Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Dad's Luncheonette

    4.4 (897 reviews)
    Closed 11:15 am - 4:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Dad's Luncheonette Photos

    Business Info

    DAD'S LUNCHEONETTE ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    More like Dad's Luncheonette

    Recommended Reviews - Dad's Luncheonette

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Inside the rail car menu and merchandise
    Theresa G.

    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.

    Burger, everything on it!
    Michelle C.

    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!)

    Mylinh V.

    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.

    Menu
    Cody T.

    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!

    Lu Lu S.

    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!!

    Herb Salad
    William S.

    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.

    Mushroom burger
    Kyla A.

    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!!!

    Chocolate Cherry Coconut Pudding
    Allie G.

    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!

    Sandwich
    Amanda H.

    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.

    Menu
    Brenda K.

    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.

    Gabrielle B.

    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.

    Anthony G.

    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.

    The train exterior
    Victoria Z.

    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.

    Burger + Mushrooms. House potato chips. Both are a must!!! One of my faves that keeps me coming back every week

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Angela T.
    19
    22
    15

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 13
    Thanks 0
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 16
    Thanks 0
    Love this 11
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elaine Y.
    1044
    1688
    4611

    6 years ago

    Helpful 18
    Thanks 0
    Love this 14
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 0
    Love this 12
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shen G.
    14
    21
    3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jess C.
    0
    21
    23

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 0
    Love this 17
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brian D.
    1566
    2363
    2303

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of B W.
    0
    148
    42

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tim C.
    0
    11
    0

    2 years ago

    Great service great food go don't even think about it. Great service great food go don't even think about it.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 4 of 23

    Dad's Luncheonette Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Dad's Luncheonette

    Have they reopened for business?

    Yes. Its ben open for a while

    Want to try Dad's for my birthday. But I can't get there until 1:30 pm on a Saturday. Saw a few reviews say that they tend to run out of menu items later. What tends to be out by around 1:30 pm?

    Every week is different with the flow of traffic of people I would recommend coming there as early as possible. It's worth the wait, though the business owner and his family are really nice people.

    Do they give you the option to keep the sandwich whole or have it cut in half? I notice that some of the pictures show whole sandwiches, while other pictures show sandwiches that seem to have been cut in half by the staff.

    You get the option!

    Is there a gluten/dairy free option? We will be in this area but sons girlfriend has gluten and dairy allergies.

    Both sandwiches have cheese and bread. But I'm sure you can ask for gluten free.

    View All 5 Questions

    You might also consider

    Sacrilege Brewery + Kitchen

    Sacrilege Brewery + Kitchen

    3.9
    (463 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    This brewery looked like a cool spot to stop at while exploring a small town. Being from out of…read moretown and on vacation, we inquired as to which beers were their own and which were recommended but the guy at the register was not very friendly or informational. When he brought us the beer, he set them down without telling us which one was which and walked away and we had to stop him in his tracks to ask. We ordered 2 of their own beers to try, including a pumpkin cream ale, though, it didn't have much of a pumpkin flavor. Both beers were also fairly flat. We finished off most of these beers but we would not return.

    I'd driven by Sacrilege Brewery + Kitchen many times and decided to give them a try! It seems like…read morethey're getting ready to shut down, considering all their furniture had auction stickers attached. However, they were pretty busy on a Saturday (late) afternoon. We snagged a picnic table in front of the entrance and went inside to order. My friend and I aren't beer drinkers, so we got some lemonade and iced tea to make our own Arnold Palmers. For food, we ordered Pierogies and Burrata Poutine for the table. The Pierogies were unfortunately super bland - edible, but nothing special. I loved the skinny fries in the Burrata Poutine and the concept of the dish sounded fantastic. However, the execution could've been better - the gravy wasn't my favorite and I wish there was more burrata on the big pile of fries. I also got a Chicken Caesar Salad for myself, which was very standard - exactly what I expected. My friends enjoyed the Pulled Pork Sandwich and Chicken Fingers with Tater Tots. Overall, not terrible, but far from my favorite brewery meal.

    Photos
    Sacrilege Brewery + Kitchen
    On the left: Hop Dogma Bodacious IPA and on the right: the house's own Steal Your Ace IPA
    On the left: Hop Dogma Bodacious IPA and on the right: the house's own Steal Your Ace IPA
    Fries with the beer cheese

    See all

    Fries with the beer cheese
    Old Princeton Landing

    Old Princeton Landing

    3.9
    (401 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    Grab-and-go

    Picture this- you leave Moss Beach hungry for lunch. The distillery? 45 minute wait. The brewery?…read more60 minute wait. And then, you stumble upon this unassuming spot. Zero wait. Super friendly and fast service. Great menu. Hearty plates. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Kid friendly. TV's and separate bar. Are you dreaming? My kid and I shared the Hawaiian pork plate with sticky rice and flavorful mac salad. Spouse had their delicious and near perfect burger. We share the thick and crispy fries. We couldn't have imagined such a stellar lunch with family friendly vibes. If you find yourself dreading all the tourist spots, just walk 25 feet here! I hope this review doesn't blow up this place!

