I love La Copine. It always impresses. Great food, and easily, the best-prepared, most delicious food in Morongo Basin (Wonder Valley-29 Palms-Joshua Tree-Yucca Valley-Morongo Valley). This time, I had the Steak Sando (crispy wagyu ribeye, salted cabbage, tonkatsu sauce, horseradish, pain de mie), which was cooked to perfection. The horseradish added a nice little "bite" to the food without being overwhelming, and the wagyu and sauce were amazing. As a bonus, the service is always friendly, smiling, and attentive (but not too attentive), and the people who come here are often smiling and friendly as well. I am giving this five stars. This is a restaurant that would earn five stars no matter what location it was in, whether a large, cosmopolitan city or out here in the rural high desert. It's good by any measure. Absolutely recommended. read more

Let me add my name to those who rave about this place, no need to highlight dishes because EVERYTHING IS GREAT!! Only drawback is location but worth the drive!!!!! read more

If you haven't been, make a reservation now by texting them with the request. If you haven't been, you already know. No one can believe this type of food experience is out in Flamingo Heights but here it is. Probably one of the top five restaurants in all of California this is a place you must try. Bring a group and be ready to share bites while you watch as options you didn't order go by. It's an interesting, quite hip, sort of place with people of all types, lots of flat brim hats and tattoos. Everyone is friendly and it's impossibly busy place, for good reason. Six of us had lunch and shared quite a few dishes. The whipped ricotta and figs was the favorite of our group. We also enjoyed the Duck, Duck Noodle and L'Flatbread. We'd probably skip the lemon beignets next time. They were good but other options were better. We're about an hour away and I don't know why we don't go more often. Our friends group has decided to make a monthly mecca to this amazing little joint out in the desert. We'll be back soon! read more

La Copine - Whipped ricotta and figs - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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Some call it an oasis in the desert and I couldn't agree more. Who would expect to find such a delightful spot tucked away in Yucca Valley? Every dish we ordered was absolutely outstanding, no exaggeration. The service was just as memorable. I regret not catching our server's name, but she made the entire experience feel warm, welcoming, and genuinely special. A quick heads up, reservations open a month in advance and without one, patio seating is your only option. We got lucky with beautiful weather, but be prepared for about an hour wait if you arrive right when they open. They do have a great setup in the back where you can grab beer or champagne while you wait, which makes the time pass more easily. The wait can feel long, but with food this good and those laid back desert vibes, it is absolutely worth it. read more

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If I could give this lovely, delightful, quirky, trendy restaurant 10 stars, I would!!! Old school cool Hollywood vibes. This is definitely where the cool kids go. Dress quirky, bring your fur baby, and get ready to eat! Hands down the best meal I've had in a long time. Since I had lunch at Pike Place Market at pasta CasaLinga for real! Like hot daaammmmmnnnn! A meal that makes you want to rewind and do it all over again when it's done. Ok- the food. The steak sando was a perfectly cooked piece of rib eye on toasted white bread with a mayo horseradish sauce. Crispy cabbage salad of some sort cut the richness of the horseradish. Now, I'm not normally a fan of horseradish but this was so mildly flavorful that it hit just right: and the meat was 100 percent tender. A steak sandwich of my dreams. One bite of the gnocchi à la vodka from my friends plate and I was in heaven. Rich and creamy exactly like you want! Soft gnocchi's soaking up the sauce. Appetizers- Papas, smashed, fried fingerling potatoes with lemon mayonnaise flavored with rosemary and chives. Crunchy and savory perfection. Even one little seemingly burnt piece tasted good!!! Grilled bread with chopped figs and whipped ricotta. Freaking awesome! Covered in a sweet honey-esc sauce and seasoned with thyme. Spread on the grilled and lightly salted bread. Wow! BAM! An explosion of perfectly executed deliciousness. Be prepared to wait, a while. Possibly an hour. It's worth it! Oh don't forget the way the tea was served with cream and honey. The friendly service. The stunning desert views. Do it!! Eat good food and treat yourself. SYOY! read more

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This is a restaurant with well deserved hype around it. We didn't have reservations and went to the restaurant at 11 am for adding ourselves to the waitlist. We got the table within half an hour, so the wait time was not that bad. Now coming to the food.. everything that we tried was yummy. The standout and must-try dishes were the flatbread, gnocchi alla vodka, pork and beans and the orange creamsicle panna cotta. I'd definitely visit this rests the next time I am in the Yucca valley area! read more

