Everything food and servo! Gotta try it at least once, we always come here for breakfast!! read more

I had to download yelp just because this place was so amazing. INCREDIBLE service and alejandra is a QUEEN! let alone the food was also incredible and the restaurant had the perfect vibe! everyone should go to first awakenings! read more

September 2026: Best burger I've ever had. Seriously. I'm not much of a meat eater, so I wasn't exactly looking forward to sharing a burger with my husband. But he likes meat and didn't want a full meal, so I agreed to split one with him. OMG -- I LOVED IT!!!!! I honestly did not expect to like it that much, but it was absolutely delicious. The country potatoes were okay, and the coffee is okay. They do have French vanilla creamer, which is always a plus for me. Even their water tastes good! The Cobb salad was also great. I ordered a half portion and it was HUGE -- definitely plenty of food. Service was above average, and the whole place has a really chill, relaxed vibe. I love that you can choose between indoor and outdoor seating. The patio has a firepit, propane heaters, and nice landscaping, and it's dog-friendly, which is another big plus. Overall, a really enjoyable place -- but that burger was the star. I'm still shocked by how much I loved it. read more

We tried this place for the first time, I added myself to the waitlist 30 minutes before we arrived to town. When we got there we went to check in with the host and he told us it was going to be another 30 minutes. That's fine we waited, but then an hour went by! I asked twice how much longer for our table because they were seating people who had arrived after us. Your waitlist is honestly terrible. And yall need to work on finding a system that works better for such a busy place. My son was getting hangry because it took so long to sit us. I do however have to give props to your host. Young man with curly hair, because he was patience and very polite. But poor thing seemed stressed! He was doing everything at front. Charging people, handling the waitl, and the other employees seemed like they had no sense of urgency to get people seated and help him. I did give yall 2 stars because the food was delicious. We all loved what we got. The pancakes are huge! But that whole situation at the beginning kinda ruined my experience a little. It was also cold and the waitress didn't even offered to turn on the heater next to our table. Service wasn't terrible, but it was just okay. But I really hope you work on finding a better system to sit people because that's a huge turn off and we probably won't be back anytime soon. read more

First Awakenings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Extremely frustrating and poorly communicated waitlist process. We added ourselves to the waitlist online, assuming that meant we were actually on the waitlist. When we arrived, no one told us that we also needed to check in with the host and be added to another waitlist. We ended up waiting for over TWO HOURS before finding out that we were never properly checked in. When we finally spoke to the host, we were told that we were supposed to check in with her upon arrival and that it would now be another 45-minute wait. If checking in with the host is required even after joining the online waitlist, that needs to be clearly communicated to customers. There should be a sign, a text notification, or instructions on the online waitlist telling people exactly what to do when they arrive. Expecting customers to somehow know there is a second step and then making them wait hours because no one explained it is completely unacceptable. We wasted more than two hours because of a process that was unnecessarily confusing and poorly managed. Very disappointing experience. read more

This place was so good tbh. I might be biased because i was hungry, but the portions were huge and the flavors were so rich. Definitely worth a try. The belly buster definitely lived up to its name. The gravy, the meat and the potatoes were filling and the bellpeppers and onions definitely made u go back for more. The works omelette was super flavorful and definitely filling too. The pancake was fatter than i expected and honestly was pretty tasty. I definitely would recommend the monkey wrench (found out i am not a fan of nuts in my food) but would wanna try the blueberry and ricotta. read more

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Finally made our way here! Great food! Fast and friendly service! Heated seats outside! Veggie Benedict: 4.7/5! Delicious and big servings! Generous with the veggies which made me a happy girl! Those country potatoes 5/5. They were damn good! Bombero Burrito: 4.7/5! Solid burrito. Salsa was lacking. We wished we ordered pancakes after finding out thats their specialty there. Service: 4.8/5! Great service! She even packed honey a coffee to go but he forgot it. Lol. It's the thought that counts. Everyone was amazing here. We can't wait to return! read more

First Awakenings - Bombero Burrito and veg eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

I used to come here regularly when they were at the outlet mall. They have a huge menu with various items and breakfast options with eggs, pancakes, Mexican dishes and more. They have a huge parking lot that fills up by 9 and a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. It gets incredibly busy and is one of the more popular breakfast restaurants including for locals. I like the wheat germ pancake. read more

