The Breakfast Truth!! We were dropping our son off at SDSU and looking for a place to get late breakfast. Shirley's Kitchen is the perfect spot. It's a pretty basic diner looking place but the food is far from basic. The omelettes, scrambles, pancakes, waffles and even the toast are very well prepared. This is the perfect place if you are a special order person like me. I am very picky about how my food is prepared and provide no less than 3 requests for a meal. They got them all on point. The service is great and the waiter was timely with my coffee refills. read more

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Great place in a neighborhood! Loved the service and food! 100% recommended!! We enjoyed the food and the waiter was extremely nice and helpful! read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Jr. Pancake Combo, Patty Melt Burger - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

Shirley's is a fantastic place for a tasty comfort food. They are friendly, accommodating, and willing to go extra steps when it come to their costumers. Great people and great eats. The decor is a bit outta date, but that's part of the charm. read more

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Classic breakfast spot. Delicious French toast. This exact meal somewhere downtown or otherwise would've been double the price. Highly recommend! read more

Shirley's Kitchen - French Toast Combo - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

Give Shirl a whirl, will ya, hon? Greasy spoons don't come much greasier than Shirley's Kitchen, but that's why you come here, right? After all, you're not looking for a fine liver pate or a truffle soup. No, you want some Adam & Eve on a raft, wreck 'em, and a cup o' joe. Shirley's hits the target dead-on with food that isn't going to win any Michelin stars but does make your stomach stop growling in short order. It's on a somewhat barren commercial boulevard in La Mesa. Hell, I didn't even know Jamie W. and I left the San Diego city limits to get here. Good thing I got my shots. We managed to overtake the big back booth where people apparently sit to wait for the restroom. Jamie and I really didn't mind the company except we would get cut off in mid-sentence when the restroom door flew open. A veteran waitress took our order like she's probably done a few thousand times or more. Jamie went for his favorite, the $2.49 Biscuits & Gravy, and they were thigh-hugging-spandex good (see photo), coupled with a $7.49 order of eggs (sunny-side up), hash browns and four strips of bacon. I ordered the $8.49 Sausage. Mushroom and Cheese Omelette with hash browns and went for a stack of buttermilk pancakes instead of the toast (see photo). The omelette was plenty, the hash browns a bit mealy, and the pancakes fluffier than you would expect from a joint like this. Hey, how can you complain about grub like that? It was filling our ample guts faster than that hourglass in the opening of "Days of Our Lives", and we were feeling just as bottom-heavy when we were done. It so feels like a place from the 1960's with the men's room door on the outside and the whole building looking like a converted tire center. But hey, if you're hungry and the free continental breakfast isn't cutting it for you at your local Best Western inn, then you should give Shirl a whirl, too. Bet she does a mean foxtrot if you ask her to dance to the jukebox. After all, she works hard for the money...so hard for it, honey. FOOD - 3 stars...greasy goodness AMBIANCE - 3 stars...hey, it's a place to put your feed bag on SERVICE - 3.5 stars..."Hi honey, what'll you boys have?" TOTAL - 3 stars...satisfies those blue-collar, hungry-man urges you get after you've been eating too healthy...not that I would know read more

