Mama Kats has moved to a new and amazing location near San Marcos city hall. They just had a soft opening this morning. So news of their permanent demise is false. Their new location is amazing. Plenty of parking, tons of indoor and outdoor seating, full coffee bar and expanded menu. Please continue to support this amazing restaurant and family. Great family atmosphere and great spot close to CSU for students to get breakfast, lunch or whatever coffee drink you would like. NEW ADDRESS Address: 288 Rancheros Dr, San Marcos, CA 92069, USA read more

Mama Kat's - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Every time we've gone there for breakfast, there's always been a long wait. What makes it even more frustrating is looking inside and seeing half the tables empty. Now they've moved to a bigger location? If they couldn't manage the turnaround time in the smaller space, I'm not sure how a bigger restaurant is going to improve things. And from what I'm seeing, the wait times are still long. I give restaurants three tries...three strikes and I don't come back. There are just too many other good restaurants to choose from. Hopefully the bigger location also comes with better staffing and a more efficient system, because the food isn't the issue - the wait is. read more

Ordered the chicken fried steak, biscuits and gravy, college benedict, carnitas benedict, and Belgian waffle. Dirty chai, white chocolate latte, and carrot juice. Everything was just ok and service was lacking. Ambiance - they did a beautiful job renovating the space. It's really cute. Wait - 30min-1hr. You can pay to skip the line which seems so silly to me. Drinks - I expected the coffees to be sweet, but not the carrot ginger juice. Tasted like it had a cup of added sugar. I couldn't even drink it. Food - bland and mediocre. The eggs on both benedict were overcooked. No flavor too the hollandaise. The carnitas were beyond DRY. Zero flavor in the gravy. Service - didn't get any utensils or napkins. Had to ask after our food came. Once he dropped off the food, we never saw our server again. Had to chase him down to pay. Waaaayyyy overpriced for an overall mediocre experience. $130 total. read more

Sunrise sandwich was perfect, with your choice of neat and a choice of starch as a side. Perfect portion. Drinks are large Lots of healthy options French toast was nice and soft. read more

See all

Part of a not-so-well-maintained strip center. The restaurant must've been between signs, too, as you could only see the outline of the old sign on the facade of the building when we went in June 2026. Almost looked like it was shut down, since the windows are blacked out, too! However, once you go inside, it's lively, the people are friendly, and it's a casual atmosphere. Unless you go at an odd hour, expect a wait. We waited around 10 mins at 9am on a Saturday. They have indoor and outdoor covered seating. There are also games for kids to play out front, but it's up against the parking lot with no barrier, so not the safest. Menu is huge, so hard to decide! However, I'd argue overpriced, even by today's crazy standards. Nearly every entree is $20+, which is crazy for breakfast in my opinion! I got one of the few cheaper entrees at around $16, and was disappointed by the quantity, but enjoyed the flavor of the sunrise sandwich. Comes with your choice of meat and one of several sides. Basically a glorified egg McMuffin meal at twice the price. Also got the tabby iced coffee, which was good. read more

Mama Kat's - Sunrise sandwich - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

Paid by card. Mama Kat's is located in a plaza and offers plaza parking. I went here in the morning on the weekend and there was a 15- minute wait. There are games for the kids to play outside while waiting and seating for adults to watch the kids. This place has amazing customer service. The host was friendly and kept us updated with the table status, and the servers came around frequently to check on us after we were seated. The food came out quickly and tasted so good! I also got The Hobbes without maple to drink, and it was delicious! I would definitely recommend this place and would go back! read more

Mama Kat's - Kielbasa plate with scrambled eggs and fried rice - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

I have been to Mama Kat's a couple of times. The food has ALWAYS been good, the service has always been not good. The Great: yummy food The Good: menu selection The Bad: the service The Ugly: still the service I've enjoyed the food at mama kat's, but gosh. the few times I've come I've gotten slow service, indifferent service and forgotten about. My last visit we almost walked out after being seated then ignored for over ten minutes. After ordering and getting our drinks, I asked for creamer. The server kept walking by and then acknowledge he forgot.. then he apparently forgot again, but eventually i got the creamer. When we initially got there and got seated, the young man that walked us to our table, walked away when pointing us to our table, I thanked him, but he seemed pretty unhappy. I had to flag him down to ask for more coffee later, which happened very slowly too. I wonder/hope when they move, they gain a new pride of their brand, improving the experience for the customer. read more

