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Rae's Restaurant

3.9 (799 reviews)
Closed • 6:30 am - 2:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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Rae's Restaurant Diners Restaurant Photos

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RAE'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Rae's Restaurant

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Reviews With Photos

Anthony K.

Rae's Diner in Santa Monica is one of those spots that just feels iconic the second you walk in. Hollywood's shot movies and music videos here for years, and you can see why, it's pure classic diner energy. Stopped by for breakfast and got their fried chicken steak with gravy. It was crispy, tender, and the gravy ties it all together. Rae's isn't trying to be anything fancy, it's just a real piece of Santa Monica history that still hits.

Biscuits and Gravy
Erik G.

What I Ordered: -Chicken Fried Steak w/Biscuits and Gravy $13.17 This classic 50's diner is visually pleasing, and the food is excellent - it's so good, I had to write a review! Finding biscuits and gravy with the right texture isn't easy, but theirs are soft, fluffy (almost like pancakes) and smothered in a rich, white gravy. The Chicken Fried Steak came with 3 eggs, cooked perfectly sunny-side up, and had a nice breading. The homestyle potatoes were excellent, but could have used some chili or salsa. Luckily, I asked, and the server kindly brought some over. The salsa wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst either, and it added the perfect amount of spice. The service was attentive from the start; they refilled my water without asking and allowed me to choose any seat, even though I was alone. Rae's exceeded my expectations. The biscuits and gravy and chicken fried steak were both delicious; there wasn't a bad dish. I'll definitely be adding Rae's to my favorite diners. You won't be disappointed here! The diner is visually pleasing, with tasty, affordable food - everything you want in a diner and more!

Edwin A.

I ordered the chicken fried steak with gravy and biscuits, and wow--the portions are huge! You could easily feed a family of three with one order. Great food at an even better price. The meal was delicious, and while there are a few details I'd rather not share publicly, I'd be happy to discuss them directly if the owners reach out. It's a cozy little diner, very family-friendly, and overall a pleasant place to eat. Highly recommend stopping by--it's definitely worth a visit. Also, shoutout to my server, Pedro, who was incredibly professional and made the experience even better. Thanks for reading!

The host
Yolanda A.

I'm still waiting to hear back on the status of my review. I can't believe that anyone would be ok with a staff member being rude to not just one customer but many. I'm so disappointed in the fact that anyone would hire someone like this person.

Great breakfast food hands Down!!!!
Lamarr M.

The food was fantastic, if your a place that's pristine. This not the place for you. It's old and interior and worn. Never in a long time have I found a breakfast place that has great food. I made my order plates were served in about ten minutes. The Denver omelette was fantastic my wife pancakes and eggs with bacon excellent. I had chili on the side to go with my omelette "Oh My". My wife and will be back very soon. The prices are very reasonable.

Biscuits & Gravy Sausage Link and Egg
Tony T.

It's an old school diner which I usually love. But this place ain't it. I sat down and didn't get a menu or attend to until a while later. Not sure if they were understaffed or just slow or both. Food came out fairly quickly for me but the food was kind of bland. The biscuits and gravy maybe came out of a packet. The eggs were not seasoned. I think I might have been better off going to iHop or Denny's

TE W.

I usually only post one- and five-star reviews, but I'll make the odd exception for these older, diner-type restaurants. This one really didn't merit either, but it's still worthy of comment. I'm trying to work my way through some of the notable old-school restaurants in the LA area, while I'm still here, so this was another check mark on the bucket list when I was in the area recently. I've heard from several people that this Unfortunately, this one didn't live up to the hype. It's certainly a historic venue, as it dates to 1958. The turquoise interior/exterior and mid-century mod sign are right out of the space age, and it appears that few upgrades have been made over the years, so it's very authentic. It's been featured in several movies, which at least contributes in part to its reputation, but I've been to several that are far superior in quality. Not great; not terrible - just kind of, meh. And, be forewarned: it's VERY small, so even on a weekday afternoon, be prepared to wait. There is now a small, outdoor seating area, which alleviates the pressure somewhat. I had a breakfast sandwich and pancakes, but honestly, it wasn't anything that I couldn't have made at home. Very basic, fairly small portions - but, on the flip side, the price was right - would have been under $20, but for the mug and the tip. Overall, I think I'd try somewhere else before returning, but I'm glad I did experience it.

