This is one of those places you go when you're feeling nostalgic for the good ol' days. Super cozy, genuinely friendly staff, and the best vibes around. The food is good, with enormous portions, if a wee bit pricey. The best reason to come here, though, is the people. I recommend the apple walnut pancake. It's bigger than the plate it comes on! No need for butter or syrup, in my opinion, as it is lightly dusted with cinnamon and sugar. But you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Drop by and grab a bite and a cup of coffee and soak up the friendly neighborhood ambiance. You won't be disappointed. read more

Been going here since my youth. Always make a stop back here when I'm down south In SD. Good staff, great potato's and those man-hole sized pancakes have only gotten bigger. read more

It's been a long time for me and the Potato Shack. My boss used to have working breakfasts here once a month. On this occasion I had to kill some time and was pretty Hangry. So I stopped by for breakfast. Had the chicken fried steak and a short stack, Also had a nice convo with the owner and the only other customer eating at 7:30 in the AM but I digress. The Chicken Fried Steak and eggs were cook to perfection. The Gravy was on Point, homemade and savory with big chunks of sausage. I asked that the cakes be made "normal" size as I am diabetic and didn't want to over do it too much. They came only the size of my head instead of the usual manhole cover size and were as amazing as my memory of them. I did pay for it later with an extra dosage on insulin but it was well worth it. Outa the park Potato shack 5 well earned stars. read more

It was alllllright. Overpriced. Cash only (disclosed at end- no sign posted anywhere). Dirty restrooms (at 9 am). Bad coffee. Wasn't horrible but would not return. read more

This place has gone wayyyyy down hill. Atrocious service. Dirty sidewalk. Dilapidated furniture. One filthy bathroom. Gruff and rude staff. Overpriced version of Denny's. Don't waste your time or money. Go to Swamis or San Tropez instead. read more

Great Service! Thanks Scott! Food is fantastic, we shared a monster chocolate chip pancake and bacon eggs potatoes and toast. Everything was delicious. read more

I love this place so much. Only been there twice but definitely has become a staple of my life and probably will continue to come here. First and foremost, though: CASH ONLY but there's a atm inside. Now onto the food: The food is really really good. Everything is served in HUGE portions but it's so good. Everything has a home-cooked meal feeling to them. I hate when I go to restaurants and it's more of the quantity rather than quality of food. This place for sure is all about quality. The pancakes are no joke. They're huge and really satisfying. I've had huge pancakes elsewhere further south and have never really liked them. The pancakes here are really soft and fluffy and buttery, AS PANCAKES SHOULD BE. I've also had the French toast and they're simple and yet so good. I dislike when french toast are covered with unnecessary powdered sugar, whipped cream, toppings etc and really dry. The French toast come plain but they're so moist and soft WOULD RECOMMEND. They're other foods are really good too. BF has gotten their steak and fried steak and it was also really good. He usually orders fried steak without gravy that I was kinda shocked when he ate his fried steak with gravy and actually ate it all. Really creamy and flavorful (not all gritty). And lastly the ambiance: it's such a nice place. You can definitely tell it's full of locals there on a casual breakfast/brunch. It has a really nice family vibe to it and people always seem so happy there. The employees are really kind and attentive (come around pretty often to refill drinks and ask how it's going). The owner seems like a really kind guy, I see him interact a lot with his guests. He recognized us right away even though we'd only been there once again. It's nice to see an owner who is attentive to their guests and strives to provide excellent customer service. Overall this has already become one of my favorite places in the area. Definitely would recommend rather than going to one of those overpriced/overhyped brunch places in the area. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - BIG PANCAKE! - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Amazing breakfast burrito! It was huge (my husband and I split and both left full) and the homemade salsa is to die for. The owner Scott is the man! He split our burrito without us asking, kept our coffee a flowin' and delighted us with conversation. There's a reason it's lasted 40 years!! read more

This place is great! The ambiance is fun, the food is good, and the pancakes are huge! Just an fyi, they do not accept credit or debit cards! The chocolate chip pancakes were huge! They don't lie when they say man hole cover! They are really good! The French toast is delicious too! But it is just basic French toast. If you like yours with cinnamon or anything special for flavorings, you may want more out of this. The biscuits and gravy were to die for. Biscuits were great. Gravy was even better. The only thing that lacked for me was the American fries. Not much flavor there, but when you add their in house salsa to it, they become good, or you could just drink the salsa! read more

