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    Leilani's Cafe

    4.3 (1.4k reviews)
    Closed • 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    LEILANI'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Leilani's Cafe

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    Indoor dining area
    Holly L.

    The decor was fun, fresh, homey and made you feel like the owners really care about your experience here. I really enjoyed the ambiance. We ordered the food and drinks with the cashier, and they were helpful with suggestions. Note that they don't do smoothies here anymore. I was really looking forward to a green smoothie. You then take a number and find a seat. There's plenty of seating in the deck or in the indoor section, which felt vibrant and felt like eating in someone's dining room inside of their house. It was lovely. Though the tables weren't cleaned as often it seemed. Outside of ordering and the food being taken to your table, there's no other service. Ordered the ahi plate and the jr boy. The jr boy is perfect for anyone who wants a combo of sweet and savory options. Both orders were delicious! Only thing I noticed was that the salad that came with the ahi had a few browning greens I had to remove. The ahi itself didn't taste fishy, but fresh and cooked very well. The sauce was citrusy and savory and added to the flavor of the meal. The portions were just right. I wasn't immensely full but I felt satisfied. The drinks were also good. The macadamia coffee was good and the dragonfruit matcha was pretty and also tasted great and on the sweet side. I'd come back here again for drinks, brunch/lunch, and overall chill vibes.

    Malcolm C.

    Great little hidden gem! Good service, plenty of outdoor seating, and everything is cooked to order. They serve a great selection of Hawaiian style dishes, including fried rice, breakfast favorites, and Kalua pork. Everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and tasty. Definitely worth checking out if you're craving Hawaiian-style comfort food!

    loco Moco
    Bonnie G.

    My fiancé found this cute, little spot...and let me tell you, it's definitely a neighborhood favorite! After reading a few yelp reviews and others noting that Leilani's is cash only. I called...Leilani's accepts credit cards. We scored the best parking ever....5 cars down from the front door. That's not the norm, especially in this part of town. There's a menu posted at the entrance. The menu has something for everyone....traditional Hawaiian plates to plates that have a 'Hawaiian' spin on it. Since this was my first meal of the day, I stuck to breakfast and really enjoyed my french toast made out of Kings Hawaiian sweet bread. It didn't need syrup at all! We both agreed, it was delicious. My fiancé stuck to more savory dishes. There's an outdoor patio and inside seating too. We opted for the patio since it's dog friendly and we had our pooch with us. The patio is nicely shaded. That's a HUGE plus. Order at the counter, grab your number, find a seat....easy. If you're in the area, stop in!

    Hilo Style Loco Moco
    Tommy B.

    Honestly a rather disappointing experience across the board as someone who grew up in the islands. I came here with my wife and we were very excited, especially as my mother's name is Leilani. Sadly, none of the dishes tasted like authentic Hawaiian. The loco moco gravy really didn't taste great, and every meat we had was under seasoned and overcooked. The Kalua pork was dry and lacking in flavor, and was a far cry from what we expected. The teriyaki chicken was very dry and chewy as well, although was seasoned slightly better than the pork and the loco moco. The coffee's we had heard so much about were decent at best. The ambiance was decent and the wooden deck was a nice touch to eat your food outside, although the service also left room for improvement. It felt like we were generally an inconvenience to the staff to be there, and felt kinda weird and unwelcome. It's difficult to elaborate on, but the vibes were very weird, and very different than the aloha we had expected. To be fair, we recently got back from a trip to the big island and Oahu, so maybe our standards were unreasonably high, or maybe we just caught them on an off day. Sadly, with it being our first and only time, we have nothing else to compare it to.

    John M.

    After walking our mini-moose pooch a couple miles along the beach with my fiancée on a typical SD beautiful Saturday morning, the focus shifted to the most important meal of the day. With the Aloha Spirit on my mind lately, Leilani's Cafe had caught my attention. I have no idea which spirit may have been looking out, but we pulled right up to an open street parking spot nearly in front of the place. The blessings didn't end there. There was no line to order when I walked in & we found an open table immediately. But that changed shortly after my order was in. It got super busy with a line out the door to order. I had ordered the Hilo Loco Moco & Spam Musubi Leilani's Style. My fiancée got the French Toast. The food didn't take too long, as I was just ahead of the kitchen rush. It was all quite yummy & decent portion sizes. Trying some of my fiancée's French Toast, that ended up being the most interesting dish to me. I've never had that made with sweet Hawaiian bread before. & now I'm convinced that's the best way to make French Toast. So, on a day when Hawaii happened to be on my mind, Leilani's Cafe was a nice taste of the islands. Undoubtedly cheaper & more convenient than the 2,610 miles flight out to Honolulu. Though that is certainly a trip worth taking...

