It's been a few years since I've been to this iconic restaurant located in downtown Encinitas. Parking was very difficult on a Saturday around noon. Had to park across the 101 and trek it. Walking in there were no customers dining in but a couple of people on their outside patio at the entrance. The server was really nice and took our orders. We ordered the option C: A plain Manhole sized pancake with eggs & bacon and the Tuna sandwich w/ fries. Food arrived fast and was given salsa as well (which was delicious!). The manhole sized pancake was huge as expected and couldn't fit on the oval plate. The scrambled eggs were hanging off the smaller plate it was on with the bacon. The tuna sandwich was impressive. It was in what looked like slices of Texas Toast bread. The food was good and glad we didn't give up on the parking situation. They are still cash-only and thankfully an ATM inside. They also take Venmo. read more

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Old school American diner in all the best ways, diner coffee, pancakes are HUGE and fluffy, and yes they still have biscuits and gravy on the menu! Team there will get you food fast. It feels like a jump back to breakfast out with your parents in the 80s or 90s...put your phones away, be ready to pay cash, and it's still ok to enjoy stacking all the jellies into a pyramid even if your in your 30s or 40s with your own kids. Hope y'all enjoy one of the best classic breakfast diners in north county San Diego read more

They say on there website they are open from 7:00am to 2:00pm, don't believe it.. I got there at 7:30 and 1 person was already waiting, he said he brings his newspaper because they always open late. I waited until 8:00 and there still was no sign of them opening so I left and by that time there was another person waiting. This to me is so unprofessional and rude and no way to run a business. I was on my way to see my Grandson and couldn't wait any longer, do they think their time is more important than others? read more

I've been coming here for years. Just a simple place with good food and good prices. The owner and his staff are always super friendly and I never feel rushed. I feel comfortable sitting and enjoying my meal. It's good to have OG places like this still around. read more

Had breakfast here with the hubby today around 12ish on a Saturday. I got item B: 2 eggs (with green chile added) sausage, bacon, potatoes (with cheese added) and English muffin. Food took about 30 minutes, kind of a long time but we got to see what everyone else was ordering as it came from the kitchen and chit chat. My husband ordered the chicken fried steak with gravy, English muffin and potatoes with tomatoes, bacon, cheddar cheese. They messed up on my husbands order and put the gravy on the chicken fried steak when he wanted it on the side and forgot his green onions...but he said it was still good. I can attest to that. Food was good. Was craving potatoes with cheese on top so this hit the spot. Gravy was good with the English muffin...Super filling. Glad I had cash on me but looks like they take Venmo also. My major complaint is the bathroom. The toilet seat was up and it was super gross and the toilet needs some attention and cleaning. Kinda ruined my appetite, good thing I already ate. My husband warned me, too lol... read more

Potato Shack Cafe - 2 Egg with green chile, bacon, potatoes with cheese, English muffin, sausage - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Cute diner vibe with manhole sized pancake. Potatoes are worth the trip! It's nice there's a small parking lot on the side as well, if you're lucky you can snag a spot read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Manhole pancake - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

New spot I tried for breakfast, the food was comfortable. The omelet was the best thing I ordered. Service was below average. Had to call my server multiple times to ask for this or that. Overall 3 stars. read more

Good place to have breakfast and lunch. I ordered the two egg breakfast with 2 bacon and sausage patty with wheat toast and potato patties, bc they don't have hash browns. Breakfast was good with plenty of food. But Potato Shack should invest in hash browns. Wife got biscuits and gravy with steamed eggs and home fry potatoes. The service was very good and friendly. The waitress brought us salsa which was very good. Overall, I recommend this place for breakfast. read more

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We stopped at the Potato Shack for breakfast after a fun weekend in San Diego. I had French toast and bacon. My wife had the BLT and LOVED it. Our friend got the "Manhole-size" pancake. The food quality was fantastic and we all really enjoyed it. As a person who grew up in Encinitas, it was great to be back again and to enjoy some high quality food with good friends. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Great food - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Went here after surfing, amazing place Food: tastes great and good variety for breakfast. Tried the patty melt and potatoe pancakes, I liked it Service: friendly and kind waiter. He was so attentive to helping us Ambiance: we sat outside, which was nice and sunny. Definitely a place to go with others and enjoy your time read more

Food was good, but what kind of business uses a personal Venmo account as your only form of payment besides cash?

