I'm not from this area and just looked up places to eat near me and this place popped up so my partner and I decided to give it a try and it was really good! It's a bit different to restaurants in the Central Valley but it's a nice cool spot with walking distance to the beach. The service was fast and the waitress was nice! We got breakfast and it was delicious we both finished our plates! read more

Penguin Cafe - Sausage Patty and Eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Great local spot in Laguna! Great food and even better service! Very close to the beach.

A little hole in the wall place right on PCH. Decided to come here early Sunday morning after a quick walk on the beach. It's a beautiful area you must come to Laguna beach to enjoy the view at least. Parking was Easy to find in the metered street parking .This place was not to busy a counter, a few tables, and a few booths. It's nothing fancy very homey in my opinion, looks like it's been here awhile. The service was good, friendly waitress and good came out quickly. We had coffee which was ok, we also ordered a breakfast sandwich and French toast. The sandwich was tasty nothing special and the French toast was huge! Unfortunately the French toast was dry and just didn't hit the spot. I spent about $30 which I thought was fair. Overall it was just ok. read more

Penguin Cafe - French toast & breakfast sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

It was a great menu option, but the family owned business, is run with kindness and integrity. Rebecca was polite with not making us feel rushed, as they were getting ready to close. The chicken I added to the veggie sandwich was delicious, as well as my jalapeños. She cares about her staff when you could here plates shatter, she said "as everyone is safe, that's all that matters." Truly a fun family restaurant and delicious breakfast and lunch options. read more

Customer service was excellent and the staff were very nice. Ordered corned beef hash and it was as flat and crisp as a pancake, almost unrecognizable. Waitress should at least explain that's how they serve it prior to the customer ordering read more

Sabrina is not only an incredible human but also full of wisdom. I recommend that everyone support this restaurants for years she has supported so many non profits and continues to do so. And of course her food is amazing! Like going home for a home cooked meal with the essence of Love from family bc she treats everyone who walks through her door as family. read more

Penguin Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

I had a hamburger with onion rings and it was delicious. Fun little diner. Sabrina took great care of us, looking forward to going back. read more

Penguin Cafe - Cheeseburger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

I am a no pants no frills kind of gal. I really like this place for three reasons #1) the burger was exquisite. However they get the meat so juicy without being greasy is a stellar craft. #2) the joint is very fun and inviting and comfortable and you get an ocean view if you look out the back door! #3) the cook is a lady who looks like she can cook really well and looks like my mother with her hair all pulled back and glasses. I like the cook! Prices are good and only open for lunch and breakfast. read more

I came here a lot over a span of three years and always had great food and a great experience. Everything is delicious, the service is quick, and the menu has a ton of options. All around a great little spot. read more

I've passed by the Penguin Cafe numerous times and yesterday when I was running an errand in Laguna Beach decided to give it a try. I ordered an avocado toast and it was delicious! Tons of mashed avocado and greens piled on a lightly toasted piece of bread. Healthy, simple, perfectly done. I sat outside on the street and the environment was pleasant (and socially distanced and Covid safe.) The waitress was very warm and pleasant. The price was reasonable. I will definitely coming back to try their other dishes! read more

Food is DEEEEEELICIOUS !!!! We got a bit of everything and oh my wow. Just wow. The staff is so nice and sweet! It's the cutest little restaurant that is so cozy! We forgot to take the before pictures from how great everything looked and smelled! read more

Penguin Cafe - Bacon Cheeseburger Lunch, French Toast, Pancakes, Huevos Rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Location is great but food was tasteless and service was just ok. Eggs Benedict was terrible and potatoes were bland and not good.

