Cici's Cafe Reviews

4.4

235 of 9,994 Restaurants in Los Angeles


Reviews

Best Comfort Food Ever!!

By Janette M |

First of All, I'm a breakfast freak, I gotta have my breakfast just made, with fresh food and coffee just out of the brewer.. this place meets all my requirements for a great breakfast place. You gotta try the green tiramisu pancakes, also the pressed coffee roast, everything you decide to choose from the menu you won't be disappointed it could be a little pricey but it's well worth your money, the portions are huge but satisfying and delicious. Going in the weekend might be a lot of a waiting time to be seated but it's ALL WORTH IT! Yummmm!!

LOVE the breakfast at CiCi's!

By Renee C |

My sis-in-law recommended that we have breakfast at CiCi's, so we did. It was a weekday morning mid-morning and I was amazed at how packed the place was! The menu is like reading an encyclopedia; there are so many choices and variations. Pancakes go on an on with the various ways that they make them. Trust me...you can share the pancakes. Eggs and egg dishes are delicious. I had an egg-white scramble with corned beef hash. The corned beef hash was a bit dry but the egg dish was delish! This restaurant is in a strip-mall, so parking is available. You also may call ahead to see how long the wait will be.

Extreme patience required but it is well worth the wait

By csimmamps |

I'm never been here when they're not packed, usually off peak times it's a 15 to 20 minute wait, however, if you have a sweet tooth you can satisfy It In A Million Ways here not to mention all the other Savory Foods it is a wonderful place for breakfast or lunch.

Great Breakfast!!

By Yasmin C |

The food here is great and the pancakes are a good size, I am glad my son only did two. The portion sizes are more than enough so bring your appetite.

I love Cici's. Forgetmenot Waffles are incredible. And I dont normally like breakfast food.

By ThornAngl |

Cici's hospitality is fantastic, the waitresses are quick and the food is to die for. It's a cozy place and is perfect for interviews, morning get togethers or just a nice cup of joe.

Amazing food, great service, locals' hangout

By Discerning12385 |

Cici was my favorite waitress back at Jinky's in the 1990s when it was still a great place and a hole in the wall. Imagine my surprise when the sign "Cici's" went up in our Tarzana neighborhood a few years ago. Could it be the same Cici? Why, yes it could and it was! There is no better server than Cici, and all of her staff (waitresses, waiters, busboys and chefs) is well trained, friendly and on the ball. The food is delicious and prepared to your liking. (Hold the potatoes? Extra tomatoes? Replace with relish with salsa? Hold the cream? However you like it, they will make it. I could go back every day for six months and never have the same thing twice. Cici has thought of it all. On top of the good food and service, there's a familiar atmosphere here which can't be beat. Like a 21st century "Cheers," only no beer and no Norm. Cici's is the best!

Second Try

By Mark S |

I always give a restaurant at least a second try. This was my second try. Food was cold and staff was indifferent I will not be back for a third time.

Perfect Lunch!

By Anne G |

Huge menu with dozens of innovative choices. Great pancakes, omelets, sandwiches and salads. Portions are generous, so plan to take some home for another meal!

Breakfast at Cici's Cafe

By chimbo77 |

I've actually passed by this place a few times and have always noticed a crowd of people gathered outside. Located in a Tarzana strip mall on Ventura Blvd, it's a popular San Fernando Valley breakfast spot . A friend of mine suggested that a group of friends meet for breakfast at CIci's. We waited for more than 1/2 hour until we got a table. During that time they were passing out water to those waiting and kept the line moving.The atmosphere inside is bustling and loud. The seating space is small, so in some areas it is a little tight. They do offer patio seating, but very limited capacity. Cici portions are large, so be sure to bring your appetite. The menu is quite extensive and can be overwhelming, including the vast selection and choices of waffles and pancakes. Each of us ordered something different and my friends stuck with the pancakes and waffles for which Cici's is known. Red Velvet - The pancakes came with three stacks, topped with fresh strawberries, strawberry coulis (fresh strawberry sauce) and dollop of whipped cream. My friend indicated The pancakes were fluffy, lightly sweetened and strawberry coulis sauce worked extremely well. … Tiramisu Pancakes - Wow, these pancakes looked insane, but for my taste they were more of a dessert item than breakfast item. Like the Red Velvet pancakes they were large and were topped with mascarpone cheese, khalua sauce, cocoa powder and a dollop of whipped cream. While the pancakes were not the traditional tiramisu flavor that I am use to, the pancakes were delightful and buddy left nothing on the plate Hot Apple French Toast - three slices of French toast topped with hop apples fresh out of a pie, topped with whipped cream & cinnamon. It's not standard apple and cinnamon topping. It was amazing apple pie quality glazed apples. My buddy's comment was it was "So damn good... " I think that is enough said. Due to my current dietary restrictions I had the Cici's oatmeal with spiced apples. The oatmeal was a little dry, but with the spiced apples similar to the French toast topping was quite good. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, despite it being very busy, and not intrusive Our glasses were refilled promptly The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. If you are thinking Ihop or Denny's prices you will suffer sticker shock, but they are not unreasonable If you're heading into the Valley for breakfast or brunch, this eatery should be on the list of choices to eat. Parking - the parking in front is cramped strip mall parking lot or street, but there is a large lot in the back available, as well.

Excellent, solid place for brunch!

