Breakfast is my favorite. Lompoc has a few breakfast places to go, and I'm glad I can add Budget Cafe to my list. My husband enjoyed his ham & cheese omelet. And he is very particular about his food! My grandson (he's 8) gave 2 thumbs up to the short stack of pancakes. (Even though they weren't Mickey Mouse shaped). I usually get 2 eggs over easy with home fries and toast. Quite happy with my choice. You won't go home hungry. We weren't in a hurry which was good because the high school cross country team arrived around 10:30am on Saturday. The waitresses of course were super busy serving everyone. I think they did great. If you get grumpy having to wait, maybe go to a fast food place. We will definitely be going back. Just maybe not at 10:30 am on a Saturday. Looked at the other negative reviews. You have the option of returning over done food (if you don't, don't complain). Mold on the crust of bread is unfortunate, but I don't believe it was deliberate. Their bread turnover rate has to be so high, why would the cook think it could be old? I have had dishes that were still with stains such as lipstick after being washed at restaurants. You just show it and get it replaced. My goal is to keep Budget Cafe in business. With all the meals served, the negative reviews are a small percentage of their overall business. No restaurant is perfect. read more

Sat here for about 30 minutes and not even our drink order was taken.. looked around and saw other tables that looked like we're on the same boat as us. Decided to walkout. read more

A little rundown café very nice waitresses food is pretty good. Good portions great prices. I drive from Oceana once a week to eat there with my friend. read more

Server was fantastic! Fast friendly . It was a busy Sunday so we waited 10 min for a table We had a group of 6 - Everyone got what they ordered and no issues . read more

Great old style diner with great food at a reasonable price. Service is always excellent. Credit card machine could use an up grade. SLOW. I go there a few times a week to read my paper and have a nice quiet breakfast. Chicken fried steak is a must! read more

Tried the Budget Cafe on a recent business trip. I have to say I had the nicest, friendliest waitress ever. She was really awesome!! The service is not super fast but boy they are nice. The food was really bland & overcooked. I have never had food with NO SEASONING on it, in any restaurant, ever. I was going to just add salt and/or hot sauce and suck it up but then the meat was cooked into rubber. I did not eat anything but the toast. The waitress was sweet, she offered to take it off the bill but I said no because people are working hard and making a living & I respect that, but the food was basically inedible. So sorry!! read more

Budget Cafe - Ground "steak" & eggs, toast - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

Great prices and nice classic ambiance. Real old school type diner experience with outstanding service! Food is seasoned to perfection and treated with love. I highly recommend coming here for a worthwhile experience, and supporting this restaurant is a must! read more

Quintessential greasy spoon! Good food, good service, and great coffee. The service was very attentive and they were accommodating of my vegan meal request. Highlights included the Pork Chop and the Hashbrowns. Love that they had a pancake only kids breakfast option. Would definitely hit this place up again for breakfast in Lompoc or while driving around the Santa Ynez Valley. read more

Great Mom and Pop, fair prices and great breakfast. I believe this joint is underrated for what it is. Long live the Greasy Spoon Cafes.

I've come here a number of times over the years and order breakfast, regardless of the time of day. The breakfasts are quite good, and the service has always been friendly and attentive. read more

Menu has a big variety of choices, sweet, traditional, Mexican.. I got the chorizo and eggs and it was great. Perfect little breakfast diner food and the prices were really good too. Our server was great and super quick. The inside was cute and homey. Would definitely go back if we were in town again and looking for breakfast read more

Budget Cafe - Chorizo and eggs - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

There is a new server named Jazzy and she is very sweet, kind, and good at her job. The food was good and it's very cozy in there.

Visiting this joint for the 1st time. We were greeted by the waitress who was welcoming. This place is a little hole in the wall spot. Very dated decor. So I want expecting too much. But sometimes places surprise you. Let's start with there's no Splenda for the coffee. My husband ordered the carne asada plate with NO BEANS, pancakes & I ordered eggs & bacon with the milky cinnamon roll. His plate of course has beans on it. When the waitress took it backed, she returned with smears of beans still on the plate, eggs, meat, potatoes & steak knife. Well my husband is allergic to beans. Also the steak that was on the plate was not skirt steak. So we refused the plate. He did eat the pancakes. They were ok. You can't really mess up eggs & bacon. They were good. The cinnamon roll was a little dry. I will say the waitress was very apologetic. They may want to work on how they fix mistakes. Unfortunately I will not be returning. Good luck to this establishment. read more

Food was great! I had a chili verde omelette with beans and tortillas. The pork had great flavor and the sauce compliments everything well. Rita provided excellent service. Will definitely be back next time we are in Lompoc. read more