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Honestly heard about this place and it's part of why I wanted to visit the Monterrey area. It didn't disappoint. FAMILY RUN vibes with home cooked style food. I got the classic eggs, bacon, and potatoes all EXTRA CRISPY of course and the star of the show the extra large PANCAKES. We tried the BLUEBERRY and MONEKY WRENCH PANCAKES and both had delicious fluffy and buttery batter with different purposes. The blueberry was lighter with fresh berries and moderate sweetness while the monkey business felt like dessert with decadent flavor and varying texture. I could just keep eating both and found one more refreshing and easy to eat while the other had bold flavors where I found myself craving a bite of the fatty eggs and bacon to breakup the sweetness of the pancake. What a great experience with fast service and a LOCAL FAVORITE for a reason. Must try!! read more

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A beautiful and delicious restaurant. Super glad we came here on our trip. We got seated almost immediately and our server was very patient with us, answering all our questions. We ordered: Portofino Pesto omelette, Vegan skillet with added egg and cheese, and Blueberry and Ricotta Cheese pancakes!! This was shared family style with my party of 3 and we absolutely devoured everything. It was just so good. No crumbs left behind. Our favorite was probably the portofino pesto omelette. Highkey recommend. We were full but not like food coma full like we were satisfied and content. Felt like a well balanced meal. Very big portions but doable when sharing with people. We were definitely awoken read more

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I kept seeing First Awakenings all over TikTok, so I knew I had to try it while I was in Monterey--and it definitely lived up to the hype! I'd recommend getting there early if you're planning to walk in because it fills up fast. By the time we arrived, only the outdoor seating was available, which was completely fine. They had heaters outside, so even though it was a little breezy, we were still comfortable. The staff was so friendly and positive, and the food tasted incredibly fresh. It's the perfect classic breakfast spot. The pancakes were absolutely amazing and definitely a highlight of the meal. The atmosphere was great too. Inside, it has that cozy diner feel that makes you want to stay awhile. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in Monterey! read more

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I made the 1.5 hour drive from Pleasanton to Monterey on a Saturday morning to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium and needed to eat something before going into the Aquarium. My daughter said "Dad, I know a great restaurant walking distance from the Aquarium". Behold we arrive at First Awakenings. Great call daughter! My daughter also made a reservation through Yelp that saved us a time from waiting upon our arrival. The restaurant has ample amount space to eat both inside and outside in the patio. Our breakfast included corned beef hash, an omelette and chicken sausage scramble. Portion sizes were very generous and filled us up. Everyone enjoyed their meals and the house coffee was great too. Great service all around. Highly recommend dining at First Awakenings prior to visiting the Aquarium. read more

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Amazing good & Our server Val took care of Us like Family!!! Also ordered the Prime dip which was outstanding as well! read more

First Awakenings - Monkey wrench - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

We were visiting Monterey and a friend brought us here for brunch. It was so hard to settle on one item, everything seemed delicious! I got the California crepegg and the portion size is huge and the food is amazing! We waited about ~30 minutes to be seated on a Sunday. There is seating outside and inside. I would definitely come here again! read more

First Awakenings - Over Lightly Crepegg California Crepegg - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

this was my first ever breakfast spot in monterey bay, and my bf and i really loved both dishes that we got !! we ordered the bombero burrito and the monkey wrench pancakes, and both were soooo yummy that we kept eating even tho we were so stuffed LOL - bombero burrito: i never had sour cream on a chile verde burrito before, but everything went so well together and the meat inside was so tender!! we ordered a full size burrito, and we were super thankful that our waitress had asked the kitchen to split it for us. a small gesture but so helpful in elevating our dining experience! i also loved the potatoes on the side that were perfectly seasoned. - monkey wrench pancake: i love how every bite had crunch from the walnuts, chocolate chips, and banana! the pancake was also so moist and perfectly sweetened without needing too much syrup! it was pretty crowded when we came here on a tuesday afternoon, but the workers were super efficient and running around constantly! i would love to try the other breakfast foods if i'm ever in the area again! read more

First Awakenings - Monkey Wrench Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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My daughter and I ate here a few weeks ago to celebrate her 16th birthday. We were on their live waitlist queue from Yelp and got inside the restaurant only to find out you need to check in. We waited and waited while people after us were seated and the live queue stayed at 2 until the staff asked us if we're checked in. They said, there is a sign but we didn't see a sign. Oh well, us locals need to come here more often I guess... The food was delicious & plentiful as always so know complaints here. I absolutely love their wheat germ pancakes. We will definitely keep coming back. read more

