Chiriaco Summit Coffee Shop

Looking for breakfast before you head into the south entrance of Joshua Tree National Park? Check out the Chiriaco Summit Coffee Shop. It’s the only place for miles serving hot food, but we assure you quality is not sub par. This cozy diner opens at 6am serving coffee shop breakfast along with sandwiches, burgers, and even dinner once that time of day rolls around. The food is delicious, the one-waitress service is delightful, and the prices are shockingly low.

Our classic breakfast consisted of an omelette, one piece of French toast, a side of eggs an English Muffin, and … a burger… because, why not! The omelette is packed with juicy ham, soft green chilies, and jack cheese all folded into a fluffy 3-egg masterpiece. It is served with slightly bland hash browns and buttery, thick toast. A simple serving of two scrambled eggs is impressive: incredibly light and perfectly whipped. Alongside comes a toasted English Muffin slathered with jam: a great start to any morning.

French toast is a breakfast must for any diner, so we had high expectations. We were not disappointed. The Texas toast-sized piece is soaked in eggs and cinnamon and pan-cooked so beautifully that the outsides have just the slightest crunch and the thick insides are still soft and doughy. Topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and enough syrup to satisfy any sweet tooth, this dish is outstanding.

Wanting to delve into the lunch menu, we felt a bacon cheeseburger would be the best choice to accompany our breakfast. The Chiriaco Burger is cooked to be medium well, topped with a bright yellow slice of cheese and two pieces of some of the crispest and largest pieces of bacon we’ve ever seen on a burger. Lettuce, tomato and pickles are served on the side right next to golden brown crinkle cut fries: absolutely fantastic. This burger is great for any meat lover and perfect for lunch, dinner, and in our case, breakfast.

Truckers, families, solo travelers, and passersby all seem to find a spot in this small-town diner. You’ll enjoy a relaxing morning or a casual lunch or dinner at Chiriaco Summit Coffee Shop at a wonderfully affordable price.