Rae's Restaurant

(310) 828-7937

2901 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90405 34.025 -118.4595

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: Pico, West LA

Price:

$

Last updated 6.04.11

Category:

Restaurants, Diners

Payment Methods:

Cash

Restaurant Special Features:

Family-Friendly Dining

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Rae's Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Despite a retro turquoise facade recognizable in multiple films, this Santa Monica diner doesn't let fame get to its head. Hipsters play supporting roles to longstanding regulars, who keep the orange booths and blue bar stools crowded. Service is quick and efficient; waitresses drop checks mid-meal. The straight-up diner menu leads with egg combos, hot cakes and waffles. Quarter-pound burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches are popular lunch choices. Nightly dinner specials include breaded pork loin, filet of sole or deep-fried chicken.

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
Solo diners should head for the counter as booths are reserved for two, but the rule is only enforced when it's busy.
Save Money:
The menu includes complete kiddie meals for less than five bucks. Breakfast and lunch portions are big enough to satisfy light-eaters, but the special only applies to children under 10.
Know Before You Go:
Waits are possible on weekend days, especially during prime brunch hours. That's when parking will be tough, too. If the lot is full, hunt for a spot on Pico.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The service is friendly and the atmosphere is very relaxed.”
  2. “Great location, which has been used in many movies.”
food quality
87.5% positive
  1. “Don't look for innovative fooid choices here but instead a really delicious, reliable greasy breakfast that is reasonable and served with love.”
  2. “With so many chains around, Rae's is a breath of fresh air.”
  3. “Atmosphere is usually Zero, food greasy, service mediocre.”
  4. “Hard to find a place on the westside that 2 people can have a good meal for $17.00 total, but Rae's delivers every time I go.”
  5. “The food is good (love the pancakes) and the prices are low.”
  6. “great food for cheap price”
  7. “They only take cash but they will serve you up a good homecooked meal straight from the 1950s for under $8!”
  8. “The service staff is friendly and attentive and the food (at least their breakfast menu) is great.”
  9. “The 2x2x2 (pancakes + eggs + bacon) for $5.00 is pretty much impossible to beat and their chicken fried steak is equally good.”
  10. “The food was good, but not exceptional.”
  11. “The food is good and cheap.”
  12. “Cheap and consistently really good diner food.”
menu variety
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “For those of us who live on the westside and don't have that many great quirky, off-beat options, Rae's is a salvation.”
  2. “The service staff is friendly and attentive and the food (at least their breakfast menu) is great.”
  3. “Don't look for innovative fooid choices here but instead a really delicious, reliable greasy breakfast that is reasonable and served with love.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Still, it's a great place to take a seat at the counter and be a part of tradition.”
  2. “This is a great breakfast place and the time when most of the people go there.”
  3. “great cheap place to eat”
service
64.28999900817871% positive
  1. “This is a great breakfast place and the time when most of the people go there.”
  2. “The service staff is friendly and attentive and the food (at least their breakfast menu) is great.”
  3. “The only downside is the service, which can be slow.”
  4. “Atmosphere is usually Zero, food greasy, service mediocre.”
  5. “Good overall diner, but the service was a bit slow.”
  6. “Hard to find a place on the westside that 2 people can have a good meal for $17.00 total, but Rae's delivers every time I go.”
  7. “The service is friendly and the atmosphere is very relaxed.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “great food for cheap price”
  2. “They give huge portion and it's cheap.”
  3. “The food is good and cheap.”
  4. “The food is good (love the pancakes) and the prices are low.”
  5. “great cheap place to eat”
  6. “Great cheap place”
wait time
25.0% positive
  1. “The only downside is the service, which can be slow.”
  2. “Good overall diner, but the service was a bit slow.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/14/10

AWESOME PLACE!

by cyberfelix

The food here is NOT cheap. Don't let the other descriptions dissuade you from coming here. The food is INEXPENSIVE, but it is not "cheap".

Cheap food is the kind you get at Denny's. Who wants to pay $9 for two rubbery eggs and a piece of toast? Not me! That's why I go to Rae's.

For an amazing treat, order the Bacon Tidbit Waffle. Yum.

P.S. Don't everyone come here all at once, it creates a line out the door.

  • Pros: Inexpensive great food
  • Cons: Parking is a bitch, Cash only
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/10/09

great food for cheap price

by the wifey

Even though its a little dated on the inside and out, the food makes up for every dated thing...its very old fashion, but its the old fashion feeling that i like, theres not really anymore old fashion things around but raes makes up for it.

  • Pros: best cheese hamburgers in santa monica
  • Cons: a little dated but still woth it
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/10/09

great cheap place to eat

Contributor

It's a little run down both inside and out but that says nothing about how good the food is. They give huge portion and it's cheap.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/17/08

Cheap and consistently really good diner food.

by edcoxflorida

So first of all a diner is a diner. Atmosphere is usually Zero, food greasy, service mediocre. Rae's however, only suffers from a diner's atmosphere. The service staff is friendly and attentive and the food (at least their breakfast menu) is great. The 2x2x2 (pancakes + eggs + bacon) for $5.00 is pretty much impossible to beat and their chicken fried steak is equally good. Hard to find a place on the westside that 2 people can have a good meal for $17.00 total, but Rae's delivers every time I go.

  • Pros: Great food. Best Price.
  • Cons: Ambience. It's a diner.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/30/06

Raes--Cheap and Good Homecooked Meals!

by talulaknuckles

They only take cash but they will serve you up a good homecooked meal straight from the 1950s for under $8!

Cute building--its been there for 50+ years I think!

I really like it here. VERY low key atmosphere...a place to go when you don't have on any makeup and are wearing last nights clothes...

  • Pros: cheap food, good portions, relaxed atmosphere
  • Cons: cash only

The Details on Rae's Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • good diner food
  • great cheap place
  • good hearty breakfast
  • attentive service staff
  • good homecooked meal
  • amazing treat
  • mediocre food greasy
  • not great quirky
  • great westside
  • love biscuits and gravy
  • best 2
  • order bacon tidbit waffle
  • good overall diner
  • love pancakes
  • not great offbeat options
  • great location
  • not exceptional food
  • mediocre zero
  • fresh air
  • huge portion
  • equally good chicken fried steak
  • slow service
  • great breakfast place
Advertisement

Lists In Santa Monica

Recent Reviews In Santa Monica

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Sushi Roku

1401 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

California Chicken Cafe

2401 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

Via Veneto

3009 Main St, Santa Monica, CA

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

STELLA ROSSA PIZZA BAR

2000 MAIN ST, SANTA MONICA, CA

Advertisement