So GOOD!!! Love this hidden gem. Everything we've had (eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, French toast, turkey melts, fries) has been delicious. Our go to spot on way to Tahoe read more

Be prepare to wait a bit if you dine here for breakfast - they are always busy. We sat at the counter. I ordered the French toast w eggs & sausage patty... meh, the toast could use a lot of work (it was bland). The others loved their dishes (eggs bene & steak). Service is friendly & awesome. This restaurant is located directly behind the local wooden grocery store. read more

Donner Lake Kitchen - French toast- lacks flavor - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Truckee, California

See all

I wish I'd done this sooner! A few weeks ago we went there for brunch and they were BUSY! We had our name on the list for an hour. We probably waited a little over an hour HOWEVER we understood all of that. They had 1 waitresses on staff because that's all they had and let me tell you she KILLED it! She was pleasant, patient, and she knew how to make each table feel special. Food_=10/10 service 10/10 THANK YOU!!!!!! read more

The food is amazingly delicious and the staff are very friendly and personable! The gravy on the biscuits is do savory & the #2 with the fresh fruits in the flapjacks was the greatest breakfast ever!!! read more

This place is clearly doing something right, considering how popular it is! All the food was great, and the service was actually very good (despite the fact the kitchen is small and can be a bit slow when busy). Also note there may be a waiting period when you walk in; it's a "wait to be seated" place since so many people come here. I had the flapjacks with bacon and eggs, and it was a very nice portion. The pancakes were perfectly cooked, and the food was hot! The breakfast quesadilla with chorizo was also surprisingly good, too. The hot chocolate was both good (and pretty), with the whipped cream and sprinkles. Would certainly return! read more

We stopped here for breakfast before exploring Donner Memorial State Park. We sat at the bar because there was no wait and it was first come, first serve. I've never sat at a breakfast bar before, so that was fun! The food was awesome! I also ordered a Bloody Mary and that was perfecto! It came with bacon and I drank it all! We ordered stuffed French toast and an omelet scramble with veggies and sausage. The French toast was SO delish! The girls gave us great service and it is definitely a place we will return to next time we visit ! read more

See all

Loved this little gem, food was great, service was excellent and the Bloody Mary hit the spot!

Solid breakfast option in Donner. Wasn't blown away by anything but it was good food and ambiance

Cons: Long wait, so if its busy grab a spot at the counter, because there it's first come first served. The waiting list is handled by a dry erase board at the front entrance, that's not very well monitored. People are being people; so some unfortunately refuse to be honest and respectful of others, and some do things like erase names or put their names ahead of others. A good old fashioned pen and paper system, or even a host/hostess, could alleviate those problems on busy days. A host person part time would be ideal, because unfortunately that job falls on the already busy waitresses, who should be 100% focused on serving in order to keep things flowing. The waiting area is small, and there's nothing provided to keep kids entertained. Once again making people wait; so maybe an effort to make that enjoyable too, with some games or coloring books, Toys.. Pros: Pretty much worth the wait, because the food is amazing. The best biscuits and gravy I've had in California. Everything is delicious. Real maple syrup, Bloody Mary's, Moscow Mules, and Mimosas. Stellar service. The Place is comfortable with a country charm. read more

I don't live in this area but if I come back THIS is the only place I'll be eating at. The service is good, the vibes are also great, and the food is so so good. It's such a cozy family environment. read more

Do yourself a favor and skip this place. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A LARGE PARTY! So many things wrong with this restaurant. When you first walk in you're ignored because you're expected to write your name on a board (yes, that's what they use instead of a host) and magically wait for someone to know you're there. If you happen to make eye contact with a server you will get ignored. Good luck if you have a large party. The wait is ridiculous, but doable with a large party because a wait is expected. The food is subpar and not worth all the trouble. Especially when there are other great places in the Truckee area. The waitress that served us was mad from the start. I'm sorry waitressing is your job and you hate it. You chose it. Your patrons did not. You work in a tourist town. What do you expect if not tourists????? If you want a waitress with the worst attitude ever, subpar food, terrible service overall and a long wait, come eat here. Oh. And if you're totally cool with leaving your sensitive debit/credit card information so they can run it when their machines are working again, come here. Or, you know, go somewhere where they appreciate their patrons and serve them with a smile on their face. Now you know. read more

