Came here on a Sunday around noon and there were a few open empty seats inside as well as some tables outside, but there were people at the restaurant. it's an order at the counter type of place. ~the food~ - Hamburger sandwich: pretty good! I really liked the pickled onion and the choice of white cheddar. I'd say overall it wasn't as greasy as a full burger which I really appreciated! - Mushroom sandwich: out of the 2 sandwiches this one was my favorite! The Maitake mushrooms were very tender and flavorful! - Homemade Potato chips: staff told us that this tends to sell out before the end of the day, but we were lucky enough to get an order of them and they were very very good! The addition of nutritional yeast in the seasoning added a lot of great to the chips! - Herb salad: super refreshing salad, this salad is made with all herbs and the lemon dressing that they used was very light and refreshing, which I think balanced out the rest of the meal! ~overall~ I definitely recommend dad's luncheonette for a quick bite. The staff were very friendly and the food was really good. Everything tasted very fresh and not too heavy. read more

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I had lunch here yesterday while driving down to Monterey. Dad's is a popular and unusual type of restaurant. It has a very limited menu and the kitchen is an old railroad caboose that is attached to a small enclosed shed where you order and has a few stools to eat inside, Outside they have several uncovered picnic tables in the corner of a parking lot. It is only open Thursday-Sunday 11:15 am to 4 pm. At the suggestion of the guy at the register I ordered the hamburger (which he said was the best you will ever eat) and had them add mushrooms to it. Their other specialty (other than the burger) is their mushroom sandwich. I also got their homemade potato chips and added a Diet Coke. I waited about 10 minutes for my meal to be served in a paper bag and then decided to sit inside on one of the stools. The burger is served on grilled square shaped sandwich bread and it was very good tasting. It wasn't a traditional burger with the shrooms, cheese, Dad's sauce, cheese, pickled onion and lettuce and fell apart by the time I was halfway thru it. It is definitely a knife and fork sandwich but I still enjoyed it. Also those homemade chips were also very good tasting. They had a (coating) on them and I can see why they are so popular. Yes this is a very good and unique type of place to eat. My only negative was the price. $16.25 for the burger, $5.50 for the potato chips and $3 for the can of Coke. With tax it was $26.65! But then this is California! read more

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I've heard a lot of good things about Dad's Luncheonette so I was excited to finally get the chance to try it! The line wasn't too long, and the food took about 20 minutes to be ready after ordering. We got a hamburger and mushroom sandwich with a side of mac & cheese. The sandwiches were good, but honestly the bread was a little soggy to me. We ate them fresh at the countertop, so it wasn't because we let them sit. I still liked the flavors though, everything by was tasty. read more

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Looking at other reviews after eating here, I think I'd go back to try the mushroom burger. I wouldn't go back to eat what I already tried in this visit. Food We ordered 3 burgers, a curry carrot coconut milk soup, and their cream dessert. Burgers were nice, but nothing super special. They were served on sliced bread instead of burger buns. What made the burger interesting were the pickled onions and over medium/hard egg. The soup was fun to try, but not amazing. Carrots could've been softer, the seeds had a fun texture. Coconut milk could've been more blended in. My husband enjoyed the dessert. Service A fairly neutral experience. There's a long line to order, the cashier is nice enough, and then they call out your name to receive your order. Ambiance It's a cute little restaurant just off of highway one. Most of the seating is outdoors in the parking lot. There's lots of tree coverage. Inside the restaurant it has surf shack vibe. read more

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This has got to be the coolest little restaurant everrr! Literally kitchen is inside a train car. You can see the track on the bottom. Just blew my mind. The cashier gets her steps in going up and down the rail car. We got some of there delicious and crispy home made potato chips as well as the burger. They have some drinks and good old coca-colas in a glass bottle, those always taste better. They have outside seating only with bistro tables and chairs under the eucalyptus trees. Friendliest staff and some merch available. Gazpacho was delish as well as the chips and patty melt with Dad sauce. read more

Dad's Luncheonette - Inside the rail car menu and merchandise - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

This is ABSOLUTELY one of my favorite sandwiches ever! I have been here numerous times and still loving it (not to quote McDonald's lol)! The mushroom sandwich is one of the best sandwiches invented. The maitake mushroom with their sauce is so scrumptious, tender, and flavorful! The egg with the runny yolk inside makes it even better. I love my burgers, but this takes the cake over the burger sandwich that they have. Even my dad who is hard to pleased, loved it as well and thought it was fish as first because of its soft and fleshy texture. Highly recommend it as well as their homemade potato chips. It's on a whole different level. Shoutout to Alyssa and Henry for their awesome customer service! One of the best services you'll ever get! Just great people and great vibes. read more

