I visited a SLO mom-and-pop spot with ‘to die for’ pancakes. What I got for $25
A long-running mom-and-pop diner in San Luis Obispo has consistently churned out cheap breakfast and lunch offerings for four decades.
Budget Cafe has been a go-to spot for hungry locals since it first opened in the mid-1980s. For the last 20 years, it’s been situated in an indistinct strip mall across from the DMV in the blink-and-you-miss-it Cypress Plaza off of South Higuera Street.
The admittedly non-fancy, no-frills establishment said it’s focused on cultivating a community where regulars are welcomed on a first-name basis and the menu remains delicious yet affordable.
“At Budget Café, it’s as much about serving up a sense of family as it is about serving up good, hearty food,” the restaurant said on its website.
A San Luis Obispo County resident, who requested to remain anonymous, recommended I visit Budget Cafe in SLO for On a Budget, a monthly series where Tribune reporters try reader-suggested foods, drinks and activities around the area on a $25 budget.
He and his wife have frequently dined at the cafe over the past few years and “have never had a bad meal,” he told The Tribune in an email.
“The pancakes and bacon are ‘to die for’,” he said. “The service is always excellent and friendly and the owner is very good visiting tables and making everyone comfortable.”
As a relative newcomer to San Luis Obispo, I honestly had neither heard of nor visited the beloved breakfast and lunch joint. I decided to see for myself whether the diner lived up to its budget-friendly hype on a rainy Friday morning.
Here’s what I got for $25:
My visit to Budget Cafe in SLO
Location: 3121 South Higuera St., Suite J, San Luis Obispo
When I entered around 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, the diner was packed with patrons seated in vinyl booths against wood-paneled walls.
I chose a sturdy two-person table in the center of the room. A server quickly came around with a menu and asked if I wanted a cup of Joe. I muttered in the affirmative, and in no time, I was handed a blue mug filled to the brim with steaming coffee and a platter of half-and-half cups.
As I sipped my perfectly adequate cup of caffeine, I peered through a menu filled with dozens of breakfast classics — numerous combinations of homemade buttermilk pancakes, French toast and waffles, three-egg omelets, biscuits and gravy, hash browns, links of sausage and strips of bacon lined the plastic-covered page.
I knew I had to try the “to die for” pancakes and bacon, so I went with the simple Mini Ranch, which included one pancake, two eggs and two strips of bacon or link sausage. I went with the bacon, of course, and asked for my eggs over-medium.
As I waited for my food to arrive, I was struck by how at ease I felt in the space. A constant chatter filled the air as visitors discussed the recent stormy weather, weekend plans and breakfast options. Servers welcomed walk-ins with a “nice to see you again” and struck up casual conversations with guests.
It was clear I was one of the few visiting the diner for the first time, which felt like a good sign. And while the interior looked like it hadn’t been updated in decades, I found it cozy and perfectly fitting for the longtime diner.
Local artwork lined the walls with paintings featuring birch trees and log cabins, sunflowers, ocean waves under a starry night sky, and charmingly, a turtle in a racecar being pursued by a hare for all customers to enjoy and purchase if they pleased.
After less than 10 minutes, my breakfast appeared on the stainless steel counter in the window between the kitchen and the dining room. The server soon plopped plates in front of me, one with two eggs and bacon strips and another with a giant buttermilk pancake that was bigger than my face, served with a domed pat of whipped butter along with maple and boysenberry syrup.
Is Budget Cafe actually budget-friendly?
My first mouthful was a bite of the buttermilk pancake smothered in butter and maple syrup.
I was worried it might look better than it tasted since I’ve had my fair share of chewy diner pancakes, but I was happy to be proven wrong. It was super fluffy and well-balanced between the light batter, buttery surface and sweet syrup.
I gobbled up every bit of the massive pancake.
Next up was the bacon and eggs. The eggs were perfectly cooked, with a bright yellow, runny yolk — just how I like them. With a few sprinkles of salt and pepper and a dash of unnamed vinegar-based hot sauce, available on every table, it was a nice protein-packed complement to my pancake. The crispy bacon beside it added a salty crunch to the meal, though I can’t say it was particularly noteworthy.
My entire breakfast was simple, filling and tasty. While you won’t find elaborate, fancy offerings on the menu, the items sure are affordable.
In total, I spent $22.49. That included the $13 Mini Ranch combo, a drip coffee with free refills for $4, plus $1.49 in tax and a $4 tip.
Besides the quality meal, the service was spectacular, just like my anonymous recommender said. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next time I return I’m greeted with a big smile and a “nice to see you again.”
What else is affordable at SLO spot? See menu and prices
If you’re in a pinch financially, there are still plenty of things you can eat at Budget Cafe.
You can grab a pancake with an egg for $10.75, a Belgian waffle for $11, a three-egg cheese omelet for $14 or bacon and eggs for $14.50.
Hot tea and coffee is $4, while a small orange juice is $4.25.
Its expansive lunch menu includes cold and hot sandwiches as well as hamburgers and salads with most costing between $13 and $16.
Still feeling a little peckish? You can get a cup of homemade soup for $6.75 or a bowl of chili for just $9.25.
Owner Rhonda Mayeda said not everything is extremely cheap, like its title may suggest, but the quality and quantity of the restaurant’s offerings make up for its average prices. The pancakes are made from scratch with real buttermilk and vegetables are mostly stocked from the farmers market.
“I think I offer good value. My portions are not oversized, but they’re also not teeny, tiny,” she told The Tribune. “I also feel like the quality of my food is very good, if not excellent.”
When is Budget Cafe open?
The San Luis Obispo restaurant is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
Breakfast and lunch options are served all day at Budget Cafe.
Where should I go next?
Have any ideas on where I should visit next in SLO County on a budget?
Send me recommendations at hpoukish@thetribunenews.com or by filling out the form below.
