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    CJ's Diner

    4.2 (542 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 2:00 pm

    CJ's Diner Photos

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    CJ'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - CJ's Diner

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    Cinnamon Roll Feench Toast...holy moly this was yummy.
    Dee M.

    The service was impeccable and the food was delicious! A little off the beaten path but definitely worth it. Be sure to ask about the specials...definitely made me change my mind and im so glad I did!!

    Create your own omelette and pancakes

    Came back to CJs this morning, greeted by Antonio with complimentary Cinamon Rolls that were amazing. We were taken care of by Veronica today. Food was amazing as always, came out hot and ready like a little Caesar's pizza. Was able to meet CJ himself. The whole staff and environment was top of the lines. Places like these need to be appreciated and Valued more because they are hidden gems. Will be making it a yearly tradition to go back to CJs every opportunity we get.

    Biscuits & Gravy with fried eggs! Half Order
    Anna C.

    Lovely little locals diner with a great atmosphere. The service was quick and friendly, which we really appreciated. The food was very good overall. The vanilla latte was excellent--nice latte machine! They are known for cinnamon buns and made to order! They didn't disappoint--so make sure to add one to ur order for all to share! Overall, it was a pleasant experience if you're in Palm Springs and want a cute locals diner not touristy.

    Fish and chips.
    Jon K.

    It's been years since we were at CJ's. We were greeted with good service and a friendly environment. We ended up there because I was looking for fish and chips, and CJ's didn't disappoint. I don't know if it's the best in the valley but it was good. My wife has corn beef hash. It was good as were the hash browns. This was a great lunch choice. Can't wait to go back.

    One of the BEST hamburgers I've ever had. Come try it yourself & you'll agree!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Thank you.

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    3 years ago

    Local and loved by locals. Highly recommended. Best place for good food and great service. Consistently excellent over the years.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Thank you.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Raylene M.

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    2 years ago

    Warm friendly server, solid breakfast, fair prices! A neighborhood gem. We are on vacation but will be back again soon!

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    Raylene M.

    We appreciate your time in sharing your experience at CJ’s Diner.

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    4 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Thank you.

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    5 years ago

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    Raylene M.

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    3 years ago

    Beautiful patio seating! Had a fabulous chicken breast sandwich - so fresh and tender! Friendly waitstaff with minimal wait time!

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    6 years ago

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    Raylene M.

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    5 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Thank you for your review. We greatly appreciate the details.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Thank you CeCe for all your feedback. Will pass on to owners.

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    3 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    Raylene M.

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    2 years ago

    Fun local spot and super friendly staff. Class is diner feel. Owner came and spoke to us and welcomed us for our first time there.

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    2 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Thank you, we really love that you enjoyed you meal time with CJ’s.

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    2 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Thank you for a detailed experience. Much appreciated.

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    2 years ago

    Best Fried Chicken ever! A true LA vibe diner experience with great service and helpful staff.

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    Raylene M.

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    8 years ago

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    Raylene M.

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    10 years ago

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    Raylene M.

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    2 years ago

    Loved the outside patio. Food eggs benedict was not the greatest. Would not order again.

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    6 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Your review is much appreciated! Happy you enjoyed your time with us.

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    8 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Thank you so much for sharing.

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    6 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    We appreciate feedback, however this is not CJ’s Diner in Palm Desert.

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Raylene M.

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    3 years ago

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    Raylene M.

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    4 years ago

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    Raylene M.

    Thank you.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Very good food. Plentiful portions. Good service. Nice patio. Reasonable prices. A variety of menu choices.

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    Raylene M.

    We appreciate your opinion. Thank you.

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    Page 4 of 14

    CJ's Diner Reviews in Other Languages

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    Eureka!

    Eureka!

    4.0
    (2.1k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Casual dining

    Isaiah is one of the best managers I've interacted with in a long time we had a small discrepancy…read moreover a take out order and he took care of it in the smoothest way and couldn't have appreciated it more. They have good everything here just depends what you like and note they have about 20 options of draft beer as well! You'll find good prices great staff portions and quality at this place!

    We visited Eureka for the first time in mid-April for dinner with a large group celebrating a…read morefamily member's special day. Our reservation was for 12 people, and although four members of our party were running late ( My husband, our kids and I), the staff was incredibly accommodating. They held our table and even allowed us to order ahead so our food would be ready when we arrived. This ended up being a lifesaver because we were short on time and had an event immediately afterward. As soon as we sat down, our food started arriving. With a 3-year-old, a baby, and a tight schedule, having everything run so smoothly made a huge difference. I was honestly impressed that they were able to coordinate this so efficiently, especially during dinner service and for such a large party. Now for the food! Since it was our first visit, we weren't exactly sure what to expect, but everything we tried was delicious. I ordered the truffle cheese fries, cheese balls, and sweet corn, and each dish was flavorful and well-prepared. The cheese balls were especially memorable! They had the perfect texture, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and not greasy or soggy at all. My husband ordered the Jalapeño Egg Burger and was pleasantly surprised that it could be made with a gluten-free bun. It's always nice to see restaurants offering options that accommodate different dietary needs without sacrificing flavor. Our 3-year-old enjoyed a plain burger and fries from the kids' menu, which was the perfect size for him. What stood out most was the service. Every staff member we interacted with was friendly, attentive, and genuinely helpful. Dining out with two children under three can be chaotic, but the team made our experience feel easy and stress-free. Between the excellent service, accommodating staff, and delicious food, our first visit to Eureka was a great one. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu.