The famous 2+2+2. Unchanged in almost 40 Years.
Edwin A.

I've returned to my beloved Rae's after a year away. I'm happy to report that ,despite the new ownership, it seems like the staff has remained unchanged. Rae's has seen some changes in the past year but I'm happy to say the changes have been minimal. The food is still simple and delicious. No frills. Just classic American diner food. One thing that has changed that I always felt was missing from this Classic American Diner was some classic 1950s Doo-Wop music. I am pleased to say the music is finally present and my only complaint about Rae's for the past 37 years has now been addressed. I was originally disappointed with the changes I saw in Rae's at the beginning but after a year under new ownership it does appear that Rae's has kept its charm. Stop reading this review and head down to Rae's already! Just make sure you read all the parking signs before walking away from your car :)

Joe S.

Marie's is a perfect throwback to the LA diners of old. Now sadly few survive. But Rae's is the real deal from architecture to food to vibe. Service was quick event after being seated

Simple kitchen serup
Paul L.

First time visit. Needed a diner experience for an early morning breakfast on the west side, and Rae's did not disappoint. Simple, tasty food, served fast. If I'm ever back in town looking for breakfast on the west side, will surely return.

Cheeseburger Deluxe
Pris S.

Rae's never disappoints and is my favorite diner in LA. I love catching up with the staff and cooks, and the cheeseburger deluxe and fries never disappoints. A gorgeous old school diner with all the charm. I recommend sitting at the counter for the full experience.

Veggie omelet with cheddar cheese and avocado added, a fried jalapeño, sourdough toast and coffee. delicious!

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9 months ago

Straight up diner. Courteous staff. Fast service. Gone here off and on for years. Yelp wants 85 characters but there's nothing more to say.

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5 months ago

Best diner in Los Angeles. Great food and quick service! The employees are really kind.

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I recently rediscovered this place, and it's by far my favorite breakfast spot in Santa Monica…read more The wait staff is friendly and attentive, and there's both indoor and outdoor seating. The back patio is especially lovely; modern yet cozy, with thoughtful decor. The food blends California-fresh ingredients with Turkish and Middle Eastern flair. I especially enjoy the zucchini fritters and sausage patties, and the chicken mango salad is excellent as well. The drink menu is equally fun, with a unique variety of milks like pistachio and walnut, paired with creative beverage options. Weekdays are definitely easier since it's less crowded, but the food is consistently great no matter when you go.

Blue daisy exemplifies an aesthetic, overpriced, and mediocre at best brunch experience. I came on…read morea Sunday around 12 and was seated right away. I was seated outside with a view of a busy road intersection, which made for nice people watching. The menu didn't have any stand-out dishes that you couldn't find at any other brunch place and there were barely any savory vegetarian options. I went with the Napa scramble. The scramble itself was very heavy on the spinach and light on the sun-dried tomatoes, which made for a not great texture and duller flavor. I did appreciate the bites with the creamy, tangy goat cheese. The toast was just ok and the strawberry jam it came with was very runny. I did enjoy the fresh greens on the side that were lightly dressed.

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Santa Monica Marmalade Cafe is a 'small neighborhood' size restaurant. We came in on a Tuesday…read moreevening in time for 3-6pm Happy Hour and were warmly welcomed by the lone front person. (Host, server, bartender, etc.). We started with a HH margarita, sliders, and fried calamari. I was pleasantly surprised by the HH serving size. For our main dinner we ordered spaghetti and meatballs and garlic shrimp linguine. Both pasta dishes were generously sized and delicious. Although there was only one person running the restaurant, we were well attended. Parking in Santa Monica is always challenging. We lucked out with metered street in front. Totally set the positive vibes to our dinner.

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Rae's Restaurant - diners - Updated May 2026

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