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    Lazy Hippo

    3.9 (713 reviews)
    Closed Closed

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    Business Info

    LAZY HIPPO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Lazy Hippo

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    Vegan chocolate chip pancake
    Virginia D.

    VEGAN REVIEW Was in SD for the weekend, staying near the convention center. We walked here thanks to Yelp search of "vegan breakfast"-- did not disappoint! Had the breakfast enchiladas & pancake. Both tasty. Blackberry & peach mimosas were a little sweet for my liking, but HUGE Great to sit outside & enjoy the sunshine. Attentive server.

    Fresh squeezed orange juice
    David Y.

    Came here Saturday morning for breakfast. My friend suggested this spot and I'm glad he brought me here. The Whiskey House and Lazy Hippo are the same from what the host told us. There was no line and we were seated promptly inside. The inside was really cool with a huge selection of whiskey. Kicked it off with coffee ($4.25 - free refills) and freshly squeezed orange juice ($6) which were both very good. I ended up getting the Super special, which came with my choice of two eggs, bacon, crispy home fries and Nutella banana waffles. It was so good and so filling! I really enjoyed my meal. If you are in the mood for a big breakfast, I highly recommend this spot.

    Selena R.

    I browsed for a new spot and came across lazy hippo reeled in for the name lol, I was confused that I arrived and it was actually closed they share with the Whiskey House I was lost for a while before a waitress came to attend. While inside the Whiskey House the display area was beautiful, we were seated outside where the weather was nice and gloomy prices were excellent and the food was very well portioned and well cooked.!

    Tofu scramble , very healthy bfast
    Daniella S.

    This place was really enjoyable for breakfast with the family. I ordered the vegan burrito which took a while to cool down but it was good. The breakfast enchiladas were delicious with the green salsa. As well as the pancakes. Server was kind and attentive. There's also sitting outside which is nice when it's not too hot.

    The strawberry and trio pancakes. Neither teenage boy was able to finish them, lol.
    Sandy G.

    My 2 sons and I walked to this restaurant for brunch because it was close to another spot we visited. Brunch was held in the whisky bar next door. It had a super cool vibe and decor. The waiter was really nice. They have fresh juices, great coffee, and a wide selection for brunch. We have been shocked by our bills for other meals while we've been in town, but for $15 each, our meals weee huge and tasted amazing. My boys got pancakes and I got the breakfast sandwich with egg, basil, tomato and mozzarella. We walked away very happy. I only wish they'd had a hippo coffee mug in stock!

    Anna B.

    Went to brunch before the Padres game, location is perfect if you want to walk right over after. There's outdoor seating and a pretty big brunch (and drink) menu. For two, I shared the chilaquiles (verde with chicken) and the lemon ricotta waffles. The food was good, service could be better. We ordered drinks and food together and it took a while to not only get the drinks we ordered, but also the water. We ended up having to ask for our drinks. One order ended up getting missed and their food had to get made after we got the rest of the dishes. Everyone was friendly but I don't think it's enough for me to come back.

    Veggie Scramble
    Katie G.

    A downtown San Diego hole in the wall brunch spot! Wasn't our first, second, or third option... but everywhere else had 1+ hour wait times on a Sunday (makes sense)! I called Lazy Hippo and there was no wait and we were seated right upon arrival. Service was averagely fast and food was nice and fresh! I ordered the veggie scramble. Don't be alarmed, on weekends or when there are events, they use the facility of whiskey house next door.

    Paige L.

    It was really confusing for us, but apparently the lazy hippo and the whiskey house are the same spot. I wish it was more clear on the website. Luckily outdoor staff helped us and we sat ourselves on the patio. Service was quick. I got the vegan pancakes. They were Definitely chewy, but still tasted nice. I had fresh juice that was also very tasty. Ample seating room. Lots of street parking surrounding. Food was prepared in under 10 min. We would love to come back again.

    Chilaquiles are delicious
    Kathy N.

