Stopped in yesterday for breakfast-best decision of the day! My husband and I ordered the Bacon Scrambler-and I'm very glad we decided to share it because their portions are huge! The food was fresh and the flavors were perfect, just the right amount of cheese on the potatoes and butter on the English muffins. Our breakfast was delicious! All of my favorite breakfast ingredients were in the scrambler-eggs, bacon, peppers & onions with a side of cheesy potatoes. Oh I will be back regularly since it's right down the hill from us and a beautiful walk right over to the beach:) read more

Pipes Cafe - Mmmmm:) Bacon Scrambler - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

This is a solid local joint to have breakfast or lunch. We come here every other weekend. The serving sizes are huge -- a breakfast burrito will easily satisfy 2 people (they must have 4 or 5 eggs in that thing). Afterwards, you'll feel a bit greasy and heavy with the meal you've just consumed. The food is solid. I wouldn't drive out of my way to eat at this place, but if you're surfing in the area and need to re-fuel on protein and fat, this is your place. read more

Nice place with large portions and yummy English muffin. Bacon scrambler - nice large portion and very nice with Tabasco! Big breakfast with pancakes - Yummy pancakes!!! But not so chill on weekends. Yo.. people! I am Asian, I have dogs, and I live in North County. And NEWS FLASH: I DON'T have 8 arms or 6 legs or a rhino horn on my head! Don't just stare at me straight in the face with a shocked look and not say a single thing. Yes, it's a small patio and I would like to walk by you to get to a table. If that's a problem, please speak up. I am not telepathic, dude! Stares make me uncomfortable and think I got boogers on my face. Food 5 stars, service 4 stars, but vibe on weekends 1-2 stars. Gonna try to come here on weekdays and see if it's any better. read more

Great for breakfast, only so-so for lunch. The breakfast burritos are good and the crowd on the weekends is fun. Last time I was there, a waitress was going on about how some cell tower was being installed nearby and how it was going to contaminate the food. Good times. read more

Pipes has become a regular spot for us. Casual atmosphere (outdoor dining). Everyone is super efficient and friendly. Great coffee and espresso too! read more

This place is a breakfast producing machine. Met a colleague here for breakfast at 9:00. The line was already to the door. For the over four hours that we were there, I think there were only two time when the line didn't reach at least to the door and at several points the line out the door onto the deck outside. These are simple meals. Eggs, Pancakes, Bacon, Sausage, French toast and the like. Nothing was exceedingly good but the speed of service of the meal and the turnover is impressive. As for service, can't say a bad thing about it. Even though we failed to relinquish our table, we were never rushed off. The waitress may have dropped one hint when she cleared our plates but it was subtle enough for us to feign ignorance. We did in the end leave a substantial tip to cover what she lost during our overstay, so I hope she was made whole in the end. Only caution is that parking is extremely tight. practice your aparralel parking before you get here since it's a skill you will likely need. Also there are several parking lots that are off limits for Pipes customer and they threaten towing, so be warned. read more

We attempted to eat breakfast at this place twice, and there was a line along the sidewalk both times. i absolutely love the coffee bar lady for her outgoing personality and ability to have a conversation with everyone. definitely makes a request for a cup of joe enjoyable. the coffee here is pretty good and comes out piping hot. i had the milky way, and it was sweet. we ordered a breakfast sampler of potatoes, eggs, sausage, and it was pretty normal. the portions are huge, so i would definitely share. i don't think this place is all it's cracked up to be. a bit too heavy for me for breakfast. i do love the coffee though. read more

Pipes Cafe - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

My roommate and I agree to give this place 3 stars. She had a breakfast burrito, and I had pipes egg sandwich. My comment after this breakfast is that I can have the same thing in school dinning hall which I had been eating for 2 years already. However, this place is very relax and good for weekend visit to shake off all your stress. read more

This is a unique greasy spoon diner. Named after the surfing spot just across the road this breakfast/lunch place is all things surfing. From the decor to the customers. The food is also in a class by itself. They have expanded on the typical greasy spoon diner and created their own recipes for presenting eggs and pancakes and french toast. They focus on more of a Mexican style breakfast experience as most of their menu consists of burritos stuffed with eggs, chilies, bacon, cheese and the like. They serve huuuuuuuuuge portions so splitting might work for you. Also the potatoes are somewhat original as they add cheese and other veggie stuff. I like the egg sandwich which doesn't come with potatoes and is just the right size. read more

Breakfast burritos for the win! I was on the way to Knotts Berry Farm and decided to stop by Pipes to get some food before heading up north. Sadly, they only accept cash;however, they do have an atm located inside. The burritos my boyfriend and I ordered was enough that we should of just shared one. The portions are very giving and I recommend people trying their burritos. They also have omelette and coffee! read more

