Omygod, this place is one of the best brunch places I've been to. The items on the specialty coffee menu is named after cats (love love love ) and the baristas do beautiful coffee foam art . The food comes in big portions.. we've tried the country fried steak and eggs Benedict. Their hashbrowns were truly one of the best.. they make it nicely crispy on the outside.. yum. Both times I've been there, we had to wait, but it's worth it and the hostesses are super nice. read more

Mama Kat's - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Chicken and waffle were amazing. Chicken so crispy and hot. Great food, cute ambiance, responsive servers. Glad we got there before the morning rush though. read more

Mama Kat's - Cortado - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Declious food and cafe drinks. There is almost always a wait, but I've never had to wait THAT long! The chicken and waffles were very good and the portion was big! read more

Mama Kat's - Chicken and waffles - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Great little mom & pops diner! This was my second visit. The first time was many years ago & it was good then too. Our waitress kept my coffee filled and was prompt with our food, which the chef prepared well. I had the fried chicken with eggs and extra crispy hash browns. Everything tasted good and it was a huge portion. I couldn't even finish my chicken and took it home to have for lunch. The only complaint I had was that I ordered the dark meat, a thigh and drumstick and got a piece of beast and a wing. Other than that, everything was great. Eggs were cooked correctly, over easy and she even put them on a separate plate for me like I asked, since I don't like the yolk running into my hash browns. Would definitely eat here again! read more

Good food. Sit at the bar where he's very attentive! Great variety of selections . Get there early!

Delicious breakfast and brunch options!!! I liked that they have a separate menu of a few vegan items..

The service is friendly and the food is ok. The portions are small and the prices are high compared to other breakfast places - I would guess about $5 more for each plate. There's a ton of people working there so service is as fast as they can cook the food. Parking can be a problem if you get there during peak hours. Their coffee wasn't that great. All in all, it wasn't terrible but your dollar doesn't go very far here. Not sure if we'll return. read more

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I've been going to Mama Kat's for a while now and it's some of the best breakfast food in the county. Their specialty coffee is always a highlight and there's never anything in the pastry window that you don't want to eat. The environment is cozy and family friendly, I've brought family here for birthday breakfasts before and it works As for the employees - service is always paired with a smile, everyone is joyful and enthusiastic. While I was dining today actually - I saw a kid almost slam into a waitress with a cup of hot coffee, and yet she acrobatically dodged it and saved the kid from a faceful of practical lava. If that doesn't show the quality of this restaurant and its employees - I wouldn't know what does! read more

Amazing service by Seth. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and such a charming young man!

Service was amazing today! Love the ambiance of the patio seating! The eggs benedict was perfect and they were generous with the hollandaise sauce. Breakfast potatoes were done to perfection and they had sour cream upon my request. Coffee was tasty, as always. I feel a little confllicted about telling you guys about this "hidden gem" as I don't want to have to fight for my favorite patio spot, but they deserve the shout-out :) read more

Best spot in the area, service is always on point. For breakfast it is well worth it here.

Came here for the first time with some friends. We got there early Sunday morning and got seated right away. They have a small parking lot, highly suggest you come early if you want a spot in the parking lot and if you don't want to wait to be seated. The waiter we had was on point he was super sweet and attentive. The food was good. The cinnamon roll they had was delicious. Not too sweet and very fresh. The inside of the restaurant was clean and bright. Cute mom and pop decor. Thank you Mama Kat's for a great first time. We will definitely be back. read more

Mama Kat's - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

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One of the best breakfast places in all of north county. Great family atmosphere and all the breakfast dishes are incredibly delicious. Strongly recommend it as the "go to" breakfast place in arguably all San Diego County. read more

