My hubby took me here to celebrate Valentine's Day this year. There was actually quite a bit of a wait when we dined for lunch. You order at the counter before being able to grab a table outside. When it was our turn to order, I decided on the lemon berry Frenchie with a side of eggs and sausage. He ordered a pineapple, orange, and guava juice and some scrambled eggs, ham, wheat toast, and home fries. Our food came out relatively fast. My French toast was thick and came with fresh berries, lemon curd, and lavender whipped cream. It was delightful and interesting, and tart! I'm glad I got a few side items because I like savory items as well. The juice was okay to me, but I also really enjoyed the home fries- especially the crunchy parts! read more

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This place was perfect to stop by for breakfast after the Cowles Mountain hike. You order at the counter and take a seat. I had the breakfast burrito and it hit the spot. The food was brought out right away and the staff was very friendly. Would definitely be coming back. read more

The Trails Eatery - Breakfast burrito and tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Something about ordering my food at the counter that just takes away the joy I use to have before the pandemic. For the price of the food, I would prefer full service by my wait person. I think the food is the same, just something about the place has changed, not as fun if you know what I mean. read more

Food: The Bene Asada is a standout - unique flavor and perfectly poached eggs. We also tried the Chicken Fried Steak, which was decent. The Biscuit and Gravy had a homemade touch and thick gravy if you like it that way. The only downside was slightly smaller portions for the price. Service: Fast and attentive service - no waiting around at 1 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon. The staff was super friendly, and they made us feel right at home. Ambiance: Clean tables and a friendly atmosphere. It's a cozy brunch spot. Easy parking is a big plus. In a nutshell, this spot is worth a visit for a good brunch and great service. Portion sizes are the only minor hiccup, but we're definitely going back! read more

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I cannot say enough good things about this fantastic eatery. My family goes there regularly for gluten-free options with a lovely mimosa flight, not too sweet. We are always pleased to introduce this spot to friends because the service is friendly and prompt, and they are very understanding of our daughter that has some unique needs. This spot has been around for years and continues its reputation for high-quality, delicious food! read more

I had learned about The Trails from a Yelp Elite Event, and had fully intended to return, but just hadn't been nearby at the right time. I was climbing a mountain in Mission Trails with a friend on Saturday morning, and we found ourselves pretty hungry afterward. When I mentioned The Trails to my friend, I found out that was one of her favorites to go with her mom, so off we went! When we arrived in the early afternoon, there was a line outside. We popped our head inside and staff told us that there was plenty of seating. Apparently the line was just to order at the register, and plenty of tables were up for grabs. We picked a table and the line was gone in a minute, allowing us to order right away. We both chose the healthy hash (which was my favorite dish from the elite event). I chose to get it with chorizo and my friend got is with soyrizo. I also got an iced coffee. The food came out quickly. Portions were huge and they were beautifully presented. It was as delicious as I remembered, and I even took some home for later. They have super cute coffee cups and glasses for sale, but I had to restrain myself, as I don't have a lot of space for that kind of thing. What a perfect place for a post-hike brunch! read more

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came here after hiking cowles mountain, i ordered a mimosa flight and breakfast burrito - everything was so delicious! everyone was super friendly and the food came out so quickly but really fresh and piping hot. love coming here after a hike read more

The Trails Eatery - mimosa flight and a breakfast burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Overall great breakfast place. We came here after hiking cowles/pyles peak. Very easy to get to. They have many options to choose from. Their drip house office was delicious and overall the cost is fair considering the current climate. The service was great. You order your food at the door and seat yourself. There was a small wait but it moved quickly. The place is decorated nicely. I enjoyed my first visit and would be sure to come back. read more

