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    Ruby's Diner

    3.7 (614 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Diners, Burgers
    Open 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Ruby's Diner Photos

    Business Info

    RUBY'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Touristy
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Ruby's Diner

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    Reviews With Photos

    Corn beef hash
    Ed M.

    Caught lunch while shopping at the outlets. They had a corn beef hash plate (my breakfast go to meal). Cooked just right. They also offer beers and cocktails.

    Kiyomi F.

    My family and I had a great experience at this location! It's been so long since we've had ruby's diner and we loved that the ambiance hasn't changed. It's still giving that old school vibe that we love and cherish! The staff here was amazing, super friendly & prompt! We throughly enjoyed our meals. Plenty of seating inside and outside. We would love to dine here again!

    Fish and chips.
    Cezar S.

    Can't go wrong with Ruby's Diner. Been to this location a few times with the family. My wife and I decided to dine in this weekend, January 17th. We were greeted when we walked in right away. The host didn't make a big deal with us bringing in our stroller. The place is the same. Old school looking, clean with friendly staffs. We ordered their onion rings and fish & chips. Did not disappoint with the flavor and freshness. My wife loved their onions rings and one of best fish and chips I've ever had. Juicy on the inside, not dry as some other places would have served it. However, it's only served with 2 pieces of fish. Their onion rings could have been serve with better portions as well. They're not cheap with sauces, as we asked for more tartar sauce and delivered 2 to our table. Will definitely go back here again.

    Original malted waffle
    Janelle V.

    Ruby's Diner reminds me of college. We had a location nearby my alma mater so when my coworker suggested we go here before we headed back to the airport, it was super nostalgic for me! Despite this location being under construction during our visit, there seemed to be a good flow of patrons and we also were attended to quite well. I ordered a cup of coffee and let's just say I got my fair share of refills. For my food I ordered the original malted waffle with a side of sausage links and eggs over easy. The food came out hot and fresh and I definitely didn't leave hungry - just with a lingering desire for more waffles. Mmmm!! Also since it is October aka spooky season it was super cute that they had decorations up inside and outside the storefront (even while they were in the process of construction). It was definitely a nice touch! Thanks again, Ruby's Diner Carlsbad!

    Tony H.

    这家餐厅完美复刻了上世纪50年代的复古风格,从怀旧装饰到招牌菜品都还原了经典美式 diner 的原汁原味。无论是餐食口味、分量还是服务细节,都完全符合甚至超出预期。服务员会贴心地为孩子们提供折纸小汽车作为消遣。尽管整体环境略带岁月痕迹,但毋庸置疑,它绝对是周边区域内最值得选择的美式diner。 Good old school 50's style diner with all the decor and all the dishes that you would expect. Everything meets or exceeds expectations, and the servers were very good with giving our kid paper cars to play with. The place seems to be showing its age a bit, but definitely the best diner option in the immediate area.

    BLTA
    Mandi R.

    This Ruby's feels like the end of an era. There used to be so many more Ruby's (on the pier), so I feel like still finding them is a real treat. This restaurant is a little smaller than other locations, but still has fun decor and a cool train that runs along a track at the ceiling of the restaurant. We had what one comes to expect from a Ruby's - friendly service and tasty diner food. I ordered the BLTA and while it wasn't the healthiest choice, it sure was good. I regretted not ordering a shake or cherry Vanilla Coke on this visit.

    Cobb Burger Bacon
    Kareem P.