I like to eat breakfast out. It costs enough that I don't do it very often. So I am always excited when I find a great place. When I am with one of my preschool-age grandchildren I take them to Denny's, because Denny's has crayons and coloring paper and child-proof cups for juice. But when it's just me, I look for good food and good service. The preschool that my young grandson attends is across the street from Mama Kat's, and I have seen it when dropping him off. Today I decided to try it out. I ordered what I always order at breakfast places: chicken-fried steak, scrambled eggs, hash browns, and toast. Yum. The service was quick, the portions were huge and delicious, and the food arrived almost too hot to eat. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Mama Kat's also has good espresso, which isn't something that I've found in very many such places. I'll be back. On my next visit I might not feel compelled to eat all of the food served, because I know it will be huge. Also, Mama Kat's sells pies. I didn't buy one and didn't pay much attention to their pie menu, but on my next trip I certainly will. Pie for breakfast is quite a thing in New England, after all. Yelp always nudges me to include pictures. You all know what scrambled eggs and hash browns look like, and the chicken-fried steak is covered with gravy. I suppose I could have photographed the toast, which was (of course) wonderful. But I didn't. read more

Such a cute little place Excellent food Excellent staff Love that the drinks are named after different breeds of cats We came here for breakfast while staying down here for Legoland and it was soooo good! We enjoyed the iced lattes and macchiatos read more

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The lady Maddie on the phone was soo nice when I called in for a pick up order. I'm vegan so she double checked that a few things were vegan for me. So I was super excited to get my food but when I opened it I actually laughed.. see picture. That's how much tofu scramble you get for a $19 meal?? That has to be a joke. I was just telling my fiance oh finally we have a breakfast place to go to in the area!! And I work right across the street!! But no thank you... I will not be coming back. So disappointing :( not to mention I just tried everything and there is NO FLAVOR read more

Mama Kat's - Tofu scramble breakfast - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Took my partner here for a wonderful breakfast and one of the best chai tea lattes I've ever had everything was so fresh and delicious Service was fast and friendly Helped my partner with wonderful recommendations Will be returning soon to peruse the rest of the menu as it all sounds incredibly delicious 10s across the board read more

Mama Kat's - Chai Latte - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Now this review is only for the plant based options. But omg! Its is so hard to find breakfast plant based/vegan options. They know what they are doing here. We ordered 3 different plates and everything was delicious. If you are vegan/ plant based this is your spot. I even found out when I called an order in that most of the staff is vegan which made me feel so relieved. Check them out whatever your preference. I'm sure everything is as delicious as the plant based menu. read more

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Everything GREAT! Latte, great, blueberry scone Great, Belgium waffle great, greek omelette beyond this world!! Nice people working there too. read more

Info is miss leading. They do not welcome dogs unless they are service dogs. I went to the place based on information they had on the information section when I searched for pet friendly, but when I arrived there they didn't accept us in. So do not bother to take your dog unless they are service dog which they will need to accept anyways. So pet friendly statement is misleading . read more

It was my first time visiting Mama Kat's. I'm used to going out to breakfast and having limited options. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of vegan and vegetarian options here. They have delicious, organic cold-pressed juices, whole wheat bread, and black beans. My family enjoyed their food as well. They had pancakes, potatoes, French toast. There was a long wait on the weekend we went, but there is a waiting room where you can sit. There are items available for purchase in the room. Service was great. Our server answered all my questions and was friendly. read more

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Great service. Yummy food. Lots of parking. On a Saturday 11am we waited 45mins (which was expected for a weekend brunch) Ordered: Latte, Cornbeef hash Benedict, Chicken & pancakes, and an apple piece slice to go. Bill: $50 without tip. Everything was delicious. The only reason why I put 4 stars was because the 4 piece chicken was 2 decent size pieces + 2 tiny tiny pieces. (See in photo) Was a little disappointed in that. read more