Dad's Luncheonette - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Parking was easy since there's a large lot with plenty of spacious spots available. They also have outdoor seating in front of the restaurant, which is nice if you want to enjoy your food outside. The line wasn't too long when we visited, but the wait for food was about 15-20 minutes. We ended up taking a stroll around the plaza while waiting, which helped pass the time. As for the sandwich, it was okay. I was excited to try it because of all the hype, but honestly, it felt pretty basic and nothing particularly spectacular. It was a solid sandwich and made for a good snack, but it wasn't something that really stood out to me. read more

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Experience (4/5 stars): *Food: hamburger sandwich was flavorful! what made it was the red onion pickles. bummed that they ran out of the homemade potato chips and sweet of the week. *Price: ~$15.50 for the sammich Overall, it's a yes! read more

Dad's Luncheonette - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

My boyfriend and I both got the burger sandwich, soooo goood! Definitely will go back! We went Saturday, so there was a farmers market and quite a bit of traffic on the way. Staff were great! Depending when you go, parking and seating can be a bit challenging. Inside might have 4-6 seats around the side of the place facing the windows, additional seating was outside. We even got stickers! Wanna go back to try the happy meal (1 of everything!) read more

Dad's Luncheonette - Burger, everything on it! - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Swung by Saturday afternoon to a relatively long line to what looks like a retired train cart, very cool! Despite the long line, we were about 10-15 minutes to order. After ordering, there was another 10-15 minutes to receive our food. There is maybe 5-6 seats available inside the train cart to sit and dine. Outside seating is much more preferred for us as it offered more space and the weather was great. We ordered the happy meal, which is essentially one of everything. What it came with was one hamburger, one mushroom burger, home made chips, Mac and cheese, soup of the day (artichoke and mushroom), salad, and a dessert (panna cotta). The best thing hands down is definitely the mushroom burger. Every bite was super meaty and fresh. Everything else however seemed to miss the mark for us. The hamburger was quite basic. With it being one patty, the egg being less runny than the mushroom burger we had, and the sauce being skimped on; it was less desirable than the mushroom burger by far. The Mac and cheese seemed baked and had some crunchy toppings that were a nice miss, but it lacked in the cheese that I typically crave for. The artichoke soup was just not for me. It tasted very fresh and creamy, but it missed for me in lack of savoriness. The salad was fine, but I didn't quite like the nutty granola bits. Finally, the panna cotta arrived melted and was overly sour. We also ordered the leek chili crisp they had on the side, which my gf thoroughly enjoyed. However, at $18 a jar, it was one of those things that we would try once and only once on occasion because of price. Overall, the meal itself was great. Half moon bay being so close to the coast brings a natural vibe that allows us to enjoy our food easily. But since the food we ordered didn't really hit the mark, we're giving it 4/5. Definitely sticking to the mushroom burger next time! read more

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Great experience overall. The hubs and I stopped here for lunch on Friday and there was no line so that's a good start for us because we were hungry! We both ordered the mushroom sandwich and shared the red lentils soup. I really wanted to try their house made chips but they were sold out.. by 1:40pm, must be good.. bummer for us. Oh well, we proceeded with our order without them. Our food came out fairly quickly and we sat inside since it was bit windy and cold outside. The mushroom sandwich was tasty, hearty and refreshing with the lettuce and red pickled onions. The pickled onions was a great touch, it added a crunch and it was lightly pickled so not super tart or overwhelming. I honestly didn't miss not having meat in my sandwich, the texture and flavors of the mushroom really gave off a similar feel. My favorite was the red lentil soup. It was very tasty, plenty of different layers of flavors and textures with each scoop. I didn't think I would like raisins in a red lentil soup but it was a very yummy surprise! We'll definitely be back to try the hamburger, their soup of the day and the housemade chips!! read more