Food is average, portions small and over priced. LA Hipster joint . Staff is moderately friendly and service is decent. Hippy feeling. Place is busy so they must be doing something right but I don't see. Not worth your time in my opinion read more

This is a very trendy brunch spot in the desert. The food was high quality, the staff was not only good, but cool in not only personality but fashion sense. Frankly, the food was great but very expensive and even after my family and I had brunch, we were hungry for more. It's a great spot - the staff is super cool - it's also expensive so bear that in mind. read more

The hostess was extremely rude and unnecessarily snarky. They didn't have our reservation; even though/after we showed her the text confirmation, not only did she not acknowledge it was their fault, she continued to treated us like we were idiots. Once seated, our server was friendly and the food definitely was very good! The ceviche was not like any other ceviche I had before; it was creamy and hearty. Japanese eggplant was fried to perfection with a thin coating and paired nicely with the dipping sauce. The orange panna cotta and the coconut rice pudding were both delightful! Panna cotta was smooth and light, and the orange flavor came through nicely. The rice pudding had savory crunches on top that made the texture and flavor profile both complex and interesting! read more

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This place was sooooo good I ate there for lunch 2 days in a row. It doesn't look big but they have quite a few tables, service is fast and they have a waiting area where you can sit and have a drink and play bags. Staff was super friendly. Food was outstanding. Whoever made that menu and is cooking is really crushing it. If you are up by Joshua Tree don't miss this spot. My favorite dish was a vegetarian dish called Lavish Lavash. It was flatbread with hummus and eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, and cauliflower and it was magnificent. I had it twice. Everything else was also really really good. Maybe the only thing I didn't like was cornbread chocolate cake. Take a pass on it. In any case, when you get there have someone get in line to out your name down while they park. Might be able to get in a little quicker. It seemed like people were coming in non stop. read more

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Good service, cute vibes, and they brought out the food quickly. I got the fried chicken dish. It was flavorful but the pickles with cabbage were somewhat random as they were sweet and spicy. I wouldn't get it again but I'd return to try another dish! They have two restrooms so there is usually a line to use it. read more

La Copine - Crispy Blackened Chicken - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

this place gets really really crowded so get a reservation or be prepared to wait. we came on a cold windy day and had to sit outside so it was freezing (heaters weren't very good). we received excellent service and had a great server! but I thought the food was just ok for the prices. we got the: - sides: fried eggplant, english muffin with date jam - mains: ricotta gnocchi besciamella, steak choron - desserts: beignets, orange creamsicle panna cotta - drinks: lemonade, hot coffee I enjoyed the sides and desserts a lot more than the mains. the gnocchi was a bit too cheesy and soft for me, and the steak a bit too chewy read more

La Copine - fried eggplant - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Service was great, 5 stars, and food was amazing, from 4 to 5 stars. The Citrus and Beet appetizer was a solid 5! Great combo of flavors. We asked for vegan but last minute decided to have a side of the lavender chevre and that just added another level of deliciousness. It was my favorite dish. The papas appetizer was also wonderful to share, especially the contrasting texture of outside crispness and light whipped melt-in- your-mouth softness of mashed potatoes delight. Unfortunately, the strong flavor dressing from the citrus & beet salad overwhelmed the palate and subdued the flavoring of the papa's. Hence, only 4.5 on the papas. My vegetarian ceviche was good but drenched in too much sauce. It's my least favorite of the whole meal. I tried my friend's vegan Hatch chili sliders and it was delicious. Probably could use some arugula or lettuce. 4.5 on the sliders. All three desserts were awesome. 5 stars for each! All unique in flavor and texture. The coconut rice pudding needed more coconut flavor. I could taste the tartness of the raspberry and oranges. I forgot it's rice pudding because i could barely taste/feel the rice. My friends loved the chocolate polenta cake. It's crumbly texture was imaginative and fun and tasty to eat. The key lime panna cotta was wonderful. I love the lightness of the whipped cream combined with the slight tartness and sweet of the cool panna cotta and strawberries. Delightful! read more

