Harry's Coffee Shop
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: La Jolla7545 Girard Ave
(between Kline St & Pearl St)
La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 454-7381
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot, Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Breakfast
100 reviews
Neighborhood: La Jolla
"Sylish, fun, romantic, lovely, and deeeelicious! Me and my hansome man started out at the bar upstairs, and I had myself a big dirty…" read more »
34 Reviews for Harry's Coffee Shop
Another top place for breakfast in my book.
I like to try older, established restaurants and diners whenever I can and Harry's has been around seemingly forever.
So what if it's in uber trendy and stuffy La Jolla?
I've found the service to be friendly and fast.
My wife and her uncle love the hash and eggs.
No hash for this guy, but everything else I have tried on the menu is quite good and fairly priced.
A few of the booths are rather old and lumpy, however.
Quite busy on the weekends, so expect a wait if you like to sleep in before you head out to breakfast.
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Total old school place. The food is AWESOME. Gets crowded on the weekends, so get there early. Small outdoor area also. Biscuits and gravy RULE! Pancakes will fill you up for sure. Nice, friend;y staff and good service.
This was a spot that I used to frequent a lot when living in the La Jolla area. Cute little coffee shop full of La Jolla Old Timers that would come in and chat it up at the bar-- and flirt with the waitresses.
I'm a Big Fan of places that keep things fairly much antiquated... and don't try to turn things into the run of the mill circa-- 2008 spots. For this reason-- some of my very favorite places tend to be those that have an Antiquated "feel" to them...and act as a "Magic Time Machine" to carry you "back to the day...".
This is certainly one of those spots.
Just love it!
Good food--
Nice Ambiance...
And I love seeing a place where the locals can "let their hair down" and just hang out and chat it up!
Great spot!
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Parking in the Back of this place...
A private lot.
But don't park for longer than an hour or so-- otherwise they may tow you. La Jolla has a classic parking "situation".
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My running group came here today after running nearby along the La Jolla Half Marathon course, so yes, we were famished and required some worthy sustenance. Insert Harry's into the picture. What a good decision! Sure beats going to IHOP or Denny's (where we usually go after doing Torrey Pines).
It didn't take long for our group of 8 to secure a table, actually one of those odd corner booths. We were comfortable sitting next to each other all sweaty and smelly. But I digress.
The waitress promptly took our drink orders, then we pored over the expansive menu. Harry's serves breakfast ALL DAY, EVERYDAY! Yay! The menu was definitely greasy spoon-type fare. Omelets, steak and eggs, waffles/French toast/pancakes, fruit, and some lunch items. They got it all here.
Although I had been talking about getting bacon all morning, I was torn between getting a Super Omelet (ham, cheese, salsa, onions), Eggs Benedict, or Chicken Fried Steak w/ Eggs. I chose the latter of the three. Everyone else in my party ordered different items(opportunity for me to mooch off others food to sample).
The ambience is definitely nice and chill, similar to what you would find at Perry's Cafe (a favorite of mine). The restrooms are in the back of the restaurant (men's is outside in the parking lot). They were nice too.
Back to the food. It all arrived within 15 minutes of ordering. Not bad. I had some good rye toast to nibble on while I was waiting (excellent with the whipped butter on top). Well, my plate came, and it looked good. Plenty of country gravy was on top of my chicken fried steak, along with hash browns and two eggs over-easy. The steak was okay. It was more like country fried steak than chicken fried steak, more formed chopped beef steak than sirloin or cube steak (I know because I didn't have to use my knife to cut it). The gravy was a little salty. The eggs and potatoes were fine. As usual, I doused my meal with some hot sauce, this time with the house salsa, not Tabasco. That made it all better. I really liked the small piece of French toast I mooched off a friend. I'll try that next time I'm in La Jolla (perhaps after the La Jolla Half Marathon next weekend).
Overall, this is a decent breakfast joint. Maybe some of the other food choices will blow me away. The food hit the spot and after burning 2000 calories, that's all I really needed.
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i would give this place zero stars for crap food and crap coffee catering to senior citizens who have apparently lost their sense of taste, but yelp requires i give them one star just to tell you they suck.
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I am honestly surprised to see such a high overall rating for this restaurant. I went for the first time yesterday and was sorely disappointed. Where to begin...
I suppose I should start off with the good parts. There is significant seating, and my waitress was very good. She was able to substitute fruit for the bacon which came with my meal. Also, the coffee was rather tasty. This is sadly all I can think of.
Now for the bad part: the food. I ordered a combo with eggs and oatmeal pancakes, neither of which were good. Actually, to say the eggs were "not good" would be doing them a favor. I have never tasted such rubbery scrambled eggs in my entire life. When I order scrambled eggs at a breakfast joint, I expect them to be at least as good as the ones I make at home.... not by a long shot! The rating "not good" is more apt for the pancakes. They were not very tasty, nor were they particularly warm. I also have to take some points away for giving me a little tub of prepackaged syrup rather than a pitcher.