Mama Kat's - Some kind of breakfast fried rice. - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

I like how another reviewer said "it must be good if there's always a wait." This reviewer was on the right track. Located close to the freeway, but very limited parking. Ambiance was rustic and homey. Looks much bigger inside. Very family oriented. Most of the patrons had kids with them, which I appreciated. Felt like the toddlers were conversing in their own language across the room. The host was amazing. Asked for a seat for two including my toddler. He prepared it very thoughtfully. Wait was accurate (10-15 min.) they have indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor seating is covered. They have nice outdoor activities for kids and families including Tetris and cornhole. Food was good. I like the slabs of hashbrowns which make it look clean. They take time to prepare the meal so it has an added freshness. I ordered a breakfast sandwich, which was safe and good enough. I was recommended to order their eggs Benedict or cinnamon French toast in the future. I believe the rest of the food is good, I just didn't order it! So will be coming back in the future to try it read more

Mama Kat's - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

You can tell it's good when there's a line. We waited about 20 minutes for a table for two around 930am on a Saturday. Everything was delicious, pancakes, cinnamon roll French toast, carve asada breakfast burrito. Shout out to the huge strawberry lemonade, you can get a to go cup if you don't finish! Solid meal and great service. read more

See all

I had a nice breakfast! It's always busy at mama Kat's. We came at a 20-30 min wait. I believe we waited 20. I always get the Campbell's, but this time with fresh fruit so it's not super filling. So it was a perfect amount of food. I also got the dapper apple! Delicious, I really needed that refreshing drink! Service was excellent, our waiter was very sweet! We were seated outside. Which was nice and quiet. read more

See all

My daughter and I had a fantastic breakfast today. The food and drinks are a stepbup from a typical dinner, but with the family atmosphere. The breakfast burrito was huge, stuffed with scrambled eggs, cheese, home fries and bacon. It was hearty and filling. The sunrise sandwich was stuffed with eggs, ham, bacon , cheese and the sourdough bread was perfectly toasted. The chai tea was rich and creamy, and the carrot orange juice was fresh and refreshing. Excellent service, making us feel right at home despite how busy they were. Give it a try! read more

See all

Great and delicious food! I had the southwest skillet and it was so filling and tasty. The carne asada burrito, ordered by my father, was also very tasty and my sister's plate was great as well. We went around 10am and there was a 10-15 minute wait. Not bad at all. Parking was completely full so we ended up doing street Parking. The total for 3 people was $100, so on the high side for breakfast, but the food was great. Ambiance: there were several people celebrating birthday and Doing gift exchanges. Very comfortable seating and clean restaurant. read more

See all

I can't believe it's been a couple years since I've left a review here! Although I love eating at Mama Kat's, this review is all about the pie. I've been wanting to try their pies but with Thanksgiving I thought it was the perfect time. Since I was heading to the desert, I felt the take and bake option they offer was the easiest option. I ordered a Dutch apple pie and a strawberry rhubarb pie. My family said the Dutch apple pie was the best pie they've ever had and I couldn't agree more! The strawberry rhubarb was just as amazing. We took it with us when we visited my grandma, but this one had a traditional pie crust. This will now be incorporated into any occasion that needs pie. Next time, I want to try the bourbon peach pie since it was sold out by the time I ordered. Mama Kat's is a local favorite but they lived up to all the hype! read more

They are open at the new location off of Rancheros across the bridge from the Civic Center in San Marcos. Great food, atmosphere, and service! Worth checking out and enjoying! read more

No wait time on a Monday at 9 am but I heard it gets busy later on and especially during the weekends. I ordered the Mexicali Specialty Skillet that came with Carne Asada, Bell Pepper, Onion, Avocado, Pepper Jack Cheese, Sour Cream, Salsa Roja and a side of toast. My friend ordered the half order of biscuit and gravy with fruit salad. For drinks, we had the dirty chai and the Hobbes. The food and drinks were tasty and well-prepared, though nothing stood out as particularly unique. It's a solid, reliable spot for brunch. The super friendly service and clean interior makes it well worth a visit. read more