By CNS85 |

CiCi’s is incredible, and a must try for any breakfast or brunch lover. First, the menu is endless. There is every variety of sweet breakfast that you can imagine, and I have never had a bad meal. If it’s your first visit, it’ll take you some time to read through all of your options and narrow down your choices. The many options mean you could come here every day of the week and try something completely different. Second, the portions are huge. I’m somebody who never leaves food on my plate, but is often left hungry. I’ve never left CiCi’s feeling that I was short changed or needed more. The plates are full, if not over-flowing with food. Unlike many breakfast places that give you tiny portions, CiCi’s will fill you up. Next, the food is amazingly delicious. As I said, I’ve never had a bad meal here. I personally prefer sweet food for breakfast/brunch, but even the savory is great. My go-to dish lately is the Apple Roulette (a baked apple pancake), but other favorites include the Apple or Strawberry Dutch (similar to a soufflé), and the Forget Me Not French toast (unlike other places, it’s not a thin slice of French toast…it’s two huge pieces). If you have a few people with you, I would highly recommend ordering one or two extra dishes for the table and sharing, so that you can try more of what they have to offer. With the large portions, you’ll still get a healthy amount of each dish, and may end up with leftovers. The one and only drawback is that there can be a long wait on weekends/holidays, but the fact that there’s a wait for any place in the SFV really says something. If you want to try CiCi’s, you might try visiting on a weekday if you’re able. The service is good and very friendly, and it’s easy to waive down a server if you need anything. I can’t say enough good things about this place. Ever since they opened, I’ve visited during every trip to Los Angeles (usually 5+ times a year). I only wish they had one on the East Coast. This is the place that breakfast/brunch dreams are made of. Like I said, it’s a must try!

Great breakfast

By Steven S |

The pancakes are fantastic.the staff is friendly and quick. We love breakfast and this is a treasure. You may have to wait a bit but it is worth the wait.

Delicious, but be prepared to wait

By LeeAnn K |

With an expansive menu and plenty of choices for everyone, the toughest part of your visit here might be to find parking. Usually very crowded on the weekends, but worth the wait. Large selection of sweet and savory options for everyone. I enjoyed the hash benedict and my partner had the chopper. Service was good, and we enjoyed the atmosphere and coziness. Would return if in the area, but probably not on the weekends, as it can be a bit much.

Average Brunch Spot, long lines

By uniqueqt22 |

We like the food, we just don't like the wait since there is nowhere to hide from the sun and fumes of the parking lot. The food is good and size able, like most brunch/breakfast spots. It's just so popular that it lends itself to long waits outside in the heat.

Delicious and authentic

By SalMillen |

Had to get both savory options and sweet pancakes. All amazing Very fresh ingredients and great service

Great Pancakes

By charchar1919 |

The wait was long, but they did come out and give us a bite size muffin. The pancakes were delicious. They have so many, it is hard to chose. I had the strawberry cheesecake pancakes and they were great.

waste of time

By Pinargencal |

Because of many good recommendations and reviews, we went from Downtown to Cici's Cafe in 45 minutes with rush hour. When we get there there were almost 20 people were waiting. I get in and talked to the guy who write the names to his list told me that it takes maximum 1 hour to find a table for 3. I have a 6 years old daughter just because she is a pancake lover, I accepted this long waiting list. But make a guess how long did it take to get in this cafe? Not 1 hour, not one and half hour, it took more than 2 hours. All this time we waited outside not sitting just standing. Ok this is not the main problem my friends, main problem is the idiot who takes the names was unfair. First he took everybody before comes to us and then he took everybody who came after us. I really think that he is racist or something!!! Anyway if you ask me does it worth all this pain and trouble? Believe me no! I ate much more better and delicious pancakes and eggs in los Angeles. Don't make same mistakes we do. Don't spend your time with this place.

CANNOT BE BEAT

By Rachel L |

be prepared for the best breakfast of your life. whether you're in the mood for pancakes, eggs, waffles, or even a sandwich cici's will make you the most decadent and delicious meal you've ever tasted. a local favorite, cici's is a MUST TRY.

HUGE SELECTION OF FOOD

By Bloomwink |

But they are best known for their interesting pancakes and huge range of toppings. They have all types of omelets, pastas, burgers, french toast etc. with a menu over five pages long. The wait time is intense if you go during the weekend (40 minutes to an hour). Usually you wait in a line outside the door. It's extremely loud so we only ever sit outside (only four tables so it's hard to snag one - just run and grab one if you see it empty). Don't expect the waiters to be waiting on you hand-and-foot because this place is so extremely busy. You can order for takeout by calling in or ordering directly in the back to skip the wait time (but ask for everything on the side so that it doesn't get soggy). It's frustrating they close so early (usually at 3:00pm) so it's mostly a breakfast or early lunch spot so check the closing times online before going. Their entire menu is on their website if you want to save time and order as soon as you sit.

Great Food & plenty of it !

By Jeff H |

Great food, great service but expect to wait on weekends. Fantastic omelets, pancakes and sides ! Try the Red Velvet or Green Tea pancakes.

GREAT PANCAKES!

By AlanR27 |

What else is there to say except I have never seen such a wide variety of pancake offerings. Everyone at our table ordered a different kind of pancake and everyone at our table loved what they had for our late breakfast gathering.

delicious

By guest1001 |

i gave it a excellent review becos the food stood out over everything else! the service was kinda slow tho they did say since we ordered the "dutch baby" would take 30 mins to make but we ordered other stuff ... so how come it took that long plus at that time there werent TOO many people in there. the value well it was kinda expensive (average) and atomsphere was loud which was fine, (average) but i definitely would be back pros: dutch baby, the green forest omelet! cons : prob parking and kinda slow to wait our food

best pancakes in the valley! brave the wait...this place has gotten popular.

By Anne A |

best pancakes in the valley! brave the wait...this place has gotten popular.

Best Place for Brunch

By アズール |

Me and my roomie love this place. If you love pancakes, you say "wow!" when you see the menu. There are many kinds of pancakes on the menu. I love Dutch style pancake, but it may take 20 minutes to eat, so I don't recommend you it if you are so so so hungry. My roomie loves salmon benedict. That is also awesome!! If you want to share one meal with your friend, tell staff that you want to share it. They divide the meal to two plates. This place is usually crowded especially in weekend, so I always come here weekdays.

What's the big deal?

By Hitokiri_Battosai |

Based on all the positive reviews on Tripadvisor, we dropped by for breakfast on a weekday. There was no line but the place was packed. We immediately got a seat and overall the service was quick and efficient. As others have said the menu is huge. I chose Cici's benedict and was underwhelmed. The biscuit was burned and it was not easy to eat. The potatoes were good but not great. My wife had one of the waffles and she liked it but again it was nothing to wait a long time in line for. The coffee was average. As others have said, this place does not have any "atmosphere". Its your typical diner experience. If we are ever in the area again and there is no line, we might stop by but there is no way I will wait in a line for a long time to eat at Cici's.