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Clearly one of the top breakfast places in the county, and also one of its worst-kept secrets. Food quality and presentation are flawless. The biggest differences are generous portions and fresh, homemade ingredients, down to the sausage and corned beef hash (for example). The hash on my Campbell's benedict was literally the best corned beef hash I've ever had. Makes you vow to never eat the salty canned crap ever again. It's simply not worth your time anymore. Fried Chicken & Waffles ($18) was a very strong option. However, all of this wonderfulness comes at a cost of both time and money. First, the time. Any breakfast nerd knows to avoid coming to popular breakfast places at anywhere near 10:00 a.m. on weekends. When did I show up? 10:00. I was rewarded with a 20 minute wait. Not well-played on my part. The mitigating factor is that while you're waiting, you can get your coffee on at the full service barista bar. No wait for that. My daughter loved her $5(!) Tabby iced latte. In terms of money, everything seemed oddly expensive, like dinner prices. Benedicts are around $17. That's just too much for breakfast, but strong demand seems to support it. Once I save up enough for a special occasion, I'll be back for the Home Made Hash breakfast ($17), which may be one of the top menu items. More hash than the benedict and less of the other things. Didn't try any pie, but I expect they're very good. read more

Mama Kat's - 50/50 Benedict: Campbell's (front) and Don Juan (rear). Very impressive, but ouch, $19.50! - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

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Fast & friendly service. Their menu has all the breakfast classics. The highlight was the carne asada burrito, but any of the egg dishes are also 10/10. read more

Mama Kat's - carne asada burrito, 2 eggs - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

HOLY YUM! I think we found our new favorite breakfast spot! We got there around 9:15 and didn't have to wait too long for a table for two. The inside gives me an updated diner/small town bakery vibe. Very clean and very cute. Our waiter was extremely friendly and helpful as this was our first time here. We started by ordering a cinnamon roll, and it was so good, warm and fresh! The breakfast burrito with sausage was super tasty. Salsa was fresh! The corned beef hash was very flavorful, and the meat was so tender. For the English muffin, they served us fresh jam and it was also very delicious! We would definitely be back to try more items off their menu. Thanks Mama Kats! read more

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Everything was amazing! Great fast service and the food actually was yummy . And I love the fact that it was clean inside . That a huge thing for me read more

Checked out Mama Kat's for the first time on an early morning Saturday. No wait and the place started to fill as we were leaving at 8am. Large restaurant. I would say an average experience. Our server was friendly and attentive. They had a nice selection of specialty coffees. We tried the Chicken Fried Chicken as we had never seen that on a menu. Tender chicken breast breaded and fried. It was good but I'll stick to the Chicken Fried Steak. The gravy was delicious. I always ask for hashbrowns extra crispy and it was done perfectly. We ordered a side of bacon and it was on the salty side and floppy. I should have asked for it crispy. They have a cute little shop in the back of random items. read more

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Solid neighborhood breakfast spot. We decided to have breakfast here on Sunday. We have heard they get quite busy so we arrived few minutes before they opened & there were already several people waiting. Pleasant country-ish decor. Very friendly service. Great coffee & latte. Their menu was very versatile which made it hard to choose. My husband ordered French Toast & I ordered poached eggs with sausage which came with potatoes. Food was tasty & we will definitely return one of these weekends when we wake up early. Apparently, they are famous for their pies! Looking forward to trying that too. read more

Mama Kat's - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

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If I had to rank all reviews all restaurants I've eaten at, Mama Kat's would be #1!!!!!! The food was So fresh, So mouthwatering, and so delicious! I am blown away. When my plate came out I took a bite and it was instantly the best eggs Benedict I have ever had! I cannot understate how fresh it was! read more

Mama Kat's - The Don Juan Egg Benedict - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Great service, great food! My husband, 3 year old and myself were staying locally and stumbled upon this place for breakfast. We loved it so much we went back again today! It's always busy - but for a good reason, go try it. You won't be disapp read more

Mama Kat's - Cute outdoor dining area - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

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**1/5 Stars - Disappointing Experience at mama kats** I had high hopes for mama kats , but my visit was a letdown. The service was painfully slow--our waiter seemed distracted and forgot our drink order twice. When the food finally arrived, my eggs were overcooked and the sauce was bland, like it came from a jar. My friend's chicken was undercooked, Prices were steep for the quality, and the dirty table didn't help. I am not returning. read more

