Super busy. Big menu! Maybe glance at the menu first because you order first then sit down and if your news it's over whelming!! It's super good though! read more

What I love about this place is location, atmosphere, staff, food, price, vibe......I guess that's pretty much everything. Their menu is great because there aren't too many choices. I love the sausage and avocado scramble. Make sure you are super hungry because you get a lot of food. If you eat like a bird, consider sharing your plate. Their pancakes and French toast are delicious and it's self serve coffee. Outside, there is a separate coffee bar where you can order "fancy pants" coffee and cocoa drinks. We have been patronizing this place for years and it never disappoints. Bring your poochie to sit outside while you eat but be warned, if your dog isn't cool with other dogs or people, you may want to skip it because the seating is tight. This place is what SoCal is all about. read more

I love brunch! Met a friend here and it did not disappoint! Seating outdoors and indoors, order at the counter and seat yourself. There is a separate coffee bar for more specialty coffee drinks and cold treats. I got the sausage scramble with a side of bacon. And couldn't help but get a freshly baked cookie when it came out from the kitchen! read more

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A typical beach American traditional brunch that is perfect before hitting the sand. The combo with scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes with French toast was super tasty and filling. Sizable portion for the price. The açaí bowl was a refreshing side to the main meal. The coffee was just ok. Liked their outside space, with enough space between tables to feel comfortable these days. read more

Pipes Cafe is nestled by the hillside of Cardiff by The Sea. It's hard to beat in finding a nice cafe as this. From the friendly staff, to the friendly prices would be hard not to like this place. The food is good and hearty, as is the fresh made coffee/latte bar they have inside as well. I highly recommend checking out this little diner if you are ever in the area! read more

Breakfast special was a French toast breakfast sandwich and my lord it was delicious. Using syrup to dip is required for this sandwich. Also, the potatoes are really really good but are huge so don't get it if you know you can share it. This was right down the road from where we were staying so we actually went back again and got breakfast burritos for our 2nd visit, which were also magnificent. I'd visit here again and again if I lived nearby. read more

Pipes Cafe - French toast sandwich special with potatoes. - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

I am not as in love with this place as everyone else seems to be. I think the attraction is the ginormous portions and the location. Also I think some people are just attracted to waiting in line. If there is a line then it must be good right? Don't get me wrong I do like the food here. Just not enough to wait in a long line. The portion sizes are wasteful to me because it's not like I'm gonna reheat my eggs and pancakes for leftovers. The trash cans here are a bums paradise. So if you have time and a huge appetite and low cholesterol, this place is for you!!! read more

Sometimes I wish I lived in Cardiff...No not because of the beach but because of places like Pipes!! Talk about a HUGE breakfast burrito!! Not sure if its made inhouse but the Orange juice is very fresh! EVERYTHING is great here!! My usual #2 add sausage ( eggs, bacon, potatoes, cheese & pica sauce in a flour tortilla) is so good every time I struggle to deviate from that choice. When I do I go for the Pipes egg sandwich or the BIG breakfast with french toast! You won't be disappointed. Fun place but get here early because on the weekends it gets busy. Good things come to those who wait (ancient proverb) read more

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This is a strange, albeit interesting, little cafe. Near the ocean in coastal Encinitas is a little house, next to a few office buildings and the library, that seems to have been converted into a makeshift restaurant. They make homestyle food with a healthier bent, for breakfast and brunch, that you can take out onto the patio deck for a nice meal under the warm sun and cool wing blowing off the water. It's nice, a bit simple in style and execution, but that isn't a bad thing. Everything we had here was essentially something I could very easily make at home, probably even better, for much cheaper to boot. Yet, the location is lovely and the scenery is worthwhile. Good luck in finding a place nearby to park, though. Even slow days you have to compete with every other shop and business around, not to mention the beach. So, I had the Turkey and Avocado Sandwich on Sourdough. It came dry, on ingredients that all seemed to come clean out of a bag; though, I'm not sure what else I was expecting. I always seem to think that some places bake their own bread, have homemade pastrami chilling for 1+ months in the fridge, and even grow their own veggies or something. I know it's only the select few places that actually do and I try not to look down on any shops that don't. But when I came here and had this sandwich, while it tasted alright, it still felt less genuine than something you could have made over at Subway. I know that's an odd accusation to make. But imagine you have a phobia of your food touching any other food. Like, if you had beans and rice, you get weirded out when you find one of your pintos has snuck out from it's little tub on the styrofoam plate to nest itself just on the edge of your rice. You might not be able to eat it and you find yourself constantly looking at it in hopes that you could mentally separate them apart ... just so you could keep your hands from trembling from the mere thought that your food has the audacity to mingle with each other ... MY GOD, IT'S UNNATURAL!!! Anyway, the sandwiches here seem to be made with that thought in mind. The mayo is light, the avocado is firm and cut so it isn't mashed, the meat and vegetables are all layered atop each other, and, when you move your plate, the whole of it just might slide apart and topple over because nothing sticks to anything else. It's just so ... neat ... and orderly ... I dunno, it just strikes me as weird. God, I wasted three paragraphs on that, I must have a phobia of my own to fixate so much. Oh, well... My lady love had the Pipes Egg Burrito 1, a basic affair with eggs, bacon, cheese, salsa, and potatoes. Like before, this was another very neat dish with nothing seeming to mix together within the tortilla. I would assume that the kitchen makes everything in separate pans, in bulk, then assembles everything together to order. Typically, most places would half cook everything, then toss it into one big pan, sprinkle cheese, and cook it all down into one gooey mess to enjoy. Not at Pipes Cafe. I assume this technique is used to ensure that food here can be considered "fresh". This is all well and good, it's nice when you have a frittata or a plate with fruit, toast, and an oily meat on it. But, Pipes Cafe has convinced me that I don't like that in my burritos or sandwiches. So, in summation, simple food, that's pretty good, although a tad pricey, that you could just as easily prepare yourself for cheaper and possibly better at home, but served in a setting that is beautiful and very relaxing, assuming you can find a place to park in a very popular spot near the beach. In another setting, I would give Pipes two stars, but the Encinitas scenery brings it up to a solid three. read more

