Santa Cruz Diner
Santa Cruz Diner things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Description
Kid-friendly spot for breakfast all-day, classic American eats & international options such as pho.
attractions: Bookshop Santa Cruz, Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection, Santa Cruz Cinema, Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup, Patagonia Outlet, Hyatt Place Santa Cruz, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Santa Cruz, an IHG Hotel, Cooperhouse Shopping Center, Continental Inn, Comfort Inn, restaurants: Taqueria Los Pericos, Woodstock's Pizza Santa Cruz, The Walnut Avenue Cafe, Pono Hawaiian Grill Downtown Santa Cruz, Charlie Hong Kong, Taqueria Santa Cruz, Jack's Hamburgers, Pizza My Heart, 11th Hour Coffee, The Crêpe Place
Ratings
Description
Kid-friendly spot for breakfast all-day, classic American eats & international options such as pho.
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We arrived on a very busy Friday evening and had to wait about 15 mins which was better than the 25 minutes we were quoted. The meal was worth the wait. We had raspberry tea and an iced Chia while we waited. The Staff was very professional letting us know to order drinks first because the kitchen was a little behind in it's oders. I appreciated that because it gave me time to review the menu and discuss the meal choices. My daughter order a Ruben and fries with a non-alcoholic Shirley temple. I order an omelette and coffee with a sampler platter containing onion rings, chicken strips and jalapeno poppers. The sampler was good I would request more then two jalapeno poppers because they were the best part of the sampler. I was also very impressed that all the food arrived at the table very hot. All the food was delicious and flavorful. The onion rings and fries were crispy. The omelette was hot and the vegetables were cook to perfection. My only suggestion would be to cook the hash browns a little more. The staff were friendly and handled the crowd restaurant very well. Definitely a hidden gem.-Yvonne
Yvonne JWYvonne JW
00
It was a good experience, straight diner, lots of locals and students. I was glad to see pho on the menu but as The Ant pointed out it wasnt a good idea and they were right because I was getting ready to ask if it had tendon. Silly. I went for a vegetarian scramble which came with a side of pancakes (I got blue berry, other options were banana and chocolate chip) and The Ant got waffles with strawberry and whipped cream. Reportedly the whipped cream wasn't that great but the waffles and strawberries were. The pancakes were ok and in response The Ant pointed out that's why they got the waffle, that pancakes are always a better idea than a reality -- the hot dog of diner breakfasts. The scramble was excellent though, with artichokes and avocados with Monterey Jack cheese, and excellent potatoes and grilled onions. The server was very friendly and funny and the diner had a perfect diner atmosphere with lots of signs and photos of a Guy Fieri visit. It was a good place for breakfast
Jim ShermanJim Sherman
00
Cute eclectic lil spot….Service from our server was excellent! There was only two other tables seated when we arrived. Man who maybe was hostess didn’t make eye contact but not unpleasant. Collectively we ordered the kids waffle, one of the pancake combos, kid spaghetti and meatballs, and two orders of the yankee pot roast dinners. Waffle was well received by my 8yr old neice, my 10yr old neice enjoyed the pancake combo (said she preferred my homemade pancakes…I make them from the box), the spaghetti and meatballs was sub par according to my 5yr old spag n meatball connoisseur nephew (also says he prefers mine), the meatballs are definitely some kind of frozen meatball and the sauce not homemade. I got the yankee pot roast accompanied by mashed taters, gravy, steamed veggies, and garlic bread (had to ask for it, our server wasn’t sure if the meal came with bread or not and to be quite honest I’m pretty sure the bread we got was supposed to be for the sketti meatball meal..), pot roast was ok, very stringy, not a lot of flavor, probably not fresh. You’re basic diner pot roast. Mashed potatoes were box potatoes, so unbelievably watered down that when u mixed them together with the gravy it became a loose soupy mixture. Steamed veggies were the star of the show, exceptionally fresh! Garlic bread was just a couple of slices of maybe sourdough with generic butter and garlic salt, few sprinkles of parsley. Kids had the hot chocolate which was exceptionally tasty! Oh yeah almost forgot, got a chicken noodle soup with my meal, it was cool, nothing to write home about. Actually wish I would’ve just had a bowl of that and called it a night. Place was very clean and not busy at all. Saw another table enjoying some pretty good looking burgers on my way to the restroom which requires a numbered passcode to enter. Plenty of parking space of parking space at this place. Maybe I just went at a slow time. 6:00pm on a Thursday… I’ll be back again to have some breakfast, perhaps that will be a bit more enjoyable.
