This place has been in Carlsbad for 30+ years and I can't believe I just found it. To me, this is the best breakfast place in town. This small diner serves breakfast and lunch and is open until 2 pm every day. The variety of breakfast options are endless; Benedicts, omelettes, pancakes, French toast, chilaquiles, home potatoes, eggs, bacon, sausage, corn beef hash, etc. I haven't tried lunch but they have a lot of sandwiches to try. Some of my favorite items are the home fries, blueberry pancakes and banana walnut pancakes. I think their pancakes are some of the best I've tried. The customer service is good and the prices are reasonable for the size of entrees served. The plates are big that you can split if you're not that hungry. The place is not fancy but if you're looking for a great tasting breakfast, come to Don's Country Kitchen! read more

Don's Country Kitchen is definitely A-OK. A solid 3 stars. My sister and I came across this little diner recently. She had a mad craving for some eggs, and I'm a sucker for biscuits and gravy, followed by a long nap. It was packed on a Saturday morning, so we sat at the bar. Our server was super friendly--and even though she was clearly swamped, we never had to ask for refills on coffee or water **bravo!** My sister ordered the corned beef hash with sourdough toast and scrambled eggs. Corned beef hash = BOMB! Seriously, it was way good. Meaty, super crunchy crust, salty, and juicy. I ordered the special, which was a Chorizo omelet. What I actually received was the chorizo and eggs--which was just okay. I'm sure I would have enjoyed the omelet more, but since it was so busy, I decided to let it slide. My breakfast came with toast OR a half order of biscuits and gravy--hello, no brainer! Sadly, I was a bit disappointed with the biscuit...and the gravy come to think of it. The biscuit was D E N S E. The gravy was T H I C K. Dense biscuit and super thick gravy means 2 hour nap. I didn't really dig it--the gravy could have been more flavorful, and the biscuit lighter. I would totally come here again to try some other stuff. The prices are reasonable, I love the diner feel, the service was great, and dang it--I want to try an omelet! read more

Don's has been a favorite of mine for many years, so this is a painful review to write. I first discovered Don's back about 1985 when living in Carlsbad. This was when Don was still the owner/manager before he sold it some years later. Many happy memories are attached to this little place because it became a weekend habit for breakfast, a place to start our day and often encounter friends and locals. The quality at that time was outstanding. I used to send my friends who are chefs and food & beverage directors there and even they were impressed with the quality of the food items and service. Servers were friendly then and Don usually would make his rounds and greet the customers. A real good place to meet and greet. We would often run into other Carlsbad locals and catch up with life over a great meal. Biscuits and gravy were the best around, coffee always hot and fresh, the apricot stuffed french toast was a delight and the pancakes were always done just right. No more. My last visit was a major disappointment. On one of my recent trips to San Diego, I was pleased that breakfast time in my journey coincided perfectly with ETA Carlsbad. Yum, yum, Don's here I come. Everything had changed,and all for the worse. Service was indifferent. Music was blaring so loudly from the kitchen that I was unable to have a conversation with the person next to me at the counter. A polite request to lower the volume was met with an angry glare. The food was slow coming out, and of poor quality: the potatoes were burned, steak was tough and tasteless, the coffee was weak. Gravy on the biscuits must have been made by the dishwasher, not the cook. Cleanliness had dropped to the F rating, and the restroom was filthy. Worst of all, it had lost that friendly and homey vibe. The attitude of the servers and staff was quite unpleasant, almost surly. I will not be back. RIP Don. I will miss your former self. read more

Healthy portions, good coffee and plenty to choose from. Nice place to stop for a power breakfast. Location is idea so after to eat you can walk it off in the DT are read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We were watching Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network, and they had two back-to-back episodes on chicken fried steaks. It brought me back to one of my all time favorite meals. It was impossible to resist, so we yelped a place and found Don's Country Kitchen. Unfortunately, we were extremely disappointed. Not sure what the deal is with all of the 4 and 5 stars, but the food was bland, bland, bland. I got the country fried steak, and Nicole got the breakfast burritos and both of them were blah, and I mean the entire plates whether it was the main course, the hashbrown sides, or the biscuits and gravy. This is even with hot sauce draped over everything. It was in a nice part of Carlsbad. Very relaxing and quaint. Decent service, too, but it really didn't do it for us. Bottom line: The great equalizer is back. 2 stars! Would have preferred Denny's over Don's. read more

Love this place. Wish they were open a bit later than 2pm. The prices have steadily gone up which is a bit disappointing. Ends up being $15 for an omelette and coffee. Then of course with tip you get close to $20. I think they were making enough profit to keep the costs the same but everyone's hungry for more and more money all the time. Anyway, the food is delish and the service is good. Cute sidewalk setup for dining outside. Dog friendly also which is a plus. Still the best biscuits and gravy of anywhere I've been. read more

