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The Potholder Cafe

4.0 (1.3k reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

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THE POTHOLDER CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - The Potholder Cafe

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Menu
James A.

One of four Potholder Breakfast Cafes around the greater Long Beach area, Potholder Cafe in DTLB serves up a varied menu for breakfast and lunch, closing by 1 pm. It's within easy walking distance from my place, so decided to make it a spot for a big breakfast as soon as they opened at 8am. Intentionally ordered too much to try two of my favorite things at a California diner: chili and a loco moco. Ended up bringing the former back home, and finishing the latter. Service was good, food was OK. I was the first customer to enter, and was greeted nicely by the early shift server and allowed to choose a booth. Was immediately given a laminated menu, and ice water was brought immediately after I asked. By that time, I had my choice and the food came in a reasonable amount of time. Homemade Chili Bowl w/Cheese & Onion ($8.95). - a normal size bowl. Not chile con carne, but had a healthy amount of beans. Strangely the base tasted strongly like Mexican refried (pinto) beans, not chili or tomato as I expected...this is not a chili my wife would dip her fries in. There was a good amount of cheese and onion, along with some pieces of beef (steak). Maritime Loco Moco ($16.95) - not sure why this is called 'maritime', it was simple but decent. It's a diner, so used easily source able ingredients, like minute rice, brown gravy from a jar, and a quarter pound hamburger patty. The two runny eggs were prepared perfectly and really did elevate the dish for me. The menu description was accurate. As mentioned, service was good throughout. There is a small parking lot to the side that gets filled quickly. There is a small outdoor patio in front for al fresco. Due to the proximity to the Long Beach cruise port, Potholders is a popular breakfast stop for cruisers, expecting classic American breakfast fare. And as usual, value depends on what you choose. In my case, prices were high for what I ordered and got. A better deal would have been more breakfast centric items like their custom omelets or hash.

Super Spuds
Susan J.

Ambiance is nice, typical cafe/diner. Inside and out were clean. Server was attentive. We shared a breakfast option. Plenty of food for two adults.

Menu 1.1.26
Cynthia C.

Returning to this location within walking distance (13 minutes) of our Hyatt Centric hotel. First time we were here, it was a quiet weekday. Today, January 1, 2026, it is BUSY! Not too many solid breakfast spots open today, so we were happy Potholder welcomed recovering NYE revelers. Management positioned a hostess stand out front, but no sign-in sheet. We arrived behind another couple and it wasn't long before another couple arrived behind us. After a couple of minutes, I "boldly" opened the door to make sure we weren't missing something. A server looked up almost immediately, plates of food in her arms, smiled and let me know someone would be out shortly. We were sat about 5 minutes later. While there was plenty of hustle amongst the staff, the vibe was still pretty chill for a business that would be closing 90 minutes later. In fact, they were still seating people 15 minutes prior to close. We happened to be there until 1:15, lingering a bit, and noticing none of the tables were meant to feel rushed. They kept the weekday special - today was Three for Thursday - despite the holiday in a fairly touristy city. That was appreciated. The Thursday specials offer A) 3 eggs paired with 3 bacon or sausage, toast and potatoes OR B) 3 eggs, French toast and 3 bacon or sausages OR C) 3 eggs, 3 pancakes and 3 bacon or sausages. Each option was $12.95. Pretty darn good deal! Hubs ordered option "A" w/french fries, I went with option "C" cuz the word here is the delicious pancakes. Now, y'all, you KNOW I love pancakes, and I know Potholder offers a "Mac Daddy Frankie", an 18" single pancake, but I scoff, that is NOT a lot of pancake! My stack of 3, 8" pancakes were cake-y, fluffy, but dense, in a great way, were STEAMING HOT and had, as another Yelper noted, a hint of cinnamon in that house scratch recipe. There HAD to be more batter in my stack of 3, compared to a single 18" pancake. Don't worry, I polished that stack, but goood! I ordered my eggs "over hard", so I could easily remove the yolks and just have the whites, but 2 eggs must've broke because only 1 egg was visibly intact and the yolk was mixed in with the whites of my other eggs. Bummer. Bacon was done perfectly crisp, not even close to burnt, so good job on that. Hubs eggs were over medium and a little runny, but he declared them a solid 'fine'. He was also happy with his bacon and fries, but the white toast was delayed, so his food cooled a bit whilst waiting for that. We had to catch our server's eye for a coffee refill, but Tyana was friendly and working hard. I wasn't offered a refill of water, which would've been nice. In all, we enjoyed a solid meal at a very fair price and the location was an easy walk from our hotel. We will keep it in our Long Beach list as an easy breakfast spot. Cheers! "CC"

Cornbeef hash, eggs and rice.
Raymond A.