Come here all the time! IDK what happened here but how hahah. Got my toast torched on one side, but completely fine on the other?! Still gonna go back, great diner food. read more

Penguin Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Just okay. Service was really slow!!! And, so have never been to a place where they literally forgot to bring everything we asked for. We had to get up to get it ourselves. read more

The Penguin has the best breakfast in town. Trust me. No pretense, no foofy decor, just real food. I'm eating a breakfast burrito today. On my top 10 best breakfast burritos on OC! read more

Penguin Cafe - Breakfast burrito with bacon and sausage! Yum! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

This cute little diner right on the CPH has been a local institution since the 1940s. It's been over 70 years since and not much has changed at Penguin Cafe! Great option for breakfast. Is the food outstanding? No, but it will get the job done and the owners are super friendly. The menu is simple and straight-forward with modest prices. Eggs, bacon, omelets, breakfast burritos, you know the drill. Seating is available out front on the sidewalk as well as at the diner counter where you can shoot the sh*t with the locals over a cup of joe. Support a local business and enjoy the history here! read more

Great service, fair price for the location, friendly staff, large portions and a solid menu selection for a classic diner. We ate there twice in 4 days. Nothing exceptional, but very good. Would recommend for breakfast and lunch. read more

Food was spectacular! Service was outstanding! Our new favorite breakfast spot. Easy to find parking. read more

Great little breakfast spot! We sat outside and had a delicious breakfast and our waitress was great.

I really like this little diner. Friendly staff and great comfort food. They have a great burger, but I really like the breakfast. Their fried potatoes with breakfast is the closest thing to my southern grandmother's fried potatoes I've ever had...and that's saying something bc that woman made the best! read more

Penguin Cafe - Classic breakfast at Penguin Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

NEVER AGAIN. I walked in around 11 am on a Sunday and instead of getting welcomed, I got nasty looks by both of the workers to the point where I thought about walking out. I asked for a menu and one of the workers stared for a while before telling us we can go outside to get the website link and while walking out I noticed there was a menu posted on the wall. The other worker said they weren't giving out menus due to covid-19, which I understood at first but five minutes later a family walked in and not only were they welcomed, they were also given a menu Besides the customer service, my breakfast burrito came out tasting burnt so I ended up throwing it away. I have never left a place feeling disappointed. I will definitely not be returning to this dump read more

Tiny place walking distance to the beach, great place for a quick brunch. We got here around 12pm and there's a sign in sheet hanging at the front door for the wait list. We didn't wait longer than 10 mins for a table of 3. Employees were really nice the entire time, here's what we ordered: 3 stars - Spinach omelet - it's a very healthy meal, but it definitely didn't have much flavor, it needed some type of salsa or tomatoes to give it some flavor. 4 stars - Huevos rancheros - really good! I loved the sauce! The salsa was very spicy for me but it was still good! it comes with an extra side of tortillas, but I would pass on it since the meal is big enough and there's tortillas in the entree already. The side of potatoes were really good too! I got it with no cheese and no sour cream, but I know it would've tasted really good if I hadn't, so try it as is! 4 stars - Granola pancakes were really good! These pancakes were nice and fluffy pancakes, not too heavy and the granola added in tasted great! I would advice to add fruit with it, like bananas or strawberries if you like fruit with your pancakes. This was their special for the day, you can't choose any pancake except for what they offer, so the banana pancakes that others Yelped about was a no go this time as they didn't have it. But it was still good! read more

Penguin Cafe - Granola pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

It's basically a small diner, nothing fancy. The staff is friendly and on top of it, even when it's busy. I've never had a bad meal here.

Wow! Great old school deliciousness. Diner style breakfast cooked to perfection and super friendly service from Sabrina. We knew it would be great when we saw all the locals eating here. If you want an amazing traditional breakfast with lots of local charm this is your spot in Laguna Beach! read more