Mama Kat's - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

There's a reason why Mama Kat's is always packed. The breakfast food here is incredible, and so are their pies. I love their biscuits and gravy and the plant-based burrito. The restaurant has a warm, cozy, feel-at-home vibe. My favorites are the Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and the Vegan Blueberry Crumble Pie. They also have an extensive vegan-friendly menu. This place gets busy, so parking can be a little tough in the lot. Street parking is another option. If you don't want to wait in line (and the wait can get long), you can book a reservation for a fee through their website. read more

Mama Kat's - Vegan Blueberry Crumble Pie I added Vanilla Gelato & Persimmon - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

First time at Mana Kats. A very busy place. Even on a Friday at 10:30am. I had the Chicken Fried Steak, 2 eggs over medium,, fresh fruit, and rye bread. It was good, not fantastic. My wife had the Cinnamon Roll French Toast, Good flavors there. My daughters had the Corn Beef Hash with scrambled eggs and a Belgium Waffle. They loved the Hash. Our server was excellent. Friendly and attentive. The have an outside patio if you want fresh air and less noise. It's very noisy inside. For me to give it a 5, the food would need to be a little better for the prices they charge. read more

Cute breakfast/brunch place. It gets pretty busy here. Paid a fee to get reservations for 6 people. There's games such as cornhole and connect 4 outside while you wait. Ordered the cinnamon roll and corn beef hash and both were tasty. Service was also fantastic! read more

Mama Kat's - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

This was my first time coming to this place and it did not disappoint. We came in on Sunday around 12:30 and got sat in about 10 to 15 mins. Alex was our server and he was such a delight! I got the tabby coffee which is Carmel and white chocolate (to die for) and then I got the chorizo burrito and added avocado. And my husband got the chicken fried chicken without the gravy. Both meals were marvelous. Full of flavor and even the presentation was outstanding. The place is very clean and inviting. I love all the plants everywhere. Very excited to return here especially at their new location. read more

See all

One last breakfast before my cousins flew back to Australia called for a spot that's been a favorite of mine since my college days over a decade ago: Mama Kat's. I remember the waits being much longer back then, so I was pleasantly surprised that we were seated in about 30 minutes. Even after all these years, Mama Kat's still delivers the hearty, comforting breakfast food that keeps people coming back. I'm usually an Eggs Benedict person, but this visit I convinced my cousins to try the chicken fried steak. Their reaction was, "So it's basically a deep-fried steak?" and honestly... they're not wrong! It was crispy, flavorful, and definitely a classic diner-style breakfast choice. Mama Kat's have options for everyone. In the past, I've ordered their jackfruit hash, and it was surprisingly delicious. It's nice to see a breakfast spot offering solid vegan and vegetarian choices alongside traditional favorites. Parking can be hard, especially during peak hours, but it's manageable. And if you're waiting for a table or want a caffeine fix afterward, Better Buzz Coffee is conveniently located right next door. Whether you're a local or just passing through San Marcos, Mama Kat's is worth it for a satisfying breakfast! read more

See all

This spot will always be a special place that I have spent so many incredible meals at with family and friends. I am so excited to hear that they are moving to a larger location next month (I think) and I can not wait to check it out I know it'll be a huge success with the incredible team that they have. I have a hard time straying away from my go to which is the college rules Benedict but it is my favorite Benny in San Diego it always hits the spot for me. Prices have gone up over the years but that seems to be normal around San Diego and I will continue to come back! read more

See all

Stopped here at 9am on Friday and was shocked at how busy it was! They sat us at the counter a few minutes after arriving but def seems like it'd be a longer wait for a table or if we arrived any later, as parking was already packed and we had to park on the street. Service was exceptional, or worker was kind and often checked on us and the food came out so fast. The food was good but I didn't give five stars as I didn't think it was incredible considering it was also quite expensive for simple dinner food. The biscuits and gravy were yummy but the sausage was very dry and didn't seem freshly cooked. Eggs were cooked perfectly and hash browns were just okay to me. Portions were big enough for two meals for me but my boyfriend had it all in one sitting. Overall, the food was good but not as good as I hoped for a classic diner spot, and the price was a little high for the type of spot and quality of food. However it was a good experience, I just felt that the sausage and hash browns needed more flavor and were a bit dry! read more

Mama Kat's - Biscuits and gravy, eggs, hashbrowns and sausage - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