If you're looking for the kind of place where the food warms your soul and the service feels like a hug, Mama Kat's in San Marcos is it. From the moment you walk in, you're welcomed like family--and that warmth extends to every dish on the menu. The breakfast here is next-level. Whether it's their perfectly fluffy pancakes, rich biscuits and gravy, or the unforgettable cinnamon roll French toast (yes, it's as incredible as it sounds), you can taste the love in every bite. Their home-style cooking is consistently delicious, hearty, and satisfying without being overdone. It's comfort food done right. The staff? Absolutely stellar. Friendly, attentive, and genuinely happy to see you. You can tell they love being part of the Mama Kat's experience, and that energy is infectious. This place has that rare small-town charm mixed with seriously top-tier cooking. It's become my go-to spot for weekend brunch and any time I need a mood boost. Whether you're a San Marcos local or just passing through, do yourself a favor and stop by. You'll leave full, happy, and already planning your next visit. read more

Cute little place for breakfast/brunch. The service was super fast and the staff are super friendly. Excellent choice of options to choose from. read more

Visiting from Eugene Oregon. Can't say enough good things about Mama Kats! The service was outstanding and our breakfast was amazing and absolutely delicious. read more

Second time here. Terrible service, terrible food, overpriced cold food. If that's your jam. Come on in. My wife and I decided to give them a second chance upon ordering the country SKILLET I reviewed a mediocre under seasoned mess of food. After attempting several times to make the gravy edible due to its lack of seasoning after adding several dashes of salt/ pepper from the pepper grinder (with the lid off to get the proper amount in time)/ and 12 dashes of Tabasco sauce. It was unsalvagable. The server took over 10 min to even acknowledge us after being given out food. Save your money go to Denny's where the food is seasoned, hot, and the staff actually acknowledges your existence as a human being. Will not be returning which is unfortunate because the pancakes actually were good both times we have been. If you're calling it a "skillet" put it in one so at least the food is hot and matches the menu. No MEDIOCRE at best breakfast place should charge 30 dollars for a juice bacon pancakes with peanut butter and bananas. read more

What I wanted to try here is their famous bone in chicken waffles but was already sold out at 10am. I ended up getting the chicken strips instead, with French toast and bit they didn't disappoint. It was very tasty and delicious, so as the French toast. Paired this with Mama Kat's blue something coconut juice and it was great. My lady had the chicken strips as well with waffles and she enjoyed her meal as well. Hers was paired with a vanilla coffee which was good as well. Our service was very good, the server is fast, efficient, and always on top of everything. Brought us a to-go container without even being asked. Check was on time without the wait. Long line here because it's a good place. The only thing that took a star away is that there are open tables not being occupied or served due to staff shortage (maybe) so expect to wait half hour at least. Place is clean, tables are turned over fast. Lots of room too. read more

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Cute lil breakfast place! Busy but seats pretty quickly. Also serves cold pressed juices and specialty coffee drinks. Had the corned beef hash n breakfast rice which was very filling and tasty! Country fried steak portion was very big, couldnt finish it. Servers are polite and knowledgeable but very busy. Will definitely come back again when in the area!! read more

Mama Kat's - Corned beef hash w breakfast rice, country fried steak, kielbasa sausage - American Near Me - San Marcos, California

Fried chicken here was pretty bad. It was dark meat and not moist or juicy at all. The price and wait is also a bit ridiculous for breakfast. Definitely not worth it in my opinion read more

Good was good but not the largest servings. Lots of additional charges for each change eg. 1-4 dollars extra to have some blueberries in pancakes. Service was great, attentive and plenty of servers. Ambiance is a cute country kitsch read more

Stopped in ON our way home from a short staycation. We have been here before many many years ago. Wait was short for a busy Saturday morning. I am picky about my scrambled eggs and they were cooked to perfection. My husband had the farmhouse scramble. It was yummy too. Forgot to take pictures. I would recommend this place for sure. And our server Eddie was GREAT. read more