My husband had just had surgery at the hospital and was craving some soup. Went to the Budget Cafe and bought their beef vegetable soup. It was delicious. Good and hot. Full of large pieces of carrot and celery and ground beef. Filled the bill for us!! Will return for a meal soon. read more

We were staying in town for the night and decided to find a local cafe for breakfast. Budget Cafe was nearby so we decided to give this place a try. We were looking for something quick and simple so this seemed like the perfect option for us. When we walked inside, we were greeted by a friendly waitress. She told us that we could sit anywhere that we'd like. We chose a booth with a window view. Soon after, we began to review the menu. I tried to order cold cereal since it was on the menu but they didn't have any at all. So I decided to just get some hash browns and toast. When the hash browns came, I was ready to eat! After one bite, I was taken aback. There wasn't any flavor and it was straight greasy! The potatoes were soaked in grease, lacking any flavor of butter or anything other than oil. I took another bite from the other end of the hash browns and once again, straight cooking oil. It melted in my mouth and I couldn't taste or feel the texture of the potatoes. I thought that they would be crunchy but that wasn't the case. I slid the plate over to my husband who will eat anything and he ate them. I ended up eating the toast and then heading to the bakery, two doors down for some pan dulce. Everyone was friendly and helpful. However, I thought that it was strange that they had cold cereal on the menu but they didn't have any to offer. The hash browns were so bad that I just had to call it a day. Unfortunately we will have consider a different cafe when we are back in town. read more

Budget Cafe - Hash browns - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

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I highly recommend this well established Cafe off the main drag. I've been going here for many years stopping in and having the best home cooked meals. The morning breakfast is a real treat and the cook doesn't skimp on the servings. The waitress was nice and courteous. Please visit this place as it is old school with everyday items that are just good to eat. You won't be sorry for sure. read more

It's not a 3 out of 5. It's a 2.5 out of 5. That might change depending on what I order next visit. Today for my 1st time trying this place I just ordered the corned beef hash. Just because I was hungry. Coffee was okay, eggs were okay, hash browns were okay and the corned beef (though it could have been better). Seems like a canned corned beef. But none the less, like I said I was hungry. Anywho the menu seems to have some varieties of food. Looking forward to trying something different. read more

Budget Cafe - eggs, hash browns, and hash browns on a white plate - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

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This was my first time here and I was impressed. The service and food was great. I will be back for breakfast next time.

I eat breakfast here several times a month. I ordered three sandwich's for lunch to go today. My sandwich was made wrong. Wrong bread and also it was ridiculously greasy. I called and let them know I could t eat sandwich and if I could have a credit towards next time I'm there. Their answer was no. I explained I eat there often and they're going to lose a customer. Unfortunately they don't give a shit about customers and were ok seeing me go. Would give zero stars if I could. What a stupid way to treat customers. read more

Mandi did an awesome job with us this morning. I ordered the breakfast croissant with extra meat, so delicious. Egg was perfectly cooked. He ordered the French toast special. No complaints from him either. Tables and menu were excessively clean. Loved it and will return! read more

Budget Cafe - a croissant sandwich and a cup of coffee - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

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I hate leaving bad reviews but this place was not the best. I'd leave a lower review but I feel bad because not everything was terrible. The customer service was average but she wasn't a jerk so it wasn't all that bad. I noticed there was only one cook which makes me feel awful because I work in a kitchen and sometimes it's a bit difficult. The owner of this place REALLY needs to step it up. The food was really, really bad. It was so bland and it wasn't the cook's fault, he was just doing as instructed (unless he was the owner). My partner really liked everything but he eats anything. I probably won't be coming here again. Step it up, guys.. read more

Budget Cafe - Cheeseburger and hash brown - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

Visiting the area and found a gem. My adult son and I sat at the counter for breakfast. The ambience and service were friendly, clean and accommodating. The food was exactly what we were looking for. We ordered biscuits and gravy the croissant breakfast sandwich and a California omlette as a scramble. Good food, good coffee and quick and pleasant service. The whole ticket was not a budget level but it was fair for the quality and experience. read more

That was the best damn chicken fried steak I've had in years! The staff is awesome. The prices are perfect, super great find!