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Not a trip to the house in the desert without coming here. Here's to all of the ladies that bust their asses giving great service and a memorable experience- Cheers! read more

La Copine - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

A trip to Joshua Tree is not complete without visiting La Copine. La Copine is a roadside restaurant that's open only for dinner this summer. I've been to this restaurant three times now, and I love their rotating menu. I've gotten something different every time, and it's fun to see what their chef has created every time my BF and I come out here to visit. The place itself is small. It has a patio and an indoor area. The staff are always a vibe and have such great energy for the restaurant. TIP - text their number that's listed on the website or their IG page for a reservation. They get busy and fill up fast, and although they accept walk-ins, you could be waiting for a while. There are small business shops in the back and also an outdoor waiting area. read more

La Copine - (Summer 2025) Steak Tartare - hand chopped wagyu beef, capers, shallot, lemon, dijon, olive oil, parsley, quail egg, toast points - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Came here on a date night, Sunday night. Such a cute little place, and the weather was beautiful outside, so we got a table by the front door. Alejandro was our server, and he was so sweet and very informative. He helped us better understand the menu, and it was very easy to talk to him. The food was absolutely delicious. I didn't know what to expect when coming here, I've heard great things about this place but when I tried the food, I was blown away a few times. We got a homemade gnocchi platter that was so creamy and flavorful. We also bought these little sliders that had roasted chilies on them and let me tell you, they were so juicy and flavorful! And we tried a plate of papa's (potatoes) that were also delicious. The fresh rosemary on top was a nice pop of flavor! And dessert was so surprising! We got this polenta chocolate cake.. I have never heard of that. But this photo honestly doesn't do it justice. Huge punch of chocolate flavor, and the texture is almost like the outer corners of a brownie that everyone wants to eat I would get a whole Nother slice of that to take it home and eat it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! So good We will definitely be coming back! read more

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Came here before entering Joshua tree national park and it is a must visit for those looking for lunch on their way over! We came as soon as it opened since we heard that this place was popular and busy. Us along with others showed up before opening so there was still a wait so expect a wait time on the longer side. While waiting to be seated you can visit their adorable trailer gift shop behind the restraunt. They have lots of cute handmade items to buy as souvenirs. There's also murals on the walls that are super cute!! The outdoor seating was beautiful and I absolutely enjoyed how peaceful it was to eat out in the sun! The inside was cute aswell but on the noisier side from how busy it is. Servers were very friendly and the overall service was good. What we ordered: -FRIED EGGPLANT TOMATO CHUTNEY (8/10) : so so DELICIOUS!!! It's sweet in the best way possible and so addicting. A great appetizer!it's a bit heavy so it's great for parties of 2-4 to share -EGGS ATLANTIC (7/10) : not bad! The Benedict's were cooked well, the salmon wasn't the freshest but good for being in the middle of the desert. Very filling for a breakfast as well. -GALETTE HAM AND GYURE CHEESE (9/10) :my boyfriend loved this crepe and said it was pretty on par with the crepes in France. Definitely worth getting. Wish they had something this good in la! read more

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La Copine is the destination restaurant of the area. Try and get reservations or else you'll be waiting a while.. The menu is short but expertly crafted. With the exception of the beignets, everything was fantastic and delicious! I particularly enjoyed the chicken katsu sandwich! Meanwhile, anyone who has actually had a beignet will agree that the dense, awful pieces of dough they try to pass as a beignet IS NOT a beignet. Be warned. This was also the most expensive meal we had and we agreed that while it was over all good, it wasn't good value. read more

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Quite possibly the best meal we've ever had. Well worth the trip! We will definitely be coming back. Everyone was super friendly and every bite was outstanding. We split the beignets with a lemon glaze, the best breakfast sandwich ever (NcMuffin), a delicious shrimp roll, perfectly smashed/fried papas, and the orange creamsicle panna cotta. It was a beautiful day to sit outside, and now we know that next time we can bring our dog. Love this place!! read more

The food is amazing here! We got the tomatoes, figs, curds, and whey as an appetizer and I got the shrimps and grits for my entree. The shrimps and grits was probably one of the best I've ever had. Super flavorful especially with the bouillabaisse broth. The beignets were good as well but I think next time I'd like to try the panna cotta instead. We went on a weekday so luckily did not have to wait too long. They have a patio and an indoor seating area. Definitely will return! read more