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Super cozy, family-owned diner with amazing food. Corn beef hash was amazing. Got it with eggs and sourdough toast, aka no regrets. The huevos rancheros were decent. Pancakes here though are the special, amazing part. They have parking right next to the building. Bathroom does not have a baby changing table. A bit tight, so if you bring a baby, I recommend not bringing the stroller inside. Dogs are not officially allowed. Ahem. Officially. read more

8.4/10. I think this is one of the best breakfast places in Encinitas and is very underrated. Please go here

Kinda surprised that I haven't reviewed the Potato Shack before as the food here is pretty dang delicious and the portions are ridiculously large. My go to items here are often the make your own omelette with pepper jack and turkey, the turkey chunks are large and flavorful and it comes with their delicious potatoes and a side of bread which can be substituted for on of their HUGE manhole sized pancakes for an addition $3. They have a neat little outdoor seating are which is pet friendly and the service is pretty solid... Overall, a great spot for a delicious breakfast. Pros- Menu Service Huge portions Potatoes Outdoor pet friendly seating Cons- Pancake tastes bland Parking is a pain Crowded on weekends leading to a long wait read more

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I had a very nice well folded 3 egg western omelet with feta cheese, rye toast, and breakfast potatoes for $10.95. Although a little pricey for an omelet, it was a very good one. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/potato-shack-cafe-encinitas?select=wAakXV5tro-yyYdo105MCw#Mrt82Gng97ZzeEnSMI1otg) The western omelet came with flavorful diced ham, crunchy bell peppers, crispy onions, and I opt for salty pungent feta cheese which was a great choice. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/potato-shack-cafe-encinitas?select=wAakXV5tro-yyYdo105MCw#MdrviUpp-L9glKUdR0aq8Q) The omelet's ingredients were all cooked properly and tasted great. What impressed me the most about the omelet, was the thinly cooked and wrapped omelet. It was not just folded over once like you get at most place, but it was properly done with several delicate nice folds. Well done. The breakfast potatoes were good, but they could of used some extra seasoning. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/potato-shack-cafe-encinitas?select=wAakXV5tro-yyYdo105MCw#uIkGf7zmRLFyhV3PtlbYrg) I added some black peppers and some of their homemade salsa which significantly improved their flavor. The salsa was great. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/potato-shack-cafe-encinitas?select=wAakXV5tro-yyYdo105MCw#mcyUigJuA3UW6CKcbZSpvg) They rye toast, from California Baking Co. was great. It had great flavor and was nice and thick. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/potato-shack-cafe-encinitas?select=wAakXV5tro-yyYdo105MCw#wAakXV5tro-yyYdo105MCw) I wanted more.... The service was pleasant. The lady who served me was genuine and very friendly. The place is and eclectic collection of decorations and sport memorabilia. (see) read more