From the hand sanitizer to the pancakes ... it was all so dirty .. bathroom was dirty , they use a bucket as a trash can . I ordered pancakes and coffee and received pancakes with onion on top . Very noticeable I'm not sure how the waitress managed to walk alway after sitting the plate in front of me . Service was very bad , rude waitress with long nails . Had 3 cups of coffee until my pancakes were finally ready . Was not worth the wait Never going back and I do NOT recommend .. as a matter of fact , RUN read more

Budget Cafe - Gross place , from front door sanitizer to bathroom to food and service - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

We were in Lompoc passing through and stopped at this cafe for lunch. From the outside and the inside decor, it doesn't look like much, but the food was excellent. One of the best BLT&Avocado sandwiches I have ever had. They really know how to do each component right. We also had the Ham & Swiss and it was equally delicious. It's not easy to make a simple sandwich taste delicious. So, good for them. We will definitely come back when in town. read more

I used to work in a breakfast restaurant for about 17 years. We served lots of clients and is still standing after about 60 years. The over easy eggs were perfect the food was priced really nice. Nothing fancy about this place just as good cooked meal at home. The hash browns were cooked properly which is hard to find because of the unique processes that needs to be followed in order to not get a wet soggy hash brown. The negative parts of this place would have to be the broken down interior. Nasty carpets and the lack of upkeep to the inside. If you can deal with sitting in a place that looks abandoned and feels neglected then you'll enjoy the place. I'll be back as I don't mind sitting in a nasty looking restaurant to get a decent made meal. read more

Food was great service was great. Got a club sandwich and the ruben, 2 sodas. Restaurant was dirty. You could call it a greasy spoon restaurant read more

Budget Cafe - wood paneling and a toilet - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

The Budget Cafe is definitely a must find along the 246. I would call it a divey/diner with awesome food. My friend and I decided to try The Budget Cafe and much to our delight, extra thick pork chops with apple sauce, potatoes, veggies, soup and salad were on the menu. Which brings up my dilema. I don't have a photo of the deliciousness that was on my plate! As soon as it was set in front if me I knew that it must be devoured as soon as physically possible . Amazing! So juicy! Everything was cooked to order. Service was on point. So when you are visiting Lompoc, you know the next California Riviera, be sure to stop by the Budget Cafe. read more

Budget Cafe - Lunch specials. Order juicy pork chops. - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

After a disappointing situation at another breakfast place we ended up here. Quick efficient service and delicious food. We were in and out quicker than it took for us to realize we were not getting served at that other place. There were many other satisfied patrons as well. read more

Budget Cafe - Delicious breakfast burrito - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

TERRIBLE FOOD My hubby and i ordered the tritip and chicken dinner it was horrible. Instead of getting the full amount of food 4 slices of tritip and 2 of chicken we got 2 tritip and 1 tiny thing of chicken. No flavor was on our food. We didnt get forks or spoons either. And it was nearly 30 dollars. Never again. read more

Took a friend there for supper. One couple had just entered before we did. The Waitress took 15 minutes before she brought us our menu because she was busy gossiping to the other couple. I ordered the Salisbury steak. When I got it it was so overcooked it it broke apart as neither my fork or knife could cut it. The whipped potatoes seemed to be slightly mashed with a hand masher and lots of water,. The vegetables were over cooked and soggy. We never saw the waitress until she brought the check. We had to wait 15 minutes at the cash register for 15 minutes just to pay our bill. I've been going there for about 20 years now. You go there one time and everything is really good and you go back a month later and everything is terrible. So going there is a 50/50 proposition. It will be a long time before I go there again. BTW, the prices are lower than anywhere else but you get what you pay for! read more

Nice stop for a quick bite... Friendly staff and the food was good... The atmosphere reminded me of diners in the 80's read more

Budget Cafe - a man sitting at a table eating - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

One of three small restaurants owned by the same group in Lompoc, The Budget Cafe does live up to its name. This is an unpretentious local hangout that serves breakfasts all day long. It is located in a very small strip mall on the south side of Ocean, at the corner of "A" Street. Parking is usually available. The food is good, the wait staff is skilled, and prices are very reasonable. A free, monthly coupon mailer usually includes discounts for the three co-owned small diner-style eateries (The Budget Cafe, Cafe San Martin, and The Lompoc Restaurant). So when we had breakfast here recently, using our half-off one breakfast coupon, our bill came to about $11 per person. Not bad. Try this place; it's not fancy, but they have good food, friendly waitresses, and a solid cup of coffee. JamesC (elite '18 in my own mind ;-) read more

Budget Cafe - Pork chops (2), eggs over easy, hash browns, and rye toast with orange marmalade. AAAAHHHH, life is good! - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

couldn't find anywhere else to get breakfast that wasn't packed so I gave it a shot, big mistake, 1 omelette, 1 kids breakfast, 1 order corned beef hash and 3 drinks 48.00$ and the food was disgusting. will never go back and only recommend to my worst enem. read more

