Who doesn't love a good diner? Peek inside and the place looks like it stepped out of the distant past, maybe the 1950s or the 1960s. Surely they are masters at greasy bacon and eggs, day old coffee, and probably little else. Wrong. Very wrong. This place may look a little ordinary from the outside but there is nothing ordinary about it. It may look like a classic diner inside but it does not sling food like an old diner. The menu is well-written and the food is high quality, excellent, and borderline gourmet. Do not order eggs, bacon, and toast here. Swing for the cheap seats. We tried the Ham, Avocado and Tomato Eggs Benedict. The hollandaise sauce was fantastic. If I didn't care about remaining somewhere under 350 pounds, I would return every Saturday and eat my way through every single eggs benedict concoction on the menu and there are many such benedict creations from which to choose. The Banana Nutella crepe, with "whip" cream (not "whipped," apparently, we're gentle with our cream here, folks), was decadent. If you like your breakfasts on the sweet side, you will enjoy this one. The Tres Porkitos omelet (made with ham, bacon, sausage, and cheese) was hearty and just as good as it sounds. The breakfast potatoes were very nicely done but could have used a little more seasoning. There is a salt shaker (and numerous hot sauces) on the table for just these types of emergencies. Do NOT leave here without getting a freshly-made biscuit with butter and honey on the side. You have made a serious error in judgment if you leave without getting one of these. Even the freshly-squeezed orange juice was delicious. Our server was wonderful. No complaints. They have dining inside or on the patio. Encinitas is a delightful community. While I loved the old school diner feel inside, you cannot go wrong with the people watching outside on one of our almost always sunny days in So Cal. If you live here, you already pay the Sunshine Tax so get your money's worth and sit outside, if you can. 10 stars. read more

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Always the best. It's still feels like old Encinitas. Great breakfast served quickly with a smile. Real diner feel. The cooks have been there for so many years and are still killing it. read more

Food and service with a breeze of the ocean, it was amazing. Who could ask for anything more read more

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I grew up in San Diego and went to high school in North County but for some reason, I had never been to The 101 Diner. During my last visit home, I decided to change that and stopped in for the first time. I was pleased to see it's a traditional Classic American diner with very fast service, a large menu, and fair prices. Inside is pretty small, which adds to the homey atmosphere. They don't have a ton of seating options but the lines here never seem to be as long as Encinitas Café across the street. Parking in this part of Encinitas is pretty easy because if there's not a space available right on the street, it's easy to find one in the neighborhood behind the businesses. Our waitress was very polite and everything that we ordered arrived shortly after we placed the order. Being a fan of Seaside Market I saw that they have a new Eggs Benedict dish called the Cardiff Crack Benedict, which has the famous tri-tip so I had to order that. I was very pleased with it and the eggs were done just as I like them. I would definitely order it again and would recommend. I plan to be back again next time I am in town. read more

101 Diner - Cardiff Crack Benedict - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I got the French toast, eggs and hashbrowns and all of it was pretty good. The outside seating was very nice and the waitress was an absolute gem. I definitely want to go back and try more of the menu. read more

101 Diner - A nice French toast breakfast - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

My daughter and I each got eggs Benedict - one carnitas and one tri-tip, and then shared. Both were amazing! The carnitas ones come with a just-spicy-enough sauce, and the tri-tip was tender and juicy. We both got potatoes, but there are other side choices including fruit. Ambience is nothing special - it's a DINER, people! but there are some tables outside which is kinda fun. Service was friendly and efficient read more

We decided to dine in closer to closing time. Seemed quite busy trying to wind down and clean up. The service was good, and we got our food pretty quickly after ordering. Eggs tasted fresh, french toast was classically done exactly how I enjoy it. We also tried the banana Nutella pancake. I was surprised by this, they actually mix the banana in with the pancake batter rather than just using it as a topping. This made for a lighter, more refreshing pancake. I really enjoyed it as pancakes can be a little too sweet for me. Highly recommend this spot for a good breakfast! I will say there were a lot of flies and the floors didn't look to be swept at all but I'm guessing this was because they were about to clean up before closing... read more

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Never have had a bad meal here. In the heart of Encinitas, 101 Diner has everything you would ever want and more. I LOVE their breakfast that typically comes with crispy potatoes. The staff is so nice and friendly which is their calling card along with the excellent food. You can sit outside and enjoy the people watching or inside where you are almost transported back to a simpler time. Yes you are reminded of the present when you see a surcharge for eggs due to what is happing today, but you also look around and see connections. People talking and conversing. Chatting with the staff and ordering verbally. No iPad in sight and it's a delight! read more

101 Diner - Chorizo Scramble with Cheese - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Was super excited to try this place out for the first time, but unfortunately ended up being disappointed. Food was COLD. Flavor was good but still it being cold outweighed the flavor for me. Everything from the pancakes to the omelette to the chicken & waffle was cold (I had to wait 10 additional minutes for my waffle but that thankfully was hot & good!) Pancakes were also thin. Wish they were fluffier. If the food was hot, I'd recommend coming here. However you can probably find better spots nearby. read more