Right off the main street towards the sough end of Encinitas, this little gem serves great food with really good service. Today i had the turkey burger and homemade fries. Fantastic and not bad for you. It is all so fresh, can't imagine how good breakfast must be... bit I'm sure other Yelpers have posted so always trust Yelp. I guess my favorite part of this place is easy parking and its quiet. Good little find! read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Perfect lunch spot! - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We have a great meal here, great food, ambiance and service and owner. we will be back ;)

We hadn't been here for years, and it was fun to come back for Sunday brunch after church. Limited street parking. Indoor and outdoor seating, you'll get seated faster if you say "first available". We were seated outside where luckily the sun was out warming us up. Breakfast and lunch served all day. I didn't catch our server's name,but she was very attentive and busily dashing from table to table to make sure all her customers were satisfied. We ordered a steak and eggs, a BLTA with fries, eggs over hard with bacon, and huevos rancheros with a side manhole choc chip pancake. The salsa on the side of the huevos rancheros was sufficiently spicy but the huevos rancheros themselves were rather bland. All other meals were yummy and satisfying. read more

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Walked in this morning. Waited for 5 minutes to get seated, just awkwardly standing there. Dude comes out of the restroom, laughs, says "happens every time." Proceeds to look at us. Not offer us to sit down or grab menus for us. Goes and starts talking to the cooks in the back. Clearly this place doesn't want our business, and it explains why no one was eating there. read more

Potato shack is an american breakfast restaurant that serves a variety of typical breakfast foods such as pancakes, omelets, eggs benedicts, etc. They also have bottomless potatoes depending on your order! Yum. For those who may not feel enticed for breakfast food, they also have a lunch menu with sandwiches and others! Important to note they everything is cash/venmo only which is a bummer for me. Service was great! Our waiter checked on us plenty of times. There are both indoor and outdoor seating as well. Park on the streets! read more

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This restaurant had your classic dinner vibe and good food to match! The manhole pancakes are no exaggeration and are absolutely HUGE. I came with a very big group and the staff was super accommodating. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Breakfast C with Chocolate Chip Pancake - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Such a cute place and excited I found it. Their biscuits and gravy hit the spot and their potatoes were perfectly seasoned. If I am back in the area, I will definitely go again. Definitely worth it. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

I've been going to this restaurant forever. 'Great atmosphere and good food. The booths have high wood walls and privacy. The tables in the middle of the dining area are very thick and unique. No other restaurants have tables like these. The food is very good and the waiter is 'cranky.' We banter every time I go there. 'Fun. If you like pancakes, give it a try. Only one cake. Very thick and it covers the entire plate. The only downside is the photo gallery on the wall: USC Trojan photos. I'm a Blue and Gold Bruin fan. read more

Meeting with family, most from San Diego County. All the dishes looked delicious. My chicken sandwich with kitchen fries was outstanding. Talked with Scott who knows the family from years of patronage. Beautiful day to sit outside.Steve and Randy hadn't arrived yet when photo was taken. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

We arrived at 10 on a Saturday, they were extremely busy and short staffed. However, we were seated in 20 minutes and got our food in 15! The waiter was extremely nice and apologized for the delay. The food was a bit on the pricier side, with the exception of the massive pancake, but delicious overall. I would definitely return in the future. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

What a wonderful little breakfast spot! It's got a cozy interior and even more tables out front. Even though it was a busy holiday morning, we got our food order in quick and it came out nice and fast. The service was top notch with everyone being super friendly and very efficient. The wonderful lady helping us even split our shared plate of biscuits and gravy into two separate plates to make it easier and we didn't even ask for it! Amazing service! The food was just as good. AmazIng thick pancake with tons of mixins. The potatoes were seasoned perfectly and the best part, the gravy. I could eat a whole bowl of just that gravy it was that good! If you want a great breakfast with great service and a great price, come here for sure! read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Chocolate Chip Pancake/Blueberry Pancake - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Food is great, and large portions. So many options to suit most diet restrictions. Indoor and outdoor seating. Service is quick and efficient. Breakfast , brunch or lunch. CASH ONLY ATM ON SITE. Awesome local spot for friends, teams and family to meet. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Mahi sandwich and club . Optional sides fruit, broccoli. And always great potato's. - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

This was half of the breakfast burrito. It was delicious, we sat outside on the patio and enjoyed the morning. Service was excellent and our coffee was full. Love this place and will definitely be back! read more

Potato Shack Cafe - This was half of the breakfast burrito - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

We tried this spot out on a Saturday around 11am so my fiancé could refuel post long bike ride. The wait was relatively quick for walk ins (15min) even though the place was packed! I enjoyed the omelet and potatoes, a well sized portion of brunch. The salsa was a perfect add just like our waiter recommended. My partner got the eggs and bacon with a side pancake and it was HUGE! Definitely enough for a party of at least four. We're glad to have stumbled upon this spot in Encinitas - it will definitely be in the rotation when we visit again. PSA - I believe this is either a cash only or Venmo payment spot so plan accordingly! read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Veggie Omelet - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Food is great for breakfast. However, you have to bring cash or use Venmo. Place has to level up read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Dining room. Front door - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