I should note that my rating of 2 stars was a tough choice. Ideally, I would attribute 2.5 stars and call it a day, but there is no such option. What finally made me round the score down rather than up is the fact that none of my items (save the coffee) satisfied me in any way. Maybe I came on a bad day, maybe I have high standards... but either way, I will not be coming back.
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This place is only steps from my best's apartment so we decided to try Sunday morning.
Harry's is what you would expect from a decent breakfast/brunch place. The coffee was commercial grade but the food and staff were great.
Upon the recommendation of our waitress, we ordered the Eggs Benedict- which was delicious.
I would go here again just for the laid back, beachy feel of this small little coffee shop.
For us 'non-morning' people, we can be especially cranky and critical when it comes to our first meal. "No, no, no, I asked for strawberry jam not blackberry god damnit", "What the hell, is this pulp in my orange juice?". For some reason however, I've never had the opportunity to get mad at Harry's. Service is quick (once seated), food is delivered fast, prices are fair and the food is tasty.
No, I don't want my eggs served on a bed of arugula. No, I don't want black truffle dipping sauce for my toast (though I might patent that recipe and take advantage of some of the La Jolla yuppies). What I want is simple, 3 eggs, sunny side up, bacon, hash browns, toast, and please God get me coffee! All this for only $10, what better way to start the day? Well I could think of one, but probably best to keep that to myself.
-1 for the coffee being inconsistent and for your own sake, avoid the old waitress, there is only one, you will never forget her after she takes 1/2 an hour to get you water.
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Mike and I used to use coupons and come here often when living in Windansea. He always got the french toast combo and I always got something healthy. I love how there's something for everyone here and there's a parking lot too!
I'll be honest and say that I like this place more for its ambiance and not the food.
The place is cool and usually busy but the food is only average. And I'm not that hard to please being just an eggs over easy and sausages guy. The food's sloppy and I just don't feel the love.
Neat location and lots of parking in the back. An extra star for that and the cool atmosphere, but unfortunately the food doesn't live up. If it did, it'd easily be a 5-star for me.
Accepts Credit Cards? Definite Yes, including Amex and Diners Club.
Good stuff! A great place when you're in the mood for a great diner food. Busy and bustling, with decent prices and good service. It's fun to sit and the counter and watch the servers and short order cooks do their thing. The coffee cup stays full and the gravy soaks the biscuits. Yum.
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Who knew that there was such a normal, no frills, almost NY style diner in La Jolla? I can't believe that I just discovered this place only a few days ago. Great combos - pretty much your typical diner food. Very tasty oatmeal pancakes. I will definitely be back to try more.
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Greasy spoon located in the heart of La Jolla. This place is a weekend breakfast's dream. It's a sixties style diner outfit with booth seating, vinyl cushions and a coffee bar. I would image that the decor has changed very little in the almost 50 years of the restaurant's service. There's also seating outside in the front for nice days.
I remember my first experience to Harry's. I parked in the private lot in the back and walked through the back area / kitchen to the main dining room. I was shocked to see the authentic, no frills ambience and to take in that smell.. the smell of breakfast grease that still makes my mouth water.
Harry's is one of the few places that I will order pancakes. Unlike most places that serve very heavy and overly filling pancakes, these seem to be the perfect texture and size. They even offer a unique recipe of whole wheat pancakes. When I dine there I typically get the 2 x 2 with my own special touch: two eggs scrambled with (lotsa) cheese and two whole wheat pancakes, add banana. Wait.. I just slobbered all over my keyboard.
If you haven't been to Harry's for breakfast, then do yourself a favor and go tomorrow morning. Take your best friends and/or family as it's truely a treat. There can often be a wait on weekend mornings, but that's why they print newspapers.
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This is one of my favorite brunch places in La Jolla - it's up there with Hash House A Go Go and Crest Cafe in Hillcrest. The service is great and fast. The space is big so there isn't a long wait time and their food quality and quantity are both solid. I've been coming here for over 10 years now and it's never once let me down.
Harry's is truly a La Jolla institution. It has been around for 45 years, and the interior probably hasn't been updated in any of those years. But, that casual diner feel is well suited to the menu offerings for breakfast (served all day!) as well as the mouth-watering array of lunch items (sandwiches, burgers, salads, quesadillas....). This is no greasy spoon; the food is well prepared and served in ample but not gut-busting portions. They also serve buckwheat pancakes, which is somewhat of an anomaly in San Diego. Parking in the rear lot is plentiful, but beware that the spaces seem to be designed for Mini Coopers and Vespa's. Oh yeah, and if you can sit outside on the small front patio, give it a try. There is plenty of people-watching to be done in this busy part of La Jolla.
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My first introduction to Harry's was Harry senior himself. He used to come into my restaurant and order chicken tacos, I didn't know who he was I just knew he had a lot of charisma, something every restaurant owner should have. I eventually found out about Harry's Coffee Shop. We went for breakfast and got hooked sixteen years ago. My husband Sam craves the Eggs Benedict, and I adore the oatmeal pancakes. When our outing includes extra offspring we start with biscuits and gravy ummmm. I like that they use quality ingredients it's really important and it shows. I also like that they hired my daughter Brooke to wait tables. They are a true San Diego style restaurant a dying breed in my opinion. We love family owned restaurants people should always support the "Mom and Pop" establishments.
