They're open 24/7, they have what you expect a diner would have at reasonable diner prices, with locals running the shifts. Love it. We stopped here because we saw it on the way up to Portland, but didn't think of stopping until we went to a Black Bear Diner up the road where we got snubbed at the counter after sitting for 15 minutes and not a single one of the 6 waiters looked at us, like we were THOSE guys. So we decided to kick rocks and go here instead. Milkshake machine wasn't working, but the griddle was hot and the servers were attentive. We sat in the Elvis side of the restaurant away from the rest of the folk who ordered one thing then left. We opted to sit and enjoy our food and the service. Great party melt for me and a healthy helping of chicken fried steak for my brother. We'll plan to stop here again next go around, and maybe even stay at the motel connected to it. But as long as that light is on, come in and have a seat. Enjoy! read more

My partner and I came here early on our way back from camping. Must try gem in the area! Inside decor was lovely and music was inviting. Hosts and the chefs were nice. Food came out pretty quickly. We plan to come back when we're visit Mt. Shasta again read more

Penny's Diner - Chicken, waffles, maple syrup, and coffee - Diners Near Me - Dunsmuir, California

The was great. My patty melt was cook just as I asked my bread dry with no oil or butter and they substituted the cheese to pepper jack. Omg that's my new favorite. Mark said his bacon burger had crispy bacon meat cooked perfectly. He couldn't find a fault at all. The was service was friendly and fast. I can say the stayed busy helping others and doing work behind the scenes to keep the place clean. The theme is 50's and the music set the mood. It was so old school in 21st century. Stop by and grab some food you won't be disappointed read more

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Stayed nearby and Penny's hit the spot. Clean and welcoming diner off highway 5 near Mr. Shasta. When we walked in we were warmly greeted and taken to one of their booths. The no frills, stapled in the corner, colored paper menu, had some traditional diner favs, including breakfast and lunch/dinner options. I opted for the Monterrey Chicken, two boneless chicken breasts with a mix of veggies and jack cheese. Side mashed and vegetables (clearly packaged) were fine. The sounds of the flattop in the dining area were enjoyable as the meal came together. All in all, a nice meal. read more

Penny's Diner - Monterrey Chicken - Diners Near Me - Dunsmuir, California

Breakfast was great. Excellent hot cakes. Also ordered biscuits and gravy. Gravy was peppery and really good. Overall great food and friendly service. read more

Was just denied service here after driving 6 hours from Portland overnight at 1:45am. I have a service dog because of my disability. The guy was extremely rude. I pointed out that the door said service dogs are allowed. I was calm and told him I would comply, and put my dog in the car he chose to follow me out and then say they can deny anyone service and that they would be refusing me service for food as I was putting my dog in the car. I have a medical condition and felt my blood pressure was low. This is an ableist place! Do not support this business. They discriminate against people w disabilities. read more

Penny's Diner - Diners Near Me - Dunsmuir, California

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The diner is unique. Kitchen is open so you can watch them cook. It looks like most of the things were pre-made and were just warmed up. If it was for food, we'd give it a 2 star. Its better than eating at the hotel but not much better. Server was kind. The place was clean. Prices were reasonable. read more

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Food was pretty good, service lacked at first but looks like the cook showed up as was just one girl, and things got moving very quickly. Plus he had a great personality so 4 stars for effort on his part for sure! This place has a cool retro diner look, small but enough space, good food choices, nothing fancy. We ordered the chicken fried steak and sunrise skillet, food took a while but since we were close to where the food was being prepared saw how the cook was jamming to get the food out and I was impressed honestly. I had asked for sourdough toast and wheat came out, the waitress kind of gave me a blank look, but brought out the sourdough shortly after. Both our meals were tasty, cooked well. We ate our food and agreed we would come back if we were in the area again. read more

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This used to be one of my favorite 24/7 retro diners, but unfortunately, this visit didn't live up to past experiences. I ordered scrambled eggs and was served what was clearly an omelette. When I pointed it out, the server responded, "That's how we make our scrambled eggs." After I mentioned I had been here before, she quickly changed her explanation to "each cook makes it in their own way." (I have photos of my same order from last year on this review) She did offer to fix it by cutting the omelette into pieces, which I declined. To her credit, she wasn't rude and even recognized us from our previous visit, which was a nice gesture. I also overheard other diners making similar comments about the scrambled eggs, so it wasn't just a one-off issue. Disappointing overall, especially given how much I had enjoyed this place in the past. read more

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Stopped by on the way up to hike in the Dunsmuir area. Love that it's open 24/7 which is convenient and the view you get just right outside... BEAUTIFUL! I love the place from the outside! There was only one other party there so service was great and we got our orders in and food came out in a timely manner with decent portions. It's like any other old fashion breakfast diner (we were there in the morning before noon) but I didn't come for the food but more so for the convenience and the view. You can grab food to go and sit right outside on the picnic tables and eat and enjoy with your pets! There was two clean bathroom inside as well. That's a plus! read more

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This little diner is almost like something out of a movie. Cool memorabilia, good food, strong coffee. read more

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This place is a fun stop if driving through the California Oregon border. It's a little cute diner tucked away on an exit. The food is ok but if you're on a road trip it hits better haha. The milkshakes are really good and thick!!! The portions of fries are a bit small and the chicken and waffles chicken portion was tiny too. Pretty fun atmosphere read more

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This place has a very unique Sam and Dean Supernatural feel to it. The young red head waitress was very positive and helpful. We didn't know what to order and she helped us. The food was good, but the service and energy from our waitress was even better. read more

I enjoyed it. Didnt want fast food traveling through the area. Friendly staff, good service, good food. Good viee of the mountains.