    Photos
    Eureka!
    Eureka!
    Eureka!

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    Wilma & Frieda's Cafe

    Wilma & Frieda's Cafe

    4.2
    (3.6k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    I have never ate breakfast or lunch here but the cinnamon roll is SOOO GOOD!! The cinnamon roll is…read morenontraditional as it comes looking like a cake slice and the frosting is dripped over the sides. The roll itself is so fluffy and even with it sitting on the counter for a few hours (it was already 3pm when I picked up the roll.) It was still so fresh, the frosting tasted like it had just been whipped with cream cheese and it wasn't dry at all. The server stated to place it in the microwave for 30-45 seconds but it honestly didn't need to be warmed because it was so fresh, perfectly balanced and just the right amount of cinnamon. Yes, it was $8 but it was so worth the price tag given I ate the roll for two days and it was still great. The sides were a little hard on day two but it was sitting out.

    A generous two stars, from the two of us. Let's forget the thirty minute wait, it was a Saturday…read moreafternoon ahead of Father's Day so not bad at all considering. Now the food. I had the California Benedict. The "house made" English muffin was way too hard, pro-tip, if you order this ask for a steak knife! The slice of tomato was very cold and the egg was not what I would considered properly poached, the white still not set. The hollandaise... was not at all yellow from egg yoke, and had not a hint of lemon, it was more of a béchamel than hollandaise. The potatoes were decent however, cooked through with a bit of bell pepper. My dining companion had one of their chicken sandwhiches with bacon. The bacon was excellent, the bread decent, but the chicken was "like rubber." The space is OK, clean, but very, very loud. And cramped. The service was good, considering how busy they were. Maybe we ordered the wrong items? But I have no need to go back.

    Photos
    The old cafe sign
    The old cafe sign
    Mocha perfection!
    Mocha perfection!
    Ice tea

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    Ice tea
    Paradise Cove Cafe

    Paradise Cove Cafe

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    We always try to find new restaurants to add to our Palm Desert rotation, and this is a contender…read more We arrived around 10 on a Tuesday and were seated right away, but it took awhile to get our food. There were a lot of breakfast options, from specialty pancakes and waffles to unique omelets and Mexicandishes like Chilaquiles. I got the Biancasada omelet, which has carne asada, peppers, onions and cheese. It is served with your choice of side (I got potato wedges) and bread (I subbed the grilled peach specialty pancake). The omelet was ok...the carne asada wasn't great and the other ingredients could have been cooked more. The wedges were good, but I didn't like the grilled peach pancake as much as I thought I would and wished I would have got the lemon blueberry. Portions were big, and I took half to go. Hubby got the chorizo con papas omelet with hash browns cooked extra crispy and a buttermilk pancake. The omelet was really good, and the hash browns were cooked well. The pancake was a pancake. They only have Pepsi products, so I went with water, which they refilled well. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and they had Hawaiian music playing. I'd come back to try lunch. The sandwiches and burgers coming out looked good.

    I've been coming here for brunch for a while and have always enjoyed it, which makes today's…read moreexperience even more disappointing. After being seated, we waited quite a while before someone finally came over to take our food and drink order. After placing our order, we sat there for well over 30 minutes waiting. Our drinks, which were just an orange juice and a coffee, never arrived, and no one ever came back to check on us or give us an update. We were simply left sitting there with nothing. At that point, we decided to get up, cancel our order, and leave. I completely understand that restaurants can get busy, but there was little communication and we felt completely forgotten. It is really unfortunate because this used to be one of my favorite brunch spots. I hope this was just an off day, but today's service was unacceptable and incredibly disappointing. I truly hope they can turn things around because I would love to enjoy this place again. However, until then I don't think I will be coming back.

