Walt from Walt's Adventures reporting from Sunset Beach, California from the Harbor House Cafe. The cafe has parking lots available. We entered and my first thought was of a small dinner cafe... this was vastly underestimated. The cafe has a vast back seating area. The decor was that of the surrounding Hollywood but the nature of the cafe felt welcoming, homey, and a cafe where anyone can get away from the frantics of LA to regroup in peace. Their menu is vast and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their quality of their food, I dare say, matches any fine restaurant. It was amazing and at non tourist prices. If you are looking for a cafe in LA where you can just get away to take a breath with family or friends, then travel to Sunset Beach. Their care and quality for their food and for their patrons have rarely been matched in all of my travels. read more

Harbor House Café - Blue cheese burger with fries - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

See all

only came here to get Milkshakes Which I enjoyed. I felt like I was on a cute date in the 70s 80s 90s whenever da f diners were around. Me and my friend got milkshakes and shared them. We r so cute hehe. The vibes also made me feel like I was in one of those old school movies where they go to a diner and share a milkshake like young lovers HAHAH. Anyway it was a nice change of scenery than what I'm used to and I loved it! The man who helped us was very nice and his beard is awesome. read more

See all

Really like the Mexican Omelet and really LOVE the service. I used to be a regular here until I retired from Boeing. It was still worth the drive today read more

Harbor House Café - Grandkids ready for breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

We were in town and we stopped in for an early breakfast. I had told my son we used to eat here all the time when I attended Long Beach State in the 80's. It still looked the same inside! Walked in and were immediately greeted with menus. Ordered coffees and were served also with waters. I had the eggs Benedict with hashbrowns. Loved the hollandaise sauce and the hashbrowns were cooked perfectly crispy. My son had the banana blueberry pancakes with two eggs and bacon. It ended up being a lot of food! I tried the pancakes and they were delicious. Had a banana flavor with blueberries cooked inside. We were in and out quickly, with excellent service and delicious food! read more

See all

Its been a while since Ive been here. Rolled in on a Sunday morning and seated right away. Super rad establishment on PCH in good old Sunset Beach. They are open 24/7 and have quite a lot of seating. Opt to sit in the back where there is a lot more room. The main area is very compact with tight quarters. We ordered the breakfast special for $9.99. It comes with pancakes, 2 eggs and choice of bacon, sausage or hashbrowns. To wash everything down we ordered OJ at $7.99 a cup. A little pricey. I hope someone was in thr back squeezing the life out of every orange for that price. Service was friendly. Prices are reasonable for the area. After all these years I am still a fan. read more

See all

Been going here forever. But its been a while now. I still like the whole relaxed vibe of this place. Parking can still be challenging depending on when you go. I have to say this time when I order the corned beef hash breakfast the corned beef was super salty, mushy and seemed like it was from a can. Very disappointing. Wont be ordering that ever again. All the employees were pleasant and did a good job and serving the crowds. read more

Harbor House Café - Memorabilia decorations - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

A really solid surf themed diner down in Sunset Beach. Established in 1939 there are two locations, this one in Sunset Beach and the other in Dana Point. They are known for their 24 hour service and for having casual but tasty food. I live in Marina del Rey but drove down to OC specifically for this breakfast and I'm happy that I did so. Our waiter was very polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. They have a small parking lot attached otherwise it's not very difficult to find free street parking if the parking lot is full. They have a very large menu and their most famous dish is the Chicken Fried Steak. Inside is fairly large as well and there are many different sized tables so they can accommodate small to big groups. For my breakfast, I usually order the Eggs Benedict but this time I wanted to try something new so I chose the Guacamole Omelette. I decided to change the bacon to steak and felt it was a good call. The guacamole on top was fresh and added a lot of flavor and overall it was just a really good breakfast. The portion size was very fair and so was the pricing. Diner prices around town have gone up in the last year or so, but I still feel it is worth it. I do plan to stop in again next time I am down in this area. read more