Best biscuits and gravy ever and we loved our server! Super cute and retro with oldies playing and a beautiful view of the surrounding forest. Can't wait to go back! read more

Typical diner food and experience, but I appreciate that it's open 24/7, 365 days a year. I was visiting the area for Christmas and stayed at the Travelodge where Penny's Diner was located, so it was super convenient to eat here when nothing else was open on Christmas Eve. My friend and I came by around 5 pm and it was empty. I thought they'd be busier, since nothing else nearby is open, but it stayed pretty empty the entire time we were there. The inside of the diner looks like a typical diner joint with black and white floors and an open kitchen. There are some booths, high tops, and regular tables. The menu is pretty diverse, with breakfast items, burgers and sandwiches, and other diner classics like chicken fried steak and meatloaf. They also offered a special Christmas menu for $20 from Dec 22-26. I got the Christmas meal, which comes with baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, roasted veggies, roll, and a slice of pumpkin pie. I didn't like the pie, but everything else was pretty good, especially the stuffing and the mashed potatoes. My friend got the the chicken sandwich ($12.50) and enjoyed that as well. read more

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For starters, I have been to many Pennys diners in many states. Most are just your average breakfast spot with mediocre food, BUT THIS ONE! Wow, I was blown away by the taste of the food. Everything was super fresh and the cook knows what he's doing! The staff is super friendly and makes sure you get what you need. You can tell the staff actually enjoy working there which is rare these days. The price point for the food is also very low which was an added bonus! read more

We really enjoyed our meal here! The cook and waitress made it such a great experience. The cook recommended the chicken and waffles and yes it was delicious. Everything isn't made from scratch but it does come out hot and yummy. The diner feel is fun too read more

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Only place around the area that was open late. Restaurant had about 10 or so patrons at the time I attempted to go. Food wait whether sitting in or taking out was 30 min. There was one cook at the time. Wish they were a little more prepared, given the fact they're the only ones open. I didn't get to actually try anything because we decided to just skip a meal. read more

Penny's Diner - Diners Near Me - Dunsmuir, California

Penny's was actually located in the parking lot of the Travel Loge we were staying at for a couple of nights. Had breakfast here, I had pancakes, eggs and sausage. My husband had the omelet and hash browns. It was actually very good. Everything cooked fresh. Coffee was good, hot and strong. read more

Now let me tell you, being from the South I know good cookin! Barbara was amazing, you can tell she runs that place like the military! There should be way more good reviews for this place. I see so many positive reviews yet they're rating 3 stars... do you know how much that tanks businesses? If your plate was clean and the service was good that's not 3 stars!! Super cheap & food is actually really really good. No complaints at all. The place is super cool looking too, can tell it's old. Love the old diner days. Great communication & great service. read more

Penny's Diner - country fried steak & perfect eggs - Diners Near Me - Dunsmuir, California

I'ts got a bit of a nouveau retro 50s diner vibe and a friendly staff. It gets extra points for being open 24/7 in a relatively remote area, but that's really the only reason to come back. A lot of the food was prepared frozen though. Decent but not standing out. If they did things like their country fried steak and biscuits from scratch, it would be worth a special stop. read more

We were driving from WA state, back to CA and stayed in Dunsmuir... late evening meal and Peggy's Diner was close and open. WOW, it was so much more! This is a GREAT diner! The service was terrific, friendly and even more. We asked questions and got great responses and interesting info. It was late, and there weren't many in the diner. "Peggy" wasn't there, but Barb filled in GREAT!!! :) I HAD to try the chili - and it was super! Very meaty, nice amount of beans, and tomato pieces. This is homemade goodness and way above usual "chili quality", I often find. Also, no greasiness at all - just greatness! Tater tots are a FAVE of my husband's, so he tried them with chili - OMGoodness! They were perfectly fried = no greasiness and crispy outside. The potatoes were steaming and perfect on the inside too. Then top it with their FABULOUS chili - GREAT DINNER! Then, thanks to Barb, we tried the pumpkin pie. It was great too - and never too early for pumpkin pie holidays! :) This was a great meal and experience to start the return of life in CA! read more

Stopped in here while traveling north on 5. It's next to the Travelodge. It's pretty cute! Very 50's, so a real throwback! The food is all reminiscent of American comfort food. At our table, we ordered a grilled cheese with fries, a Reuben with tater tots, and a crispy chicken sandwich with fries. There was one server/cook who did a great job! She took our order and cooked our food quickly and well! We all enjoyed our sandwiches and then hit the highway again. Thanks for the lunch, Penny's Diner! We will return! read more

Everything was wonderful! The guys that were working were very helpful and kind. The food was quick and delicious. We've stopped in Dunsmir a few times and just found this place. Will definitely be going back. read more

Not great. Our waiter who had a dog was super nice. Food was just alright. The French toast was very very bad.

