My favorite part is when a place has a really huge menu so that I have options to choose from. I went with one of my go to dishes , which is the lobster Benedict. I like when my food comes out in 10 minutes and I have somewhere to enjoy a nice meal. They upgraded their dining room tables and chairs, and it made the place look really nice. My only complaint is that they don't have Wi-Fi, which sucks because it is a café so I wanted to get some work done. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Dining room - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Pretty popular local chain place but it was my first time visiting any of them. Came on a Thurs over lunch and it was pretty busy but the space itself is huge and didn't feel crowded. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you. They have written chalkboard of the menu that I personally found pretty hard to read but they also have printed menus by the counter which I used. Menu is huge! Options for everyone that you would expect from a brunch/lunch place. I got the green omelette with a cottage cheese side (+$1). The food came out quickly. The portion was huge which is nice considering I felt like the price was pretty high for a counter service place. Definitely was able to split my food over two meals. The omelette was filled with veggies (spinach, asparagus, etc.) and it came topped with half an avocado. Good flavor that was definitely helped by the salty feta. Overall pretty enjoyable but nothing standout. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Green omelette with cottage cheese side - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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The food tasted so good and the service was fast and the environment is perfect for a nice day to have brunch. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Eggs and pancakes are amazing - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

My Tropical salad was good but the bread was burnt. Not edible at all. Very disappointing. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Bread - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Churro Waffle was amazing. Outdoor seating was nice, staff was attentive without being interruptive.

Got a to go order of the Pitaya Bowl, and added PB!! If you've never had their açaí bowl or this one..... it's a MUST try!!! Portion is great, so well made. Our daily loves it!! read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Pitaya Bowl - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I called Swami's to make sure it was open this Saturday and they were opened till 3 so I went ahead and went down to get a Pitaya bowl at 10 minutes till 3. I get there and order my Pitaya bowl to go. (after confirming they are still open) I was then told that they are not going to make it as they had closed down the kitchen a few minutes ago. okaaay. I'm in the middle of a huge project right now and I made a special trip out there because they were open till 3. this was a huge inconvenience to get there only to be told snidely that they can't whip up a cold fruit bowl 10 minutes before closing. As a former food server myself I couldn't imagine what the owner of a restaurant would do if he/she saw an employee turn away business before the closing time just because the employees wanted to go home and enjoy the weekend. Ive been to Swami's plenty and between the super slow service and the inconvenience that they caused me I won't be going back or recommending this place again. read more

Our family favorite breakfast spot in LaMesa. Great location in quaint La Mesa Village with an outside patio and large inside dining area. The menu is extensive with numerous vegetarian options for breakfast lunch and dinner. The staff is always so friendly, ordering is made easy at the counter and our food always comes out quickly. Portions sizes are huge so be ready! read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Ham And Ham Omelette - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This is one of my go-to local spots for breakfast. I always order the same thing, Swami Combo, but my sister orders something different almost every time and it is consistently good no matter what she orders. It's a place you order, then sit & they bring the food to you. Everyone is always so nice and the food is ready quickly because everyone is working hard. There is seating inside and outside. If you do choose to sit outside, you might get hit with the sun, but I love the option. My only downside is the parking. This area is always busy, so it might be difficult to find parking, and they're all paid parking. read more

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We were meeting up with some family friends on a busy holiday weekend and decided to check out Swamis in La Mesa since we had been to other locations before. I am not sure if all locations are like this but I at this location you enter and order up at the counter and then pick your table and they bring out the food to you. The portions here are huge we honestly all should have shared a couple things compared to each ordering something. I went with the an omelette which came with their house potatoes and my fiancé got a breakfast burrito that also came with hashbrowns on the side. We ended up taking a ton of food home with us. Parking over there isn't too hard but it did take us a moment to find street parking. read more

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Been coming here for lunch since it opened many years ago. Reliable food and service. Very casual. You can get a huge salad and grilled salmon or seared tuna, sweet potato fries and a date nut shake or a zillion choices for breakfast (we like the pancakes and chorizo with egg whites). A comforting, reliable addition to downtown La Mesa. read more

Solid spot for lunch! The staff is friendly and food is consistently good. Smoothies / Juices are also a go to for me. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

Swamis is a classic for quick service for breakfast / lunch in San Diego. There's multiple locations and prices are decent with large portions. It's cafe style food so nothing too fancy but a solid place for good prices We ordered: -California Breakfast Burrito with Ham and a side of roasted potato's: in a city of Mexican food the bar is very high, so although this was a good burrito it wasn't the best ever. It was clean ingredients but felt like something you can make at home. Cheese wasn't melted enough. -Banana Chocolate Chip Pancake: Good not great. A bit underwhelming -Swamis salad: comes with a piece of toasted bread with garlic and butter that was amazing. Very large portion -Açaí Bowl: my family like this, I felt it was underwhelming 3.5/ 5 for food taste alone. 4/5 rating overall considering cost/ kind of restaurant it is/ speed/ diversity on their menu read more

