Rudford's is one of my dad's favorite restaurants. We went there 3 times during our visit to San Diego. I like the diner feel and the fact that they have so many different options. On one visit, I had a turkey club sandwich, which was huge and delicious. I took half of it back to the hotel & it was eaten on a day when we'd missed breakfast. We also made it in time for the early bird special one day -- a super good deal for $6. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Turkey club - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

Went in knowing it wasn't going to be anything over-the-top, just wanted something reliable. Ordered the French dip and I'd give it a solid 7/10. Good flavor, hit the spot, and did exactly what we needed it to do. Portion size was great for the price too, which always makes it feel worth it. Overall, a dependable late-night option when you just want something satisfying and easy. read more

Service is good, nice atmosphere, easy access, big portions...but not so sure about the two dishes we ordered. It's the first time I've ever ordered a corned beef sandwich that has come with lettuce and tomato or mayonnaise for that matter. I expected corned beef on rye to be corned beef on rye, and add mustard. Don't get me wrong, I ate it and it was OK, just not what I expected. Lettuce, tomato and mayo were on the bottom which made the rye bread a little soggy. The cowboy burger was huge, a little too much barbecue sauce, and the tomato was placed on the bottom of the burger, which made the bottom bone all soggy. Free refills on the fountain soda and iced tea though. read more

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Today is St. Patrick day and I wanted a corned beef sandwich. I called Rudfords and ordered a corned beef sandwich on rye with a side of potato salad for take out. It was ready for me when I arrived in a plastic bag. To my disappointment the sandwich was prepared exactly like a BLT: lettuce, tomato, and mayo on the bread. When you don't know better leave the sandwich without the lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Those can be separate. Next the corned beef was over cooked and dry. I don't know the chef, but that person should be given a lesson on how to prepare a corned beef sandwich to go. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Corned beef sandwich more like a BLT - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

Mainly good things to say about this place!! I love the fact that it's 24/7, it was in a nice place in the city where it's always busy so it seems like a great place to be. LOTS of food options ranging from savory to dessert, and that dessert option list was huge!!! Our waiter was nice.. the only thing that happened is my friend didn't get the toast that came with his meal and we saw it sitting on the hot food shelf but no one brought it and our waiter hadn't come back to check if we got it but no worries, just some toast. I got the mushroom Swiss burger which was yummy!! So happy they had ranch. Definitely coming back for a late night munchie again read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Mushroom Swiss BurgerMushroom, yummy!! - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

I've visited this place late night with my husband on 2 occasions now and they've hit the spot both times. The wings are moist and delicious- we've tried Thai sweet chili and lemon pepper wings. We've also had the tuna melt and fried cod fillets- everything was great- no complaints about the food. The servers have always been friendly and helpful when we have questions about the menu. It's your standard diner with the cushioned booths- highly recommend if you need some late night eats. read more

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I know this restaurant has been serving nostalgic American classics for years, and I've had good experiences here before. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite meet expectations this time. The gravy on the biscuits was thicker than I prefer and a bit one-note, and the corned beef hash could have used more seasoning. I understand food costs have gone up everywhere, and restaurants have had to adjust. At this price point though, I was hoping for a little more flavor and consistency. Our meals arrived slightly warm rather than hot, and overall they felt pretty standard. They do offer weekday breakfast specials, which may be a better value option. I know many people who are longtime fans, so clearly it works for others, it just wasn't my best experience. read more

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Rudford's est 1946 is a staple in San Diego, Ca. Located on ElCajon Blvd, it's a great place for retro meals. There's a small parking lot and depending on what day you go, street parking is a challenge but worth the extra footwork. You can sit at the counter or wait for a table. I sat at the counter. I ordered the Liver & Onions lunch which came with salad, garlic bread, beets, mashed potatoes and gravy. I had a water with lemon and a Mr Pibb. The portions are large and very tasty. I ended leaving with a doggy bag which most customers did. A nice culinary journey from the past! read more

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02:45 on a Sunday morning after the bar not as busy as I thought. Place was vibing, servers servin. Chilequiles with green salsa and over easy eggs were waaayyy too good. Their salsas have always been legit, so I don't know why I'm so surprised. read more

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Every time we're in Diego we come here. Food is always flavorful, the service is always fast and friendly with reasonable pricing. This is on og spot and a favorite of ours. read more