The food was great. I love a good Cornbeef hash. They seemed short staffed at the time I was there but service was still on par for the course. It was breakfast time so the ambiance was the sun shining through to get us going. Indoor or outdoor seating available. Nothing to complain about. I'm going back for more.

Oatmeal the works
Adrianna V.

This may look odd but its soo good! They are not kidding about the works. Ive been sick for sometime and this was definitely comforting. The oatmeal was covered in all sorts of goodies such as caramelized pecans, granola, banana and a little too much butter.. but that was ok. They also provide a side of milk and raisins too. We ordered for pick up but we definitely enjoy dining in. Service is always on point. The potholder never disappoints.

Menu
Ashley M.

You want a classic, home-y, comfy diner feel for breakfast? This is your next stop. I would hear about this lil cafe and would always be piqued to try it. I finally had an early Sunday morning to beat the rest of the Sunday crowds. I was in a party of 3 and was sat indoors. Which was perfected because it was pretty gloomy and humid and I'd rather eat my breakfast out the dumpster than be in humidity. Needless to say they have both indoor and outdoor seating. I ended up ordering the Frankie's special which was the perfect balance of protein, carbs and fats. Their sausage was REAL sausage meaning it wasn't the small little sausage links that remind you of your ex. I'm unsure if it was pork chicken or turkey but it was pretty savory and flavorful and gave a nice balance for the eggs and French toast. The egg wash/dip for the French toast was the best bath for the bread. I didn't even need to use syrup, the powdered sugar was plenty sweetness for me. I ended up sharing the Mia's stuffed French toast with strawberry cream cheese with my additionals. I really enjoyed the corn flake crispy crust on it was nice to have the texture of a crunch with the softness of the bread. Service was average or subpar to average. Our waitress wasn't the friendliest and had the whole "I don't want to be here it's 9am Sunday" attitude was there it was off putting but it didn't ruin our breakfast. Overall I'd come back when I want to have the home feeling diner. Parking is street parking otherwise there's a parking structure conveniently across the cafe.

Tim's Dug Out
Alex M.

Tina (just remember like Tina Turner) is an amazing waitress. She was so attentive, kind, and funny. Really pleasant personality. I wish every serve was like her. The food here is classic diner style and the menu selection is massive. 10/10 recommend

Servers too busy chatting and making roll ups. Sad. Never got a beverage refill.  Place is going downhills
Chef Masa H.

Came here for breakfast the other day, and must say the few times I've been here, it's always been good. Nice portions. Good service. This past visit not so much. Food was great, been better before. But I ordered an iced tea, and the server returned to let me know they forgot to brew it. So I got a club soda instead. But never got a refill. Sat at the counter. It was slow. But the servers were too busy chatting or doing roll ups.

William K.

Pay attention to the little things and the big things won't go wrong. This was the lesson I was taught over and over while learning the restaurant business. So, they have a podium which says, please wait to be seated. And then no one is there to seat you. So, just to see how long it would take I started a stop watch. 4:35 later, one of the servers tells me someone will be with me shortly. What are your standards for greeting your customers? Is 4 minutes and 35 seconds appropriate when there is literally not a single customer in sight? Then, I wanted to sit at the counter. Which is fine, except literally half the counter was turned into a silverware rolling station. And... I want given silverware until I asked for it after the food arrived. Little things. Now, I ordered the Waffle Wednesday special. 2 eggs, choice of 2 meat, a waffle and 2 eggs any style. I thought I asked for hash browns to go with it. It was missed. Little things. The eggs and sausage were brought out right away, since the potatoes were missed, I waited for those as well as the waffle. The orange juice came with no straw. Little things. The staff is friendly. They were simply unfocused. Teach me to show up 15 minutes before closing. The total bill with tip ended up being just over $30! Yikes! The food was very good, but, $30 for breakfast?!?