If only there was a Pipes Cafe close to Orange County....in my dreams. On my way down to San Diego, an international friend asked that we check this breakfast shop out. How could she, a person from out of the country, have know about this place? Because it is THAT GOOD. I ordered a Sausage Scrambler (uploaded photo) and was completely satisfied. The picture should tell the story. Only two minor issues: 1. The Line is long and the dining spot limited, but that just shows how delicious the food is. 2. The dishes are semi stacked ontop of each other to maximize the servers efforts, one of my avocado slices got stuck onto the bottom of another dish so I had missed out on a slice, no worries though. I love the atmosphere and it's only steps from the beach shore. The signed memorabelia on the walls of taylor knox, rob machado, kelly slater and the likes really accented the whole beach vibe. read more

Pipes Cafe - Sausage Scrambler - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

It's been a long time coming. A friend of mine always talks about the breakfast burrito at this joint, and I finally had the opportunity to try it! I've heard of the lines, but at the time of this visit, there weren't any and lucked out with sitting in the outdoor patio. Came here for brunch and ordered the #1 burrito and the Turkey and Avo sandwich. I have to say you can get a sandwich anywhere. It was just OK. The breakfast burrito is a MUST! I was too excited that I just started munching on it without cutting it in the middle and eating from inside out. My first several bites were all egg, which I totally was over all the egg-ness after 4 bites. All the substance was in the middle of the burrito. Loved the gooeyness of the cheese, avo, egg and sausage together in my mouth. Very filling!!! All this for less than $15. You get nothing less than excellent and very friendly customer service at this place. Def coming back to try other menu items. read more

Love this place. Best breakfast spot in all of SD county!!! Been coming here for years so it's been great.

I awoke quite sad today as I won't be able to enjoy Pipes' AMAZING breakfast tacos this morning. Seriously one of the best breakfast foods I've eaten in years! The burrito may get the glory, but the tacos are the under the radar hit! (The French toast is as good as advertised too, by the way.) Incredible OJ too (I think it's very freshly squeezed at the market across the street) and more than decent cup of coffee. Top it off with a great beach view and vibe and shockingly low prices. I could literally eat here every day for years to come. read more

If you want a simple breakfast place with a cutie coffee with a beachy local ambience, this is your place. This spot made me feel so homey with a peep of the ocean in the background making my heart warm and fuzz. read more

Great popular hangout for the surfer crowd. Great huge portions, the line is usually out the door in the mornings. Closes early around 3pm though. Their breakfast potatoes are superb, tossed with cheese and peppers and onions. Highly recommend their waffles and hashes. Stay away from the cafe outside, especially in getting milk products in your drink. The milk tends to sit out there on ice and they blenders aren't washed too well. We've all gotten sick off of the drinks out there. Very budget friendly prices. I have never gotten up early enough, but I heard they have killer muffins that run out by 8am. read more

If you are in the mood for a casual breakfast near the beach, Pipes will do the trick. Overly big portions, but not prepared particularly well or with panache. To be honest, the relatively quick speed with which my meal was prepared indicated to me that it was hastily thrown together. I had the bacon scrambler, which was just okay- didn't blow me away. But maybe I ordered one of their "B" dishes and should give them another chance. I heard that their French Toast is supposed to be pretty good. In any case, you will not confuse Pipes with a gourmet restaurant. Still, the place has its charms and the atmosphere is good due to the fact that it's normally packed on weekends. It's the ultimate beach-side cafe and fits in very well with the neighborhood. I could see myself returning here again. read more