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Rudford's is such a classic diner spot and everything we ordered tasted great. The pancakes were fluffy, the waffles were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the eggs were cooked exactly how we wanted. The bacon and sausage were solid too and the portions were huge. It is the kind of breakfast that just hits perfectly. The vibe is super nostalgic with that old school diner feel. It is casual, bright, and really comforting. It also feels perfect for a late night bite when you want something warm and reliable. Prices are very reasonable for how much food you get. Service was also great. The staff was friendly and the food came out fast even though they were busy. If you want a solid breakfast or a late night meal that actually tastes amazing, Rudford's is an easy five stars. I will always come back! read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

We came here for breakfast on a Saturday and it was delicious. Three words to describe this place: Simple, humble, authentic. This place opens 24/7 and has been open since 1940s. We got seated almost right away and the vibe in here feels like you went back in time. Music was great and even customer service feels unreal, almost like we went back in time to the good old times. I ordered one of those classic 24/7 breakfast with the eggs, toast, and potatoes with a side of grits. Pricing is also very reasonable and the taste was delicious as expected. This was definitely a nice find. We see that they are even open on Thanksgiving day and on all holidays. Would definitely come here again. read more

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Let me start this review by saying that I go here way too much and know everyone who works here. This is a classic 24-hour diner right in the middle of the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. They serve beer, wine, and mimosas until 11:00pm. My favorite items are the lemon pepper/teriyaki wings, the navy bean soup, #11 (two eggs, toast, has browns), chicken fingers and fries, the bacon cheeseburger, and the PECAN PIE (legitimately the best I've ever had). There are about 100 items on the menu so there's something for everyone. They have an Andes mint milkshake! They have an extra lot just behind their normal parking lot in case it's full. All the homies work on the graveyard crew! read more

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Sorry to say this was not my favorite experience and I REALLY wanted to love it. We love finding diners and this one just wasn't a hit for us. The food was ok, but nothing to drive 25 minutes for. The sign outside says 24/7 which is pretty cool if you need something at 4 am. The booth we had was in good shape and comfortable. The inside looked like a modernized diner which we liked. There was bar type seating in booths. I believe it was either that or booths. From where we were sitting, it would be difficult to have a wheelchair inside. We were not in the back corner so I may be wrong. It was pretty loud but it was completely full. We waited about 15-20 minutes for a table. It was very bright inside in a good way. We were not fans of our server. I understand it was busy but we had to wait awhile for her to come back for a refill. She just seemed like she was not happy. Could have been a bad day for her- so maybe this experience was a one off. I'm giving it 3 stars because overall we weren't happy with the food or service. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

One of, if not the, oldest diners in San Diego. This 24 hour diner on El Cajon Blvd in North Park is really popular for many reasons but for some reason I had never tried it until this past weekend. I say that as someone from San Diego whose family has been here since the late 1980s. Inside is very large and has many different seating options from booth, to counter, to table. Our server was very polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. They have a very large menu with all sorts of diner classics on it. There's also a large free parking lot attached so parking is easy to find. The only issue we had was that the food itself was not the best, it was not bad, but the experience was better than the food. We started off with a Cinnamon Roll and thought it was pretty good, but it was not gooey enough in my opinion, and it was overly large in size but was not large in flavor. For my meal, I chose the Chilaquiles with green sauce and even though I love spicy food, I thought they were overly spicy and my eggs were a bit overdone. It is diner pricing so it's not really a big deal but I would like to try again to see if I had a one off experience. I would suggest if you are in the area or are interested in San Diego dining history. read more

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Rudfords is a whole vibe. It is homey, local, and I love the old school set up. The workers are all so friendly and welcoming as well. I love the music they are playing. Standards, Roy Orbison, Elvis, etc. The portions are HUGE. I got a half tuna sandwich with sweet potato fries, wow you could share this for sure. I ordered my mom wings to-go and she ate it for 3 days as a snack. It seems like a place where they have a lot of loyal customers because it is a family owned restaurant, and they are a part of the neighborhood. I recommend coming with a friend to share a few things, or even come alone and support a local gem. Service was unhurried which was nice. read more

Service was fast and friendly. Wings were very tasty and plentiful. Cheeseburger was very good and had all the fixings. Philly sandwich was very good and filling. The portions were big so we all had to take home half our order. One order feeds 2 easily. This restaurant has been open since 1949! It's known for president kennedy driving by it in a limo in a parade. They have done a great job keeping it clean and open 24 hrs! A must if you're looking for a huge breakfast! First time here in north park! read more

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This review is NOT about food. It's about honesty. They have outside tables I sat there just prior to dining. Approximately 20 minutes into my meal, the waiter brought me my wallet (filled with $$$) and my cell phone. He looked into the wallet to see my driver's license. Then brought both my cell phone and wallet to my table. Naturally, I was very very grateful. And I'm old school from Brooklyn, I don't have to elaborate. I was very, very grateful. read more

