Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Thornton Cafeteria

    2.5 (19 reviews)
    InexpensiveCafeteria
    Closed 6:30 am - 8:00 pm

    Thornton Cafeteria Photos

    THORNTON CAFETERIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Thornton Cafeteria

    Recommended Reviews - Thornton Cafeteria

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Cheeseburgers are sooooo good!
    Mary K.

    Cafeteria food gets a bad reputation, but I promise this place is awesome! I forget to bring a lunch with me to work quite often, so I'm pretty thankful for this place. Sometimes there's pizza, sometimes there's bbq tri tip?! This cafeteria isn't basic like one might think. If you're coming for breakfast, the açaí bowls are amazing. They're very generous on the fresh fruit. You can go the bacon and eggs route or you can go the chicken and waffle route, take your pick. Lunch time, my favorites are the cheeseburgers, tri tip, enchiladas, fresh from the oven pizza or the veggie wraps. When it's 3 o clock and time for a snacky snack, I love coming here for some ice cream! They have a great selection. When it's 7 in the morning and I'm running on 2 hours of sleep, I love the cold brew that's served here! Everyone is very friendly and the prices aren't bad either. Don't be scared to try this place!

    Bug found in my coffee after spitting it out.
    Yalda Y.

    Do not buy coffee from here!! I don't usually get it from here because I've had bad experience with their food in several occasions. But I really needed some coffee this morning and it was a closer walk for me to come here. Grabbed my coffee and was drinking it when suddenly something crunchy is in between my teeth. I spat it out and see a bug!! Not only am I completely turned off by this cafeteria's food but now their coffee. Absolutely unacceptable.

    Rock hard chicken pesto pizza
    Chris L.

    Bought pizza today while at the hospital. The chicken was rock hard. Must have been sitting under the heat lamp all day. Should have tried the bbq chicken instead.

    The Cove
    Sean L.

    Solid hospital cafeteria. Breakfast they have a grill and hot food, granola bar, and a variety of off-the-shelf items. Lunch they have hot food typically 3 different item choices, a grill, a deli, and a specialty section that changes M-F (see photo). Prices are reasonable and the quality is decent. Best options are the grill/deli, they do pork very well in the hot foods but stay away from seafood, ramen & pasta specialty section days are the best. Workers are friendly and helpful, quite good food for a hospital!

    The outside area of the cafeteria. Looking down from the Thornton West side.
    Carlo R.

    This cafeteria is OK...​ it's nothing special to be honest. It is nice to have the option of getting something to eat when you are visiting someone in the hospital to hold you over. As a patient, be sure to ask the kitchen for the daily specials as they also handle "The Market" menu for in hospital​ patients.

    Half a Sammich $3.50
    Yvonne C.

    Cove Cafe also known as the Thornton Cafeteria, is pretty legit, let's just say I have a lot of experience on Hospital Cafeteria food. As Cafeteria it's pretty top notch, they have several stations to choose from depending on what piques your taste buds and what time of the day you are here. At breakfast time, they always have Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat and Menudo ( I haven't tried it but peeps say it's good). They have all the fixins too, for the hot cereals, craisens, cinnamon, granola, brown sugar, and all the menudo stuff like, lemon, cilantro, onion and chili flakes. I usually get the oatmeal, good deal for about $1.50. They also have eggs, potatoes, biscuit&gravy, bacon, sausage at the steam table, at the grill the Chefs can hook you up with a omelet, pancakes, breakfast burrito etc. Lunch time it can get pretty crazy, because of the different stations people are just bumping into each other like a pinball machine, I have stranger danger so I avoid the peak lunch craze. The favorites for me is the Chicken pozole which they have on Wednesdays in the soup station, their wraps are pretty damn good, I always get mine toasted, you can also get a half a sandwich since they are pretty big. In the salad station my fav are the green beans with almonds, the broccoli with mandarin oranges and the butternut squash raviolis. At the grill, you can get hamburgers and fries, grilled chicken sandwich, etc. The steam table is always a surprise, one day they had pancit, I didn't try it but it looked legit. Almost forgot, they have a Pizza oven where this Hottie can hook up your own personal pizza, he's always smiling too. All the staff seem to like their job, trust and believe I've seen some salty employees at other Hospital Cafeterias. Great outside patio as well as a huge sitting section in the back.

    Salmon, veggies, and grains

    See all

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    If you are looking for a great breakfast in a Hospital, you want to try Thornton Hospital. Great food, wonderful staff......

