5 stars from someone...we can't have eaten at the same place. How can you mess up an omlette and coffee. Let me tell you how... 1. Make a pot of coffee without fresh grounds and leave it on the burner for apprx. 6 hours 2. Cook the omlette so long that it takes on the form of some kind of synthetic polymer( yay science!) At least they had Tapatio to drown my eggs in. Boo to Shirley's and the spray painted neon writing all over the windows. Come on read more

I doubt that this review will be very popular, however this was my experience and it's 100% true. I wanted to like Shirley's Kitchen. The name alone makes me think fuzzy thoughts about some nice lady named Shirley absolutely killin' it in the kitchen and making gloriously tasty 'Merica food. I was rudely awakened from that dream by cold reality. I ordered for myself and my employees (3 people total) for a pick-up order. We all got breakfast items. I had a French Toast with strawberries combo with eggs etc. Now, I don't know what's going on in Shirley's kitchen but SHIRLEY you couldn't forget to include SYRUP WITH MY FRENCH TOAST. I mean, you didn't forget, did you? It's not like syrup is optional with French Toast. IT'S REQUIRED. It's a pre-requisite. You have to have syrup cascading down the toast like a summer water park ride before you take that first bite. French Toast is essentially fried bread with syrup, yes? OTHERWISE IT'S JUST FRIED BREAD, SHIRLEY. FRIED FUCKING BREAD! But you did forget, Shirley. You forgot the syrup. And yes, I do appreciate that you compensated me by giving me a free meal. However, it was really disappointing that the "steak" in that meal was bland and miniscule. When I opened the box, I said, "What is this, a steak for ants?" By the end of our meal, we all agreed: the food was bland, almost insultingly so. I don't know if it's because it's take-out but they lost 3 potential customers forever on that day. Shirley, you let me down. read more

I love Shirley's! It's definitely old style, greasy spoon type of fare, but when you're in the mood for that, or for a great, inexpensive breakfast, Shirley's is the place! Just had a decent Cobb salad there. They close the "patio" (a fenced in outdoor spot right on University Ave) at 1 pm, but I arrived with my dog at about 1:15, and they opened it just for me! That's the kind of folks they are. You can get breakfast for under $5 and lunch for under $10. And, they don't charge for the great service... It's a neighborhood gem. read more

I have to give Shirley's a 3 for the service, our server was very nice and knew his menu. Could have been a little more on top of the drinks, but really he did a good job. Food was H-O-T, HOT when it came out. He seemed to know most everyone that came in the door and gave them personalized service. The ambience is super lacking. There's some cool pictures and ceramic knick-knacks on the wall that remind you of your grandma's kitchen and kept my son busy while we waited. It could definitely use some color to warm the place up! My dad said his omelette was delicious and super hot, which as any breakfast lover knows, cold eggs are disgusting. The pancakes were nothing to write home about. The potatoes O'Brien which are known for having onion and peppers in them had one piece of diced green pepper, so not so much if you're looking for a hearty mix. I had the chicken breast melt, which was also very hot. The bread could not even contain the amount of chicken bulging out of this bad boy. Unfortunately the chicken was very thick and not very flavorful. I certainly wouldn't have it again. Honestly, it was REALLY overpriced, like by about $1.50+ per plate and the food was mediocre and the ambience is sad. I'm a big fan of mom 'n pop joints, but this will not become a regular spot for us! read more

Slightly hesitant- aren't we all when we don't want to give up our "secrets" on Yelp? However, it's out duty when a place is this good. Shirley's is simple, not expensive, and a cool place to see what you may look like in about 20 years. Yes, the patrons may be a little older than your Hash House a go go glued to their cell phone type, but I highly believe that wisdom come with experience. The food is good, not expensive, and not pretentious. I had a the simple pancakes (that come with hot syrup), over medium eggs (cooked to perfection), and bacon (okay, but I'm not a big meat eater). Service was good. Food is good. You want trendy. Go West. read more

My husband and I drive to Shirley's almost every weekend from Poway. Huevos rancheros is his usual and machaca and eggs mine. Their french toast, chicken fried steak, eggs benedict, home fries and chorizo dishes are also all very good. Coffee is average. We are usually served by a young lady or young man - they are both attentive, fast, and friendly. Sometimes the place is packed so dishes come out slowly, but the cooks know what they're doing. It's well worth the wait. read more

You have seemed to miss the point. It wasnt about a STRAW it was about being ignored. I too have served and if after 20 plus year ignoring customers is what you call great then I feel sorry for your customers. read more

Shirley's has been around since before they invented the wheel! A classic breakfast diner and great place to get a satisfying meal, good service and great coffee! Been here many times and will continue coming back! read more

Excellent service, great food. For once the house potatoes taste delicious. Will definitely come back

It's true what they say about holes in the wall. Once you find 'em and the grub is good, you keep coming back for mo'. I'm never disappointed. :O) Checkkkk it AWT! read more

Home style cooking, nothing outstanding. Place is not that clean, bathrooms are awful and we won't be back. The service was good, but the food for us was barely touched do to the taste. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Took a few bites and bacon is going home to our dog. Sadly not the best food. - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

