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Knowlwood

3.1 (713 reviews)
Closed • 6:30 am - 8:30 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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Business Info

KNOWLWOOD ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Dogs allowed
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Knowlwood

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Inside
Ko M.

First time here. Terrible for vegans. Fantastic for hanging out with friends. Look. I didn't come here for food. I came here for friends, and it delivered. 1. Veggie burger and onion rings. 3 stars. Serviceable. Omnivore friends liked all the breakfast stuff they had. Looked great. Ice te Big Groups? Yes. Loud? Yes, but not in a "yelling to hear" way. (There are also private rooms and outdoors available)

Let's see if it really is the worlds best...
Joyce Y.

3.5 stars if you are feeling desperate (but this should not be a thing in Irvine, because the food choices here are incredible)... My co-workers wanted to eat here and yes, we were in and out within an hour, so there's that... I got the world's best hamburger, per the employee's recommendation and while it was yes, good, I cannot say if it was the world's best... Haha I will say the ambiance inside shook me- it wassssss pretty magical, in a trashy way... Parking is very easy, seeing as it is near the 5 freeway and next to a... Denny's...

Frank P.

First time at this location, I remember going to the old location many moons ago. This place is really cool they have a pool table, they have live music, and car shows. I had a bacon cheeseburger, and mushrooms. The food was really good. Im a fan of mushrooms not many places have them. The service was good. I would definitely return.

Chill breakfast place
T J.

This place is great for breakfast. Chill fun diner vibe. Bathroom is bad though. Food wise, this place has pancakes and they deliver the food to your table if you get there early otherwise you pick it up at the window and they have all sorts of options for kids and cool stuff on the walls, and you can swap out cod cheese for the hashbrowns if you want. No problem. A new tradition for us!

Iris C.

So trying out after new ownership. Haven't been here in years! Mmm... $8 dollar for a bottle beer???? The beer was flat!! And the guy at register just told me it was a new case and pretty much ignored my concern!! $8 dollar per Bottle where anywhere is at most $6 per bottle. Came in for taco Tuesday, asada tacos taste like taco seasoning!!!nand were full of fat I was told the chicken tacos were ok. Pretty empty, pretty sad music Not sure I'll be back! Irvine really needs good tacos!!! Word to the wise!!! Hire a good Taquero get some music good deals $5 beer $1 tacos!! Outside patio!! This place would blow up!!! Hopefully we see this soon someday in Irvine!!

Megan S.

definitely a hidden gem. i can't believe i didn't know about this place, especially since it's only 10 minutes from my house. not sure why the rating is only three stars, but it's everything you would want in a casual diner. huge space, cheap food, and unique! we ordered the quesadilla with chicken, sweet potato fries, and the burger. everything was pretty good and would come back.

Daddy and daughter in front of Knowlwood
Krystal G.

The burgers were decent, the service was pretty fast and location was easy to find. The ambiance was pretty cool with all the old decorations.

Tiffany N.

I am shocked that I didn't leave a review for Knowlwood's before! Did you know that this restaurant is registered as a historic site in the City of Irvine? Definitely come by and check it out. Ordering is simple, just get in line and order at the register where your receipt has your order number. There is a lot to choose from and if you're ever wondering what Knowlwood's has to offer, think of it as a diner with more affordable options than IHop and Denny's. The first time I came (which was years ago) I ordered a simple breakfast. This time I ordered the steak and eggs with a side of breakfast potatoes and toast. It's around $15 for this! Yes you heard me!! I'm not too picky with my diner food, so I know I can come Knowlwoods and enjoy my meal everytime.

Candace D.

The food was delish! We had omelets...we had burgers with fries... and we had the most amazing oriental chicken salad...they had a band playing while we had brunch...nice atmosphere..cozy vibes..outdoor seating..friendly, excellent service..

Yikes! Not a good experience. We dropped in to Knowlwood for dinner after reading that it was under new ownership (the previous 2 visits were not good, so we stopped going). My order, the Frisco Burger was a dismal failure. The bread was so soft and soggy I couldn't pick it up, so I ate it with a fork (and I ordered this with no lettuce or tomato as I know those make burgers soggy) . I should have just walked away. The meat was tough and overall a serious disappointment. We have been Knowlwood customers for decades and have sadly seen the decline. I did enjoy watching the line dancing class. But the food? No.

These cookies are a freaking $1.29 each
Kenny H.

Dear Lord. These cookies, that's what the review is for. They're like the size of an Oreo. And they're $1.29 each? If I didn't promise my kiddo a small treat I would have laughed and walked out. This is insane. Hey new management, this ain't the way to do whatever you're doing.

Inside
Carolyn C.

