Perfect little mom in pop restaurant. The woman nice to me very much. Will come again

We've been coming here for years and never have had problems with the food or staff. This holds true today also, came for breakfast and it was served quickly and hot and our server was nice and efficient. Sorry for those who have had bad experiences here. read more

The food was okay. And they got me the cod fish in 2 separate pieces. Half now half later. , what the heck is that? Service was slow but with a smile. Overall not the best experience. Waiting time was also a little long... read more

Chef's Coffee Shop - Diners Near Me - Arcadia, California

Food is pretty good, but I can't say the same about the service. I went in this afternoon for brunch with my grandmother and siblings, and they were, in plain words, rude. When we first entered the store, the lady at the counter looked me up and down, and hesitated for a while to give us our menus. At first, I dismissed this to her possibly being tired, but my assumption was later proved wrong when the same waitress disregarded my grandmother's attempt to call for her attention. Because my grandmother's fourth language is English, her words may have been unclear, so I decided to also call over that same waitress. She made eye contact, and then pretended it never happened, turning to her coworker and, in what she thought was a whisper, complained "That lady (referring to my grandmother) had been staring at me for a while, can you go serve her?" The sheer unprofessionality of that statement shocked my siblings and me, but we did receive acceptable service from her coworker. I don't want to make this a race thing, but there was no justification for her rude behavior from the start besides that we were the only non-white customers in the cafe. After this experience, we will not be coming here again. read more

Hearty portions, wallet friendly, quite homespun, in a league by itself. Bygone era atmosphere.. Think of Woolworth , ice cream parlors

They have the worst waitress EVER working here. Her name is Ann, she's Asian, and she can NOT get an order right. Plus, she tries to overcharge on everything. My daughter and I used to go here all the time, but if it's such a hassle, we're not going to go there anymore, read more

Good food not greasy and low salt which I like but the service is slow, its great for retired senior citizens but not for business lunch. So if you are in a rush dont come here. read more

Chef's Coffee Shop, being the last stop in our search for a decent breakfast spot in the San Gabriel Valley, we were keeping our fingers crossed. We had only picked the 3 closest contenders not wanting this little search to turn into a hunt for the Holy Grail. We were hoping that Chef's lived up to its reputation. Upon entering the hustle and bustle pointed toward the possibility that we had finally hit the coffee shop jackpot. Big signs hovering from the interior ceiling touting Belgian waffles had my wife Stacey salivating. The scent in the air was that intoxicating blend of breakfast delights, but we had been suckered into this state of euphoric anticipation at the first spot, the overly hyped LeRoy's. So we contained our hopes and judgment until the last bite was taken. We were quickly seated and took in the decor and menu for the first time. While the decor, to use the words "interior design" would be laughable, was an absolute mess, the menu was extensive. It ranged the gambit and took in all the day's meal groups. Some seemed a tad suspect and our general consensus was that certain meals should probably be avoided, but we would have to wait and try it on another day. Today was reserved for breakfast. To be fair to its predecessors in our little trifecta, Chef's meal would have to bear some resemblance to the fare at Rod's & LeRoy's. So Stacey went for the waffles of Belgian and I went for a breakfast combo, but instead of a steak or pork chops this time around I went for the biscuits & gravy. The hash browns were the big winner in both taste and quantity. The eggs were fabulous as well. If you are a biscuit and gravy fan this is the place for you. The meats, the sausages & bacon, were cooked to perfection, but weren't special as far as the type of cuts or flavoring's. Out of the three contestant's Chef's would win in the standard fare category. Where they lost out, and lost out big time, were in the waffles and customer service departments. The waffles were completely raw and under cooked in side and had to be sent back. It was obvious that the cooks were more concerned with speed as opposed to quality. And when something has to be sent back is when your server is truly tested. Sadly our waitress from hell, Niki, had already been failing from the moment she approached our table. She had too much attitude and not enough personality. The vibe we got was that we were inconveniencing her, which is a huge no-no in the customer service realm. When the request for a properly cooked waffle was presented to her the wheels came off her cart and it was all downhill from there. So in summation , out of the three, it breaks down like this. LeRoy's is over hyped and definitely not worth the wait. Rod's is has the cool vibe, the best waffles & a decent breakfast if you stay away from any of their cuts of meats i.e.; steaks or pork chops. Chef's has the most bang for your buck in the quantity department if the place isn't too crowded and the cooks can take their time. Oh and if you get Niki as your server ask for another even if you have to wait a few minutes. It will be worth your wait. read more