This place is home. Absolutely most delicious food in town, and the best experience. Kelly and Katie are basically family. Whenever you get the opportunity to go to DLK, know you're in for not only a delicious meal, but lots of love and good laughs. Please only come if you're patient, kind and ready for a delicious meal!!! Menu highlights; always start with a bacon Bloody Mary or a pitcher of mimosas. You can always get champagne and then a flight of juices! Be sure to always check out their specials, too. The Shaun's bennys and the breakfast nachos will fill every need in your heart. SO GOOD. Everything is made with love. Huevos Rancheros- get the chorizo. You cannot go wrong with the #7 Traditional. I am a fan of the Grizzo's breakfast sandwich- be sure to get a side of their delicious blackberry jam!! Like I said- everything is delicious. Everything is made with love. Their kitchen crew is outstanding. If you don't get the chance to visit, you're missing out. Good food takes time, and good things come to those who wait, so be ready to enjoy your experience when you come to DLK- you won't forget it, you won't regret it. read more

Definitely my favorite place. Homestyle amazing food. Never a let down. This is the huevos, so so so good. read more

Donner Lake Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Truckee, California

Excellent as always! We love Donner Lake Kitchen and living in Truckee. Katie and the team are the best.

Great food and Truckee vibes. Absolutely love this place. Be forewarned: portions are big!

Had breakfast here this morning. Found the place on yelp-glad we did! Delicious!! We were a party of 8 and we ordered different items on the menu and everything was on points, big portions too. Make sure to come in whenever in the area. read more

See all

good food and good crowd however food took over 30min to come out but staff was friendly so that made up for it, also the hot chocolate was the first I've had that came with 2 of those animal crackers that i used to eat as a kid! will go back if i'm the area again! go early though cuz it's a wait for sure otherwise! read more

I would like to say that this is BY FAR the BEST place in Truckee. Everything on the menu is soo delicious and made with love. We always feel so welcome like family when we eat here. Seeing 1 star reviews of people being upset at wait times speaks volumes. So many people love this place that it will get packed and we will gladly wait because we enjoy it so much. Another thing is that I call BULLSHIT to everyone complaining about COVID, this is a small business that is trying to stay a float and if anyone doesn't like how they are operating during a very rough time then DON'T COME!! All the staff are always wearing masks and all taking precautions. I have never felt unsafe! Tourist pettiness can cause a HUGE impact on many lives up here in Tahoe and we are sick of it!! read more

Arrived for breakfast and it was busy, which is always a nice sign! :) The wait was not long and the staff were very friendly. The Eggs Benedict and Biscuits & Gravy were delicious and presented beautifully. I would order them again, but I'll try something different the next time I'm in town. I love that they offer half orders too! read more

Cute spot up in the Shasta area. Friendly service. Food is in big portions and quality what you'd expect from diner. Bonus just because it is a very clean and friendly environment read more

We were on a ski trip and reached Truckee much earlier than the Ski resort open time. Pulled up Yelp to search for restaurants near by and decided to go to Donner Lake. I'm glad that this random pick left a good memory of Truckee in us. This is a real good restaurant. - Good interiors: It was Christmas time when we visited this and they had a nice festive decor - Great service: This is a true example of mom & pop shop. The level of attention and care that the staff exhibits is impressive - Of course, good food: We tried pan cake, omlet, veggie sandwich, and few more. While the food is on the lines of what you get at ihop or dennys, but it feels different here. Portions are generous - Coffee: If you were to order coffee, the staff can't see your cup empty :) They keep checking with you for re-fill! Overall, if you visit Truckee and have some time/appetite, this is the place to visit!! read more

Had a good breakfast this morning. Cute place hidden behind market. Food was very good & fresh, however coffee very weak & no flavor. They need to get better coffee. Lovely staff & owner. Place fills up. read more

