - sugary and delicious
Tiffany A.

I came here to try their famous pie before checking out. I had hoped there would be an easy way to order to-go but it didn't seem like the vibe. We waited to be seated for a bit and we were not greeted right away. When we did get seated, I noticed that the booths were dirty with crumbs and other questionable trash. The space between the booth and table was small and uncomfortable to get in/out due to that and a wooden upright edge that scraped against our butts. I tried the lemon meringue pie. It was a pretty large slice and gave me a sugar rush- just as expected! The meringue was toasted well and the crust was light. I had a bite of the cherry pie and had to spit it out. It tasted like cherry medicine. We waited a long time to get the check and to have our orders taken. Not my cup of tea but alas... maybe it is for others.

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The food here is pretty decent. I like that it's another 24hr diner option in San Diego. The service is usually always good.

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Ask the Community - Beginner's Diner

Is the diner 21+?

Nope is open to all ages but they do have some items on menu for those over 21.

Do they have plant-based options?

Are you looking for a veggie burger? I haven't seen anything like that on the menu but they do have salads. They also have the menu available on their website.

Is there parking?

No all street parking

Do you have long wait times Friday nights?

There is usually a wait for Beginners Diner. The food is so good!

Can this place accommodate large groups? Like 20 people?

No, they would have to sit in separate tables

Are reservations available?

No reservations are needed or offered in the Diner. You can eat outside on the Patio (hours vary) and/or take food to your room if you are a guest. I was there several different times of the day, and never had a wait to be seated.

Are dogs allowed in the diner?

The Lafayette is a Dog Friendly Hotel (45 lbs and under), IF you are staying as a guest and pay the extra free . Information is their website under the Hotel Q&A Section. Dogs are NOT allowed in the Pool area. I believe this ONLY applies to… 

Is there easily accessible wheelchair entry at the front or near parking on on the premises?

they do have accessible access at the main door and also valet parking

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4.0
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Omg! this was one of the best experiences I've ever had at a restaurant!!! Natasha was everything!…read moreBiff was the most fun!!! and Sandy was an absolute doll of a server. I was so excited to see the 50s theme and everyone who worked there was excited with me. No one made me feel silly for how much fun I was having. We had burgers, fries and onion rings which were all delicious! I loved every interaction and every moment and that is because of the wonderful staff who clearly love and enjoy their jobs. I have been raving about my experience for days. Plus the staff surprised me with a giant cotton candy for dessert. I felt so seen and celebrated by these amazing people. Definitely will be back

OMGGGG, I LOVE A WELL THEMED RESTAURANT! Came here on a whim and sat at the bar for dinner. You get…read morefun little diner hats. It's fun to see what all the team members here are wearing, and the restaurant has a lot going on to look at. We ordered a peppermint shake + a chicken polka penne (cajun seasoned chicken) for dinner. It comes with a side salad with your choice of dressing. The shake + dinner was delicious! Food was quick to come out and I was dining with one other person and we were sharing, and they were kind enough to split our shake and bring out extra plates for the salad & pasta without us asking. Our bartender/server, Rita, was great! The total was around $37 before tip. I would definitely come back & highly recommend for a fun night out!

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Saint James French Diner

Saint James French Diner

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I visited on a Thursday for their happy hour (3-6 PM on weekdays), and it did not disappoint. They…read moreoffer a fantastic happy hour deal, including burgers for just $10, which is a great value. The space itself is larger than expected with plenty of seating. I chose to sit at the bar, and Ashley, the bartender, was absolutely phenomenal. She was friendly, gave great recommendations, and fun to chat with. I ordered: * Burger Parisienne: this was a massive burger. I ended up taking about a quarter of it home. It was cooked perfectly, but what really made it unique was the Bordelaise sauce poured over the top. * Pommes Frites: some of the best fries I've had - thin cut and extremely crispy. * French Onion Soup: I was told the menu was recently updated and it no longer comes with the pastry top. However, it was still very enjoyable. One thing to note is that although it says on Yelp that dogs are allowed, it's actually service dogs only. Overall, the service was excellent, the food came out quickly (under ten minutes after ordering), and the happy hour is a great deal.

We stopped by for lunch today & it did not disappoint! It's a cute little bistro with small booths…read more& larger tables for bigger groups with a large bar in the center towards the back. We shared the croquettes & baguette with shaved ham. Both were delicious and were a great start to our meal. I had the moules frites which featured a light broth with vadouvan cream (French curry) which was flavorful & the fries were crispy & perfectly seasoned. My friends enjoyed their entrees too. We didn't have any room for dessert so we didn't try anything. Service was warm, friendly and helpful.

