We went here once... like over a decade ago, probably longer. But there is almost always a line of people waiting, and there are a ton of places near by. What does that tell you? That it's a good place, that people like it, and that it's worth it. And you're right to think that. Service is quick, friendly to a fault. Standard San Diego Breakfast stuff? Yeah, mostly. We had Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs because all the breakfast diners have disappeared from San Diego. Café 222 probably has the best in all of San Diego, with a creamy flavorful gravy, perfectly done steak (not to soft, but not to chewy), the right amount of crispy on the potatoes and sunny side up eggs that are done to the T perfect. This is a place that flies under the radar and perhaps doesn't get the love like some of the boozy breakfast places around, which is both a bummer and good. It is just off the main strip, away from the crazy, near lots of parking, the trolley, the convention center, the kid's museum, and about a dozen other things. read more

Cafe 222 - CFS&E - best in San Diego. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Greeted warmly by the waiter who was setting up, I arrived at 6:28 for a 6:30 opening. This guy was right there when I needed him with an infectious smile. Of course I ordered the banana & peanut butter stuffed French toast as that is being raved about. To satisfy my daily needs I also had a cup of 1/2caf, 2 eggs over medium, and ham. The coffee was great. The French toast ok; not something I would rave about. The eggs fine and the ham well done as requested, plenty of it. I would go back, due to the staff. A waitress arrived while I was eating and served a couple next to me. She was of the same caliber as my guy, really nice. Not overbearing but definitely radiating warmth. Good company for breakfast at dawn. read more

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Cafe 222 is a must stop for breakfast whenever we are in San Diego. They provide friendly service, great food, and amazing waffles with an authentic diner vibe. I ordered the Golden Waffle combo with eggs over easy and sausage links. The waffle was a big thick golden brown malted waffle as advertised. The eggs and links were perfectly cooked. Robin tried the Blueberry Cornbread waffle made with crunchy, corny buttermilk batter. She let me try a quarter and I am torn over which waffle was better because both were delicious. It was all so good I forgot to get a new picture. The orange juice and coffee is good as well. Make Cafe 222 your must stop place in San Diego and you will not be disappointed. read more

Cafe 222 - OJ was great too. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

This. Place. Never. Disappoints. As you can see we're "regulars" when in the area. We've been here 5 or 6 times over a few years and the experience is always the same. The food is solid and comforting. The staff/owner are friendly and non-pretentious. The vibes are good. Service is always quick. You'll receive your food within 10 minutes or so of ordering. The food comes out piping hot and made fresh just for you. Juices are fresh squeezed not from a bottle off the shelf. This includes the apple juice. To mix things up, we got the churro waffle in addition to our regular smothered potatoes. The waffle was light and delicious with just the right amount of sweetness. Every time we come, we hear them talking to a regular, they always know their order and what they've been up to lately. Such a genuinely lovely place. read more

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Great brunch spot away from all the craziness of downtown. Great food and great service. The blueberry corn waffle was so good I could've eaten another one! Very dog friendly. Plenty of seating indoor and outdoor. read more

Cafe 222 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Firstly, the staff is very friendly and it's a genuine friendly, not an act. It is a small diner, but I like that feel. They are very attentive. There is also some outdoor seating as well. I am a huge corned beef hash fan and Cafe 222 has a delicious dish. It has hash browns, green peppers, onions and fried potatoes that complement the corned beef. If you're worried about if it tastes like it came out of a can, do not worry, it's legitimately an authentic dish. I come here during the summer and I enjoy it every time I come. read more

Excellent delicious food. Great service. The cornbread waffles are to die for. I would return!

So disappointed with Cafee 222, not for the service or food but for the pricing. I order here a lot and always get the smothered Potatoes, they now require you to choose a $5 upcharge for 2 eggs or you can't order the potatoes by themselves. What a huge disappointment and HUGE upcharge. Unfortunately taking my business elsewhere... Was a monthly visitor. read more

Cafe 222 - Huge forced upcharge on the potatoes requiring you buy EGGS. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

It's so good I had to go two days in a row and it's an easy/pleasant walk from the Hyatt on the bay. Service is great, place is small and it's worth it to wait! I had the B&G and it was huge, Cyn had the geese and loved it, and Ginny had the (huge) waffle. It's really an old school diner and simply fantastic. read more

Cafe 222 - Breakfast for 3 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

We were in town visiting my daughter that had returned from naval deployment and she wanted breakfast. This place popped up on my search so we hustled over and it took us about 10 minutes to find parking. Once inside, it was actually really cool and the food was actually much better than I thought it would've been considering the area. There are quite a bit of homeless in the area, but we didn't have any problem. read more

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Cute little diner in the heart of the gaslamp district serving up delicious breakfast and great coffee drinks I had just a simple egg and muffin, but the hubby tried the pork patty. Benedict served with delicious potatoes. Service is fast and friendly and lots of cute little T-shirts and souvenirs to purchase read more