See all

I was craving some biscuits and gravy so I came here. I also had bacon. My beverage was coffee. I couldn't believe the large portion of biscuits and gravy. Its easily double the size of most places. I liked how the bacon wasn't to crispy. The coffee was how I like it, not to strong. I enjoyed the old movie posters on the walls and ceiling. Service here is very good. I like this location more than Dana Point. If you pay cash, it's cheaper. read more

See all

This Sunset Beach location is right on the Pacific Coast Highway. There is parking kind of tucked away on the side, as well as right there on PCH. I came here after a recommendation from a friend who grew up just around the corner. I kind of feel like I'm cheating on my beloved Bogart's (a couple of miles down the road at Seal Beach). But this place serves full meals, which the other place doesn't. Score!!! This place is cool. When you walk in, you are in a small, cozy dining room with seats at the counter. There are pictures and posters all over the wall and ceiling. You can't see how big this place is until you walk back, but it is pretty big. The guy who served me was very nice and my breakfast came right away. I ordered scrambled eggs with hash browns and a pancake, and added sausage patties. It was huge--not sure what size their eggs are, but two eggs at my house is half the amount I got served. It was good. The coffee was good, too. I feel like everyone needs a place like this in their lives, and I'm sure I will be back. And no worries, I did make it to my favorite beach, Seal Beach, to sit and watch the waves with my full belly. read more

See all

This used to be a great place, it no longer is. We had been going there for years but had not been to this location in a few years. I got Food Poisoning here on Sunday 4-26-26. Terribly SICK the rest of the day and through the night. And this was from an early breakfast. DO NOT eat here!! When it was good you got a delicious breakfast and large portions. It's a shame what has happened to this place and I am surprised they are still in business. We will never go back!!! The cook needs to be fired!! And the owner needs to check for fresh food!! Not something rotten that someone, can get sick from. Honestly, a person can die from food poisoning!! read more

My boyfriend loves this place for the fresh omelettes. I've yet to be impressed with the anything I've ordered. It's always fresh but just a bit off for me. We stopped in, on our way to Disneyland, last week right after they opened. I ordered pancakes and I am not sure if it was the pancake or the syrup but there was an industrial flavor. Maybe the griddle wasn't rinsed thoroughly enough?? I will say I like their sour dough bread though read more

The high reviews were misleading. The food tasted bland. Even tried adding sauces and salt but it did not help. To be clear I love omelette and hash brown I don't know how it was so bland. Will not come again. Service was good and the location looked nice. read more

Wtf has happened to this place??? Who is the owner??? I literally had the worst hamburger in my entire life!!!! The meat patty was disgusting! I sincerely request the owner reach out to me asap. I can write a novel how bad it was!!! read more

First off: LOVE the ambience of this place. The movie posters are just *chef's kiss* Love it. The food is good. From the burgers, salads, and pasta. No complaints at all. I don't think anyone aside from the young woman has served me. I didn't catch her name but she's always incredibly kind, and quick. read more

See all

Harbor House Café has such a cool vibe! The décor really stands out -- classic movie posters, vintage photos, wood-paneled walls covered in signatures, and sturdy wooden tables that give it a cozy, nostalgic feel. The menu is simple but solid -- sandwiches, burgers, salads, and soups. Honest, tasty food without the fuss. My fiancé had the tuna melt with a Sculpin IPA and said it was delicious. I went with the chicken cashew salad, and it was fresh, flavorful, and honestly awesome. I paired it with a mimosa and really enjoyed the combo. The downside? Since the whole place is made of wood and it's summer, it was incredibly hot inside -- I felt like I was sitting in a sauna, which made it uncomfortable to stay and fully enjoy the experience. Also, the service was lacking; it kind of felt like they forgot about us at times. Overall, the food is worth coming back for, but maybe I'd try it again in a cooler season when the heat isn't overwhelming. read more

See all

Stopped by here while out of town for work before heading to the airport. I had the chorizo omelette and my boss has the veggie omelette. Both were great and fresh not fried too hard. We both enjoyed the hash browns. The service was good as we were the only ones present and the ambiance is like a standard regular diner. Will come back when int be area. read more