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This is one of my all time favorite restaurants that I have to visit anytime I'm in the desert. Everything feels like a poem- if you know what I mean you know. Food comes fast, and the servers are always cool. Weekends get crazy so if you can visit on a weekday that's usually much easier. Last time I had the hash and it was incredible!!! read more

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Food was great, however, not worth the rude hostess, manager, and wait staff.... Reservations were made weeks earlier, host crossed us off when we arrived on time, however, we weren't seated for nearly an hour after complaining... staff made us sit at high chair chef table first... offered us comp app for troubles, then manager overruled and gave us $6 bread.. and changed our waiter! Too bad the food is tasty,,, it's gone to their head too much .. A restaurant of this caliber should have a lot more maturity and class than what we experienced today. read more

We arrived at 11 when they open and the place was packed. We didn't have reservations but we were seated in about 20 minutes. The food was very good and served in a timely manner. It was a bit windy so we ate inside. We will definitly be back but will get reservations next time read more

La Copine had been on my list of restaurants to try for some time, and I recently had a great lunch there! I arrived midafternoon, and though the restaurant was bustling I was able to snag seating for one. From when I entered throughout my meal, I thought the service was friendly with a casually relaxed vibe. I ordered the crispy papas along with the fried chicken entrée. The texture of the potatoes were generally great (though some of the potatoes were a bit overly charred), and the flavored mayonnaise along with the herbs gave the dish a delicate touch of flavor without making it too heavy. I enjoyed the chicken which had a nice mixture of sweet and savory flavors with the spicy honey, pickled green tomatoes, and and corn remoulade. I was worried that the spicy honey would make the dish too sweet, but I found the chicken dish to be well-balanced. The key lime panna cotta was an excellent way to end the meal! I enjoyed the crunchiness of the almond praline pared with the blueberry compote, and the panna cotta was delightfully tart. I look forward to trying La Copine again! read more

La Copine - Key Lime Panna Cotta - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Over rated. You get a really charming view of the loud dusty highway with semis and tractor trailers barreling past spitting dust and gravel into your "peaceful" meal. Overpriced. Small drinks. Rude staff. Rude owners always yelling at people. Have supported for years when visiting but they're high on own supply of mediocre California grub. Desert sinking fast. Copper room and kitchen in desert are far superior if you want to spend money. read more

We arrived on Sunday at lunchtime as a group of four. Although we were told the wait would be 19 minutes, it ended up being 50 minutes, which is why I'm giving one star less. The waiting area is actually larger than the restaurant itself. As for the food, it was top-notch and the perfect way to end our hiking day! We started with the soup, which came with heavenly bread, we also ordered a few shared salads. For the main course, we had Socarrat / fried rice with wagyu beef, rockfish cake, and shrimp scampi. The food was good, and the portion sizes were reasonable for the price. We ended up with one dessert sharing. Plenty of street parking and off street parking. The waiter served us really friendly and gave great advices. read more

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Came here for lunch with my husband; we ordered to share and the Shrimp Roll is a must try - super fresh, flavorful, and light. We complemented it with a salad - it was a bit on the heavier side with the dressing but overall seasoned well, tasty, and generous portion sizes. read more

La Copine - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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We moved out to the Valley a year ago and have been trying to get over to try La Copine for most of that time...finally, the stars aligned and as luck should have it we made it to their first night of the Summer Dinner 2025...we didn't have reservations, but if it took two hours we were determined! Thankfully 25 mins and two old drinks on the back patio later, we secured what I think are two of the best seats in the house. Sitting at the bar we were able to watch Chef Nikki Hill run the kitchen during a brutally busy dinner rush. Watching Chef Nikki leading her troops in the kitchen like a seasoned General at war with the continued smile, laughs, and attention to artistry. The show was worthy of the wait, but the food...incredible! Beef tartare, mushroom toast, spicy melon gazpacho, ribs with the only potato salad I've ever enjoyed, ricotta gnocchi, coconut rice pudding and chocolate polenta cake...yes we ordered a ton and every bit of it could not have been better. In my experience, poor service only survives when the food is amazing, but that also isn't a problem here, our servers were fast friendly, funny, attentive but not too attentive...the whole experience left us too full of food and whisking had room for the other half of the menu. We without question will return again and again to see what Chef Nikki Hill comes up with next. To the staff and owners of La Copine, well done, if it were a show this would be my standing ovation. Will see you soon. read more