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Found this place quite a few years ago while looking for Gluten Free Breakfast, which was pretty hard to find back in the day. They offered Gluten Free Pancakes, which, at the time, were only a dream. (Being Celiac in those days was a huge problem when eating out) We enjoyed the atmosphere and Stacy, the owner was always pleasant and sparkly, at the same time. During the COVID pandemic, we moved 30 miles into the mountains and coming to The Trails became a memory. Today, on a trip to a doctors appointment, we decided that we needed to see if it was still as good as we remembered. OH MY! Not disappointed, for sure‼. So happy to say that the quality is amazing, still, the atmospheric even better, and the G/F menu takes up a full page now....including a G/F biscuit, along with more breakfast and lunch choices! Stacy even stopped at our table for a lively chat..... WE WILL BE BACK......SOON! read more

One of my new favorite brunch spots in East County. With an amazing no frills meal, chill atmosphere and my kinda portions, I'll definitely be coming back soon! We got the cinnamon roll pancakes, a feta omelette, and a side of bacon and eggs. The pancakes were no joke! Not only were they massive, the quality was superb. I'm typically more of a waffle guy, but these pancakes had me questioning that. I would definitely recommend these. The bacon and eggs were also great. Nice, thick slices of bacon and the eggs cooked perfectly. The feta omelette was pretty good. I may want to try the chorizo omelette next time I'm there though. What really makes me want to go back is their lunch items. The menu looks great and the meals I saw being brought out looked amazing. Love everything about this place and I will definitely be back soon! read more

The Trails Eatery - Feta Omelette, Bacon & Eggs, and Cinnamon Roll Pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Amazing customer service. The tomatoes in the side salad weren't the best, but otherwise my veggie burger was delicious. I would have liked some smaller, less expensive menu items. read more

Wanted to support local business nearby and picked this place. They allowed dine-in but we sat outside because we brought our dog. It's blocked off using graffiti heart shaped concrete barricades. We saw people who sat inside got their order taken at the table. But we sat outside so we placed our order first and paid before sitting down. I love how their menu offers a variety of options like omelettes, French toast, specials, Benedict's, their menu is organized but not overwhelming which lets me know that they are specialize in what they serve. Being on Restaurant Impossible in 2011 surely helped and I'm glad to see they are thriving today. I started off with a mimosas flight that was served in a muffin tin. Four flavors, orange, strawberry, pineapple, and POG (passion fruit, orange, guava). It's about a 6 ounce glass each and I got tipsy after two glasses, took a sip of the third and fourth but I couldn't finish. We got the crab cake benedict and meat lover omelette, both served with home fries. Home fries are basically potato slices. Be sure to ask for extra crispy or well done or else it'll be slightly on the uncooked side. I usually eat half a benedict but I ate it all! The crab cake patty was thick, crispy, not fishy and just enough crab. The omelette had a lot of meat and not as much cheese (I don't like cheesy omelette). I would think the meat would make it salty but it was a bit bland. So adding a bit of hot sauce brought all the flavors out to a 10/10. read more

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So good!!! Wish I knew about this place sooner. Plan to go back seems like it can get crowded but that is a sign of how good it is.

One my friends recommended this place to me as his favorite brunch place in SD since its good and fair pricing. Those are words that I both like in the same sentence. Highly recommend: - Croissant French toast w/ home fries, eggs and veggie sausage - Mex omelette /home fries and sourdough Plus the wait wasn't bad at all. We got seated in 15 min on a saturday peak brunch time. Silver lining of pandemic I guess, less people eating out. Well needless to say it was the perfect way to start our day as we were hiking afterwards in the area. Will definitely come back! read more

The Trails Eatery - Croissant french toast with home fries, eggs and veggie sausage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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Love the vibes at The Trails. Went here for breakfast with my sister. The service was great and I love ordering before seating ourselves. The cinnamon roll pancake was TOO DIE FOR. Seriously the best I've ever had. We also got the veggie hash, it was ok. We also got a dirty chai and pumpkin spice latte, wayyyy to sweet for our taste. Needed more espresso and less syrup. Overall we enjoyed our breakfast and would return to try some other items and get those pancakes again read more

I always love going to the trails! it feel like a neighborhood diner and the food is always really good for the price. This place is perfect after a hike in nearby mission trails! read more