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mary K.
    2073
    1173
    6568

    6 years ago

    Helpful 33
    Thanks 0
    Love this 35
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris L.
    0
    17
    256

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sean L.
    337
    140
    1375

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Arash S.
    40
    65
    26

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris C.
    11
    53
    33

    9 years ago

    Dry, tasteless, bland, unhealthy food. save your money and eat someplace else with free parking.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Thornton Cafeteria

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Cafeteria 1,496 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Marketplace Café at Nordstrom

    Marketplace Café at Nordstrom

    4.3(386 reviews)
    8.3 miLinda Vista
    $$

    I want to start this review off by saying I would come back just for the service!!!! Thank you…read morePablo!!!!! From the moment we sat down, the service was next-level. Our server, Pablo I or L (can't remember the initial of his last name) was incredibly attentive without being overbearing--our drinks would get to about half done and he was already there with a refill. That kind of care really stood out and made the whole experience feel relaxed and welcoming. The food was good. We had the salmon Cesar salad which was fresh and satisfying, and we also tried the turkey sandwich with fries. It was simple, well done, and hit the spot. For dessert, we hadn't plan on getting anything but Pablo made the cookies sound so amazing we ended up getting the chocolate chip and snickerdoodle. Both equally yummy!!! A perfect way to end the meal. Great service can make or break a place, and this café absolutely nailed it!!!! Friendly, attentive, and genuinely caring--can't wait to come back. Thank you Pablo for such a WONDERFUL experience!

    We lined up to order from the cashier, self served our drinks, and then found a booth to sit in. My…read morecashier recommended the Roma tomato basil soup, and said it's the cafe's signature soup. My friend and I each decided to order a cup of the soup. We both really enjoyed it, and when the soup was served, it came with a piece of crunchy Parmesan garlic crostini. The pairing was delicious. I also shared a truffle mushroom pizza with my friend. The pizza came with six slices covered in Alfredo sauce, Asiago, mozzarella and provolone cheese. It was just the right amount of crispy. At the end of our meal, one of the servers gave us two Nordstrom chocolates. There didn't seem to be dedicated servers for each seating area, so we needed to flag down servers as they walked by. Overall, I was surprised by the level of quality of the food inside a store's cafe! I would stop by again the next time that I shop at Nordstrom.

    Photos
    Marketplace Café at Nordstrom
    Marketplace Café at Nordstrom
    Marketplace Café at Nordstrom

    See all

    Park Social

    Park Social

    4.3(636 reviews)
    6.1 miKearny Mesa
    $$

    SAN DIEGO LIVING AT ITS BEST So impressed with the multi-use of this space! It's surrounded by so…read moremany apartment complexes but you don't feel like it. Across the street has a mini park for walking, workouts or pups. PARKING we came by at 1pm on Thursday so we got the free 1 hour parking out front. Otherwise, I bet this place fills up. They did have paid parking on the street as well. FOOD I saw the loco moco was popular so my husband got that. He said it was good but isn't as mind blowing as the one at Wonderland in OB. I got the fish tacos as the employee suggested it. They were m absolutely delicious! Perfect crunch with the added veggies and the chipotle sauce on top was I didn't add the sauce in the cup because it was a bit too spicy DRINK My husband got a Pepsi zero and I had a matcha with blueberry. My matcha was delicious. SERVICE I can tell our meals were freshly made bc it took 10 min to get our food. Pretty quick considering my fish tacos were fried. In terms of cleanliness, the team members quickly bussed tables after customers finished and everywhere looked super clean. This is such a vibey place where you could work on your laptop, share a meal with a few friends or enjoy a drink at the outside patio with the beautiful sunshine.

    Parking: they have some underground and some 1 hour spots nearby, but mostly street parking…read more Their happy hour deals are everyday from 3pm-5pm and are a great deal. Staff are friendly. They have inside and outside seating. Nice patio area that is dog friendly. Order at the register, take a number and they deliver food and drinks to you. Tried: (food prices were happy hour) Dirty Pina Colada soda $4.75 - good flavor Blueberry matcha $7.75 - good but pricey Cherry lemonade $4.25 - kid approved Pretzel bites $8 - comes with cheese and mustard. Kid approved. Birria quesadilla $11 - this is massive! Comes with salsas. Chicken taco $3.50 - thigh meat, a little fatty. Shrimp taco $4 - flavor was just okay. Birria taco $3.50 - good Chicken tender - good, kid approved. Sometimes over cooked.

    Photos
    Park Social
    Park Social
    Park Social

    See all

    Liberty Public Market - bopjo & moniker coffee company

    Liberty Public Market

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    9.6 miLiberty Station, Loma Portal, Point Loma
    $$

    I love a good food hall, and this one doesn't disappoint. A great collection of various cuisines,…read moreincluding yummy dessert options. This is a perfect choice for when you're traveling with a group and have a lot of differing preferences. Seating can be a little tricky, especially when you have a group larger than 6 people, but when the weather is nice, outside seating is lovely.

