I met here with friends for breakfast. I had passed this spot in the past but never had the chance to dine here. It is a cute spot. It has or is a mom and pop type of ambiance. The service is friendly and quick. I love that the servers interact with the customers when they can. They make eye contact and share a smile, that definitely makes it a welcoming place where you want to come back. I decided to order a half order of biscuit and gravy (gravy on the side), my side choice was fruit and I ordered sausage patties on the side. When my ordered arrived I was amazed how large the serving was, and was glad I ordered a half order. I didn't finish it and ended up taking home the leftovers. My order was delicious! The gravy was perfect, not too runny or too dry. The side order of the sausage was cooked just right. I was lucky to find street parking in front of the restaurant. Parking could be an issue especiallly on the weekends but it being the weekday the day we met made it easier to find a parking spot. I look forward to returning to Don's! read more

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Great experience! This place has been on our list for a while, and I'm so glad we finally tried it. From the moment we walked in, the vibe was welcoming and fun. Chris greeted us right away and was the most gracious Eagles fan we've ever met -- especially considering the 49ers had just beaten them last week and we were wearing our Niners gear. He had nothing but nice things to say, and coming from a 49ers fan... that's saying a lot. It truly set the tone for the visit. Our server, Arianna, was fantastic -- polite, friendly, easy-going, and so chill. She made everything feel effortless and relaxed, which is exactly the energy you want at brunch. Highly recommend the Avocado Eggs Benedict -- the eggs were cooked absolutely perfectly. We really enjoyed the entire experience, and bonus points because the bathroom is adorable -- such a fun detail that shows how much care goes into the place. We'll definitely be back! read more

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Surprised to find a by-god diner in this area of southern California. Differentiated from other diners by umbrella covered outside dining. Old fashioned counter seating available inside. Really vast menu for breakfast and lunch, along with numerous whiteboard signs up front with other specials-be sure to check those out. Certainly some unique preparations for traditional breakfast items. Prices here compared to other meals on our trip are very reasonable and the value is great too with the portion sizes being quite generous. Biscuits and gravy seemed to be a popular item coming from the kitchen, so after questioning our server and discovering that they make both the gravy and the biscuits in house, that was what I had to try. So, my order today was a combo of one biscuit smothered in sausage gravy, one egg, and one sausage patty. Plus, an extra biscuit with strawberry preserves. My DW went with a more traditional one egg plate with hashbrowns, a biscuit, and bacon. The biscuits served here are delicious, not oversized but very fluffy. I could have downed a few of these with the preserves if I really tried. The sausage gravy was also very good. Smooth with just the right pop of pepper. Good enough that my DW, who is not a gravy person, pronounced it delicious and swiped some from my plate to add to her potatoes. Interestingly, they form the sausage patties by hand so no two are alike. Not boxed frozen patties here. Also really tasty. We left here completely satisfied with every aspect of our experience. Will absolutely visit when next in the area and recommend to all our traveling friends. read more

"Had an amazing brunch at Don's Country Kitchen! The food was delicious, but the real standout was our server, McKenna. She was upbeat, attentive, and made the entire experience feel special. Her energy and professionalism truly elevated our visit. Also love the vibes and bathroom was super cool with all the memes on the walls . read more

This place literally drives home the point that you do not have to be fancy to be good! This is a great option for diner food breakfast! I had the stuffed hashbrowns that were supremely delicious. They were stuffed with bacon and avocado. I loved every bite. The poached eggs on top were cooked perfectly. I've been to bougie restaurants that don't even know how to cook a proper poached egg! And I was told that the chicken fried steak is some of the best in North County! Yum! The service is top-notch as well read more

Food was good, pricey for what it is. Our server was okay, she greeted everyone else but barely came to check on us or crack a smile

Got the stuffed hash browns as they were recommended by the waiter. Unfortunately, they weren't that good I felt. Everything was good by itself, but I felt together it was kind of mushy. The flavors just didn't go well together for me. It was hash browns, sausage, egg, and gravy. The place is small and has inside and outside seating. The staff are all friendly there read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Don's is great!!! If you're looking for the best breakfast in Carlsbad, Don's is it! It's delicious, affordable, and quick. What's even better is Don's is family owned. It's small so we usually sit outside for more space plus when we're in Carlsbad we're there to enjoy the weather. Don's serves home style breakfast. The menu has just about everything, but I always get the Eggs Benedict Carlsbad. It comes with poached eggs and avocado topped with homemade hollandaise sauce that's delicious. The dish comes with potatoes. I like the home style potatoes with the onion, peppers, and seasoning, Yum! Our kids love their Pancakes and French Toast. Don's is a must! read more