Haven't been here in eons A new modified decor vibe- Nice set up where you review menu while waiting in line-then give your order once entering at register, find a table, attentive wait staff Smooth streamlining- I had the small breakfast (eggs bacon fruit toast) and peppermint hot choc Pricey but everything is these days-so... We'll be back read more

First time here, and overall, it was good. Food was delicious. Atmosphere was good. They have a unique service style. You have to wait outside till there are tables ready, and they give you the menus while you are outside. You look at the menu, and when it is time to go in, you order at the counter, find a table and sit. Then someone will bring you your food. While it may be a different restaurant process, I prefer to have someone take my order. Once our order was brought to the table, no one ever came by to check on us, see how the food was, bring us more coffee, more water, etc. Felt a little invisible. Haven't decided if I'll go back or not. read more

Cute little spot to hit up after a hike up Cowels Mountain! The service was good, friendly people and attentive. I ordered a breakfast sandwich that was 7/10 I think it was missing butter cause it was a little dry. It also didn't have enough bacon. I was sad. My friends got waffles and French toast that looked and tasted a wonderful! Last the Mimosa flights were so cute and tasty!! I would definitely come back my to taste more foods. read more

The Trails Eatery - Mimosa flight - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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9/23/23- arrived at 8:50am. Find your own table and order at the counter. It's my 1st time here. Here with a party of 3. Pay at the counter as well after ordering the food. 1 star for great customer service at the counter from a young gentleman with a lot of hair and a fun short he was wearing. More to come. The final order was at 9:00am. 2 stars, the place looks clean, tables cleared and about half full inside. Wow, 5 minutes later all the food is delivered. Three stars now. Pending the quality. Total of 4 stars overall. Items ordered 2 lattes, machaca, eggs Benedict and a lemon Berry French is, aka French toasts. All came out as normal. French toasts was very sweet. Could only eat half of it. Eggs Benedict had a sauce I have never seen before. Not a traditional sauce, it was spicy. Knocked a star off of it for being spicy. Recommendation for the staff to have the sauce as an option with what they have or have the menu state is is spicy. All persons agreed it was to spicy for this dish. Lastly, the machaca arrived with just 2'flour tortillas. Anywhere else we have ordered the dish has 3. 4 stars overall. No one came back after the food was delivered to see how we were. We could have used more napkins and refills on waters. See photos. Total bill was around $76. They didn't give a receipt. Reasons for not 5 stars, the sauce was spicy, one napkin, no follow up to see how we were, and asked for the Benedict's to be cooked medium. It wasn't. Total of a star knocked off. Next time if I go back. I will return the eggs for what I ordered and grab the water for refills. read more

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At this point we should basically just move in. If we aren't eating breakfast here either Saturday or Sunday, we're ordering it to go and eating it in our backyard. Terrific family Atmosphere. The kids meals are an agreeable price and they get an actual size able amount. The Pesto scramble is great. The Breakfast tacos are great. The cinnamon roll pancakes are great. I don't think we've had something we don't enjoy. The Owner is always working is checking in to make sure everyone's happy. The food comes out fast and fresh/hot every time. There's typically a line out the door- but they're so efficient it moves quickly. We love you Trails. read more

Wonderful gluten free options, service is excellent and the best Chai Tea anywhere. Pretty crowded on the weekends but the wait was worth it. Went on a weekday and got right in. read more

The price gouging at this price is really insane. They already charge about $20 per plate for breakfast, but now they've recently added a $.50 PER EGG surcharge on everything. Ridiculous! read more

Simple and authentic food! great tasting and masterfully crafted menu! Staff and mgmt. are very respectful and joyful! Designs and artwork around the restaurant takes you back to the past in a beautiful way! read more

Very nice local eatery. Wait times aren't too bad. Very friendly staff and great service. I forgot my pics but had a great Hikers club sandwich with side of salad. Great portions of meat and very tasty. I could only eat half and took other home. My Friend ordered the breakfast croissant sandwich and she said it was very good. She had fruit on side. Definitely will come back again to try other things on menu. Menu has a variety of American & Mexican style dishes read more

