LEGIT biscuits and gravy!!!! Biscuits were tender, not dry and not over salted. Best I've had in a looooong time. Gravy had the proper thick and tasty consistency. Coffee was fresh and strong. Service was great. It's a small unassuming clean semi-busy place. They obviously focus on the food here. read more

This place has the best food! Such a Little diner but way tastier then like snooze in hillcrest it actually tastes authentic and delicious, Coming here again for sure! read more

If you're on the hunt for a no-frills breakfast that comes in massive servings with little fuss, this is the place for you. The service is prompt, the food is relatively fresh and the prep time is brief - all hallmarks of a well-run diner. However, there are a couple of factors holding this establishment back from five star status, chief among which is the noise. Inside, it's kitchen chatter; outside, it's the road that borders the patio. In either case, if you're looking for somewhere to have a quiet conversation, this isn't it. What other nits do I have to pick? Just one - the bathroom is weirdly located, requiring entrance from outside the rear of the building, and could use a bit of maintenance. Outside of that, Shirley's is an entirely adequate venue I wouldn't mind patronizing again. read more

The minute you sit down you can tell sanitation is not a huge concern. Windows are caked with children's finger prints, cup had either a booger or pulp in it. The food as well had no flavor, but I'm sure plenty bacteria which made me take a detour straight him and you can figure what happened next. Overall very disappointing. I am very shocked that this place has so many positive reviews as this was by far the nastiest dining experience I have witnessed in a long time. read more

Drove by this place a few times in the past years and thought that one day i would give it a shot if i wake up early enough for breakfast.... Well, today was the day. Feeling good and ready to roll.. i wanted to start off the day with a good breakfast and since i had some business to do in La Mesa. Drove down to Shirley... got the last parking space (lucky day). That was the best experience at Shirley. Things went down the hill from there. I had a seat near the counter. They were busy, but it took them a very long time to get my order after getting me a menu. Finally got my coffee (burnt) but got it. I usually take my black so i can taste the coffee, but this time i had to add a little sugar to drown out the burnt taste. While waiting for my food to come, i went to the bathroom.. wow! if i was hungry before, the bathroom really turnned my stomach off. Taking a few deep breath outside, to regain my composure before heading back. My food has not arrived when i got back. This is about 34 mins from the time i first walked into the door. When the food came out a bit on the cool side and was just OK. Nothing that stand out or special. The OJ tasted like it was from frozen/concentrated. I had the Shirley's special and a side of hashbrown, orange juice and coffee. Nobody came by and ask me how my meal was or refill my coffee (not that i wanted anymore) I may try this again, but next time i will use the toilet elsewhere before coming here. On second thought, maybe not... if customers and employees used the same toilet... i hope they washed their hands throughly before preparing or touching my food. read more

Very good food (a lot of it too) And great prices. The service is just sometimes slow, for instance you may be waiting awhile to get your check. Besides that I will be going back read more

This place is close to my hood. Little mom & pop type place. There seems to be locals who dig it and come here often. (it's like an east county "Cheers". Except no alcohol.) The grub is nothing to write home about, but it's decent. I typically order myself something from the kids menu, and something for my daughter as well; so I can get a good variety of food. Cause sharing is caring, right? Or maybe I'm just being a fat ass. Any who if I didn't live nearby, I wouldn't drive out of my way to hit this place up. But it is good. read more

Me and my family are regulars here and coming here has become a breakfast tradition in our house. The service is amazing and coming here feels like home:)! read more

ok its around the block and down the street and have never had to wait for a table that keeps us coming back. we have only had breakfast there and verrry many times. you get 4 strips of bacon with your eggs which they have never messed up. we have had, pancakes, huevos rancheros, omlette with chili, biscuits and gravy chicken friend steak and all are good and served warm. There coffee is bad but i have to have coffee, it is always either weak or weak and bitter but when i don't want to cook or wait for food this is where we go. I hear they have a restroom, but i have never tried it...... consistent good food, served warm and wait staff is attentive. read more

I'm kinda giving them 3 stars since our waiter seemed like a nice kid. Didn't like their breakfast & atmosphere at all.