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First time taking my Mom to Don's and she was more than happy with the food and the service! We ordered Bea's Benedict and Chorizo Omelette. My mom was very impressed and was grateful for Rachel's quick service. We had an excellent experience and my Mom said she will be back!! read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This place is a banger!! Great service with smiles, coffee options are abound! But you must try their hollandaise sauce, I'd almost say intravenously! Everything from the bacon being perfect to the sourdough toast was jam packed full of flavor. It goes without saying that their omelets were above and beyond. The hash browns??? FORGET ABOUT IT!!! Crispy dense and full of flavor, if they served breakfast all day, I'd never leave!! read more

The food was good, but we had to wait about 45 minutes to be seated after arriving. It was a busy place, but the wait was worth it, especially since we got to sit outside, which was really pleasant. The staff were friendly, and overall, the food was enjoyable. I'd definitely come back again. read more

Vacationing here, and really wanted chocolate chip pancakes for my birthday...Don's were fabulous, fluffy and flavorful! My friend got the stuffed hash browns, which were MARVELOUS! If I lived locally, I would be here all the time! read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Chocolate chip pancakes! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Another Excellent Meal at Don's Country Kitchen in Carlsbad. I went outside of the box this time and got the Classic Stuffed Hash Browns, with Sausage, Cheddar and Onions, topped with two Fried Eggs, and a side of Biscuits and Pork Sausage Gravy. Damn! Too much food, but too good to stop eating. A Carlsbad institution since the early 80's, Don's Country Kitchen is a must. read more

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Interesting little stop. Note that this is not connected to the Don's on south coast highway in Oceanside. First mistake, read the menu fully before ordering. I mentioned what I wanted and in the end paid nearly $19 for a tiny meal. I could have had an entire #4 for the same price. I ordered the Benjamin Special which was like a half plate with 1 egg, 1 sausage, some hashbrowns and toast. The #4 is 2 eggs, 3 sausage, full hashbrowns and toast. My fatal error? Adding in a second sausage link for $3.95. No one did anything wrong, but man that's disappointing to spend over $20 on an egg and 2 sausage links. Breakfast out has gotten so high. I will say, nice service, lots of condiments, soda water on tap and all, but my goodness I will never pay $4 for 1 sausage link again. And I don't know that I want that much food for the price either. But it's almost foolish to spend $5 less to get less than half the food. Just beware, it's more expensive that you think. read more

Cute basic diner. Nothing luxurious. The bacon, hash browns and pancakes were great and the food came out super fast.

Awesome little no frills cafe located right in the heart of carlsbad village. This place has counter service, outside seating and a little seating area inside. Pretty much diner style food that satisfies your breakfast or lunch craving. My go-tos are the omelettes. read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Ham/Cheese & Avo omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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We were told we had to try Don's out when we were in town. Nice little place. Food was great and service was friendly and efficient. Glad we were told about it. Would definitely recommend it read more

Stopped here for breakfast on the way down to San Diego. The staff was nice and welcoming, and the food was freshly made. It's a small, hole-in-the-wall kind of place, which I don't mind at all. We tried the French toast, country fried steak, and poached egg Benedict, among other items. Everything was good, but the corned beef hash was the standout dish. Nothing overly special overall, but definitely a solid stop for breakfast. read more

Food was good... waiter was friendly and took our order as soon as we sat down ... the place is dated... but overall everything was good. We walked so no need for parking.... I had biscuits & gravy... my sister had an omelette... read more

I did an over night job here in Carlsbad and not familiar with the city. I googled places to eat. This one spot caught my eyes. Got to the place around 11:00am and got seated right away at the bar. I only saw 2 guys working and they were super busy but still manage to give great service and very attentive, The food came pretty fast and it was delicious, I would definitely come back here and bring my family. read more

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We love Don's whenever we come to town we always make it to Don's. The food, value and service are great. There is so much to choose from and the restaurant reminds me of an old vintage diner. read more

It's definitely a small place but the service was great amazing. Our food came out less than 10 minutes after ordering but it was amazing.

