On a road trip, my friend Denise and I were looking for a convenience store in roads that were not…read morepaved with cement nor were they in the center of a chic boutique and a hits-the-spot every time boba shop. Yes, we were basically on dirt roads that saw a few scattered homes here and there, and visible old school phone towers (the brown kind) connected with wires (where crows sit on a row) existed, and not much else. We drove around in some circles, looking for this fabled store and found nothing, not even a Bigfoot. We noted how the moment felt like we were on an Iowa highway because we saw expansive fields and experienced a Middle-America atmosphere. I wanted a small stalk of wheat in between my teeth. As we drove, we saw this place and decided that this joint would replace the store we were looking for. At this point I started to listen to Carry on My Wayward Son by Kansas. If you know, you know. As soon as I entered I felt like I had stepped into a diner in the middle of nowhere, the type of spot where brothers talked about saving people, hunting things, you know the family business. My friend Denise did not know what I was talking about and when I tried to introduce the world to her with corny prompts she decided not to play along. Still for a fan the experience was nothing but a win!(chester). I cannot remember the person who helped us but she was a server who reported that she had lived in the surrounding area for most of her life. She was deepening the believe that we were on a route diner neglected by city reality. During this visit, I had fried okra for the first time in my life. It was weird to taste but not in a bad way. More like I had never tasted this texture before in my life. The texture that I had not tried before in my life was a gooey vegetable. Like the texture of the outside was exactly as advertised--- fried goodness. The actual okra was the gooey part. I do not want to sound crass, truly, I do not, but it did feel like enjoying something slimy, and I will leave it at that. Again, not wrong, just weird But I will not get it again. The server- the homegrown one- gave us fried pickles and these were much more to taste. Like, I i have had fried pickles before and I loved them but I had some that were not for me. But these, these, were pickle spears fried to brown goodness, and the mixture hit green- which does not mean go, more like Hulk enjoys, instead of smashes. It was a simple dish yes- green spear pickle fried but sometimes the goodness of a county fair is exactly what a roadtrip snack should be. The fair came to my table and I am not mad at that. On this trip I did have the Willow Dip which I feel is a close cousin to a french dip. What this place did well, at least I think, is putting it on an onion baguette. I am not sure if onion baguette is a middle-of-nowhere bread, but, I allowed it because the taste of the bread was, like tailored made for me, I am a sucker for onion, and not just because it gives me sexy breath. The food was standard, solid fare. Everything was just good nothing wrong with it, all good with it. The sauces were tasty, and added smoky sweet flavor that was welcomed. So this elevated the dish by addding a hickory taste. It did not save the dishes, but did make them better. The decorations were texas heavy. I should have taken more pictures. But sometimes the imagination allows for a space to feel more than at it is.

Mar 15 2026 - 3.5 stars 4 stars - restaurant cleanliness,…read moredecor, nice wooden vibe 4.5 stars - service - friendly, smiling staff, ready to answer any and all questions 3.5 stars - food, chicken sandwich, onion rings and fries were very good The ribs were dry, over cooked ? Not sure but saving grace was the BBQ sauce - if only the ribs were a little moist and juicy ! This is a good spot to stop when driving to or from LA along the I-5 Kid friendly ! We will be back !

Im really loving their value slams! I get toast, scrambled eggs and hashbrowns for 5 bucks!…read more Usually when I have to work in LH, I don't have time to make myself anything tha morning, so I'm grateful for this deal! I order it ahead of time so it's ready by the time I'm driving In to town. The restaurant has a nice honey feel to it, it kept some of its charm as opposed to most Denny's that have received makeovers. I really like that. The restaurant is always bustling with travelers who stop in, and the young ladies who tend to everyone are quick, and very kind!

Had amazing service and food tonight Tuesday in may He was very good. Very rare i add a review…read more The chilled hot plate chicken was good. Very shocked. Denny bringing there food game up at this location. Lots of street parking for trailer

Tina is a Five star!!! A gem. The decor and ambience is also a five. Alas, the food for me wasn't…read more Worth a stop to say hello to Tina.

I guess stars are all relative. It's relative to the geographic area. It's relative to who is…read morewriting the review. Etc. We stopped here for lunch en route from Paso Robles to San Diego. If we were to go this route again, I'd definitely go somewhere else. I hate to write bad reviews, especially for a small mom and pop place, but, I can't compromise my standards and expectations. This place might go out of business in a larger metropolitan area due to quality issues. The low prices are what's keeping this place alive. Plus, the camaraderie the locals have with the owner.

What a pleasant surprise, we were debating if we should do fast food off the highway or somewhere…read moresitdown and glad we did! Service was friendly, food took a bit of time but after we tried it, we knew why. The ribeye steak was the best steak I have had in awhile, so fresh. Also got the bacon burger which was equally yummy. BLT with avocado and bacon was okay, probably would have been better if my kids didn't take all of the bacon? Haha. Definitely worth the stop for some delicious food and friendly service.