Our go-to breakfast spot in Carlsbad Village. Can't go wrong with any of the omelettes. As a born-and-raised deep southerner, I feel safe endorsing the biscuits and gravy which is a big statement. Machaca and eggs was fantastic. Friends have loved the different pancakes. Indoor and outdoor seating. Tip: there's no host/greeter - make sure you go in to the counter to sign the little sheet to mark you party size and seating preference. There can be a wait and if you don't sign up you will be frustrated as people get seated before you. read more

Very good breakfast joint in the Village. Avoid the tourist traps elsewhere and come here for breakfast. We've been coming here for a few years now, and they're consistent. Good service, Decent coffee and yummy standard fare for breakfast. Outdoor seating is dog-friendly too. Don's never disappoints. Nothing fancy, just good hearty breakfasts served with a smile. read more

We were on our way to beach break and decided to give this place a shot even though I was hesitant. What a great choice. We got seated right away, the food was amazing and service was great. Definitely coming back to this place more often read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Verde chilaquiles and biscuits and gravy. Breakfast of champions - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I came in for breakfast over the weekend. Don's is a classic diner, with efficient quick service, some counter seats, a few booths, and a some outdoor tables that are usually full to take advantage of the clement atmosphere of downtown Carlsbad. I wanted a quick hearty breakfast to offset the nearby beer festival that was about to begin; I count it a point in Don's favor that I nearly changed my mind when I saw someone outside eating a giant pancake that was bursting with blueberries. But that temptation was put down by a selection of benedicts, something most classic diners won't offer. I was tempted by the Carlsbad (with avocado) but went with max-protect protein by selecting the California (turkey and green chile and lots of them both). My order was up within five minutes, and took only slightly longer to wolf down. You also get the home fries/hash browns choice, and the coffee was good diner java. Total with tip was about fifteen. read more

I love the food and the people a must when I'm in town the wait was short the place was clean and a very friendly atmosphere my fav is waffle plus read more

Went here with GF and our children. I had Oklahoma scramble. Very good. Biscuits and gravy were very good (not great) and sausage was good too. Did not like home fries. They were more like roasted potatoes. The hash browns looked good and will be what I have next time (along with chicken fried steak & biscuits/gravy). GF & a child had pancakes which I thought were very good. It's rare that I would say pancakes would be 4 star, but I thought they were. Most of the time I think they (restaurants) try using bisquick or something because lots of times they're very weak. One child had Eggs, biscuits and gravy, potatoes and bacon. She liked. Another child (teenager) had eggs benedict. She said they were very good. Serving size was very generous. Server was friendly and prompt. My ratings... 5= great 4= good/very good 3= average 2= below average 1= poor read more

I hadn't eaten here in a long time, and a lot has changed here. In fact, they are better than the location in O'side. I had a veggie-packed spinach, mushroom and cheese omelette with crispy, perfectly cooked hashbrowns. My friend had stuffed french toast with eggs and bacon. While simple, it was better than some other, more trendy breakfast restaurants in the neighborhood. Portions are generous here too. So glad we tried it again, and we'll be back next weekend. By the way, this place is small, with an old school diner atmosphere. They have some outdoor tables if you dine with your dog. read more

Centrally locates in the village. Has a fun family atmosphere. The service is fast and friendly. The portions are HUGE but so delicious. The biscuits and gravy were awesome! read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Country Fried steak! It really is steak! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

The circumstances that first brought me here may not be the best - severe jet lag - but I am so glad we branched out to try a new breakfast place. Don's is exactly what I was looking for this morning after finally bothering my husband to wake up at 6am, after being up since 4am jet lagged. I was looking for a good greasy diner type breakfast place to comfort my sleepless woes. Nothing too fancy or original - just your standard good breakfast dive. Corporate chains need not apply. Don's did not disappoint. The key elements factoring into my review this morning: they were OPEN before 7am (not usually a factor for me, but, well... you know), the staff was very nice, and it was all around good food. The prices were alright, I guess in line with the portion sizes, which were very large. Lastly, they earned an honor today that no other restaurant in California has earned: they have good chicken fried steak. I am from Texas, and I have never found a chicken fried steak in California (in many years of living here) that is authentic. Until today. Good for you, Don's, here's a feather for your cap. read more

We had breakfast here 2 days in a row! Big portions of down home food - it was just what we were looking for to fuel our busy days. The staff is friendly, the food is tasty, and they have fun specials. read more

