If you are on Huntington Drive and speeding along you will miss it. That would be a shame as this is a quaint and charming restaurant. Lots of history here and little know fact that several films or tv series were filmed here You get a sense of the history of this place and if the walls could talk one can imagine the stories it would tell Lots of choices in the menu and it evokes a combo feel of a locale diner and non pretentious neighborhood restaurant. I found the food good with several options in the breakfast menu as well as a wide variety of lunch offerings. Yes the burgers and fries as well as great salads. Staff were amazing and attentive. There is a large private room which is called the Elvis Room. There you have 6 booths as well as a long table in the middle. This is a fantastic place to hold a private party or a group meeting If you're in the area. Not a bad stop read more

Colonial Kitchen - Exterior - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

Came for Saturday brunch. We had (1) Salmon and Eggs (2) Chicken Alfredo and (3) Fried Chicken and Waffles. (1) Salmon and Eggs were served with potatoes and toast. I ordered hash browns which was nicely seasoned. The server also offered Potatoes O'Brien. I asked for my eggs over easy. It was served over hard. The white bread was lightly toasted, just the way I like it. (2) The chicken alfredo was creamy and served with garlic bread. (3) Large waffle size served with a small plate of fried chicken. Pace of brunch was leisurely. It is a diner style restaurant. read more

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My wife and I and take our nephew with us took little trip to San Marino to get a restaurant,we haven't been to many years is called the Colonial Kitchen on Huntington Dr in San Marino. I remember the best thing about the restaurant is breakfast especially their fresh squeezed orange juice in the morning and company with hearty breakfast. This was a perfect sunny day come to Colonial Kitchen we notice right away thre park lots was almost but there's way to find parking but found one right away. The restaurant looks the same since it have been in the same location for many years. We step in the restaurant and stepping back in time many items like the booth seats,tables and lunch counter is well being take off and preserving the original look. We got seated right away then the waitress hand us the menu then we started to look at it. Then have a good breakfast selection and other items on the menu. Then my wife started order, she order the fish n chips she shared it with our nephew because he's very picky. I decided to order the Titan breakfast come with two eggsl,two sausge, two pieces of bacon and your of potatoes I pick the O,brien potatoes and come your choice of toast and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. The staff at the Colonial Kitchen are very nice and friendly and very organized and making everything a well oiled machine. The waiter brought our meal to our table my wife fish n chips looks delicious and my Titan breakfast was big including the two stack of buttermilk pancakes combine that's a hugh breakfast for a very hungry Titan. I really enjoy the Titan breakfast the meal was right for me I enjoy everything especially the Buttermilk Pancakes they good and also potatoes they very good full of flavor. My wife and our nephew enjoy thier fish n chips they finish the plate. Overall we enjoy our breakfast at Colonial Kitchen we need to come back try different items in their menu. read more

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Food was so-so. Gravy was salty. English muffin was toasted too long. Over-priced compared to similar type of restaurants in the area. Service was poor. The restaurant was not busy and we had to wait for a little while to get seated. After we sat down, two waitresses were tidying up with their utensils supplies, etc. instead of coming to our table to take our order. We must have waited for 5-10 minutes after we had already looked over our menus. But other customers that came in after us received red carpet treatments. Ambiance was good. For a restaurant that's been there since 1947, they are keeping the place in decent shape. We will never go back to the restaurant again. We feel that we were not welcome there at all. read more

Came for breakfast on a Saturday with the hubby for the first time and was surprised how cozy the place is. It can get pretty loud in there because the tables are pretty close together. It was honestly a little hard to have a conversation with the hubby because the ladies behind us were loud and there was another lady across the restaurant who was speaking loudly too. The service is so so. It didn't seem like they were understaffed, but more like the staff were inattentive. We were ready to place an order but the staff didn't notice us. Instead he went to the table in front of us and asked the gentleman if he was ready to order. The kind gentlemen had to tell the staff that we were ready. Food was alright. Hubby ordered the titan breakfast while I ordered the French toast with strawberry. We both really liked the sausage and I really liked the freshly squeezed orange juice. read more