    I was reminiscing about Ruby's Diner, one of my favorite dining locations at the Oceanside Pier. They had closed many years ago and the building recently burnt down. But after doing a search online, I realize that they had a location in Carlsbad. This is my review of Ruby's Diner in the Carlsbad outlet mall. I am very happy that this Ruby's Diner is only 15 minutes away from downtown Oceanside. Although I don't come to this mall frequently, I may start returning more often thanks to my experience eating here. Ruby's Diner is known as a Classic American Diner that is well known for their burgers, fries & milkshakes. They're also famous for their vintage 50's & 60's themed decor & music. Their interior is very spacious and accommodate groups and families easy. You can also choose to sit outside on the patio as well. The vintage theme has various paraphernalia and decorations from the 60s era. They also have a functioning train set that runs a track on the ceiling above. The kids love it! I think the only CON I found for their atmosphere was in regards to their men's restroom being too small and only having 1 stall & 1 urinal. Their service is always courteous, fast & friendly and I love their uniforms. Although their menu is based on an American diner theme, there are many other options to help diversify one's dining choices. For breakfast, you can find items like eggs Benedict, omelettes, avocado toast, breakfast burritos, biscuits & gravy, chicken fried steak, waffles, pancakes, French toast, and of course, a typical American breakfast with eggs and bacon. Their lunch and dinner menu is just as extensive. Their portions are very fair considering the price, and overall, I love the customization options for customers who want to create their own flavor experiences by mixing & matching ingredients. My most recent experience was with a Cobb burger, Cajun Fries and a Salted Caramel Milkshake. I loved the variance from salty bacon, to juicy burger, to seasoned crispy fries & the sweet sips of heaven! Anytime I want a true vintage dining experience, I come to Ruby's Diner in Carlsbad to send me down memory lane. I recommend!

    Sou L.

    This place is currently going through renovations, however it's open from dine in. The staff there are very friendly. Their burgers, fries, salad and shakes were delicious!! Yes... my kiddo enjoyed his burger so I didn't get a chance to take a photo !

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    Photo of Steve S.
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    7 years ago

    Burger was not very good. Taste was not fresh. More of a kid's place. Adults stay away.

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    Melissa T.

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    Ruby's Diner Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ruby's Diner

    Do they still have beignets?

    They were included in the breakfast I ordered on the menu....but they didn't come on my plate. Perhaps they were out that day or they have stopped keeping them on the menu.

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    Burger Lounge

    Burger Lounge

    4.0
    (798 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    Stumbled across Burger Lounge due to my little monster craving for some burgers for dinner. A quick…read moresearch online led me here... Let me start off by saying I initially thought Burger Lounge would be great but heading to the closest In N Out would be just as good and at a fraction of the cost. Luckily for me, my little one refused my attempted coaxing. Parking was a breeze given the fact that the lot is massive- perfect for the neighboring businesses and the busy foot traffic coming and going. Our party of three were immediately greeting with a smiling young gentleman standing behind the register. At first glace, the restaurant was massive is size, very spacious, modern, and 100% well kept/tidy. Seating and decor was simple enough but still had a classiness to it. We placed our order with the smiling gentleman [whom I learned was ANDREW]. Dinner consisted of: *KIDS MEAL: Cheeseburger with onions, lettuce, and EXTRA pickles *BACON BLEU BURGER *TRUFFLE-MUSHROOM SWISS BURGER *LARGE HALF & HALF [ tallow fried onion rings + fries] *DRINK Food: I kid you not, EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS!!! The order was made beautifully- presented well and cooked flawlessly. A+ for taste and presentation, which I totally didn't expect. Brioche buns were fluffy yet charred just enough on the grill to house all of the ingredients. The patties were flavorful and juicy. The goodness didn't stop there- BD mentioned Burger Lounge's onion rings being the BEST he's ever had!! Quality is absolutely undeniable. Above all, this burger joint runs smoothly thanks to the incredible staff. Each and every person we encountered was kind, polite, and so very eager to help with whatever requests. The only complaint I had was the terrible internet connection. Come here expecting to put your phones/tablets down even if you don't want to. LMAO. 5/5 stars but I'd easily give them so much more. Dinner was absolutely delicious and I am so sad that this particular Burger Lounge is soooo soooo far from home. I will 100% make it a habit to stop by whenever I happen to be in the area- THEY ARE TRULY THAT DAMN GOOD!!

