After being totally shocked at the line outside Phil's BBQ, my wife and I decided to look for another option that didn't resemble the line for one of the Star Wars attractions at Disneyland. Rudford's became option #2. Open 24/7 and a wide selection of food choices, it seemed like our best option. Chicken fried steak sounded like a good choice. My wife chose the Reuben's sandwich with crinkle cut fries. My wife wasn't too impressed with her sandwich but my chicken fried steak was tender and the gravy was flavorful with a touch of pepper. I added a slice of blueberry pie to take back to the hotel. Our server was very pleasant and did a great job of checking on us to make sure everything was good. I was very satisfied with my dining experience and was happy to find a place open 24/7 the next time I'm in San Diego if I need to find a place to eat after normal dining hours. The parking lot is on the small side so it might be difficult to find a spot during peak hours. Definitely a place to keep in mind if you're looking for decent coffee shop fare. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Enjoyed my chicken fried steak with eggs and home fries - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I've only been here a couple times. The food is OK, but It's probably because it's 24 hours. As to the servers, they take FOREVER to come and take your order. It took aN HOUR to get our food and they were not busy. Just talking to eachother. I think the one of the male servers with the "dog choker chain" is extremely rude and unprofessional, wasn't welcoming or accommodating. I dread going to places with poor service. We did not get checked on AT ALL no matter how many times we left our drinks at the end of the table, Getting a refill was nearly impossible let alone asking for condiments, napkins, or anything else. if you know tips are a big part of your job why wouldn't you be on point with your customer service? Or work elsewhere. read more

Today was my 1st time trying this restaurant out. The food was okay. Nothing to write home about. The waitress wasn't friendly at all. Actually it was 2 of the waitress that wasn't pleasant. I'm not sure if they don't like African American people or what their issue was. It's like she didn't want to take our order. And I order 3 extra items to take home for my family and I was rushed the entire time while ordering. I received 2 dirty cups on the outside. I asked for a straw because I didn't want to complain. The 2nd waitress seemed like she wasn't happy to get the straw. And I also asked for plastic utensils. But again a attitude. My party was of 3 & once we got the food, nobody checked on us, until the bill came. I received the chicken and waffles with bacon crumbles on top with blueberries on top. Well the blueberries came on the side and the waffle was soggy. The chicken was 6 out of 10. My dad had the burger and fries and he said it was good. His wife got pancakes, eggs and bacon. She said it was ok. To go I purchased Lemon Pepper Wings and they was Wiggly Giggly lol.. No Sir & No Ma'am. Trash thoes went to. I also got a Reuben sandwich and the meat was TUFF. I never had tuff Cornbeef. I got a cheese burger for my son whome never eaten from here before. And he gave the burger 3 out of 5. Would I try this restaurant again??? I believe in 2nd chances, so I would try ordering something else and hopefully the service of the waitress and waiters are better the next time. And hopefully I find something that's full of flavor and made properly. I can say the restaurant did smell good walking in. However the walls in the booths could use a good cleaning because they we're dirty . It kinda made me think of what the kitchen looked like. Especially with the dirty cups. Hopefully the Owner sees this and can respond to every issue and explain to me & everyone else that's reading this review, why I experienced these issues. Good luck Ya'll and happy eating read more

Went to Rudford's for lunch yesterday and it was a good choice. I ordered the daily special (meatloaf) and my wife went with a grilled cheese on sourdough with a side of fruit. My meatloaf was a large portion of well seasoned meat with tasty mashed potatoes and gravy. My lunch also included a side salad and mixed vegetables and a slice of garlic toast. Way too much food but I ate as much as I could. My wife said the grilled cheese was tasty and the side of fruit was good, especially the strawberries. Overall it was a good meal at a great price. Check em out! read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Tuesday meatloaf special. - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I loved walking in the doors and feeling transported back in time. While they have upgraded their furniture, it sticks with that classic diner vibe and it's great! Large menu with all the classic diner foods, uber friendly staff, and large portions. If you want diner food, this is the place to come. Due to my stomach, I can't actually eat a lot of diner foo, but I enjoyed what my guy and I got. Skillet potatoes, eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, etc. While the food wasn't the absolute best we've ever had, it was a fun time nonetheless. Also, very grateful for how crispy they made out hashbrowns when we said we wanted extra extra crispy! Can't wait to come back and try their milkshakes! read more