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Harry's Coffee Shop

Harry's Coffee Shop

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This is hands down some of the best diner food I've ever had! We had seen this unassuming place…read morefrom the front & it looks so cute and we wanted to come here anyway. Then I had a friend say that he actually met Bing Crosby here way back in the day so we were like "Okay, we gotta go now!" First of all the place is WAY bigger inside than it looks from the front and the decor is very comfortable and filled with tons of nostalgic pictures and photos of years gone by. A nostalgic, elegant vibe for a diner and you feel very comfortable inside. And the food is fantastic! (They also have wifi) I got the Corned Beef Hash & Eggs ($20.95) which has been a favorite since 1960! It is awesome corned beef served with 2 eggs, hash browns and your choice of toast or buttermilk pancakes. And those pancakes are some of the best tasting pancakes I've had - so delicious! ...and the corned beef, eggs over easy and hash browns were perfectly cooked and seasoned and it was an amazing breakfast! My sweetheart got Harry's famous Tuna Melt ($17.95) which is tuna salad with tomato, melted cheddar cheese served on grilled sourdough (add avocado for $2) and your choice of fries or fruit. She is a huge fan of tuna melts and she absolutely loved this one! It's good to see that Harry's is still doing it right - We will definitely be back.

I had the best tuna melt I've ever had here at Harry's. It was on sourdough bread with grilled…read moretomatoes (wonderful touch), cheddar cheese, and a delish tuna salad. Will definitely be coming back for this sando! My partner got a pancake, bacon, and eggs and said it was great!

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Chicken salad on raisin bread!
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Crest Cafe

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3.4
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1.3 mi
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Cute Lil diner in the heart of Hillcrest. Was wanting a lil somethin' somethin' as we had a big…read moreItalian lunch in Little Italy, but we did walk over 3 miles for the day. Upon entering, we were directed to seat ourselves by the bus boy so as we proceeded. The server abruptly stopped us in our tracks and kind of rudely told us that he'd be with us and to wait. As he approached to seat us I informed him that the bus boy told us to seat ourselves and the server half jokingly asked who so I pointed to him. As for the food, we ordered sandwiches and fries. I got the turkey and brie sandwich with grilled onions and it was real carved turkey (so good). Unfortunately, the fries were soggy and not crispy and fresh. BFF had the Cubano sandwich and it was a good size but they put a thick piece of ham steak on it along with shredded pork that wasn't seasoned. He claims his fries were good and fresh. The ambience is cute, very clean and plenty of seating indoors and out for such a small restaurant. Prices are reasonable, too. Had it not been for the server rubbing me the wrong way upon entering as well as the soggy fries, I would have given this place 5 stars.

I really wanted to give a higher rating, but I due to the lack of quality : cost ratio I just…read morecouldn't. The restaurant itself has an open and welcoming atmosphere, comfortable seating, good a/c, friendly service, a good variety of menu options...however, the cost for what you get doesn't equate. Now, their prices are fair, compared to many other places out there, but due to the lack of quality it just hits harder. My Monte Cristo was so sad-looking and dry. The turkey was heavily peppered, which might be okay in any other turkey sandwich, but this did not go well with what a Monte Cristo should taste like (iykyk)...even when the raspberry jam was added all you could taste was pepper. In addition to the strong pepper taste, the turkey itself was extremely dry and shredded apart when I went to remove it. Very disappointed. When I told our waiter, who was very friendly and had been attentive, he said that he'd let the cook know--and that was it. No follow up. No apology. My son had the French toast and it was okay, nothing special. I usually have lunch here, but it's been a few years since I've been here for breakfast -- so this was a bummer. The past few times I felt like the quality was slipping, but I chalked it up to a possible "off" day...but this recent visit confirmed that they weren't "off" days and the quality truly has slipped. Hopefully they can reevaluate things and make some improvements. They have a good menu and nice concept, I just hope they improve their quality and presentation.

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Cute little bar
Cute little bar
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Del's Hideout

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4.3
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Ordered 2 meat plate with cornbread and Texas toast. The cornbread was nice my Texas toast came out…read moresmooshed but was still tasty. I got pulled pork and the smoked meatloaf. The pulled pork was delicious and the smoked meatloaf had just the right amount of smoke. For sides, I got the bacon, potato salad and the Street corn. I've had both of these sides before and they hit just right each time. I also ordered the bourbon pecan pie to go. This is the first time having the bourbon pecan pie. I did find some shelves in it, which were a little unpleasant, but at least I know that it's real pecans. It does have a strong bourbon flavor so it may not be the best for kids. To drink, I got the guava lemonade. I arrived with my pup and we sat outside. Everybody was super dog friendly. They brought a nice bowl of water for my guy. I ended up taking 2/3 of my meal home because the portions are big enough for two.

I wanted a combo of ribs and Tri tip Like they do at other…read moreplaces but it wasn't possible you can get a few other options not ribs. However my friend said her brisket was full of fat happy no beef after all I just had the ribs. They were tasty and meaty. Our server never told us about sauces I saw on the table nor did he offer a bag just containers for the sides I took home. The 5% surcharge on already a very high. LUNCH $38.( before tax) soda and ribs is I bit much. $1.94 surcharge + 3.00 tax + tip not good the place makes enough on high food prices to be able to pay good wages and med insurance as a patron I should not have paid any extra fees. Over $40. It should have been a full order of ribs not just 6. Tonight I'm dining at Off Shore they give YOU 4% off your ck if you pay cash- they run a business wellespecially in this economy when more people opt to stay home.

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Main dining area
Main dining area
Bar
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The best mac & cheese

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The best mac & cheese

Beginner's Diner - diners - Updated July 2026

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