Came in early morning before work. I got the corned beef hash, eggs over medium, hash browns and wheat toast. The corned beef was ok, it had an odd spongy texture, I think I woulda just preferred the canned type grilled hard on the flat top. Service was excellent as there's basically 1 person waiting on the whole place at that odd hour, so kudos to her. On a past visit I had the pork chop, it was ok. I guess I had over expected as I've heard that it was so special. It wasn't bad by any means just not as special as I've been lead to believe. It's your typical diner ambiance, nothing fancy. There's a parking lot in the back but also some parking on the street in front which I've always found at least in odd hours. I appreciate that it's open 24/7 it's always my go to when I know everything else is closed. It's nice to be able to sit down in a restaurant instead of in your car after going to a fast food drive thru. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Weekday early bird specials - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

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Food: Myriad choices from home-made O'Brien Potatoes to Ham 'n Eggs your style, Savory, Sweet, Umami, salads, soups, sides, burgers & much, much more. Loved the plump chicken sausage! Service: OMG! Servers, Cashiers, Bus-people ALL. mountains above expectations-truly remarkable- Ambience: Old School Vibes, energized yet calmly organized during busiest times. Recommended & open 24HRS a Day read more

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One of the few options outside of Dennys for dining in late, open 24/7. Alway seems packed at 11pm. Ordered the Kansas st burger with a side of onions rings and my brother ordered the chilaquiles. Burger was cooked medium well and top with bacon, cheese, onion rings and bbq sauce. Was great for an after midnight option. My brother clean the plate for the chilaquiles. Onion rings were thick, crunchy and juicy. I ordered a cinnamon roll to go and prefer that method to control the amount of butter and frosting that goes on it. It's drowning in both if you get it to dine in. Definitely a good option for late night dinners. read more

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Well, it's open 24/7 which is great. Diner has the classic diner booths, bright, teal, and coffee bar with plenty of seating. A decent size diner actually and we were sat right away. Server was great, very attentive and helpful for our large party. They have a decent size menu, although it really could've had a couple more option for a diner. I saw a lot of people eating burgers that looked pretty big and juicy. Not any healthy options except for a couple salads. Got the Chilaquiles's and it was a bit disappointing. But we are there late at night and it did the job! read more

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This is a nice little diner. It takes you back to an 80's feel. The service is great. Very attractive. The are employees that have been there 40yrs. So you get severed fast. The cheese avocado omelette was good. It was a good portion. Not too big or small. The ice tea was your basic flavor. The hash browns were good. You can ask for these a little more crispy. If you like. The corn beef hash, is a little different. It does not come with potatoes, as you would normally have them. Still, they had great flavor, and crispness to them. The Blue Burger, is the way to go. This comes with a thick patty and smothered with Blue Cheese Crumbles. I recommend this, if you want something hardy. The cons: The water has a tap water taste. The AC must not be working. Because it was very warm in the restaurant. read more

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Needed a late night bite that wouldn't disappoint so I popped on into this diner. Slid into a spot at the bar. Was immediately greeted my Anthony. Night shift operates as a well oiled machine. Food was being cranked out every few minutes. All the servers were on top of taking orders, delivering drinking a, serving food, checking on guests. At no point was any staff "standing around", they looked like a good crew to work with. While I initially came into try the Saturday Special: Swiss Steak, they were out. My backup choice did not disappoint. Roast Sirloin with Au Jus, rice, veggies, garlic toast and a side salad was plenty of food for two meals. I enjoyed my cold and crisp salad with balsamic vinaigrette. I only ate half saving room for the rest of my dinner. It's always 50/50 chance ordering veggies at a diner. Luckily they were cooked to my liking. The little bit of butter made them that much tastier. I was only able to eat 1/4 of my meal. I packed the rest to enjoy next day. It heated up well and tasted equally as good. So happy I like so close. read more

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Open 24 hrs, located in North Park on the corner of El Cajon Blvd and Kansas St with a small private parking lot. As we entered, this All-American Diner took me back to the 80's, lovely! It appears that they have a self-seating policy. The restaurant was clean, organized, fully staffed, and has outside seating. We visited this Saturday morning, so it was busy. I had their 'French Toast breakfast'. The toast itself was delicious; thick, with a rich, yellow color, but the bacon was overcooked and dry. My coffee was a little too bitter for my taste, though some creamer fixed it. My cousin's 'Classic Benedict' was prepared well, but we both felt it lacked flavor. Service was good, every staff member was working hard. Our food runner was very friendly as he delivered our meals. Despite the busyness, the staff did not rush customers. Overall we had a good breakfast experience here and will be back to try their 'Chicken & Waffles' and lunch menu items as I kept eyeing their delicious looking, big burgers! read more