An absolute MUST!

By Nellie Christine |

Cici’s is an absolute MUST for breakfast or brunch. Their menus are endless with the most unique items like their red velvet pancakes and chocolate french toast with a side of Nutella and bananas that melt in your mouth! Just be prepared to wait about 45 min. for a table, but totally worth it! I’m definitely going back because there’s still so much more that I want to try.

Yum, Yum!

By Madelyn J |

I had a real Texas style breakfast here while I was visiting. Bacon, (real pork) and eggs, with toast and hash browns Yum, Yum.

Unbelievable breakfast menu!

By Joel G |

We were looking to try a Breakfast restaurant that we had never tried before and this place came up on our search. It has at least four pages of different types of pancakes on the menu and in addition, 3 to 4 pages each of French Toast and Waffles. I ordered the Nutty Buddy pancakes, which were topped with bananas, coconut and Macadamia nuts. They were excellent, and my wife ordered a Spanish omelet which was not the best she's ever had, but still very good. It's a relatively small place and very popular, so expect a wait; we waited for about 20 minutes at 10:45 am, but it was well worth it. Parking kinda sucks, but we found spot in the back of the restaurant, where there is also an entrance. By the way, this restaurant is in Tarzana, not Los Angeles

Quick Service, Good Food

By Saul N |

Cici's Cafe had great service that was very quick. Great fluffy pancakes and all at a good price. The menu has way to many options for my personal liking, but can't fault them for that. Would definitely go back.

Nice, creative pancakes.

By Patria C |

Spoilt with so many selections.. wanted to try almost everything.. nice pancake, huge serving, suggest get half serving so u can try more others flavors.. there's q.. we have to q for about 15 mins as we are big group...

The most amazing pancakes!

By Ckyjr |

Sadly, I don't live close to this restaurant; however if I did I'd be three times my size. The pancakes here are the bomb. They have unique flavors and combinations, and they fill your very large plate with warm, fluffy goodness. The only thing I don't like is the wait to get in, and once inside the seating is pretty crowded. It's not uncommon to bump others when going to and from your table.

Not Worth It!

By newjerseybound |

Why the wait? Plus a breakfast place that cannot even do home fries decently. Frankly I don't care how big a menu is, if they cannot make a simple breakfast! The service is terrible and with those high prices, find somewhere else. Definitely over-priced for what?

one of the best breakfasts in the valley

By USCfoodie |

we've been here 3 times so far and it has been great each time. service and food are wonderful. they offer a crazy amount of options too so everyone can find something. so far i've had the pancakes (wheatberry and trick or treat). you get 3 good-sized pancakes with plenty of toppings (blueberries, strawberries and almonds on the wheatberry and pumpkin marmalade and whipped cream on the trick or treat). servings are large so definitely worthy of splitting or next day breakfast - they do hold up the next day. i've been able to try the omlette/fritatta as well as the spinach artichoke sandwich and both were really good. the only drawback to this place is that it is consistently busy! it is worth the wait!

Always good

By Keith V |

Expect to wait for a table, but that is because the food is alway good. Hugh menu with everything well prepared. Highly recommend.

Worth a special trip

By dorsalmo |

Don't be fooled by the simple exterior. Breakfast here is plentiful and excellent. The menu is a huge book. We're talking a lot of variety here. Some very unique items. Service is good too.

Superb breakfast

By Muadib84 |

After reading other reviews on Tripadvisor and other sites, we decided to go here. Luckily we got there early.. Because it filled up Fast. The menu selection is enormous... Actually hard to pick out what you want. I has the French Toast, made with almonds and sesame seeds, my wife had one of the eggs benedict dishes. The food, and the service were both great. Just be sure to get there early, or be prepared to wait. And it would still bee worth it!

Go Hungry

By Bibby36 |

Wow what a find.Saw this rest,by chance.Am I glad we did. What an awesome menu.First line outside was very long and after eating their I know why..But host found us two seats at the bar.Quite a decision to make As the menu is huge. You better be hungry as the portions are very large.I chose a fruit crepe with Nutella .It was memorable.Definitely on my list to return when a I am in the area again.Very friendly attentive waitress,The whole staff were very organized.Watched one young man just making fancy coffee’s juices and nothing else.Very impressed.

Busy place, but worth the wait

By TravelRobs |

The menu here is filled with endless combinations. There are many delicious entrees. The pancakes are highly recommended.

Good but pricey

By nursecarlah |

I went here for a birthday celebration with a couple of girlfriends the food was very good the soufflé was outstanding (takes 30 minutes notice) it seemed that all entrées were $12 and up

Portions are huge!

By Nari L |

The portions here are HUGE! Maybe that's the reason why it's a bit pricey here. But other than that, you can share the pancakes between 3 people and you'll still be really full. All in all, I would be back. I came on a Wed morning and sat outside with no wait. I brought my dog along.

Amazing

By ali_mirzaei7 |

I ordered the bannana penaut butter toast, it was super good and i appreciated that it was not super sweet but really yummy. Service was fine. Athmosphere was busy but in general this place is excellent

Huge menu! Attentive service. Good breakfast.

By photobug429 |

Eggs..both poached and scrambled were good as was the fruit that came with them. Oatmeal was not as good as we often experience. The place was busy and obviously popular. We thought the coffee was too strong. Parking was easy...right in front.

Take Time to read the menu

By Bob D |

We were looking for a good breakfast place and CiCi Café in Tarzana was recommended however, hopefully you have the time since the menu is “Book Long”. The one we went too serves only breakfast and lunch the other also does dinner. The menu is unbelievable and takes a great deal of time to read through to decide how you want your pancakes, waffles, French Toast, Crepes and of course eggs. You don’t have to look at the lunch menu which is pages shorter. I suggested to one of the crew that they should just list the numerous options or “with” items, there are tons. It took me more than 15 minutes to decide. You can get just about any fruit, cream or anything else on them and the size of the pancakes (3) are large. It was an experience and well worth the time spent.