I got the Breakfast Burrito and it was fire I also got the breakfast Sandwich the other day and it was very good and hit the spot! read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Breakfast Sandwhich with Sourdough Bread, Pepper jack Cheese, over easy eggs, Bacon and homeaide salsa - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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We were the only party in the restaurant. I ordered eggs Benedict and my son ordered scrambled eggs. Both orders came with breakfast potatoes. The potatoes were cold. We ordered an order of orange juice and an order of coffee. The meal with the tip was over $60.00. We will not be back. read more

Overpriced. Have to pay cash or Venmo some random guy's account. Wished we had seen that written on the front of the menu. And of course, there's an ATM that is inside the restaurant and for $2.50 you can take cash out (well only some cards work). Sorry to say, we won't be back. And my eggs were not cooked properly. The manhole size pancake is impressive however. Service was great. read more

My new favorite "comfort" breakfast spot in town. Been twice in the last month. I love biscuits and gravy but rarely order it because of, well, health. But these are SOOO GOOOD. Breakfast burrito was also a hit. Great service in a great location. Also super homey inside, while the outside tables are perfect on a summer morning! read more

Potato shack cafe is a classic breakfast spot. Servers are moving fast and turning tables with quick service. The food is a phenomenal value in Encinitas, you probably won't find a cheaper breakfast. When they say man hole cover pancakes they aren't jokes! These pancakes are big enough to feed three or four people and they taste good! The potato patties were delicious. The biscuits and gravy were just okay, nothing special. So if you come here go with the pancakes and don't get very many! read more

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Love their pancakes! Amazing portions! Definitely need to share, great for groups and casual dining with friends

Saw this spot I've never been to as I was taking a leisure drive. Pulled off to give it a shot and was left disappointed. Eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, with biscuits and gravy. Eggs-scrambled but cheap carton eggs that tasted gross. Bacon-pretty okay, hard to f that up Sausage- no flavor Potatoes- tasted old and full of vegetable oil, no crunch of fluff just stale. (Which I was sad about since I stopped because I love potatoes and they're bottomless. If you know me (which you don't) to not get seconds is a huge tell.) Lastly the biscuits and gravy- bland, small, substance lacking. Nothing to the biscuits they just kinda disappear and have no taste. All and all, good location and nice guy at the front. But food, very disappointing. read more

Love the old school lodge diner atmosphere. Pretty decent food and the cinnamon apple pancake was my favorite thing. Also had good speedy service. read more

After not being back there for over 25 years I was so excited to taste it was the same as my memory of it BEST POTATOES great Omelette And Scott the original owner was so nice Go there for breakfast read more

We were looking forward to a nice breakfast. Service was good. Our waitress was nice. The food however was not good. We ordered 4 different items 2 breakfast and 2 lunch. Not one thing had any seasoning. The pancake was huge but very dry. Fries were brunt. Very overpriced paid over $100 for 4 plates and a lot of it was left. Overall would not recommend. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Dry pancake, burnt fries - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Good food. Good old school vibe throughout. It felt a bit pricey for breakfast, but it's north county San Diego, so not terribly surprised. Quick food, efficient service. With seating indoors and out, the weather won't so you from checking them out. read more

WOW! Such a refreshing change of pace from the Instagram-able trendy breakfast places. Potato Shack was delicious!!! Man hole sized pancake that is perfectly cooked, chewy, and fluffy. We ordered the Apple Cinnamon pancake and it was not too sweet. The potato patties were crispy and so yummy as well. Family friendly and just a great breakfast spot! read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Delicious Apple Cinnamon Pancake, French Toast, and a couple of Potato Patties! - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

On my last visit to Encinitas, I walked all over the place and came upon this cute lil cafe'. I decided on my last day that I would have breakfast here and so glad I did. This is a real neighborhood joint that has been in business since 1983 catering to the local crowd. No fancy food or upscale dining, just a very comfortable and inviting atmosphere with friendly employees. Serving up both breakfast and lunch with a great menu. They only take CASH but should you forget, they have an ATM inside the cafe' for your use. There is both indoor and outdoor dining and they are dog friendly. I enjoyed a typical breakfast of eggs, homemade potatoes (what they are known for) sausage, toast and a tasty hot chocolate. My breakfast was served hot and delicious. I really enjoyed my dining experience here and felt right at home. I will definitely return here again next time I am in town for more comfort food. read more

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Food is always delicious when we come; one of the best chicken fried steaks you can get in San Diego. Ask for some salsa for the potatoes too, it's incredible. Service is always fantastic, everyone is super attentive, vibes and ambiance are always fantastic. Make sure to bring plenty of cash to pay and tip your server!! read more