Best breakfast that I've had in some time. Prices weren't bad either. Had a good feel -- not pretentious at all. Staff was great.
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The food was good (I had french toast), but the staff is great. The owner, Harry, let us make a reservation for a big party on a Sunday morning for a special occasion by exception (they don't take reservations usually). He also told me that they do a booth at the UCSD farmer's market called Belinda's Cocina. And there's a parking lot, woohoo.
Good greasy spoon and old school dinner.
You can eat healthy or not. Affordable and nice place to go for breakfast on the weekend.
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Great breakfast place. One of the few places I've been where I can get the old style charm of a classic diner in San Diego.
The food is pretty standard as diner foods go, nice and greasy. I've mainly had their omelets and they are pretty delicious.
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I love Harry's retro exterior. The eatery is definitely old school, especially considering it is in La Jolla, because the restaurant serves affordable and fattening food -- the menu is vastly different from other La Jolla landmarks like Georges on the Cove.
The restaurant has maintained its '60s style decor and its classic American dishes. The most popular meals here are American favorites like eggs benedict and french toast.
Although there are other restaurants in La Jolla where costumers can get a healthier meals and see a great view, Harry's is still worth checking out because the restaurant is a blast from the past, but it is still damn cool.
I would like to think that if the characters from "Swingers" were real and they lived in San Diego, they would frequent Harry's because the joint is money.
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There's nothing not to like about Harry's. It's a great place to grab a quick bite. Lots of healthy options on the menu!
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OMG - I have been transplated in time back to the fifties..... It is like walking into a Americana dinner, where nothing has changed for the last 30 years. Excellent service and the food is pretty good as well.
Parking sucks, except if you are lucky enough to get one of their spots in the back.
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I love the old school decor. But my breakfast was just OK.
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A classic La Jolla landmark. SO and I often find ourselves wandering in here for brunch after shopping at the La Jolla Farmers Market on Sundays.
Breakfast items are generally on the mark, eggs benedict is good, pancakes and waffles are on the mark. Lunch menu isn't as good as their breakfast menus. Anything cooked on the griddle comes with a good amount of grease. Wait staff is generally pretty attentitive.
Try: Belgian Waffles, regular waffles, pancakes
Stay away from: eggs (tend to come in a puddle of grease), and fries (limp and greasy).
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Old school coffee shop in downtown La Jolla...I love this place! Try to avoid the weekends...it gets super crowded.
This vintage staple of La Jolla is a quintessential American diner. Harry's opened its doors in 1960, and it seems that the carpet has not been changed since then. If you park in the back, you enter the cafe and pass by the bustling kitchen. The menu is definitely focused on breakfasts with an exhaustive list of options. Breakfasts are served all day. The crowd is local, and the service is casual. The lunch I had wasn't particularly great. The French fries were less tasty than the ones you can get at any fast food restaurants drive-thru. I had to go, though, when they started sweeping the carpeted floor while I still was eating!
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Classic La Jolla, this place is what a breakfast joint should be! The food is definitely above average (and they always bring you one more egg than you ordered), and the big, brown old-school booths are awesome. The staff is always super nice and the rear entry hall is lined with photos of local school teams and classes (my little sister is on the wall somewhere!), providing a nice local touch. I have yet to find a better breakfast place anywhere . . .
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the thing i liked best about harry's is that they embrace the leisurely breakfast. my friend and i caught up here on a sunday morning. we waited for a table for quite sometime but then were allowed to commandeer a table for nearly 2 hours. no pushing us out. we left a big tip in appreciation. i hate getting rushed out of sunday morning breakfast.
the food was tasty as expected and also no frills. but cheap, friendly, and chill. it makes me happy sometimes to go someplace with a basic feel and a basic menu.
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Excellent Casual Breakfast! Arrive early or you will have quite a wait. Not on the menu is their delicious Tangerine juice & Strawberries w/cream (in season) Great place for a late Sunday breakfast in your comfy clothes. Cheese Blintzes & Eggs Benedict are also very good. Not that expensive either.
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The Mel's Diner of La Jolla with a wealthier crowd.
If you like a great American Breakfast, then you will love Harry's. Eat in or out, the service is quick, and the menu is large and basic.
Don't worry if the line is long, the service is fast and so is the turnover.
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Harry's has a special place in my heart for its presence in my high school days. Serves up the usual breakfasty type stuff, but it's a La Jolla institution. The service is pretty good, and the prices are reasonable. An old style diner with some La Jolla class.
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I ate a huge brunch here about two months ago after being attracted to the retro coffee shop sign outside. Solid veggie omelette, yummy bagel, unlimited coffee, nice, attentive waitstaff, love the long counter, booths and old school feel of the place. I wish all of the awful '50s diners in downtown San Francisco would come down here and get a clue.
Good omlets, but I don't like eggs that much, so I could be full of it. ;)
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