Harbor House Café - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

See all

Sunset Beach location: I was looking for a small cafe place that made good southern country biscuits and gravy and I found it! So good that we went to try out more food and sat down inside. The restaurant was clean, nostalgic and customer service was great! Portions were generous and priced fairly. We will definitely be going back. read more

I was here not long ago, excited to try this spot I always see when I drive by sunset beach. The location and atmosphere is welcoming. The staff is friendly and attentive. The food is ok and portions are small. My review is focused on the price of what was a simple breakfast for two. I got a corned beef with hash, two eggs and tortillas. My partner got some eggs,sausage and bacon and a single waffle. To wash it down we got some lemonade. We sat there a while enjoying our food and talking and once we got the bill I got hit with $59 bill for just those items! No refills or anything. Exactly What you see in the photos. Instead of paying I should have talked to someone but I just didn't want to let that get to me and ruin our night so I let it go and paid it. including 2 drinks. The food was standard breakfast but it was nothing stellar to write about and definitely not worth $60.For comparison I've been to mom and pops locally and a breakfast or lunch for 2 will set be back roughly 50 with a refill and huge portions. I'm not even talking big chains where $60 will get you alot of food. Once In a while I'll run into something that sounds exciting but the reward is very minimal and not what I had in mind. read more

Harbor House Café - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

See all

This retro-divey diner has character. It's small with a tiny parking lot that would be inadequate most any other time than when I visited (3pm on a weekday). The moment I walked in I loved it; the old movie posters and photos amidst eclectic decor and ragged booths. Music was playing a crazy mix (from Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones to When We Get Behind Closed Doors by Charlie Rich to Obsession by Animotion to Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers...). I sat in a booth and ordered the Harbor House club sandwich with fries as my side. I also ordered a cherrry Coke. Hailey was my server and took superb care of me throughout my meal. The sandwich was enormous. Sliced deli turkey, lettuce, tomato, and bacon with mayo on toast. Simple but really good. The hot-out-of-the-fryer fries were excellent and I appreciated the large side of ranch for dipping instead of the tiny plastic fast-food sized cups often given. I decided to get a slice of carrot cake for dessert. The gigantic slice was pretty good. It wasn't exactly moist but not dry either. The flavor of the cake was muted but the thick cream frosting (did I detect a hint of coconut?) was delightful and somehow I finished it all without exploding. What a fun place to enjoy some diner food. read more

See all

Yes it was well located after a good coastal hike It serves excellent tho limited food +!and certainly is a friendly place to share a meal read more

If You're Hungry, Bring a Snack! If patience is a virtue, I am now a saint. Our food took so long I started wondering if they were growing the ingredients out back. By the time it finally came out, it was... well, let's just say I wish it had stayed in the kitchen. Bland, cold, and disappointing - basically the trifecta of "never coming back." Service was nice but slower than dial-up internet. Great place if you enjoy waiting, being hungry, and paying for the experience. Otherwise, hard pass. read more

Husband and I are here for breakfast/brunch yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised. It has a dated charm to it, with many things to occupy your eyes while you wait on food. There are plenty of milkshake options and a huge menu with lots of options to choose from. They also serve alcohol and uncommon soft drinks like Shirley Temple and Roy Rogers. I had the open face turkey sandwich. It was delicious comfort food! Husband had a French dip and chili cheese fries. I'm not into French fries because I like mine damn near transparent and crunchy. These fries were the right consistency! So I ate a few of his chili cheese fries. The one thing about my sandwich...the menu states the sandwiches come with fries, onion rings, or fruit. They listed the open faced turkey sandwich under that section, but I did not get an option. I would have liked fruit with my meal but I think the open faced turkey sandwich only comes with mashed potatoes. They should reword the menu or honor the fact if someone complains. read more

I'm giving it a 5/5 for a diner it's everything you want it to be. Friendly and fast service, quirky interior, chill vibe, minutes from the ocean. We went on our way to the beach and really enjoyed the food. read more