The server Ray was very informative and helpful to offer suggestions. We took his suggestions and started off with the house made cinnamon roll, then frogman skillet style and the country fried steak and let me tell you that gravy they make and put on it is so delicious. We sat outside I their patio seating area which is cute as they also sell succulents and statues for your garden as well. Definitely recommend you come here whether it's for breakfast or lunch also from what they said they will be moving to a bigger location at the end of April. read more

See all

I've had this place on my list of places to try for a while. I got pancakes with a side order of bacon. Both the pancakes and bacon were really good. The staff here were all super nice and helpful. It's a cute restaurant too with plenty of seating both in and outside. They also have games for the kids to play with outside. The one down side to this place is how overpriced it was. For two pancakes, 2 small strips of bacon, and a small orange juice, it was like $25. And for that, I wasn't even truly filled. read more

Mama Kat's - Pancakes - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

This was my second time at Mama Kat's and it doesn't miss! The staff is extremely friendly and service was QUICK -- I think we waited a total of 10 minutes from placing our order to receiving the food. The restaurant definitely has a mom & pop diner vibe, cozy and lively. For the food, my friend and I ordered... * California Scramble: nice avocado slices, loaded with bacon and crispy hashbrowns * Farmhouse Skillet: tasty home fries and topped with thick and flavorful gravy * Cinnamon Roll: if you don't get one, you're missing out -- that's all I'll say! * The Hobbes Latte: incredible blend of matcha and chai with cinnamon, absolutely delightful Don't miss out on Mama Kat's! read more

See all

Mama Kat's has really tightened up all their processes so it's less of a madhouse. Make your reservation online - you pay $2 a person for 90 min. If you're late it eats into your time. Less of a store. No more pie by the slice. Free birthday dessert with candle. All the drinks and food are great. I've never had any of the meatless things but there are a ton of meatless options and juices now. It's still country inside and friendly but a different focus. read more

See all

First, I'm a big Mama Kats fan going back years. Up until recently, I had only been to the previous location off San Marcos Blvd. Although it was always busy, the food was always great. I don't eat breakfast out much anymore, but we booked at the new location with their paid reservation system and the family was excited. The service was overall good, lattes were great, but food wasn't as good this time around. Came out pretty cold, hash browns weren't crispy at all, I'm still waiting on jam for my toast, kids said their cinnamon roll and French toast dishes were good, but not as good as "Vail Lake Campround" (which were served from bags and heated up). I got chicken fried steak and that was great, wife got the burrito. Ultimately, I think the food sat for too long before service and that was the main culprit. We won't give up as they just tripled the size of the restaurant, but I thought it would be good to give honest feedback. read more

June 8th, 2025 This is my 2nd favorite breakfast spot in San Marcos. We waited to be seated within 3 minutes of walking in. That's pretty good for a Sunday morning. The coffee is still great and the food is always very well seasoned. Love how open and spacious it is and now there's a place to hang out if you want a mimosa. Mama Kat's also have some of the nicest staff working here. I love it! Highly recommend. read more

Waffles were amazing. So light and fluffy. Would have them all the time. Hash browns were pretty average. Scrambled eggs weee exactly how I liked them... dry scramble The service was friendly and prompt. The wait for a table was a little Over the top. It was in excess of a 50 minute wait. While the waffle was great it was not worthy of the wait. We went in a few times to see where we were on the list. Granted we had a party of 5 and thought we have to wait for a larger table. Understood that and was fine with it. We ended up at a table for 4 with a place hastily set for the fifth person on the end. This arrangement could have been done thirty minutes into the wait. We saw numerous four seat tables empty when we went into check. Lucky we were with friends and just chatted outside enjoying the great weather read more

A Sunday morning at 10am and somehow we beat the church rush. We waited only 10 minutes for a seat outside on a beautiful morning. Behind us the patrons came pouring in to fill all available waiting chairs along the parking area. We got lucky in more than one way. Quickly greeted by our server. The food came out super (unbelievably) quick and was artfully plated with large servings. My wife's omelet was huge. My combo Benedict was excellent and initially unexpected. One bite and we realized that everything is house made. Even the jams for the toast. We even realized that the English muffins beneath my Benedict's were freshly house-made. Why we don't come here more often was discussed and compromised because the place gets that busy. Today, Kat's was nearby our Sunday shopping, and we luckily beat the crowds. We were prepared and had a backup breakfast plan just in case. We agreed that Mama Kat's is definitely of the best American Diners that we have ever eaten at, especially for breakfast. The taste is obvious! CritDicks read more