Colonial Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

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I've been to Colonial Kitchen a couple of times for brunch. Can't believe I've driven by for so many years and never tried it. Very classic feeling diner in the main room, nostalgic aesthetic. Decent breakfast options and fresh squeezed OJ is a plus. I'd skip the turkey sausage in the future...but their omelettes and Titan Breakfast are decent. Choice of hashbrowns or O'Brien (w/ onions & bell peppers) and choice of bread (white, wheat, or sourdough). Their pancakes were good too, their mix is already a bit sweet. Service is a little slow. Sometimes they have open tables, but just not enough staff. Parking lot is small, otherwise there is also street parking. Restrooms are fairly clean. read more

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Staff very friendly and asked questions and they came back with answers. Parking lot limited but they have street parking. Place was very clean. Bathrooms very clean. Had decaf coffee with chicken fried steak and eggs, hashbrowns and sourdough toast. Food was very delicious would recommend the spot. read more

Colonial Kitchen - Chicken, fried steak and eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

Service was terrible. We waited 15 minutes before anyone even took a drink order. When our drinks arrived, we tried to place our food order but the server left too quickly to hear us and never came back. After another 15 minutes (30 minutes total, no food order taken), we had to press the call button just to get someone's attention. Meanwhile, two neighboring tables were offered water/coffee immediately upon being seated and had their orders taken within 5-10 minutes. The contrast was hard to miss. It made me wonder if it's because we were the only Asian diners at the restaurant. Food was mediocre and overly salty for the price ($20 per dish). The air conditioning was very weak. I don't think we will ever want to return for the poor customer service and food quality. read more

Two stars only for the long-time staff members who are still friendly, and trying. Unfortunately, they now find themselves working for a new owner who has no idea how to run a restaurant. They have completely forgotten how to make several of the dishes - garlic shrimp scampi on salad? Italian marinara on the Sonoran omelette? The June 2025 "closed for remodel" was actually them getting shut down by the health department for vermin infestation and code violations. No manager, no division of labor. Go to Shakers or Twoheys. read more

I've driven by this place dozens of times and, for some reason, imagined them having great fried chicken. So, today, I stopped in and ordered their fried chicken a la carte ($13 before tip). The server gave me a table setting as I told him I was going to eat there. After about 20 minutes, my order was brought to me in a plastic bag. The server looked at me, confused, asking "actually did you want to eat it here?" I told him 'yes' but - considering I had groceries in the car that I should probably get home - paid and thanked him. I wanted to have a "fresh" bite (as opposed to after the 20min drive home) so I popped the container open and was surprised at how small the chicken pieces were. The order was to come with a breast and a thigh but they were nearly identically-sized as the wings. RE: that first bite - it was not good; the flavor I detected that bummed-me-out tasted like slightly-spoiled buttermilk. Also, the distribution of the batter was very sparse on these chickens. On the drive home, I started entertaining the idea that when the server saw these mealy pieces, he became too embarrassed to present them to me on a plate (the reason why I got it in a knotted plastic bag?). Anyway, speculation aside: I don't think I'd go back - which is a bummer as the interior was super-cute and the employees were very friendly. read more

Colonial Kitchen - um, fried chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

Old school coffee shop type restaurant with good old fashioned comfort food! Everyone there is super friendly. I've never been for dinner- need to check out the live music sometime. read more

Unfortunately the place I use to frequently visit has now become a disappointment. As a child, Colonial Kitchen was a treat to the family for breakfast after Sunday Mass. As years gone by and new owners have been passing through, hand after hand, this place has been falling to the bottom of my list and will not consider returning nor recommend this place to others. The portions have lessened and the portions you receive on a glass of wine is literally the "3 finger" mark... as told by the server themself when asked about the pour. I'm sure the word will get around with the experiences of other customers who have noticed a difference. Thank goodness the ambiance and comfort level is still the same. read more

