Wow! That was delicious! We were driving through town when hunger striked which led us to Toni's…read moreCourtyard Cafe. We came on a Monday morning and the crowd was light as expected being a weekday. We were seated right away. They have both indoor and outdoor seating options but the tables are a bit tight so probably not the best place for parties over 4-5 people. I had the salmon scramble with a slice of pumpkin bread and subbed the potatoes for a fruit cup. I don't know if it was because I was extra hungry but it tasted delicious! There was a lot more salmon in the scramble than I expected which was a bonus! The fruit was great and the pumpkin bread was a nice unique twist to the classic breakfast side options. My fiancé got the breakfast burrito which was huge and filling!

Perfect family friendly breakfast spot…read more We got the chilaquiles and chicken fried steak. Both were really good! The chilaquiles actually had a hint of spice which we really liked and the gravy on the chicken fried steak was so good. We also got their pumpkin bread on the side which was made in-house. Everything was just great. Really enjoyed having breakfast there. Friendly service and a great mom and pop shop. We'll definitely be back!

When my sister went to school in Merced, we always made sure to stop by Papaya Lady whenever we're…read morein town. Since she has graduated, I won't be in town anytime soon, but I highly recommend them for some good Thai and Laotian bites if you're ever in Merced! They have a selection of delicious dishes and I have loved everything that I've tried. My go-to orders are the Papaya Salad and Khao Poon. The papaya salad is a must and the spice level was the perfect amount. The Khao Poon is a coconut curry based noodle soup that is so flavorful. I've also come to really enjoy the Nam Khao (Laotian crispy rice salad), each bite is crunchy and absolutely delish. Your Asian comfort food cravings will definitely be satisfied here. Wishing The Papaya Lady continued success!

I had the Papaya Lady bookmarked for a long time when I finally had the opportunity to try them on…read moremy way home from Merced. Located off on the corner of 16th Street and G (same plaza as Little Caesars), the Papaya Lady is actually tucked away inside a carniceria. The aisles of the market nearly block the counter to this little kitchen. It's the neon sign of "The Papaya Lady" buzzing that guides you to the back. We came in the late afternoon on a Saturday and they were already out of the fried chicken and sticky rice (next time!). We ended up ordering: Papaya Salad (extra spicy) - The little peppers in this gave the dish a nice kick. Super refreshing on a hot day. Nam Khao (crispy rice lettuce wrap with pork skin) - I highly enjoyed this one with all the crunchy textures and flavors. Will 100% get again. Khao Poon (noodle soup) - This broth had a subtle peanut flavor which was delicious. Wished it had more toppings. Nam Vanh (tapioca drink) - My drink seemed to lack the other jellies that I saw in other pictures and only had the lil tapioca balls, sweetener and coconut milk. It felt like it was missing something for sure. The owner is so nice and friendly. I don't know if it's a psychological thing, but every time he acknowledged or spoke to me, he used my name. It just felt automatically more warm and welcoming lol The price per portion is also legit. You get so much for what you pay. Our order kept me and the SO fed for almost 3 days. So nice to have some good Asian food in the Central Valley. Will definitely be back!

3 Hermanos Carniceria & Taqueria is definitely a place you need to check out! Located right around…read morethe corner from Merced High School, they have a private parking lot, which makes stopping in super convenient. The first thing that caught my attention was how amazing the meat market and taqueria look. Everything is incredibly clean, polished, and actually feels surprisingly upscale. They have a great seating area, so you can sit down and enjoy your meal comfortably. The salsa bar is seriously something special! They have around 20 different items with just about every flavor and type of accompaniment you could imagine. There are so many choices that you could probably create a different combination every time you visit. They open early at 8 AM and even offer breakfast burritos, plus they have Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday specials in the taqueria. They also have Agua Fresca, which is always a nice addition. I had the breakfast burrito and it was wonderful. But honestly, the salsa bar took it over the top! The owner's sister also makes homemade flan and tres leches cake, so there are definitely some great options for dessert. I highly recommend stopping in and giving 3 Hermanos Carniceria & Taqueria a try. I know I'll be coming back--and honestly, I might come back just for that salsa bar alone!

Ordered food using DoorDash, so I can't speak to in person experience only on the food itself…read more We ordered the Nachos, a burrito and 3 tacos for dinner. The Nachos: more cheese than meat or beans so half the chips were soft & falling apart by the time it was delivered. The chips are thin so they can't stay in the cheese long enough to stay crispy. All you taste is cheese because the asada is bland. The Burrito: First bite my husband took had a bone in it, luckily he didn't chip a tooth or choke. He spite it out, tried to continue to eat but found another so ended up throwing it out. The Tacos: 1 el pastor, 1 pollo, 1 cadne asda. The el pastor was flavorful but dry, the pollo was good and the cadne asda was on the bland side. They included a truck load of salsa but no limes. The food wasn't horrible but with the fact that we have soo many great taco spots in Merced, no need to waste your money here.

