South Park Kitchen

We loved our meal at The Big Kitchen. This was our first time there. After an event in the area, we we stopped in for lunch. The breakfast and lunch menus are both available even early afternoon. I had the frittata with roasted garlic and potatoes, and also a homemade biscuit. My friend had the Cobb salad. The quality of the food and the quantity were impressive. We sat outside and listened to live music during our meal. Service was friendly and capable. We'll go back again.

This is a very cozy breakfast place! I love the atmosphere! It makes you feel like you're at a friend's kitchen and you just don't want to leave! If this is your first time, ask the waitress to take you for a short walk. There are three different parts of this Kitchen! There's a little patio area that makes you feel like you're at your back porch. The food is delicious! I ordered Judy's favorite that has scambled eggs, spinach, and mushrooms served with potatoes. We also shared the French toast that has a hint of cinnamon flavor in it. Definitely coming back! Tips: cash or check only! Be prepared to come to Judy's big kitchen!

No better place to sit down and enjoy an unforgettable breakfast so good all the time!.. Judy the owner is the best she helps the community she feeds the homeless she even got up and ran to help a blind guy across the street to help him get home! the place is awesome her burgers are amazing.. the best home fries the best raspberry jam and most of all the most courteous and loving staff in all of San Diego!.. please stop by and enjoy a wonderful meal in a Unforgettable place!

Ahmed De Alba

Amazing little restaurant. The owner is one of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet. She is so happy to see and talk to customers. Food is amazing! The fresh fruit is super sweet and fresh, the pancakes are huuuge and super good! Even their homemade salsa is amazing! I totally recommend the protein pancake ! If you ever have the chance, go!

Hani Alqaji

Judy the owner been there for 43 years! Place has positive vibes and you will feel welcomed the moment you walk in. Food was ok you can not be very creative with breakfast options but it will meet your expectations and will make you feel full!

Lorraine Emanuele

Just eat here. I've been a diner here for over 30 years and I have never been disappointed. Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great music, great experience. Whether you're a visitor or a local, The Big Kitchen is a bucket-list MUST. You will have missed something special if you miss Judy the Beauty's gift to the world. Just eat here.

Christopher Gorrie

This is a great spot for down-to-earth, home-cooked meals. They have all the classics, plus creative newcomers and veggie/vegan options. It’s a little rough around the edges, but Big Kitchen Cafe is a fun, laidback spot in South Park that’s worth visiting. It’s a nice place for a solo breakfast or an (immediate) family gathering. I recommend the Denver omelette, tofu rancheros, and French toast. Enjoy!

Andrew Rogers

Judy Foreman is a LEGEND. The owner works the tables, making everyone feel welcome and like family. She is amazing! Got the waffle and it was light and fluffy. Also came with a side of fruit. The staff come around often to refill coffee and water often. Highly recommend this local establishment!

B T

This is a great "locals" breakfast place that has lots of old school charm. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Service was great! Good coffee, fresh squeezed orange juice was yummy! I ordered a Vegetarian omelet with bacon added; it was awesome! Home fries were garlicky and delicious..I did wish for a few more in my serving. Toast was great and jam was homemade from somewhere. Its cash or check only, so plan ahead on that. I'll be back to this place for a lunch soon! (closes at 2:30)

Mark Christy

5 star for personality ! this is an amazing outdoor breakfast lunch relax and eat spot !! huge pancake is perfect to split! i loved the blt .... the potatoes are delicious and garlicky. they biscuits and gravy were home style and served with enough gravy , it came in a bowl... smooth, creamy, and delicious.

Paul Scalone

Popped in here for breakfast this morning before work, it gets busy but the staff does a great job. The owner is an absolute delight and they have live jazz on Saturday morning. Gotta say, the entire experience was an amazing culmination of classic American diner meets outside European Cafe', complete with live Jazz. If you find something to complain about any of this, check yo self!