Dad's Luncheonette - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Great spot--the vibes are excellent and everyone is super friendly. You can tell each order is prepared with care; they even come out to hand you your food, which is a nice touch. It's a pretty unique setup--the kitchen is inside a train car, tucked into the corner of a parking lot, which adds to the charm. The mushroom sandwich was my favorite. The texture was great and it wasn't over-seasoned, letting the ingredients shine. Really liked the pickled red onions, the egg, and just enough sauce to tie everything together while keeping all the textures intact. The herb salad had great textures--light, crunchy, and well balanced. The nuts didn't add much for me and could've been left out. The mac and cheese was okay. The wild rice added an interesting texture, but I could also do without it. Flavor-wise, it was a bit underwhelming and didn't have much going on. Dessert that day was really good. Overall, it's on the more expensive side, but worth trying and a nice bite to grab when you're in Half Moon Bay. I'd definitely come back. read more

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For a fun family friendly lunch in Half Moon Bay, try Dads Luncheonette! Everything is good and this is a place where it can be a struggle to decide. Sharing food might be helpful here! We ordered the mushroom burger, potato chips, salad, and grilled cheese. It all rocks and it all just went with the seaside PCH vibes! I recommend this super cool Cali joint!!! read more

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Unique menu, great quality, the vibes are there! Really enjoyed Dad's Luncheonette. Great service & super friendly. Both the burger & mushroom burger were fire! So delish! Can't wait to try the other items on the menu. read more

So glad I finally got to try Dad's Luncheonette! This iconic train caboose on highway 1 is hard to miss, but often sells out of its popular items early in the day. We got lucky though, and most items were available on a Friday afternoon. My boyfriend and I both got the Hamburger Sandwich and I couldn't resist the sweet of the day - the Chocolate Cherry Coconut Pudding. Service was friendly and quick, and they had a small outdoor seating area. The Hamburger Sandwich was simple but so tasty! I wasn't sure I'd like a burger on sliced bread, but they managed to pull it off. The Chocolate Cherry Coconut Pudding was insane. I loved the creamy but light texture, crunchy coconut flakes, and whole pieces of cherry. Would happily return for more! read more

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Wow! This place is crowded. Sandwich is bomb as usual, but I'm not quite sure I'll line up for it again on a weekend. Took about an hour! I think there was some farmers market in the back of the lot. But other than that there's not much to do in the lot while waiting for the sandwiches. read more

Dad's Luncheonette - Sandwich - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

This place is clearly popular--the line can get pretty long, so be prepared to wait during peak hours. The mac and cheese was decent, though I wish it were a bit cheesier and more flavorful. The sauce and pickled onions of the sandwiches were a flavorful combo, but the price felt slightly steep for what you get. Seating is limited indoors, with just a couple of small areas that can feel cramped, especially with the crowd waiting to order. Most of the seating is outdoors at picnic tables, which works fine on a nice day. The bathroom situation is a bit inconvenient--you need a key and a code to access it through what seems like a leasing office. It was clean, though, so can't complain. Just hope that the key is available when you need it! Looking forward to coming back and trying the soup and chips next time. read more

Dad's Luncheonette - Menu - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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What's not to love?? Few steps from coastside farmers' market on Sat sits this inviting caboose serving downright great, perfectly concocted egg burger sandwich & mushroom sandwich!! Ooohhh, the amazing fries with it & the tantalizing salad they serve can't get any fresher!! Now I understand what's up with the line & people willing to wait long. Personable Scott taking orders gives this place a lot of charm as well. Looking fwd to enjoying this place more in the near future!! :) read more

This is a cute and quaint eatery in half moon bay. I've passed by it so many times before finally stopping by to eat here. I love the unique look and feel of the restaurant. There is a very small menu but they do have a mushroom sandwich and I appreciate the plant based option. It was very good, but the mushrooms made the bread very soggy with a gooey texture. There is lots of outdoor seating, but not much of an indoor option so coming here is best for a nice day. read more

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Such a cool gem! We stopped by on the drive to Half Moon Bay and ordered the regular hamburger and a mushroom burger - both were delicious. The homemade chips were super unique, it had a umami flavor and a bit of a dusty texture from the seasoning. I've never had chips like it but loved it! Inside seating is pretty limited but they do have a couple picnic tables outside. read more

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I came to Dad's Luncheonette with my dad The mushrooms were juicy -- they were more like beech or oyster mushrooms than the portabella that frequently comes in mushroom sandwiches or burgers. We thought the hamburger sandwich was more flavorful overall; the sauce definitely shines in it. The egg in both sandwiches carried because it smoothed out the different textures. The bread was a little bit dry, though. The herb salad was very ... herby ... for lack of a better word, and was very unique. The various herb flavors were very strong and you probably either love it or hate it. We did feel like we should've mixed it since it was oily on top and more lemony on the bottom. read more