Colonial Kitchen - The new portions... sad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

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Best fried chicken (& waffles) ! Almost tastes like the chicken is fried in waffle batter or something. I don't know what's their secret but it was delicious read more

Colonial Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

On a Sunday morning at 9:10am in Early June, my hubby and I came here for breakfast. The place wasn't too busy at all. We were nicely greeted and sat in a table. It was hard to decide what to get. I already a morning snack before I came here, so I ordered chicken n waffles. I love the old school interior and vibe. They have tables and booths. They played nostalgia music in the background. The waffle was thick and huge. The fried chicken pieces were crispy and not greasy. The staff came by several times to refill water and coffee. I got full by eating Fried chicken and waffles. I will definitely come back again for lunch or dinner. read more

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Always wanted to try this place but it will be my first and last time coming here. Awful service. The person that took our order was rude. She talked over us when ordering. I asked for water all around and she only brought water to the adults and ignored my kids. The plate that I ordered came with orange juice and she forgot. There was only 3 sets of utensils and we asked for more and they were like one more? Ahmm do they expect my kids to eat with their hands? Asked for extra plates and was brought one and it was dirty. Food was ok. Not sure I will be back. There are other diners that are better than this one. read more

Old-school diner with a super casual vibe--nothing fancy, just solid, classic breakfast and brunch food. ENJOY! PS: There is a parking lot & also street parking. read more

I was truly disappointed in how much quality control has gone down. 2 years ago, we visited for a Thanksgiving lunch, and today we went again because our family turkey dinner plans were canceled last minute. Ordered the Thanksgiving plate (it was tasty last time I ordered it) and when the server brought my plate out, I was appalled before even taking a bite. Everything (turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, etc) were previously frozen, canned or boxed. Needless to say, I couldn't eat much. I only asked for a takeaway box to feed our neighborhood cats (including the pie). My boyfriend read ownership changed. Needless to say, we won't return again. I look forward to Thanksgiving every year because I love a traditional Thanksgiving meal and love to celebrate friends and family and how thankful I am. This meal was depressing. Then and now pics posted. read more

Colonial Kitchen - Today - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

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Standard diner fare. Restaurant is a little old and tired looking. Been here two or three times and I can't seem to find something I truly enjoy. Food is ok--the hot coffee is always appreciated; some brews have been stronger and or fresher than others. I will say the staff is always so nice and friendly. I don't think anyone coming here should expect to be wowed--but if you want a decent typical breakfast and friendly service then this is your place. read more

I ordered the stuffed French toast. It's.... I don't even know. Honestly I think it could do without the cream cheese. The cream cheese addition wasn't bad nor was it great. It was honestly just confusing. I LOVE cream cheese so I was okay with it. But if you don't, you'll hate it. I think it dries up the french toast a bit. The French toast itself was NOT dry. The crunch was absolutely perfect. The peanut butter? Yum. But peanut butter and cream cheese? What? I waited for my stomach to reject it, but it didn't. So I guess it went down okay. Service was fine. Kind of odd that the guy waited for us all to squeeze in to a booth before saying "do you guys want to sit at that other booth? It's bigger." But the booth size was perfect for us. It was just squeezing to get IN to the booth. The table and wall was quite close and we had to move the table to a crooked angle to get in. read more

Colonial Kitchen - Stuffed French Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

I drive by the Colonial Kitchen often and I finally had the opportunity to try it out. It was VERY expensive. With a tip, I walked out having paid over $35! For just me. The food was good, but not great and at those prices, I am expecting great!! My waitress and the man at the register were nice. read more

Colonial Kitchen - Belgian waffle with fruit, and bacon with hashbrowns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

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Great pancakes and a classic diner breakfast!! Has dog friendly outdoor seating which is always a plus. Lovely place!