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Brought the family here for breakfast on the weekend. The chilaquiles were AMAZING. Good portions, quick service, and so many coffees to choose from. We were very happy overall. The building or decor isn't anything amazing but there's ample seating. read more

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The have a wide selection of menu items! So many options to choose from, if you are an indecisive person then you will have a hard time choosing. Prices are reasonable, open seating , order and pay before seating, The ABC OMELTE , Cheese Burger was great! The churro waffle wasn't that great, the waffle itself lacked flavor. The Chai Latte was great! Over all I will be back! read more

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Pulled pork sandwiches, which used to be quite a nice and hearty meal, look like they have half the meat, and no cheese and have gone up in price. It's doubtful we will be returning. read more

Today I visited Swami's in La Mesa and was greeted by Alan, who was incredibly friendly. He gave me his two favorite recommendations, and we ended up ordering both--great choices! I later saw him carrying five plates in his left hand and two in his right, which was seriously impressive. Yes, the sandwiches were delicious, but what truly makes this place stand out is the staff. The restaurant was spotless, the atmosphere relaxing, and every single person greeted us warmly. Honestly, everyone here deserves a $2 raise--and if they get it, I'll happily keep coming back! read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - GUACAMOLE BACON BURGER - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

Such a cute hidden gem. I was so surprised at how big it was once we got inside. They had a good coffee bar which was self serve but had a wide variety of options. Seating was open. Good was great. Pricing was totally reasonable. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - 4. California Scrambler - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

Great service and good food. Glad to be coming here with my family for years and knowing we are in the best hands read more

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This is not the first time going to eat here but I can just about guarantee that it will be the last!! And the company has the manager who's name is Arnold for my attitude!!! Everything was horrible!!! And I don't like that you tip when you order your food at the counter!!! This is unacceptable ...we waited an hour and 17 minutes for our food and people who came in well after us were getting their orders!! When we spoke to Arnold the manager he so rudely asked "what do you want me to do?" He obviously doesn't have experience with the public and the restaurant business and for that matter none of the wait staff has experience!!! Oh and on a final note I am terminally ill and it's not easy for me to go out and then to be treated like he treated us...yeah I won't be going back... read more

Friendly service. Easy parking on a Sunday morning. Clean spaces with plenty of seating options. Delicious food with generous portions. While everything was good, the highlight of the meal was the sweet potato pancakes. They were soft, moist yet crunchy, and flavorful. Definitely a must try! read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Garden SWAMIS SCRAMBLE THE LITE SCRAMBLE - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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We walked by and saw the pictures of the breakfast plates and decided to walk in! What a great surprise!!! The food was delicious! Found a better alternate to those IHOP, Dennys, broken yolks places! This is home style amazing taste.. loved the eggs Benedict. Regular style and Steak Benedict's. Hash browns were made perfectly... great breakfast spot in La Mesa read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Steak Benedict t - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I've been to Swamis 3X's and each time the food was subpar, cold soup, undercooked rice and today, the veggies had an unusual flavor I did not enjoy at all. Not impressed and do not plan to return read more

Second time here, first time trying breakfast. Sadly underwhelmed. The veggie egg burrito and side of potatoes were lacking flavor. The burrito tortilla fell apart quickly and I had to resort to eat the filling without the tortilla. Portions were large again but what fun is lots of food without the flavor? Someone at my table had gluten free chocolate chip banana pancakes with strawberries and we really enjoyed that! It was very fluffy. Food came out fast! The orange juice did not taste very fresh and didn't have a great flavor. read more

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Good food and okay service. We went on a weekday morning and it was a nice experience but not super friendly. We didn't realize that the drink menu was on the wall right when you walk in, so we got coffees. The hazelnut coffee was overly bitter, like it was older and not fresh, though I might just not like it (personal preference). The ambience was good and calm, perfect for a quiet morning catch up. I look forward to our next visit and a new flavor of coffee! read more

Gluten Free Options Swami's seems like a traditional breakfast joint with your favorite breakfast classics. Got their gluten free pancakes which they can't modify for their other fun flavors, but having a soft fluffy pancake that isn't dry was already a treat! The pancakes were huge and worth every penny. The bacon and the eggs were also cooked to my liking. In terms of service, the most they do is take your order at the front counter whether you eat in or take it to go. From there, you can bring your number to any table, inside or out, and they'll bring your food to you. Parking is metered and it wasn't too busy on a Monday morning, can't speak for the weekends though! I would expect it to be pretty packed. Overall, I enjoyed the food and the experience. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Gluten Free Pancakes - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

One of my favorite breakfast places in La Mesa for sure!! The place was busy which was expected but the line moved quickly and the food also took no time to arrive We ordered the healthy breakfast burrito, spinach omelette, and French toast with strawberries everything was SO GOOOD!! The service was also great as my plate was quickly cleaned out of the way and I noticed the same for the tables around us read more