Love this place! I eat here a couple times a month. The waiting staff is friendly and attentive. It's like eating at a relatives house, so warm and cozy. Highly recommend this spot. read more

Walked in and the host/cashier didn't even say hi or try to smile. She looked really pissed off then walked us to our table. Our coffee mugs were really dirty. There were scraped of dried brown colored food inside the mug. I asked my waiter to exchange it for us. She grabbed another cup from the neighboring table and took the dirty one back saying "if you don't want to use it someone else can." Then puts it back on the neighboring table for the next unlucky customer. gross. We ordered scrambled egg special, two omelets. That came with hash brown, the "famous" biscuit and gravy, and toasts. Portion was big. The egg items were not bad. what you would expect at a diner. the toasts were slathered in butter. the biscuits were lukewarm and the gravy was way under seasoned and also lukewarm. hash brown was cold. Only the top layer is warm. It tasted horrible. Overall: Mediocre service, terrible food. Everything seems very dirty inside. I thought Coco's on Baldwin was not very good, that's why I tried this place. I had high hopes but it totally let me down. read more

Classic coffee shop, probably opened in the late 50's to early 60's and has not been remodel since, still in it's original state. First thing I noticed when I walked in was the smell, I have nothing against seniors, but I just didn't expect the restaurant to carry the old ppl odor. The reason for the odor was because over 90% of the patron were 65+ crowd, but I got use to it after awhile. The food was ok, we order the waffles and biscuits which were good. Service was also just ok. There's nothing that makes me want to go back, so I'll just go to Denny's from now on. read more

So disappointed. I usually love supporting local shops, and I was excited to check this place out. We ordered the French Slam and the Anaheim Chile Omelette. The french toast was really ordinary...except it tasted like grease. I think you have to drench it in syrup to make it edible. Now, the omelette -- seriously, you need to TRY to mess it up as badly as they did. It was like a poorly-shaped scramble with really old chilies and a slice of Kraft cheese "melted" on top. No cheese in the actual omelette, barely any chillies, and absolutely no flavour. I took one bite and didn't even bother going back for another. Total cost, with a coffee (and no waitstaff to come around and refill it) came to be $20 minus tip. What a waste. If you want to support a local diner, try Nano Cafe, the Monrovian .. (or even Denny's for better food, sigh). read more

Came in for the Temple City parade. Great food, great prices. Will be back for lunch today too! Friendly service. I'm impressed.

Chef's has cheerful employees serving up good food. We were here for breakfast. be prepared to wait on a table, this place gets crowded. But once you are seated, everything moves good . read more

I had breakfast here the other day with my boyfriend the food was pretty good and service was not bad either the price is comparable with dennys but some stuff I herd its better here well ill give this.place another try in the near future read more

The food is good. Too bad they hire such disgusting and unprofessional people like that waitress called Cheyenne. I went once and thanks to her spiteful attitude it was my last time going. I usually don't talk about people like this but this waitress really made my day unpleasant. read more

I love this old restaurant. its so old school. Been goin here for over 30 years!! Great breakfast and fast too!!!! Good dinners as well. you get salad, soup, and a dessert!!! yummy! great old fashioned prices!!! Lots o old people , but its nice n peaceful!! Good old Chefs!!!! Oh but dont eat the salsa cuz its good but u will get the runs!!!!LOL read more

Boo and I stop by here after practically every weekend getaway we have! They have a great sunrise breakfast special for 6.99 that comes w/coffee or oj, bacon,eggs,sausage,hash browns and pancakes. Pretty good! Their coffee is yummy...made in those old school coffee machines and love how they have piles of flavored creamers on your table already. Also on the table is some homemade salsa...bomb w/breakfast! Their burger special w/a drink is only 4.99~can't beat that! Never been here for dinner but I'm sure its just as good =) read more

I'm not sure why so many people think this place is good. I ordered simple waffles, scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. Everything was cold!! The butter didn't melt at all on the waffles, the eggs were ice cold and the hashbrowns were burnt...and cold. I know the place is cheap but I'd rather pay the extra buck for hot food. Won't be going here again. read more

I gotta admit this place has good food. $6.99 for a soup or salad, a burger & fries, a soft drink and a piece of pie!!! Great Deal... but the waitresses are horrible... the little Asian waitress is so rude, she always answers back with smart answers like she knows you... I would recommend it to eat, but beware, you might meet some of the grumpiest old waitresses around... read more