See all

This is our third time coming here in the last 6 years(mind you we live far away) but every time we can stop here for breakfast, we do! The food never disappoints, this time I ordered the Mexicali skillet and fresh pressed orange juice. We got the muffin for our toddler, and my husband had the country fried steak and eggs. The service has always been friendly and helpful! The restaurant is clean and gives the mom and pop cafe feel! Worth the stop every single visit! read more

See all

It's been a few years since I've been. Still the same laid back & chill vibe as you enter. My friends and I came in early, around 7:15am on Saturday morning after a workout. Luckily because of the time, we were able to find parking and get seated right away. Our server was super nice and efficient. We ordered a couple of Gavin's Yellen, Frogman, California, specialty coffees and raspberry kombucha. Everyone was satisfied with their dishes & drinks. It's a cute restaurant to go to if you're in the area. They also have pies you can order or muffins and cinnamon rolls you can take home (which we did). read more

See all

Classic brunch food in a comfortable, homey restaurant. Attentive service even though it was so busy. The carne asada burrito was delicious. It was fresh and not greasy. However, I did take a nap afterwards because the whole meal was so filling. read more

See all

They continually get everything right here. And in such a big way. They did a senior French toast. Crispy almost caramelized crust cooked perfectly never soggy, over medium egg, crispy egg white, and 2 strips of thick cut smoke house bacon cooked perfectly never- not soft not crisp but right in between. Their cook is a master chef. Delicious food. Love this place! No one else compares. read more

Mama Kat's - Ham and eggs! See what I mean!!! - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Came here around 10 something. This was the first time that I've been here on a weekday and still there is a wait, but not as long as if were a weekend. We put our name on the list and probably didn't wait more than 15 minutes. While waiting, there was a menu outside that I perused. Our name was called and we sat in a different part of the restaurant this time, which was exciting. I finally decided on Pancakes because that is a must and I wanted chicken tenders. My bf ordered breakfast rice which came with eggs, toast, and sliced sausages. He also ordered an iced coffee. When the iced coffee came, it was huge. About $5 & maybe it was a treinta for Starbucks comparison. His food came out and it was in a big size bowl. It looked so tasty! My food came out and it was so much! My food came with 4 chicken tenders, scrambled eggs, breakfast rice, my one Pancake which I made my goal to finish, and toast. I swear, if I ate the whole thing, I would have popped and passed out. Of course I couldn't finish my food, so I got a to go box. The prices were decent. It was about $23 for my plate and about $7 for the Pancake. That's a bit steep, but what can you do. My bf's meal was about $19. We'll always be fans of this place and today was the day that I found parking inside the immediate parking area. Score! read more

Mama Kat's - Breakfast rice and an iced coffee - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

See all

They have reopened at their new location!!! 288 Rancheros Drive, San Marcos, CA 92078. The new restaurant is beautiful, with twice the interior space and parking as their former location. More importantly, the food is great (same as it ever was). We have been dining at this Restutant for decades and it has never disappointed. Try the traditional eggs Benedict. Best in town! read more

I have been a customer of Mama Kat's for 14 years and finally on August 22nd visit there new location which is wonderful and amazing inside with plenty of parking. The only thing is the hostess needs to stay in his lane and remember who is the paying customer and think he can decide and ask why regarding your preference of seating. read more

Service was great and fast. We miss not feel rushed at all. The ambiance was really homey. The food was very good. There were so many vegan options. I was overwhelmed with the selection. This place is truly vegan friendly. The chef really understands how to put together vegan meals without just removing ingredients from non-vegan dishes. Absolutely outstanding. We are definitely coming back here even though is a bit of drive for us. read more

See all

Feeling like coming over for a family get together. Fun, friendly and relaxed environment where you get the know the staff quickly and feel like you have known them for years. The most amazing coffee menu with cool and fun names and an incredible selection of meals to choose from. Make sure you come hungry as the servings are significant. Not a huge place so be ready for a wait but a wait WELL worth it. read more

See all

Your friendly neighborhood breakfast joint. Solid breakfast with lots of options. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the menu items. They have a great coffee bar with espresso and other fancy stuff for you coffee nerds out there. I usually go for the scrambles/omelets and always always the hashbrowns. Easy parking Family owned Great service read more

Mama Kat's - Denver Scramble - American Near Me - San Marcos, California