    Claribel V.

    I went on a day trip to San Diego and wanted to try something new I've never had before. Yelp led me to Leilani's Cafe. We arrived during breakfast time and ordered the BLT bagel and Hilo Loco Moco. The loco moco was really unique to me because the burger patty, gravy, and eggs were served over a spicy Portuguese sausage fried rice. The fried rice had a good, slightly sticky texture, which I liked. The gravy was tasty, and the over-easy egg made the dish creamy once the yolk mixed in. The patty was thick but personally, I would've preferred it thinner. Overall, it was delicious but very heavy. I was kind of over it halfway through. The BLT bagel was pretty tasty. I got it on an onion bagel, which was soft and chewy. I liked that every bite had bacon and it was even topped with two extra pieces. It also came with a scoop of mac salad, which was just okay. The cafe serves coffee, tea, and other drinks, but they don't have any sugar-free or low-sugar options, not even diet soda, so I just stuck with water. Customer service was just okay. I'm used to the super welcoming, family vibe at other Hawaiian spots I've been to, and I didn't really get that here. The staff came off a bit unfriendly.

    Poke and Portuguese sausage
    Milani L.

    Leilani's has been in San Diego for quite a while and I would say I overlook it a lot and it deserves more recognition. Located in Pacific Beach, Leilani's is a literal cottage not far from the water. Parking I would say is the biggest challenge for this place. It's all street parking and those who know, know PB is hard to find parking. But we got really lucky on a Sunday Morning and got close parking! The restaurant itself is very cozy! I don't remember off the top of my head if they had a table or two inside, but they have a dog friendly deck that has a good amount of seating. You order first, then go get your seat and they'll bring it out to you. Service is great! The staff is super kind and funny and it's nice to see when staff recognizes their regulars. I think I might have been talking to Leilani for a bit when I was their, she gave vibes of being the owner but she was super sweet and kind and you can tell she genuinely cares about her customers. The food was yummy! I liked my poké! It was flavorful and fresh! My husband loved his sausage breakfast, his only wish is that the portion size was bigger. (he does eat a lot though so that's on him). Overall I know I'll be back! I love supporting local small owned businesses. This is one that seems to be constant through all the years I lived here in San Diego so I say come back and give them a shot again!

    Dragon Fruit Lemonade ($5.25)
    John D.

    Getting Leid Popular café and eatery that's been serving up Hawaiian comfort foods in San Diego's Pacific Beach neighborhood for over twenty years (ca. 2003). The Good: *Friendly service *Pet-Friendly outdoor dining *Dragon fruit matcha latte was very good and an interesting mix of flavors. *Loco Moco was delicious, as the eggs, rice and gravy were all delicious. The hamburger patty was a bit overcooked, but that honestly seems to be SoP for Loco Mocos these days. =/ *My son enjoyed his spicy fried rice, and gobbled it all up. The Meh: *Not the biggest place around, as indoor seating is almost nonexistent and the patio only holds a few tables. So definitely more of a grab-and-go kinda place. *Everything is served on disposable plates and cups, even for dining in orders, which is kind of a pet peeve of mine. The Ugly: *Street Parking only and it's kinda tough to find at times. Conclusion: Nice spot for innovative and classic Hawaiian grindz.

    Pork Lau Lau
    Roger P.

    Leilani's Cafe has quite a lot of options on their menu but I went with a traditional Hawaiian dish on their Specials board. I'm not sure how often this dish is featured so if you see it, give it a try! Order at the counter and grab any open table. The Pork Lau Lau special is a combo plate with pork lau lau, teriyaki chicken, rice, mac salad, and a small serving of their poke. Overall, the meal was pretty good with the pork lau lau standing out as the best thing. If you've never had pork lau lau, it's chunks of pork, pork fat, and salted fish, all wrapped in taro leaves and steamed. The teriyaki chicken had mixed reviews between our group where I thought it was kind of dry while others thought it was juicy so I probably got a bad batch. On a busy day, you might find trouble with parking since there's no dedicated lot. Seating might be tough too since there's only the outdoor patio tables available. Some of the reviews mentioned indoor seating but when we came, we didn't see any.

    Hilo Style Loco Moco
    Erika T.