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This place has solid breakfast! Went here on a Sunday morning and was seated within 10 mins of arrival. It's a cozy spot, especially inside. The service was quick and easy. The menu is plentiful with so many options. I got the pancakes and they were HUGE. Great portions for the price. They have pork sausage but not pork bacon which I thought was interesting. The potatoes were too greasy for my liking. Overall, a good breakfast and would return. read more

They brought out ketchup and tapatio without asking! Waffles are airy and sweet. After that truly disappointing experience at Queenstown Public I was still craving a biscuit, and the biscuit Benedict at 222 was pretty great. read more

Food was delicious! The portion sizes are big and definitely recommend sharing a plate. The service by our waitress was great and very welcoming. It's a small restaurant but very clean and definitely recommend eating here! read more

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A fine brunch establishment, but I didn't find that it was worth the hype. On. a Sunday morning, the wait wasn't too bad - 20 minutes or so. Food was just okay - breakfast burrito and eggs Benny were fine, and the world famous French toast was also fine. The best part of the experience was the service. Even though we were situated in a corner outside, our server was very attentive! read more

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Just one great meal after another. Food just excellent here along with the service. Just wish they'd raise price on menu and get rid of 4% service charge. Make life a lot nicer. read more

This place was so cute. We stopped by for breakfast without a reservation and was able to get a seat pretty quickly. It's a small place but it's cute. Our server was really nice and efficient even though he was running all over. There were a good number of options so it was hard to decide what to get but my friend and I both really enjoyed our meals. And the portions were huge. I could see us coming by again next time we're in town. read more

Cafe 222 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Wow!! So happy my hubby found this breakfast place!! Not only are their waffles delicious, but their strawberries are totally fresh!! It's our first time here...so we walked here from our hotel during San Diego Comic-Con 2025. So we don't know about the parking...BUT I do know their service is fantastic and they are so personable here. This place is such a nice cozy breakfast area!! read more

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This was such a great spot! It's a small location with both indoor and outdoor seating, but worth the wait. While it has traditional breakfast items, I went for the Mexican offering of a tamale and eggs. Everything was cooked perfectly and had so much flavor! Awesome quick service too! read more

Just had breakfast here and I would go back! Service was top notch. Waffle combo breakfast was really good. Coffee was hot and fresh. A little pricey but other than that, all good. read more

Cafe 222 - Funny t-shirt for sale! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Had breakfast here. Great service and the food was very good!!! I enjoyed it a great deal! read more

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Excellent service. I had the Huevos Rancheros and it was good. It's a nice space with outdoor seating on the sidewalk.

Found our way here while walking from the US Grant to the waterfront. It was fun, kitchy not crowded, and bright but best of all we had a great brunch. Waffles and eggs all made to order with fresh juice. They were just finishing up a fresh batch of homemade granola so the smell was divine. Bought a bag of granola and enjoyed it for the next week; each time reliving the smile of the day read more

Best eggs Benedict I have had in a long long time! The two men that work there are just great and very attentive. I had the best experience here doing my homework. The cute little shop is tucked away a little but has a great vibe! read more

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Tucked away beneath high-rise apartments in downtown San Diego, Cafe 222 is easy to miss but hard to forget. This cozy spot, with its slightly retro charm and casual vibe, draws in mostly locals and few visitors alike for a hearty breakfast or brunch experience. I discovered this place by accident. The menu makes one thing clear right away: "No modifications due to kitchen size." That disclaimer almost had me turning on my heel, expecting a rigid experience. But to my surprise, I was able to make several changes to my burrito--no sour cream, no refried beans, no smothered gravy, and yes to guacamole. That kind of flexibility, despite the warning, was a pleasant contradiction that set the tone for the rest of the visit. The food itself? Delicious, unpretentious, and portioned just right. The burrito I ordered came out flavorful and satisfying, even without the usual fixings. The ingredients were fresh, and the preparation felt thoughtful despite the cafe's tight kitchen constraints. This burrito gave me enough substance to endure walking around for 5 hours at the zoo. Service was friendly and efficient. The staff managed the small space well, there is limited outside dining..Limited off street parking. However diagonally across is a paid parking lot. Even when busy, the atmosphere stayed warm and welcoming. It's clearly a neighborhood favorite, with a steady flow of regulars and curious newcomers. The cafe does charge a 4% convince fee. You can pay by cash or card. One single bathroom used by all genders. Overall, Cafe 222 offers a solid breakfast experience with a touch of personality. If you can look past (or navigate) the no-mods rule, you'll likely leave happy--and full. read more

Cafe 222 - Modified Breakfast Burrito. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