I absolutely love that The Trails has a gluten free section on their menu. Although I'm not completely gluten intolerant, I'm noticing more sensitivity to it as I get older, and am always happy to find a dining experience that doesn't make me feel like I'm a horrible, picky eater. ...and their food is so good! Had the eggs benedict with hollandaise on the side. Turned out that it was already so delicious I didn't need much sauce at all. Ok, maybe some hot sauce, but that's not a poor reflection on their chef, by any means. Wait staff were all super friendly and accommodating. One of the servers dropped her tray as she got to our table, and I was so impressed that no one was freaking out and yelling over it - we just got moved to another table and the spill was cleaned up. Yay for good training and happy/chill staff all being respectful of one another! Bathroom and tables were clean and seating wasn't overly crowded. This was a very pleasant late morning experience! read more

What better time to celebrate a great woman-owned business than now... am I right? I mean, what the owner of The Trails Eatery has done for this neighborhood goes way beyond the food as she's created a local hub where friends are made and time is spent together over a cup of coffee and a plate of pancakes. Seriously, you'll constantly see tables exchanging hellos and goodbyes and making plans to get together in the real world, and that is something special. Did I mention pancakes? Oh yeah, I certainly did. The pancakes served here are simply fantastic and leave customers satisfied with their fluffy and delicious taste - specifically the "sin-a-mon roll" pancakes. They're my fave but the creative options don't stop there. Dive into the menu and try a different one each time and I assure you'll continually be satisfied by the greatness that adornes your breakfast plate. The experience doesn't stop there though. The staff at The Trails Eatery genuinely cares about their customers and provides excellent service to ensure that every visit is memorable. From the moment you walk in, the warm and friendly atmosphere makes you feel right at home and that's exactly what you want after hiking Cowles or one of your rugrat's soccer or baseball games. It's a true neighborhood gem! read more

10/10 for food. There were 4 of us and all ordered different things. It was all superb. I'll say the sin-a-min roll pancake was my favorite. I'd go back every morning! It gets busy and the place isn't large, so expect a wait. But it's worth it. Large parking lot shared by other businesses and a friendly staff. You order & pay at a counter before selecting your seat. I prefer to pay & tip after a meal, but I understand why a business would do the opposite. read more

The Trails Eatery - Sin-a-min roll pancake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Ok seriously, it's not even funny haha I've had Trails Eatery bookmarked for 5 years! I first bookmarked it when I first became elite back in 2016! It's pretty much one of my oldest bookmarks and I finally tried them out last month! Trails Eatery is a popular breakfast spot in San Diego, it's also well known since it was on the Food Network tv show "Restaurant: Impossible" a decade ago. I actually watched the clip online before coming here haha. You order your food at the hostess stand and they serve your food to you at your table. I came for breakfast with my friend/fellow elite Tracie and her daughter. I got the chicken fried steak along with an iced caramel latte. The chicken fried steak came with eggs, hash browns and a delicious warm blueberry muffin! There was more than plenty for me to take home for breakfast the next day. Overall a good establishment! I'm happy I finally got to dine with them! :) read more

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This place is such a hidden gem. Staff is nice, food is great and service is quick. Be ready to order when you hit the door. A little intimidating at first but it's a big time saver. No waiting for server to order or pay. My picky eater husband loves that he can get his bacon extra crispy and that the butter is nice and soft to spread on pancakes and French toast. Hard cold balls of butter make him crazy. I love the croissant French toast. Coffee is great. Weekends are pretty busy but that's cuz it's good! read more

Love this place! I've had many items on the menu, and each and every time it is beyond delicious! My husband's favorite here is the carne asada Benedict, and mine is the GIANT yogurt, granola, fruit bowl! You should also try the French toast...super yummy! And best of all, the staff here are all, and I do mean ALL, are so friendly, welcoming, and on top of everything you need! read more

I first went to this place long time ago but decided to eat here again during my break from school. I ordered the corned beef hash and eggs with house potatoes, and a waffle on the side. The food portions are big so you might want to see how hungry you are before you order. I like this place because there aren't many breakfast places that serve corned beef hash. The waffles are the size of a plate. The staff are friendly and you can tell there are regulars that come because the staff would call them by their first names. This is one breakfast spot you should definitely try in San Diego read more