See all

The blueberry pancakes here are fantastic--easily one of my favorite items on the menu. The restaurant has that classic diner feel, with a huge menu full of great options, and I'm always impressed by the quality of both the food and service. The staff is consistently attentive, making sure coffee cups stay full and waters are never empty. No matter what I order, I've never had a bad meal. Between the welcoming atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious food, this is a spot I find myself coming back to again and again when I'm in the mood for classic all american food. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

Don't really know why this place isn't rated higher. Classic diner food with huge and delicious servings. The staff were attentive and friendly as well and space is clean. We got the chicken and waffles and the combo of blueberry pancaked with sausage and eggs. The pancakes were good but they were on the overcooked side, but we'll definitely back. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

So I came in to try the chicken fried steak I'm always looking for a good chicken fried steak and the chicken fried steak here was good but the gravy was awful had no flavor which really really ruined it for me the eggs were decent the potatoes were horrible the place was busy so I was kind of say to myself well a lot of people here must be good it's been open since the 1940s but it was horrible and the service was not great you know you spent 20 bucks for some eggs and a piece of breaded steak hey give me something good y'all really need to work on your gravy will I come back nope. read more

See all

Be aware, this is NOT a 24 hour diner. I've been before and the food is good and decently priced. However, to claim to be a 24 hour restaurant and be told to leave because they aren't open is frustrating. So be sure to have an option 'B' if planning on coming here especially in the early morning hours when they may likely be closed. read more

Very expensive diner but it's one of the only places that's open very late. I understand it's very busy but it took forever to get our order in, our food out, and to pay our bill. My salad came out with a lot of watered down ranch which was disgusting. The sandwich was good but honestly the salad ruined my appetite. read more

See all

Disgusting. Pancakes were chewy somehow, and a short stack is 1.5 of them. Luckily I could only handle two nasty bites and one gulp of "coffee" that was essentially water, so miserly portions didn't become an issue. Despite my not even eating, they wanted their $14.95. I hope they choke on it read more

Service is good, nice atmosphere, easy access, big portions...but not so sure about the two dishes we ordered. It's the first time I've ever ordered a corned beef sandwich that has come with lettuce and tomato or mayonnaise for that matter. I expected corned beef on rye to be corned beef on rye, and add mustard. Don't get me wrong, I ate it and it was OK, just not what I expected. Lettuce, tomato and mayo were on the bottom which made the rye bread a little soggy. The cowboy burger was huge, a little too much barbecue sauce, and the tomato was placed on the bottom of the burger, which made the bottom bone all soggy. Free refills on the fountain soda and iced tea though. read more

See all

Rudford's is one of my dad's favorite restaurants. We went there 3 times during our visit to San Diego. I like the diner feel and the fact that they have so many different options. On one visit, I had a turkey club sandwich, which was huge and delicious. I took half of it back to the hotel & it was eaten on a day when we'd missed breakfast. We also made it in time for the early bird special one day -- a super good deal for $6. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Turkey club - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

Mainly good things to say about this place!! I love the fact that it's 24/7, it was in a nice place in the city where it's always busy so it seems like a great place to be. LOTS of food options ranging from savory to dessert, and that dessert option list was huge!!! Our waiter was nice.. the only thing that happened is my friend didn't get the toast that came with his meal and we saw it sitting on the hot food shelf but no one brought it and our waiter hadn't come back to check if we got it but no worries, just some toast. I got the mushroom Swiss burger which was yummy!! So happy they had ranch. Definitely coming back for a late night munchie again read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Mushroom Swiss BurgerMushroom, yummy!! - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