    Photos
    Great service!! I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area :)
    Great service!! I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area :)
    Lemon Blueberry Pancakes.
    Lemon Blueberry Pancakes.
    Indoor dining area

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    Indoor dining area
    Solanos Bar and Grill

    Solanos Bar and Grill

    4.5
    (332 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    We had no destination in mind but saw Solano's and decided to give it a try. We go there now at…read moreleast 3 times a month and have never been disappointed!! The Chef/owner is incredible. When you enjoy a dish there and want to have it again rest assured it is the same fabulous taste as your initial time! We have had steaks, pastas, salads ,, pizza and wines and I have loved every dish I tried. The short ribs are luscious . My favorite salad is the beet salad. Always so fresh and so many flavors in one salad! The Pork Chop is excellent too. It's difficult to find a Chef who can get a pork chop just right. This chef nails it everytime!! There is a little area with high top tables Where one can catch a ball game and also one tv in one of the eating areas but they are not at all intrusive. There typically not many children when we are there but when they have been they have been well mannered at very young ages and they make dining fun! I have no negatives which is highly unusual for me (just ask my husband!!)wonderful overall experience. If you want a bit more time between courses just tell your waiter. They are very accommodating!! PS Roy the bartender is really nice and fun. Try it!!

    Got reservations on Open table, spent an hour trying to call. Recording listed hours and days…read moreopen. Drove all the way out there to see they were closed. Thanks for the recording in your phone not mentioning that small detail. Apparently this is your thing because I now see a review saying the same thing from 3 years ago! A notice on your website, or phone recording could go a long way. Saw some other customers drive up looking dumbfounded too.

    Photos
    Solanos Bar and Grill
    Linguini Bolognese
    Linguini Bolognese
    Entrance

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    Entrance
    Porta Via

    Porta Via

    4.3
    (547 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$$

    We had a great early dinner at Porta Via and everything we ordered tasted really good. The linguini…read moreand clams were cooked perfectly with no chewy pieces at all. My youngest loved her spaghetti and meatballs and she is usually pretty picky about pasta. I had the butternut squash ravioli and they were rich, creamy, and exactly what I wanted. My wife ordered the miso glazed seabass and she loved it. I stole her bok choy and that made me very happy. The restaurant is really clean with a laid back contemporary vibe and great music. The AC at our first table was blasting cold air right on us and the staff moved us right away with no issue at all. They were also incredibly kind to my youngest whose birthday we were celebrating. They surprised her with her favorite tiramisu and a candle which completely made her night. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. We will definitely be back.

    Porta Via offers a perfect setting right in the heart of El Paseo's high-end shopping district. The…read morerestaurant is beautifully designed, featuring a welcoming, open-air flow that perfectly captures the desert aesthetic. It clearly caters to a sophisticated crowd--very similar in vibe to their Calabasas location. While parking is accessible in the rear, it can get congested during peak season. The menu is extensive with plenty of excellent selections, though the pricing is definitely premium. For instance, a Cobb salad topped with fish can easily exceed $45; while the quality is high, that's a significant jump over nearby staples like Daily Grill. Service was friendly but lacked consistency; our server disappeared mid-meal without a hand-off, requiring us to flag down other staff. Overall, it's a bright, airy, and stylish spot well worth a visit, provided you're prepared for the 'luxury' price point.

    Photos
    The dining room
    The dining room
    Mussels
    Mussels
    Booth seating

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    Booth seating
    The Nest

    The Nest

    3.9
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    If you're looking for a fun night out in the desert, The Nest never disappoints. We had family in…read moretown and it was our first choice. We started with dinner and ended up staying for the music, dancing, and all the fun that makes The Nest such a special place. I ordered the chicken piccata and honestly, it was the best I've ever had. The service was wonderful, and even though we were seated near the piano in the bar area where it can get a little loud, that's part of what makes it such a fun atmosphere. The best part of the night was having everyone together. My niece's boyfriend was visiting from Ireland, and we laughed and danced all night. I especially loved seeing my sister-in-law out on the dance floor and having so much fun. It was one of those nights where people of all ages were dancing, laughing, and just enjoying being together. We had such a great time that they went back again the very next night. The live music was fantastic, and it was great seeing Nick on saxophone. The crowd was a fun mix, the energy was high, and the whole place just felt happy. A coworker recently went during Restaurant Week and couldn't stop talking about the steak, the generous portions, and the peanut butter pie. The Nest has been a desert favorite for years, and there's a reason. It's always nice to see Dodi there and how much pride she takes in the restaurant. Most people think of The Nest for the music and dancing, but don't miss the food. It really is that good! One tip: go early or make a dinner reservation so you don't end up waiting in line. The Nest is still one of the most fun places in the desert!

    What a fun place to go to after a concert! We were in town and The Nest is a MUST place to visit…read morewhen in town. We waited close to 25 minutes (the only drag) but once we were in the party started. The drinks were nice great and the DJ awesome! He was playing a saxophone as he pumped the crowed up. There was a big crowd full of happy people dancing and enjoying the vibe. Highly recommend but bring your patience to wait in that line.

    Photos
    The Bosses
    The Bosses
    The Nest Crew
    The Nest Crew
    Celebrating 15 years of The Nest!

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    Celebrating 15 years of The Nest!

    CJ's Diner - diners - Updated June 2026

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