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I'm not usually in this area but I was getting some work done on my car and had some time to kill. I hadn't had lunch yet so yelped and took a short walk. Shirley's had decent reviews and it was right there. Done! I love coming across these old school classic diners only open for breakfast. I had made it just after 1. They close at 2 pm daily. Walking in, it's a small cute place. Very dated but had a good amount of diners eating. There's no hostess greeting and you seat yourself at any open table. Seated in front of me was a couple of grandpas reading the newspaper chatting and enjoying their meal. I loving seeing guys like that in a place like this. Shows that they're regular customers. I started off with a glass of Oj. It was a small glass of Oj brought with a small glass of ice. It was not cold, nor fresh squeezed, but that's ok. Thanks for the ice! My go to breakfast dish is grilled pork chops, hash browns and eggs over easy with extra buttered wheat toast. My absolute fav!!! But it's hardly ever great. (Im still in search of this place!) I'm always very weary in ordering this cause the worst thing you could do I ruin a good chop! The eggs and hash were good, can't really mess this up. The chops... We're ok. Not great, but not horrible either. Two thick big chops looked grilled to perfection. Cutting into the chop I noticed right away it was a lil tough. I was starting to get sad. First bite was actually a bit dry and tough. I cut another piece off and it was everything I wanted. Mouthwatering delish! Unfortunately this was not consistent throughout the entire chop. So I had some great bites and some not good bites. Sigh.... The hunt for the perfect breakfast chops continues. Staff was really nice and attentive. Place is a bit dated but was still very clean and tidy. The only thing missing in the atmosphere was the music. Where are my oldies at?!? read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Small glass of Oj with ice. Two grandpas enjoying lunch in front of me. :) - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I was up very early new years day and drove by Shirley's and noticed they were open, so I decided to stop by and have a Denver Omelet. This place is, or use to be, I am guess some sort of gas station or auto shop. The bathrooms being located on the outside kind of brought up this thought. Any who, I was happy to see they had a Denver omelet on the menu and it came with a choice of toast, muffin, or pancakes. I opt for the pancakes and the hash browns rather than the house potatoes. As I was sitting there watching the TV in the corner, I realized I am in a dinner. A very typical dinner. A counter, check, some benches along the walls. check, and some small 2 person table squeezed in to maximize room, check. Finally, laminated menus and with pictures of high lighted menu items, check. Well, my food came nice and hot. The butter on the pancake begin it slowly slide of the stack as the butter melted. The pancakes were good. Every once in a while they got a little chewy but over all they were very typical. The omelet was good as well. It had a nice amount of ham, bell pepper, and onions. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/1kmii5WdwuZzxJdCGN1gQw?select=GBzk9imTD_HBtwg_k_9C4g) It was flavorful and well cooked. The hash browns were good as well and very typical as well. The service was very nice and attentive. The coffee, which actually very good for a dinner, and was continuously filled by my wonderful waitress. This place has good American typical dinner food. read more

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If you want a cheap meal served with a quickness, this should be your spot. I feel like I had no sooner finished placing my order with, "and a coffee to drink" than the food materialized on the table in front of us. They must have some line cooks with some mad skills working that kitchen. Let me step back. This little place must be a local favorite. They weren't very busy, so we were able to get a small table right when we walked in. The restaurant itself had a vaguely dingy feel to it. Not sure if that's because it felt old, or grimy, or dated, but that was my first impression. Our waitress was fast and efficient, which kind of made up for her brusque personality. I don't want her to be our best friend, but a smile would have been nice. The food - which was served so fast there must've been some form of magic involved - was decent. We both got the biscuits and gravy, though I got bacon and he got sausage patties. Again, it was okay, nothing to scream about. It filled us up and it was a quick meal, so that counts for something. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Biscuits and gravy with bacon - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

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It has a been a constant go to place for breakfast since I came to San Diego, love this place!

Great service, great food They have all different types of food from Mexican, to breakfast, sandwiches, etc. definitely easy to find something for everyone. Very family/mom and pop place. Love it! Everything on the menu is basically ten dollars. They're very kind and have no problems changing things on the menu to make you happy read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Veggie melt - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Ordered last weekend because I drove past it too many times. I NEEDED to try them out. Ordered the steak and the woman had pancakes. Very impressed with everything. During corona virus times you have to stay in your car and they bring your food out to you. Try them out. They are well worth your hard earned money. Let's be honest - here in San Diego we are spoiled for choices. Many places are garbage and few are worth the hype. I'll be returning soon. read more

Came here today and ordered the shrimp omelette. Make sure you come hungry because the serving is pretty substantial. The omelette had yummy flavor and good amount of seafood. My friends had the French toast which looked equally amazing!! Highly recommend it. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

Overall, amazing. Service: 11/10 so friendly and incredibly fast. There was only one server that we saw but he was super friendly and quick. Food: 10/10 we got the french toast meal and the 4pc fish & chips w/ clam chowder. They were both delicious. Probably best fish and chips i've had in a while. We got there an hr before closing and there was almost no one. Area around in general isn't the nicest but it doesn't take away that the restaurant is cute. We sat outside with our dogs (it was very well shaded.) Forgot to take pictures of the food it was so good! read more

The food was pretty good. I got the omelette with the taco fixings and some hash browns. Boy, that was a lot of food. i wasn't even able to finish it. The issue I had was that it was kinda pricey for a breakfast place. I feel that I could've been equally as full at IHOP or something for much less. The whole place looked kind of run down too, which doesn't help me when I rate the restaurant. The wait staff was very friendly though. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