Went there for breakfast today. Our waiter was very friendly and service was great. I had the chicken fried steak with the pancakes...way to much food, never a problem! I loved it and will definitely be coming back for more. Wish they were open 24 hours but I'll have to settle. Parking is not too bad but might have to park in street. read more

Breakfast, lunch and dinner was ordered at our table so I was able to sample some of everything. Huge servings so don't try to eat it all unless you are sharing. The owner came over to make sure everything was okay - really nice guy. It was a warm day outside but there really cold A/C blowing inside. read more

You get what you expect and pay for. It's quick, home style food with an easy atmosphere. Nothing too fancy but for the price it tastes great. Will be a frequent customer. Oh and really friendly service :) read more

Great food, clean, nice service, reasonably priced. Easy to get to. Small town restaurant.

Our server was friendly, service was prompt. I not only support this hole-in-the-wall because I am a local, but because the food was also fantastic. I ordered the Shirley Special, which included two pancakes, two eggs, two bacon, and a sausage link for $5.99. Talk about great value. The eggs and meat were cooked just right. I am usually picky about pancakes and it was nice and fluffy. We will definitely return because we live very close. Sat out in the patio because it was a gorgeous day today, I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

I can't say anything about the food. We never made it that far. I couldn't get passed the worn down decor and lack of cleanliness. I'm sure this is a spot for die hard regulars but it felt more dive bar than diner. read more

Family fun at Shirley' s...just moved into the neighborhood!! Great start to our new adventure!! read more

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

Absolutely great service. The waiters were extremely helpful and friendly. The food was fantastic and the serving size was plentiful.

I am nostalgic for small mom and pop/family run restaurants - that keep going and provide consistency for their customers. That is what I'm a fan of here. Car was int he shop and we stopped by to grab breakfast. The placed was packed, the parking lot one way only and full. There was a nice buzz happening inside. My girls shared the Shirley's Special - bacon, eggs and pancakes for $5.99 and Hubby and I shared the 2 pork chops, 2 eggs (yes they poached them for us), english muffin and hashbrowns. There was enough for all of us to share a little bit of everything together. I just need to remind myself not to get coffee the next time. read more

Well, we've lived in the area for over a year and never went. If you're coming from the west you are forced to do a uturn down the block to get there. Also, the writing on the windows made it seem less than it was. However, I finally went there and wish I had gone there a long time ago!! The service is awesome and the place is quaint. I tried lunch first and had the Ortega burger. Delicious!!! Actually went back the next day to have the breakfast and again delicious. They actually give you several pieces of bacon and the eggs were cooked perfectly. Two choices of potatos....I opted for the hash browns.....which were delicious as well. Even on the second visit the waitress remembered us and laughed saying...."I told you you would be back!" She was right! Give it a try...but get there before 2pm when they close every day. read more

Great omelettes. Sit outside at one of the three tables on Sunday morning and order their barbeque steaks, it's a specialty, but only on Sundays! for diner style brunch, it is a great place to sit outside and catch some rays, and people watch at the dodgy Mr G's bar across the street. read more

Parking may be a little tricky but it wasn't too challenging. The food was delicious and cheap! The server was very nice too. I wanted to get eggs benedict with pancakes but the server said it would be an extra charge for the pancakes. She suggested my boyfriend can get his entree with the pancakes as a side (pancakes were an option as a side order for his entree) and I get my eggs benedict with hashbrown (the sideorder my boyfriend wanted) for no extra charge! That's really good service if you ask me. Also, right when we got seated, she got our order of drinks and came back for us at least 3 times to check if we needed more water. The place isn't fancy at all, not even close to looking like Denny's. It's one of those hole-in-a-wall kind of breakfast place that serves good food (fresh and not poor quality) and has good service. read more

The food was excellent! Extremely fluffy scrambled eggs. They weren't burnt or greasy. The home fries were wonderfully seasoned. I'm from Texas so I'm picky about my biscuits and gravy. But the gravy was melt in your mouth good. read more

This is a breakfast-lunch café. Open at 7 AM closed at 2 PM. Friendly and helpful staff. The staff wear a shirt labeled "Shirley's Kitchen". Their soups are home made. Today they offered clam chowder and split pea soup. They also have chili. I ordered a sandwich. Came with a salad. The potato salad is also home made. Made with olives. Tasted good. The sandwich was large. I finished half, and took the other half home for another meal. They offer a wide variety of sandwiches. The breakfast menu looks ample. Coffee refilled free. Plenty of tables. Parking in the lot outside the door. This was a pleasant experience. I would return. read more

Great experience, I strongly recommend it. The first time I ordered the French Toast combo and it was the best breakfasts I'd gotten in a real long time. The prices are fair and the service is fairly speedy. I would recommend to bring cash (even though credit/debit cards are acceptable forms of payment) just because when it's busy, the card reader takes a bit longer when there's another five people trying to pay. read more

great service, very friendly. I have to give it 3 stars because it's not signature food, just lots of it and decent price.