Pipes Cafe - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

There's something about going to Church that makes you extremely vulnerable to hunger. All that praying, singing, and proselytizing really does a number on your tummy no crappy coffee or donuts can satiate. After Yoga Church at the Soul Center (yes, Yoga Church) my sister and I were famished. Pipes is the perfect Church recovery stop. Plenty of fresh ocean air to further clear away those sins, good-looking people to tempt your newly found soulfulness and delicious breakfast vittles that can easily be shared to avoid gluttony. Prices are extremely fair, generous portions and fresh coffee make it a great all-around stop. Try Pipes after your next Church session, might even make you want to do it again next Sunday! read more

I ate here twice on a 6 day vacation. I try to never eat at the same place twice on vacation. I couldn't help but to go back. COBB SALAD. So stinkin good. Can't even describe why, but it was sooo good. We sat outside and soaked up the sun. The counter people were friendly and even though it is cash only, it doesn't break the bank. read more

Good burger and fries. Quick and friendly service. Nice deck with ocean view. Not fancy but clean. Walking distance to a beautiful beach.

Stopped by the other day for lunch with a friend and loved the quality of the food. My turkey sandwich was fresh and delicious and I surprised myself by eating the entire portion at lunch (I usually eat half and take the rest to go). It wasn't anything overly special, just a basic sandwich, and yet somehow it was amazing. The sandwiches are served with a bag of chips or you can upgrade to fries. My friend gushed about her veggie sandwich too! There's outdoor seating, which is great for dog owners, like me. My pug was ecstatic to get to join me on my lunch outing. :) As others have surely mentioned, Pipes is cash only so be sure to carry some greens! read more

Pipes is pretty dang cool with an awesome beach vibe. I have frequented this location several times for breakfast and only a couple of times for lunch. The food here is decent, the little breakfast is fairly good size but the food is rather bland. I prefer the ham breakfast burrito for breakfast and the burger for lunch. Again, not the greatest tasting food, but you primarily pay for the ambiance, location and the beach scene associate with this place. Also, don't forget to bring cash as this place is still living in the early 90s and doesn't accept credit cards... Pros- Location Friendliness Portion size Coffee/tea Ambiance Price Cons- Food is rather bland Weekends are really crowded No credit card Limited seating options read more

The food is pretty basic but you do get a lot for a reasonable price. I'm probably not going back but I see. The attraction for surfers wanting the. Most. Calorie per cent read more

Great local joint with laid back atmosphere. This place reminds me of a breakfast surf shack you'd see on the north shore of Oahu. Awesome food, GINORMOUS portions with good prices. Their breakfast burritos are the star of the show here, but other breakfast plates and specials are available. Line is always out the door on weekends...you know its good. Pet friendly place for the outdoor seating. Order your food at the counter, they bring the food out to you quickly. Serve your self coffee, which is delicious. Fresh squeezed OJ is very good as well. Got a free morning? head on over to Cardiff and eat at Pipes...eat outside and enjoy the fresh ocean air! This place hits the spot! read more

Went here with a friend, their portion sizes are super big... I got the cheeseburger with bacon... the bacon was perfectly crispy and they piled it on! I got fries to be honestly the burger was more than enough... if you get a fountain drink or iced tea it's free refills... oh the best part is you're right off the beach and you can swing a around the corner to VGs donuts for dessert... read more

Classic surfer cafe worth the stop. Yum! Classic breakfast items that make me feel at home.

Love the food, great service. Super comfortable. Affordable and great portion size. Usually for breakfast my boyfriend and I split the big breakfast with French toast. Have yet to try their famous burgers! read more

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Great if you want fair prices for big portions. Lines get long, seating is tight and for good reason; it's a popular place. Good place when you're really hungry. read more

Delicious breakfast and the line goes quicker than it looks! My family and I go here every time we're in San Diego.

Another great Yelp find. We were on our way out of the San Elijo campgrounds and Yelp guided us here. We were lucky to arrive early enough to avoid the crowd because it got very crowded on our way out. The menu is pretty simple with all the basics you'd expect at a place like this. You order at the counter, fill your coffee, then take your seat, then they bring you food out to your table. The food came out pretty quick. The portions are pretty big. I ordered the Big Breakfast which came with potatoes, eggs, bacon, English muffin, and two very big pancakes. I didn't know where to start. The food was fantastic and I have to give a special mention to the potatoes which were seasoned to perfection. If you are in the Encinitas area, definitely stop by here. read more

