Palomino Café & Cocina — Restaurant in Surf City

Palomino Cafe & Cocina is a brand-new Mexican breakfast concept that now occupies the original location of a long-standing restaurant. That original brand has since moved just half a mile down the road into a stunning new state-of-the-art space, leaving this spot to be completely reimagined into something fresh and inviting.

The interior of Palomino Cafe & Cocina is bright, clean, and open, with a welcoming mix of tables and booth seating. Wood paneling adds warmth and charm, while light-colored decor gives the space an airy, modern feel—perfect for breakfast or lunch. There's a parking lot out front with plenty of parking.

The menu offers a fantastic lineup of traditional and elevated Mexican dishes, with standout breakfast and lunch options. Guests can customize guisos caseros with eight different protein choices, served as plated meals or as tacos, burritos, or sopas.

I ordered a cold brew coffee, which had excellent flavor. For breakfast, I chose the sandwich on sourdough bread, which comes with your choice of protein and cheese, plus an egg. I paired it with a stack of pancakes, and both were exceptional. The sandwich was delicious, and the pancakes had that perfect spongy texture—substantial but never soggy.

I also highly recommend the tres leches pancake option—it’s truly divine.

On a previous visit, I came for lunch and had the quesabirrias, which remain one of my all-time favorite dishes. They’re flavorful, perfectly crisped, and worth the trip alone.

Nearly everything is made in-house, including their freshly squeezed juices, and it shows. Every item feels vibrant and thoughtfully prepared. The staff are friendly, welcoming, inviting, and very helpful. They clearly take pride in the restaurant and the experience they offer.

Palomino Cafe & Cocina is a standout reinvention of a familiar space, offering fresh, flavorful Mexican cuisine and warm hospitality in a beautiful...

Despite the A/C making it very cold, we really enjoyed our meal. The food was tasty and plentiful. They have squeezed to order OJ, delish! We shared the El Caballito, which was, basically, a sampler of grilled chicken breast which was tender but could have used a sauce, red or green chilaquiles, chile relleno, chorizo with refried beans and sliced avocado. I was really cold and asked for hot tea, but they didn’t have it, so I got hot water with lemon. The staff is wonderful and helpful. The atmosphere is festive and clean. We...

Fam from D.F. Mexico and live in LA, out in Hampstead for the summer and so happy I found AUTHENTIC mexican food! The POZOLE, pancakes, mexican breakfast potatoes, CAFE DE OLLA, and michelada were delicioso! Now I just need to try everything else on their menu! They have taco tuesday deals, deals for each day of the week, and great service! Felt like home in there with the music and vibes. They have a full bar and wish they were open late to go for some...