I used to love this little place, but I'm not going back. Recently on a Sunday, a friend and I went to get a bit of brunch. The waitress had an attitude, forgot to bring us components of our food (toast showed up later, we had to ask for jam), we asked for water but was not happy when she practically slammed it down on our table (so we didn't bother to ask for refills although it would have been nice to have more water), she played dumb when we asked her if she could please bring the orange juice we ordered, and also, the food was not brought out all at once. I think maybe the boss wasn't there to supervise, so the waitress did very little. The waitress had a really terrible attitude and our food -- when we got it all -- was served tepid. The food itself was meh, the butter was not butter and the pancake syrup was a far cry from the real stuff and poured like water. There were only two other tables with customers during the time we were there. We did not leave a tip. read more

Legit! I grew up in La Mesa and have seen this place here for years. I finally came for the first time as an adult and have been back often. The food is great and it's one of the last Comfort kitchens around with reasonable prices. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Great service and excellent food. It was my first time coming to this after a little league practice at Rolando Park. It's a Neighborhood spot with excellent customer service. My coffee was always warm and the waffle ..golden perfectly sweet. Lots of food and great prices. I ordered sausage links and ate them all. I feel like I got to a restaurant post Covid and the bill for two is so expensive. Reasonable prices. Generous portions. read more

I love this little hole in the wall. Very small business with a family atmosphere and great food. The staff has been nothing but kind and always make you feel welcomed. If you enjoy mom & pop places and dislike chain breakfast restaurants, this is your place. read more

Excellent! Restaurants like other service businesses have good days and nots so good days. The chef & the staff were on their game the day we stopped by on our way to Costco!! I'll return. read more

We haven't been here in years, decided out of of nowhere to make a stop in for breakfast. we have been back 3 times in 2 weeks! This is one of the better hole in the wall places in our area, and it is so worth the visit. The staff treats everyone great, the food is great, the prices are great. It is a must go to place! only downfall, they close at 2pm, so I cannot stop by after work and get dinner. read more

Shirley's Kitchen has been around for years and it's still going strong. It's a small spot with an outdoor patio that's definitely worth trying out. The prices are excellent and the food is good. It may not be the fanciest place but the food is solid for the price. read more

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I took my mom out for breakfast this morning as she recommended this spot back when it was takeout only. As some previous reviews mentioned, the service is subpar. My chili omelette with home fries was actually quite good and the portions are large. However, the food took around 30 minutes to get to our table. The table with four police officers next to us received their food much faster and the server even decided to take their order while were waiting for the toast that she forgot. In addition, we were not offered refills during the hour that we were inside the restaurant. This spot is probably good for takeout and regulars, but for the prices patrons would be better off dining in at a New American restaurant. read more

Don't come into this place expecting shiny silverware and fresh squeezed OJ but do expect delicious, home style, breakfast you'd expect at grandma's house. Both the pancakes and French toast are nice and fluffy, grilled golden throughout every bite. The hash browns are not overly buttery and I recommend asking for them crispy (personal preference). The eggs are always consistent and the omelette are not the cheesy globs you find in many other places. The service is top notch and attentive. You can tell a lot of the customers are regulars and know the wait staff by name. It might get a little busy the service is so fast that tables turn over constantly. The cherry on top is the price - it's unbeatable for the quality you are getting. read more

I love Shirley's. The cook and wait staff are excellent, personable, and Jimmy cracks me up. I've known Augustine since the 90's when my husband and I used to go there just about every weekend. The food is yummy and the prices are reasonable. Good vibes there. I love the machaca, hash browns and a pancake. A Spanglish kinda breakfast. Went in again today with a friend and it was super delicious. I can't believe I ate the whole thing!!! And my friend was very happy to have discovered this place. read more

Shirley's, I am so sorry for the cheap reviews you have received over the pandemic, especially those that speak of your lack of efforts to make a dining area a pleasant one. I love your food, I love the service and your establishment. Thank you for keeping your doors open to the public even when it may have been hard to do so. I know for a fact that you have loyal employees as I see the same faces everytime I visit your establishment, that alone speaks volumes of your employment and practices. I love the small restaurant vibe and just dined with you guys again two weekends ago; the food was delicious! No complaints here! My go to: Biscuits and Gravy + Meat! read more

1st time here. Had the meat lovers omlette with pancakes. Kicks ass. Homefries very yummy. Pancakes kick ass and they have sugar free syrup. Very busy place but worth the wait. Will definitely be back. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Wifes french toast - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

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It's meh. Paid $13 for a sandwich that was ok. Probably won't go back. Staff is nice. Place needs renovations.