Grand Prix
Jeanette V.

I wanted to like this place , since seeing a cute review on Social Media, but I was disappointed. We went on a Wednesday morning around 11 am. Not busy at all maybe 5 tables inside and outside dining. Male & Female servers. Took awhile to get our order placed, once we ordered the food came quickly, nice and hot and that was it. She never came to refill our coffee or check up on us. Finally we asked for a glass of water and she brought it to us after about 5 mins. The food was average breakfast diner food. I got a chicken fried steak the gravy seemed watered down and needed salt 5/10. Hubby ordered Grand Prix he gave a 6/10. I probably wouldn't return. Parking can be challenging on the street metered parking. Restaurant was clean and well decorated.

Maui Omelette

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9 years ago

Inedible. The food was gross. No idea how this has 4 stars. Slow service. Rude hostess.

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10 years ago

The food here is excellent but most of the hosts and servers severely lack customer service skills. Basic decency.

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11 years ago

delicious ! food is great, fruity pebble french toast is yummy!

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13 years ago

great fruit plate! huge portions!

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10 years ago

Allison is amazing. Prompt service friendly and always making sure we're taken care of. Best service and best food come down.

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14 years ago

Great place for recovery after a heavy night of drinking. Don't pass up the super spuds.

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Amazing place too eat I am an asshole for service and for food. This place was awesome we are definitely going again.

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10 years ago

Absolutely THE best breakfast place in LB! Don't miss it. Bottomless Mimosas the best. Food is outstanding and service excellent.

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12 years ago

Hearty breakfast with so many options! Great and super friendly server who offered up some of his favorites. Delish food!

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Page 31 of 33

The Potholder Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Potholder Cafe

Do you take reservations? Looking for a table Christmas morning?

We do not take reservations. We are closed on Christmas. So sorry.

How's the parking? for cars.

Green curb parking and lots of structures nearby.

Do you allow pets? We like to take our two well mannered dogs with us to outdoor restaurants.

We love pets. Our outdoor patio is very accommodating!! Hope we see you soon.

Do you have unlimited mimosa for Sunday as well?

Although we serve mimosas everyday we currently only serve bottomless mimosas on Saturdays.

Can you order lunch items at breakfast time?

Yes full menu at all time Hope to see you soon

View All 8 Questions

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Great spot with food, coffee, and lots of seating inside/outside. Most of the time when coming to…read morecoffee shops you have to worry about seating especially when you plan to work there but there was plenty. I got: Breakfast burrito with bacon (4/5): good flavor, bacon was crispy, chipotle aioli was tasty and nicely spicy, but potatoes were too big imo. Satisfying and a big burrito for sure. Iced americano with honey (5/5): smooth coffee, good ratio of honey Will be back to try the other stuff!

Coffee and breakfast burritos is my definition of a great time…read more This local coffee shop came to my rescue after a not-so-great morning. I ordered one of their seasonal beverages, a tiramisu latte. This latte was pretty much a dessert, and exactly what I needed to fix my morning blues. The only thing that could have elevated this experience would be a side of lady fingers for dipping purposes. The breakfast burrito came packed with crispy potatoes, plus, eggs, bell peppers, chipotle aioli, and cheddar. To be honest, I found this burrito to be lacking. It was about 90% potato and I'm pretty sure the aioli listed on the menu description was non-existent. While the food didn't blow me away, this place truly stands out due to its extra large interior seating area. It feels nearly impossible to find a coffee shop with enough tables in this newly WFH society. Good Time has got us covered, with plenty of seats and outlets for everyone.

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My girlfriend and I were looking for a caffeine boost to get us through Sunday when we stumbled…read moreupon Recreational Coffee in Downtown Long Beach. A very welcoming vibe upon entry, we were greeted by a friendly couple who answered our questions about popular drink flavors. We decided to go with a Hot Cinnamon Dulce Latte and an Iced Blueberry Lavender Latte. While waiting, there were plenty of chairs, tables, a comfy couch and even a bar area to sit and relax. Tons of board games, books and wonderfully mellow music helps make the experience feel comforting and inviting. Our drinks were prepared quickly and shouted at the coffee bar for pickup. The presentation was great, but the flavors, out of this world! The Cinnamon Dulce Latte was OUTSTANDING. So good, in fact, that my girlfriend stole it from me! Not to worry, her Blueberry Lavender Latte was also top-notch, with a smooth, not-to-sweet flavor combination. Friendly staff (which comes with occasional karaoke renditions from the Bluetooth speakers), a chill vibe and outstanding drinks make this a top spot in the area for hardcore coffee lovers. Check them out!