    The only way it gets better is if A) everything was free **certainly not gonna happen or if B) I was being fed delicious morsels of Lazy Hippo's food by bronzed, beautiful surfer boys while being fanned by palm fronds **maybe in my dreams! On a serious note - this place is fantastic. We just happened upon Lazy Hippo while in the area and despite it being Sunday morning at 10am, we managed to get a wonderful table and be served by a wonderful young man (NOT my bronzed surfer boy) who was genuine in his service and made us feel very welcome. My husband's breakfast was somewhat basic but still delicious and he really enjoyed his mimosa. I ordered the Chilaquiles (roja with 2 over easy eggs) along with a Chamoya Michelada. My eggs were cooked to perfection and my dish was excellent! The Chamoya Michelada tastes exactly like I make them and the chamoy candy stick in the drink was the perfect touch. Prices reasonable, location/cleanliness fantastic, waitstaff amazing, food even better. Love this place!

    Ayzha T.

    Awesome spot with quick and great customer service. These were incredible vegan pancakes! My only complaint is that you have to pay for real maple syrup.

    Bee's Knees
    Ryan L.

    My friends and made our way to the Lazy Hippo after a 4-mile run across the Bay Bridge. Famished, cranky, and in dire need of alcohol--we were greeted with a 20 minute wait to this bumbling brunch spot (we did show up on a Sunday honestly not that bad of a wait). Lazy Hippo was worth the wait. My friends got the Micheladas but went for the Bee's Knees gin cocktail. I sipped my refreshing cocktail as I worked on the House Burger and Banana Nutella Waffles. Everything was delicious and worth the wait. The only gripe I had with the visit was that--the wait. Service was kind but incredibly intermittent. Getting the attention for a refill of water or ordering another drink became a running joke at the table and definitely caused a hiccup in the vibes. But, other than that--Lazy Hippo was an overall great experience that I'd be glad to have again.

    Vegan enchiladas with soyrizo so good
    Karen H.

    It's open! It's the same spot as the Whiskey House! I know it's a bit confusing just go with it. The store fronts are right next from each other. First time here, super excited after seeing the reviews. The vegan menu is a bit small 3 items but the vegan enchiladas with soyrizo (+$2) is delicious! It's topped with fresh avocado, pick de Gallo and shredded lettuce. Put a few dabs of Cholula hot sauce and it's perfection. I cleared that plate so quick. I love vegetables on everything I eat, even if it's a side dish. I really liked the avocados on top and the shredded lettuce it added a fresh crisp crunch to the soft enchiladas. The soyrizo added that extra flavor. I would order that again. Might try the vegan breakfast burrito next. Indoor and outdoor seating available. It's inside the whiskey house so there is a bar and comfy couch seating area. Inside is very dark and chill. Loved the music it was on point that morning. Service, was good. A bit slow when it comes to the check. But they kept checking in on us and made sure we got everything we needed. Hostess was super accommodating we moved 3 times since it was cold. Will be back! Parking is paid metered street parking.

    Vegan enchiladas with salsa verdes! Yum!

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 month ago

    Waiter was kind. Location was a C bit confusing as they utilized the bar next door. Food was fine

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    9 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Update your hours online when you're closed for a private event. We paid for parking nearby and then walked over to find a closed sign.

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    1 year ago

    Katie was a fantastic server and made excellent recommendations! Kind and quick service with EXCELLENT food!

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    7 years ago

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    1 year ago

    It's a bar that serves food. The ambiance is "bar". The server was good but we were only one of two tables.

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    Ask the Community - Lazy Hippo

    Are they open on Easter?

    Yes they are

    Do you have gluten free burger buns or gluten free toast?

    There are gluten free corn tortillas or gluten free pancakes or gluten free waffle

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    Gaslamp Breakfast Company

    Gaslamp Breakfast Company

    4.1
    (1.7k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    My hubby is a big breakfast guy and with this situated directly across from our hotel, we knew we'd…read morebe trying it. There was no wait, seated immediately, greeted immediately. Coffee was delivered hot, waters nice and chilled. I got the brioche breakfast sammie where I had to change a few things on it and they were very accommodating - ended up being a great meal. My hubby got the meat lovers omelet and it was huge! He enjoyed every bite. We will definitely visit again if ever in the area.