My family and I were super excited to come here for Mother's day today. My Mom came early at about 10:45 and we're were all planning to meet at 11. Everyone got there at about 11 and our name was already in. We had a party of 9 so we knew it would probably take a while. We ended waiting about 2 hours until my Mom went inside and finally said something to the hostess. Her response- "Would you like me to kick people out so I can seat you?" Totally rude. Honestly we wouldn't have minded waiting still for a table if we didn't experience that horrible customer service. And people that came after us were being seated only because they were smaller parties. I'm sure the food might be good but I have worked in customer service for several years and I would never treat a customer the way my mom was treated today. We ended up leaving and getting great sandwiches somewhere else. read more

Like most places in Truckee this place is best experienced not on a weekend. Great breakfast & lunch. Staff is generally friendly to non-locals. Sitting at the counter can be a great way to meet people and learn something about the area, local economy, love/hate relationship with Bay Area tourists. I usually get the chilaquiles for breakfast but have had other things equally good. Always test the jalapeño slices, they can be hot! read more

TERRIBLE WAIT I have to say the food looked ok but....We waited for over an hour without any guidance or assistance from the staff. They have a self serve sign in board. Then we have three kids just walk in and sit at the counter because we couldn't stand up fast enough. What a joke and a waste of my Sunday morning. Oh. And in addition, the owner walked up and started to explain to my 11 year old that there is an order. He already new that lady. Your system sucks.!! I just read this reply to the terrible experience we had. Just to be clear, we have no problem waiting our turn. That's not what happened here. 3 people just walked in with no wait and sat at the counter. That was annoying because we would have gladly sat there. When my son attempted to ask (11) if the counter was open seating, he got a mouthful that he had to wait his turn. Totally inappropriate and that's why we left. read more

First time here and I loved it! I got a scrambled omelette and it was amazing! So was the Bloody Mary! I loved the home feel to this place. It was so cozy and welcoming. I didn't get our servers name but she was really nice and got everything done perfectly. We were a group of 11 and she was very helpful. Half of our party was kids and she didn't fuss about it one bit. On the contrary, she spoke to the group in Spanish to make it easier for them. I will definitely be coming back! Thank you for such a great experience! Was definitely one of the highlights of my trip! read more

Donner Lake Kitchen - Their Bloody Mary is to die for! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Truckee, California

Best place for breakfast in Tahoe, why? Delicious traditional breakfast with a twist. Amazing stuffed French toast, biscuits and Gravy, and the best eggs bene. Always busy which shows they do something right. Lovely mimosas any day of the week. Friendly service, great conversations and good company even if your dining alone. Thanks for never disappointing! read more

The cutest little diner style restaurant nestled among so beautiful trees and right near the lake. We stopped for brunch and the food did not disappoint. The omelet, bacon and pancakes served at my table were all fantastic and the servers were very friendly! If you're in the area, give them a try! read more

We just bought a home in Emigrant Gap and were so excited to find a close breakfast spot! A bit of a wait but well worth it! Delicious food and drinks and amazing people! Can't wait to go again! read more

Donner Lake Kitchen - I Dream of Genie made a wish to be at Donner Kitchen and it came true! Yet another amazing meal, drinks and service! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Truckee, California

Fabulous food, fabulous service, fabulous presentation. From pancakes to omelette it's done right! Great for kids!

Server Needed Improvement Came here on a very busy Sunday morning. We took our seats at the counter and ordered, before a single and another couple were seated right after us. We're patient people and it was hecka busy. We get that orders will sometimes come up in a slightly random order if people are seated around the same time. But when the people who were seated AFTER us were finished eating and we had not even gotten our food, something was wrong. And it's not like we ordered anything special; just eggs and pancakes! We asked our server, "What happened? We ordered before these folks here. Where is our order?" She gave us a blank stare, looked at the ticket holder, then pointed to it to indicate that our order was up next. Yeah? How did that happen?? Suddenly, one of our plates popped up and she was like, "Oh...and here it is now!" Like all was well. Wtf? I mean, I was a food server once upon a time. Even when you're wrapped, you have a sense of who arrives when and if someone is looking around like, "yo, where be my food?" you know to check on it or if, heaven forbid, you mess up and forget to turn in a ticket, honesty is always the best policy: approach you customer, be honest and say, "oh my gosh, you know what? I totally messed up and didn't get your ticket in! I'm so sorry -- could I get you some toast or something to hold you over?" We're human. We make mistakes. But it's in how we handle it that keep our customers happy and coming back. Go here for the food (*****); hopefully, your order will get in the queue properly and you won't be kept waiting and/or your server will be looking out for you. read more

Great food and homey place. But expect to wait a long time before being seated if you go during the weekend rush hours. On the bright side, you can order a drink while you wait. I would definitely go again but would plan ahead. Also, be aware, the coffee is not great. read more

AMazing service! Amazing food! Such great vibes every time. Absolutely one of my favorite places around!