Penguin Cafe - Penguin O'Brien - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Very cute Penguin themed Cafe which started off as a malt shop. Our waiter http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/LKe0anVAZdv9DW177fJQhQ?select=WUCh9rFaYVcvTqWOvFb4nw#vsKHKjjlGdGvIWtHjbR4RQ was extremely nice. He gave us the run down about the restaurant. It has been there for 50 years, family owned. The cook in the back has been there for 30 years-- no wonder the food has a classic old fashioned taste. The waiter has worked there for 8 years. He looks like Johnny pre-Pirates, with the casual clothes, and tattoos, and musiciany vibe. We went Monday, at 7 am. There is a small parking lot in the back, with a few open spaces. There are also metered parking in the front, if that ever fills up. There was an elderly man who seems to be a regular, and a family already there, when we arrived. On weekday mornings, they have specials written on a board. My bf had the Griddle Combo. His Banana Pancakes were fluffy, flavorful, and delicious. They were about 6 inches in diameter. I heard some good and bad things about the potatoes, but I thought they were excellent. They were soft on the inside, and crispy on the outside. They tasted great dipped in some ketchup. I had the Penguin Burger, which is a 1/2 lb burger with the works. They state that their burgers are 100% Angus Beef. It tasted like it. I personally like my hamburgers with more flavor and texture, but for the meat lover, they would probably enjoy the 100% Angus. The Grilled Onions were delicious, cooked perfectly, and nice and sweet. I got it with a side of tomatoes, instead of the potatoes. The tomatoes were so red and ripe, they were beyond belief. I love the bun for the burger. It's toasted, and thick. It looks like it can handle some juice, and still hold. The texture was great. If the bread was a tad bit sweeter in flavor, it would have been perfect. We also tried the coffee. It's your standard cafe/ dinner coffee. It's a bit watery, and very Americano. Pay cash, because it's a tad cheaper. read more

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WARNING YOU DONT GO THERE TO EAT!!!!!! food portion is so small and cost a lot and they serve on so old dish looks so dirty and filthy even i wiped my silverware with towel because there were left over of the food portion Lady who was serving my table went to behind the counter putting her hands under her pants than touching the Toast without washing her hand and serving it to me ... i was so under the weather don't wanna arguing with her cu i last my voice because of the cold Never been an bad breakfast place ever before never will stop by again Such an bed experience read more

Solid diner. I had the vegan bowl but added egg. It was delicious. My friend has corned beef hash that was tasty also.

2.5 round down. After a nice hike up around "Top of the World" park/ viewpoint, my gf and I were seeking a quick and cheap breakfast place. Apparently "cheap" is not easy to find in Laguna Beach. Many of the local spots listed menu items starting at $12+. The gal pal thought.. let's try cute breakfast diner... and of course.. she who likes penguins opted for this joint. Personally, I was wary with the quick scan of yelp reviews.. but we thought why not and decided to give them a try despite the medicore ratings. Super cute little establishment that appears to be family owned. Definitely a "no frills" dining establishment. Plenty of metered street parking out front. They were getting constant foot traffic -- so no major wait.. folks will sit, order, eat and get out very quickly. One of the waitresses shared that it used to be a malt shop that dated back to the 1940s. They have a few pieces of decor to call back to the golden days which I thought was a nice touch. All in all, the establishment is cute in it's simplicity, and I could imagine that it has the potential of being a "local favorite". Menu is pretty generous in their options for being such a small shop. They offered all sorts of avocado toast (which I still don't understand the appeal for), eggs, hash, etc. GF ordered the chilaquiles.. and I got the Penguin Breakfast sandwich add bacon. The sandwich was pretty tasty.. but what isn't with mayo and bacon. I'd give the food a solid 3. They need to clean their griddle out back in the kitchen.. the potatoes were charred.. the pancake had the same unpleasant burnt taste. They do have a GREAT house salsa which is delicious on the potatoes. The prices were acceptable... for the portion and quality.. all in all I would have given the place a 3. The part that brought my review down-- the service. They were fabulous to get us in and give us a seat, but beyond that.. they were definitely lacking in customer service. My gf personally thought it might have to do with the fact we were the only Asian girls there. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt that .. in this day and time.. it had nothing to do with race, but perhaps it was just not a great business day. They were a bit inattentive to our flag downs. The food came out fast but they seemed to have forgotten their smile in the kitchen. There definitely was a roll of eyes from the older lady when my friend asked if there was syrup for her pancake and our first (and only) request for drink refill. Toward the end of the meal, grandma came from out back with dishwashing gloves and semi-hovered to clear our dishes. It was both kind of cute and funny.. but a little awkward to say the least. They seem to have "upgraded" services to punch in orders via tablet.. but I hate the execution of tip requests. Eh. At the end of our first time experience, we felt that the service dampened whatever awesome breakfast experience it could have been. Overall, I probably would not return. It was a cute establishment but nothing attractive to call for our return (the TL;DR= food burnt and average, prices average, service poor). Also, the next door empanada business has the most delicious smelling empanadas and the kindest gentleman (who stood in stark contrast after our experience at Penguin Cafe). There were also a bunch of other brunch eateries nearby that I would have rather tried. I should have listened to our reviewers on Yelp! read more

