Always a good comfort meal here. Was not feeling like cooking so wanted a good "home cooked" dinner. Studio diner never disappoints. read more

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Unique old fashion diner in Kearny Mesa serving traditional American diner food. Their portions are HUGE and they have creative flares on some traditional dishes. I ordered the Count of Monte Cristo thinking that it would be a traditional club sandwich with turkey and ham, but I end up with one of the most "'Murica'" dishes ever. Imagine your traditional club sandwich but triple breaded and deep fried where you get this massive doughy heart attack fried sandwich gnocchi of a sandwich . The oil drips out of every bite and let's just say after taking off the fried breading, my heart did not thank me for the gluttonous meal afterwards. Their clam chowder bowl is so big, it's like plate-bowl than a traditional bowl. It was delicious though with every bite filled with clams. The service was fantastic and their house coffee comes in GIANT mugs. Ambiance wise, it feels like you are in a 1970s trailer truck. It's definitely a unique dining experience. Now that I know what to expect at this diner, I do look forward to coming back and try their other menu items. read more

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I ordered fish and chips. The fish was a healthy portion that dominated the plate. Very good texture with crispy outside and flaky inside. Wasn't dry at all...however the fries seem a bit boring. They would have received a 5 star rating if they had crinkle cut or steak fries...just a personal preference. Slaw was above average, wasn't watery like other places. All in all it's a decent little spot, prices are fair...looking forward to return and try something else. read more

Studio Diner - Fish and chips - American Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was amazing the employees are very nice and I would eat at this place again we have a mixer

We went on a Friday during their happy hour/s. Seated in their patio, service was friendly and attentive. We brought our small dog, their patio is dog friendly. Menu had so many delicious dishes to choose from. This time around, we ordered their mozzarella sticks, fried pickles (yum!), chicken & waffles, and their half sandwich and soup. Food came out fairly quick and fresh! Each dish was delicious and their chicken/waffle is 100% a top menu item for me! Our waitress was kind and courteous, as well as the other staff on the floor. We will definitely return soon! read more

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Food was hot and fresh. Service from Jay was impeccable. It is cute inside. Although we could hear music from two places, the oldies and perhaps from the kitchen? Bathrooms were clean. Food was hot and fresh. We will be back! read more

Had a lunch with some work colleagues on a Wednesday. Not too busy, but a steady flow of happy customers. This was my 1st visit, and could not be happier. Our waitress was friendly and excellent. I forgot her name but her name tag said "The Breakfast Club." She explained they all get to pick their favorite movie. Very cute. The food is really good, and very large portions for the price. Almost all of us had to take to-go boxes. I had the Improv omelet, where you pick what you want. Others had the Club sandwich, big enough to feed 4 people, open face turkey, and the patty melt. Everyone enjoyed their food. I will add this to my list of restaurants with great food, and exceptional service. read more

10/10. Stopped for breakfast after leaving the airport. Pleasantly surprised. Food was delicious. Jay, our server, was very attentive and answered all our questions. I also really liked the aesthetics of the establishment. read more

I haven't been there yet just picked up someone there. Will try get there in the future People I know enjoy eating there read more

My husband and I are from Oklahoma and have trouble finding places that feel like home here in San Diego but Studio Diner blew us away with their country fried steak and biscuits. The gravy tasted like home and we were extremely satisfied. The service was great, we were seated immediately with food on our table in a timely manner. And the overall vibe of the Diner was comforting and very chill. We will definitely be returning! read more

Big shout out to all the folks at Studio Diner for great food, excellent and friendly service and a way-cool atmosphere. Special Big Shout Out to Jay, who is a standout among standout staff. She is super friendly, fun, with a hilarious sense of humor and serves up the grub quickly and efficiently. Be sure to check out all the studio memorabilia, including a monster on the back patio! (He's friendly, of course!) If I could grow another arm I'd give it three thumbs up! (Of course, if I could grow another arm, I'd also write a book about it and sell the movie rights to one of the streaming services, but I digress.) read more

Haven't been here for quite a while and we thought what the heck as we wanted breakfast and used to come here for it. Unfortunately we were a little disappointed. I had an omelette with hash browns and one pancake. The omelette was very good as were the hash browns but the pancake was heavy and needed a knife and fork to eat. I prefer fluffy light tender not tough. My wife had the Classic Eggs Benedict. She agrees with earlier comments that the ham steak was very thick. One of the eggs was a little under and the other was over and broken. Hollandais was kind of muddy meaning not lemony enough like traditional. Even the English muffin was tough to cut. The coffee was good and so was the orange juice. We had a very nice server in Allison. When we come back we'll stick with burgers. read more

