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    Vivian's Cafe

    4.0 (887 reviews)
    ModerateDiners, Pancakes, Cafes
    Closed 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    VIVIAN'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Vivian's Cafe

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    Exterior on Ventura Blvd. between Nineland and Lankershim
    Evan W.

    In a town filled with bougie breakfast spots serving food more memorable for its price than its flavor, Vivian's is both a treat and a retreat. The place has been doing its thing since the 1960's, and they offer generous portions at prices at least a few bucks below the going rate. Perhaps it's because they own the building (it used to be a house), or maybe they just know how to manage their expenses properly. Whatever the reason, paying reasonable prices for amply served good food is reason enough for a visit. But it's far from the only reason. That converted house still holds 4 cozy tables at the front, and sitting in there you feel like you may be in a country cafe somewhere off the interstate. But out back there's a roomy courtyard patio with awnings and umbrellas, and foliage that's got nothing to do with Southern California. That foreign foliage, combined with the exposed brick of neighboring buildings, gives the impression of a breakfast nook in the French Quarter, minus the humidity and morning-after regret. The slightly off-kilter tables balanced carefully on the equally uneven cement complete the imperfectly perfect charm of the scene. Our server, Cait, was cheery and attentive, friendly and chatty, despite having quite a few tables to tend to. She carefully noted special requests, and kept things moving along. My wife ordered the Breakfast Combo of Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs and Bacon, and they did not disappoint. The pancakes were good-sized but properly cooked, with crispy edges and a moist interior (often, the bigger flapjacks fail the edge-to-center cook ratio, but these were on point). Eggs were well-made, and the bacon crispy. For my meal, I asked that the Italian Omelet be made as a scramble, and they happily obliged. The sausage neatly balanced sweetness and herbs for a truly Italian flavor profile. Scrambled together with eggs and sauteed peppers & onions, and topped with melted mozzarella cheese, this was a hearty and satisfying starring feature. But the co-star -- house-made home fries, also with peppers and onions -- played its role very well, offering a lot more taste than so many potato sides served up across the town. Really a great breakfast, though you should know they have a full menu of lunch items as well. Common sense would say I should shut up, lest the place become too busy and I have to wait a long time for my next table; but real common sense says everyone should go and enjoy a good meal in a great setting, and Vivian's should stay in business for another 60 years.

    2 Slices of Toast
    Spring G.

    Nice staff . Quiet Monday morning . Clean . Parking on street ! Good for breakfast ! They have a patio ! Looks very community and comfy cozy !

    Sign to Patio Seating
    Sarah L.

    Last month, my friend suggested that we have brunch at Vivian's Millennium Cafe. We found street parking a block away and got a table upon arrival at around 9:30am on Saturday. The cafe's indoor space is small, but there's more seating in the green outdoor patio. The service was fast and the staff checked-in frequently. We ordered a few items to share, including The Otis, Lox Benedict, and Ultimate Pancakes. My fave was The Otis because it was colorful and filling. I chose sourdough toast and cheddar cheese for the eggs. I was skeptical about the tuna, but it paired well with everything. Also, I really enjoyed the Ultimate Pancakes, which had interesting texture and sweetness from the grains & nuts. Overall, good, quality food and cozy vibes, so I'd come back if I was in the area!

    Breakfast Croissant+House potatoes
    Eric R.

    There are innumerable things that I love about this place, but I think I really need to talk about the beautiful outside space Vivians has. I genuinely felt at peace while I had a chance to look at their very diverse menu. The staff here was super friendly and down to Earth, and I'm shocked that despite my own hubris, in dropping a sausage from my very tasty breakfast croissant, the waiter immediately, without even asking got me a new one. On top of that, the other staff was checking on us frequently, which was super kind and thoughtful. The food though, really knocked it out of the park, I had an arnold palmer opposite my breakfast croissant with sausage and pepperjack cheese, and it was not only filling, but every bite was savory with a very subtle kick. Their house potatoes were solid too, having very nice flavors that paired well with my meal. A place like this is why I even bother writing reviews. I want the greater Los Angeles area to know that good service and even better food awaits you, if you but follow your nose. Cheers.