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A great indoor/ outdoor spot above cannery row and the aquarium . Lot parking in back and a crowd with minimal wait. Large, varied menu . Bay burger was huge with lots of fresh area produce on a brioche bun. Tuna melt and patty melts were abundant too all with potatoes and fresh fruit. Side salads are flavorful with diced veggies. Everything under 20.00 for great value with outstanding service. Great job! read more

First Awakenings - Bay burger with avo and bacon - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Enjoyed a tremendous breakfast here. Bubby ordered the Wheat Germ Pancake that was outta this world! Service was excellent and the staff, excellent! read more

First Awakenings - I knew it!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

Talk about a coastal vibe for breakfast!! Really quick service, the staff is incredibly friendly & helpful. Super tasty breakfast eats and piping hot coffee. We will definitely be back to try more of the menu read more

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My husband and I showed up right before the restaurants morning rush. We only had to wait 3 minutes for a table for two. Everyone working was extremely pleasant and all had a smile. The food was 10/10. The portions were pretty big size. Everything was extremely fresh and super flavorful. We were both contently full till dinner time. We definitely will be returning any time we take a day trip to town again. read more

First Awakenings - Country Fried Steak - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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I didn't take many pictures because it was a pretty busy day and we didn't go into the full dining area. We sat close to the front and had a nice view of the road and ocean. The service was great and super fast too. I love how they leave the coffee pot to refill yourself and a pitcher of water as well. The coffee was pretty good, the portions were great for the price. The only thing I didn't like were the potatoes way too much seasoning and some weren't cooked all the way through. I wish they offered hash browns and toast instead of only have the option for an English muffin. We stopped in because we wanted breakfast to start the day and I came across this place on Yelp based on my location and the reviews are outstanding! And I'm a sucker for a good spot, my mom loved her food and finished the whole plate. I would try it again if I was in town. read more

First Awakenings - Two Eggs and Meat - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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The 4,000+ reviews are pretty substantial but I would say after our experience-- they could be better. Maybe some things have slipped, because they know their rating will keep the business going. Not a terrible experience by no means-- but not worth that many stars. This was our first time at First Awakenings and my Mom's second or third time. The place was busy at the morning our as expected for a Diner. Definitely a popular place. We ordered the gourmet pancakes, omelette, and crepe. All of them were just-OK. Not like anything tasted wrong but the scrambled eggs were pretty over cooked, and therefore -- so was the omelette (you know that rubbery texture of over cooked egg?). The gourmet pancake was nice and big! It wasn't gourmet-like though so I was expecting a little more flavor or fluffiness. The crepe was alright too. Lathered with yogurt and cut fruit, almost dumped into the crepe. Anyway-- it's a diner :) Just expect the basics. Service was fine though, routine, and a touch apathetic. But knowing the food (eggs especially) isn't cooked with care, I think our family will go somewhere a little more appetizing. This does look like it accommodates big groups pretty well here though. So there's that. :) read more

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We went with a party of seven. Wait time was 20 minutes, with reservations. This is solidly reasonable breakfast restaurant. The staff was friendly, they adapted to our needs. Drinks and meals were ordered. Drinks and meals were delivered as they came out of the kitchen. The experienced members of our party got their house favorites. The menu presents standard meals, and variations in the same categories. Overall it was very good and I recommend it for anyone wanting to have a lasting good experience. read more

First Awakenings - Entrance - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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First Awakenings was the best place we ate at on our trip to Monterey. Despite a little bit of a long wait to sit a party of 8 outside, service was excellent. This place is definitely popular. Outdoor seating was very nice and it was a beautiful day. There was also enough umbrella coverage to keep the sun off us while we were seated. The food comes in generous servings. The Works Omelette was so large and came with a large side of hash browns and an English muffin. The kids got Mickey Pancakes. My partner chose the triple bogey and had some massive pancakes. They also have their own line of hot sauces and we had to sample every one. If you're in town and looking for breakfast, give First Awakenings a try. Have a dog? This place is dog friendly on their patio. read more

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Solid spot for breakfast with big portions - we were lucky to be seated right away since we came early on a weekday, but other times we walked by later than 8:30/weekends, definitely expect a wait. I had the Cornucopia because I was looking for something lighter, and it hit the spot - lots of veggies mixed in with the egg whites and a big bowl of fruit, but wish it had a bit more flavor. My husband had the Bacado omelet which was a huge portion and came with an English muffin and potatoes. It's a bit on the pricier side but not surprising since it's so close to a lot of the touristy spots. read more