Came in AGAIN for dinner. My server (Audrey) was attentive, and the hostess (Cali) was the sweetest thing. And staff (Petra) is always so friendly and helpful. read more

We used to enjoy this restaurant and have dined here over the years for business meetings, family celebrations and just because. We went there last week, sat on the patio and Audrey was our server. Audrey's attitude was horrible, she was rude and unprofessional. The food was not good either. The pickle they put on my plate next to my $21 sandwich looked like it had already been chewed on and the amount of fatty meat in my sandwich was unacceptable. Never Again read more

Good times at Studio Diner in San Diego. Once you enter, you take a step back in time. The food here is comfort food, or stick to your ribs. The diner is retro and offering a nice menu of everything from breakfast that you would expect to turkey dinners. I have visited 3 times and the service is always welcoming, and friendly, the diner itself is always spotless. I've tried three different entrees here: Breakfast, Sandwich for Lunch, and the Turkey dinner. Everything is fresh, and prepared when you order. They have a nice variety of desserts from sundaes, cakes and pies. All very good. The prices here range from $-$$ depending on what you order. Check the website for menu updates. read more

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Good 'ol' diner experience complete with coat hooks at each table. This place is located next to the old Segal Productions Studio. Film reel lazy Susans don the table and hold the condiments. The food was great. I forgot to take pictures, but we had the French dip, the soup and sandwich combo, the patty melt, and the Reuben sandwich. We all enjoyed our dishes. The burgers looked good, too. The fries were delicious! Service was good even though a big party entered right before us. The hostess checked in with us often until our waitress was available. Free parking with an overflow lot to the side of the restaurant. read more

What a great place! How we did not know about this awesome eatery despite living here for 25 years is beyond me. Our bad! The setting is a cool 50s diner with a movie studio theme. The hostess is very nice and our server, Allison, was super friendly and gave us the backstory of the restaurant and neighboring film studio - as well as some menu tips (the menu is big!). We originally saw this place on Guy Fieri's show and the food looked awesome - and it is actually awesome! We had a burger and the ribeye steak sandwich and both were perfect. It's obvious the meals are prepared with care and are cooked and plated very well. The portions are generous and the sides are delicious! So if you want a fun date or family night experience with top notch food and ambiance, head to Studio Diner soon. We'll be back even sooner. Thanks folks! read more

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The food and service is back. It was sub par during the Covid years, it's back tho. Enjoyed both entrees, boob sandwich and the chicken potatoes green beans. We will be back, it's like a diner but better than Dennys. They have Happy Hour from 4-7. read more

Diner food is one of my favorite places for some comfort food. I had recently seen studio diner on my way home and made a mental note to check this place out. We came around 7 on a Saturday and the place was packed! Lucky us there was only a 15 minute wait for our table. The inside is a total retro diner vibe. Very cute and fun. I wanted comfort food and that's exactly what we got. I was debating on the monte cristo and the Elvis sandwich, but our waitress Cat sold me on the monte. The monte cristo is perfectly fried and stuffed with turkey and ham in the middle. Sounds simple, I know. But the raspberry preserves they give you to add into this take it to a whole new level. I'm not sure what they put in these raspberry preserves, but I would buy it in a jar if I could! It's that good. Everything everyone else had ordered was equally as good. My only complaint was the timing of the food being brought out. We had ordered an appetizer and after receiving the app, 2 mins later they brought our entrees. We didn't even have room on the table. Our waitress Cat was really sweet and gave us a lot of her recommendations, which all lived up to the hype. I would definitely come back to Studio Diner. read more

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I think this is a cute place with good but overpriced food. The restaurant is next to an old movie lot with lots of memorabilia inside, thus earning its name "Studio" Diner. I enjoyed my Mihammy Vice and at the advice of the server, added some avocado. However, I was not impressed by the $4 upcharge for 4 small slices of sad avocado. My husband's biscuits and gravy were good, but I thought the hash browns were below average. Service was friendly so no complaints there. All in all this is a decent breakfast joint but not a standout. read more