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Most breakfast places stick to a standard spread, general dishes that satisfy an array of tastes. Others might focus on a single dish or ingredient, eggs at the Broken Yolk ("We have a 12 egg omelette!"), Pancakes at the ... Pancake House ("Over 30 styles to choose from!"), or crappy food at Denny's ("At least we're not Rimel's in Encinitas!"). And then some places have a shtick, a specific thing that makes stand out (or, at least, makes them think they stand out). Contrary to the name of the place, it ain't the potatoes for this little diner. The Potato Shack Cafe lies on the outskirts of downtown Encinitas, between Anahata Yoga and Colonics by the Sea. When you walk in, you are greeted with the dark varnish of a wooden interior replete with tables carved out of tree trunk slices. One wall proudly displays a beautiful American Flag. Another wall gives a salute to the launch of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan. By the door is a quaint ATM that signifies that they are cash only. Eating in Encinitas, you get used to seeing typical patrons, beach bums and bunnies, SUV moms and dads who apparently don't work during the week, those who have to walk their dog everywhere, hipsters in glasses and knit hats, old couples that are always smiling, nerd girls in headsets and hooded jackets ... it's an eclectic mix that runs the gambit of people who live in a coastal town. Come in here, though, and you might see a dog walker and happy older couple outside, but the majority of the people we saw coming and going were older diners eating solo (3 out of the 5 we counted were wearing trucker hats, I kid you not) and a pair of middle aged guys, wearing suits, who had finished eating long before, and were just sitting and talking finance until we left. Don't get me wrong, it's not off putting in the slightest, it's just something you take note of pretty quick because it's just so ... stereotypical. Anyway, enough time wasted on that, about breakfast. I had what the Potato Shack seems to have become known for in all the reviews I saw, their Manhole Cover Sized Pancakes. And while they do measure up in size, their chocolate chip offering got tiresome less than a third of the way through. It was oddly bland, only the chips giving any sweetness, and only the burn giving any taste to the breading. They should be a good mix of salt and sugar, not just something to shovel in and make you feel full. And it came with below average scrambled eggs and a very tasty turkey sausage patty. The woman I love had their Western Omelette, which turned out to be very good. The ham was nicely salted, the veggies were fresh and well cooked, and the cheese was moist and unburned around the edges, a good recipe and well made. The American Fries that came with it, on the other hand, were a huge disappointment. Unseasoned, underdone to the point where they were soft, but not crispy, just a very basic style that made them all starch and no flavor. It might be our fault for not having something off of their baked potato menu, but breakfast here was average at best. Large portions don't really make up for lack of taste. Mix in slower service (which is not really the fault of the place, as there was only one server taking care of at least 5 tables at once) and being cash only (which sucks when you only realize this right before the check comes), and this place comes up to a weak three stars. On the plus side, they do have a lot of Mr. Potato Head parts for kids to play with; our toddler took full advantage of that. And the location is nice, downtown Encinitas where you can partake of a morning stretch, at Yoga next door, to prepare for all the starch and carbs you're about to eat and then have warm water squirted up you, at the Colonic place, to clean yourself out of them when you're done. That's my Thursday morning all wrapped up into one corner. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Western Omelette - w/Texas Toast and American Fries on the side. - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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I woke up that morning and said, "Yes, today is the day I will start my diet" - 30 minutes later, I was eating at Potato Shack Cafe. Thanks to my low will power, I'm never going to lose weight. I obviously didn't care that this place was called the "Potato Shack". That should have been an immediate red flag of a carb and starch heavy menu (aka, good ass food) This place reminded me of a country cabin. Everything was made of wood and it was kind of old. The wait staff was friendly. I went with Combo C, which consisted of a pancake, 2 eggs and 2 strips of bacon. I didn't think that was enough food, so I added a half order of biscuits and gravy (portion control, that's the secret to losing weight fast). The food came out fairly quickly and I was surprise to see how big the pancake was. It was literally the size of a manhole cover. Unfortunately, I wasn't a big fan of their pancakes. It was a little dry and lacking flavor. Eggs and Bacon were just okay. Luckily the server forgot my biscuits and gravy, so I didn't over indulge. One big minus is that this place is Cash Only. Lame. The food was kind of pricey already, so I was disappointed that I had to withdraw money from the ATM to pay the bill. A little about my credentials: I first got into cooking & food when I was in college. After being rejected by numerous girls and getting zero action, I decided it was time for a change. I needed a new makeover to boost my geeky, engineering image. I applied for a cooking position at a Mediterranean-Italian Restaurant near my home and learned to cook all sorts of pastas and dishes. I never became a professional chef, but I continue to enjoy & love food. 9 years later and 55 lbs heavier, I am now an engineer that travels all over the world trying new foods and learning about different cultures. read more

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Quick synopsis: A cash only restaurant with delicious food and friendly service. Pros: Scrumptious bacon, flavorful salsa & a unique menu Cons: Does not serve waffles & does not take Credit cards. read more

Potato Shack Cafe is a family owned breakfast and lunch restaurant in Encinitas. I don't know about ya all's preference but sometimes a girl's gotta have her chicken fried steak in the morning. We are always on the quest to search for the perfect chicken fried steak in San Diego so we thought we'd venture to Encinitas one Saturday to check out their breakfast options. I found out about Potato Shack Cafe from our Bite of San Diego tour some weeks ago. The owner/dad of Potato Shack Cafe was such a genuine guy and we loved the huge blueberry pancake that was served to our group that afternoon. I opted for Breakfast option A which consists of: Top Sirloin Steak, Chicken breast or Two Pork Chops & Two Eggs, Served with a Plain Manhole Cover Pancake* or Toast &. American Fries for $13.50. This is what it says on their website but I think it included chicken fried steak as an option. You can order their regular chicken fried steak with gravy and biscuits for $10.50 (no eggs or pancake included). The batter was pretty thick but the beef itself was ok. There was a nice crunch from the batter. Unfortunately, the gravy was weak and unseasoned. It tasted like plain flour with milk stirred in. I couldn't taste much else. Friend ordered the Patty Melt which was the winning dish of the day. The hamburger patty was prepared a beautiful medium and tasted flavorful and juicy. Not sure if they butter the outside of the rye bread but there was just a glorious juicy crunch with each and every single bite I had of this sandwich. Service was nice and there was no pressure from anyone to rush the meal. NOTE: Potato Shack Cafe is CASH ONLY. They have their own ATM inside the restaurant though so I think there will be a fee to withdraw cash. I'd come back to try out more lunch items and then head over to that doohickey meditation park place up the street. read more