Came for breakfast with the family. Really good food and they serve a lot. Couldn't finish it all. A little on the small side for a business. But the wait is short. Come on an empty stomach if u wanna eat all your food. Or better yet, skip dinner the night before. read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Scramble eggs with home fries, 2 ground sausage patties and biscuit with gravy. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Just had breakfast this morning here, and everything was great. Food and service where all top notch for breakfast, I never had to wait for coffee as the waitresses were always going around and refilling. No wonder I was so hyper this morning. I had to have had at least 5 cups. I had a spinach omelet, and my friends had pancakes with eggs. The house potatoes were a perfect crispy too. I think I just found my Carlsbad breakfast spot. I'll be back. read more

The portions are big and worth the price but I wouldn't necessarily call this place cheap (maybe for Carlsbad standards though). This is a small restaurant right on the street. I was looking for a breakfast place with outdoor seating but its right next to the public sidewalk, which is right next to the street. People were walking by and cars were parked right next to us. We would have opt for sitting inside but it was full. The food was good but you can't go wrong with breakfast. I had the chorizo omelette, it had cheese, sour cream and avocado. Service was friendly enough. read more

Very casual small place wait staff is nice and let's you seat your self. I've had the seafood omelette which is great very large portions so probably best to share. Need to arrive early before rush or you'll be waiting awhile read more

Great breakfast place. They have good deals and you can get a lot of food for a little price Little divey diner... my favorite type of place for breakfast! read more

Amazing breakfast that hit the spot. Exemplary service and incredible food. It's now my new favorite breakfast place in Carlsbad!

This is such a good find in Carlsbad, where most food options are either very fancy or too creative when you just want some fresh, home-cooking! We had the country fried steak and eggs, as well as one of the scrambles. We were quickly seated and served water without hesitation. The food quickly came out and was very hot and fresh. We went in the morning during the week, so we didn't have any kind of wait like the other reviews describe on here. Parking is easy in a lot next to the restaurant. Such a pleasure to visit and will definitely be back soon! read more

My family and I went to Don's Country Kitchen for our very first time on April 5th, right before we headed to Legoland. There were six in our party ~ my husband, our three sons and my dad. From the minute we walked in, we had great service. We must have went at the right time, because there was no wait and two tables were put together for our party right away. The food came out quick style; I was very impressed! Servers were immensely friendly and attentive, especially to our three young sons. We are definitely going to eat here again. Don't forget to ask for their homemade sauce! Thank you, Don's Country Kitchen, for an awesome experience! read more

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I've only been to this place a couple of times, but honestly that's all it takes to know they care about the customer and to say their food is the bomb. I ordered their biscuits and gravy and they were amazing (and I want to thank them because my wife is now a fan of biscuits and gravy thanks to these). I live in the bay area (far from here) but since we are planning to go back to Legoland, this is going to be our breakfast joint from now on. Kudos to everyone working here, keep up the good work!!! read more

Stopped in for a scrambled egg and an English muffin. Sounds simple enough, but they managed to ruin it! I had to wait a bit in an almost empty restaurant and when I did order the waitress seemed very disappointed that I wasn't ordering more. When my eggs and muffin arrived they were on separate plates and lukewarm. When I asked for more butter for my English Muffin my waitress said they don't have butter - she could only give me a scoop of margarine..eww! I am a local and won't be coming back, I am guessing that their business survives on the "one visit" tourist trade ... read more

I'm an out of towner that likes to eat at places I can't eat at home - Don's did not disappoint. Breakfast is my favorite meal, and this was the perfect place to go. The service was very friendly and surprisingly fast. The portions were huge. The quality of the food was fantastic! The pancakes were thick and fluffy, the cheese nice and melty. I got Don's Huge Omelet and it was full of delicious ingredients. If you're in town and need breakfast - Don's is the place to go! read more

yes, the food is great and the service friendly, but that place is straight up dirty. My three year old's white shorts turned brown from the outdoor chairs and I need a shower after visiting their bathroom! Clean it up Don!!! Went back. . .sat inside. . .food once again delicious and didn't go to the restroom. Excellent food. . . read more

I was visiting a friend who had moved out of state at his timeshare in Carlsbad. The first morning for breakfast, it was decided that we would go here. A short drive away, I felt pretty hopeful when we arrived, as the place was packed, and there was a bit of a wait. Normally a good sign. The getting seated bit was tricky, as there is apparently a sign-in sheet, but absolutely no way to know that, as there is no sign nor even a host/hostess stand. I eventually flagged down a bus boy and got it sorted. It didn't take us long to figure out what we wanted (there were three of us in our group), and the waitress came and took our order pretty promptly. She kept forgetting things, like our OJ, but these were small delays that ended up not having much impact. As for the food... well don't get me wrong, it is by no means bad, but it's nothing special either. Honestly, I was going to rate the place at a 3, but then the next morning my friend cooked breakfast, and all three common elements between the two breakfasts - eggs, potatoes, and bacon - were way better than what we had spent $50 bucks on the day before. So, the bottom line here is, if you have $5 and a kitchen, you can whip yourself up something just as good or better than what you get here for 10 times the price. However, if you lack access to a kitchen and catch this place when they are slow, it's better than nothing. read more