This is a pretty late review, but my boyfriend and I visited Cafe 222 as the very first stop on our trip to San Diego. We didn't plan to visit Cafe 222, but saw it as we drove through Downtown SD, so we decided to give it a try. They were not too busy since it was a weekday, and our waitress was extremely kind. It felt very homey and welcoming. We ordered the Huevos Rancheros and the Eggs Benedict. The Huevos Rancheros was super good and one of the more authentic takes as compared to the overly hipster versions we've had at other places. The Eggs Benedict was pretty good too. The hollandaise was more tangy and lemony which I know is more accurate, but I prefer a more buttery, rich hollandaise. Thats just personal preference but I would still order this again. We're from the OC area, and the prices here were pretty similar to what we're used to. The interior of the restaurant was super cute and the service was great. We will definitely consider stopping by again next time we visit San Diego. read more

Cafe 222 - Huevos Rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love a diner and this was a really good one. We came here on a Sunday morning and it wasn't too busy when we came (we were up early for a flight). Service was great and our meal came quick. We tried 2 different waffles (blueberry cornbread and pumpkin) and both were excellent, though I'd give the edge to the blueberry cornbread ones. Food's great, prices were reasonable, and service was great = an excellent diner. read more

Cafe 222 - Pumpkin waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great little cafe with friendly staff and good food. I had the breakfast burrito (no gravy) and half was more than enough. Delicious too!

Very nice out skirts of down town SD there is metered parking across the street. Portions are very big would recommend sharing if coming with a family overall great food waffles are good and toppings are heavily included read more

Quick service. Food was very tasteful and plenty to eat. Would definitely go there again

Ordered: Blueberry Cornbread Waffle (~$15) + Combo (~$8): comes with 2 eggs (over-easy) and 2 strips of turkey bacon House-baked Buttermilk Biscuit (~$4) Orange Juice (~$6) Aya's take: Now this is a breakfast! I don't think I've ever had a waffle made with cornbread before but this Blueberry Cornbread Waffle was delicious. You really taste the crunchy, corny batter in every bite that's nicely complemented by the sweetness and tartness of the blueberries. Making it a Combo was worth it to me as it adds some savoriness to the breakfast. The Buttermilk Biscuit was golden brown, buttery, and a bit flaky too. Using that to make a breakfast sandwich would be so bomb! The Orange Juice wasn't fresh squeezed (I don't think) so ~$6 for this small glass was not worth it, in my opinion. Other than that, the food is definitely worth a try if you're in the SD area. read more

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If you are in San Diego this is a great spot for breakfast or brunch. Good and friendly service too.

Location is a little off the beaten track but with pleasant outdoor seating and bustling, cozy and cheerful indoors. I came for the waffles at late morning. Had a churros with a side of scrambled eggs and an o.j. Really, really good - I devoured it. It is obviously a local favorite and I could see why. The service was the epitome of pleasant and efficient. I would love to go back! read more

We were looking for a casual brunch spot and came across this cute little cafe on the corner. The host sat us quick on the little patio area and our waitress was quick to take our order! They have lots to choose from; from breakfast classics like waffles and scrambles to more creative dishes, like tamales with mexican gravy. My blueberry cornbread waffle was cooked perfectly and was very tasty! I also got a side of breakfast potatoes that were equally as delicious. I would definitely return! read more

Cafe 222 - Top: Eggs Benedict Bottom: Blueberry Cornbread Waffle and Griddles Potatoes. $41 altogether - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

I loved breakfast here! There was a little wait but I think it was worth it. The owner is there and was so nice! The blueberry waffle was delicious and the pancakes were perfect. Will definitely return read more

First time here. Was spending a birthday day in San Diego and decided to come here for breakfast very very good if I'm back on this side of town in the future, I will definitely come here the waiter very very friendly the food amazing good service great coffee. A+ 1000 times read more

Cafe 222 - Breakfast pancakes, eggs, hash coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

It has been many years since I visited the lovely city of San Diego. I dined in Café 222 then and I estimated that might've been 25 years ago? Here I am again on December 30, 2024. It is clear that Cafe 222 remains a favorite of both locals and tourists as well. I can't comment on parking because I walked here. I had the eggs Benedict, and as I told a friend, my search for the best hollandaise sauce in the world is now over. It's right here! This is top-notch food that very reasonable prices. Wonderful, friendly and attentive staff, and I enjoyed dining outside read more

Cafe 222 - Signage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great breakfast. The pancakes are amazing and they give you a lot. Their eggs are amazing also. Highly recommend eating here

Great waffles, very fluffy. I really enjoyed my breakfast. The service was exceptional.

Short & sweet - the service here is phenomenal. I was greeted by a gentleman who was genuinely welcoming. At that moment I knew the hype was real. He was able to find my order in seconds, and although the interaction was brief, it helped start my day on the right track. I order a la carte - ham, potatoes, a biscuit, and one egg. I asked that they put it all in one container as to not create more waste than necessary and they happily obliged. The food was one of the best breakfasts I had in San Diego! The biscuit was soft and buttery, the ham was juicy, the potatoes were crunchy and well seasoned, and the egg was fresh. I wish I had another day added to my trip to go back for more, but at least I was able to commit this meal to memory. read more

Cafe 222 - Ham, 1 Egg, Griddles Potatoes, and a Terryls Homemade Angel Biscuit - ordered a la carte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California