I called to make a reservation for Friday night and they took the reservation. Imagine our…read moresurprise after driving through dense fog to find the place only to find the gate closed. Nobody answering the phone. I think they are no longer open on Friday nights.

We were hungry and looking for a local mom and pop place to eat so I jumped on Yelp and found this…read moreplace on the map. I found this place and we had like 40 minutes to get there before they closed. As we started to drive there we were wondering if the GPS was taking us on a wild ride because we ended up driving on some rural roads and thought, there's no way there's a restaurant back here but a few minutes later we arrived to a cute rustic looking caboose looking café. The interior was authentic and rustic and even smelled like real food being cooked on a griddle smell. Our waitress came right over and welcomed us to sit wherever we want to. Their menu was homemade country filled items. I ordered the Club Sandwich which was their daily special and I went with their potatoe salad which is something I don't like to order because it's one of those items that I'm never really sure if its going to be homemade or store bought. My husband went with the cheeseburger and fries. It didn't take long for our meal to arrive. I loved how the plates didn't match, just like at home lol, and the potato salad was homemade and it was good. My Club Sandwich was good and the vegetables were California fresh. My husband said his cheeseburger was cooked right and tasted like it was cooked on a seasoned grill. I definitely know if when we are back in the area, we definitely will be coming back to this little spot.

Come on Thursday for The Chicken Fried Steak Special! Twenty Bucks will cover the main dish, lots…read moreof papas, 2 eggs your way, coffee, and a decent gratuity. Not bad for a stationary railroad car in La Colonia, without a conductor pulling the hand break, because some tonto in a car or truck decided to race under the crossing rails! Clean restrooms! Friendly service! The ownership has changed, but the cool cook has been there for several years! Oscar, the server and more, will always make you feel welcome and make sure that everything is perfect!

I love Green Valley Cafe. The atmosphere is friendly, the food is amazing. However, I am no longer…read moreable to get my favorite take out order because the price is ridiculous! I ordered 3poached eggs, and a double order of hash browns for take out, no bread, no meat. The total came to over $23! I called a few days later when my shock had worn off and the very friendly lady rang it up and verified I had been charged correctly. She even tried ringing it up as each item ala cart but it was still over $21! This was just eggs and hash browns, no bread, no meat. I'm on a fixed income and just cannot afford that. I was hoping they could find another way to charge it so that it was reasonable but that didn't happen. Really sad!

This has been my favorite spot to grab breakfast since I was a kid. And it hasn't changed one bit…read morethe last 15 years. All the vinyl booths and classic green paint are the same, I love it! The food here has always been good and consistent. And the wait staff even better. Such a homey feel when you come by. They're quick too which is needed for a breakfast spot. They're serving up your classic diner finds, all very good. The linguica has always been my go to. They also have some pretty good biscuits and gravy. Eggs are cooked perfectly as ordered and the hash browns are so crispy. I'll be coming here for many more years to come!

Many have done the roadtrip from the Central Coast to Bakersfield via Hwy 166. And Cuyama Buckhorn…read moreis a favorite stop along that route. You can't miss the huge "Coffee" sign visible from the highway. We recently had to drive said route and decided to finally visit. And we were happy we did. Cuyama Buckhorn serves tasty American dishes from biscuits and gravy to burgers. It was lunch, so we had the burgers. Very good! We tried the apple pie as well and it was nice. We stopped by again on the way back home for some coffee. Good stuff. Not a fan of the matcha drink ( but too much milk) Great location for travelers, friendly service. Fun diner vibe. If you're traveling via the 166, definitely stop, have a coffee and a bite to eat.

Another great adventure driving out to New Cuyama to eat lunch at the Buckhorn Cafe. Last time we…read morewanted to stop here there was a field fire up ahead, so we drove back to San Luis Obispo through California Valley, a Wild West adventure on miles and miles of unpaved road, back through time to the Carrizo Plain national monument. The drive out was lovely, with lots of yellow broom blooming on the hills. We passed the Firefighter Monument that my husband tends that commemorates the firefighters killed in the Spanish Ranch fire, and checked out the growth of some oak trees around it. We pulled in for an early lunch at the Buckhorn and got a nice booth near a window. We were waited on immediately and provided water and a new menu with more of an emphasis on breakfast dishes. It was early lunch for us, and I ordered my favorite "Breakfast Salad," a Cobb salad, which has bacon and egg in it. My husband got the pulled pork sandwich, a specialty of the place. There was a delay getting the wine menu, and my first choice had run out, so I tried a white that was close to a Sauvignon Blanc from a local vineyard. I had spied some very authentic looking apple pie coming in, and we ordered a slice for desert. It came with a couple of scoops of creamy ice cream, and had a sure-enough baked through crust with juicy, cinnamony apples inside! On the way to the car, we noticed a local rancher "branding" the building, by pushing his heated up brand into the front wall of the restaurant where many other brands appeared. The paint smoked a bit, and when he was done, a spade appeared on the facade, "Spade Ranch," he told me, literally making his brand relevant to the cafe! We reveled in the beauty of the ride back, appreciated out step back in time into the history of this beautiful valley.