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This will be the final review in a four-part series titled "A Diner and a Cafe" in which I sit for breakfast (sans coffee) at a diner then walk to a nearby coffee shop to grab some caffeine to go: Pt. 1 - Between Us / Lazy Eye Coffee Pt. 2 - The Vibe / BICA Coffee Shop Pt. 3 - Antique Row Cafe / Fuzz Coffee and Records Pt. 4 - Rudford's Restaurant / Coffee & Tea Collective Here is my review: I am man. I order steak and eggs. I eat steak and eggs. Go to Between Us ($29) or The Vibe ($27) if you want to blow your money. Antique Row ($18.25) and Rudford's ($23.95) for saving some cash. (Prices for the entrees featured in each review.) The end. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - The New York strip cut with over-easily fried eggs and potatoes. Lurking in the back is a wheat toast that I lathered with strawberry jelly. - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

Never had a bad meal nor a bad time. Their holiday meals are really good and on those days ordering off the menu is acceptable. The service is so good there is no begging for more coffee nor water. Budget conscious items like the full stack of pancakes is a gut buncher. My personal favorites are; The Pork Chops, Turkey Dinner, Chili Cheese Omelette (or French Fries) (with onions, Jalapenos and side of Sour Cream). Why only 4 Stars? I do not like Folgers Coffee. read more

Love the diner vibes here. We didn't have to wait too long for food but honestly the food was very mid compared to the price. The sampler plate was around $16 and what you see in the picture is what you get. I do think the Turkey sandwich was very worth it and this place is nice since it opens very late. read more

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I adore a 24-hour diner! This place is so vibey and convenient. Lots of classic diner options but with a higher price tag. Large diner portions. Cute aesthetic and vibe inside, but I understand it can feel tiring late late night Saturday night. Our server seemed really cool, chill guy but he only came by once to take our order and give our check much later than we were wanting but we couldn't wave him down. We also were missing some items and were never able to get those because we weren't helped unfortunately. read more

Honestly solid diner experience especially after a night out! Staff was great food was good. Definitely is my go to for a late night or morning meal. read more

He Said: A San Diego institution that's easily been here since my family first moved to the area in the early 70s. It's been decades since I'd been here, but a visit back in town and a chance to take my aunt out for a breakfast could not be passed up. It's clear she's been here a lot, though not recently, because many of the staff greeted her by name and asked why it had been so long. I got the red chilaquiles, simply because She got the green, but there are a ton of options I'd happily get (corned beef hash!). A really well done meal all around. I asked for my eggs set but runny and they were perfect. It's not like this place needs my recognition, but they've got it! She Said: When in San Diego it's hard not to opt for any Mexican food on the menu, so I had the green chilaquiles and have zero regrets. My eggs were cooked perfectly over medium, the salsa on the side was amazing, and the tortilla chips were tasty and the texture I want from chilaquiles (some crunch, some mush). The staff were great too, and we will absolutely be back. Potty Points: 3/5 Just two potties for a busy space, so there was definitely a long wait. Once available the ladies' room was fine. read more

Omg the most amazing place! I loved it! The breakfast so yummy, the French toast and bacon are soo good. I also love the club sandwich and onion rings. read more

Wow, what a gem! Huge portions of excellent quality food, superb customer service, large varied menu, plenty of parking. Everything we've ordered here has been amazing...from homemade pies, delicious hamburgers, chicken, omelets....highly recommend Rudfords in San Diego!! read more

This will be the last time we will come here. It was the worst experience we've had in a long time, for 3 reasons. 1. Person #1 of our group of 3 has food poisoning - they've been throwing up all day today, after eating here last night (a Sunday night), after 8pm. 2. Person #2 of our group of 3 received aus jus that was salty to the point of being completely completely inedible. It's deplorable that it was considered acceptable to serve at all. Person #2 has a heart condition that was aggravated by the excessive salt content. 3. Not once did the server check on our table after taking the order and bringing the food. They did not even refill waters - which would've been fine, had we not noticed that server's orher table had their waters refilled. They only checked in after one of us went to the counter to request water refills from another staff. At that point, we also requested to-go containers. read more