    Liberty Public Market is San Diego's first food hall and opened in 2016. The market is part of the…read moreArts District Liberty Station and currently has over 35 vendors & open 7 days a week. [Parking]: Parking can be somewhat difficult during busy weekends, but there are designated parking lots throughout Liberty Station so it will require a bit of patience and driving around to find an available spot. [Amenities]: Free Wi-Fi and public restrooms are available. The market has multiple patio seating areas. There is a bar called Mess Hall Bar with TVs, but they were not showing the sports games our party wanted to watch. Please note that the food hall is located close to San Diego International Airport so visitors can hear noises on airplanes taking off and getting ready to land. [Vendors]: The market has some vendors selling books and handcrafted items. As for the food options, I thought they were fairly mediocre compared to other food halls in Los Angeles or Orange County. Some recommended options include Parana (empanadas), Wicked Maine Lobster (lobster rolls), Kebab Craft (Mediterranean food), and Mama Made Thai (Pad Thai). [Conclusion]: While it is great to see San Diego have a food hall that houses various cuisines in one spot, the market has a subpar parking situation, noise pollution from airplanes, and not-so-exciting food options. P.S. - If visitors have extra time to spare, then definitely walk around and check out the nearby art galleries and small museums.

    Photos
    Liberty Public Market - Liberty Public Market a little after 9:00am

    Liberty Public Market a little after 9:00am

    Liberty Public Market - Kimbap masubi

    Kimbap masubi

    Liberty Public Market - Dranks on the porch

    See all

    Dranks on the porch

    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events - WEEKEND CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH BUFFET

    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events

    3.3(1.9k reviews)
    6.6 miKearny Mesa
    $$$$
    Established in 1976
    Full bar

    I had such a fantastic experience at the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant in San Diego and I can…read morehonestly say this is one of the best buffet experiences I've ever had. First of all, the theme is absolutely awesome. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with World War II military memorabilia everywhere you look, and it really feels like you're stepping into another era. On top of that, it's located right on the tarmac of Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport which made the experience even more unique. I loved being able to sit there and watch planes land and take off while enjoying brunch. I went on a Sunday for their all you can eat brunch buffet and had an amazing time. The selection was incredible and honestly overwhelming in the best way possible. They had a carving station with sirloin steak and lamb, an omelette station, barbecue ribs, meatloaf, Mac & cheese, mashed potatoes with all kinds of different gravies including melted butter, fried rice, egg rolls, you name it! There was an entire row of fresh fruit, a huge variety of seafood including crab legs, and an impressive assortment of soups, vegetables, meats, and cheeses. Breakfast lovers will be happy too because they had waffles with fresh homemade whipped cream, eggs, eggs Benedict, bacon (and tons of it), sausage, and so much more. Dessert was next level. Brownies, madeleines, an assortment of chocolate truffles, mini chocolate donuts, and even mini containers of Häagen-Dazs ice cream in strawberry and chocolate flavors. I tried to pace myself, but it was impossible not to overdo it. They also had a nice drink selection, including slushy machines, chocolate milk, and various juices. The buffet came with three glasses of champagne, and the service was excellent. Our servers were very attentive, quick to check on us, and made sure our champagne glasses stayed full. The restaurant itself is wonderfully decorated and I absolutely loved all the military memorabilia. The theme is super cute and really well done. Between the atmosphere, the food, and watching the planes, it made for such a fun and memorable experience. Now, the buffet is definitely on the pricey side. In my opinion, $68 per person is expensive, especially since there is an automatic 15% gratuity added when you walk in. That $68 price applies to Saturday and Sunday. However, the server did let us know that weekday brunch from Monday through Friday is $28. It is slightly more limited compared to the weekend buffet but still very good according to our server. I cannot wait to go back! I thoroughly enjoyed myself, ate way too much, and was so full I could barely move for two days lol. Totally worth it for the experience, the atmosphere, and the incredible variety of food. LOVE this place!

    I'd say I'm not sure what's happened here ... 94th used to be happing back in the day. But I'll say…read moreit right up front, you can't change this much money for just okay food. When we arrived a little after 6PM on a a Friday, there was nobody at the host stand. When someone finally noticed us, they were surprised to see guests in the lobby. For a restaurant that could easily hold a hundreds, I counted four guests inside beyond us. 10 years ago, we would have had to wait to be seated there. Once sat, they forgot us for a bit. But once remembered, the service was good. A minor hiccup. No big deal. The food was decent. Not great. Prime rib was okay. French dip was pretty good. But nothing that warranted the bill. I get we're in inflationary times. But the quality is either needs to be substantially better, or the food needs to be substantially cheaper. Hence why the place is empty on a Friday night. Look, the place is charming as it has alway been. I've been visiting off and on since I was a kid. The view of the runway is great. It feels homey. But some love needs to be put into the food, or the prices.