    The Brandon Special Omelette, 2+2+2 combo
    Raha M.

    Great service, we ordered omelette and a customized 2+2+2 combo with extra cottage cheese. I loved the omelette. The place was calm and nice too.

    Bacon eggs and hash browns
    Alane C.

    Such a cute little restaurant with natural lighting and beautiful trees outside. The service was great and the food was so satisfying. Everything tasted good

    Poster
    Devin P.

    Nice outdoor patio, good breakfast food, lots of choices. Quick service, despiteits popularity. Passed by this place on the way to some other place, and decided we liked the vibes here better, came back.

    Melanie T.

    This was a last minute decision to come here before Universal. Our original spot was closed due to filming. This is your typical brunch location. It's small and there's seating. It was slow when we ate here. My omelette was pretty good. I got it when eggs were super expensive so it felt like a luxury and I'm glad they didn't cheapen it or replace the egg with mostly egg white liquid. My boyfriend's burrito was mid. He had these sautéed veggies as a side and I personally don't like it. Definitely stick to Hashbrowns and maybe an omelette. Service was alright.

    Jenn's REALLY Big Sandwich
    Magnolia B.

    Vivian's is truly a hidden gem. I've lived just down the street from it since 2007, but only discovered it last month. I'm not sure why it doesn't appear in more brunch guides, because it's a delightful spot. It's an erstwhile house-turned-restaurant, with haphazard patio seating and a giant avocado tree that they warn may drop its fruit on your head. The website greets you with the curly '90s Gigi font. But an unconventional setting, threat of danger whilst you dine, and an Angelfire-esque website are always clues that the food will be amazing, and Vivian's does indeed deliver excellence. The pancakes are absolutely bomb, fluffy and flavourful. All the brunch meats and the eggs are perfectly cooked. It's classic diner-style breakfast sans the glare of fluorescent lights. I ordered "Jenn's REALLY Big Sandwich". It was a simple chicken salad (read: nothing weird in the mixture like nuts or grapes) with some unexpected accoutrements. It seemed like the most interesting item on the menu, so I was jazzed to try it. ...... Have you seen the film "Madea's Family Reunion"? Jenn's concoction made me think of this film. A lot of elements that don't seem like they go together, but somehow oddly complement one another in the finished product. Soap opera melodrama, raunchy comedy, and celebration of African-American fortitude all in one movie? Feta cheese, bacon, and chicken salad all in one sandwich? But it comes together gloriously. We enjoyed aperol spritzers with our meal, and they also have specialty coffees, beer, and mimosas. The waitstaff was attentive and pleasant, and they plied us with all the condiments we needed so we didn't have to beg for anything - syrup, jams, hot sauce, ketchup were all brought to us or already on the table. Vivian's is definitely a place to try at least once, and it's likely you'll come back to try more of their extensive menu.

    Steak, mashed potato, veggies
    Ginny Y.

    When we walked in, we were welcomed with the friendliest greeting. The guy asked if we wanted to dine inside or outside and I said outside, so he walked us to the outdoor seating area and we were able to choose any spot we liked. Inside, we saw a sign for White Chocolate Macadamia Pancakes. I immediately said ohh I'd like to try that. But then in the back of my head said that'll never happen because I doubt it is gluten free. BUT then when we saw our menus, I was very happily surprised that they could make their pancakes gluten free. I liked that when our food was brought to us, we were reminded, they were gluten free pancakes (this sets my mind at ease because then I feel comfortable that the chef didn't forget and make them with gluten). We were also given warm syrup and warm butter. I was very excited. The first bite I think my eyes got big. They were so good! We ordered 4 pancakes and another entree. And I ate 3 of the 4 they were just so good! For the pancakes alone I would give this place 5 stars! Unfortunately the other entree we got was underwhelming. It wasn't bad, just okay. We got the Steak, Mashed potatoes and veggies. The mashed potatoes were bland and def needed the gravy for flavoring. I am allergic to cruciferous foods so I couldn't try the veggies. The steak was decent. For sure if we go back again I want more pancakes, maybe I'll try different ones. The ambiance of the outdoors was nice. It was a clear sunny day and perfect to be outside. There's a fully outdoors section and a covered outdoor section. I chose the covered area and it was perfect.