This place is a cute, no-frills vintage diner that is open 24/7. After about 8 or 9pm, this is the only food option in the area. We came in after a long drive, and we're grateful they were there. It was a 1-woman-show which seemed a little hectic for her at times but she pulled it off. The food was surprisingly decent. The fish and chips were actually really good. Fish was crispy and was more fish than breading. Classic breakfast was good read more

Came in at 11pm on a Friday night in the middle of an 18 hour drive. Service was fast, food was fantastic, and atmosphere was welcoming. Just what the doctor ordered read more

Penny's Diner - Front of restaurant - Diners Near Me - Dunsmuir, California

Food was awesome! Portion size is perfect especially for the price. Service is quick and easy. Most of all it's a cozy retro vibe! Loved it and will be coming back again! read more

Penny's Diner - Penny burger - Diners Near Me - Dunsmuir, California

Just a quick stop to grab a nibble for the road. They had some yummy looking brownies and banana bread so, after a quick use of the clean bathroom, a friendly staffer rang me up a loaf of banana bread ($4.30) and 2 chocolate brownies(sans nuts $2.50ea) and we were on our way. UPDATE: Returned the next day for breakfast. Different servers, but still greeted warmly as we walked in. Took our seats and received our menus and asked if we wanted coffee. Yes! Checked on us twice, but I was still trying to decided what I was hungry for. By the time I settled on a cinnamon roll, which apparently is a signature item and the size of a plate, our server let me know they were out. Bummer, but I didn't really NEEEEED a cinnamon roll, so all is well. We - again - went with our basics: eggs, proteins, fries. Today we got to watch our breakfast being made with the chef and cooktop being right in front of us. Neat-o! Food was basic, but good. We would return if in the area, needing a 24/7 diner. read more

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Penny's is a 50's-themed diner in a faux-railcar situated on a hill above I-5 next to the small hotel it doubles as an office for. Penny's is open 24-hours, which is a gift to the engineers and conductors which have a contract with the hotel. The food is diner style food, with a simple menu. One will find that you are a LONG way from farm-to-table here. But eggs, if not over or under cooked, are good. Put enough oil on potatoes and don't burn them..... reheat bacon or sausage.... it's good enough to return for a meal, but I cannot rave about anything there. The first two mornings we went in and the server barely acknowledged us, but got us our food promptly. The third the cook overheard our order and served us himself. If you're in the area on I-5 you can expect a clean diner with average, slightly bland food. But I suppose that's what salt, pepper and Tabasco are for.... read more

Penny's Diner - Chicken Fried Steak - Diners Near Me - Dunsmuir, California

Super convenient and affordable. Foods good, really great breakfast. Cute 50's vibes.

Service is terrible. Old white lady at the front is very rude and will treat people of color very poorly. Don't go here if you are a person of color. read more

I would keep it moving and find a different restaurant. The wait staff was extremely rude. I asked to sit on the patio with my dog, and I was told I could get a to-go order and sit on the "non-smoking patio" that's covered in cigarette butts. It took 40 minutes to get a breakfast sandwich. As I was finishing my sandwich, a family of 4 with their dog was sat at the table next to me by the wait staff, and they were waited on like normal restaurant patrons. They were given menus and all. Skip this place and go to Dunsmuir Brewing company instead of this place. They are SOOOO nice there, and the food is excellent. read more

This place was good diner food. Nice chrome boxcar appeal. Many items of choice. I had chili and salad. Really good. Service was attentive. Ambience like a 50s Diner style. Nice read more

We stopped for breakfast. It was clean inside the unique building. Very good bacon, eggs, and hash browns. We also got a cinnamon roll. It wasn't as big as a plate, but it was very tasty. Service was good, and there was a steady stream of customers as well as call in orders. Very convenient on and off the freeway. read more

Penny's diner is a must stop on the way home. Cool little 50's diner with the classic menu of all the diner favorites. Burgers, milkshakes, and more! The staff makes you feel super welcome and offers excellent service of an old diner. If you are expecting something fancy, upscale, and don't have a dry sense of humor, this not the place for you. We will forever stop in here for the food, good laughs, and excellent service. read more

We went to this spot out of desperation for a late night meal after missing dinner. It was busy because they are the only late not spot for miles and the wait to be seated was long, the tables were dirty, the cooks were a hot mess-unprofessional, not practicing proper hand washing, gloves and handling procedures. The manager was kind and working so hard but the (cook) staff was an absolute mess. We order some fried food (French fries) to ensure a quick turn around. I'm sure good help is hard to find in these parts - I'd miss this spot if you can avoid it. read more

Friendly people, diner comfort food, fun atmosphere. Server late night was also cooking, but she was fast and friendly. Good late night experience. read more

Great location and nice atmosphere. Food was good. Would have liked the service to be more attentive but all the guys working were really nice. So glad to find this place open and convenient. read more

Penny's Diner - Diners Near Me - Dunsmuir, California