First Awakenings - Bacado Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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So impressed with this place!! I came on a Saturday for brunch and there was a 20+ minute wait. Staff were kind and helpful. Food: The cinnabon pancake special was AMAZING. I wasn't expecting it to be the size of my plate, and it was honestly the best pancake i've ever had. I'll be thinking about it until I'm back in Monterey. Also ordered the "the works" omelette and it was pretty great. The potatoes were delicious and the english muffin was nice toasty and buttered. No complaints! The apple juice was pretty great too. You can tell it's quality from real apples, and not some kind from a juice box! It was a chilly afternoon and we got outdoor seating, but the benches were HEATED and they have outdoor heaters too! Made my experience so pleasant!!! read more

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We have been coming here for many years and it is always a pleasure! Our most recent visit was for our ten year anniversary and we definitely had to cross this one off of our to-do list. The service is always great, very friendly staff; and the food always hits the spot! It's not a far walk from some cool local spots, close to a thrift store and not far from cannery row. Super cute cafe. We will always be back next time! read more

First Awakenings - Bombero Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

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Went there before going to the aquarium and hand a wonderful breakfast. Beautiful views, clean restaurant, and caring staff. Quite frankly, the best part was being able to observe how respectfully a regular was treated by the staff: I watched as an elderly gentleman came in alone and the staff greeted him with warmth and familiarity. They kept him company his entire meal, engaged in conversation, and made sure he was well taken care of. When the gentleman got up to leave, a young man, maybe a teenager, checked to make sure he had his cane and was taken care of. This was the best customer service I have ever seen in my life. read more

Amazing, huge breakfasts and lunch. The monster pancakes are a meal in itself. Service is fast, efficient and friendly. The patio seating is actually warmed at the concrete benches. This establishment is walking distance from the world renowned, Monterey Bay Aquarium. We totally enjoyed our French Toast, Veggie Omelette and Hamburger on Brioche bun. Use their parking lot to visit Cannery Row, which gouges you to park. read more

We ordered Avacado toast and steak and eggs. The Avacado was brown to black... inedible. The steak was unseasoned and undercooked with one side dark and the other side uncooked.The onions on the steak were raw and the "country potatoes" were mushy with We were looking forward to eating at this place and were so very disappointed. Worse part is we had to pay for the whole meal. read more

First off, this location gets extremely busy as it is in the old location that the carrows restaurant used to be as it moved from its smaller location on Cannery Row. For those of you trying to use the Yelp waitlist, please keep in mind that their communication system does not communicate great with yelps waitlist, and so times are often not accurate as it took us over two hours to be seated after joining the waitlist even the walk-ins were seated before. Overall, the food is good and you get plenty of it for the price which makes a good value, however, you are paying for it in time unless you get in right when they open. Service is super friendly and the restaurant gives off dirty spoon diner vibes. Overall, it's an OK location and experience given the terrible wait times, as there are other breakfast spots that may be better. read more

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Visited First Awakenings again and as always they never disappoint. We had the Crab Cake Benedict, and I chose a bunch of sides to try a variety to include Blueberry pancake, French Toast, Side of scrambled eggs, side of country potatoes and side of Calamari. Actually the a french Toast was a replacement for the pancake which tasted as of the flour was off, disappointing but quickly remedied with a swap of the French Toast which was delicious. The eggs and potatoes are always great but the Calamari was a new discovery. I expected it to be Calamari strips but surprisingly it was two large Calamari breaded steaks. And coupled with the lemon and tartar sauce they were delicious. Was far more than we could eat but was great the next morning for leftovers at breakfast. The service, friendly staff, clean establishment and experience were great. It was a busy weekend and like most in Monterey parking was limited despite their large parking lot but still worth the challenge. read more

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My hubs and I found this place in Monterey by just driving by as we both were hungry. The host and our waitress were very nice and friendly. The waitress even suggested to us that if we order this and that we'll save a buck or two, so we ordered just as she mentioned. The food came out fast and HOT like we were watching the chefs cook it. We even love the side of corn beef hash. I would come back for more breakfast food as they have a huge variety and the prices are decent. Come by if you're around the Monterey area near the Monterey Bay Aquarium!!! read more

First Awakenings - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Monterey, California