Abysmal! It's my birthday and my husband ordered French toast with a side of Scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. I am Jewish and kosher. It was covered in bacon and sausage, not edible for someone like me. The staff hung up on me, yelled at me and refused to remake the hash-browns; even with a 20-minute delay for the remaking of the order! We turned in hash browns and the entire meal but they didn't care! Refused to make the entire order, didn't care about temperature or quality. The girl hung up after I asked to owner to call me back!!! If the owner reads these reviews; let me know how to get in contact with you!! If your thinking about going here; DO NOT GO here!!! There is DIRT and gross napkin on the French toast they gave me and I am livid! Gross people, dirty disgusting food!!! Napkin was the grease (bacon obviously) on TOP of French toast/ eggs....they must of dipped it in pork fat and placed it on by top of the food?!?!???! Since we had to throw out the dirty food and didn't even give us our hash browns. We are disputing the charges and letting the folks of Lompoc know!!!! Obviously these people like to joke, laugh and gross out people with different religious food restrictions!!! Update: Got a hold of the owner, Eggs & French Toast were in trash but luckily my husband placed it in the original bag and tied it; so we can show the owner. Will update you on what the owners says!!! Final Update: The is Owner Nef, was professional, sweet and apologetic! Seems like the woman we both spoke to, spun a fictional account of what happened. Hopefully he will increase training on all levels and talk to that woman who was beyond unprofessional and completely not honest! read more

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Pretty basic greasy spoon, but it's the only restaurant open Christmas morning. The food is basic, but the service is solid. And like the the name, "The Budget Cafe" is affordable. read more

Budget Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

The waitress was extremely rude, they made my sisters "medium rare" steak hardly at all pink, and chewy as rubber. When I told them it was my sisters birthday and she was upset, they gave us a free lemon meringue pie. Which was nice, until we heard the cook in the back say "she better like it, that's $5". They will NOT be seeing me again. read more

Budget Cafe - $20 "medium rare" steak. - Cafes Near Me - Lompoc, California

While in Lompoc decided to find something better than the barfey at the Hilton. And yes I did spell that intentionally, won't stay at the Hilton ever again... We found this cozy old place that served super delicious breakfast. They even buttered my muffin edge to edge. My wife had the chorizo and eggs. And I had the linguica (pronounced linguisa) eggs. Service was great! read more

Gratings all yes I'm back for another true honest rating of some local or none local cuisine and their service or lack there of. Ok soooo let get started. Yesterday Saturday the 28th of April I decided to take my dad out to eat breakfast. We both love breakfast. And the popular two in town for breakfast are the American Host and Cajun Cafe, but I decided to give a small old fashioned dinner a try we went to the budget cafe. Guys first let's talk service I had a chubby waitress I don't know her name or I would is it ok so all I can do is describe her. She is chubby has a pleasant voice beautiful smile beautiful eyes and her service was amazing she kept stopping by to see if we needed coffee and to see how we were doing. Fall to mention I did see a skinny blond with glasses that about 3 times for the coffee pot and went to get table offered coffee and passed right by ours and not once offered. So not sit if that is a time or just how they do it but it was the reason I only have them the 4 stars and not the 5. What they should do is have a different waitress grab the coffee pot and do a quick walk all around the floor. Ok so on to the food... Guys it was good it was great we both got the special which was 2 eggs 2 bacon 2 sausage and 3 pancakes. Got hash browns on the side. We split those, got an order of biscuits and gravy to share 2 cups of coffee 2 V8's and a side of toast. All for $34 bux and it was all delicious this place is a great place to eat breakfast. I highly recommend it. The people that come here regularly are in the know... Don't settle for the two hot spots sometimes but digging a lil bit you find a gem and I did. I am now a fan and as far as I am concerned there are now three main places to go for breakfast here in Lompoc and the Budget cafe is first on my list. Also please note the picture of they biscuits and gravy, see how the heavy is separating a bit. For those who know how to cook they understand those who don't let me explain when you make a real gravy for biscuits you start with a roo, not sure I'd that's how it's spelled but any way a roo is the base the thickening agent for the gravy. And because it is separating a lil bit means they probably needed to beat it a bit longer. But they hidden message is this is a real gravy not like One of the 2 breakfast hot spots they use a slurry wick is correct starch and water base. This is cheating still good but will never taste as good as the real thing. Good job great job Budget cafe I am your new fan. Keep up the great job and you will be noticed slack and I will make sure you are noticed as well. Ok all thanks for your time I am out and as always farewell farewell and may the forces of evil become confused on the way to your home. read more

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