    French Toast Combo
    ruth r.

    We came on a Sunday morning and surprisingly it was not busy. The times I've been here have always been good. The service is quick and efficient. The food is also delicious. The French toast was exactly what I was craving. Parking can be tricky since it is metered and very limited though.

    Vivian's Millennium Café's menu has many delicious options!

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    9 days ago

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    Brent M.

    Yay! Hope to se you soon!

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    That Breakfast looks Amazing!! you did it right!

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    24 days ago

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    pssst. (Vivian whispers) come back again.

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    Seth is an actual Hero. Thank you for coming in

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    Page 1 of 23

    Ask the Community - Vivian's Cafe

    Has anyone tried the tuna sandwich?

    Yes I've had their tuna sandwich and tuna melt. Both are very good however my preference is their tuna melt with fries. Another great sandwich is their Jen Special. All and all anything that you decide to eat will be a tasty choice.

    How the parking?

    It's all street parking for the most part. There's a small lot behind the restaurant that you can pay to park in but not sure how much. With that being said I've never had an issue finding a spot

    Is it really worth trying this place, specially for cheat Sunday?

    Yes without a doubt!!!

    Do they serve mimosas or wine?

    Hi there! We serve both mimosas and wine, as well as beer. Here is our full beer and wine list: http://viviansmillenniumcafe.com/beer-wine/… 

    How are they about allergies (nuts, dairy, etc)?

    I’m allergic to Bananas and have never had a problem with cross contamination and they use quite a few.

    View All 7 Questions

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    & Waffles

    & Waffles

    4.4(2.3k reviews)
    0.5 miStudio City
    $$

    We stopped by during brunch one day because I was craving breakfast and we must have came just the…read moreright time because there was not a lot of people, but shortly after we were seated people started coming in and they had to wait a bit for a table. We sat inside and I ordered a simple brunch with just 2 strips of bacon, 2 over medium eggs and waffles. The server asked me if I wanted a full size waffle or half size and as I was watching the other people order I noticed people were not hesitating to order the full size option and I thought dang, they are not gonna finish that, so I opted for the half serving which was 2 pretty good sized waffles. Once I took my 1st bite, I suddenly regretted only ordering the half size option. I instantly knew right then and there why people ordered the full size. A waffle is a waffle right guys? Wrong... not this waffle. This waffle will make you feel love inside that you didn't know existed. As we were walking inside the restaurant I actually was picking a fight with my husband for no apparent reason... possibly because I was hungry but after I took my first bite, I forgot about the argument haha. I told him he needs to bring me here ALL THE TIME. I am yet to come back a 2nd time and I already anticipate loving it the 2nd time. We drove by one day hoping to have a 2nd try here and it was really busy so we didn't make the stop. I look forward to coming back and the next time around I will not hesitate to order a full size waffle order. The staff was really nice, our server was this young lady who was waiting on all the tables inside and some outside was on top of it. She was really pleasant and the gentlemen in the back were also nice. The restaurant was clean when we visited and the service was really quick. We parked down the street, the walk wasn't too bad, we didn't know where to park but I read some of the other reviews and I guess there's a parking in the back somewhere. If you live nearby and you haven't visited, do yourself a favor and try them out. If you travel from far away like me and you're looking for a breakfast or brunch spot with delicious waffles, this is the spot.