Studio Diner - American Near Me - San Diego, California

I stopped by here with my son and husband on a late morning. Our server was really lovely and we were seated immediately. Food was good, not amazing. I really loved the interior and the decor. All around the vibe was great, but food was a little dry. I got an order of sliders and my husband ordered a hamburger. I would definitely come back just because its cute, not for the food alone! read more

Studio Diner - Sliders - American Near Me - San Diego, California

I went to use my synergy' gift card and on their website they said they will be accepting them til February 1st and I went to eat and tried to use my card and they said they no longer accept them. I asked to speak to the manager and I explained that your website said you will accept them til February 1st. I got denied. Never eating here again. read more

Good service, nice portions, excellent food, relaxed atmosphere and reasonable prices. What more could you ask for? Recommended to those who perfer casual diner style meals. Covered outdoor patio seating is a nice touch. read more

Katelynn is the best server hands down, the food is consistently good never any complaints, and the staff are always friendly.

A pretty cool idea here that draws many for comfort style food and tasty breakfasts. There can/will be a long wait on weekends of course, especially if you want to sit inside. Kids seem to love the place and they have a decent menu for them too. There is a lot of stuff to order, and it would take many trips and plenty of dough to find out the best items. I still want to try the Samson's steak sandwich, so I'll be back for that. So far I have tried a few different things, and one item I really liked is gone off the menu. This was the mahi mahi platter with veggies. Also, the biscuits and gravy are probably the best I've had! Besides this, I thought the brekkie was pretty average, the pancakes were slightly undercooked. Pastrami roll was tasty but could use more meat. The fish and chips were flaky and not oily, and I remember digging the clam chowder when I tried it a few years back. Would like to try more things. Still may come back for the whole belly clams as they are flown in 3 times a week. I get a clam craving every now and then.. I've stopped in here a handful of times, mostly for to-go orders. They have always been ready when I arrive. Very friendly people that don't seem stressed work here. That really helps and is noticeable. Guy Fieri was here a couple times, and I've heard other good and bad actors have stopped in. Also, there was an ownership change within the last year or so, and I played hell trying to get my credit back from Groupon.. But now all is good and I won't hold it against them, as I do plan to return! read more

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My husband brought me here for breakfast. I love the vibe here, so cool and so classic. The foods here are very American style breakfast! We enjoyed our order. I love my chicken noodle soup. There are a lot of people on a Wednesday morning, it surprised me. It's a cool place, you should come to try. read more

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Wife and left CA many years ago however, when we lived there and wanted a nice simple meal or bite we would always head to our favorite spot the Studio Diner. The food has always been Yum, we always try something different and have yet to be dissatisfied. They use to stay open late and that was one of the best times to go. After COVID, things changed as did for many businesses but they are still there today. I would ask you to stop by and give them a try, the folks who work there are genuinely nice hard working, and sometimes they are a little stretched helping everyone, but the service is still good. We're in San Diego a few times a year still, and we always make sure stop in and have a bite at the Studio Diner, a place we have memories in and love. read more

I'm not sure why the bad reviews about this place hope this will give some good guidance into a better open mind to this place. This is a long-time favorite, and still is. Great Great place for lunch and dinner and desserts! Breakfast I can't say but not for us. Unfortunately, half star got knocked off here. The pancakes and eggs are pretty blah. (What my babies wanted to eat for dinner...lol...sadly they didn't even eat it bc it wasn't up to standard. Sorry. ) the pancakes are pretty sweet and rubbery. Eggs mushy, and that's all I have to say. Dinner/lunch menu huge difference! Wow! The burger, cooked to perfection, loaded with a blast of juicy flavor. My mom shared with my kiddos, and all I have to say... it was devoured. Monte Cristo! Wow , wow, wow, the perfect amount of each ham cheese fried to perfection dusted with powdered sugar... and the raspberry compote...it is not jelly from a jar. Just yum! The salmon ceaser salad was cooked tenderly and with clear juices. The dressing was a nice touch with the anchovy sauce and not too heavy. Salad was fresh and crisp. There are too many croutons, imo but it's always nice to have an extra crunch. The banana split! Enough for all of us to share, and we're pigs! Fully loaded and overflowing with sweets. Go wild! The waitresses were attentive and polite. Fast bringing everything out. The other half star I knocked off was the seating hostess. Friendly greeting, however, did not like the fact I had to get and carry the booster chairs back to the table and additionally ask for crayons and paper. Not to be picky, or maybe I was Hangry... but coming in 8 ppl including 2 children I would expect some experience in seating folks with ease and not have to ask. But again that's me being picky. Customer service in restaurants always starts at the door entrance. Parking is small, there's another lot to park in... use that one! Music was great, the restaurant was nice and cool. Bathrooms clean. It's great pricing, too, for good eats! It is very much recommended for lunch or dinner and dessert! read more