I would recommend this place to all far and wide. Lol. No, really!! You want something to start your day or some laid back brunch that will satisfy your soul? This is definitely the place!!. Very local feel, view of the ocean, indoor/outdoor seating, and the best coffee bar in town!!! Try it and it will become a go to for you as well. Thank you to my local friends that showed me the way!!! Pipe's Cafe.. read more

I went to Pipes the morning after New Years Eve and it was ridiculously appropriate. Large OJ? Check. Large coffee? Check. Large breakfast burrito? Check. Cheesy potatoes with onions and green bell peppers? Delishhhhhh. And the price is right. A huge breakfast burrito that I guarantee you cannot finish...about $5.95. They also have an assortment of sandwiches and pancakes. Perhaps the only thing I'd change about Pipes is their salsa...It's the kind that you can buy from Costco, is only slightly spicy, and not freshly made at all. This is San Diego, home of all delicious salsa...Come on, Pipes. A local's haven...I recommend you check it out. Cash only. read more

I guess when the building says "a breakfast place" maybe you should stick to breakfast. Unfortunately we ordered lunch- two turkey and avocado sandwiches on sourdough and a caesar salad. We expected the sandwiches to be toasted but they weren't. It was a turkey sandwich...nothing special. The caesar salad was awful. The lettuce was wet (before dressing) and it made the croutons soggy and the whole salad was very watery. It just wasn't great and we won't be returning to this spot. read more

Got a green chile breakfast burrito and a bacon and potato breakfast burrito. Both had no taste at all. I'm not sure if this restaurant uses salt or pepper in their cooking. My gf and I consider ourselves breakfast burrito connoisseurs and we both agreed this was one of, if not the worst we've ever had. read more

Came here on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning for a late brunch. I ordered the veggie scramble and a nutty latte. The scramble was such a good deal! Delicious and incredibly large portions. I ended up taking over half of it home because I couldn't even try to finish it. The nutty (hazelnut) latte was great as well! As a coffee snob, I most definitely approve of the latte. The employees here are extremely nice and helpful. There isn't that much seating outside, but my friend and I were able to nab a seat and enjoy the warm sun and scenery. Just remember it's cash only- they have an ATM inside. read more

Big portions and fantastic food! I usually go with the pipes egg sandwich (ask for double bacon if that's your thing) since I end up with 1/2 of whatever I ordered left over (I'm a 170lb guy) with most other things. Also, this is available in sausage even though it's not on the menu. Cash only, but if you need to pull out cash, the ATM fee inside seaside market is only $1.75 so save yourself a buck or two and hop across the street. Coffee is all you can drink and it is delicious. Super friendly staff too! read more

Sorry if this sounds really negative, but this is just my experience there. People rave about their coffee but I found their lattes to be horrible (maybe it was a bad barista that day). So while I'm there I stick to regular coffee brew. Today I had a really bad experience there: I had a decaf coffee, and shortly after that I got totally wired on cafeinne. So someone screwed up big time and put regular coffe in the decaf carafe. Yes, breakfast is big and cheap. But the times I tried it was just plain average. Lines are horrible, and are good enough of a reason to avoid it altogether in the weekends. Veredict: Skip it. Go a couple miles up the road to Swami's Cafe for some really great food. read more

IMO, line was not worth the wait. The food was ok. Portions were hefty, which is good. But nothing special about this place. read more

Pipes Cafe - Line is not worth the wait. - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

Pipes is a great breakfast place! They are cash only and the service is not the best... but the food is good and the prices are very reasonable. Pipes is one of the best breakfast places around. *There OJ is killer! read more

Love Pipes...especially when the tourists are gone. Why...because it's packed! Food is great and the value is spot on. Sit outside and enjoy the awesomeness of Cardiff. Lots of locals so you can see your friends a lot of times. Don't forget to bring the pups. Highly recommend. read more

Get Your Own. My other reason for flying to San Diego last weekend. I love breakfast. I can eat it all day. This is the spot for the best, tastiest, cheapest breakfast food. I would recommend: The sausage, egg, cheese and avocado breakfast burrito.(#4 on the very left side of the menu board). HUGE!....larger than a chipotle burrito. The avo is their selling point - so good, so perfectly ripe. Fresh squeezed OJ. Fresh! Double Yum! Make sure to get it large and ...get your own. Sunny outdoor seating. and bring CASH! read more