101 Diner - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Delicious breakfast, friendly staff, great menu, solid choice for great food. It's an older restaurant, kinda small, can get busy during the normal rush but I really like this place, it's the quintessential hometown diner. I had the Cardiff Crack Tri-tip omelette (cheese, peppers, onions, mushrooms) and home fried potatoes. This place knows how to make the real fluffy omelette with great tasting fill and perfect home-fried potatoes. I thought I was in a Midwest diner. One of the best breakfast spots In Encinitas! I left full, content, happy and wanting to return. read more

101 Diner - Cardiff Crack Tri-tip omelette - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

I visit the 101 Diner every time I visit Encinitas and the food, service (Katie), overall experience is always on point. The eggs Benedict is great and get the potatoes that feel more like hash-browns. read more

101 Diner - Traditional Eggs Traditional Benedict with Sliced Ham and potatoes - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

Went here for our breakfast before returnning back to phoenix. Got outdoor seating and had pleasant time. Here are my takes: Food/Drinks: Overall it was decent. The beef meat was very chewy and maybe overcooked so I had to leave that too when it was recommended by server for being locally sourced and I decided to try. The menu is extensive so it was somewhat overwhelming to choose from. Service: There was a delay but overall no major setback during our dine-in. Ambiance: Great outdoor seating and that was the primary reason to stopped here for breakfast. Hygiene: Very small restroom and not the cleanest but overall it was decent. Price: Reasonably priced food and drinks. Nothing that was overpriced. read more

101 Diner - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Apple pancake is the best! Ham/jalapeño Benedict fantastic ! This diner is a an Encinitas gem, food is great across the board ... GO!

Best eggs Benedict in town by far choose anyone of several varieties of these Benedict and you will get a taste treat you'll remember for a long time, looks like an old-time diner for sure, the service is always great. read more

Good burgers but in need of seasoning , friendly and fast service, good ambiance . The restaurant needs a remodel, you can smell the restroom from your table , floors are very old , and I like vintage but not like this . Tables and seats are in need of an upgrade . read more

101 Diner - Bacon cheeseburger !!! So good and fresh . - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

Do yourself a favor... AND GO HERE!!! The biscuits and gravy are SO GOOD!!' We like to order to go and do breakfast picnics on the beach. So good local staple and they are quick to prepare food! Classic diner vibes. read more

It was a good surprise. The place is a little older and charming but kind of a dive but great food and great wait staff. They were all really friendly and helped each other out. There were 3 of us and we got the tropical pancakes, sausage, potatoes, fruit and a chicken salad. The pancakes were the best I have ever had. They had bananas and pineapple in them with coconut sprinkled over them with a coconut syrup. The sausage tasted like a good pork link sausage, it didn't taste fake like some places. the potatoes came out hot and a little crispy. The chicken salad had so much chicken and was grilled perfectly. The fresh fruit had so much flavor and was a nice way to end our meal. I would definitely go back. read more

Service was ok and the meals were tasty but man do they keep exposed food really close to the customers. We saw a big fella sitting at the bar rip an uncovered sneeze that shook the windows - no ways he didn't spray all the food right in front of him. read more

Good food at fair prices and nice service with a personality. Good stuff. Was a bit cold to sit outside but browsed some shops and table was ready. Have really tried a load of new places lately and this is a rare one that did the basics well. read more

Super fast friendly service. California eggs Benedict with bacon were delicious and hit the spot. filling and savory, but also light and healthy feeling. Great breakfast spot! read more

Service is friendly and fast. Food is tasty and decent size portions. Inside is a little weathered and funky with odd posters. Seat cushions are well used and may need fresh seats, but the indentation of previous patrons adds a bit of nostalgia. Plenty of inside and outdoor seating. Great casual place to grab a tasty bite. read more

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It was good. Not much else to say. Typical breakfast food for an ok price. Nice if going with friends or family.

Some of the best eggs Benedict I've ever had! I usually regret getting anything other than the traditional eggs Benedict but the cilantro one still had those components but even better. The little bits of pickled jalapeños were a great addition. So flavorful! The service was also super fast. It was ready to go within 10 minutes of me placing my order read more

101 Diner - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

Amazing food and service! Our waitress Katie was outstanding! I ordered the chorizo scramble and it was amazing! Food came out outstandingly fast! The diner itself was a cozy diner, I stumbled upon it and in so glad I did! 10/10 would come again! read more

Our family went to have breakfast and all of us couldn't be happier with the food and the service. We ordered various dishes and they were all outstanding. Our waitress was very nice and efficient. I highly recommend this place read more

Found by accident. Highly recommend. Great old school diner. Great service, food and ambiance.

The baked apple pancake is worth the wait time staff is friendly and the rest of the food is pretty good too.