This is another classic and nostalgic dining review for my trip to San Diego! The one, the only Rudford's! I grew up in East San Diego and my Mom would take me here in the 80's! My Mom ate here also when she was younger. I remember she would order an Amazing salad (Chef or garden with blue cheese). She loved their fresh salads and would get a bacon cheeseburger. As a kid I would order what I remember was a burger that had pickle relish on it? Now thinking back it seems odd to me but I remember it being the tastiest burger I ever had. Unfortunately my mouth has not had that taste pleasure since. I am wondering if I am mistaken about that burger and perhaps it was just a dream? I will never know, I was 8 then, I am now 48. Anyhow moving forward 40 years, in making a recent visit, I did not see said "relish" burger on the menu, I was too shy to inquire to the server as they had not worked their 40 years ago. The food is still great, went for breakfast and we tried the delicious French toast, Belgium waffle, pancakes and the breakfast sides. All tasty, fresh and generous, the same as it was back in the day, we were not leaving hungry! Thank you Rudford's for making a nice dining experience for my Mom and I back in the day for her youth and mine. Those dining visits are great memories from growing up in the community, Although I relocated to Los Angeles and then to Las Vegas. I will always have San Diego in my heart as so many great memories were created. Thank you Rudford's!!! read more

I never feel the need to write reviews on restaurants whereas in this case I do feel it is necessary. I'm not a regular here but I've had my fair share of visits. Food is average classic dinner food, great ambiance, and best hours. Always my go to for late night eats since it's so reliable. Regardless of all the good, it cannot outweigh the bad service or the odd unwelcoming vibe you get by some of the employees. Most of the employees here are typically very friendly, but the only woman I've ever seen work there(tattoo sleeve, straight dark hair), always has such a disgusted look on her face unless she is speaking to any of her coworkers. I've had her once as a server and even then the service was very half assed and monotone/condescending. Don't even get me started on today's hostess either just looking like he'd rather be anywhere else while asking us seating questions (slick back hair and mustache). I'm a service worker myself and there are just certain things/attitudes you leave out of the work environment. Whether it's a bad day or previous difficult customers, it has nothing to do with anyone else. Take a breather or apply somewhere else. Despite the vibe they still get their tip because of everyone else making up for it which I don't think is fair at all. I definitely see potential but as of now I'd skip unless you want to feel like you're stepping into a restaurant 10 minutes before closing. read more

If you're looking for a breakfast spot in San Diego, you must try Rudford's Restaurant! I travel here from Los Angeles often, and a visit to this wonderful place is always on my list. Every time, the food is superb, the prices are fair, and the service is truly outstanding. The staff is so friendly, and they've cultivated a great, familiar atmosphere. The waiters make you feel like you're having breakfast in your own home. Thank you to the entire team for the warm and wonderful service! read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Gil Tower Misic producer from Los Angeles and CEO of Guapacha Productions. - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

I feel as if Rudford's has some hit and misses on their items, and unfortunately, I do think both my choices were a miss! Their shakes, however, are delicious though. On a late-night adventure to this diner, we were excited to grub on some food. The portions are generous; however, they weren't tasty enough to take any leftovers. We tried their Chicken and Waffles and Chili Cheese Fries. Both entrees were very bland for some reason and adding syrup and sauce was not helpful. The breading on our chicken looked quite pale and tasted flavorless. Our chili was really dry and didn't go well with the fries. My stars are for the service because the staff are kind! read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Chili Cheese Fries - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

Late night dining can be sketchy. We arrived around 10:15p after a long day if work on a Sunday night. Our party of 4 waited 15mins to be seated, as the place was packed with Southwestern College Theatre Students after their show. This place is a San Diego legendary experience. We all have stories of being here in our younger college and early professional years. We decided to bring our teen and young adult kids here since we were in the area, for late night dining. Staff has changed significantly. They are high energy, and working at a fast pace. Food was delicious and spot on for the time of night. Food was good quality and hearty portions. Shakes and Malts are PERFECT HERE! read more

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Brought my boyfriend here not too long ago since I told him this is my absolute favorite San Diego diner & love that it's open 24/7!! Typically, I usually order their French Toast, Fish & Chips, or their French Dip Roast Beef sandwich which is served on a French roll w/ a side of au jus. Their milkshakes are so tasty and they even give you the remainder of the milkshake in a metal container. If you're not craving milkshakes, they also serve banana split, sundaes, custard, banana pudding, and an assortment of pies! (apple , blueberry cherry lemon meringue, peach , or pecan pie . I describe Rudford's as a friendly & fun environment which is perfect for families or for date night!! read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California