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My car was in the shop and Angela was driving me around and we stopped for a quick lunch at the Potato Shack. Had heard a lot about it but never visited. Really nice meal. They have a big menu and all the dishes passing by looked really good. We both had the turkey burger and it was great!! The bun was a potato bun, of course, very light and tasty. The burger was cooked just right and the condiments were appropriate. We sat outside on a beautiful day and it was a very nice interlude. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Can There Be 6 Stars?? No?? Well There should be 6 stars JUST for POTATO SHACK!! We spent a weekend in san diego for my birthday & saturday we went on a Bite San Diego Food Tour....Potato Shack was the 2nd stop & we could have spent alllll day tasting their food....but we didnt have to wait very long after our tour because it was soooooo bomb that me & the boyfriend went back the next day on our own time for breakfast!!! hahahaha....not only were we greeted with so much love & friendliness by Jim (owner) & Scott (his son) but they remembered us & welcomed us back with a plate full of their DELISHOUS biscuits & gravy to "try"!! Homemade biscuits covered in sausage gravy flavored angel tears is the only way to describe it. We then proceeded to build our own omelette & american fries...red potatoes diced & smothered in pretty much anything you want!! We opted for a applewood smoked bacon (probably one of the top 5 bacons of my life) sausage..ortegas...pepper jack cheese...onions & green peppers all gently folded & tucked in ever so sweetly by a fluffy GIANT blanket of eggs. Our potatos pretty much had all the same fixings on it & believe me it was a feast for kings!!! Every bite pretty much took my breath away there needs to be more words in the thesaurus to describe incredibly delishous!! and topped with their homemade salsa....GOOD GOD ITS THE BEES KNEES!! Oh & did I mention their pancakes are LITERALLLLLY the size of man hole covers!! The only advise i can offer is bring an empty tummy and a smile...oh and CASH!!! they have an atm in the restaurant but they take cash only (suck it up people who are glued to their visa platinum cars and pull out a $20 or 2 to enjoy one of the greatest breakfasts EVER) They treat you like family the second you walk in to this small quaint establishment (AND are doggie friendly, Jim even saves scrap bacon for our 4 legged babies)...not only will the FOOD keep you coming back but the atmosphere will. Thank you again Jim & Scott & Our Amazing waitress....every time we come to Encinitas we are coming by to say Hi (and eat your food of corse) hahaha...THANKS AGAIN for such a great day! PS....once again..CASH ONLY GUYS! Leave the credit cards at home for this Gem read more

Potato Shack Cafe - A Man Hole Sized Pancake...literally! ! - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Well we finally got to eat here, even found close parking. When Yelpers say,"large servings"-- Believe them! Excellent food, great menu and we really enjoyed talking with the gentleman that waited on us. Both of our sandwiches were perfect, the bread was cut thick and was delicious. I had the Diplomat, wife had the BLT. Bacon was really good on both sandwiches. The Turkey meat on my Diplomat was stacked high and was tasty. Sweet potato fries, yep, very good. The "Shack" has a wonderful vibe, small but super friendly. Just a great place !! Next visit will be for breakfast. read more

First time at Potato Shack and it was delicious!! This place has been here forever, it's a staple in Encinitas like VGs for Donuts. Whenever I try a new place, I like to order a variety of dishes and they did not disappoint. I ordered Breakfast B with French Toast, Patty Melt, and Potato Patties. Everything tasted Amazing! The French toast is huge and can easily serve two people. The patty melt was perfectly toasted with melted cheese in every bite. The patty melt was my favorite!! Who doesn't like toasted bread with beef, melted cheese and grilled onions smashed together. I'm drooling just thinking about it again. The potato patties were thin and crispy, I didn't even dip them in anything because they were perfect. If you are ever hungry for breakfast, and support local and family owned businesses, stop at Potato Shack. The owner Scott is super chill and the staff is super nice! Definitely coming back to try other items on the Menu! Last thing, they only accept Cash, but there is an ATM located right by the door, and I believe they accept Venmo too, woot! read more