    Street parking but it is in a cute area so walking around is nice. The line can get pretty long and moves really slow. You order first and can dine in or get it togo. It didn't take too long to get the food though. Ordered the Hilo Style Loco sub with pork and gravy on the side. The portion was good where I had to finish it in 2 sittings. My friend got the Leeroy's Spicy Chicken Plate which was good and filling as well. The mac salad was so yummy and the chicken was well seasoned. Aside from the wait (I was getting super hungry lol) I would definitely come back to try their other dishes and possibly drinks!

    Stephanie G.

    This was hands down one of the best meals we had on our trip to San Diego! We stayed Downtown but had a car to drive to this area. It's counter service and there was already a line of people ordering when we arrived. I ordered one of their specials, spicy pork omelette served with two scoops of rice, my husband ordered a loco moco and of course, spam musubi. I also ordered a hot matcha with dragonfruit syrup. We were given a number to put on our table. Drinks were to be picked up at counter once your name is called. It took a little time for our food to come but we sat outside and enjoyed beautiful, though a bit chilly weather. They only had outdoor seating but I think I overheard they're renovating for inside seating. FYI - there's also no restrooms to customers. All of the food items we ordered were yummy and were big portions. The burger steak for my hubby's food was thick and savory. My spicy pork omelette was filled with pork kalua and cheese. I didn't find it spicy at all. The spam musubi had egg in it and honestly, the best musubi I've had (even better than the ones I've had in Hawaii). The matcha was to die for and the dragonfruit syrup was just the added sweetness it needed. I very much recommend this place if you're in the area. If not, make a detour because it's so worth it!

    Leeroy's spicy chicken
    Regina L.

    Super cute place with friendly service and delicious food! Cheap prices for yummy food. Everything was great. Indoor and outdoor seating was perfect and the Hawaiian sun drinks were refreshing

    Spam Musubi, Spicy Fried Rice, Ono Kalua
    Justine H.

    Leilani's always hits the spot. They have the best Hawaiian breakfast in San Diego, with the most laid back ambiance. Their Haupia latte is my absolute favorite drink on the menu. Our cravings are always satisfied!

    Spam Fried Rice

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    Page 1 of 34

    Leilani's Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Leilani's Cafe

    Are there gluten-free options?

    As I recall that had one or two options.

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    Yes, I've seen dogs in the patio.

    View All 3 Questions

    Morning Glory - Japanese soufflé pancakes

    Morning Glory

    4.0(5.1k reviews)
    7.7 mi•Little Italy
    •$$

    Had a wonderful time at morning glory! The food and vibe were great but the service I received from…read moreClaire was even better! Truly some of the best service I have ever had. Ordered her recommendations and everything was excellent. Will be returning soon!

    A unique and stunning spot for brunch! We got in line about 20 minutes before opening and were…read morealready around the 15th group in line, so this place definitely gets popular early. Seating took a little while after opening, likely because they stagger new parties to avoid overwhelming the kitchen with orders all at once. There were tons of fun brunch drinks listed on a cute, record-shaped acrylic menu, although the coffee options were pretty limited. The food menu was just as fun and whimsical, and the waitstaff were all dressed to match the theme. Everyone was efficient, friendly, and helpful. We tried the soufflé pancakes, which were good, though they weren't quite as fluffy and jiggly as Japanese soufflé pancakes. They were also quite sweet on their own, so we didn't really need the syrup. We also ordered the cheese fondue plate, which came with steamed vegetables, kielbasa, and bread cubes--a really fun concept. Overall, the atmosphere is beautiful, playful, and definitely part of the experience. I'd happily come back if I'm in the area, especially if there isn't a long wait for a table.

    Photos
    Morning Glory - Croquettes from dim sum cart Strong

    Croquettes from dim sum cart Strong

    Morning Glory - Soufflé pancakes

    Soufflé pancakes

    Morning Glory - Classic Benny

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    Classic Benny

    Books & Records - Table setting

    Books & Records

    4.3(428 reviews)
    7.7 mi•Banker's Hill
    •$$

    Books & Records Delivers Live Jazz, Standout Cocktails, and Exceptional Happy Hour Bites…read moreAs a fan of Common Stock, expectations were high for its Bankers Hill sister spot, Books & Records--and it easily delivered. The moment you step inside, the bi-level space makes a striking impression with its mid-century accents, exposed brick, and warm, moody lighting. It manages to balance a lively, energetic atmosphere with an effortless chicness that feels tailored for a memorable night out. The happy hour here is an absolute standout, featuring an expansive array of creative food options and crafted drinks. The menu brings an inventive Asian fusion twist to bar bites, offering flavor-forward small plates that pair seamlessly with the beverage program. The drinks deserve equal applause: the craft cocktails are meticulously balanced, and the signature ube-inspired cocktails are as vibrant and distinct as they are delicious. Adding to the venue's overall charm is the live music program. Catching live jazz, soul, and blues sets elevates the entire experience from a simple dinner run into a full sensory event. The music creates a vibrant, soulful backdrop without overpowering table conversation, striking just the right rhythm for intimate catch-ups or energetic group gatherings. Whether you are dropping in for a quick drink, indulging in a multi-dish happy hour spread, or lingering late for the live tunes and exceptional cocktails, Books & Records captures everything that makes CS Hospitality's concepts so special. It is a stylish, fun, and flavorful addition to San Diego's dining scene.