Great menu; great service; great food

By jif95chesed |

The ambience is pretty basic and it got pretty crowded but it was well worth it. My wife ordered the Cici Benedict and I ordered the Cici Omelet. Both were excellent. And, as noted in the title, the service was excellent. If I lived in the Valley as I did many years ago Cici's would definitely be a prime go-to place for breakfast.

Adorable Neighborhood Find. Huge Menu.

By Nancy D |

I had heard such fabulous things about this place. I was thrilled to be able to finally eat here today. The place was hoping at 3pm on a Sunday, even though it closes at 4pm. Perhaps it was this lively because it was Easter. The menu goes on and on. There are an over abundant amount of breakfast choices. There are lots of lunch options too. We shared two huge sandwiches. The portions are huge. We had the breakfast sandwich and a spinach/artichoke sandwich. Frankly, both sandwiches were good enough. They read better on the menu than what I found when I sunk my teeth into them. The bread was fresh and soft. But for "French baguettes", I would have preferred them crusty or somehow toasted. The sweet Potatoe fries were excellent. Side of cut up fruit was also lovely. Restaurant is a bit loud. Seems many places are like that these days. Service and wait staff were very good.

Decadent breakfast

By christineess |

My family and I tried Cici's for a birthday breakfast and we were not disappointed. We had read the reviews and knew to get there early and we did find parking but as the morning progressed, the restaurant definitely got more crowded and parking looked like it was increasingly difficult to find. The food and the beverages were both a bit pricey but the food was absolutely delicious. We loved the creative names of the menu items - but it took me about 10 minutes to get through the menu...it's like a creative version of the cheesecake factory's book/menu. Our choices ranged from the usual eggs, sausage (try the chicken apple - it's delicious) & potatoes to the pumpkin pancakes to a decadent stuffed french toast and waffles. We put all the plates in the middle and just ate to our heart's content. Now, off to the gym.

A great breakfast restaurant

By Howard K |

Cici's has a huge menu with creative takes on breakfast standards. It is usually very crowded and parking is best in the back. But it is worth the effort and sometimes patience required to get a table.

Lox and Eggs with Onions

By Mayburrito |

This is a pancake house on steroids. I usually order lox and scrambled eggs with red onions or the huge chef's salad, but my partner says the French toast is the best she has ever had. The portions are huge, the food is fresh and tasty, and the servers are fast, efficient, and friendly. On hot busy days, people wait for their tables in their air-conditioned cars. Go early or late to avoid the crowds.

This is breakfast!

By backpackluxury |

You can tell by the animated buzz in this busy place that they have a local following. When you peruse the amazing menu you get an idea why. After you finally make up your mind and enjoy your order you know why. This IS breakfast!

Best Breakfast and Brunch in the Valley

By Dracoschnauzer Dad |

A friend recommended CiCi's a few months ago and we hesitated going because it was so far from our house. We were so wrong to wait. This place is amazing! It is in a small, non-descript strip mall on Ventura Blvd in Tarzana. If you blink, you might miss it. Weekends and holidays will require a wait for a table. Unless you want to sit outside which is open seating. The menu is epic in proprotions; think Cheesecake Factory only this is mostly breakfast items. The service is speedy and attentive. The choices for pancake, waffle and French toast creations are numerous. We choice the Piggy Wiggy (3 pancakes with bacn and sausage in the batter and topped with snow-like grated cheese and clarified butter) and the Huevos con Queso (Eggs Benedict made with bacon and topped with avocado, cheese, Hollandaise sauce, cilantro and diced tomatoes and onions). Both were delicious but Huevos con Queso were extraordinary. Prices are a bit high, but portions are very ample.

Neighborhood gem

By Jacqueline R |

Went for brunch on a Saturday. From the moment you enter, you are treated like family. The food is delicious and fresh. From omelets to the best tasting French toast ever. This place is a must.

Very good food, however too much on the menu

By annchgo |

I ate breakfast here and ordered a scramble and green tea latte. Both were absolutely amazing. The service, despite the busy breakfast rush, was quick and prompt. However, the staff seemed to allow patrons to stay at their tables after paying the bill while there was a line forming outside. The only criticism I have is that there is actually too much on the menu. Their various versions of pancakes are what they are known for and they have at least three menu pages of them.

Hopping place

By JinFO |

Only open for breakfast and lunch, this little cafe is jammed with people waiting in the parking lot for tables. Once seated, service is fast and portions huge. Staff are pleasant and food quality good. Eggs are cooked to perfection and not overcooked (a pet peeve of mine). Bring your appetite - Cici's only serves large plates. I had the smoked salmon benedict with a side of fresh fruit, my companions the giant chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream and raspberries, and a classic eggs benedict. It is surprising that as quickly as the food came out that it wasn't hot, but only warm. Prices are moderate, food plentiful and fresh, service friendly and efficient. If you don't want to wait, get here early

Disappointed

By Stephen C |

I loved this place when I came here last year. Perhaps it is what 8 purchased but if you are going to pay top dollar the food should be top shelf. First the coffee is substandard. It is simply astonishing to me that they don't have something better to serve. The friatta was tasteless. Maybe the menu is too big.

Brunch place

By Bila66 |

The menu is very big and it is hard to decide what to eat! Everything is fresh and generous. A great place for brunch

Sumptuous

By thelegendinn |

This place has one of the most extensive menus I’ve seen. The eggs and sausages and chicken n rice were excellent but they specialise in pancakes. The portions are so huge that it’s impossible for one person to polish them off! A MUST DO FOR ALL PANCAKE LOVERS!!

probably the best breakfast i've had, even against the ranks of vegas eateries. altho i'm more of a waffle person, no...

By Tamara N |

probably the best breakfast i've had, even against the ranks of vegas eateries. altho i'm more of a waffle person, no waffle or pancake i've ever had can compare to cici's delicious rounds of fluffy goodness.