Great food, wonderful service. We love Ethel's, so had to…read morecheck out the Knotty Pine. Excellent!

Today, my Husband and I went to Knotty Pine for breakfast…read more.. I will state only the facts of what was wrong, what was right, and my overall thoughts... My husband's breakfast of sausage and eggs...(Right) My breakfast of a bacon and cheese burrito that I had to send back...(Wrong) My husband's order of iced tea...(Right) My order of iced tea without lemon...(Wrong) My order of a cup of coffee...(Right) Server asking my husband if he wanted a refill on his iced tea as server refilled it twice...(Right) Server not asking me on single time if I wanted a refill on my iced tea...(Wrong) Server not asking me one single time if I wanted a refill on my coffee...(Wrong) Overall thoughts and one final fact... There is zero excuse at all for any server, anywhere, to not take care of the basics such as refilling water, iced tea, and coffee for all persons at a table, instead of just one... The cafe was not busy at the time we were there, empty tables, and no line to get in... My food was bad, and the service towards me, even worse... Overall, this server is without excuse... Had I known about the health code violations from last year before going to Knotty Pine today, I would not have gone there at all... One Final Fact... My choice to not leave a tip...(Right)

I stopped by The Runway Cafe with two friends as our first stop before spending the day at Sequoia…read moreNational Park. We visited on a Saturday morning and had to wait outside for about 10 minutes before a table opened up, which honestly made sense once we saw how busy the place was. The food ended up being exactly what I wanted before a long day of hiking. I ordered the Breakfast Bowl, which came with a half order of biscuits and gravy, one egg, and two sausage links. The portion was perfect for me since I don't like a huge breakfast, but it was still really filling and tasted great. The service was excellent. Our server was super kind and friendly to me and my friends, and the whole experience felt very welcoming. It had that small-town breakfast spot vibe where it feels like all the locals come to start their day, and even as visitors we felt right at home. The ambiance really adds to the charm. The dining area is a medium-sized room packed with as many tables and chairs as it can fit, and every seat was filled. It felt lively in the best way and showed how popular the place is. The restaurant is also located at a small airport, which makes the setting outside pretty cool and unique. Overall, the food and atmosphere were perfect for a breakfast stop. That one meal kept me fueled through our visit to Sequoia including an 8-mile hike, which honestly surprised me. I will definitely come back if I'm ever in the area again.

Food: the flavors are incredible! Omelets are fluffy and juicy, very easy to eat and it makes a…read moregreat combo with their salsa. The hash browns are crispy on the outside. Onion rings are fresh and the sweet taste linger within your mouth, but it's a bit greasy. Service: the staff is sweet and nice. One thing bothers us is that he check is handwritten and when we pay with credit card the amount didn't add up. They didn't mention any credit card fees which is weird. Ambiance: we searched online and found this place and the moment we arrived we understood why it's called "The Runway" as it is literally located next to an airplane runway and the interiors are amazing! Very detailed decor including the lights!

Wow! What a find! This is a classic little American diner. Right off the freeway, tucked behind a…read moregas station/truck stop. I am so glad we decided to give Jose's a try! I had one of their burgers and fries. The patty was a homemade blend and delicious! The fries were good also! I wish I left room for dessert because they were offering a fresh applepie or cheesecake. Something to look forward to on my next visit! The server was so charming and attentive. She never let our sodas run dry and shared in the perfect amount of conversation with us. I encourage you to stop by and enjoy some great food and warm hospitality!

Breakfast!! A very nice menu and a lot of - day of the week specials. I ordered the standard, two…read moreeggs over medium, and the sausage patty came recommended highly because it was homemade, and it did not disappoint. I also had hashbrowns on the side which really tasted like they were homemade, freshly shredded potatoes - they weren't like the frozen kind that you get that's for sure!! This place seems like they do a lot of cooking from scratch which I really appreciate. My friend ordered the Denver omelette which was humongous, and she asked for salsa on the side, which was not a problem and she also had the hash brown potatoes. She ate half her meal and took the rest home. I ate my eggs and left half my sausage and gave the other half to my friend to take home. Nice crispy toast. The eggs were done perfectly fried as well as the sausage which was a little bit crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. It is a Saturday, and I noticed that Saturday special is ground beef enchiladas which I truly do enjoy I might have to go back there the next Saturday for lunch! The price point for the two of us was around $41 with a $10 tip. We did not order drinks that was just for our food, and they do offer a small discount for cash payments. All that eating and writing... I forgot to take a picture of my plate of food! Just trust me it was delicious!