I was very excited to try a new place for breakfast and I was excited to see the old mugs and groovy atmosphere. Unfortunately, I was severely disappointed. It did have old mugs and an older crowd but thats about it. I had a big bowl of the mushiest oatmeal I have ever had. I never thought anyone could screw up oatmeal. I mean its just oats and water. :( My boyfriend had the country breakfast and it wasn't anymore exciting. His dad had huevos rancheros which he said were greatly disappointing. I did like the service and the atmosphere, but I would not come here again, nor would i recommend it to anyone. There are better places out there. read more

It's decent.... The food isn't much to rave about. Service was excellent though and they have their own parking lot which is nice. Over all this place was meh. read more

first off, i sure miss the shop's cute little grandpa. i know they miss him, too. he use to sit in the same two seater booth right there in the front, right of the cash register. chef's is the kind of place you miss when you are traveling. it's got that 'you are home' vibe. decor is mid to late sixties, complete with tacky witticisms ("if you tinkle when you sprinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie") and paint by number paintings. when you are sitting in a flying J, or a denny's you click your ruby reds and lament, '"here's no place like chef's" i have done all meals here- i lived close by for years, and they are all OK, definitely affordable comfort food. breakfast is definitely the meal of the day, and you can eat it at any time. there are lots to choose from, and they are all great. the mrs. always gets the scrambled egg supreme. for the styling good munch, add the table salsa. that adds a whole new dimension of delish to the dish. me, i go for the county sausage breakfast- the patty, not the links. gravy on the top and on the side. oh man. the bone n ham is also the bomb. flapjacks, light and fluffy, oh yeah. getting kinda hungry. might be time to drop in. don't forget the coffee. it comes in a mug that holds the flavor of 40 years of coffee shop history in the porcelain cracks. savor it, baby, cuz when it's gone, it don't come back. read more

Mmmm! First time here...The breakfast portions are more than enough (made an xtra plate for my niece). Been trying new places referred by my fellow yelpers. I had the breakfast and it was yummy, just like Grandma's...I can't wait to come back and try lunch/dinner. My waitress was nice, it was as if we were regulars. This place is a hole in the wall the decor is 70's, but, retro is back. If ur passing thru or just craving sum home cooking I must insist u stop here ;) read more

Not sure why 2 stars, pity I guess. Should be less. With the changing demographic in this area I don't know how they keep going. I was looking for an old time coffee shop which are few and far between. With a few tweaks this place could be great. We usually go for dinner because Nano an Leroy's are closed at 3. Those are much better options. Last night was the final straw. Not busy at all, yet we were ignored by Betty. The younger pleasant gal was forced to come over. My grilled cheese was decent, and the fries are good. But my friend had a hamburger steak that was scorched. I appreciate being loyal to old timers on your staff, but she's neither pleasant nor efficient and I'm done. read more

What a great place for breakfast. Wonderfully friendly staff and great food. Good vibe feeling perfect for family breakfast.

Good grease pit!! If you bring in a church bulitin on sundays you get a discount. This place has been here since i was a kid and i'm sure it will stick around! read more

Horrible service didn't get my biscuits and gravy was told I'm looking at an old menu off yelp customer is always right doesn't apply here

Quality comfort food and really cheap prices. Chef's isn't reinventing the culinary wheel but they don't need to. Best liver and onions I've had in years. read more

4 stars is my final score. I've driven by this nook many times, getting gas next door. (They share a parking lot in the back. ) Everytime i drive by i get a delicious aroma wafting into my car. The smells remind me of my favorite hometown breakfast spots that I'd visit with my family. Today i had a chance to try the food I've smelled all those times. ::sigh:: I ordered the pastrami omelet with hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy. The gravy was good and they had a selection of coffee creamers available. That's the highlight from this visit. The pastrami was scraps that i had to dissect my omelet to find. The flavor suffered as a result. The onions had nothing to work against to find a flavor balance. The hashbrowns, one of my favorite breakfast foods was mushy and cold. I imagine they were pulled out of a frozen bag. Placed on the grill. Smashed top get the golden brown and then flipped in the middle to sandwich the frozen top. That might work most days, it didn't today. Normally I'd devour a 4-5 egg omelet, today i left the scraps of a 3 egg one. The staff seemed to be busting their butts and were kind to the seniors I heard them interacting with, that earned the higher score. read more