Visited this place on a Saturday morning. I popped in and popped out with an okay drink. I…read morepreviewed the menu and the Sonora town Horchata latte called my name. Ordered and it didn't take long at all to get it. Did they even add espresso? Who knows because the latte was weak. It barely had any hint of coffee. I asked if the latte was sweet and they said it wasn't. After the first sip I could just taste all sweetness no espresso. Recreational coffee do you guys add espresso to the lattes? Maybe I should have ordered something else not sure.

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Affogato was amazing. Perfect ice cream, not too sweet. Excellent espresso. Great service. Overall cool place.
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This is one of my favorite coffee shops in Long Beach. I actually discovered it on accident when I…read morewas dropping off a friend to the airport and stumbled across a photo of the plants and thought it was right up my alley. The space just feels light and happy, and the drinks are on point. If ur not happy they are totally down to fix ur drink til you are. And they're delicious, I've had a few interesting creations including a strawberry latte that was made with love. The baristas here know what they're doing and they're slinging good coffee. Great place to meet up with a friend or catch up on work. It's a bit of a quieter space but a good neighborhood hang.

I wonder what # coffee shop this is for me…read more I picked out this spot because I saw via photos on Yelp that there is ample seating inside to do work. I ended up showing up around 12:40 and there were some people but not a whole lot. I was still able to fit me and my life at the table with my coffee. I landed on ordering the pistachio latte. I went on a whim with this because I'm such a Spanish latte girlypop. Ironicallly they're known for their Spanish latte, but I ordered the pistachio latte instead. We were feeling... experimental. And I'm so happy I did! I loved this coffee so much. I don't know what bean they use but it is amazing. It's so rich and smooth. The pistachio nut is nutty and more a background singer. Not overly sweet at all. It is definitely in one of my top coffees for sure. I definitely plan on coming back to this coffee shop for both the space and quality of coffee. Also I need to try the Spanish latte, duh. The only sad part was my friend ordered a blueberry donut & she said it tasted store bought and not good. I can't comment on that because I did not try it but I figured I would add it in here. There have a private room you can book as well! I didn't take a photo of it unfortunately but it's to the left of where the cashier is. Parking is on the street & they have two entrances. WiFi is available and I think there's 2 or 3 restrooms I don't remember lol

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Wrigley Coffee Merchandise
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Pistachio Latte.  Great WiFi.  Vibes.
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Free parking
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On GOD the only one star review I have ever given and hopefully will ever do. So I get this small…read moreblack coffee. It's 5.00 bucks. Okay, whatever five bucks. I say light ice. The lady pours me the coffee about 70% full. She asks me "do you want room for milk?" Granted she had left room for milk. I say, I would like you to pour it all the way up with coffee. She says "the coffee is too strong, it can harm you." I say, who came up with that? What if it was lactose and tolerant, she said "we have almond milk? I said, what if I'm allergic to that? She said "well, it's just store policy." I said, well fine.... Can you pour me another cup of coffee? She said "certainly, with ice or no ice." I said... Stop, now why would you pour me another cup of coffee if it can harm me but you don't want to top off my cup with coffee? She got mad.... I was mad. Of course, I think honestly. These are the most rude and money hungry, despicable people to practice business. It's safe to say, I will never go back to this business and or recommend them to anyone else. Yeah, this is just a review to some people. But if you like to drink your coffee black, how you like it, light ice and filled up. At this place it will cost you another 1.25 to fill it up. Hand to GOD So they charge you for the small. But want an extra 1.25 to fill it up. That's 6.25 for a cup of coffee. Meanwhile they gave me a despicable look and says "it's only 1.25 more." The double tongued policy adjustment and the service doesn't meet the standard for anyone to spend a buck with these people. "Our coffee is strong. So we can't top off your drink for your health reasons, unless you pay 1.25 more." It is exactly what they said. Thee ambiance gives cool vibes but it is far less then.

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The Potholder Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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