Can't go wrong here! I usually eat at Don's in Oceanside but this location is not far from there and we come here from time to time. Everything is always SO GOOD and the service is wonderful. Everything is pretty much the same as the Oceanside location and the food/service never disappoint! Be sure to try their biscuits & gravy because they are THE BEST! Also, their specials are always a great deal and you get plenty of food! read more

On vacation. Been eating high end dinners ($150+) for family of four. They are all good but this is the kind of place I love. Too bad they close at 2pm or I'd eat Dinner here for sure! But breakfast was amazingly good! Tiny, seats maybe 50 total. A wait list the whole time we were there. Prices are very reasonable. Biscuit gravy, chorizo omelet both delicious. The kids portion for the kids meal was enuf for me. Great change of pace from the high end stuff. Highly recommend!!!!! read more

Don's is a Carlsbad institution! I like simple breakfasts and simple here is just okay. The Don's Special omelette is loaded full of good stuff and is definitely enough to split. The omelettes are the best choices on the menu. The waffles and pancakes are better elsewhere. The service here is excellent and it can get quite busy. I like going here because we can sit outside with the dog and they don't mind bringing her ice. read more

I was so excited to try this place & by the long wait so were many others. Too bad the food was bland & had no flavor. The seating was uncomfy (pool chairs & plastic patio chairs). I wouldnt have cared if i had to sit on the curb if the food was as good as all the reviews claimed. Being that I'm from out of town I was looking forward to breakfast here. Unfortunately, I had so much food left over & didn't even bother asking for a to go box. It was gross! :( read more

Small spot crowds fast arrive early okay food, I didn't find the food exciting but it wasn't terrible. read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Sausage biscuit & gravy, hash browns, French toast, country fried steak & potatoes, sausage patties - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

They are right, the best biscuit gravy around. I loved every bite. The biscuits were very tender and the gravy just absolutely delicious, yum yum. And I had the steak and eggs with it. Perfect combination and the steak and eggs were also delicious. I definitely recommend this place to anyone. read more

Don's Country Kitchen - Delicious biscuits and gravy and steak and eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Made a pit stop here on the way to LA. This place was so homey and inviting. The staff were super friendly and quick with the coffee and whatever we needed. The food was sooo good. Will definitely be back! read more

Don's has mastered the art of friendly, speedy service. Seriously, the nicest servers on earth are employed at this fine establishment. When you're looking for that extra dose of TLC along with a hearty helping of oh so delicious hash browns and biscuits and gravy Don's is the place to be! The food is dependably good and the coffee rocks. Need I say more? read more

I am a fan of breakfast. So I am predisposed to enjoy a place such as Don's Country Kitchen. I can't go wrong with the 2 pancakes/eggs combo. Oftentimes, I find that restraunts tends to lose taste the larger the portions get, but Don's Country Kitchen doesn't sacrifice a bit of taste for their healty [or unhealthy =) ] portions. The waitstaff is VERY attentive and after a few visits spread out over several months, they already remember me and have a pretty good idea of what I'm about to order. Thats the kind of service that makes me want to come back again and again. read more

Great waffles. Check. Great pancakes. Check. Great omelets with all fresh veggies. Check. Great, fresh, homemade salsa. Check. Great hash browns, nice and crusty. Check. Great American fries with onions and peppers. Check. ALL the help is great! Check. Service is fast and friendly. Check. Great eggs benedict. Check. It is like I would make at home. Nothing greasy or off-tasting like it was fried in the same oil as yesterday. The biscuits are great if they are baked enough. If not, send them back and they will understand. I have only eaten breakfast. I have waited for 15 minutes or so, max. I personally love the cozy atmosphere. I wish they would get better, sturdier chairs for outside. You always feel like they are glad you came. read more

Stopped here for breakfast the first morning of our vacation and it was worth the wait. The restaurant is small but has a patio area in the front to accommodate more people. We had to sign in and wait for a table but the wait was reasonable. The food was very good. I had the eggs with sausage and hash browns with a side of home made biscuits with country gravy. My hubby had the stuffed hash browns with the home made coffee cake. Everything was delicious especially the biscuits and coffee cake. I totally recommend this place. read more

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