Rainbow Cafe has that old school diner feel that is harder to fake than people realize. Nothing fancy, and honestly that is part of the whole appeal. You walk in, sit down, and the place seems to understand exactly what it is there to do. The food is good, the portions are solid, and it is the kind of spot where you can actually relax for a minute instead of feeling like the table is on a timer. It feels like somewhere your coffee might get refilled before you even realize it is low, which is a very specific comfort. I love a polished brunch place as much as the next person, but sometimes you just want breakfast that tastes like breakfast and not like a chef had a branding meeting about it. This hits that lane perfectly. The room has that familiar diner rhythm too, where there is a little movement, a little clatter, and somehow it all still feels calm. my mom would love this place, which may be the highest compliment I can give any breakfast spot in Auburn. Go when you want good comfort food and zero nonsense, especially for breakfast. read more

Looks like the local spot has changed management/ownership. Wouldn't really mind so much except they replaced their menu with breakfast only items and close at 2 pm because they've changed over a bunch of staff. Ordered steak and eggs which was described as chuck steak. They mean ground hamburger meat but when the waitress asked if that's what I meant, i responded by pointing at the menu item and saying "the steak?" $17 for a big hamburger patty, burned inedible hashbrowns, and burned toast. My mother asked not to include certain ingredients and they came out anyway too. Took a long time which I would expect for how I order it thinking it was a steak but pretty egregious for a hamburger patty. They've recently painted but took down all their personal effects so it looks very clinical and awkward. Does not help they are having a severe small fly infestation so not comfortable ambiance to sit in for chatting, like their lunch lulls used to be good for. Sounds like they're asking for some leniency in transition but they might as well close. I won't be coming back until I hear from someone else it's worth my time an read more

Rainbow Cafe - Hamburger was fine. Couldn't stomach the eggs after trying the hashbrowns. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Auburn, Washington

Rainbow Café in Auburn is such a gem! We went on a Monday morning for breakfast, and from the moment we walked in, the place had a lively and welcoming vibe. It was very clean and quite busy, which is always a good sign that the food is worth it. I ordered the veggie scramble, and it did not disappoint. It came out quickly, piping hot, and beautifully presented. The portion was generous, and the price was very reasonable for the quality and amount of food. My nephew ordered the bear pancakes, and they were a total hit, not only were they adorable, but he loved them so much he kept talking about them the rest of the day. Watching him enjoy his meal made the whole experience even better. The only downside was the service. Our server felt a bit dry and not very engaged. My 2.5-year-old nephew doesn't eat meat, so I asked if he could have fries or something else instead. She said it would cost extra, which I completely understood, but in the end, the fries never came. It left the interaction feeling a little rushed and dismissive. Hopefully, it was just an off day. That aside, Rainbow Café really delivers everything you want from a classic breakfast spot: hearty, well-prepared food, generous portions, kid-friendly options, and a clean, bustling atmosphere. I'd absolutely come back again and recommend it, especially for families with kids, because those bear pancakes are unforgettable! read more

Rainbow Cafe - Veggie Omelette - Full Order - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Auburn, Washington

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Have passed this place 1 million times and have never stopped. Met a friend here for a birthday "brunch "and was pleasantly surprised. Initially couldn't find my friend because she was in the lounge and I was in the restaurant. They have 2 entrances on two different streets.So if you're going to meet someone there let them know if you're going to meet in the restaurant or the lounge. They serve all day breakfast. My friend got a veggie omelette and breakfast potatoes and really enjoyed both of them. I got the turkey sandwich and mashed potatoes with gravy. It was exactly what it was supposed to be and was good. I think I was supposed to get another side, but we ate in the lounge and the bartender was very nice but was not really a waiter. Prices were right in range with any other sit down casual restaurant. It was just under $40 with tax and tip. Definitely want to come back and try some other things. Would like to try eggs Benedict, cornedbeef hash, BLT and prime rib dinner. They have trivia in the lounge on Saturday nights from 7 to 9 PM so I'm definitely gonna do that in the near future ! read more