Casual California Homestyle

By toltom |

Went here with family and they do a big breakfast and lunch biz. We had lunch and they got my 2 year old grandsons meal out quickly,which we appreciated . The service and food feel personal. Old familiars with Calif. healthy twists My tuna melt and cole slaw were excellent . I tried the sweet potato fries and they were done just right. A bit of crisp to them Large menu selection and they do have few outdoor tables on the front walk. Enjoy!

Quite the menu!

By KAHatfield |

We went here for lunch but I need to trek back for breakfast. The menu for breakfast is 20 pages long and the plates around us looked delicious! But lunch was no disappointment. The only negative I'd have is the parking lot is dismal. Although, unlike other reviews, we had no problem getting to our seat (Friday lunch, not the weekend).

Go here and get ready

By Danny C |

The wait is insane, but totally worth it. I had the Salmon Benedict and truly enjoyed it. The pancakes that passed our table were delectable and we regretted not ordering a stack of the Tiramisu Green Tea pancakes. Great coffee! I will absolutely be back!

All kinds of sweet and savoury pancakes to suit any taste

By SingaporeBms |

This wonderful family style restaurant is a real gem in LA. Featuring every type of pancake to safisfy everyone in your party. Note that there is no reservations available so expect to wait at least 30-45 minutes depending on the day and time you visit (weekends are in high demand).

My family was embarrassed at this restaurant by a server

By kassandra T |

I love this place. I bring my friends and my family here. Truthfully this place is a gem of an establishment and choose very attentive and kind servers that always makes this place exciting to visit again. Recently I had an issue with a server Devonese a lady with a blue bonnet that works in bringing the food. Not the first time I have seen her or her serving me but the first time I’ve received awful customer service from her. My primary server was Bibi who was so friendly inviting and patient to my family who are predominantly Spanish speaking . When receiving the food we simply asked for salsa to eat with the eggs and she overwhelming and defensively was like “there is so much food coming I only have two hands” and more words under her breath. I wasn’t being demanding or upset I was just asking to remind her in case she might have forgot ( since egg came with no salsa on the side) I work in a similar service industry so I was really careful with my approach and I was baffled by her response. And I said thank you I wasn’t onto you or anything I’m just asking. Then when we are served the rest of our food my dad asked for his toast that he ordered with our server. Like “hi I order a side of toast with my meal?” And she said “sir that extra it doesn’t come with your meal it’s going to be extra” and my dad is like okay but I already ordered it ? (Mind you he already received his meal) And he has a thick Hispanic accent and she was like” I don’t know why you are talking to me like this! ” and stormed off, embarrassing my father and our family with other families staring at us. My dad was so confused after that interaction like “did I say something wrong ?” It is really sad because we were not being the least bit demanding and I hear her behind me asking other customers “is there anything else I can do” before leaving other customers while she was trying to storm off from my family after delivering each item without the same courtesy. I’ve been served by her previous and never received this treatment from her either. I hope it gets addressed because this is my favorite place where I make the best brunch memories with some of the best brunch plates and never left this place with a sour taste in my mouth and lessened appetite. People who come here to have a great time should not receive the same treatment for simply asking a question. Bibi our predominant server was a gem very friendly and appreciated her suggestions and service. I communicated my concern with her and she was very understanding.

breakfast go to place

By Diana W |

Always love the salmon benedict- Cici-s is always mygo to place for breakfast!!! The wait staff is super friendly, and the portions are enormous. Bring your appetie when you go!!

Pancakes, pancakes and more pancakes!!

By Chetan G |

Easily one of the best pancakes I ever had. They have 5 pages of pancakes on the menu. Even veggie omelet was good. Staff is very cordial and they give you enough time to go through the huge menu

If you can't get to The Griddle, this place is great too!

By Rockgirl416 |

I was introduced to The Griddle, an awesome breakfast place in downtown LA by a couple friends back in 2011 and went again when I was in LA in 2012. This time while in LA I didn't have as much time and driving into LA can be a nightmare so one of my friends suggested CiCi's saying it was just as good so I said sure, let's try it. They have a HUGE menu! It takes some time to actually get through it LOL and I ended up having to narrow it down from 3 interests to what I finally ordered which were the Banoffee pancakes. Though I wish there were bananas in the batter too, it was quite tasty. I think I like the Griddles "ticket to ride" pancakes better but these were still good. AND, what I liked about CiCis is that they have the option to get the pancakes as part of a combo...eggs and sausage (or ham or bacon). My friend wanted the meat but not the eggs and I wanted one or the other so she just got the combo and gave me the eggs..it was perfect! I wouldn't hesitate going here again, especially since it's easier to get to LOL.

Great food and Quick service, but you have to wait to get in

By feedthetraveller |

Service: Great staff. There was one guy just filling up the empty cups of coffee. Decor: a regular dinner Food: Very good. The best hash that I had while in California, mind you I only had IHOP and Denny's for breakfast. I had the Hash Benedict which was really good. In my party we had a tuna sandwich which was good even on the plane (4 hours after getting it), Club sandwich and others. They were all good. Also, the menu is HUUUUGE! Review: We went on Dec 31. It was CRAZY busy. We had to wait about 15 minutes which I was not happy about, but once we got in, the food came out super fast. We were in there, eating and out within probably 30 minutes. Considering we had 5 adults and 2 babies in our party, I think that it was pretty good timing. Reason for stars: There was a guy keeping my cup of coffee full, the service was fast, the food was excellent and everyone walked out happy. In my books, that is what makes it a 5 star breakfast place.

Vast menu, generous portions, just a bit too noisy

By jzeee |

Stepping through the door of this restaurant we were surprised at how loud it was with everyone's voices- i like busy restaurants, but not so much that I can't hear the person sitting opposite me speak. That aside, the menu is vast with a variety of choices for pancake toppings: the breakfast food we ordered was all good and the service was decent: large portions; but I wouldn't join a queue to get in.

best breakfast in a long time

By Liz L |

The menu is like a book, the room is tightly seated and it's in a strip mall. All of these things should make it a questionable experience, but it's not- it's perfect. The service was friendly and attentive without being annoying. The egg white omlette that I had was absolutely delicious. The coffee was hot, tasty and quick on the refills. I would go back here in a heart beat.