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With a name like Potato Shack, my potato-loving self has wanted to visit this restaurant for quite awhile and I finally got my wish last weekend. And boy was it a dream come true! Since we didn't arrive until 1 PM, what I imagine to be the weekend brunch rush had come and gone and we were seated immediately. There are so many great sounding dishes on the menu but as soon as I saw that turkey was listed as an option for an omelette filling I was sold. It's so rare to find a restaurant that offers non-pig breakfast meats and as a non-pig eater, I was ecstatic. I ordered an omelette with turkey and cheddar cheese and it was wonderful! The omelette was cooked perfectly and the cheese was nice and gooey. It was also huge and I took home half of it for breakfast the next day. The meal is also served with a side of American potatoes, which are diced red skinned potatoes, and a slice of buttered toast. My boyfriend ordered the breakfast burrito, primarily because of the green chiles, and loved it. It was also served with a side of American potatoes. Amazingly, he ate the entire burrito, which was quite large. Service was quick and friendly. This is a place that has a nice down-home country vibe and I could definitely see it being filled with regulars. I can't wait to come back and try some of their other items, like the huge pancakes that I've read so much about. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Breakfast burrito - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

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DID SOMEONE SAY PANCAKES?!? yes they are pretty big. Definitely a great place to carb load up before a workout of day of sipping some drinks. PRETTY SMALL INSIDE! Cash only is accepted! OUTDOOR SEATING! read more

Food was great patty melt and onion rings. Owner served us and couldn't have been more welcoming and full of positive energy. So glad we went the one block off Main Street to find a real local gem. Loved the "man hole cover " sized pancake which I'll get next time. Enjoy read more

This place is a gem in the culinary landscape, and despite the humble nature of the words "Potato" and "Shack", is a must-taste on any trip through the area. RIght off PCH before Swamis. This is the best breakfast in Encinitas and Leuicadia. The delivery is excellent, but for a real treat, stop by. They are good about observing COVID guidelines and manage to give you small-town quality food fast. Their potato offerings are shockingly complete and delicious, and the variety of breakfast foods is impossible to beat. Their secret weapon is the Salsa, which I drive from Orange County to get regularly and am eating now on a Garlic Taco. Many of us from this area have been coming there regularly for 40+ years, and the quality has not changed. I recommend the VegeOmelette and Curly fries with dry Wheat Toast and Swiss cheese, or any of their A/B/C breakfast specials. Please stop in and check out a real landmark which, unlike the Ship Houses, will leave you full of yummy memories. If you are a football fan, get ready for an incredible story from the semi-retired owner who was a local Coach for a lot of big names. If you want the latest local news and advice on places to see/eat, chat with the current owner, he's friendly and ready to chat you up if you want. read more

Would like to give them 5 stars, but the American Fries(home fries) were not crispy, and that is a crime against humanity. She had French Toast and coffee, and was very happy. I had an omelet with swiss cheese, bacon, sausage, mushrooms and spinach, the aforementioned American Fries and rye toast with an iced tea to drink. The omelet was cooked wonderfully and stuffed full of deliciousness. Rye toast was thick and toasted perfectly. Street parking was easy and very convenient....but it also helps that we were there at 7:15 am Thursday. Had it been 9:30 am today, would probably have been a problem. I'm fond of this place from my days as an employee at Whole Foods Market Encinitas, and was very happy to get an opportunity to dine here again. Our server was friendly, efficient and helpful. read more

Potato Shack Cafe - Dining room at the Potato Shack Cafe, clean and cozy! - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

Stopped in for breakfast on a Friday morning. Relaxing outdoor seating. Good menu options. I had the eggs Benedict which was great. My husband had French toast which was average. The pancakes people were ordering where HUGE! Service was pretty slow but I know it's hard to get help right now with everyone making more on unemployment so we were patient and enjoyed the beautiful weather. read more

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Please go to the Potato Shack Cafe! They are located right off Hwy 101, nestled on I st. This charming, family run breakfast nook has everything you want on a hung-over Sunday morning, or any other one.  Enjoy a delicious man-hole cover sized pancake, an award-winning omelet (well, if I had an award they would get it), or come for lunch, they offer that too.  Invite the owner, Jim, to your table for a cup of joe!  He's a great guy who puts his heart into this place.  And it shows.  So far, this wins for my all time favorite Encinitas breakfast! Read my full review at www.diningonthe101.wordpress.com read more