First of all I love ice tea, not here! Ordered cheese burger med/well it came rare, lettuce was the hard white part of the head ! Fries were soaked with grease ! They removed my meal from the bill, which I asked the new girl to please remove! I heard this place has gone to crap, used to be really good, don't bother! It is pretty nostalgic inside! What a shame, go to In Out, get a great meal! read more

What happened here? New management? The food was TERRIBLE; it used to be amazing. My friend didn't finish her French Toast, which was just white wonder bread with egg yolk and no cinnamon -- hers looked undercooked and when she offered me some, I said: "No. I'll get sick." She felt sick after and said she was going to throw up. I got the Eggs Benedict, which was the worst I've ever had. Hollandaise sauce is tricky, but it tasted stale and it was thick like a soup instead of savory. The server was nice. We didn't complain and paid, but I don't ever want to go back. read more

Harbor House Café - French Toast Combo - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

Harbor House Cafe is one of those timeless diners that hits all the right notes. Whether you're craving comfort food, a laid-back vibe, or service that makes you feel like a regular, this place delivers. We ordered a Blue Moon (nicely priced at $6) and a Diet Coke to start, along with a shareable plate of cheese fries with ranch: crispy, cheesy, and everything you want in diner-style starters. For mains, we had the Mexican omelette with hash browns and sourdough toast, and a bacon burger (no tomato) with French fries. Everything was flavorful, well-prepared, and generously portioned. By the end of the meal, we were too full for dessert; yet, we couldn't resist grabbing an Oreo shake to-go. Totally worth it. The interior is a love letter to vintage Americana, with old movie posters, records, and classic rock playing over the speakers. It sounded a lot like 93.1 JACK FM: nostalgic, upbeat, and just the right mood for a relaxed meal. And shoutout to Richard, who's more than just a great server: he's the kind of person who makes you feel welcome every time. Attentive, friendly, and genuinely kind. If you're anywhere near Sunset Beach, Harbor House Cafe is absolutely worth the stop. Great food, great vibes, and even better people. read more

I had no idea this place existed until today and I'm glad to have come here. I ordered an international omelette and it was great. My friend got a stack of pancakes and the food was large and goof quality. My only complaint is their only gluten free bread option I'd a corn tortilla which many gf folks can't eat. You can pay a bit extra for a different side though. Service was good and this place is open 24/7. Parking is tight and the bathrooms are tiny but the restaurant is far bigger on the inside than it looks outside. read more

See all

Do not go here. The pre pandemic Harbor House was great. You did not mind the slightly higher prices or wait. The good news no wait any more on a Sunday 10:00am. Bod knew food was terrible. I have tried it three times before I am writing this review.. it is getting worse. Whoever is running this place has lowered the standards too much. There cook needs to be retrained. I was in the food business. And this quality would never leave my kitchen. But, that must be why the place is not that busy. It was my old hang out every weekend before the pandemic and even during. Now I would never go back. Ps. The service was so bad, I gave the bus boy a few dollars to keep our coffee full and warm. read more

See all

I've been all over the world. Been to Africa, been to Paraguay, Panama, most of Mexico, all over the United States, Dubai...and holy sh*t, your restaurant serves undoubtedly the WORST iced tea I've EVER drank. Like, now I know how the residents of Flint Michigan must feel like when they try and drink their water: unable to because water you can light on fire. I posted on my timeline on FB as soon as I got home to warn my friends about your iced tea. My ex babysitter responded with: "You know why ... because they don't clean the spicket and it gets all gross and nasty inside. That's when ice Tea tastes like crap." Like, how fu*king hard is it for a company to clean their drink machines every week or so? I'm guessing it hasn't been cleaned in, at least, two years. It was like taking a sip of cold bath water. Like, I wonder the crust it has around it. The two packs of sugar didn't even make dint. It's crazy how dirty your ice ld tea. I bet your raspberry iced tea taste like sh*t water with a dash of raspberry. As far as my meal: it was delicious. Only reason you got 2 stars and not just 1. And the reason I won't be coming back. If you can't clean a drink dispenser, what else aren't you cleaning. read more