La Copine - Sign - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

Amazing food and great experience all around. Everything we tried here was super tasty leaving you wanting for more even when you're full. Our favorites here are the shrimp & grits, red eye ribs, fried chicken, ricotta & figs, papaya salad, and wagyu sirloin steak skewer. Leave some room for their too die for chocolate beignets and key lime panna cotta. The servers are friendly and the food comes out quickly. They have heater on the outside dining area which is nice on a chilly day in November when we're there. The place is quite popular so reservations are recommended but I've seen people walked in too which is possible if you come a bit early or only have 2 people in your group. read more

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I eat here every time I am in town. From the food to the service to the ambiance, everything feels like a gourmet experience...just with a desert vibe. With free spirits, funkiness, and maybe a tumbleweed or two, you never forget you are just outside of Joshua Tree despite of the out-of-the-ordinary culinary experience. Mostly outdoor seating too, so unless you hit a weather sweet spot, layer up. The secret is out though. Make a reservation or expect a wait. Make a reservation. read more

Eclectic food, extremely dog friendly patio- they truly love dogs! Our server was such a joy to interact with- personable, upbeat, and took such good care of us- she was definitely a great part of our great experience there! My husband loved his mussels- he even drank all the broth. I loved my Waldorf salad- it was chock full of pears, Gorgonzola, currants, and many other surprises. We also shared the grits. Our server brought out little bowls for that- very kind. Our dog had a little taste! We also shared the coconut rice pudding for dessert- it was mind blowing! So many flavors at one time- orange and raspberry and pumpkin seeds and cardamom and coconut, served chilled... I'm still thinking about it! You can't go wrong at La Copine! read more

Revisit .. this place was as nice as ever. Long wait on a holiday weekend, but well worth it. I decided to try the butter lettuce and the garlic shrimp ended up with the Keylime piña cotta. Delicious read more

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The food was AMAZING! The rosemary shrimp, the potatoes, and the gnocci were DEVINE! I don't even normally use the word "devine" but this is what comes to mind with their food. The bathroom (at the far end) is totally a vibe. And reservations recommended! read more

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We enjoyed a delicious meal! It was very tasty and very good portions. We were shocked with how much steak was on the steak sando! The outdoor seating was nice and shaded. I would recommend making a reservation. We didn't have one and had to wait quite a bit (which is to be expected with how popular they are). read more

La Copine - Papas - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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We ended up waiting about 30 min as walk ins. Absolutely worth it! The cheesesteak and potatoes were divine. Their eggs Benny sandwich was really good too. I loved the vibe and would go back to the area just to have the meal again. read more

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Favorite spot in Yucca Valley. Came here on a suggestion from a friend in the industry and am so happy I checked it out. Really good fusion of American, Asian, and Latin, which can often go very wrong. This place executed flawlessly with no frills. The service is great and knowledgeable, and the patio is super great. Love the ambiance of the desert landscape. read more

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Oh la la copine! Phenomenal flavor and great service blend into a fantastic experience for everyone! Sweet, savory, they have it all... in spades. Loved it! Will absolutely come back here when we are in the area. Great flavors and the food came out surprisingly fast during a mad rush (we had a reservation for 11 when they opened and everyone was excited to get in). read more

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Absolutely the best food in Joshua Tree. We go out of our way to eat here every visit. Only open certain days of the week, but worth it every time. Sometimes there is a wait, but it usually moves pretty fast and there's a place to hang out in the back of the building. Servers here are always super sweet and attentive. I also love the ambiance both inside and on the patio. The shrimp roll might be the best I've ever eaten (in the middle of the desert!). It's a must try if it's on the menu the day you're there. Last time I was in JT we ate here three days in a row. A must if you're in the area and it's open. read more

La Copine - New American Near Me - Yucca Valley, California

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We went there to kill time and grab a coffee, instead we were treated to amazing food in the middle of the desert! Unexpected and superb! Go eat there! read more

The food was AMAZING. Great service! Lovely sitting outside. Will definitely go back!