I’ve been very fortunate in this challenge to dine at some of San Diego’s premiere upscale restaurants.  Trendy, hip, swanky and (in some cases) just plain too good for the likes of me have all been explored but I’ve also loved going to the smaller, mom & pop-style hidden gems of the city.  I’ve learned that a restaurant experience doesn’t have to be expensive or have a celebrity chef attached to it to be unique.  Enter this week’s restaurant:  Big Kitchen.  As this was a breakfast, most of the usual early morning foods fans were in attendance.

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Anna-Educator, flannel wearer, still mad at us for going to Snooze without her

Calei-Vegan food lover, a Mrs and a Mom, fellow Disneyland fan

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Joe-Theatre and beer enthusiast, podcast co-host, Co-Creator of World’s Cutest Baby

Kelsey-Project manager, Advanced level foodie, Has been known to drop it like it’s hot after a few cocktails

Liam-Star Wars fan, Lego enthusiast, the Earl of Sandwich

Lily-World’s Cutest Baby (a Joe & Nicole production)

Nearly everyone in this photograph is from a place where we’d get made fun of for dressing like this in December in San Diego.

Big Kitchen has some serious history to it.  A San Diego staple for nearly 35 years, I may actually be the last person in this city to not have eaten here.  Many notables have come through and even worked here.  Most famously Whoopi Goldberg who left behind a promising career as a dishwasher at Big Kitchen to settle for becoming an Academy Award winning actress.  The staff, most notably owner Judy, are colorful friendly and so welcoming you really do feel like you’re a guest in someone’s home. Much like in my home, they only accept cash.  It actually makes dining with a large group easier, so it was no problem for me.  Those select few in my group who didn’t bring cash were back in a jiffy (yeah, I said jiffy) after hitting up a nearby ATM.  Jiffy.

Harry ordered the Turkey Omelette with a side of potatoes.  He enjoyed all facets of the dish and the roasted garlic was of particular note.  Calei got the Tofu Rancheros, which was originally brought to her with cheese but was made vegan at her request with absolutely no hassle.  She said the rancheros was super delicious and worth coming back for.  For Liam, she got the kid’s pancake, which he liked.  Amy had the Biscuit with veggie gravy with sauteed veggies,  fruit, Rye toast and fresh squeezed orange juice.  She’s been here several times and this dish is a favorite of hers.  Amy calls it the best veggie gravy she’s ever had with an amazing flavor and herbiness.  The sauteed veggies were a bit oily for her taste but she loves this place.  Anna ordered the Kirk Scramble.  She said it was awesome.  She loved the Blue Cheese, bacon and mushrooms.  Anna also found the potatoes to be top notch.

Kelsey had the Biscuits and gravy.  She found the gravy to be way too lumpy and the sausage was overwhelmed by the Sage and Thyme.  There was no parsley because Paul Simon didn’t make her breakfast.  She said it wasn’t bad but also wasn’t what she wanted.   Joe also had the biscuits and gravy.  He praised how big the food was but wished for more sausage.  Lily enjoyed her pancake.  I could tell she appreciated the fresh ingredients from the look of joy she wore while rubbing pieces of the ripped pancake into her hair, which she did because baby.  I had the spinach and mushroom omelette with bacon and potatoes on the side.  My breakfast also included an iPad-sized piece of coffee cake.  It was delicious but ridiculously large.

LARGE Coffee cake. I left the giant novelty fork in the picture for scale.

My main was course was fluffy and delicious.  While new ground certainly wasn’t broken, it was simple breakfast food done right.  Also, super affordable.

If they had drive thru, this place would be perfect.

So in closing I would say Big Kitchen is definitely worth your time.  It’s charming, kitchy, cozy and fun.  Most importantly, good coffee and yummy breakfast food that will fill you up and make you happy in that special way that only breakfast, and occasionally tequila, can.

Further reading