I know this restaurant has been serving nostalgic American classics for years, and I've had good experiences here before. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite meet expectations this time. The gravy on the biscuits was thicker than I prefer and a bit one-note, and the corned beef hash could have used more seasoning. I understand food costs have gone up everywhere, and restaurants have had to adjust. At this price point though, I was hoping for a little more flavor and consistency. Our meals arrived slightly warm rather than hot, and overall they felt pretty standard. They do offer weekday breakfast specials, which may be a better value option. I know many people who are longtime fans, so clearly it works for others, it just wasn't my best experience. read more

See all

Rudford's is such a classic diner spot and everything we ordered tasted great. The pancakes were fluffy, the waffles were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the eggs were cooked exactly how we wanted. The bacon and sausage were solid too and the portions were huge. It is the kind of breakfast that just hits perfectly. The vibe is super nostalgic with that old school diner feel. It is casual, bright, and really comforting. It also feels perfect for a late night bite when you want something warm and reliable. Prices are very reasonable for how much food you get. Service was also great. The staff was friendly and the food came out fast even though they were busy. If you want a solid breakfast or a late night meal that actually tastes amazing, Rudford's is an easy five stars. I will always come back! read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

02:45 on a Sunday morning after the bar not as busy as I thought. Place was vibing, servers servin. Chilequiles with green salsa and over easy eggs were waaayyy too good. Their salsas have always been legit, so I don't know why I'm so surprised. read more

See all

We came here for breakfast on a Saturday and it was delicious. Three words to describe this place: Simple, humble, authentic. This place opens 24/7 and has been open since 1940s. We got seated almost right away and the vibe in here feels like you went back in time. Music was great and even customer service feels unreal, almost like we went back in time to the good old times. I ordered one of those classic 24/7 breakfast with the eggs, toast, and potatoes with a side of grits. Pricing is also very reasonable and the taste was delicious as expected. This was definitely a nice find. We see that they are even open on Thanksgiving day and on all holidays. Would definitely come here again. read more

See all

We got this through DoorDash very late at night (midnight maybe) and were stranded at the airport in a hotel. We had pretty low expectations but ordered anyways. The portions were large and the food was extremely hot, like too hot to hold for long. My boyfriend got the buffalo wings and fries and enjoyed his meal and I got the chicken and waffles and I loved mine. The bacon crumbles were a great touch and the chicken was fried really well. I would eat here again. read more

Sorry to say this was not my favorite experience and I REALLY wanted to love it. We love finding diners and this one just wasn't a hit for us. The food was ok, but nothing to drive 25 minutes for. The sign outside says 24/7 which is pretty cool if you need something at 4 am. The booth we had was in good shape and comfortable. The inside looked like a modernized diner which we liked. There was bar type seating in booths. I believe it was either that or booths. From where we were sitting, it would be difficult to have a wheelchair inside. We were not in the back corner so I may be wrong. It was pretty loud but it was completely full. We waited about 15-20 minutes for a table. It was very bright inside in a good way. We were not fans of our server. I understand it was busy but we had to wait awhile for her to come back for a refill. She just seemed like she was not happy. Could have been a bad day for her- so maybe this experience was a one off. I'm giving it 3 stars because overall we weren't happy with the food or service. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

they fell off. used to be at least a halfway decent diner. chili was old and dry like dog food. patty melt was meh, seasoned weird. fries were ok. guess ok for some late night eats if faded. quality fell off. read more

Let me start this review by saying that I go here way too much and know everyone who works here. This is a classic 24-hour diner right in the middle of the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. They serve beer, wine, and mimosas until 11:00pm. My favorite items are the lemon pepper/teriyaki wings, the navy bean soup, #11 (two eggs, toast, has browns), chicken fingers and fries, the bacon cheeseburger, and the PECAN PIE (legitimately the best I've ever had). There are about 100 items on the menu so there's something for everyone. They have an Andes mint milkshake! They have an extra lot just behind their normal parking lot in case it's full. All the homies work on the graveyard crew! read more