Yvonne EP

We have frequented this neighborhood restaurant over the years since my now adult children were school aged. The menu consists of healthy comfort food and traditional diner standards. Kona coffee is served and cups are refreshed with the brew frequently. The consistent quality of the food served keeps us coming back. The atmosphere inside and out is reminiscent of perhaps the 60s and 70s. The walls are covered with original art and photos of friends and customers. Judy the owner is a gracious hostess and mindful business woman. In our time of chain restaurants and fast food stops, you would do well to spend an hour or two taking in all that this place has to offer.

Judy H

We loved our meal at The Big Kitchen. This was our first time there. After an event in the area, we we stopped in for lunch. The breakfast and lunch menus are both available even early afternoon. I had the frittata with roasted garlic and potatoes, and also a homemade biscuit. My friend had the Cobb salad. The quality of the food and the quantity were impressive. We sat outside and listened to live music during our meal. Service was friendly and capable. We'll go back again.

Felicity

This is a very cozy breakfast place! I love the atmosphere! It makes you feel like you're at a friend's kitchen and you just don't want to leave! If this is your first time, ask the waitress to take you for a short walk. There are three different parts of this Kitchen! There's a little patio area that makes you feel like you're at your back porch. The food is delicious! I ordered Judy's favorite that has scambled eggs, spinach, and mushrooms served with potatoes. We also shared the French toast that has a hint of cinnamon flavor in it. Definitely coming back! Tips: cash or check only! Be prepared to come to Judy's big kitchen!

Angel Gomez

No better place to sit down and enjoy an unforgettable breakfast so good all the time!.. Judy the owner is the best she helps the community she feeds the homeless she even got up and ran to help a blind guy across the street to help him get home! the place is awesome her burgers are amazing.. the best home fries the best raspberry jam and most of all the most courteous and loving staff in all of San Diego!.. please stop by and enjoy a wonderful meal in a Unforgettable place!

If you’re looking for a true San Diego gem, this is it. Big Kitchen Cafe has been open since the 70’s and you can feel the history the second you walk up to the sign. It has that cozy, neighborhood vibe that just feels good. The owner is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. You can feel her heart in the way the café is run. It doesn’t feel corporate or rushed. It feels welcoming and real. We ordered the biscuits and gravy, French toast, a waffle and the breakfast potatoes and everything was so good. The biscuits were soft and fluffy with rich, savory gravy poured all over. The French toast was perfectly golden and not overly sweet. The waffle had that crispy outside with a soft center that you hope for. And the breakfast potatoes were crispy, well seasoned and completely addicting. This place isn’t trendy and that’s exactly why it’s so great. It’s authentic, full of character and clearly loved by the community. In a city like San Diego where things change all the time, Big Kitchen feels like a comforting constant. Definitely worth a visit if you want a classic breakfast made with heart.

Such a special place! Live music most weekends and good food. I regularly go here with 5-7 people and they’re always able to pull out extra tables and make room for us. Do not go here if you’re grumpy or in a hurry, Big Kitchen is an experience that simply should not be rushed.

Been coming here for 20+ years. Hope to come here for the next 20. This is my home diner, and when I moved away for a few years would still stop in for a pancake and potatoes or a cuppa and some coffee cake when I visited. Absolutely love this little place and support their social justice and other contributions to the community. Judy is an angel 😇

This is easily one of my favorite finds for a diner in San Diego. The ambience is unique and sends a message that is very clearly pro-human rights, which is a breath of fresh air in today's society. All of the art work and personal mementos and trinkets that line the wall give a welcoming feel for all. The owner Judy is a lovely human being who acknowledges and interacts with all of her guests and is an inspiration for all. She is so entertaining and beyond charming. It's like coming home to eat a home cooked breakfast. The food is delicious. The home style potatoes and the giant cinnamon rolls are my favorite, but truly you can't go wrong with anything on the menu here.