    I loved coming here for burgers and fries. Especially being a vegetarian, this is the only place…read morethey have really impossible burgers. Unfortunately we just learned that they now dry everything in Beef tallow. Needless to say we won't be coming here any more.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Classic catering box
    Classic catering box
    Simple and good.

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    Simple and good.
    MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes

    MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes

    4.4
    (419 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Mooyah popped up on my Yelp feed - and the location seemed quite familiar, but had never seen the…read moreplace. So when my wife and I were in the general area, I popped in the address into the GPS, and away we went. Straight to a strip mall I pass through once a week. This place is tucked inside, near the CVS - easy to miss (obviously)!! We went inside and ordered - FRIENDLY crew! I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and fries to share - my wife ordered a basic cheeseburger. We were given a pager (the kind with lights to alert you to pick up), and we sat down. VERY cool little touch - the tables have Qi charging stations behind them. When the pager went off, I picked up our burgers - DAMN they looked great! The fries to share? Umm.....for about four people - seriously huge pile! And tasty! But the burger - this was absolutely a great burger - cooked to perfection, and just quality all the way through. We'll be back - a GREAT burger joint!!

    My 7 year old and I were in the area and ready for dinner. I had to talk him out of going g to…read moreMcD's - which we were both so glad we did! We found Mooyah on Google and it did not disappoint. The burgers were so fresh and filling. I like mine with pickles and appreciate they were thicker cut, not flimsy slices. The fries, oh the fries...I'd come back for those alone. They look fresh cut, with the skins on, very similar to Five Guys who I think has the best fries out there. The best way to have them prepared for sure! My son's milkshake was full of Oreo pieces too big to suck through a straw. He got a kick out of that. Ambiance was clean and pleasant. I liked how they had phone chargers behind the booth seating, although I didn't need one. I also love how all of the plates and cups were compostable! Way to go!! Our server (the manager/owner?) was super nice and kept checking in. Overall review from my fairly picky 7 year old? "I'm speechless!", with a satisfied sigh. Will be back!

    Photos
    Ash the owner. Working hard for his customers.
    Ash the owner. Working hard for his customers.
    "Build your own" - double protein, signature bun, cheddar, bacon jam, fried onions, MOOYAH sauce etc
    "Build your own" - double protein, signature bun, cheddar, bacon jam, fried onions, MOOYAH sauce etc
    Bacon Cheeseburger in the front, Cheeseburger in the back, and fries to share.

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    Bacon Cheeseburger in the front, Cheeseburger in the back, and fries to share.
    Eureka!

    Eureka!

    4.0
    (907 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$
    Outdoor seating
    Casual dining

    You guys. Seriously. This place is SO GOOD!!! There are just so many positive aspects…read more.. From the moment we walked in the hostess was super friendly and seated us right away. She brought over crayons and coloring pages for my 4 year old and then let her pick out a sticker from a sticker book!! Our server greeted us promptly for our drink order and was very knowledgeable about the menu. Then a few minutes later someone brought my kiddo a snack plate!! What a genius idea!! It had a few carrots and orange slices and she enjoyed it while we had literally the best Brussels sprouts I've ever tasted. They were crispy and soooooo flavorful! I ordered the fig burger with a side Caesar and my daughter had a cheese quesadilla. The burger and the salad were both amazing!! I mean look at all the yummy Parmesan on the Caesar!! My burger was cooked exactly the way I wanted it and it was absolutely delicious. We had the peanut butter pie for dessert and let me just tell you, I did not want to share it at all! It was so rich and yummy. The overall vibe is casual and fun and a lot of people were having a blast during happy hour. Our service was excellent throughout. This place is a nice balance of family friendly, casual date night, or a fun night out. I will definitely be back!