Super cute mom and pop kinda of place. The kind of place that makes you wonder if it's grandma in the back cooking up some home style cooking. The servers were quick. The food was great and super affordable. It's the kind of place that keeps you coming back; too bad we don't live locally. read more

This isn't fancy breakfast food where presentation of the dish is half the of what you are paying for, this is just good old classic home cooked breakfast. Food: 1) Denver Omelet: Most of the omelet was the egg and there were very sparse ingredients of what goes into the Denver Omelet. It wasn't how I like omelets made but my brother really liked it. It came with home fries which were delicious. 2) Pork Chop with hash browns: The pork chops were well seasoned and not dry. The hash browns were also delicious. 3) French Toast platter: French toast was thick and so soft! The bread they used was amazing. Service: I think this place is family owned, so the staff is very personable and friendly! Ambiance: No frills, just a place to enjoy some breakfast food. All the decor is pretty old. Price: Cheap for breakfast food! Overall: Good portions for good food, I'd come back. read more

Great little place that is never crowded like an ihop or Denny's on a weekend for bkfst. I've been going to this place since I was younger and now I get to go with my own kids. They love it and my husband always wants to go back. You have to try it if you're in the area and want a good hearty homeade bkfst. read more

Hole in the wall feel inside. Kind of unfortunate. The food was good. The service was average . Not the kind of place I would wait in line for but definitely better than ihop or Denny's. read more

We were looking for a quick, cheap breakfast - that was actually good and found Shirley's kitchen. It's not terribly far from our house - which is great - and the food really surprised us! The place has a very "diner" like atmosphere and you won't go there for the decor, but we both had the taco omelette with hash browns and pancakes and holy cow. An amazing mix of flavors - perfectly put together (for about $9!) One note, this is a fairly small place with a small kitchen - so our pancakes did come about 10 minutes after our omelettes arrived - but we didn't care. They were delicious and a good cap to the meal. read more

This is our go-to breakfast spot. We drive from Otay Ranch every weekend. Unassuming, understated and inviting. There's never a change in the quality or quantity of food. Machaca is always delicious. French toast is spot on. Omelettes are made well and they don't skimp on the goodies. Service is always attentive and you're treated like family. Bathrooms are a bit strange in locations. He's a insider's secret: there's a ladies restroom inside the kitchen. No need to go outside like the men. read more

The best thing about Shirley's is the service. We had eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak, and hash browns, all not so good. The coffee, eggs and pancakes were good, as was the service. Used to come here years ago, as I remember ..it was good then. Was in the area, stopped by for breakfast. Won't be back. read more

Only reason why my family and I came here was because it was a Saturday and all the other diners/breakfast spots in La Mesa were packed -__- Anyways, service was amazing, I really liked our waiter but the food was just so-so. Nothing really packed with flavor and I remember the wheat toast I got with my omelet was stiff as a rock. read more

My boyfriend and I were in San Diego for the weekend. We always enjoy eating breakfast in small dinners so we were happy we found Shirley's Kitchen. There are not many dinners around there. The food was delicious! The place is a little outdated but it has that dinner theme to it. read more

This place is great. Extensive menu including breakfast, lunch, and dinner (even though they close at 2 P.M.??) The kids got chocolate milk which came with whipped cream and sprinkle - Bonus Points!!! Everyone enjoyed the meals. Bisquits and Gravy- Gravy was really good, bisquits were o.k. Offered with sausage links or patties, 2 eggs, and hash browns or homestyle potatoes. Cooked really well with onions and green peppers. Eggs Benedict - 2 poached eggs over a huge thick cut piece of canadian bacon, english muffins, and hollandaise sauce. Chick Pot Pie made from scratch. We loved this dish, plenty of chicken, and veggies served with cranberry sauce. Kids menu - pigs in a blanket $3.49 - Awesome deal Cheese Burger - Nice and moist, 1/3 pound purger will satisfy. Coffee was good. We heard that it was bitter, maybe they did too. We will go back for sure. read more

I stopped by Shirley's for a little post mountain biking breakfast...at 1 in the afternoon. It was my first time here and I was pretty impressed. I agree with many of the other reviews in that it definitely has a "diner" type vibe going on. The restaurant was very clean (even the bathroom!) and everyone I encountered was very nice and I felt like I stopped by my family's house for breakfast. The food was definitely good. I wouldn't call it 5 star, but certainly a solid 4+ star. I had an omelet with home fries and pancakes. Again, nothing earth shattering creativity wise, but for a diner type breakfast, it was just about as good as it gets. An up-charge option for real maple syrup and a couple more cheese options (goat, gouda, etc.) would put this place over the edge in my opinion, but maybe it just wouldn't fit in. A couple things I noticed that kind of blew my hair back were: -The food was hot! I'm talking like on the plate for 1.3 seconds before it was brought out to me. I can't believe this is rare, but it is. Call me easy, but this always impresses me when a breakfast place can deliver piping hot/fresh food to a table. -Nothing was greasy. I like a greasy spoon vibe, but I hate a greasy breakfast. These folks nailed this concept. -The coffee was super fresh...at 1 in the afternoon. I would like it a little stronger, but the odds of the masses liking coffee the same way I do is pretty slim. They also throw some flavored creamers in the bowl which is a nice touch. So overall, this was a great breakfast experience and I would definitely recommend checking it out if you get the chance. read more