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My preemie grandson was born at a hospital nearby and my husband and I came here every single day! It was so good! I hate that I live an hour away but when I visit my son, this place is definitely on our to do list lol read more

Studio Diner - American Near Me - San Diego, California

I'm not a big breakfast person, but I came here with my kid to enjoy some time together over a casual breakfast. This place has that old-school diner vibe, like something you'd find in a Harley Davidson-themed spot. It's super casual--nothing fancy or extraordinary. I went for a simple, basic meal: meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and beans. It was just ordinary--nothing special, just a quick, no-frills meal. They don't offer anything fancy like mochas or cappuccinos, just regular coffee. It's a good place if you're looking for something basic and easy, but don't expect anything remarkable read more

Studio Diner - Breakfast burrito - American Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love this place! I came in recently and had the waffle and the chilaquiles!! It was the best of both I've ever had. The service was amazing, I was treated like family and never felt like I had to ask for anything. Coffee and water filled to the brim the whole time was there. Julio was our server and he was professional and kind. I love the old school feel, in a city where everything is trying to be elevated this place gives a home town feeling and comfort I'll be coming back to enjoy!! Thank you everyone for serving me!! read more

So my husband eats here all the time and his go to sandwich is the Patty Melt- crunchy buttery bread with plenty of sautéed onions and cheese, with crispy onion rings. I think the onion rings were the best part- they get 5 stars. Me- I have been on a French Dip craze and am having a hard time finding one with the proper bread. I was disappointed tonight. The menu said it was a French roll but this bread was not sturdy enough for the Au jus. They had plenty of meat and cheese but when I picked it up the bottom was already soggy and falling apart. Even the top only had a slight crisp. I want a French Bread or Baguette. It needs to have enough crunch to be able to dip it without it falling apart and still have a crunchy bite. Tonight's saving grace was the sweet potato fries my waitress recommended. They were very good, soft with a slight crunch without being burned. Thanks Allison B. You were great- the soggy bread was not your fault read more

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I wonder why this place is only getting 3.5 stars. We enjoyed our meal here. We came last weekend, and sadly there were lots of tables but we had to wait. I'm guessing they lacked in staff in the kitchen. They were doing a lot of take outs orders, and when the orders will fulfilled, we were able to get a table. The server kept thanking us for our patience. I think they are all working hard to pull it through. Anyway, now about the food. We ordered a vanilla milkshake which was to die for. Maybe it was a warm day. It was rich, creamy and smootb with a hint of sweetness. We ordered a burger, country fried steak, t bone steak and a prime rib sandwich. Everything was delicious! The portions were huge. I can actually feed Mt hungry teens without breaking my bank! Prices are more than reasonable, service was awesome! It didn't take long for our food to arrive! We will be back soon!! read more

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Amazing service as soon as we walked in. Great vibes and the food was amazing. We got two orders of the Chicken and Waffles..... My kids love this place. We dropped an entire cup of water and they came immediately so gracious to clean it up. Sorry! You all rock! read more

Studio Diner - Happy kids! - American Near Me - San Diego, California

Well i'm so happy to update this because everything is right in the universe. I stopped in a few weeks ago and everything that had been so disappointing previously was once again back to it's former wonderful self. The staff, the food, the service...ALL OF IT! I an once again back on the list of loyal patrons handing out praise where praise is due. I will chalk up the previous visit as a one off day (even businesses have them) and i'm so happy that seems to be the case here. Thanks so much for the epic bounce back and restoring my long time opinion that "Studio Diner" is one of the hidden gems in San Diego and well worth your bisness! read more

The food here is great, lots of options! I'd recommend the BLT or the Mac n cheese, both basic items but done VERY well!!! There is usually a wait but the staff is always friendly! read more

Not what it used to be, Biscuits and gravy were cold. Country potatoes were basically boiled potatoes diced up and served with peppers. Guess I was in the wrong country. Oh well, I gave it a try, read more