Found this spot through Yelp and it did not disappoint!!…read more First off the pancakes are huge. You could easily share them between two people and they let you choose a sauce for the pancakes, whether that's syrup Nutella or condensed milk. The espresso shots were actually really good. I was shocked because they are literally shots of espresso. They are not alcoholic unless you ask for alcohol in them. This spot actually offers complementary soup before your meal. For us Mexicans, it's called Sopa de Fideo. This soup was actually authentic, and it was really flavorful and good and was basically an appetizer to the breakfast. The espresso shots did come with a side of bread. Personally, I'm not a big person on espresso by itself however, these espresso shots were really good! Now the actual service here was great. Our waiter was attentive She was constantly refilling our water cups and she was able to give us recommendations for what to eat. Also I will add her recommendations were spot on. The inside of this restaurant is really aesthetically cute. There's a bunch of green anywhere outside. They have a cute patio area where you can eat. If you decide to do that! Anyways, I would definitely come here again. It was reasonably priced and it was really good for a breakfast spot. I will say that and the soup was a nice touch because I love soup!

Finally gave this place a try and it's a great place for breakfast/brunch…read more They give you a little cup of sopa de fideo as an appetizer. I got the breakfast skillet with bacon. Boyfriend got the chilaquiles. Then we also got French toast on the side. Everything was delicious and portion sizes are huge. We definitely took leftovers home. Casual ambience and family friendly. Wait staff was really nice. She managed both patio and inside tables on her own before another person came in. Recommend!

Strings Italian Café is a cozy and welcoming spot that always hits the mark for classic Italian…read morecomfort food. The restaurant is clean, inviting, and has that warm neighborhood feel where you instantly feel at home. The staff is friendly, attentive, and quick to make sure everything is just right from the moment you're seated. The menu offers a great variety of traditional Italian dishes--from rich pastas and hearty soups to fresh salads and delicious bread that come out warm and soft every time. The portions are generous, making it easy to share or take home leftovers. My favorite is the fettuccine Alfredo--it's creamy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. My husband enjoys their chicken parmesan, which is tender and full of flavor with the perfect amount of sauce and cheese. Service is consistently fast and pleasant, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality and portion sizes. Whether you're stopping in for lunch or enjoying a relaxing dinner with family, Strings Italian Café delivers a dependable, tasty meal in a friendly and comfortable setting.

Today we were in the mood for Italian food. This was my first-time and I shared the lasagna,…read morespaghetti and meatballs. Both were very tasty with the bread, minestrone and salad. Actually, we shared the soup and salad and I was already getting full but I had to try the lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs. What I didn't appreciate was the flies and unfortunately, one flew in my lemon water. Yes, we did bring to our waitress attention but I was already done.

The food tasted good but did not look like their online pics and were pretty expensive for what we…read moregot. The servers were kind and attentive when we walked in, but there was no one else in there waiting for an order and it took about 12 minutes to get our order. When it came, we had ordered two sandwiches - the same sandwich - with the only difference being our cheese and our bread selections. And they were VERY different in size and proportion of meat, and the cheese was wrong. Good flavor and fresh ingredients, but overpriced and a bit lack luster for what we were expecting from the businesses own pictures of what to expect.

Excellent food even better service very very friendly prompt food was fresh and tasty. I highly…read morerecommend them.

This place is no longer a West Coast Sourdough unfortunately. It's now Cali Joe's and not as good…read more The menu is smaller. The bread isn't as yummy. Service is slow. The sandwiches were ok, but nothing to rave about. I miss West Coast.

When this place opened, it was so good but unfortunately has gone downhill. Not just in food but in…read moreService too. I love their clam chowder in the bread bowl, but that's about it. And I even when I'm craving it , I struggle with purchasing it. Just because it's so over priced. Everything in here is over priced for being mediocre at best. I don't really recommend this place. If you want sandwiches, go to lovers deli. And for soup I would probably go to Jantz.

This diner experience truly delivered on the classic charm and comfort one would anticipate. From…read morethe moment I walked in, the nostalgic decor and welcoming atmosphere set the stage for a satisfying meal. The service was attentive and friendly, making me feel right at home. I opted for the chicken parmesan sandwich, and it exceeded my expectations. The chicken was perfectly breaded and cooked to a golden crisp, while the marinara sauce added a rich, tangy flavor that complemented the dish beautifully. The generous layer of melted cheese on top was the icing on the cake, making each bite utterly delightful. The fries served alongside were equally impressive--cooked to perfection with just the right amount of crunch. They were seasoned well and made an excellent accompaniment to the sandwich. Overall, this diner encapsulated everything one could hope for: quality food, prompt service, and an inviting ambiance. I left feeling satisfied and eager to return for another meal. Whether you're craving classic comfort food or just looking for a cozy spot to enjoy a meal, this diner is definitely worth a visit.

Hole in the wall local place near the more southern area of hotels in Merced, and a welcome break…read morefrom mediocre hotel breakfast. Staff here are friendly, there's a solid bit of history and kitsch in the very back on the way to the restrooms, giving character to what is otherwise a decidedly local, low-frills experience. The steak salad (was it a steak taco salad?) looked quite tasty but also ordinary so I skipped it and stuck with breakfast; the sausage and eggs were very much unremarkable, but at least the hashbrowns were nicely pan fried and the eggs were a large portion. Biscuit and gravy reinforced the former impression, but again, hard to complain-- did the job. This place is super affordable and the overall verdict is a solid local place that's easy to appreciate but hard for me to say I would actually get excited about.