Don's in South'O' has nothing to be concerned about 101 Diner. Our first and only meal at this restaurant was below average. When you order breakfast it is normal and expected that your toast is served at the same time as your eggs, not five minutes later. Also, not only are the coffee mugs not uniform in size, (mine was smaller than served at nearby tables), it was not very timely for a refill. The food served was not very hot and could have been prepared in a more timely manner. Dining out has become more expensive, even for breakfast, and all restaurants should provide the best meal possible, not just put food on a plate. read more

The original 101 diner in Encinitas does what all great diners should do - speedy service good solid American diner classics, hot coffee frequently refilled and an iconic old school inside booth and counter set up. The outside tables are my fave when you can enjoy the SoCal sun your taxes paid for (if nothing else). My buddy and I got some good breakfast dishes - I enjoyed their California omelet which is a nice house concoction with guacamole and sour cream mixed with jalapeños and their house made pico de gallo. Yum. The specials board usually has something tasty on there as well. Enjoy the street life view down the Main Street and take your time - no rush here! Thanks 101 you keep the tradition alive read more

Love this place - one of the best breakfast diners in North County. Fun and friendly staff, delicious açaí bowls, great sandwiches and a variety of Eggs Benedict dishes that will leave you wanting more. Personal faves are the Salmon Benedict; the Hillbilly Benedict (with gravy!) and the Cardiff Crack Tritip Benedict - you can also get them half and half (half salmon half Tritip, for example). Grab a table, sit at the counter, and yeah you might have to wait 20-30 min on weekend mornings but worth it. Don't hesitate - just go! Your stomach will thank you - then go walk off the extra calories exploring the hippest (and hippie-est) surf town in So Cal. PS - My wife says the oatmeal is good too - I wouldn't know.... read more

101 Diner - Chicken Machaca breakfast with toast and coffee - Yum. Sitting at the counter. - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

Great menu..I enjoyed a cheese/bacon/avo omelet. Lots of avo! Very folksy,outside/inside option. read more

Came here a few weeks ago early on a Saturday morning. Seating was plentiful. We decided to sit outside because it wasn't too cold. SERVICE - Our waitress was very nice. Upbeat and spunky. FOOD Pancakes - These were different than what I am used to. Not your classic fluffy melt in your mouth pancakes. More so chewy but soft? Can't say they were my favorite but decent. Breakfast Burrito - Their breakfast burritos do not come w potatoes so I added them in. I gotta say, breakfast burritos need potatoes. The addition was perfect. Burrito was huge and the flavors melded well together. Overall, food was good. I would definitely recommend sitting inside. When we sat outside and there were swarms of flies above that kept trying to get at our food. read more

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Per Yelp recommendations, I had Eggs Benedict with Ham and a chocolate raspberry pancake. Both were delicious . The French toast was not the best. read more

We enjoyed this place a lot! The eggs Benedict are AMAZING. Great flavor and fast service. The cooks and waitress were friendly as well. We sat outside and we were still well taken care of. The food came out hot and in generous portions. read more

101 Diner - regular eggs benedict and the jalapeño cilantro eggs benedict with potatoes. - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

This is a go-to spot for breakfast or lunch on the 101. Our table ordered the California omelet, ABC omelet, crab cake bendict/acai bowl combo, surf and turf Benedict, a side of Louisiana sausage, and the Hawaiian pancake. Everything was hot, fresh, and decadent. The service was friendly and helpful! read more

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Customer service was not ok. We were brushed off twice we were asked to have our order taken. Very slow service. Especially when their competitor is right across the street. Cheeseburger was just OK. Not really a seasoned with flavor french fries with grease not cooked enough. also had the monte Krystal sandwich which was good but the fries were not cooked very well little raw and greasy. Unfortunately, it was not a very good dining experience here. read more

Super friendly service and amazing breakfast options! I especially loved the chilaquiles with the carne. Our entire group was happy with their meals. Loved the option to sit inside or out. read more

We came here because we have been here before and the food is great! Today let me say I don't know why but we waited 40 mins till our food came! I asked our server why and she said it was be cause of all the takeout orders they were doing in the kitchen before the guests in the dining area. She was so sorry as they were unorganized! She comped our meal! Thank you! The food was so good. Our server Katie was fantastic very nice and sweet she tried so hard to make everything right! read more

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Please if you are a person of color avoid Cafe 101 at all cost. I walked into this restruant just to get a simple breakfast. I am half black and white, I noticed that they have outside seating. Knowing that I did not want to have to worry about that staff thinking im going to dine and ditch I chose to sit inside. (outside seating is on the sidewalk along the 101). So I sat inside in the middle of the room and the staff looked at me like I just got off the train and no good reason being here. So I ordered a 15 dollar breakfast with no drink. Before I could even butter my toast the server who was giving very conserned looks at me asked me to close out. I thought that was wierd but whatever so I gave a 100 dollar bill. ( I had several 20's about 600 in cash on me) but since that staff was giving this guy might dine and ditch vibes I had them break the 100 and I gave no tip. moral of this is I know people probaby get off the train right behind the restraunt and dine and ditch. But that is unexceptable to catrogize all black people doing this. read more

Great little family-friendly diner on the 101 with really kind staff. The shaved ham Benedict was delish, and my husband gave 5 stars to the breakfast sandwich on the special biscuit, too. My little one loved his banana nut pancake. Giant portions. read more

101 Diner - Diners Near Me - Encinitas, California

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