Very quaint mom and Pop type restaurant. Portions were wonderful for the prices and the flavor was great. See servers seem to know and care greatly for the regulars and we're very eager to welcome new people to the mix. Would definitely return again. read more

I love Shirley's! Great service, good food, clean and comfortable neighborhood breakfast spot. I really enjoy the eggs Benedict, hash browns, bacon and coffee. The food is consistently delicious and not greasy. Very relaxing atmosphere. read more

Such a gem. If you're looking for old fashioned diner food and great service this is the place to be. We love supporting local spots and we are so glad we stopped here! Old school diner all the way and we love it! read more

Called in an order for the Eggs Benedict and the Biscuits & Gravy Plus, which comes with eggs and potatoes. My order was done in a reasonable amount of time but they seemed to only have one cook in the kitchen, which was interesting. I wouldn't necessarily recommend dining in the restaurant, place is kind of janky. But maybe some people are into that. The food itself was delicious and I would come back again. read more

I hate to break the news but this place was NEVER owned by "What's Happening" star, Shirley Hemphill. I know - major disappointment. Shirley's Kitchen (breakfast spot # 40) seems to be a meeting spot of sorts for the locals (well, at least for those that come to Shirley's on a regular basis). It was amusing to listen to them (mostly older folks) talk about the latest gossip going around town. Some of them also gave a running commentary on the news stories as they were shown on TV. One story was about the controversy surrounding the seals (not Navy) in La Jolla. One woman said, "If they want to get rid of those seals, I'll just bring my dog over and he'll chase them away. He won't hurt them - he'll just bark until they leave." I ordered a Full Stack Combo which consists of three (3) pancakes, 2 (two) eggs (which were scrambled like my brain) and four pieces of "bacon." Full Stack Combo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/1kmii5WdwuZzxJdCGN1gQw?select=8Z1m5orzZHkrPf10e1QUfw Color-by-numbers pancakes and eggs.....but that bacon. The bacon was really something special! I may never come back to Shirley's (sorry Shirl) for their breakfast meals but I'll DEFINITELY come back for the bacon. The next time that I do some painting at my crib, I'll come and get some of their bacon because that sh*t was just like eating a stirring stick. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Full Stack combo - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

I always like trying the local non chain spots when I travel. Based on the reviews, I decided to check this one out. Food was tasty. Service ended up being pretty good with a minor irritating observation in the beginning. At first there was only one server visible (older woman) server.... she seemed more interested in helping the folks that were regulars than me. I waited for a little while to place my order. This lady has walked past me a few times addressing everyone else. Not sure. I try not to look too much into that stuff. So may be it was just an off day for her. Trying to remain glass half full. Fortunately, Jose made eye contact and came over to help me out. He was great and friendly. I would try it again as I didn't notice all of the wonderful omelets on the menu lol. I had the French toast combo with bacon and eggs. Not bad. read more

I loved the design of this restaurant, it reminded me of a restaurant my parents had. Food was nice and the offers that they have are just amazing. I actually checked on the restaurant website and found out one can book a reception to host a celebration or party. read more

All I can say is.. Denny's who?? Amazing ! My family and I usually go to Denny's but after we discovered Shirleys Kitchen we will never go back to Denny's. read more

This place is awesome! The food is great and portions are huge. If you're coming here to eat, make sure you come hungry! A nap might be needed after...LOL read more

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Aweeeeesome place. Looks unassuming on the outside, but don't let that deter you! The food is AMAZING. The Taco Omelet is phenomenally fine and really unique, highly recommend it for a breakfast item. The prices are also very decent, especially for how much food you get & the quality of it. Will definitely be coming back and recommending - can't wait to try new items! read more

Outstanding!!! Went for the first time last Saturday. Was a bit apprehensive when we first entered. Not a very impressive dining area. Nothing bad...just a bit dated and unassuming. Service was fast, friendly, and professional. We both had the chicken fried steak with hash browns and eggs. I also had the pancakes. Everything was absolutely delicious. The pancakes were light and fluffy. The hash browns were done perfectly and the chicken fried steak was crispy on the outside and moist and delicious on the inside. Not one thing to complain about! This place is a gem!! Definitely looking forward to going again. read more

This is by far THE BEST breakfast restaurant I have been to in San Diego. Originally being from TN, there hasn't been too many places that I could find that reminded me of home. As soon as I walked into Shirleys Kitchen, the hospitality and the warm welcome my wife and I received was better than we could have asked for. The young lady and young man who assist the customers are awesome and have lovely service. I will continue to eat there for sure. read more

Wasn't really feeling the food. Sausage was plain, pancakes had no flavor and coffee was not good.