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horrible service. went there today for lunch. one guy working, very rushed. the Diet Coke tasted like dish soap. he brings another, and it's the same. we tell him it must be in the lines and he should test it himself. rather than finding and fixing the problem, we're told others didn't complain and he'll take it off the bill. we live in Encinitas and go hear , 5 or 6 times a year. never again! read more

Thanks for the best breakfast in town. My kids and I hardly can agree on a favorite restaurant and today this topped the list. Delicious and ginormous blueberry pancake, egg, burrito, biscuits and gravy, potatoes ( perfectly cooked )! read more

The hollandaise on my eggs benedict was a glop of mayonnaise. The ketchup bottles are reused. Everything is sticky. They only take cash or Venmo. The reviews on here have got to be fake. read more

The people who work here are so friendly and there was a table next to me that had a little baby and one of the waiters waved at her and when they left said bye to the little kid and was so friendly. They have the best American fries and their salsa is superb. I came during the COVID pandemic and they were so accommodating! Out side seating in a quiet neighborhood! I'll be back next year! read more

Potato Shack Cafe - I ate all the eggs and a slice of the man hole cover sized pancake (foot diameter maybe). - American Near Me - Encinitas, California

We came here today for lunch and it was very good. We both ordered a Mahi Sandwich and it was delicious. I had him add avocado and that really enhanced the sandwich. The ingredients were fresh and the portions were large. The prices were very reasonable. The service was excellent and we can not wait to return. read more

That was unequivocally the biggest pancake I have ever eaten in my life!!! Loaded with blueberries it is literally the size of a manhole cover. I thought I could eat the entire thing. I was wrong. On the plus side I will be eating leftovers for the rest of the week. Parking is easy. Quintessential southern California beach town vibe. I've been coming here since I was a kid. It's in Encinitas institution and a must see if you're in the area. read more

As good as it has always been for the last 20+ years. This was the preferred saturday/sunday spot to go to, endure the wait, enjoy the consistent quality of the food and service and be on our way. Now only stopping in every once in a while when time and circumstances align, I was not disappointed after all these years. However, I did leave with a bit of a sting, paying $9 for one, i repeat, one, kids pancake. I get the whole inflation situation but $9 for one regular, not manhole sized, pancake, seems way too encinitas. potato pancakes were not the same but still decent. long live the shack. read more

Great service, food is really good and portion sizes are huge. The portions have so much food that I barely ate half of my meal; the service and quality was 10/10. Highly recommend read more

Great food! When they say manhole sized pancakes, they aren't joking! And the pancakes are not only huge in diameter, they're also thick. Great, fast service as well. Definitely feels like a small town spot that is very welcoming. Would visit again :) read more

The atmosphere was amazing. There's something you can't copy about a business with a long history. The customer service was excellent and welcoming. The food was pretty expensive for a breakfast place but the portions were large and the flavor was very good as well. All you can eat potatoes and they mean it. read more

Used to eat here regularly when I was a local, but the price was more appropriate for the food back then. The food is nothing to write home about, which begs the question as to how they could even fathom charging nearly $10 for seasoned curly fries. The cost of our breakfast (without tip) for my family of four came out to $80 - this was for three omelets with bland breakfast potatoes and toast and a chocolate chip manhole pancake with a side of bacon and seasoned curly fries and a tea with milk. I would have normally avoided the fries because of the price, but I thought we would be getting a large plate of fries we could all share (again, thinking that $10 worth of fries is going to be a large serving). Nope, it was a regular "side of fries" serving. I don't understand how the most basic breakfast food could come close to $80 ($95 with tip), but hey we were on vacation and it was nostalgic so we went with it. For perspective, we ate at Swami's Cafe located at the former Beach Grass Cafe location in Solana Beach the following day. Our breakfast came out to $55 (without tip), and that was for an eggs benedict with fruit, a lobster benedict with potatoes, a pancake with a side of bacon and toast, and a cream cheese and fruit-stuffed french toast with a tea and milk. The food was excellent (including the presentation) and I about lost my mind when I got the check because it's night and day when comparing the amount of food and the quality of food for the $55 price compared to the $80 at cash-only Potato Shack. Point is: If you're looking for an after-bar/after-night-out-drinking breakfast and you don't care about the price tag or cash-only eatery, eat here. If you want higher quality food for a more equitable price tag, go somewhere else. read more

Took my sons here on Saturday. Was pleasantly surprised on how good the food and coffee was. Yes, I said coffee. It is quite good. Staff was nice and the ambience was friendly and it is in a good area of town. Ended up coming with my wife and the kids the next day as well. I'll definitely be returning. read more