Rudford's Restaurant

I admit I had never heard of this place, but now I regret it because I Never. Want. To. Leave. It reminds me of the Corvette Diner, but with such a genuine feeling that I feel as though I've truly been transported back to the 50s. The food is absolutely delectable. I had the Kansas St. Francis Burger, and it was everything I wanted and more. The meat was juicy and perfectly cooked, the BBQ sauce was delicious, and the crinkle fries were delicious. The milkshakes and dessert options are also plentiful and they all sound and look so good!! Rudford's is an all-American gem of a place, and if you haven't been, you're seriously missing out.

You know I've been here for 8 years and I've never went to this diner. Would you believe we have gone twice in the past 24 hours!?! We have been searching around San Diego for a great cheeseburger some great breakfast food. Have driven all the way to LA to go to the Pancake Factory (1st time) in July. now permanently closed!! The same day we found out...was the day we said you know what lets go to Rudfords! They did NOT disappoint both times! The chicken Sausage is the BOMB!! The Burger...STELLAR The Chicken and Waffles came with a whole Fried Breast! Cant wait to try the French Toast on my next visit!!! Can you tell I enjoyed RUDFORDS!! ? Still delicious. UPDATE: SOMETHING HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED!! HERE on XMAS day 2023. I ordered Chicken and Waffles, wife ordered an Egg Scramble and was highly disappointed! First both came to us cold. Hers came back right... I waited for mine and still did not enjoy or eat. The chicken looked like it was the same as it did when I sent it back. She said she threw it away... They must've gotten out of the trash. NOT HAPPY

Charming throwback to the 60s! This place is an authentic diner with oval windows, booths, and counter seating. We tried the handcrafted vanilla milkshake, onion rings (which were some of the best I've ever had), and the most incredible French dip ever. It was like shaved slices off a freshly roasted roast beef, and it was so substantial I could barely fit my mouth around it. Absolutely amazing. We've known about this place for a long time, but this was our first visit. We'll definitely be coming back!

Charming nod to the 1960s! This establishment embodies the authentic diner experience, complete with oval windows, cozy booths, and counter seating. We indulged in a handcrafted vanilla milkshake, exceptional onion rings (among the best I've ever tasted), and an unbelievably delicious French dip. The roast beef was freshly carved and generously sized—so large that I could barely take a bite. Remarkable! Although we've known about this place for ages, this was our inaugural visit. We'll definitely be coming back!

Rudford's is one of those old school diners on El Cajon Blvd. For those who've recently moved here, El Cajon Blvd was THE main east-west artery for San Diego from the 1920s thru the 1950s. So along here you will find many older storefronts and eateries. Some of the older buildings have been repurposed into boutique craft or food shops. Many of the original stores though have been demolished for new big box apartments/condos. Rudford's is one that survived. My wife said her 93 year old father wanted liver and onions for dinner and found that it was listed on Rudford's menu. Walking inside the restaurant was like walking back in time, a classic piece of Americana, the mid-century diner. The place was only about 1/3rd full, but I attributed that to my timing (I was there at 4:30pm on a Monday) and not because it was struggling. The clientele were quite varied in age and demographic which attests to Rudford's appeal to a large cross section of San Diego's citizenry. As some entered they were greeted by name by the waiter, it was clear that Rudford's has faithful regulars. There are (5) picnic tables outside on the sidewalk which may be left over from covid dining.🤷‍♂️ I imagine Rudford's probably gets pretty full on Friday's and weekends. My order was for carryout and then I had a 20min drive to my father-in-law's house so I must preface my food rating w/in that context. The entire order consisted of the liver & onions, a bacon bleu cheese burger, and a BLT. I've never had liver & onions growing up but my father-in-law said that it was good so I'll take his word on that. I ordered my wife Rudford's BLT and added avocado for an additional charge. She found it very good. I tasted the potato salad that was the side dish. The potatoes weren't overcooked and had a delicate tartness to them, quite flavorful overall. I had one of the chef's specialty burgers named "You're My Boy Blue". Basically a bacon and bleu cheese burger. After the 20min drive in a non-ventilated container, my burger was rather mushy. The beef patty was handmade as the edges were irregular unlike the neatly pressed and shaped patties you find at most chains. I usually have my meat cooked medium or medium well, and prefer a little pink, but I thought the patty in this burger was a little too pink in the center. Unfortunately during the 20min drive, the bleu cheese chunks melted, the lettuce became soft sitting on a hot patty, and the bun became soggy. I imagine the burger would've been much different (better) if I had a dine-in experience. Overall the flavors in the burger worked well and was quite savory. Some time I would like my family and I to dine at Rudford's, I think it would be a fun. Unlike other nostalgia-themed, chain diners, Rudford's would be a more authentic experience.