You have to get there right when it opens for no wait but it was totally worth waiting for. I got the cowboy breakfast and it was amazing! Another great thing is I could actually taste the champagne in my mimosa so they pour heavier than most places. Great staff and the best pricing in the area read more

Donner Lake Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Truckee, California

Ate lunch here and the food and service was excellent. I had the French Dip Sandwich and my wife had Chicken Sandwich. Large portions. Would highly recommend read more

If you want to have continual cravings for the rest of your existence, give the Huevos Rancheros or breakfast nachos a try. 10/10 you'll be craving them by dinner time. (Ok, at least by the next weekend when you can make the visit again). Donner lake Kitchen is my absolute favorite breakfast place. I don't even like breakfast foods... yet I love Donner Lake Kitchen's breakfasts. We stumbled across this wonderful establishment a year ago when we bought a cabin at Donner and have made an attempt to visit this restaurant at least twice a month since. I have tried countless things off of the menu and have always been impressed. Once I tried the Huevos, however, I have not ordered anything else since!! It is very apparent to me that the people who prepare the food at this establishment really take pride in their work and that is truly hard to find- especially in a diner in a small town. I took a scroll through the negative reviews and I'd just like to point out (as someone who has visited this establishment VERY frequently) yes- the wait can be long. Suggestion: wake up early and get there before everyone else does! This is my tactic. If that isn't your style- Grab a mimosa or a bacon Bloody Mary and shut up! The food will be worth it. Secondly; the waitstaff at Donner Lake Kitchen works extremely hard and has done an excellent job on preventative measures for COVID-19. This establishment is clean. & while (maybe) one staff member didn't have a mask on your entire visit, you're a liar if you say these staff members aren't wearing face coverings. Last but not least: I visit this restaurant with large groups quite often (because I try to bring everyone I love to this place so they can experience the best breakfast in truckee) and guess what, we have never asked to split a check 10 ways. We either combine cash or one of us picks up the tab and the rest can Venmo the money straight to our buddy who put it on their card. Get with the times people. I guess you can say I am a little biased- but truth be told this place is fantastic. If my review doesn't help you decide to visit, that's fine with me because the wait will be shorter and I can enjoy my breakfast faster. read more

Best service ever. Thank you Kelley for making our breakfast be very joyful. You were very cheery and attentive to us. My child said you deserved the 5 stars yourself ! Food was also delicious. His bear pancakes were awesome. You are the definition of excellent service, everyone should learn from you ! read more

Hands down, best place for brunch. A fun, comfortable place where everyone is treated like family. Weekends are crazy and waits can be long, and that's one of the things I love about this place. I plan for a potential long wait, while enjoying my favorite beverages. Staff are kind and friendly and the food is top notch. I love DLK! read more

We had a lovely breakfast on Monday. Super friendly service, yummy food. I had eggs benedict, my husband had french toast... delicious. They made my potatoes to order with no onions (I'm low FODMAP). We highly recommend the little quaint restaurant read more

See all

I was on my way to Reno and made a pit stop in Truckee. I found this place on Yelp, and based on the photos and reviews I decided to give it a go. Easy to find, a short distance off the highway. Parking was easy , granting it was on a weekday morning before a storm. Inside was cozy and had that 'small town diner' feel. Was greeted inside by lovely ladies who were extremely friendly and welcoming. There was plenty of seating so I got to sit anywhere . Orange juice was super cold and refreshing . Omelet and hash browns were on point and filling. Service was friendly and fast. Price was decent as well. Overall great experience and will come back every time I come into town. read more