The food was so good! They have great portions. The staff is very friendly and very attentive. Overall great service and the ambiance of the place is fun! They have fun signs all over the place read more

Four stars for quality of food but 5 for service effort! This is a throw back spot from old Carlsbad Village days. Inside and out is funky in a good way. Known as a breakfast spot, we like the lunch vibe. Patty Melt good not great and open face tuna melt same. All around us we saw breakfast stuff which looks better.... So maybe we missed the boat. Oh, btw... you can but Match Box cars inside which I love..... Try it out. read more

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Food was awesome.... Pecan waffle ... Country Benedict...service was very good.. super friendly read more

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Best food in town. Cozy and warm atmosphere. The Biscuits and gravy are bar none! Great job to all!! Ken read more

Vibe, food and service all 10/10!! I immediately felt so welcomed by the staff, such a nice family feeling atmosphere. Food was fantastic and so filling, added to my list of go-to breakfast spots for sureee read more

Food was bland. Table was sticky. Service was slow and they never checked in on how it tasted or refilled drinks during the meal. The "famous" country sausage gravy was flavorless gloop. My wife's hollandaise sauce was acrid and inedible. read more

Had a great meal here. Food was great. I loved my chicken fried steak with biscuits and gravy (comes with a free visit to the cardiologist). Wife got a shrimp omelet. Service was friendly and efficient. We sat on the covered patio which was perfect on a mild spring day. I'd definitely come back. read more

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Love this place so much. I'm an east coast transplant and miss having the mom and pop type places like this on every corner. I've never ordered something and didn't love it. And they have actual homefries! read more

We frequent Carlsbad Village but have never dined at Don's Country Kitchen. Good comfort breakfast, their menu was very simple and nothing fancy! The produce and meats are very fresh. You will not find any deli meats in turkey breakfast sandwiches and their ham was sliced served good size portion, 1/4" thick! Breakfast time was busy and a swarm of customers without many waiters. Ambiance was a simple comfortable diner feel with bar top tables facing the kitchen and comfy booths. Dogs are welcome on the tables alongside the sidewalk. Enjoy! read more

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Came here for the stuffed blueberry French toast!!!!!! They were all out of the blue berry stuffed French toast but the apricot was really good. Speedy courteous service. Counter service was great. Waffle House vibes. Will be back for the blue berry stuffed French toast. read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Food was great, didn't all come out at once, really weird sign to have in the bathroom. read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Nice country feel, excellent breakfast and portions (corned beef hash, eggs and toast), quick service, friendly and welcoming. Would do again for sure! read more

Been coming for 40 years since they opened in 1984. Places like this are a gem and few and far between I love history and I love this place.! read more

Cute little downtown restaurant on the corner with the best tasting cinnamon roll and breakfast! Delicious and great service!

We had breakfast at Don's and had a great time! We ordered the specials the sausage breakfast quesadilla and BLTAE and each got hash browns as our side. The food was amazing, could have used a little more seasoning but they do have salt, pepper, and hot sauce at each table that helped. I also got a dirty chai latte and it was surprisingly good. The ambiance was very nice and they had cute/funny posters all over the walls that gave us a good laugh. The service was also good as our server kept checking in on us even though it was busy. They do have a really long wait most times (30+ min) but I recommend adding your name to the online waitlist and then heading to the place about 10 minutes before to find parking because it can be tricky. Overall great experience though, would highly recommend. read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Sausage breakfast quesadilla - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I'm truly surprised by positive reviews for this place and very mislead because I don't know if I should consider checking out places based on their ratings. Service was very good. Food was awful! Scrambles eggs ordered for a baby came undercooked so I had to request to cook it again. Waffle combo was the worst I ever had. Eggs and bacon came several minutes before waffle did so my food started getting cold. Waffle was chewy, stretchy, and dry. Eggs were again undercooked. I asked for over easy and the whites were not cooked either. They didn't have real butter to substitute for margarine. My husband had blueberry pancakes. The frozen blueberries they added inside pancakes were hard and rubbery. Fresh berries can be found all year round, thanks to green house but even frozen blueberries could have brought to the plate in a better way. Home potatoes were absolutely tasteless, burned onions and bell peppers, large potatoes slightly burned. Food was very disappointing. The only thing good was cottage cheese which they probably dont make in house. Place was dirty dining floors and bathrooms and its not even a weekend. We are never going back! read more

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An incredible hole in the wall brunch location! Pro's: Very timely service with kind and courteous staff. We arrived 45 mins before closing and had our food ordered and served to us within 10 minutes! The food was incredible as well, with good quality and quantity provided for the pricing! Very content with the experience we had here. Con's: Location. A very small point really, as the location is off the street and a bit worn down, but if you can look past this very minor inconvenience, I would not hesitate to recommend this spot. Overall a wonderful quaint and secluded experience, fun for a very quick bite to eat. Nothing fancy with all the frills or anything but meets the mark in all other basic regards. read more

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I ordered the Crab Cakes Benedict with country style potatoes. The crabcakes were very tasty but the hollandaise was cold due to being put on top of cold avocado slices. An even bigger problem was that the country potatoes were burned beyond recognition. They looked like lumps of charcoal. I was very disappointed in this breakfast for which I paid $24.95. I asked to speak with the cook or a manager and neither one would come out to talk to me about it. This experience did not deserve even one star. read more