    I came here recently for happy hour. I had been before but my friend hadn't. They have a lovely…read moreoutdoor patio area where lots of kids were playing. The inside has big open windows. It was pretty busy but we were seated right away. Our server was friendly and welcoming. She answered our questions and took our orders for apps and wine. We were surprised by the extensive bourbon menu and wide price range, that's not something I've seen often. She brought us water and our food was up quickly. The fried pickles were exactly like they sound like they would be, but they need a different sauce. The frachos had good flavor and were filling. We both enjoyed them. We also both liked our wine.. They have daily specials and we both agreed we want to come back and try more items.

    Photos
    Eureka!
    Eureka!
    Eureka!

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    Cosmos Burger

    Cosmos Burger

    4.5
    (383 reviews)
    6.0 mi
    $$

    Most definitely recommend Cosmos. We ordered the (3) basic burgers, one with tater tots, the other…read morewith onion rings and another with regular fries. It was so delicious, mouth watery. Customer service is 1000000% amazing, Kaitlyn is super sweet, the establishment is super clean and inviting.

    Came tonight and brought some friends and my son, who missed it the first time we visited…read more Ordered the Truffle burger (Truffle aioli, caramelized onion, Cheddar cheese, pickles, and 6 oz Cosmos patty with brioche bun), Blue cheese (Herb aioli, caramelized onion, arugula, blue cheese, pickles, and 6 oz Cosmos patty with brioche bun), Better Mac (Think Big Mac...Better Mac sauce, onion, lettuce, Cheddar cheese, pickles, and 6 oz Cosmos patty with brioche bun), Garlic Parm sandwich (Herb aioli, pickles, lettuce, and 2 pieces garlic parm HUGE chicken tenders with brioche bun), and the Hot Chicks sandwich (Herb aioli, pickles, coleslaw, Cheddar cheese, and 2 HUGE pieces spicy tenders with brioche bun), truffle fries were crispy and seasoned well, and tator tots were perfectly crunchy outside and soft inside. The burgers were phenomenal! The blue cheese was sooo good! The truffle burger was incredible! I thought the Better Mac would have been my favorite, and it was still good, but surprisingly, it wasn't my fave over the three. The chicken sandwiches are HUGE but I wished the tenders were tossed in the sauce/seasoning. They add the garlic parm on top of the tenders as they're assembled on top of the bun, so it doesn't completely coat the tender. IMO, it would be more flavorful tossed. However, the aioli sauces are just so delicious and to kill for! Even though this is also a smash burger leave, their burgers aren't thin and had a lot of bite to them! They're so worth it and hands down much better than across the street!

    Photos
    The inside of the restaurant.
    The inside of the restaurant.
    Cosmos Burger
    Cosmos Burger
    Spicy jam burger

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    Spicy jam burger
    American Heroes & Brew

    American Heroes & Brew

    4.6
    (449 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Get the meatball sandwich…read more Omg and the meatball parm fries. This place is so chill and has the best atmosphere for watching games or playing cards (all afternoon). A pretty good bargain on breakfast as well.

    If I was just rating the service, it would be 5 stars no question! But since there's food involved,…read moreI want to be honest. I was soooo excited about the Philly connection, as I'm very familiar with cheesesteaks having lived near Philly in a past life. Well, I was sorely disappointed. We were told that the bread is flown in daily from Philly. Well, I don't know where it's coming from because it's definitely not the same bread as what they normally use there. The sandwich and meat were dry and flavorless. Totally underwhelming unfortunately. So then we saw that they made key lime pie there too! Again, I was SUPER excited because key lime pie is my favorite dessert of all time. And again...disappointment. I took one glance and saw that it was light green in color and knew I was gonna be mad. Yall, Key lime pie is yellow. You should NEVER add food coloring. That's just gross and inaccurate. The texture and flavor were also off. Texturally it was way too thick and dense, which would have been fine if it actually tasted like key lime. But it was severely lacking in that tart key lime flavor that it's known for. I'd definitely go back because of the service and vibe. But I'll maybe try a burger and the cheesecake instead.

    Photos
    Interoperability
    Interoperability
    Onion rings
    Onion rings
    Outside patio

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    Outside patio

    Ruby's Diner - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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