Service (5/5): greeted immediately and our server waved us over to our table. Frequent offers to refill our coffee and our food brought out in 20 minutes. Ambience (4/5): Old timely lamps, counter stools, booths, hospitable feel, low lighting, but the best feature was the vintage person-operated orange juice squeezer that was constantly creating fresh squeezed OJ. Food(3/5): weak coffee, bland food. The bacon of my BLT stood out as crisp and tasty. No complaints about the British burger and fries or pork chop and hashed browns other than they were fairly bland. Overall 3.5/5. read more

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Food is average, service is terrible, if we don't ask, they won't even give us the food we order when we pay the bill! Do not come! Awful experience! read more

Ok service, terrible food. It's disappointing given the location and the history. Would not come back.

I used to come here years ago and tried to visit after a long time, as I remember the food and service being great. Boy was this a bad idea! My entire family finished eating and my chicken omelette never made it to the table. Also, the pancakes served to my husband and son were extremely dry. When I told them I no longer wanted the omelette, they just shrugged it off. I will not be returning #bringbacktheOLDcolonial read more

Super friendly service, everything is so cute and clean inside. The food is good and nothing crazy, but it's well seasoned and yummy. Would definitely come back with my parents, they'd like the vibe for sure. read more

The staff at Colonial Restaurant are always inviting and friendly, making us feel welcome and at home every time we visit. Breakfast is our favorite meal to enjoy here--Gina makes a delicious salsa that pairs well with a breakfast burrito or breakfast sandwich. and Michelle is such a sweetheart, always greeting us with a smile. Jesus is a great waiter, and the boys, Albert and Martin, are excellent servers--friendly, attentive, and always keeping our coffee mugs full. Amanda has built a wonderful team, and they all deserve top pay for the outstanding service they provide. Thank you all!!! read more

I really like the new tables for the outside dining area! Idk how long they've had them, but it's a must needed touch to this place. I've been coming here for years and have always loved it. However, I moved away some years ago; I'm glad I dropped by for some nostalgia. read more

I drove past Colonial Kitchen for years without eating there. After my wife's doctor's appointment in Arcadia, she asked where to go for breakfast. I suggested Colonial Kitchen which is on the way to her work in South Pasadena. When we walked in, we noticed the place was a quaint little restaurant with wood stools on the counter, booths in the back and private rooms. We sat in the main area. Service was very good. Once we placed our order, the food came out in 10 minutes. I ordered the short stack buttermilk pancakes (2). They were thick and chewy. No need for syrup because there's no aftertaste to the pancakes. One of the best buttermilk pancakes for $6.00. DJ's rating: 4.35/5.00 Would I come back? Yes. read more

Colonial Kitchen - Outside Colonial Kitchen. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Marino, California

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Great food. I had the Salmon dinner, it came with veggies, salad, big bake potato! The service was great. Our server was very nice! Excellent customer service. Ambiance was charming! I will be back for breakfast! Thank you! read more

Four stars for the warm greeting at the entrance and for the down-homey ambiance...reminds me of an old school southern small-town diner...country music...booths...many derrieres have sat in our booth, slanting to the end of the table into a butt divot...it was like slowly sliding on a bannister...amusing but not entirely as comfortable as the booth appeared. The booths are very inviting at first sight. We got two breakfasts at 11 am on a Monday....I had the pancake combo...three buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs, one sausage and one slice of bacon. We also had a ham and cheese omelette with large half plate portion of crispy potatos O'Brien and an plate of English Muffins. The scrambled eggs were tasty, buttery. Had a choice of the protein but I decided to get one of each....a basic presentation...basic breakfast like the kind you can make at home. The pancakes though were large fluffy and served with two servings of whipped butter...the syrup was Mill Pearling like from the supermarket. My companion shared her potatoes...which was hash browns with finely-diced bell pepper and onions.The omelette was made with thinly- sliced ham, and there was American cheese on top but not inside the omelette. It tasted all right but definitely not a feast for the eyes. I was hoping the coffee would be strong...both refills and top offs were watery tepid...sad sad sad coffees served in mugs on a pretty country dish. I always wanted to eat here, I've passed by for years....I did love the ambiance, the warm friendliness from staff... Highly recommend those potatoes O'brian/hash browns...also the pancakes...this was about $42. For what is a Dennys type breakfast. ALAS. Perhaps we should have ordered lunch. I saw a heaping plate of onion rings and instantly had food envy. Plenty of parking. And you can eat al fresco. But why...when inside is so cute. Glad I tried the place but kinda steep for breakfast. read more