Rainbow Cafe - Veggie Omelet w/ breakfast potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Auburn, Washington

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Service is really bad, been sitting at my table for 20 minutes and haven't had service, everyone around me has been served and given their orders and yet I'm still waiting for someone to walk up to our table and take our order. read more

Quiet atmosphere with very nice wait staff. The seats are older booths. There is back room for group gatherings. The coffee was hot and black. It was not super strong or burnt. The bread on the meatloaf was thin cut. The meatloaf and brown gravy that comes with it had a good flavor. We sat and talked for about 5 hours. They brought us our own pot of coffee. It was a very enjoyable evening. read more

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Erica is wonderful-she makes my husband and I feel at home the moment we enter. Food is great and plentiful. I'm disabled and my husband is retired so $$ are fixed. Great Happy Hour Highly recommend read more

Cheryl was very friendly and a great waitress. The Ruben was good. Onion rings were crunchy and awesome. The fries were soft and bland. The price was average. Blue Moon draft was delicious. read more

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Love this diner in Auburn. Don't come here often but when I do, it's packed with people coming for their breakfast menu (even after 12pm!)- the pancakes are huge! I enjoy their BLT and French dip. Love the hand cut fries. Boyfriend always orders their hot turkey sandwich, extra gravy. read more

Rainbow Cafe - French Dip Sandwich and Hot Turkey Sandwich- extra gravy. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Auburn, Washington

We went to Rainbow Café today for breakfast and tried the Country-Style Chicken Fried Steak with gravy, eggs, and hashbrowns. The food was just okay -- nothing special, and I wouldn't really recommend it. We also tried their pancakes, and those were actually really good -- soft, fluffy, and cooked just right. It took about 30 minutes to get our food, so the service was pretty slow. The place itself is nice and cozy, but overall, the experience was mixed -- great pancakes, average main dish, and slow service. read more

Good diner food. Wanted breakfast and saw this mom and pop place was open near by so stopped in. No wait, but they were pretty busy. Ordered fairly quickly. My partner got a bloody Mary and he said it was delicious. Perfect spice and flavor. We ordered a Denver omelet, and a short stack, as well as corn beef hash. Everything was good. The omelet was packed, and fluffy. The pancakes were delicious buttermilk. Overall, we were happy with the food, service was also good. I want to go back and try their desserts, they sounded so good. This place seems to have been around a long time and has some loyal customers, I can see why. If you're in the area definitely stop in. Decent prices, good food and service. read more

Atmosphere is inviting and relaxing. Both Allie & Nicole have served us and were fantastic! My husband & I eat here frequently- highly recommend read more

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This is what people who only half remember what corned beef hash is make. When I arrived the wait staff was 3 feet outside the front door smoking and after I stood at the greeting station one of them opened the door to tell me to sit wherever. A third staff member came from the back after a bit and took my order, she was nice. Cool. I don't recommend. Food is disappointing and 2/3rds of the staff would rather make the dining area smell like cigarettes than acknowledge people coming in. read more

Rainbow Cafe - Corned beef hash. Sort of. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Auburn, Washington

The customer service is good. But.... The restaurant had flies and gnats buzzing around. The fish in the fish and chips was rubbery and smelled funny. The coleslaw was yellow and old. The fries were cold and seemed like they had been sitting around awhile. I wouldn't go back. I hate to say that but I just can't. I really wanted to like this place, as it's a bit of an institution but it's a hard no for me. read more

Waitress at bar was so sweet and kind. The food was horrible. Burnt cold cold greesy bacon the bread was burnt and hard and the fries where burnt and cold. I didnt want to upset the sweet bartender but when i payed full price for 2 bites of my blt ( no lettuce) n fries i told her . She said tell the cook. There is no reason to serve cold burnt bacon. I hurt my mouth trying to bite it. I spit both bites out. I ate 2 fries that where not as burned as rest of them. Worse place ever to eat. BLT sounded so good when i saw it on the menu. Came out nasty read more