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Service was ok. The food came out a lot quicker than the drinks. Salsa was kind of watery and lacked flavor. The Mediterranean omelette was good. A little dry. I would have liked more feta cheese in it but it was minor. The three cheese omelette looked very good a lot of cheese and my friend said it was really good. The English muffin was ok but not toasted too much and was kind of soft (I do like my bread really toasted but it was good. Hash browns cooked perfectly and were crispy. And had butter flavor and was delicious. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - Mediterranean omelette - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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You order up at a counter and then take a seat to wait for them to serve food to you at the table. The food was good quality and we all loved what we got. My reason for not giving Swami's 5 stars is because of the price stand point. My friend and I both got the red velvet waffle. The man who was ringing us up asked us, "potatoes or fruit?". The way the question was posed made it sound like our waffles came with a side, to our dismay after we had read the receipt we were charged $4 extra each for a small bowl of fruit with our meal. I also ordered some bacon on the side which was very measly. Side note: we came to this restaurant around 12 and it was PACKED. Be prepared that this place will be crowded and finding a seat may be difficult. read more

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Great place to have breakfast with family. The portion is big. We got the impossible burger and it's great. I'm glad that that have vegetarian option. Green scramble egg is also good. Kid meal portion is big as well. Good customer service and good place to take kid. read more

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We got the breakfast sandwich, and it was so good! Would recommend and we will be back!

We love coming to Swamis for breakfast, I always get the lobster Benedict on top of potatoes muffin on the side and the hubs always gets the chorizo hash...sometimes we get a Belgian waffle on the side with strawberry compote...never am disappointed!! Service is great and food comes out fast always! Family restaurant with planting of seating but get there early because it gets busy pretty fast after 830AM. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - #1 Chorizo Hash - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

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Swamis Cafe in La Mesa has a variety of breakfast and lunch options. AMBIANCE The interior is casual and almost retro like a diner except more spacious and with painted murals of mountains and the seaside. There is also exterior seating in the quaint village of downtown La Mesa. FOOD 5/5 One Buttermilk Pancake with eggs and bacon: For $6 I wasn't quite sure why a regular pancake would cost so much, but to my pleasant surprise the buttermilk pancake was huge, soft, fluffy, and had a sprinkling of powdered sugar on top. I added a side of scrambled eggs and bacon to make it a breakftrifecta. 5/5 SERVICE The staff were welcoming and genuinely helpful with my order. When I had dropped my fork and knife while having a handful to do with my dog, they swooped in and replaced my utensils quite attentively without me having to ask. read more

Swami's Café La Mesa - ONE BUTTERMILK PANCAKE with egg and bacon - Cafes Near Me - La Mesa, California

Food is good but the service was slow and, oddly, kind of rude today. It was if the person delivering our food was out out by having to do it. Other than that, as always, good food and atmos. read more

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Probably the best meal we've had during our week stay (in Pacific Beach) was on our way out, here at Swami Cafe. Incredibly delicious croissant sandwich and some of the best coffee too. Really worth the stop as we head back to AZ ‍! DELICIOUS SALSA too!! read more

Selection selection selection! I'm always weary of places that have really large menus with like a million items! Sometimes I feel like do they really make French toast and Indian curry in the same kitchen!?!? Non the less swami's seems to pull it off .... though I have only been twice I'm still interested in returning to keep exploring the menu to find something that makes me go wow.... I love how much space this place has plenty of seating to cut down on long lines! There food is just good nothing crazy special yet that I would rant and rave about but it's not bad at all! The avocado toast I ordered I added bacon on it was very satisfying and to my surprise came out with four half Slices which I wasn't expecting and I enjoyed every piece. My wife is on the search for the perfect French toast so (she's very critical) all that said she was underwhelmed BUT!!! she still didn't stop eating it. With a menu this large you can't get everything right! But we will keep coming back! Until we strike gold or strike out! (Any suggestions let me know) read more

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Came with friends. Thank you Yelpers for your great reviews. On your advice we split a few entrés. I particularly enjoyed the apple omelette...odd, right? But with a dash of ketchup mixed with some of the habeñero green salsa on the condiment caddy.... Magnificent read more

Phenomenal food! Phenomenal service and it didn't take long for food to arrive . I will always come back when I go to San Diego.

My favorite coffee here was always the blueberry coffee,.I was so sad and dumbfounded that they never refilled it after I asked if they were going to do it. Nonetheless , would still recommend,just make sure don't drink the blueberry coffee read more

Swami's is hands-down the best place for breakfast in the area, and the best breakfast place I've ever been. Customer service is always excellent here. The place has a wonderful hometown feel and ambience to it. There are so many options for any time of the day, ranging from various coffees and smoothies, to any and all breakfast and lunch options you can think of. There are no bad selections here. There's always something new to try, too; I tend to prefer savory options, though the pumpkin pecan pancakes were an excellent choice this time. I simply have too many photos and tidbits of feedback on everything I've ever had here; this is only a small selection. There is something here for everyone! This is a place you really can't get tired of, and I highly recommend coming back to try everything. read more

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