Dad's Luncheonette - mushroom sandwich - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We heard about this place from the Michelin Guide and came for a late lunch/ quick bit to eat. The place is off the side of the highway but they have little picnic tables and seating. The whole vibe was very cute. For food we got the mac and cheese, which was so cheesy and the crispy rice was amazing! We also tried their burger, it was pretty good and I loved the fried egg on it. Overall it was really good, and I can definitely see us coming back to pick up a snack to bring on the beach next time! read more

Dad's Luncheonette - mac and cheese - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

It was a chilly, foggy afternoon in Half Moon Bay. My partner and I were gonna go hike but wanted to grab a bite to eat before we started, so we stopped by Dad's Luncheonette. This spot, built from an old train caboose is led by a former 3 Michelin star chef, so you know it must be good and good it was. Their offerings showcase a fun casual take on good take out burgers and food. We ordered the hamburger and the mushroom sandwich to try out. The hamburger was really delicious and the flavors were super satisfying. The mushroom sandwich was essentially the same as the burger but with a mushroom instead. It was also good but I would definitely choose the beef patty over the mushroom any day. It had so much more flavor and depth. Regardless, everything we tried was awesome and I will definitely go back to try more menu items. It is a little on the pricey side, but it's a quality burger with a clear mission. read more

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Food and service are always love yall! Thank u for keeping our tummies happy and our hearts full! Also go buy the Coastal Book. read more

Dad's Luncheonette - Burger + Mushrooms. House potato chips. Both are a must!!! One of my faves that keeps me coming back every week - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We were having a laid-back day and it looked like the perfect place for some affordable comfort food, and it absolutely delivered. The indoor seating is minimal, with a small counter that fits maybe 10 people. The setup is simple: one cashier, a limited menu, and no table service. Since we'd seen the owner featured on The Drew Barrymore Show, we already had a good idea of what we wanted to try. Pro tip: check their hours before you go. They're only open Thursday through Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM. Once your order's ready, they call your name and hand you your food in a brown paper bag. There are a few picnic tables outside, and since seating is limited, we ended up sharing a table with a few other diners. No big deal, just added to the casual charm. There's a small drink menu, but we came prepared with a cooler of our own drinks for the day in the car. The real highlight was the food. The two sandwiches, house-made organic potato chips, and a creamy mac and cheese that hit the spot. Great quality, great price, and a great little find for a chill meal. read more

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I absolutely love the idea and the service was really good but wasn't crazy about the Mac and cheese, burger was really good and a cute spot

I've been going to Dad's for some time- always a delightful experience with great staff and thoughtfully conceived and prepared food. After a recent excursion to the beach, hunger struck - too late for lunch, too early for dinner. Dad's to the rescue, with a 5 star restaurant quality cup of potato artichoke soup and "lime marshmallow" dessert that was nothing short of revelatory. The flavors and presentation were beyond beyond. It's been a few days and my mouth waters just thinking about them. Thank you Dad's!! read more

Dad's Luncheonette - Potato artichoke soup - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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A great place to stop for a quick bite after a hike in or near HMB. Sit outside at the tables or at the small counter inside. The service is quick and the food arrives in minutes. The menu is limited to about a half dozen items. The best choice is the maitake mushroom sandwich. The hamburger is good too, but comes in second place. The last time we ordered late and they had leftover potato chips so they threw them in with our sandwiches. LUCKY. read more

I got their mushroom sandwich and salad on my first visit here. Both were great! Mushroom sandwich had so many great textures and flavor. Wasn't sure if I would like a non-meat sandwich but the mushroom had a robust taste to it that perfectly replaced any meat. Salad was bright and fresh. Staff was very helpful and friendly. We had our meal outside at the picnic tables because it was perfect fall weather. They were sold out of their potato chips so I'll have to come back to try it. read more

Dad's Luncheonette - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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The hamburger sandwich was good but we weren't fans of the mac and cheese. I would definitely come back for the sandwich again and to try other sides. I'm also curious about the mushroom sandwich. This is definitely a cool spot to check out when in Half Moon Bay. read more

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Came here on a Sunday and it was busy but not too busy where the wait is unbearable. The mushroom sandwich and hamburger sandwich were good! Wish I took pictures but was too hungry. The service is great as well very friendly. This place is worth a try. read more