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This really is a hidden gem. Food is great, prices are reasonable and it's always a nice friendly atmosphere. Potato salad is homemade and awesome and the servings are good size. I always go home with leftovers. read more

I ordered 222 Breakfast today. The service was great, no problems with that. The breakfast was served hot but the main issue was the taste. The bacon tasted old like old grease. The scrambled eggs were fine and the pancakes were huge. Plenty of butter and syrup. All would have been great if there won't the smell of old grease on the bacon and tasted bad. The prices were also high. I will not return. read more

Freaking nasty. The meatloaf is so incredibly over seasoned I couldn't eat it. The gal working serving in the evenings is so unprofessional and rude. Sad to say we won't be back. read more

Been going here for decades. Same old Rainbow. Good food, service, and reasonable price considering inflation. Parking in back, and never a bad experience. read more

Food is okay, is a diner-esque experience and it takes a while to get your food, my colleagues and I had an hour lunch and took about 30-40 minutes to get our food. Ambiance is well...different. Not quite sure about this spot to be fair, maybe it'll improve in the future read more

Best food and drinks ever. Outdoor seating. Pet friendly. Best thing is fresh made food made from scratch i.e. soups, burgers, prime rib to fish. Not frozen. And Tina is the best waitress:) read more

Oh my goodness! Wow, went to the Rainbow cafe with my niece and nephew for breakfast. The food and service (make that kiss sound), Extraordinary! I have heard from friends the Rainbow Cafe is one of their favorite Restaurant's in Auburn! Service is on point while you are there, they have many customers yet they don't rush you. Food is prepared perfectly! Be prepared, there will be a line of customers because this is one Popular if not "The Most Popular Restaurants in Auburn!" Yes this is verified by everyone I raved to.... I am new to Auburn and heard MANY people recommend this wonderful slice of Heaven! Food is fresh, delicious and you get the perfect amount for me to eat and take home a snack later. . Yummy! Breakfast which I had both visits, just guessing lunch and Dinner will be just as wonderful. Just know this secret is getting out and more people are heading to the Rainbow Cafe in Auburn because they've heard ITS EXTRAORDINARY! I love the feel and vibe of the Rainbow Cafe, it's eclectic, clean, fun and everyone seems to be enjoying their meals as much as we were. Don't hesitate, prepare to wait because it's VERY Popular and food is DELICIOUS, Service is busy because somehow this extraordinary secret is OUT! read more

We've livd in the area for several years and finally decided to give this a try. It's pretty much what it advertises itself as, a diner. We went for breakfast and the restaurant was full. However, it's a little expensive for a two egg, bacon and hash brown breakfast and the food is just average. there were three of us and the price was $65. That's a lot of money for breakfast. We might go back but there are other places who serve the same food for less money read more

It was the first visit for my family and I after church the food was good. The service was good. The ambience overall it was a good experience for us. We will return. read more

Rainbow Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Auburn, Washington

Cheryl absolutely made our day, even while being pretty significantly understaffed and swamped with the Lions Club. Our coffees and Bloody Mary came out quick and she made sure to check on us as often as possible. The meal was filling and everything you could hope for in diner food. I don't think I've ever seen such beautiful hash browns, they brought a tear to my eye! The other patron in the cafe had nothing but great things to say about her tenured position as a regular, she made sure we knew how much of a rock start Cheryl is (which was already evident based off the way she was handling the floor and banquet event). The staff here are seasoned professionals and I hope they get the support they deserve. read more

waitress was unenthusiastic to say the least, she was short and unconcerned , and there potatoes were black, had to be from super old grease and I got an omelette, tasted fair, but I got sick from the food, upset stomach, the whole nine yards. Does seem clean and push semi old product. I wasn't satisfied, will not go back! read more