Alex R

This is easily one of my favorite finds for a diner in San Diego. The ambience is unique and sends a message that is very clearly pro-human rights, which is a breath of fresh air in today's society. All of the art work and personal mementos and trinkets that line the wall give a welcoming feel for all. The owner Judy is a lovely human being who acknowledges and interacts with all of her guests and is an inspiration for all. She is so entertaining and beyond charming. It's like coming home to eat a home cooked breakfast. The food is delicious. The home style potatoes and the giant cinnamon rolls are my favorite, but truly you can't go wrong with anything on the menu here.

Joe Berge

We were seated outside in front of the restaurant. Service was good, food was great quality. The owner is very involved with her customers. Many regulars! A band added a very nice atmosphere during our breakfast! Highly recommend!

Henry Bayer

Service was A++! 🏆 Coffee: nice, fresh, and warm ✅ Scrambled eggs: great ✅ Bacon: good ☑️ The French toast was good altho a little too lukewarm and not hot enough for my liking. It was a chillier day and I think it was busy inside so understandably some items might sit a bit longer than others. I’ll definitely come back and try again tho. Thanks!

It was alright, but I was expecting more from one of SD’s highest rated breakfast spots. It does have a homestyle feel, but service was very slow even if it wasn’t that crowded. The frittata was average tasting, and the potatoes were bland. The waffles were pretty good.

Robert E

It was alright, but I was expecting more from one of SD’s highest rated breakfast spots. It does have a homestyle feel, but service was very slow even if it wasn’t that crowded. The frittata was average tasting, and the potatoes were bland. The waffles were pretty good.

Ilya A

Our recent visit to Big Kitchen Cafe in San Diego left much to be desired. The experience was marred by disappointingly undercooked potatoes in our meals (frittata and breakfast burrito), which significantly impacted the overall taste. The pancakes were great. Adding to the frustration was the super slow service – it felt like an eternity before our orders were delivered. While the ambiance had potential, the lack of attention to culinary execution and prompt service took away from what could have been a more enjoyable dining experience. Place has it's unique atmosphere and life music (Saturday morning).

The staff were friendly, but the overall experience left a lot to be desired. Service was very slow (about an hour and a half for food), coffee was forgotten twice, and no one checked in during the meal. One of the orders came out wrong, and a child at our table was promised crayons twice but never received them. The pancakes were dense, a little burnt, and had a bitter aftertaste. I appreciated the friendliness, but the service and food quality need improvement.

Zaynab

The staff were friendly, but the overall experience left a lot to be desired. Service was very slow (about an hour and a half for food), coffee was forgotten twice, and no one checked in during the meal. One of the orders came out wrong, and a child at our table was promised crayons twice but never received them. The pancakes were dense, a little burnt, and had a bitter aftertaste. I appreciated the friendliness, but the service and food quality need improvement.

We ordered a burrito to go, and were very disappointed when we got home. Not only was it not in burrito form, more like a ginormous egg taco, but there was supposed to be avocado, and there was less than a teaspoon worth of that and even less cheese. There was More salsa than egg and it was very hot, spicy hot. Probably one of the worst breakfast burritos we’ve ever eaten. The eggs were tasteless. Probably the salsa is supposed to mask that tasteless. This used to be a great restaurant. But now it overcharges and under delivers. I paid $20 for this one dish. Disgusting.

Judy Osman

We ordered a burrito to go, and were very disappointed when we got home. Not only was it not in burrito form, more like a ginormous egg taco, but there was supposed to be avocado, and there was less than a teaspoon worth of that and even less cheese. There was More salsa than egg and it was very hot, spicy hot. Probably one of the worst breakfast burritos we’ve ever eaten. The eggs were tasteless. Probably the salsa is supposed to mask that tasteless. This used to be a great restaurant. But now it overcharges and under delivers. I paid $20 for this one dish. Disgusting.

glenn ferraco

Went there today. Service was horrible! Waited 10 minutes just to get a menu. Table was sticky. Waited 10 more minutes no one even asked us if we wanted coffee or water. We ended up leaving. First impression is so important and they fell well short. Can’t review the food never given the opportunity to try. Very disappointed and will never return.