It's with a heavy heart that I am writing this review...but there are things that need to be said/addressed. First of all, the prices have all been jacked up, yet the quality has gone WAY downhill (at least for their breakfast items). My corned beef hash was so sad and disappointing. Now don't get me wrong, I actually like canned corned beef, which is why I was disappointed at the shrunken serving (it use to be about 2/3 larger than what they give you now). How cheap is canned corned beef?! Seriously! Oh, and when I asked if it was canned or homemade (not saying which I preferred because I wanted honesty) the waitress told me that she believed they made it in house....really?! Really?! Uh, no! My eggs did look beautiful, but were room temperature. English muffin was cold. To top it all off, my side of sausage links were cold and raw. The waitress apologized and brought out a new hot order of sausage (over cooked & chewy), but that didn't remedy this lackluster meal. And the sheer fact that they have the audacity to charge $16 for their corned beef hash & eggs is pure greed. This is the second time I've had a lackluster, skimpy breakfast here within the past few months, which is why I was motivated to finally write a review. Burn me once, shame on you. Burn me twice, shame on me. Burn me three times, shame on both of us. If you want a good breakfast do NOT come here! There are SO many great family breakfast spots in San Diego that deserve your business and don't rip you off, i.e. Antique Row Cafe, Perry's, Maggie's Cafe (just to name a few). Good luck out there! read more

Studio Diner - The most pathetic, insulting portion of corned beef hash I have ever seen! How cheap is canned corn beef?! Charging $16 for this is a sin! - American Near Me - San Diego, California

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There are so many reasons to enjoy this place. While Harry's La Jolla is our beachside diner, this is our inland diner. Good people, quality food, and reasonable prices. They also have parking to the side and a nifty patio space. It is next to what used to be home to Stu Segall Production Studios (once one of San Diego's largest film production sites), so the ambiance is made to match. There is a pancake called the reel that looks like a movie reel. How cool is that. The hostess stand is made up of connected grips and a director''s chair canvas. Very cute Speaking of hostess stand, the last time we were there an abundance of orders had come into at the same time and not enough kitchen staff to accommodate. So for a brief period of 30 minutes they were backed up on orders though they had plenty of seats. In any case, the hostess Bella gave a very patient, comprehensive, and genuinely expressed explanation to each group coming in to let them know that it would be a while. It was well delivered and very sweet read more

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Swung by in the morning after my lady finished her shift. It's been awhile since I visited the Studio Diner and I wanted her to checkout someplace different that serves breakfast and lunch menu items. Parking sucks here. There's a tiny parking lot with like 8 small spaces, including 3-4 parallel spots, depending on the length of cars and the space between each. There's a few more parallel spaces to be had along the street as well. IMO, all of the parking options will not comfortably fit wider vehicles. I'm sure no one really cared about parking back in the day since the original main customers used to park inside the studio lot. I hear back when Stu Seagull Productions was in full effect, filming shows like Renegade and Pensacola Wings of War, this joint was hopping; with cast and crew piling into booths here at all hours. Now a days the diner remains open as an homage to those times, with director's chairs from those shows and other memorabilia adorning the walls. It still has that old school Americana diner feel to it, both inside and out. Here what we ordered: - Country fried steak: This is a regular breakfast order of mine that gives me a common baseline to compare other breakfast-y restaurants. This version was decent. Came with my choice of potatoes (hash browns) eggs (scrambled), buttered toast (sourdough) and gravy, the country fried steak was battered and cooked well but noticeably smaller than other breakfast joints. - Corned beef hash: Served with a choice of potatoes (sweet potato fries) eggs (sunny side up), buttered toast (sourdough). My girl likes her hash crispy and felt the one served here is a bit too mushy. I agreed they were mushier, but that is MY preference. She can ask the cook to make them crispier next visit. No up-charge for sweet potato fries, which is nice. My girl also wanted these to be crispier, but I like them as they were served. Will just ask for crispy sweet potato fries next time. - Pulled poke sliders: Pulled pork slider came topped with tangy BBQ sauce that my girl didn't care for; will ask for sauce on the side next time. Chose more sweet potato fries instead of regular fries (again no up-charge--yay). We ordered this to-go and it was all packed together in a single sturdy container. Needless to say I enjoyed this later on my own. This is still a solid diner for a meal with a retro vibe. read more

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