Looks delicious. But nothing gluten free??

By Jodegirl77 |

From the Line outside and watching what the outdoor diners were eating everything looks amazing...... But looking was as as far as we got. Asked the greeter If they did gluten free and he almost laughed and said no, no gluten free here. Very disappointed to say the least.....

Terrific Onion Rings--Crispy Delight!

By jeannefair |

I had lunch last week at Cici's Cafe in Tarzana. The place was so crowded, I opted to eat at the counter as soon a a seat became available. I ordered the Pastrami & Cheese Sandwich and Onion Rings. The sandwich was hot and tasty but it could have been even better if the Pastrami was sliced thin. The Onion Rings were fried perfectly. The wait staff really hustles to get the orders out and with a smile! I will be back to try some of their Pancakes.

Strawberry Lovers Pancakes

By Bloo M |

I don't even particularly like breakfast food- or pancakes, for that matter-, but I LOVE Cici's pancakes. The Strawberry Lovers and fruit-based pancakes in particular are amazing, with fresh cream being placed on the side. The quality of the pancakes themselves is unmatched; always perfectly cooked, even the non-souffle pancakes are thick and airy. The portions are huge, enough so that in fourteen years of eating at Cici's I've never once been able to eat an entire serving in one sitting. The lines are long, but the food is well-worth the wait. Plus, the menu arguably has the largest selection I've ever seen in any restaurant, breakfast or otherwise, so you're guaranteed to find something you like, whether savory or sweet. All things considered, I could eat at Cici's for every meal and never grow bored!

Simply irresistible

By Jennifer S |

Food is hands down the best breakfast place in the valley. Service is friendly, I do not mind the wait however, we are not too crazy about the little space between tables where you can hear everything the other table says or, much worse, their noisy breathing! How do we get around that unsavory flavor? We get there early enough to avoid the crowd!

Breakfast at cici's

By Yeny R |

Pancakes are a new level of experience! 💙 the only bad side is the attention but food is completely worth it!

Best breakfast place ever

By Julie S |

Humongous menu with amazing options. Friends are blown away by the extensive menu when they first dine here. Pancakes, French toast, and waffles and crepes both sweet and savory. Have fruit, nut, coconut chocolate chip and many other yummy combinations of each option. Many egg, meat, vegetarian choices. It’s fun to order two different choices with your dining companion and share them, one sweet and one savory. Generous portions. Salads, burgers and lunch food, too. Usually a wait to get a table so go before you want to eat. Worth the wait.

Wow.

By Aaron Von Hagen |

My friend took me out for brunch here before starting our day in LA. He told me there would probably be a wait, and there was, only for about 10-15 minutes though. We just beat the rush, and it was only a Friday! I hear it's more insane on the weekends. The menu was like a novel. I didn't know where to begin with so many options. As always, though, in pursuit of the world's best eggs benny, I didn't stray too far. I got the steak and eggs benny, with an iced mocha. Service was fast, food came out quick, and it was definitely worth the wait. So good. And that iced mocha was massive. One of the better iced mochas I've ever had. If you're in there area, make the trip and check it out. And go long before you're hungry...

Great place for breakfast!

By MN2CA |

My friends and I live all over the LA area. This has become one of our favorite meeting places. The pancakes and crepes are great. Our waits have generally been 20-30 minutes. You wait in the parking lot or the sidewalk around the restaurant. We talked about trying cici's for lunch as that food looked good too.

Best pancakes in the valley

By TravelRNsonny |

Tried their Tiramisu pancake last weekend.. Although the sauce is not enough.. The pancake taste really good.. Next time,im gonna try their diff kinds of pancakes..

If you want the craziest...

By jfratkin |

If you want the craziest breakfast ever, you should definitely eat here.

Excellent Food but a bit Pricy

By Jeannie D |

This place has the largest menu I have ever seen with creative pancakes, Soufflé pancakes, french toast and waffles. They also have an extensive menu that includes lunch items including wraps and salads. I went here on a weekday for lunch as they are too overcrowded on the weekends. I really liked the Soufflé pancakes with chocolate. The eggs were goo and the chicken sausage was excellent.

Bravo! The Breakfast!

By studiocitysunshine |

We were looking for a unique Breakfast experience. We had been everywhere within 5 miles of our home - blah. We just wanted something different. I mean - breakfast is breakfast - not much you can do to improve on omelets, crepes, pancake & waffles - right? Wrong! Cici's Café has got it ALL going on! They take typical Breakfast Fare and make it a savory experience. There is definitely a Chef cooking in that kitchen! (Not a line cook!) And - the service- amazing! So glad to see, in this Entertainment Industry town, that someone is taking their "other" job seriously. Seriously! My husband had a combination with the Raspberry and Macadamia Nut Buttermilk Pancakes, bacon and eggs. The first thing I noticed - the bacon was perfect. Not shriveled up and burnt, broken and twisted. Cooked flat and beautiful. Like a Chef would cook them. Though impressed with his bacon (and let's face it - it's bacon) my husband took one bite of his pancakes and set his fork down. "You have to try these! Wow - these have to be the best pancakes I've ever had! The consistency - so light and fluffy!!" He made me try them! ;-) Soooo glad he did! Great! really great! I had the Cici Scramble with turkey sun-dried tomato sausage, spinach, mushrooms, garlic & mozzarella cheese. Sweet Savory Sunshine!! That's when I decided there had to be a Chef "back there" in the kitchen. There was so much more to the flavor than the ingredients on the menu. Tiny little adjustments, pinches and whispers of herbs and spices. It was awesome! At that moment - I decided to reset the "bar" on dining out for Breakfast. I thought, "I will never be able to order breakfast at one of the other regular places. Why would I?" While eating - perfectly plated beautiful food floated past us on it's way to the lucky one at it's destination. The consistency was impressive. That was finely tuned teamwork going on there. What an amazing, delectable meal we both had. It was that good! We talked about it all the way home. I agree with some - that the interior is more diner-"ish". but - hey, I'll take tasty good food over interior any day of the week. In fact - I hope I'm there any Saturday morning - soon and often! Bravo CiCi's! Well done.