    Photos
    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events - WEEKEND CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH BUFFET

    WEEKEND CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH BUFFET

    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events - PATIO SEATING

    PATIO SEATING

    94th Aero Squadron Restaurant & Events - GRILLED YELLOWTAIL

    See all

    GRILLED YELLOWTAIL

    Pop Pie

    Pop Pie

    4.5(1.8k reviews)
    9.5 miUniversity Heights
    $$

    Delicious, surprisingly light on the stomach, in the textures and flavors have that homemade vibe…read more I got the chicken pot pie and the apple pie slice. The lady at the counter said that a lot of people say the apple pie slice is better than Julian's apple pie. I think that if it were as fresh as the Julian one, I would agree but because the slice tasted like it have been sitting there for at least six hours, maybe even overnight, I would just say that it's a really good slice of apple pie. It has a crumb topping, which is a nice addition which the Juliann apple pie does not have. The filling is chunky and very brown sugar-y which makes it very delicious. The ice cream was also good. The chicken pot pie was my favorite though. So warm, and the crust was nice and flaky. The portion is really good. That was my dinner and it was the perfect amount. The inside had a generous amount of chicken which I really appreciated overall. It's such a comforting food and I love that. It doesn't taste like it's 1,000,000 cal. It was $13 for the pot pie, which is a little much but considering that it's pretty big and filling as a meal I wouldn't say that it's toooo bad.

    For my 1st I must say customer service was excellent. I went weekday during the afternoon. The…read moreparking is a different story though. I decided to get the steak and ale and their special of the month Butter Chicken pie. I also could not resist the Salted Carmel Crumble pie cream. I ate the steak and ale at the location. I thought it was ok. The crust was amazing but I felt the flavor was lacking a little. I had a few chunks of meat. Didn't really taste the Ale and it was a little dry for my liking. Now the Butter Chicken pie was amazing. I think they should keep that one on the menu. I reheated it in the air fryer. The curry flavor really comes through and of course their crust is like no other. My highlight was that salted carmel crumble apple lice ice cream combo. Of course the vanilla ice cream is from next door Stella Jeans. Oh this dessert is sinful and I highly recommend.

    Photos
    Pop Pie - View of food case and interior seating

    View of food case and interior seating

    Pop Pie - (D) Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie - Slice

    (D) Pumpkin Cream Cheese Pie - Slice

    Pop Pie - Inside

    See all

    Inside

    Phil's BBQ - Half Rib Dinner with fresh cut fries and macaroni salad

    Phil's BBQ

    4.3(17k reviews)
    8.6 miMidway
    $$

    Great service, big crowds but managed efficiently and best large beef ribs I've had in a long time…read more!!

    Man, where do I even start?…read more My girlfriend and I came in looking for a good meal and left feeling like we just got adopted by the restaurant. We had FIVE alcoholic drinks between us, an amazing dinner, and somehow the bill was still under $120. In 2026, that's basically a miracle. The ribs were absolutely ridiculous tender, flavorful, and the kind of food that makes you stop talking for a minute because you're too busy enjoying every bite. The drinks were great, the food came out fast, and everything we ordered hit the spot. What really stood out though was the staff. Every waiter and waitress had a smile on their face and treated us like we were regulars even though it was our first time there. The vibe was so good it almost made me want to start handing out money like I won the lottery. Then, just when we thought the night couldn't get any better, they brought out free cookies. Not some little afterthought cookies either these things were incredible. Warm, delicious, and the perfect ending to a great night. My girlfriend and I walked out happy, full, a little tipsy, and already talking about when we're coming back. If you're reading this and still deciding whether to go, you're tripping. Go eat the ribs, grab a drink, get the cookies, and thank me later. 10/10 experience. We'll definitely be back

    Photos
    Phil's BBQ - Full Beef Rib Dinner with potato salad and fresh cole slaw

    Full Beef Rib Dinner with potato salad and fresh cole slaw

    Phil's BBQ - Line of hungry people moving fast!!

    Line of hungry people moving fast!!

    Phil's BBQ - Thanks, Yelpers!

    See all

    Thanks, Yelpers!

    Thornton Cafeteria - cafeteria - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...