    New breakfast spot for me! Super cute decor. Love the vibe here. Bar seating looks cozy and open…read more I love the books & records they have displayed. Patio seating also very cute. Lots of inside seating. Our waitress Allie was super friendly. We had the short rib hash & the florentine Benedict. Both were delicious and the presentation was great. Visited on a Sunday morning and they weren't terribly busy. Looks like they have music on Saturdays. Not a huge menu but good options. We found parking on the street. Try it! Super cozy here.

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    Books & Records - Interior

    Interior

    Books & Records - Crispy Brussels (Happy Hour)

    Crispy Brussels (Happy Hour)

    Books & Records - Blueberry Beret ($14)

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    Blueberry Beret ($14)

    Queenstown Public House - Wagyu Smash Burger

    Queenstown Public House

    4.2(2.9k reviews)
    7.8 mi•Little Italy
    •$$

    We came here for a celebratory post-race dinner and first sat outside around a fire pit, but when…read morewe heard happy hour was in the bar-area only, we quickly pivoted. Thank goodness there was room too, because wow oh wow. It has been three weeks and we keep talking about that happy hour. LOL I appreciated that their happy hour menu wasn't all snackable appetizers; there were smaller-sized dishes for those less hungry, too! I ordered the Kiwilango slider + fries, my mom got the HH fish & chips, and my dad got the wagyu smash slider. Plus $10 beers, of course. Everything came out quickly and beautifully portioned, which made getting dessert (magpie ice cream cake) a no brainer. Delicious!!! I didn't stray into their full Kiwi-based dinner menu, but I can fully vouch for their happy hour, the cozy, charming vibes, kind and attentive servers, and flavorful dishes. Would absolutely recommend and will be coming back next time I'm in town!

    Been here many times and the service is always top notch, that never changes, and always a lovely…read moreambiance. However I was a bit disappointed with my meal this last time. I got the shrimp salad. The quality was great but for five small shrimps and minimal avocado it was lacking in any kind of Yum Or Wow. It was mediocre at best which was surprising as everything else I've had in the past, burgers, fries, salads, I always had really enjoyed myself. Anyway, I do recommend their happy hour, everything on that menu is top notch, and this is a lovely place to bring your pupp to! Ask for a treat at the front! And again, 5 stars for their service. Service has always been nothing but incredible.

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    Queenstown Public House
    Queenstown Public House - FISH & CHIPS

    FISH & CHIPS

    Queenstown Public House - The Cure

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    The Cure

    Breakfast Republic - Buttermilk Pancake

    Breakfast Republic

    4.1(2.6k reviews)
    8.7 mi•East Village, Core
    •$$

    We stopped by Breakfast Republic for breakfast while we were in town for Comic-Con, and it quickly…read morebecame one of my favorite breakfast spots in downtown San Diego. My wife ordered the sampler plate, and I had the Eggs Benedict. Everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. Don't skip the specialty lattes--they were outstanding and easily one of the highlights of the meal. The prices were also very reasonable, especially compared with many of the restaurants near the Convention Center. The combination of great food, fun atmosphere, and good value makes this place an easy recommendation. I heard they're closing a few locations, so I'm really hoping this one stays open because it's a total gem. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in San Diego!

    I was visiting SD for the Padres game and a little R&R. We found this nice little place. My first…read moreimpression, wasn't that great. We visited this established on a Sunday, I expected the wait to be a bit long. There was a lot of confusion about, where stand to check in. The host wasn't as helpful with where to stand, as he allowed others to jump in front of us in line. I didn't care for the outdoor seating area. I believe it's too close to people walking around. Once in side, our waitress was AMAZING, which caused my irritation to calm down. The food was delicious Overall great experience .

    Photos
    Breakfast Republic - Dining space.

    Dining space.

    Breakfast Republic - Eggs a plenty !

    Eggs a plenty !

    Breakfast Republic - Bar area.

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    Bar area.

    Leilani's Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

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