Ummm..."Best Breakfast Burrito Ever". Usually there is a really long line here and the temptation might be to say "F*ck It" I'm going to VG's but you know that isn't the right move. There is something about the snasauge they use that is just amazing. I like that they are pretty generous with the avocado and usually friendly even with a massive line out the door. Fresh O.J. is also a plus. Sometimes they can be a bit stingy with the salsa which is a minor issue and completely tolerable considering they are essentially selling crack in a tortilla, yeah it is that good and addicting. Tastiness all the way around. RrL read more

Cashier was very nice, got there about 30 minutes before closing. She took our order but the other employees looked somewhat bothered. Frys where burnt and super oily. Burger was great. Maybe next time it's better to say will be closing soon. Thanks to the cashier for her kindness. read more

One of my all time favorites, partially because I grew up going here, but daaaaammmn! Can you beat a HUGE breakfast for such a cheap price?!?! I absolutely love their breakfast potatoes, which are baked and then fried (I think?) with cheese, onions, and peppers. So good! Almost everything is big enough to split. The breakfast burritos are GIGANTIC. I'm talking Chipotle-sized and then some. To be fair to the other reviews, this is just down and dirty cheap breakfast. Don't expect your world to be rocked by some far out culinary inventions - it's just eggs. But it's cheap, portion sizes are generous, you can see the beach from the patio, and it's almost always perfect weather for sitting outdoors! In my opinion, you can't go wrong. read more

If you are a lover of breakfast burritos like I am, Pipes Cafe is a must visit. I'm glad there's a place that is willing to specialize in this underrated breakfast item. It's difficult to screw up a breakfast burrito, it's just eggs and then whatever else you can stuff in a tortilla. But, it's difficult to make a breakfast burrito truly memorable. Pipes Cafe accomplishes that. Something about the sausage used by Pipes is special, and it mixes fantastically with the eggs. The salsa used is great, and clearly fresh and homemade. I've also really enjoyed the bacon they use. The portions are very generous, and you will leave here full. The service is atrocious however, and it is magnified by the crowds that are drawn here on weekends. It's definitely not service with a smile. If you're between coming to Pipes and going to Roberto's for a breakfast burrito, I think it's a no brainer that you'd best drive to this great Cardiff establishment. read more

Ridiculously sized breakfast burritos. Probably 7 eggs in there. And yes, they are delicious! The perfect brunch after a morning in the water. If I lived around these parts, I'd be here all the time. I tried the #2. I'm told adding potatoes to the #1 is perfect. Can't add more than has already been mentioned. Just wanted to throw my 5 stars in there! read more

The best little haunt to eat at while in town, for some simple, filling breakfast food. Cheesy Eggs! Potatoes! and English Muffins! It's called the Little Breakfast, and it's perfectly made. If that's not enough, take it a notch higher with that plate plus Bacon! and French Toast! The breakfast burritos are bomb, as is their coffee. Busy place, so be prepared to wait a while to order in line. They're pretty quick at that cash register, though. Cheap, good eats. Always makes a stomach happy! read more

I love this place! They have HUGE awesome breakfast burritos (try adding avocado)! If you're a light eater, you may be able to share one. Just remember to get there before 3PM, they close early! With outdoor seating and home-made muffins, what else can u ask for?? read more

It was such a beautiful Saturday, we decided to drive up the coast to enjoy the day. We had my dog with us, and decided to go check Pipes out because it looked dog friendly (every other table on the patio - had a dog!). The menu wasn't fancy and prices were reasonable, but overall...the Food was great, service was quick, and very dog friendly! I like the fact it had a coffee stand as well, so I got my burger fix and my caffeine fix. Great area. A definite must check out if in the Cardiff Area for breakfast. read more

Oh how I miss Pipes. We used to live in Carlsbad, and damn... there's more than a few mornings where I get in the car and wish I could go get a Big Breakfast with French Toast. The only negative things anyone can say is that it gets crowded, and its cash only. Its by no means gourmet, but for the price, you can't beat it, and what they put on your plate is always fresh, tasty and consistent. Get there early or later (for lunch) and get a burger, which is a much-overlooked gem on the menu. read more

Pipes is an amazing little hole-in-the-wall style eatery. This is predominately a breakfast place (they close at 3pm) As everyone else has said, their breakfast burritos are amazing. They have a daily special usually consisting of some combination of eggs+potatoes+pancakes / french toast for about $6 or $7 - which is also usually a safe bet. I've only ordered lunch once here (chicken salad), but it was no where near as good as the breakfast items, so once was enough. The portions are huge. You could pretty much split anything on the menu between two people and still eat well. Also, as others have noted there is a coffee bar out on the deck, so if you're still a little fuzzy in the mornings, you can straighten yourself out with a variety of coffee drinks. Here's the important things to know if you will be eating here: -CASH ONLY. They don't accept cards, but there is an ATM inside. -The weekends are extremely crowded - the line is ALWAYS at least 12 deep and often times a lot worse. You might want to spend the time scoping the deck for a table. If you see one opening up, send a representative from your group over to sit at it while you order your food from the counter. If you have a group larger than 6-8 people you will have a real hard time sitting together. -Parking is extremely limited, esp. on the weekends. If there's no spots on the street, use the parking lot across the street. read more