    Probably the WORST customer service I've experienced in all of San Diego. We walked up to ask how…read morelong the wait was, the hostess on the outside said it was 25 minutes, not a problem. We put down our name and number after receiving the confirmation text, we decided to walk the market the next street over, that took 20 minutes. We came back and waited and saw other people walk up and be sat to a table instantly. We then asked how much longer it would be we were told 5 minutes. We waited, not a problem. We saw at least 5 more parties walk up and be sat down instantly (we were a party of 3 btw). We asked the hostess yet again, when will we be sat down, at this point we've been waiting for an hour we saw a table be cleaned and yet again another walk up was sat down instantly, that was a party of 4. We asked what the hold up was, one hostess said we can be seated now, we walk in and then she stopped us then asked would we like to be sat outside, we said doesn't matter at this point, she jetted outside and left us just standing there on the inside. I asked her what's going on are we being sat down? She said no wait 5 minutes for a table. At this point we're getting frustrated because why is the organization at this point TERRIBLE, but a walk up is not an issue. I then tell the hostess we've been waiting over an hour and you mean to tell me every walk up gets sat down instantly but not the people who have been waiting on the list, she answers me by saying "yes". After a table is cleared on the inside a hostess tells us to follow her to a table, she then asks how many is in my party when she was the main one who checked us in and saw us waiting the whole time. After all that time, our waiter was running behind so his manager took our order and kept apologizing to us. When we finally get our orders, the food was equivalent as to going into IHOP or Dennys. Nothing stood out, flavor was lacking. At this point we were better off going to Broken Yolk across the street. Customer service and the waitlist system seriously needs major improvement here. Simple manners and accountability lack here as well when it comes to making mistakes. Only thing I liked was my chai latte. Most likely will not come back here.

    Photos
    Inside Restaurant Bar Area
    Inside Restaurant Bar Area
    Brioche Breakfast Sammy
    Brioche Breakfast Sammy
    Steak & Eggs

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    Steak & Eggs
    Richard Walker's Pancake House

    Richard Walker's Pancake House

    4.0
    (4.5k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Came here for Mother's Day brunch and, predictably, the place was absolutely buzzing with families!…read moreEven with the holiday crowd, the vibe was great and the energy was high. You can't come to Richard Walker's and not get the Dutch pancake. We went with the Apple Pancake (the fan favorite for a reason) and it was honestly out of this world. It's got that perfect contrast with super fluffy in the middle but with those amazing crispy edges. We also tried the Belgian waffle, which was exactly how it should be: crunchy on the outside and delicious throughout. What really blew me away, though, was the service. Despite it being one of the busiest days of the year, the staff was absolutely superb fast, friendly, and totally on top of it. If you're in Downtown San Diego, this is a must-visit for a solid, convenient breakfast. Highly recommend!

    You can't miss the sweet apple aroma when you walk by Richard Walkers Pancake House. It's simply…read moreambrosial! That's the delicious smell of their famous baked pancakes! An absolute must when dining here! Everything is made to order (just the way I like it). The baked pancake takes about 20 min, but totally worth it! Overall, service was on point- from start to finish! And the staff are friendly and pleasant! Very informative about the menu, making great recommendations for our table! The apple baked pancake was light and airy with an outer crisp! This house specialty is slow-baked to golden perfection with Granny Smith apples and a warm cinnamon glaze-chef's kiss! I will definitely be back for more!

    Photos
    Richard Walker's Pancake House
    Regular PANCAKE
    Regular PANCAKE
    FRESH STRAWBERRY PATCH WAFFLE

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    FRESH STRAWBERRY PATCH WAFFLE
    Breakfast Republic

    Breakfast Republic

    4.1
    (2.5k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I recently took a trip out to San Diego for an appointment and stopped by Breakfast Republic; and…read morewow, everything was absolutely delicious! The interior is super organized, and I loved that they have a full bar area as well. We started with some mimosas, which were fantastic and the perfect kickoff to breakfast. For food, I ordered the Vegan Tres Leches Pancakes, and they were incredible. They were so naturally flavorful and moist that they barely even needed any maple syrup; the combination of the pistachio brittle and vegan buttercream on top was perfect on its own. My friend ordered the Shrimp and Crab Cake Benedict and loved it. He said it was packed with flavor, not dry at all, and didn't taste overly fishy; just perfect in every way. To top it all off, our server was so sweet, checked on us often, and was incredibly proactive throughout our meal. Great food, great drinks, and excellent service. I will definitely recommend to vegans and non vegans. Just to clarify for anyone looking to visit; Breakfast Republic isn't a fully vegan restaurant, but they do have a fair amount of great vegan options clearly marked on the menu.