Excellent food

By thisgirl_Gray |

I love this Cafe! I used to come here often after work when I was working nights, but visited on 2/25/16 after a long hiatus and the food has not changed. I've never had a bad meal here, but I love that I can order breakfast anytime. In this visit I ordered the red velvet pancakes with chocolate ganache and whipped cream. My friend had waffles as usual. Our food was just as delicious as always, and the service is always very friendly, even when its suoee crowded and busy, as it typically is on a weekend. It wasnt crazy busy this day, so we didn't have to wait for a table; but be mindful that if you're going to eat here, have your appetite ready because they give you enough food to share....be me and my friends never share, we just take home the rest for leftovers!

Great food, shame about the rest

By James Loxton |

Went here for breakfast with my eldest brother, after a recommendation from a friend of his. Great food somewhat let down by the rest! From the outside it's a fairly nondescript quiet building in a mall, but open the door and it was heaving inside! This provided a nice atmosphere, although the place has fairly din lighting, which could be improved. I ordered some English Breakfast Tea and got tea, but English breakfast it wasn't. Not the most encouraging start, but the food redeemed! I had the Huevos Rancheros - crispy corn tortillas topped with rancheros sauce, cheddar & avocado, served with pinto beans & sour cream. It was superb, with perfectly done eggs, actually crunchy tortillas and very fresh avocado - bravo! I know it was busy, but I didn't think the staff were that speedy and attentive and we had to grab someone to get served, after a fair wait. Also I think it's rather overpriced, compared to similar food quality venues. So overall, I would definitely recommend this place for its food and if they improved the rest of the offering, then it would've got a much better rating from me.

One of the best breakfast places

By Brent N |

What an impressive menu selection. The food that came out of the kitchen was a work of art. You can tell they take pride in there work. Everything we got was delicious. We highly recommend this place. It's worth the wait.

Amazing!

By Anna S |

The XXX French Toast tasted and looked amazing! It was very large and decorated nicely. The chocolate wasn't too sweet and it complimented the taste of the banana perfectly!

HO-LY Pancakes!

By Matt Blum |

If you're looking for a pancake... This is THE spot. Options galore and you better bring your appetite!

Something for Everyone

By 23Feb45 |

Expect to wait for a table or even a counter seat on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Cici's could use a lot more space. The menu has it all...from grits to chocolate french toast! Service is excellent. I was offered more coffee at least 10 times. When my french toast arrived, my response was "wow!!" The slices were about two inches thick!! Everything tasted great. Dress as casually as you'd like and be prepared to squeeze by people to leave after your satisfying meal.

Be patient!

By Dez13 |

As I mentioned in the title- Be Patient!! In my humble opinion, you will not be disappointed. HUGE menu and that alone will take you time to get through. The staff is friendly but very busy. I believe this eatery would serve themselves well by bringing in one or two extra servers. It seems the middle tables get more attention. So check your attitude at the door and enjoy the food. My last meal was the Hash Benedict and was worth the wait!

Awesome menu, long waits

By EmBentley |

This place is very 50-50 for me. The menu and pretty much everything on it is great. The wait, however, is not. It follows that places with good food have a long wait, but I feel like they could reasonably speed up the service. There were nearly a dozen groups waiting outside while we waited 15 mins for our check. It's also very loud, which is understandable when packed with people, but makes it tough to have a relaxing breakfast.

Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes🥰

By TheFunFoodie |

Holy heavenly goodness! No wonder there was a line to get in here! This was the best breakfast I’ve ever had! Every single thing we ordered was insane... even the coffee was incredible. Our favorite were the strawberry cheesecake pancakes. And by favorite I mean I could eat them everyday for the rest of my life. Idk what’s in the whip cream but it’s magical! The service is awesome and the price is right.

Great breakfast venue

By OldFinn0914 |

Unlikely venue in a strip mall. Terrific breakfasts with pancake combinations that sound a little strange, with strange names but are very tasty. Breakfasts served all day. Wraps and sandwiches were also very good. A huge menu which can be intimidating, so asking a server might be helpful. Busy during the lunch hour.

Favorite Breakfast Spot

By Lauren |

We love Cici's for breakfast. While there is usually a pretty good wait on the weekends, it is entirely worth it. The service is on point and the food is very good. They have a huge menu to choose from, yet we usually get the same thing because it is so good. We highly recommend trying Cee's Omelet from their From the Farm selection.

Huge menu

By advcards |

Had the three amigos omelette, very good. We were in and out fairly quickly. A little pricey but a great breakfast stop.

Best breakfast and huge...

By K4Lakers |

Best breakfast and huge portions

Pancakes

By Amy C |

Went late in the day for brunch. Small and busy place. Had the tiramisu pancakes and they did not disappoint. They were great. There service was quick and everybody was friendly. If you love pancakes go here.

Great pancakes. Friendly staff

By jmathew22 |

The best things about CiCi's are: 1) The pancakes: they have a huge variety. I mean really huge variety of pancakes, crepes and waffles. 2) The staff: everyone was so friendly. I think the friendliness of the staff outweighs the food. Not so good things: 1) the wait: we had about a 15-20 minute wait. But 5 minutes into it, the friendly hostess asked if we wanted to sit at the counter area. Great suggestion. 2) huge portions: I guess this can be considered a great thing, but if your eyes are bigger than your stomach, you'll order way too much food. Definitely a place to go.

not great atmosphere but good food and service

By westchicago |

The menu is huge and they offer just about everything for breakfast that one could conger up - all good and substitutions are allowed. The service is fast and the food is good; the interior is nothing to write home about.

Best chocolate pancakes ever

By Tharlavill |

This place is a gem! Love the variety of items to choose from! Been here a few times, never a disappointed! Lunch is also amazing. Hard to choose what to order, everything looks great and the items I have tried were delicious ! And the pressed coffee is a must! You won't be disappointed here at Cici's ever!