See all

This will be the final review in a four-part series titled "A Diner and a Cafe" in which I sit for breakfast (sans coffee) at a diner then walk to a nearby coffee shop to grab some caffeine to go: Pt. 1 - Between Us / Lazy Eye Coffee Pt. 2 - The Vibe / BICA Coffee Shop Pt. 3 - Antique Row Cafe / Fuzz Coffee and Records Pt. 4 - Rudford's Restaurant / Coffee & Tea Collective Here is my review: I am man. I order steak and eggs. I eat steak and eggs. Go to Between Us ($29) or The Vibe ($27) if you want to blow your money. Antique Row ($18.25) and Rudford's ($23.95) for saving some cash. (Prices for the entrees featured in each review.) The end. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - The New York strip cut with over-easily fried eggs and potatoes. Lurking in the back is a wheat toast that I lathered with strawberry jelly. - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

One of, if not the, oldest diners in San Diego. This 24 hour diner on El Cajon Blvd in North Park is really popular for many reasons but for some reason I had never tried it until this past weekend. I say that as someone from San Diego whose family has been here since the late 1980s. Inside is very large and has many different seating options from booth, to counter, to table. Our server was very polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. They have a very large menu with all sorts of diner classics on it. There's also a large free parking lot attached so parking is easy to find. The only issue we had was that the food itself was not the best, it was not bad, but the experience was better than the food. We started off with a Cinnamon Roll and thought it was pretty good, but it was not gooey enough in my opinion, and it was overly large in size but was not large in flavor. For my meal, I chose the Chilaquiles with green sauce and even though I love spicy food, I thought they were overly spicy and my eggs were a bit overdone. It is diner pricing so it's not really a big deal but I would like to try again to see if I had a one off experience. I would suggest if you are in the area or are interested in San Diego dining history. read more

See all

I've visited this place late night with my husband on 2 occasions now and they've hit the spot both times. The wings are moist and delicious- we've tried Thai sweet chili and lemon pepper wings. We've also had the tuna melt and fried cod fillets- everything was great- no complaints about the food. The servers have always been friendly and helpful when we have questions about the menu. It's your standard diner with the cushioned booths- highly recommend if you need some late night eats. read more

See all

Their food is amazing, such a great diner to eat at and the service is also great as well.

Rudford's est 1946 is a staple in San Diego, Ca. Located on ElCajon Blvd, it's a great place for retro meals. There's a small parking lot and depending on what day you go, street parking is a challenge but worth the extra footwork. You can sit at the counter or wait for a table. I sat at the counter. I ordered the Liver & Onions lunch which came with salad, garlic bread, beets, mashed potatoes and gravy. I had a water with lemon and a Mr Pibb. The portions are large and very tasty. I ended leaving with a doggy bag which most customers did. A nice culinary journey from the past! read more

See all

Every time we're in Diego we come here. Food is always flavorful, the service is always fast and friendly with reasonable pricing. This is on og spot and a favorite of ours. read more

See all

Went in knowing it wasn't going to be anything over-the-top, just wanted something reliable. Ordered the French dip and I'd give it a solid 7/10. Good flavor, hit the spot, and did exactly what we needed it to do. Portion size was great for the price too, which always makes it feel worth it. Overall, a dependable late-night option when you just want something satisfying and easy. read more

Quality in the food has definitely gone down ..serving up raw potatoes is no good will make you loose you appetite and not want to come back. Marcella by server has the worst attitude I've seen in a server In a while . No care or compassion just met with straight attitude. please do better or pretend to care your serving raw food read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Mostly raw potatoes - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

This review is NOT about food. It's about honesty. They have outside tables I sat there just prior to dining. Approximately 20 minutes into my meal, the waiter brought me my wallet (filled with $$$) and my cell phone. He looked into the wallet to see my driver's license. Then brought both my cell phone and wallet to my table. Naturally, I was very very grateful. And I'm old school from Brooklyn, I don't have to elaborate. I was very, very grateful. read more