Interesting recipe, cant say im filled Definitely a great "snack spot" if you got the $$$ Ordered two jerky dry paper thin hamburgers I guess thats the steez round here for a juicy burger is to be really thin with soggy soft sourdough. Ill be honest, my stomach is still rumbling. Didn't see any sides included with the 17$ burger grass fed or not with these prices throw in some potatoes please lol. Tab was up almost 40$ with 2 burgers and a cup of water. Came hungry and left hungry. Good spot but won't be back. read more

After ordering the happy meal, the mushroom sandwhich was the star of the show and very flavorful while the other items fell quite short of our high expectations. The Mac n cheese was one of the worst we ever had. The herb salad was fresh and delicious. The kimchi potato (?) soup tasted strange to say the least. read more

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We loved the overall vibe at Dad's Luncheonette! Simple food like a cheeseburger on buttered toasted bread makes the world a better place! The employees were super nice and super service and the picnic tables for seating were a great touch! read more

Dad's Luncheonette - Outside - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Despite what seems like a long line and big crowd, this is actually a good place to get a quick lunch! The menu is small and simple, so they know what they're doing, and they do it quickly. I've been talking about coming here for what seems like forever now, finally decided to swing by on a Saturday afternoon (they're only open Thursday-Sunday) to try one of their raved about burgers. Luckily I'm not the picky eater I once was, so I ordered it as it came, a must if you want to get as much flavor as possible. The burger was good, I liked that it came with pickled onions and an egg. Along with the burger we also got the mac n cheese and herb salad, we had wanted to get the homemade potato chips, but sadly they were already sold out. My mom really liked the mac n cheese, to me it was just okay. I did like the fact that it had chives and the puffed wild rice for some extra texture and flavor, but there was a flavor in the cheese that I just didn't love. The herb salad was good, not something I'd think to try, but glad I did. read more

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Great spot. Service was chill. Cool vibes with the architecture. Shared one burger sandwich and one mushroom sandwich. Both were fantastic. My partner loves a good sunny side up egg so it was perfect for their taste. Nice day to hit the beach. Oh and man that root beer is splendid you have to get it. It's the Devils Canyon one. I'm considered a root beer connoisseur and it already made my top 5. On the menu, that 60 dollar try one of everything item... is calling our name... till next time thanks for the bites! Ciao read more

Dad's Luncheonette - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I have heard a lot about Dad's but unfortunately I didn't think the food was anything special, especially for how long we waited (30-40 minutes to order). In general I think everything lacked flavor - especially the mac and cheese (I think it needed more salt?). I thought the rice pudding was unique but I also felt like it was missing something. read more

Dad's Luncheonette - rice pudding with puffed rice - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Charming little restaurant/ luncheonette with outdoor picnic tables! Macaroni & Cheese and Hamburger were delicious! Also, I don't even like root beer, but after my first sip, I kept stealing my husband's Devil Canyon Root Beer! So good! Food was brought out in a timely manner! Also, the owner is quite a character and enjoys visiting with the customers, which I liked, too! Will definitely come again the next time we're in Half Moon Bay! read more

Stopped by on a Saturday after finding this spot on Yelp. It had great reviews, so I decided to give it a try. There was a long line to order and quite a few people waiting for their food, but the cashier was friendly. It's a cute little spot for lunch with outdoor picnic tables, or you can grab your food to-go. We ordered the Hamburger Sandwich ($14.95), Mushroom Sandwich ($14.95), and Today's Soup--Shiitake Asparagus Rice Stew ($9). The food was fresh, and I liked that the hamburger sandwich had an egg inside. Prices are a bit high for what you get, but it's a nice place to check out and support local businesses! read more

Dad's Luncheonette - New American Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

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Strange, quirky little place. Not really my cup of tea. 1 person taking orders behind the counter of a wooden shack attached to a caboose. No real indoor seating as such (couple of tall stools around a wooden bench) and some picnic style tables scattered around outside, under some trees. It was pretty chilly in the shade to be honest. We asked to a bench in the sun. No restroom facilities, you had to get a key, and walk over to a mall, with no restroom signs indicated anywhere. The menu was bleak - maybe 3 or 4 items. Dad's Hamburger, Mac and cheese, Mushroom Burger, Soup, a couple of kids items. Being such a mediocre choice, i went with Dad's Hamburger. I was most disconcerted when it came between 2 slices of white bread. It did taste good however, and had a fried egg in it. Very messy to eat, but tasted really good. Wouldn't go here again due to the lack of menu items, and restaurant facilities i prefer. It was nice to try it once though. read more