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SO DISAPPOINTED!!! I have been coming here for years but since the new owners took over it has hit rock bottom! They got rid of the BEST waitress Rosie who was there for years! She had the best customer service! Now you walk in and you're ignored! The two girls that work there (look like sisters) are literally in another world! They don't greet you, you have to flag them down for coffee and water. It's ridiculous! Don't waste your time!!! Such a shame! read more

Service was less then satisfactory! I exsperinced this a month ago and my wife and daughter experienced it today. The two young ladies had no greeting manners and where very unattentive! Dont you owners notice this? They needed to be trained by lovely Rosa! Probably will never go back! read more

Old school diner. Friendly staff. Free coffee which I was surprised to hear. Food was solid. Nothing fantastic but not bad at all. If you like simple diners and coffee refills you'll be happy. Reasonable price wise as cheap meals don't exist in 2026. Anywhere. read more

Decided to try Colonial Kitchen after driving by it for many years Left frustrated with slow slow and terrible service It's a small place with many 20 tables They have over 7 people working the eating area so you would think service would be excellent....but it was far from it Took about 5 minutes for someone to get our drink orders, another 10 minutes before someone came to take our food orders And took 15 minutes for average food to arrive Never going back cause it's painful seeing so many lazy workers and non existent management read more

New ownership. The new Menu was disgusting And the hostess pretty much ignored us when we walked in. We've been going there for years. We used to love that Restaurant. We are very disappointed. To be honest it looks like it's a front if you know what I mean. read more

Disappointed! Quite expensive for mediocre cooking served. 70s looking interior; diners ambiance. Shakers in South Pasadena is better!

Awful - rude - dismissive!! We placed an online order for 6 entrees on Sunday, 6/14 to celebrate a family birthday. When we arrived to pick up the order, the server told us it would just a few more minutes. After waiting over 25 minutes, we asked again about the status of the order -- a response which resulted in us asking to see the manager. The interaction with the rude, unapologetic manager only made matters worse. He told us that he had cancelled the order, however we never received any notification of such cancellation (and in fact, Uber Eats was still showing the order as active an hour after we left in disgust). The Manager went on to say that they were very busy and would not be able to fulfill the order at all. No apologies or any hint of customer service from the manager -- just that he was busy and they simply couldn't handle the order. Why didn't they tell us the order would not be fulfilled when we arrived for pickup??? Instead, we had to sit and wait for WAAAAAAAY TOOOOOO LONG. Totally impacted the birthday festivities and timing too!! Unbelievable. We will NEVER give them our business ever again....and we live 2 blocks from them in San Marino. What a disappointment. Steer clear of this place. read more

When Rosie the waitress left Colonial Kitchen to move to Mexico, the restaurant was never the same. She always smiled, remembered exactly what you had ordered before and made you feel that you were special to her. She had wonderful charisma that is unusual for anyone in the hospitality business -- or any other kind of work. I'm sure anyone reading this review will remember Rosie. One of a kind. read more

Colonial kitchen is a such a cool spot. The service is friendly and easy. The people are very genuine and accommodating. The food is pretty good too. They have a big selection and our the food came out in record time. This is a cool cozy kitchen. read more