    We waited for about an hour to get a table. It's pretty small inside just a heads up!…read more The food was tasty, and they did give us a free waffle appetizer because of the long wait in the heat. I also ordered the craft lemonade which was delicious and has free refills! We do love going here in noho! Would suggest going early so there's no wait.

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    Jumpin Java - Home fries and veggie omelette

    Jumpin Java

    4.1(637 reviews)
    1.3 miStudio City
    $$

    Came back, as promised! This time on a Thursday mid-day. We found parking on a side street and…read morethere were ample tables available for us outside under their lovely awning & umbrellas. Even tho this is on a busy street, it's a nice space to be outdoors in. This time we weren't right under a speaker and the music was a nice volume. We ordered a latte and a black forest mocha. The mocha was too sweet for our tastes so we'd order that half sweet next time. Both were decent coffees, but nothing special or particularly nice. Almost no foam on either. We ordered the Country Breakfast from the regular menu and the Country Breakfast Benedict Special from the specials of the day sheet. Both came with scrambled cheesy eggs, which were delicious. The potatoes were great (we added some salt) and the biscuits were actually quite nice. It's hard to find a decent biscuit. These were the more bready kind (like kfc), but a good rendition of them. Good flavor, good texture, moist. I bet they'd be real nice soaked in butter! The gravy on the Country Breakfast was nice, even for me a person who doesn't normally care for sausage. The eggs were a lovely soft scrambled, great texture and really nice flavor. I would order both of these dishes again. Service was really friendly and they checked in on us frequently. We were in somewhat of a hurry and they graciously accommodated our requests and helped us pay for the bill early in the meal to facilitate our plans. I might skip the coffee next time, but I'll be back for the food for sure. Their menu is huge and they have so many things to try!

    I've been here a few times and the food and customer service has always been excellent. This recent…read morevisit, we sat outside and it started to rain. The staff rushed to get the rain canopies down and moved us over to where it was not affected by the rain. They replaced my coffee since the rain got into it. They went above and beyond and I wanted to let them know I appreciated it. Thank you.

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    Good Neighbor Restaurant

    4.2(680 reviews)
    0.6 miStudio City
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    You really can't do better for breakfast (or lunch) than popping into this Studio City mainstay…read more Homey and welcoming as ever, Good Neighbor has been kept clean and well-run through its many decades, and the food remains top notch coffee shop fare. Though it can be very busy on weekends, it was quiet this Thursday morning, so I was greeted and seated immediately. The menu features all the usual and expected options, from eggs and omelets to pancakes, burgers, salads, sandwiches and even egg salad that's "made to order." They've also added their own coffee bar in an adjunct space, so the hot drink options are extensive. Today, I ordered Corned Beef Hash and Eggs. The food came out quickly and pleasingly hot. The hash was well done and crispy (as requested), and had good flavor -- a nice balance of seasoning without being too salty. Eggs were also done exactly as requested, and the over medium yolks blended perfectly with the crisp hash. A side of cottage cheese was fresh, and the English muffin lightly toasted but properly warm to melt the butter. This may have been a traditional, old school, non-trendy breakfast order, but it was executed perfectly and was a satisfying start to the day. My server, Elza, was friendly and helpful, checking on me repeatedly, and making sure I had everything I needed. There are reasons this place has been here as long as it has -- and that's reason enough for you to head back soon.

    I have been here for breakfast and loved everything I have ordered. This restaurant makes some…read moretraditional classics and home style favorites. The short stack pancakes are great to share and the eggs were yummy. Staff is friendly and personable. I recently ordered the Chinese chicken salad as takeout. The portion was huge for the veggies compared to the amount of chicken. I wasn't a fan of the dressing which tasted more like soy sauce than what I'm usually used to. This salad would benefit from adding mandarins or cucumbers but it's still a tasty option.

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    Special breakfast

    Vivian's Cafe - diners - Updated September 2026

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