Service was lacking.. the place was slow Food... My turkey looked a grayish color, didn't eat it!! Ambiance, NONE!! They need a major restaurant over hauling!! Wound not suggest this place until they update everything!! read more

I love this place it's been so long since we came here. I was craving a delicious breakfast today so suggested Harbor House. What can I say, been coming here for like 20 years wow that's such a long time! It doesn't even feel like that long, this place is amazing. I love their corn beef hash and eggs, I always have them make it extra crispy, the hash browns extra crispy and I got a side of extra crispy bacon. I remember they used to have the home style potatoes if I remember correctly, but it's been a while since we have been here so sort of forgot. I also had a coke with grenadine so delicious. My husband ordered the Denver Omelette with cheese with hash browns and coffee. Was a nice brunch/lunch. Usually this place is always packed with lines out the door. Today it wasn't too busy maybe we came at the off time of day. The parking lot is small and is a little crazy when it is busy but I love that it's near Sunset Beach. I love coming down here such a beautiful drive and area. Our server was super friendly and helpful. Brought our drinks and food out quickly. I love the ambiance here with all the posters of old movies and the pictures of the movie stars on the walls, the lights too, they have posters hanging on the sealing's as well. Where we sat at the top part in the back area they have these old bingo games all over the walls to which I love. Nice that they haven't changed anything for the last 25 years. Still cool atmosphere I forever love. We usually always sit in the top area of the back of the restaurant so we can overlook everything and have a private sort of area which is nice. All the food here is delicious! I highly recommend this place if you haven't been here before. 5 stars for great service, delicious food, cool atmosphere and for being one of my favorite breakfast places to go for so many years! Thank you for always having delicious food and being consistent for so many years. Have a beautiful day :) Aloha read more

See all

I wanted to try something different and bumped into this place. It's a little rundown, but overall service in the food was good nothing to come back to lol. Just a one try for me. I'm glad we came. read more

See all

I used to eat at Harbor House Cafe quite often and the food was always decent. I decided to visit the place again for lunch with a few friends. Being a big fan of French dips, I decided to try theirs. Unbelievably bad. When I was served the sandwich, I shocked. It was an average looking French roll with so little meat that you could barely see it. I figured that somehow the meat must have shifted elsewhere within the roll. Looking more closely, I discovered that there was no more meat! The first bite told me what a miserable sandwich this truly was. The bread wasn't very fresh and, what's worse, the couple of slices of roast beef that it had were dried up and totally flavorless. I didn't want to make any problems since I was enjoying my time with friends, so I did not return the sandwich, but I certainly should have. No restaurant should serve this. No cook should slap this on a plate and send it out. Harbor House, you REALLY missed the mark. Please see the picture in case you don't quite believe me! read more

Harbor House Café - A French Dip? Not really!!! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

Leslie E, you are wrong and shame on you for repeatedly attacking a small business. I came here today for the first time since pre pandemic and the service and food was wonderful! Just like I remembered! We ordered a pancake combo and the eggs came out exactly how I ordered it, eggs Benedict came out piping hot! All the food came out quickly and the shakes are still large and delicious like I remember. Leslie E, if you left so many terrible reviews here why don't you just leave this place alone for the rest of us to enjoy!? I will not be waiting another 5 years to come back. Fantastic time!!! read more

Harbor House Café - Walnut pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sunset Beach, California

See all

service was probably the worst i've seen in any restaurant, wasn't greeted one time, sure saw us ! sure stared! but not once did anyone even come to our table to get our orders or give water, nothing. so i wouldn't know anything about the food because apparently they're gatekeeping it? mind you there were like 6 other people in the entire restaurant. read more