Came in early morning before work. I got the corned beef hash, eggs over medium, hash browns and wheat toast. The corned beef was ok, it had an odd spongy texture, I think I woulda just preferred the canned type grilled hard on the flat top. Service was excellent as there's basically 1 person waiting on the whole place at that odd hour, so kudos to her. On a past visit I had the pork chop, it was ok. I guess I had over expected as I've heard that it was so special. It wasn't bad by any means just not as special as I've been lead to believe. It's your typical diner ambiance, nothing fancy. There's a parking lot in the back but also some parking on the street in front which I've always found at least in odd hours. I appreciate that it's open 24/7 it's always my go to when I know everything else is closed. It's nice to be able to sit down in a restaurant instead of in your car after going to a fast food drive thru. read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Weekday early bird specials - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The love I have for this place cannot be written into words. The vibes and wide variety of food are unmatched. Being open 24 hours is a plus and I've utilized that plenty of times over the years! This is THE place I bring my friends and family whenever they visit San Diego and they love it! Go here! Such a lovely experience everytime. Never had a bad time! read more

Food: Myriad choices from home-made O'Brien Potatoes to Ham 'n Eggs your style, Savory, Sweet, Umami, salads, soups, sides, burgers & much, much more. Loved the plump chicken sausage! Service: OMG! Servers, Cashiers, Bus-people ALL. mountains above expectations-truly remarkable- Ambience: Old School Vibes, energized yet calmly organized during busiest times. Recommended & open 24HRS a Day read more

Rudford's Restaurant - YUKI- well mannered Habibi PuP - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food and staff ! Been coming here for a while now it always hits 24/7. Never had any issues

Thursday a couple of friends of mine and myself stopped in for a late lunch. We all loved the burgers very much especially enjoyed the orange cream shakes. They were off the chart. Our waitress was professional, friendly, and funny. And the diner is a flashback to the 50s so wherever you looked on the walls was something fun to read definitely my kind of place. Although this was my first time, it won't be my last if you're in the area, do yourself a favor and stop by read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

Rudfords is a whole vibe. It is homey, local, and I love the old school set up. The workers are all so friendly and welcoming as well. I love the music they are playing. Standards, Roy Orbison, Elvis, etc. The portions are HUGE. I got a half tuna sandwich with sweet potato fries, wow you could share this for sure. I ordered my mom wings to-go and she ate it for 3 days as a snack. It seems like a place where they have a lot of loyal customers because it is a family owned restaurant, and they are a part of the neighborhood. I recommend coming with a friend to share a few things, or even come alone and support a local gem. Service was unhurried which was nice. read more

We were pleasantly surprised to be seated right away around 10am on a Saturday morning. Service was prompt and friendly. Food was delicious and arrived just a few minutes after placing our order. Our coffee was refilled as soon as we needed. Has the classic diner vibe. We enjoyed our visit to Rudford's very much! read more

Rudford's Restaurant - Diners Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Service was fast and friendly. Wings were very tasty and plentiful. Cheeseburger was very good and had all the fixings. Philly sandwich was very good and filling. The portions were big so we all had to take home half our order. One order feeds 2 easily. This restaurant has been open since 1949! It's known for president kennedy driving by it in a limo in a parade. They have done a great job keeping it clean and open 24 hrs! A must if you're looking for a huge breakfast! First time here in north park! read more

See all

This is a nice little diner. It takes you back to an 80's feel. The service is great. Very attractive. The are employees that have been there 40yrs. So you get severed fast. The cheese avocado omelette was good. It was a good portion. Not too big or small. The ice tea was your basic flavor. The hash browns were good. You can ask for these a little more crispy. If you like. The corn beef hash, is a little different. It does not come with potatoes, as you would normally have them. Still, they had great flavor, and crispness to them. The Blue Burger, is the way to go. This comes with a thick patty and smothered with Blue Cheese Crumbles. I recommend this, if you want something hardy. The cons: The water has a tap water taste. The AC must not be working. Because it was very warm in the restaurant. read more

See all