Virginia GarciaVirginia Garcia
00
It's a solid diner. Got the chicken fried steak, they call it country fried. It's pretty expensive for what you get. The portions are acceptable, you shouldn't leave hungry. Gravy was the highlight it was very good gravy. I think the steak is from frozen, so they're not battering it to order. Pretty common but i think for that reason it should be cheaper. I got hashbrowns and they weren't bad but they were under cooked, they should be creamy in the middle and some of the potato was still raw. They're probably cooking them from frozen instead of cooking them thawed. Hashbrowns should be thawed out before they're cooked otherwise they don't come out right. I also got a biscuit, it was pretty good but very tough, drenched in gravy they're pretty good but i wouldn't get one with jelly or honey. I prefer honey on a warm biscuit. Service was great, they're bilingual with Spanish. Pretty clean place, little rip in the seat but no biggy. I do wish they had more hot sauce options, only Tabasco at the tables you gotta hunt down the better ones. All in all a worthy place to eat, definitely better than that garbage they serve at Black Bear Diner. Give them a shot! Plus a rare 💎 they're open 24 hr, practically unheard-of in California.
Ian DailyIan Daily
00
Santa Cruz Diner is a true gem with a rich history that spans over 28 years, starting as a humble waffle house and growing into a vibrant, eclectic treasure. Every meal here exudes the warmth and care of genuine home cooking. The diverse menu caters to every craving, blending classic diner staples with unique, flavorful twists that make every visit exciting. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, with a charm that reflects its journey from modest beginnings to a beloved local institution. Whether you’re indulging in hearty breakfast favorites, comforting lunch options, or satisfying dinner plates, you can taste the dedication and authenticity in every bite. The staff are friendly, attentive, and clearly take pride in keeping the diner’s legacy alive. Santa Cruz Diner is more than just a place to eat—it's a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and good food bringing people together. A must-visit for anyone in the area!
VladVlad
00
Our waiter was on it! He was an older Hispanic man, and we really appreciated his attentiveness. As we were sitting & eating, we saw him cleaning windows and he even went outside and picked up trash. You could just tell what a good worker he is. Overall, the service was great. The food, however, was not. I ordered the #1, and the hashbrowns had no flavor. I added some salt, and that helped a little, but I ended up just not eating them. The bacon was all fat, which I guess some people would enjoy, but I didn't. Our son ordered the Mexican Skillet, and he was disappointed. He also said it was bland, just not any flavor. The hot chocolate was good. I do like the general atmosphere. They could use some touching up to their signs outside. I appreciate that they were open early in the morning when most other places were closed. I also appreciate their menu options.
ElizabethElizabeth
00
Nearby Attractions Of Santa Cruz Diner
Bookshop Santa Cruz
Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection
Santa Cruz Cinema
Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
Patagonia Outlet
Hyatt Place Santa Cruz
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Santa Cruz, an IHG Hotel
Cooperhouse Shopping Center
Continental Inn
Comfort Inn

Bookshop Santa Cruz
4.8
(1K)Click for details

Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection
4.2
(727)Click for details

Santa Cruz Cinema
4.4
(643)Click for details

Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup
4.8
(427)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Santa Cruz Diner
Taqueria Los Pericos
Woodstock's Pizza Santa Cruz
The Walnut Avenue Cafe
Pono Hawaiian Grill Downtown Santa Cruz
Charlie Hong Kong
Taqueria Santa Cruz
Jack's Hamburgers
Pizza My Heart
11th Hour Coffee
The Crêpe Place

Taqueria Los Pericos
4.6
(1.5K)Click for details

Woodstock's Pizza Santa Cruz
4.4
(1.2K)Click for details

The Walnut Avenue Cafe
4.5
(837)Click for details

Pono Hawaiian Grill Downtown Santa Cruz
4.4
(780)Click for details