Found the place to be really small. Didn't have to wait to long for a table. The place is clean and the service is ok. The food is pretty good not the greatest but good. Spent 40.00 on breakfast for 4. 2 adults and 2 children. Would I come back probably not. read more

This place is just a basic breakfast place in my opinion. I don't go out of my way to come here although my grandma loves this place. I'm not quite sure why. The breakfast is mediocre and the service is okay, or at least it has been the two times i have been here. The place looks a little run down and there isn't too much space. I have seen parties of 5 or 6 show up and it takes up half the room. I would personally rather drive out to El Cajon and eat at Perry's Cafe if I am looking for a cheap breakfast place. read more

Ordered the Taco Omelette. Best omelette I've ever had in my life! And I've had a lot of omelettes!

This was my first time going to this place and only after seeing the reviews did I try it. The food was just "ok" I had the California Omelet, which was just "ok" which comes with your choice of pancakes, toast, or home fries (potatoes). The service was fine, but our server didn't come over too often to refill our water, only once for coffee. I wouldn't go again, I've had better. read more

This place is always bustling! The food is decent and the service is good. A good place for a quick breakfast.

This place was awesommmmme! Food was great!!! Will come again!! We had the taco omelette, pancakes, biscuit, has Browns! Our waitress was so nice and fast. Service was fantastic! Our waitress came to our table so many times to check on us! read more

The food is incredible! Staff is very pleasant as well. I feel like I'm back home in Virginia enjoying a great home cooked southern meal when I eat here. It is a bit outdated inside but that absolutely adds to the charm!! My wife and I love their breakfast the most. French toast, eggs and home fries!! read more

I've knocked Shirley's down a couple of stars after a 3 strikes and you're out approach. We used to come here practically every weekend, for years, but haven't as late, mostly because they raised their prices, again. Last time about a month ago, was our last time, at least for a long time. Waited 30 min+ to have order taken. Waited 4 5 minutes to get food to table and we were hungry! Those of you who know the place know, its small and the menu isn't that big. I went there with my kids and ordered huevos rancheros, and bacon and egg breakfasts with potatoes, eggs over medium, potatoes and bacon well done. What we received, was, white potatoes, floppy bacon and almost the worst thing, jiggly eggs. Gross. I tried several times to flag our waitress but to no avail. I told the kids to eat what they could as we were running late. Our waitress didn't come by once for coffee or water refills. She did come by all smiles while we were leaving and I told her about the meal and all she did was shrug her shoulders. That earned her a quarter tip. Having served myself in the past, I believe I over tipped. Owners need to check out their business a bit more to see people's reactions. We were not the only ones not pleased that morning. read more

Amazing service and the food is fantastic. I had the split pea soup and the chorizo and eggs breakfast.... Amazing. These servers are outstanding. If you are looking for a great breakfast and fast service this is the place. read more

Met my son at this little whole in the wall for breakfast. Food was good and prices were decent. Biscuits and Gravy was amazing. I am curious about the other items on the menu, so I will definitely be back. read more

Absolutely great restaurant. I'm pretty sure it is my favorite. I come here probably once a week and it is almost always great. Occasionally they will have an off day but for the most part it's fantastic. I highly suggest everybody to give it a try. read more

I love this place, the service is great, the food is amazing, and the prices are right my alley. Favorite thing is the mound of fresh toast...yum yum read more

I have been eating here for 15 plus years.....never had a problem until my visit last week. Went with three friends for lunch, first problem was our waiter, the guy with the ear plugs, rude and not helpful at all. I ordered a french dip, took one bite of it and got a mouth full of fat grissely meat. Yuck opened up the sandwich and discovered pretty much the same thing....told the waiter as he passed our table he said sorry and scurried away.Later when he came to give us our bills I asked him for a to go box so my friend could take the fatty meat to her dog.....okay he got the box. Told the guy at the register about the sandwich he asked me did I eat it I said no my friend is taking it to her dog....His response I will let the owner know.....8.00 plus for a dog treat not happy at all. They all know my family in there we have been going there for years.....not anymore! read more

This was a great little place for breakfast. The service was great, food was great, and it had a hometown sort of feel- which I think is absolutely necessary for breakfast. I would recommend it and I will go back. read more