    After over two decades on the coast, I finally tested the cashier's cocky claim that they have the…read morebest chowder around. He wasn't lying. It's creamy, loaded with clams, and has a great jalapeno kick. And, I fully intend to go back for it. On a follow-up visit, the fish tacos (fresh, flaky cod) were a win (although a bit of guacamole would have made them really shine), but unfortunately, the Crab and Shrimp Louie lacked the same personality (it was bland and underwhelming). If you've been avoiding this place because, like me, you aren't a fan of the bar next door, you're missing out. Try the clam chowder-it's not cocky to claim you have the best chowder in town when you actually do!

    Photos
    Yummy acai bowl in the backyard
    Yummy acai bowl in the backyard
    Authentic chilaquiles
    Authentic chilaquiles
    Breakfast burrito

    See all

    Breakfast burrito
    Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

    Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

    3.7
    (2.8k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Half Moon Bay Brewing was easily one of my favorite stops during a week-long trip up and down the…read moreCalifornia coast. They have an excellent selection of beers and drinks, along with a diverse food menu featuring everything from burgers and sandwiches to clam chowder and fresh oysters. The portions are generous, and you can really taste the quality of the ingredients in every dish. The service was just as impressive. Our server was incredibly friendly, attentive, and easily one of the best we encountered throughout the entire trip. Great food, great drinks, and outstanding hospitality made this an easy 5-star experience. If you're passing through Half Moon Bay, this is definitely a place worth stopping for a meal and a pint.

    What a great place. We have driven by this place quite a few times (usually on the weekend) Always…read morebusy which is a good sign. We decided to stop here today since we were back in the area. It was Thursday afternoon so not slammed but still busy at 2pm. Nice place with a nice view of the harbor area. They have indoor and outdoor seating. We had a beer and ordered their Nachos. Very nice plate of Nachos well prepared (layered nicely with Black Beans at the bottom that you can get at and add to your chips as needed. All the other food that we saw looked amazing and I overheard people having great comments about their dish. Our server was Caitlin and she was fantastic. Helpful and did not ignore her tables and did a great job of checking back in. We will bring going back there. If you are in the area you should stop by and visit this place.

    Photos
    Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
    Half Moon Bay Brewing Company
    Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

    See all

    Barbara's Fishtrap

    Barbara's Fishtrap

    4.0
    (3.5k reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    Came here after watching a recommendation from tik tok. And around 11 ish the line was not to bad…read more The usual wait time can be 30plue minutes. We tried the famous fish and chips, garlic bread with crab meat and topped with cheese and also the calamari. The fish and Chips you can choose cold slaw or French fries. We opted for the French fries. The fish is so juicy and fresh. One order comes with 4 pieces of fish and a good amount of French fries. They garlic bread with crab and toasted with cheese was really flavorful. It has a relatively decent amount of crab meat. It's fresh crab meat and it's not to salty of fishy like some places. The calamari are small squid pieces but fried to perfection. Not overly seasoned or oily. The tartar sauce was amazing with every item we ordered. Will definitely come back again for the fish and chips

    My sister and I came here for some seafood after crabbing on the pier next door. The takeout line…read morewas around 30+ people at 1PM, and it took 45 minutes between us joining the line and receiving our food. The dine-in line was a 2-hour wait when we arrived and had closed for the day by the time we left. In general, I'm not the type of person to wait for food no matter how good it is, and unfortunately I didn't think Barbara's Fishtrap was anything too special. My sister and I shared a mini fish-trap combo, Caesar salad, and a cup of soup-- we had almost 30% leftover. The variety of seafood in the combo is really nice! But I thought the breading was soggy and in general just really needed the sauce for a punch of flavor. The fried zucchini was by far the best thing we ate (it was seriously to-die for), which feels wrong for a seafood combo. :P Service was friendly and were trying their best to help everyone, but wow we could tell they were super overwhelmed. :( Would not come back but glad I tried it, especially with such a neighborhood hype around this place!

    Photos
    The usual
    The usual
    Outdoor seating
    Outdoor seating
    INSIDE SEATING

    See all

    INSIDE SEATING

    Dad's Luncheonette - newamerican - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...