The waitresses were sweet and polite. The food however, was not so good. My mom's fruit bowl was just mushy old fruit that should've been thrown away. My burger dip was lukewarm fries, cold, and what was supposed to be. Au jus was just water no flavor whatsoever. The waitresses were wonderful like I said. Been an Auburn resident all my life in the rainbow was used to be someplace that was gratifying for home time food not anymore. Will be going to another place in Auburn That's an institution as well. Sorry to the newer owners, but you gotta fix something if you want people in those seats. read more

Great experience for us. Went for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised since it had been a number of years since our last visit. Omelet was excellent and so was the service. Quality food at a fair price. The family was pleased and we will go back for sure. read more

Really old school Cafe. . Been in Auburn a long time. Has great diner type menu, large serving & everything always good 5 Stars

We are a mixed race couple. Waitress only paid us attention when the white person walked in the door. So we left.

If you're looking for a solid meal and appreciate small businesses, Rainbow Cafe is the place for you. I enjoyed breakfast here this morning. The owner greeted me and thanked me when I was getting ready to leave. My server was both friendly and efficient. I ordered the veggie omelette with hashbrowns and toast. I was glad that I went with the half order, as it was more than enough for me. The hashbrowns were nice and crispy on top; everything else was good too. Two minor complaints--the booths were a bit too well worn, and the restroom floor was sticky. All and all, a good experience. read more

Rainbow Cafe - Veggie omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Auburn, Washington

A staple in the Auburn community for years. It has been quite some time since I visited last. Most people on a midweek breakfast were at the modernized bar in the back. I choose a seat in the front, for old times sake. The breakfast menu is pretty extensive with a special on the board. I chose the chicken fried steak and eggs. It was great! The waitress was friendly and took care of me throughout. The place hasn't changed much, just solid good food. read more

Unfortunately I was not impressed by the food. I ordered an omelette with hash browns. It was very watery and had no flavor.

Always fast and good service from the staff. The drinks are nice and strong. Also try their cobb salad, is very good and large portions.

Still have great food here, but the prices have gone up quite a bit since inflation. I understand prices going up some, but 30 bucks for two eggs and bacon breakfast meals is a little ridiculous. The bartenders make good drinks! read more

This is about as old school as a diner gets. Charming in an 80's kind of way. Breakfast is best, though there is a lounge. read more

Rainbow Cafe - a row of parked cars on a city street - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Auburn, Washington

I really like the menu here; they seem to have something for everyone. Coming here for lunch on most visits, the daily special is always the go-to choice. The staff is efficient, the seating Covid-friendly, and the facility is clean. Parking is always a challenge; street-front parking is always hit & miss, but the parking lot out back can also be fairly full. At least you can walk over from the local Safeway if needed. The Reuben is by far their best selection; perfect flavor, moisture, and quantity - done to perfection! read more

Rainbow Cafe - Any place that welcomes you with a masked-up black bear has to be alright in my book! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Auburn, Washington

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When around 1 pm on a Wednesday. There were 2 people already seated. Waited in the entrance trying to get seated. The waitress was in the back evidently. She came out her hiding space a couple of times, saw me and went back to her hiding space. No acknowledgement, no "I'll be right with you"....nothing. Stood there with my wife for 15 minutes patiently until my wife wanted to leave. Not sure if it's a race thing? I've heard from a few of my black friends that they are un-friendly towards minorities there. Guess it's true read more

It took me 30 minutes to get just 2 pancakes to takeout. That is crazy. The restaurant was not business too. Just a few people sitting not packed whatsoeve. I don't live far. But will never go again read more

Welcome and seat yourself! Choices of breakfast, lunch and dinner. We stopped in for breakfast. Friendly staff and a little history of the city of Auburn on the walls. They have a banquet area for larger events. It's that mom and pops joint. Street parking and more parking behind the building. Big servings. Fresh fruit! read more

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