The Trails Eatery - Corned beef hash and eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

We came to The Trails Eatery following a 3.5 hour hike at nearby Mission Trails Regional Park. I had not visited this spot since almost two years ago when I read it was featured on The Food Network's Restaurant Impossible. There were nearly 30 people on the waitlist ahead of us, but for some reason empty, uncleaned tables were prevalent. I don't think our wait was more than 15 minutes, but it seemed like there was a mismatch between the queue and the number of open seats. The two of us sat at the countertop bar which was perfectly fine. My friend ordered a breakfast burrito with SoyRizo as a meat substitute that cost an extra $1.50. I got the raisin french toast with two fried eggs and a sausage link. I really wanted proteins after finishing the long hike so I knew that I would be taking home most of the french toast as a dessert for later. Having met the owner (Stacey) previously, I was happy to come back here because the place has a homey atmosphere. The staff was very friendly and courteous last time, and it was no different on this occasion. It's great that a local restaurant went through the growing pains it did and came out surviving and thriving as the business it has become. read more

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Cute breakfast spot, friendly staff great food! My go to is their cinnamon roll pancakes so so good!

I love their Cinnamon Roll and Buttermilk Pancakes. Fluffy buttery chewy goodness. Would definitely recommend as a brunch spot!

They have an awesome eggs benedict menu. Great for breakfast and brunch. Kind of a little gem of the area. read more

The Trails Eatery - Bene Asada with hash - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

Let me start by saying, I did not finish my food. Needed a to go box. I ordered from the "Gluten Free Menu" and it was perfect. The pancakes were the size of my head. My eggs were made just right. The lemon blueberry gluten free muffin made a great snack for later. Not to mention, the service was quick and the staff were attentive and friendly. I also noticed a lot of regulars stopped in. The staff knew them all by name! Would highly recommend for breakfast and brunch. read more

The Trails Eatery - Eggs w/ pesto and Spanish - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place is one of my favorite local stops! To be completely honest tho, it's worth a drive. The food is always on point! Specifically it's the Gluten Free Cinnamon Roll pancakes for me tho... I can't eat wheat at all, tho I'm not EPI-pen status. I miss having yummy cinnamon rolls... this place cures my craving 10000000x over! So once a month, I make sure to stop in and eat with my friends and family... if you're gluten free - this IS your breakfast place. read more

It has almost become a Sunday tradition to hit up Trail's after church. The food is always excellent and so is the service. Tons of personality - mixed with some amazing food. Plus the price is just right. For me personally I always stick with the Baja Betty - it's a Chorizo Cheeseburger with some Cajun Fries and a side of Chipotle Ranch. Seriously it's super good - spicy without losing it's flavor. What really sets this place apart from other Brunch like places is it's selection. If you have a friend who is Gluten Free - they will be in heaven. So many options for everyone including kids. Just a recommendation - I would use the Yelp check in if you can. This place is always busy. Especially on Sunday. read more

1st impressions matter and are usually spot on, in the case of the Trails Eatery, it was love a first bite. This place rocks! I love old school diners but also appreciate en Vogue locales and the Trails appeals to both. I ordered the Country Bene which is a version of eggs Benedict only with biscuit, sausage, and country gravy. Served with home fries, it made for a very hearty breakfast. Add a cup of coffee and we're at $15, a fair price for such a delectable meal. I like the concept of turning biscuits and gravy into an eggs Benedict but have to admit I expected it to be a little better. The only criticism, and it's minor, is I would have preferred the biscuit to be a little fluffier and moist versus dry and grilled. Not sure why they grilled it? I guess an extra heap of gravy might have solved the issue but I took it for how it was served. I was close by at Kaiser in Zion and was hungry for breakfast so Yelp'd my way over, There was no wait and the server, Mariah, was super nice and friendly, definitely coming back. Glad I stumbled on it! read more