    My mother dragged me here and I wanted to like it, but the experience was honestly uncomfortable…read moreand underwhelming. The atmosphere didn't feel kid-friendly at all--loud, crowded, and not really accommodating if you have children with you. On top of that, the food didn't match the hype. It looked good but the quality just wasn't there, especially for the price. What really stood out to me though was the dynamic in the restaurant. The entire dining area was filled almost exclusively with white customers, while the visible staff roles felt very segmented in a way that didn't sit right. Here's the puzzle: look around the room, look at who is being seen, look at who is serving, look at who is clearing... and then ask yourself why the only person worth looking at wasn't even part of the experience they're trying to sell. Between the atmosphere, the food quality, and that underlying vibe, it's not somewhere I'd go back to.

    Photos
    Dining space.
    Dining space.
    Eggs a plenty !
    Eggs a plenty !
    Bar area.

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    Bar area.
    The Invigatorium

    The Invigatorium

    4.4
    (382 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    The invigatorium has been on my list for quite some time. I've seen pictures online and the reviews…read morewere also pretty good. It's street parking only, so can be challenging depending on when you come. I stopped in during the week, as I walked from the nearby Padres stadium. It wasn't very busy when I came in around 11:30, but after I ordered it really picked up. They do have a counter where you order the food, and also a bar that you can sit at that appears to have a pretty good selection of alcohol. There are a few tables to sit at. After I place my order I decided to sit at the table with the Ronald McDonald statue, because why not? I asked the very nice server about the menu, and she let me know what was popular and answered my questions. I decided to go with the muffaletta as it was on focaccia bread, which I really love. The sandwich was huge, and I definitely needed someone to share it with. They do cut it in half, so it is actually perfect for sharing or taking the other half home. It is filled with several different types of Italian Meats, including salami, sopressata, mortadella, some cheese and arugula and onions, and a sauce they use. I've never had a muffaletta before, so I can't speak to how authentic this is, but I can tell you it was a very good sandwich. I loved all of the flavors and the way they came together, and the fact that it was on focaccia bread just made it all the more perfect. Overall this is a very cute place to grab breakfast or lunch, I believe they are only open until 3:00 p.m.. The decor is very cute, with several different statues, disco ball, and a music area , and I think kids would love it as well as adults. I also enjoyed the food, and would like to try some of the other things on their menu as well. I could see myself going back if I'm in the area.

    Such a cool place! Loved all the decor…read more. Tried their breakfast soyrizo and egg tacos and omg I'm definitely going back to have some more.. service was quick and the guy was super nice.. didn't get his name but I remember blondish curly hair, maybe lol.. a must try! Gotta take a pic w Ronald lol Also the wallpaper in the restroom is so neat! Haha loved it

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Chia Pudding
    Chia Pudding
    Chia Pudding

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    Chia Pudding
    Cocina 35

    Cocina 35

    4.2
    (2.3k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$
    Curbside pickup during COVID-19
    5 years in business

    We came to Cocina 35 at Liberty Station for the first time to celebrate my husband's birthday and…read morehad such a lovely experience. Dennise seated us and was so kind, she even shared a few of her favorite menu items since it was our first visit. Our server Anelle was great as well. She was friendly, attentive, and helped us pick some really good dishes. We tried the Tacos Dorados de Papa, El Sampler de la Abuela, and La Bomba, and for appetizers the Burrito de Machaca con Frijoles Puercos and the sweet corn tamal (which ended up being my favorite). The food and ambiance were great, but the service from Dennise and Anelle really stood out. They made our birthday brunch feel special.

    I received very bad service while ordering and picking up my order. I ordered pickup on DoorDash. I…read morewas informed they would be making the food and accepted the order. Why would you accept an order then not make it until someone gets there??? I got there and they told me it hasn't been made and will be made once I arrived. Why? Idk but the girl was rude about it. I also got the sampler that has multiple different things. It was all mashed up in one box. The whipped cream melted on all the savory food. The savory food made the sweet food not great. This place has a VAST difference in service, swiftness, ambiance, and level of customer service compared to the location in Coronado. I literally LOVE the La Jolla location. The workers are always nice, always accommodating, and having common sense. Please fix this as the other location is way better. I'd rather go all the way to Coronado (I work downtown) rather than deal with the bad service and quality of experience that you receive at this location.

    Photos
    Cocina 35
    Cocina 35
    Cocina 35

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    Lazy Hippo - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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