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The love passion of the owner Liz, is shown in the down home cookin food they serve. My favorite is one bowl filled w hash browns, corned beef hash well done and two poached eggs on top! With of course her crispy bacon. I live in Laguna Beach and it's the residents " best kept secrets." read more

No ambiance at all, but the food is really great! We hadn't been there in years, but decided to go a couple weeks ago for a late breakfast. The cheese omelette and breakfast potatoes were delicious, and my husband had pancakes that were perfection with crispy bacon. Coffee is just how I like it... served piping hot. Servers are on top of it, checking on you without being annoying. This is an awesome little place! read more

Just had a great burger & fries at Penguin Cafe. Done exactly as ordered. Swiss cheese on top of the grilled onions. Perfect. Friendly waitress & good service. Clean and comfortable with this. Reasonably priced. Definitely another stop in order. read more

Penguin Cafe - Inside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Fantastic staff, good, solid breakfast food, pleasurable experience all around. We've been here before and will return again on our next visit to Laguna Beach. read more

Very friendly service. We got the homemade granola with fruit $7. That was good. And so were the pancakes and french toast. Quick service. Easy parking in customer parking lot behind the building. Would go back. $7 for two pancakes and $4 for one Fench toast. read more

Great, little breakfast/lunch place just a block from the beach, on the shady side of PCH! Seat yourself (indoors or outside} for fast and friendly service, and great food. I had the corned beef hash and eggs. Very good and generous portions. Would definitely recommend! read more

Never disappointed! Great food, friendly service and affordable! We actually bought the MAGO hot sauce Feeding a family of 5, filling their bellies and leaving happy is wonderful Two read more

Penguin Cafe - Love this local hot sauce - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Ugh yum. What a perfect little local spot. Came here for breakfast and got the Huevos Rancheros. It's was spectacular. The eggs were so runny, and the flavors were unreal. It's so unassuming and yet so delicious. Really, amazing. read more

Penguin Cafe - Huevos rancheros. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Great breakfast and great people! The Penguin is an iconic stop for us. We come to Laguna twice a year and this place is a must!

This place has an old diner feel with excellent food. Comfort food on the beach. The staff is amazing and accommodating. Prices are fair. read more

Penguin Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Cute restaurant for a quick bite to eat. We came in at about 8:30am and were seated immediately. I didn't get anyone's names but everyone greeted us and they were very polite. They took our order, got us refills and our food came out quick. They have vegan options which is great. The place is small so I can see where it can get packed on the weekends. Definitely has a diner feel which is nice and the restaurant has cute penguin decor throughout. If you like a simple breakfast menu (i.e. omelettes, toast, pancakes) then this place is for you! Nice place to stop by right before going to the beach. read more

Great location with friendly service. Food was "ok". I only say that because there was no love put into the breakfast potatoes. Little or now seasoning, May have been frozen. Once again the service was good and the food arrived in a speedy manner. read more