First the good; it's a cute little restaurant in a great location, good atmosphere, no shoes needed. Coffee was great I had an iced cookie dough mocha. The bad; unfortunately the food left a lot to be desired. I had a #2 breakfast burrito and the first thing I thought was "average". It had eggs, sausage, potatoes, guacamole and their pico sauce. Everything seemed fairly bland I couldn't see a lick of seasoning. The potatoes looked to be simply boiled and tossed into the burrito. My sister had potatoes on the side of her meal and had the same impression. The side potatoes are covered in cheese and some peppers but that's about it. They too seemed boiled and could seriously benefit from a hit of oil or being browned on a pan or oven or such. Perhaps even some salt and pepper if you want to get wild. Overall the food felt low-effort and I was left thinking I could have done better at home. I feel bad giving 2 stars as the place is very cute and the staff was extremely friendly, however those parts can only go so far when the food is nothing special. Maybe I got unlucky with my experience but I think the lack of flavor could easily be fixed. read more

Pipes Cafe - Cross section of the culprit - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

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My favorite breakfast spot in Cardiff! 3-egg breakfast taco plate is my jam, and the husband loves the classic Pipes Breakfast Sandwich. The mini coffee shop attached to it also makes awesome peppermint mochas (beating Starbucks hands down) and an off-menu drink I love which has tons of good stuff in it including macadamia. It gets crazy busy especially in the summer due to the tourist traffic so seating is a premium -- but once you're in, sit back and enjoy the beach town breakfast vibes. It's addicting. read more

Pipes Cafe - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

Great spot for breakfast/lunch in Cardiff just down the street from the beach with inside and outdoor seating and a sepaeate coffee bar. Menu items and prices are straightforward. Portions are large and proportional. The atmosphere is super chill and the food is good but I wouldn't say it blows my mind. The burritos don't lack in filling but they do need more seasoning and salsa for flavor. Same with the plates. There are tons of brunch places in the area at the same calibre of flavor at similar prices so if the line at Pipes is super long you could easily find another spot to grub. As a little addition, I do like that they use recyclable paper plates instead of styrofoam. read more

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Decided to eat here while staying at the San Elijo State Beach Camp Grounds. The staff was very friendly and gave suggestions on things to do nearby. The food was very good and prepared quickly. I will definitely eat here again the next time I am in the area! read more

We have been coming here since it opened. It used to be one of my favorite local spots. Sadly we were very disappointed and underwhelmed with the food today. My burrito lacked flavor, the potatoes were undercooked, and the tortilla wasn't warmed or toasted like they used to do it. My friends said their food was also flavorless. I want to come again and enjoy like we used to, so please bring it back to how it used to be! read more

Awesome food and cute little place. Will definitely be back. Pretty generous portions too so it would be easy to share ;)

My favorite local breakfast joint. Huge breaks fast plates, burritos, and pancakes that are to die for. The espresso bar is incredible. The cooks are fast and the servers are nice. I love the island surf vibes. read more

I love this place. I lived in San Diego for about eleven years and then made the mistake of moving to Virginia. I visit every chance I get and when I do, I make sure to eat breakfast here at least three or four times. The food is great, you get plenty for the money, the people working there are super friendly and you just can't beat the atmosphere. Please go here if you can, it's pet friendly and you won't regret it. read more

The first time I was introduced to this place, it was after the Camp Pendleton Mud run back in 2004. I followed that same routine when I finished the race this year. I love their #1 burrito: sausage, egg, avocado, pico all wrapped in a huge flour tortilla. Get some extra salsa and get a refillable cup of joe and I'm all set! When the bf is along for the ride, we often share one of the Big Breakfasts. That's plenty of food for the both of us. The OJ here is fresh and delicious. And if you want something more than a simple cup of coffee, their baristas make a mean mocha as well. It can get packed quickly if you go during the weekends and they are a cash only establishment. I've never tried their lunches, as I'm a breakfast any time of day kind of gal so I will always pick that over a burger or a sandwich. They have a nice patio which welcomes dogs, and they have inside tables as well. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Love this place! read more

Pipes is right across from San Elijo State Beach. Park rangers and campers have been spotted here. There is also a coffee stand on the Cafe's patio. Parking seemed limited here but if you have to park a distance and hoof it, it's a lovely walk. We parked on the street and Pipes Cafe was in sight. I had the egg sandwich with cheesy potato, it was the special of the day. The sandwich was amazing. It came with the fluffiest scrambled egg ever, savory bacon, and a tomato slice on an english muffin. It had a mayo spread and cheese as well. The tables outside are lawn furniture type but it did the job. Friend had the French Toast and it was light and fluffy. The French Toast was made with care. Place is great. If you're nearby it is a great area to visit. After Pipes, we crossed the train tracks to check out the ocean at San Elijo State Beach. Good food in a beautiful area. read more

Pipes Cafe - Egg sandwich and cheesey potatoes - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

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A local legend. I eat here every time I'm in San Diego. The breakfast tacos and breakfast burritos are amazing. The burgers are incredibly good. This is one of those little joints that just make you want to drive there. Friendly service reasonable prices great location. Always a favorite to visit. read more