I've been here quite a few times now, mostly for breakfast and a few times for lunch and dinner. It is like a mom & pop style Denny's diner, which means it is better than a chain diner. The prices are really reasonable, especially if you qualify for the senior specials which happens to be the majority of the clientele, and the portions are very large. My favorite breakfast item is the Belgian waffle which is very fluffy yet crisp. My favorite lunch item is actually a side item, the tortilla soup, which is only served sometimes as a daily special. It seems to be the type of place with a loyal following and a lot of regulars. It is crowded during prime times like weekend breakfasts. The major negative aspect was I left a cash tip at the table, but they also filled in their own 25% tip on my credit card payment. Lesson learned, don't leave the tip blank during a credit card transaction. read more

Been stopping by here once in awhile for years now. It's got the charm of an old-fashioned diner, complete with good counter seating. I normally only come here for breakfast but stopped in for lunch today. The breakfast offerings are pretty decent. Price isn't too bad and portions are decent. However, for lunch today, I was a bit disappointed. I had their anniversary special they have going right now which is a great deal (hamburger, fries, soup or salad and a drink for $4.99) but left a lot to be desired. I got their clam chowder and it was pretty bland. The hamburger came out smelling of the nostalgic, old burger joint smell but was also pretty tasteless. Plus, the lettuce that came on the plate for the burger was practically soaked in water. I like the fries they serve but again, under seasoned. Even their root beer didn't seem to have all the regular taste. Maybe the under seasoning is due to most of their patrons being elders. Having said all that, the best part of the meal was the banana cream pie that I added on for $1. Definitely worth getting. read more

Chef's Coffee Shop - banana cream pie - Diners Near Me - Arcadia, California

Went there on a Friday night and the whole experience was bad. The waiter would rush off before we could ask for anything and the food was mediocre at best. Save your money and go somewhere better. read more

The Sunrise special: French toast or pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausage, hashbrowns and coffee or oj for $6.99. And they don't charge extra if you sub the hashbrowns for home-style potatoes w/ onion and bell pepper. I'm a fan read more

Chef's Coffee Shop is such a sweet place. I love the vibe here because it's got that friendly mom-and-pop shop feel. The staff is always smiling and make you feel really comfortable. It's like an old school diner in my opinion. I always get the corned beef hash here because it's made just the way I like it. The best part is the free salsa at the table. I put that on everything... the beef hash, the eggs, and the hash browns. The eggs are fluffy when scrambled and have large yolks when over-easy. The hash browns are extra crispy (as requested). I think they're very accommodating and on top of your coffee refills. The coffee doesn't taste burnt either. The home-made gravy is soo good and the biscuits are fresh. It's my go-to feel-good brunch spot for sure. read more

i probably would have never discovered this had my brother hadnt suggested it. he actually found it by searching Yelp! its definitely an old school spot. we were there pretty early so it wasnt packed. but, by the time we left, it was definitely bustling. my nephew got the breakfast burrito and enjoyed it. my brother ordered the steak and eggs and cleaned his plate. i got the french toast combo plate. its a pretty basic plate but everything was spot on. the eggs were cooked right, the sausage was good (the bacon was just alright) and the french toast was pretty damn tasty. i dont know if i'll ever have the opportunity to go there again, but if youre in the area, its a solid breakfast spot. read more

This review is long overdue. This place is awesome! The clientele always sets the mood for a place and this clientele screams cheap, good, homecooked food! Servng size is huge, food is delicious. Everything is good there except for the dinner rolls. Personal preference...not my thing. Tonight, after several visits, finally had something other than Navy Bean or Split Pea soup. The Cream of Chicken tonight was really chunky, as in, it wasn't a creamy soup. It looked like the thickening agent had overly thickened the soup. It was good, though. The breakfast is always really good and a huge serving. Did I mention CHEAP! The Buttermilk Chicken is meh...the country fried chicken...DELICIOUS! Had the Spanish Cod...not too shabby. Not the most delicious thing I've ever eaten, but above average. Wednesday and Thursday nights, kids eat free. 1 free kids meal per paying adult. One time I went in there expecting to use a Tuesday or Wednesday BOGO and the waitress right away said kids eat free. Nice! I had no idea! The staff there is really nice. I have nothing negative to say about this place. We started coming here every 1-2 weeks. I guess I'm a regular now? Hahaha! read more

Came in Saturday morning with my husband. Great little place to eat. Very friendly staff with great portions. Loved it when the waitress substituted the bacon for toast without hesitation. That us customer service for me. read more

The biscuits and gravy were good not uber fantastic or anything but good. My daughter loved the french toast and bacon so we will be back. The prices are right and the waitstaff really nice!!! Eat at the counter no wait! read more

One of the few remaining original style coffee shops! Feels the same way as it did 20 years ago!! The lunches are great. Big servings of all your coffee shop favorites. I had the club sandwich, and it was perfect! read more