This was my second time visiting and the experience was somewhat more pleasant than the first visit because I at least knew that it was going to take a super long time to be seated. We were aiming for around a 9 AM brunch on Sunday and joined the Yelp waitlist at 8 AM because the projected wait time was about 30-40 minutes. The estimated wait is massively underestimated. The first visit took nearly 3 hrs for a table of 4 that I don't even remember how the food was because I was just so upset about the wait time. This time for a Yelp waitlist for a party of 5 it was about 2.5 hrs wait time (seated around 10:20 am). I got the corn hash skillet and it was good, not too salty. Both times I came we were seated in the back room with the large blue seating area. ~~Parking: There's a few street parking spots in the front and a fair amount of parking spots in the dedicated parking lot in the back. Even if that's out you should be able to find street parking somewhere, but it can be difficult due to the Aquarium crowd. ~~Service: Organization in terms of the waitlist & front waiting area management needs some work. The wait staff inside the restaurant is super friendly though, just enough check in times. ~~Best Part: Prices. ~~Worst Part: The wait. ~~Tips: Make sure you check in at the front if you originally join the Yelp waitlist. TBH the Yelp waitlist is kind of a scam. They have 2 separate lists: a join in person and Yelp and at that point you need to have one and not the other. I've been to multiple restaurants where it's just the Yelp waitlist or you have to write your name on a clipboard, but the dual lists makes it feel very unfair. ~~Return: Not to dine in. I would order take out because the food is affordable and of decent quality. read more

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Easily one of our favorite brunch spots in Monterey, if it's not #1, it's #2! A lot of people get frustrated with the long wait times, and the cold hard truth is, if you're not willing to wait a little bit... this is already not the place for you. The food is always great, and it's consistently great, that's the reason for 5 stars! The staff is amiable and it's clear they work well under pressure. Most importantly, it's a great place for families and they are very accommodating to our kids! We also enjoy the seating areas whether it be indoor or outdoor! The vibes are always vibing. read more

This place was only a 5-minute drive from our hotel, and I've tried the location in Salinas, so I already have an idea that the food will taste amazing! The interior is nice, clean, and well-maintained. We opted for outdoor seating, and it was nice fresh air. The food portion was generous and well-seasoned. Employees are nice and the service is superb. They have their own parking space, and street parking is also available. I'll definitely come back when visiting Monterey. read more

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Had a ladies' retreat in the Pacific Grove area and decided to have brunch at First Awakenings. We didn't make a reservation, so we had a 45 minute wait for a table, but it was definitely okay because we spent the time in the vintage shop just across the way from First Awakenings. The line was pretty long when we got there, but they were pretty spot on with the amount of time required for the table to be available. Our preference was an indoor table, but we ended up with an outdoor one under an umbrella. The heaters were only available to the tables without umbrellas, so it was a bit cold initially, but the sun was shining and we finally felt the warmth. There were five of us and we shared four dishes family style. There was more than enough food; in fact, we had a lot of potatoes left from our dishes. We ordered the Crab Cake Benedict, the Works Skillet, the Acapulco Express Omelette, and a single Pineapple, Coconut, Granola Pancake. Everything was really good, but we all agreed we probably wouldn't order the Crab Cake Benedict again because the crab was a bit too fishy. Each dish, except for pancake, included an English muffin and homestyle potatoes, which proved to be too much. Service was excellent and our waitress was very sweet and attentive. They left the carafe of coffee on the table for us to refill our own cups, which was great! The also left a water carafe... really appreciated! One other nice touch was a wonderful mixed fruit dish with whipped cream and Oreos that they brought out to help celebrate my birthday; not sure if it was complimentary since I never saw the bill, but it was so nice of them! I would definitely recommend First Awakenings, but you should join the waitlist on Yelp before heading over! read more

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Came in on Monday after Mother's Day and it was still a 15 min wait time at 9am. Ordered the viva carnitas scramble and it was so big! Definitely a huge portion size worth sharing. Really enjoyed it and the potatoes. Couldn't even finish the plate. They left a water pitcher on our table but it had no ice in it. So it was a little strange but not a huge deal. Big restaurant with tons of tables inside. Down the street from the aquarium read more

Fantastic food and great service. There was a huge line but it went very quickly The bluegrrm pancakes and any of the Benedict's are second to none read more

Best Breakfast in Monterey. Yesterday we tried Wave street cafe but First Awakenings was much better! We came at a perfect time 11ish and were seated right away. There is seating inside and outside. Here's what we ordered $55 Two coffees , skillet : Carnitas. Delicious , flavorful , cheesy! Omelette: Bacado Biscuits and Gravy Everything looked and tasted delicious. The inside is nice and clean. I loved the plants. I would recommend this breakfast spot! read more

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