We had been at the great park most of the day and was looking for someplace that wasn't technically fast food but close to the park and this one's very convenient just on the other side of the 5. There was plenty of parking as it was early afternoon on a Sunday - there is a Denny's right next to this restaurant as well as some hotels, but we lucked out and found a spot right away Upon entering, you turned to the left, and there is a large counter and menu above, and it looked to be stations for the cashiers. Maybe based on the time that we were there, both of the gals were very preoccupied, counting their cast drawers at that particular moment. We had to interrupt them to place our order. We did decide to eat inside, although there are are plenty of tables on a patio area as well. Inside is definitely older and has a hodgepodge of all sorts of decor, which was also than adjusted slightly for Halloween decorations. To be honest, though some of the areas of this restaurant looked like they really could use a good cleaning or dusting, so it was hard to decipher if it was real cobwebs or decorations. We waited about 15 minutes for our order. They do call out on a microphone with a bell tone before they speak and then you need to run up and get your order. We did get two fountain drinks as well with our meal. The fountain station is in a little bit, awkward spot and half of the options or not working - just running clear. Before our food arrived, I didn't need to use the ladies room, which also is very old. Everything was functioning, but it's the type of place that even though it may be clean it's old. It feels dirty. I ordered the original cheeseburger which is their claim to fame. My husband ordered the French dip. We shared a basket of fries. The food was delicious. Burger and the French dip were full of flavor. The french fries were nice and hot and I couldn't believe the basket was the small. I can't imagine how big the basket would've been for a large serving. There are a ton of condiments on the table tables everything from ketchup to hot sauce to maple syrup. I needed to move everything off to one side so that we could share the fries and put the tray in between us. It did seem that this place may have been busier earlier that day perhaps for Sunday breakfast as one gentleman was still in the process of cleaning the overall restaurant. There are only about four or five other tables standing at that time. Between the outside area and all the tables and chairs and benches they have it can really fit a lot of people. I'm glad I tried it. The food was great experience and the inside of this place really could use an overhaul but I'm one for nostalgia if you've been around this long you're doing something right.

Counter where you order.  Prices were reasonable. Quality was not.
Amy C.

Saturday, August 16, 2025: We intended to eat at Denny's but this eatery was right next to it and it looked interesting and thought we should try a new place. As soon as you walk in you're quickly drawn in by the ambiance as the unique decor evoked the promise of a tasty home cooked meal, expectations of comfort food. It advertised that it had the best hamburger so my husband opted for that while I ordered the fish & chips. I'm no expert but I've had fish & chips all over in the U.S.; London, England; Darwin, Australia; and the best & most freshest served in Hilo, Hawaii. Our orders were quickly brought out by a confused & unfriendly young woman. When I asked if they had malt vinegar she looked at me with a blank stare then walked away. It was odd but she returned with balsamic vinaigrette. I told her that wasn't malt vinegar & I got the same blank stare but she did eventually return with my request. Sorry but her behavior was strange. Sadly, the food was bland & mediocre. It didn't match the hype of the ambiance & fell exceedingly short! My husband's hamburger fell apart because they stuffed it with too much lettuce and it made the buns soggy. The meat was barely seasoned. My fish was terrible. The batter had a bitter aftertaste and the fish wasn't tasty at all. The tartar sauce & malt vinegar did nothing to enhance it. I was hungry and managed to choke down one filet. It definitely was not cod or pollock. It was unidentifiable. I couldn't finish the rest. It was disgusting & disappointing! We had such high hopes for this establishment. We should have gone to Denny's.

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1 year ago

Food is amazing, the country fried steak breakfast is by far the best . I highly recommend this dish

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1 year ago

Taste of burger was worst than McDonald! We ordered grill chicken burger and bacon cheese burger! Please also change the lettuce.

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Ask the Community - Knowlwood

When was this placed established?

The original Knowlwood in Anaheim Hills (now closed) opened in 1957. I've been going to the Irvine… 

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I came for brunch and was underwhelmed by the slow service and dry, bland food…read more While our server was friendly, the food took forever to come out and we barely interacted with any staff after our initial order. The brunch menu was limiting, with only a few egg dishes, sandwiches, and breads. The French toast and waffle were nearly $20 each despite the small portions and standard toppings. *French Toast: the worst item of the meal. The bread had no flavor or egginess and left a strange sandy mouthfeel. The interior was so dry that it soaked up all the moisture in my mouth. A poor showing for a classic French toast. *Waffle: the batter was slightly sweetened but felt too dense. The fruit was fresh, although nothing about the toppings or overall quality stood out. *Steak Frites: hanger steak topped with chimichurri and fries. It was supposed to come with bernaise sauce, but I did not receive any. The steak leaned closer to rare rather than the medium rare I asked for. However, it was still tender, and the chimichurri was vibrant and herbaceous. I wished more sauce had been applied, as the dish was a bit dry. The fries were decent, though I would have preferred more crunch. Given the long wait, I expected much more from the dishes in terms of flavor and execution. I was disappointed by how flavorless and dry everything was.

The first time I came here and ai find out they are closing in two weeks. That is really…read moreunfortunate as the place was adorable! We came because their entire menu is 100% gluten free- what a find! The staff were all friendly and there was a woman playing live music! Parking is easy as there is a garage and they validate. The food was all good, but the biscuit trio was perfection! Sad to see them go.

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Maldon’s Brasserie - Braised short rib sandwich

Braised short rib sandwich

Maldon’s Brasserie - Menu (1/2)

Menu (1/2)

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Menu (2/2)

Knowlwood - burgers - Updated October 2026

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