The food was amazing and the sauce for its hue is rancheros out of this world it's a homemade sauce so I was iffy at first because I love huevos rancheros but on point. Service a little slow but it got better as I had brunch have lived in la Mesa for a little while and barely found this place have to say local favorite and hidden gem. read more

On the outside, Shirley's Kitchen looks like one of those older eateries on University Avenue that you'd drive by while on you're way to Hash House or Broken Yolk. I found Shirley's on yelp, and based on the reviews, decided to check it out. The quaint atmosphere definitely welcomed an older crowd. The service was fast and friendly, and out waiter was very attentive. I ordered a Taco Special which was an omelette packed with beef, tomatoes, peppers and a whole bunch of goodness. The topping was some sort of sauce that screamed, "TACO." It came with delicious hash browns and two pancakes. Honestly, for a good breakfast with friends this is the place to go. read more

I'm not from this area but I stopped by while my car was getting some work done. Breakfast was ok. It wasn't horrible but not the best either. Customer service was great. The waitress was really nice. As for the looks of this place... Well it is small BUT clean. It's a bit outdated and maybe some remodeling could do it some good. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Small but clean - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

Had the chicken fried steak great nice and large with potatoes and veg there special is nice you get large portions great service read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

Service was good and quick my husband had the gravy and biscuit combo with meat which he said was very good, I had the 4 piece fish with fries my fish was too greasy for me but the fries were good. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

VERY VERY SMALL PLACE, but AWESOME service and food. As ya all know I usually go for the Waffle breakfast, 2 eggs, hash browns, waffles. This Sunday though I decided to go for the french toast meal, and so glad that I did. The FT was fluffy warm and soooo yummy. Great service, great food, and great pricing! Don't miss out. read more

This is my go to when the lady wants breakfast. 1. She loves their breakfast food, 2. I'm not much for breakfast but they've got an amazing cheese burger, and 3. It doesn't break the bank. We like to enjoy our meals outside on their small front patio and enjoy the sunshine. The wait staff is always nice and the food has always been good. read more

Homestyle cooking without doing the dishes!! Delicious little treasure that's like coming home to Mom's!! A little heavy on the grease but that's how Mom used to do it right? :) I of course gave half my food to hubby because the portions are HUGE! read more

This is where you'll find us most Sunday mornings. Breakfast burrito has become my favorite here. Eggs Bene and omelettes are also good choices. read more

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Steak was way over cooked. Biscuits n gravy are not made from scratch. Server was cool. He was nice, attentive, polite. Food was good but not great. Good for a quick fix. I'm gonna come back for their homemade chicken pot pie and re review them. But for now it's an ok place to fill up your belly. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

I've been eating breakfast here on a semi-regular basis for 15 years. There isn't a place in town that cooks eggs any better. Lots of regulars here, and what used to be hit and miss service is now pretty spot on. We're fans of the Chicken fried steak, and I like the Benedict. Their Chorizo is good, and the Chorizo and eggs also finds its way to my plate on occasion. I don't know about how their more frou-frou waffle or other dishes are, as I've never ordered anything without eggs. Eggs are always cooked perfectly, and portions are big. Not much atmosphere, but for basic breakfast, Shirley's cannot be beat. read more

Very very delicious breakfast. Had the country scramble and it was perfect. I don't typically like salsa from non mexican restaurants, but the one made for this meal was on point. Will definitely return. read more

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I ordered Eggs Benedict and the poach egg is close to perfection food is great price is fair, biscuit and gravy not that really into my taste but my hubby really likes it. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Biscuit and gravy. - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This place was fun. Big portions, well priced and delicious. The waitress was very friendly. The French Toast was awesome! Definitely coming back. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

I have come here twice now and the breakfast is on point! The coffee is not bad for a small diner but I really love their hashbrowns (extra crispy) and the pancakes. The costumer service has also been awesome both visits. read more

Shirley's Kitchen - Diners Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Delicious food and the workers are so helpful and friendly. I normally order for my family of 6-8 and my food is always made in a timely manner! Love them here read more

The eggs and hash browns were great, however, despite the positives reviews I found before attempting Shirley's kitchen, the biscuits and gravy was distasteful. It was obviously made from a package; the opposite reason I was going to Shirley's kitchen. The service was mediocre at best, which is why I will be giving a three star. read more

Whenever I want a nice breakfast to myself, this is my neighborhood breakfast spot. I love that the prices are affordable unlike every other breakfast place in San Diego. I usually get the seafood or Mexican omelette. They're quite delicious! The only downside is that the last few times I've been there, the tables were kinda sticky and it had a dingy feel to it. This place isn't as crowded as other overly hyped breakfast places as well. I'll be coming back to try their lunch dishes! read more