Harbor House Cafe absolutely nailed it again! This was my fourth visit, and while the first three were already excellent, this one was on a whole other level--just incredible! I had the Top Sirloin Stir Fry with fresh, colorful veggies over a bed of fluffy white rice, all smothered in their amazing teriyaki sauce. Every single bite was bursting with flavor--the steak was so tender, the veggies had the perfect crunch, and that sauce? Chef's kiss. This place is such a gem. It's been around since 1939 and has served tons of famous celebrities over the years, and you can totally feel that classic diner charm mixed with a warm, welcoming vibe. It's the kind of spot that keeps pulling you back in--and for good reason. If you've never been, do yourself a favor and GO. And if you've been before, you already know--you're in for something special. I'm already looking forward to visit number five! read more

See all

I used to love this place. Last two times I've been have been less than satisfactory, to say the least. Tonight, I went to Harbor House Café with a group of friends. We all ordered at the same time and everyone received their food before I received mine being the half sandwich and chili bowl. My sandwich was OK (though served much after everyone had their plates in front of them and were eating), but my chili came out much after everyone else had nearly finished their food. My chili did not look like chili, it looked like some weird genetically engineered and modified plastic Jell-O substance. No exaggeration, when the table was bumped my bowl of chili wiggled like Jell-O jigglers, even the waitress said wow it moves. She offered to bring a bowl of clam chowder or chicken noodle soup, which I politely declined. At this point, my group has pretty much finished their meals. I say I'll go ahead and order the other half of the sandwich and get a side of salad, my appetite is pretty much gone at this point, but I was still very hungry especially seeing everyone around me eat their food and I had a sub par 1/2 sandwich. I receive my salad and the other half of my sandwich in to go containers bagged up. I get that everyone finished their food, but I was still very hungry, and would have liked to eat at the restaurant I paid to dine at. So the option of enjoying my food with my group of friends was already made up for me that that was not going to happen. I would have to enjoy my food at home. The waitress says she can bring me a plate, but I was done with harbor house cafe at this point. There are a million restaurants to pay to eat at, what a sad disappointment this was, AGAIN. The time before that was about two weeks ago, it was less busy, but the service was still bad and instead of me having to have my meal taken back, my friend asked if they could take her food back and heat it cause it was cold and my coffee had grounds in it and looked like tea. So yeah, this used to be one of my favorite places to go to, I'm not sure what they're doing now or what they're putting in their food or where they're getting their food, and why it's coming out cold and or looking like jello and wiggling, but quality has gone down significantly. Personally, if I was a waitress, and I saw a bowl of chili that wiggled, I would not serve it to my customer. It literally wiggled like Jell-O. So yeah, $24 later, I won't be returning again. Check out Woody's which has exceptional customer service and their chili is off the chart. And no coffee grounds in your coffee . read more

No longer open 24 hours....whomp whomp. End of an era. Please change your website! Still says open 24 hours!!!!

Wholy nostalgia! Used to come here in high school and in my 20s after a night of drinking lol! So many good memories at harbor house. This was when harbor house was a 24/7 diner, unfortunately not anymore :( Came in this morning after a hike on christmas day! There was a wait as this was one of the only places open on christmas. But thats ok, we sat at the bar right away. Service was fast and friendly like i remembered. Menus looked totally different, no more big binder books. Menu still looks extensive but not as big as before. Sure covid cut some of the food options and their hours. Ordered a blueberry milkshake and it was so good! Now they offer a small and large size. I got the small and for 5.99 its still a large shake! So good! With chunks of blueberry! I got their grilled cheese with fries and a side of ranch! So good like what i remembered and probably one of the cheapest things on the menu. My friend got their belmont omelet - Spinach, Mushrooms, Onions, Tomatoes and Cheese. Prices have def. Increased to $15.50 for an omelet but its a huge size and comes with a side and toast. Prices have risen everywhere these days so not really surprised. We tipped well because it was the holiday and everyone was working so hard and fast! Place was busy! Love the nostalgia of this place. Def. A great local spot. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Great food, good music, and friendly staff. First time and it was a great experience . Our waitress was on top of it and made sure we had everything we needed and drinks were always full read more