Shhhhh...secret...come here on a weekday morning. Weekends are for the birds. No line, neighborhood, staff isn't flustered, people are nice, etc. If I could get myself out of bed earlier, an excellent morning would consist of a surf and Pipes scramble before work. Good coffee cart on the patio. The girl seems to know everyone's name...except mine. Considering wearing name tag. read more

So I happened to stumble upon a recommendation for Pipes Cafe when I was perusing Surfline.com's travel info section for the Cardiff/Swamis area. Per Surfline, Pipes Cafe is theeee place to go for some post-surfing grub, and I have to say, I fully agree. The cafe is right across the train tracks from the San Elijo campgrounds. It's a no fuss, quaint little place with CHEAP food. I was amazed that an egg sandwich was only $3.50. That naturally lead me to believe the quality or just plain taste of the food would be horrific but no- it was quite tasty. It's really quite amazing how much food you can get for the price, some of the bfast platters include, eggs, bacon, english muffin, french toast, and potatoes I think. That's a boatload of food yo! My breakfast burrito with eggs, cheese, green chile and cilantro (I added avocado, I highly recommend following my suit) was phenomenal, and GINORMOUS. I was nothing short of starving and borderline hypothermic after 2 hrs of surfing when I rolled into Pipes Cafe, and I still only managed to take down half that damn burrito, it must've been 6 inches in girth. It did bring me back from the living dead though so amen to that sista. So kids- in conclusion, great spot to grab some grub and coffee either before or after surfing (just make sure to wait 2 hrs if you eat before you surf!). read more

"Casual" doesn't begin to describe the open, laid-back vibe of this place, with its surfer chic decor and paper plate table service. "You gonna hang, brother, or you want that to go?" is about as formal as it got here the morning my missus and I visited. Extremely familiar comfort food served in beyond-satisfying portions; French toast, English muffin, AND potatoes on the same plate? Check. Eggs ordered over-easy and served just right? Check again. Friendly dogs on the patio outside, hoping for a little nibble of that crispy bacon strip you can't quite finish? Again, check! Breakfast potatoes (home fries or O'Brien, however you wish to call them -- cubed spuds grilled with onions and bell peppers) are a breakfast must have most mornings when I eat out, and they're too often rationed out like truffles. Not so at Pipes; your plate fairly bows under the weight of the portion here. There's a little heat to the taters, too, more than just black pepper that hits the right contrast to the starchiness of the side. Be sure to save time to visit nearby San Elijo estuary, to burn off some of that breakfast! read more

Anywhere that consistently has a line has to be good is my theory on eateries. Pipes has a line before they open that wraps down the sidewalk by 9a on weekends. You can call ahead for pick up. Muffins run out fast. Everything I've tried is good. Good coffee cart available separately so you can divide and conquer the lines. The Big breakfast can easily be shared by 2 and a child. Good value. read more

Pipes Cafe - Updated menu - American Near Me - Cardiff, California

It's literally been decades that I have frequented this spot. I am writing with great gratitude for this place. They have kept it OG North County and I could not be happier. I live downtown San Diego now but the kind, happy, crew here is still super rad. Special shout out to the coffee dude! read more

You can't go wrong with this place! They have awesome food at unreal prices. The portions are huge so be prepared to eat a lot and make sure to come hungry. I love to get the big breakfast with either pancakes or French toast. When I'm not feeling like eating such a big meal I get their açaí bowl. They have good coffee also and refills are free. Overall pipes truly rocks and totally worth a try if you're in the Cardiff area!! read more

Pipes Café is one of our go to breakfast spots. They always give you large portions, so you never go back hungry. Sometimes we'll even order the Large Breakfast and split it between the wife and me. Also they really know how to make good pancakes. If I'm not with the family in the morning after a surf session and really hungry, I'll do a strike mission at Pipes. Hanging on the patio, eating great food, and having coffee doesn't get much better. read more

The only things that suck about Pipes is the line and the lack of parking. Nothing like a Pipes breakfast burrito after a dawn patrol. Servings are large and prices are cheap and food is AWESOME!!! Great menu / selection. Fun local pictures of the Cardiff surf scene read more

Very local and casual place for breakfast food was good. Relatively fast service. Friendly people and lots of pets