Have you ever been on an outing and then discovered a unique location that you otherwise wouldn’t have known about? This happened to me last week when we were running an errand for my husband’s work in Oceanside, about 30 miles north of San Diego. We were driving on South Coast Highway in Oceanside and noticed a diner called 101 Café. We didn’t have time that day to stop in, but made plans to check it out soon. This weekend we took the opportunity to enjoy a meal at 101 Café and we discovered a gem of a place.

The 101 Café has been serving up breakfast and lunch to hungry travelers since 1928. The Café has had some alternate names through the years, but it started as the 101 Café in 1928 and the current owners reestablished this name and the Café’s décor in 1993.

Photo Credits: Krista. PhotoGrid iPhone app.

Highway US 101 in California is as historic and beloved by Californians as Route 66 is to the rest of America. The 101 traces its roots back to the beginning days of California since much of the 101 follows the same route taken by the Spaniards while exploring this region and establishing the Missions in the late 1700s. The route was originally called El Camino Real (a.k.a. “The King’s Highway”) and served as the main north/south road in California.

When the 101 Café was first opened in 1928, US Highway 101 had been officially established as a highway a couple of years earlier. The Café was originally a small 20-seat diner and served travelers going from San Diego and Los Angeles. At one point in the 1930s – 1940s, a Greyhound bus stop was in front of the diner. In the early 1950s, the downtown Oceanside route of the 101 was bypassed by a new four lane highway that later became Interstate 5. Today in much of San Diego County, the 101 is no longer a major highway.

The 101 Café is open from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. every day except Christmas and is a cash only establishment. There is an ATM in the Café for your convenience. Breakfast is served all day and Lunch is served after 10:00 a.m. We arrived around 12:00 noon and selected some seats at the counter. First we had to decide if we wanted breakfast or lunch. After looking over the menu, we settled on lunch and placed our order. I ordered the Pacific Coast Tuna Melt on Sourdough with Onion Rings. My husband ordered the Grilled Cheese on Sourdough with Classic Drive-in Fries. You may recall from my post about our Midday Meal on the USS Midway, I typically order a tuna melt when I’m trying a diner for the first time – it’s one of the ways I decide if it is a quality diner or not. I also ordered a Strawberry Milkshake to complete my meal.

As we were sitting at the counter waiting for our food, we enjoyed looking at all of the enlarged historic photos that are displayed on the walls. Some of the black and white photos date back to Oceanside in the 1890s. In addition to the counter seating, there are some booths (with classic red leatherette bench seats) and tables inside and patio seating outside. Because we were sitting at the counter right next to the kitchen, we were able to see all of the food coming out hot and fresh. Even though we didn’t order breakfast this time, the breakfast foods looked delicious and we’ll be trying those next time.

Our food arrived and it was excellent. The sourdough bread on our sandwiches was lightly buttered and toasted to perfection. My husband said the American cheese on his Grilled Cheese was plentiful and melted throughout. I sampled the fries and they were tasty. My tuna melt was perfectly prepared with the same toasted sourdough bread. I had decided to upgrade my side from French fries to onion rings and they were great. There’s nothing like freshly prepared and hand-battered onion rings with a side of ranch dressing. The milkshakes are prepared with a classic milkshake blender with multiple stations and the extra shake is served in the stainless steel cup on the side. I ended up bringing some of my lunch home so I could enjoy the strawberry milkshake I added for the full diner experience.

Photo Credits: Krista. PhtoGrid iPhone app.

When I lived in Ventura County, the 101 Freeway was (and is) the major highway through my childhood hometown. I grew up traveling on this north/south highway and knew its historic past as El Camino Real. Discovering this Café in San Diego County was serendipitous for us, but we’re happy we stumbled upon it.

Eating lunch at the 101 Café was a great outing and I recommend it if you’re ever in the Oceanside area or are feeling nostalgic and want to step back in time to the “classic car culture” period of California’s history.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”