Fantastic Food

By Glamris |

My daughter and I stopped in for brunch and each ordered the pancakes and a side of potatoes. The service was very quick and the portions are huge. We split the side of potatoes and still had leftovers. I was able to eat my pancakes in 3 different sittings. We will definitely be going back and will probably share one meal.

Breakfast love

By donisem |

Well all I can say is this place is amazing my family loves this place for me and my family ihop was our go to place for breakfast but once we went to cici's that was it we go nowhere else now pretty much everything I have tried there has been amazing but my favorite thing is the french toast of any kind and eggs Benedict the staff is great we have not had a bad experience there yet and we have been going every other day now for the pass three months I guess you can say we are regulars

Omg!! This is the best place ever!

By Dor Yaron |

The menu is so big, you'll have a hard time choosing. We had to come back another time just to try a couple more dishes. If you're looking to have breakfast in the area, this is your place.

Saturday brunch

By Maria Z |

We ordered a variety of brunch items, from innovative egg dishes to an outstanding apple crumble soufflé. Coffee can be improved, but we'd all go back in a heartbeat.

Amazing food but be prepared to wait!

By Sid k |

We came here for lunch and waited for about 30 minutes on a Saturday but it was worth it! The menu is mostly breakfast but there's enough to satisfy most people. My wife had pancakes and I opted for a chicken wrap. It came with the most amazing (and surprising) side dish-Brussels sprout fries! They slice them in half, deep fry them and sprinkle a generous amount of Parmesan cheese over them! These were simply amazing!

Delightful & Sweet Pancakes in Los Angeles!

By Parviz M |

We drove from Brentwood to Ventura on a Sunday morning and waited in line outside Cici's Cafe for about 30 minutes to get a taste of their famous pancakes. And it was worth while to drive and wait in line. It is a relatively small cafe and does not accept reservation so we had to wait. As we were walking to our table and saw some of their pancake creations, we realized we were in the good place. The pancakes are good size and can be easily shared between two people, but we decided to order four for four of us and take home the leftovers, if any. We ordered a Sky Diver, two Forget Me Not Pancakes, and one My Waffle. We also had coffee and ice coffee. I can not really describe how good the pancakes were, but simply: Delightful & Sweet! They were all really good and we were able to take some leftover home too for breakfast the next day. It was delicious next day too. House coffee was good too. Now we know a nice place for great pancakes in LA. Will go there again and highly recommend it. Enjoy the sweet pancakes at Cici's Cafe.

Amazing food and excellent service!

By Chuck G |

This is one of the most shining examples of a 5 star restaurant I have ever reviewed! I had extremely high expectations after reading reviews, but Cici’s Cafe exceeded every one of my expectations! I was with a party of 7 and I know every person in the group felt the same . The title of my review really says it all: amazing food and excellent service !

I love me some breakfast!!

By Civilized |

I love this place.. Food is real good. I have had a few off the wall things that were a bit off so my advice is stick to what u know! It gets real busy so hit it during weekdays.. Or go early out your name down and then return in a half hour.. Waffles and pancakes are terrific! Nam nam nam!!!Ohh! Before I let u go, the prices are ridiculous in a bad way.. Enjoy!

Customer

By Maps666332 |

First timer, wonderful lunch. Can't wait to go back for breakfast. So much food, they wete very sweet about our sharing.

Worth the wait!

By 315michaelq |

You gotta get here early if you don't like to wait for a table, but it's worth it. They have good sandwiches that are fresh but thier breakfast is what on point especially thier pancakes. My favorite is the Teramisu and the also have Red Velvet delicious!!

Sorry but this place bites! The servie was terrible. We had to wait for 45 minutes for our food. The waiter was no...

By Destination67727 |

Sorry but this place bites! The servie was terrible. We had to wait for 45 minutes for our food. The waiter was no where to be found and kept screwing up our orders. Food was not even good. Very plain and ordinary. Coffee wasn't even good. Expensive and dissapointing.

Breakfast food like no other - Yum Yum Yum !!!

By annapolis4 |

I have been to Cici's Cafe many times. Their menu is so so long that you could take hours to read through the entire thing. They have AMAZING INCREDIBLE Breakfast food. They do have great lunch food too, but I go for the breakfast food. The many many many combos of what they create with Pancakes, French Toast, Waffles, Crepes is mind blowing. If you are in the area you must go to CiCi's and try something off their incredible menu, you won't be disappointed.

BEAKFAST TIME!!!!

By 1000advises |

Amazing variety Menue, Delicious aboundant breakfast with a variety of fresh food acompany the breakfast menue, could be ok for Lunch too, they have an extensive rariety of Salads, is a very bussy place, Is open for early birds 6:00am til 3:00pm

Amazing breakfast

By specialk23 |

Was looking for somewhere in Encino to have breakfast. Went to Cici"s purely on the back of reviews. Was not disappointed. Place was busy. Food was amazing. Portions huge and tasrty. Was so good I went back for lunch. Highly recommended. Could not fault it

Thickest menu I’ve ever seen

By Glenn D |

Located in a strip mall is this amazing cafe recommended by our dear friend. Enjoying our breakfast together talking about sweet nothings just to find quality time together we start with this bible of a menu. Not only is the selection of food impressive the quality of ingredients is equally as great. Only reason I can't give a 5 star is their small selection of Vegan food in their extensive menu. The blueberry pancake are fluffy with sweet blueberries while the vegan tofu omelette looked plentiful yet light. Great place for a Sunday brunch or just hanging out with friends.

An oasis

By Stephen C |

The ingredients were fresh. The service was great. It was busy but we were not pushed to leave. I would love to find a spot that is a bit more relaxing.

great big breakfast

By jfd |

Crowded but worth it. Found in a strip mall it will be crowded for breakfast. Portions are huge and can easily be shared. A great variety of pancakes as well as other breakfast treats. We had the chocolate strawberry chocolate chip pistachio variety with whipped cream, a total calorie splurge. We arrived early (before 8) and got the last table, as we left there was a crowd waiting outside. Lovely service, very attentive. Some outdoor seating available for dog lovers. Longing to go back.