Quaint cafe ranked California’s best hole-in-the-wall breakfast spot

Come hungry and prepare for a feast.

A tiny cafe tucked into California’s Sierra foothills has been crowned the state’s best “hole-in-the-wall” breakfast spot by The Takeout.

The online food magazine praised Sonora’s Mandy’s Breakfast House for putting creative spins on classic favorites, all served on hearty plates sure to satisfy even the biggest appetites.

The cozy cafe at 22267 Parrotts Ferry Rd. has a menu that’s anything but ordinary.

Dishes include pork belly benedict, a biscuit diablo with chorizo and chipotle gravy, a banana flambe waffle and a French toast sandwich stuffed with ham, turkey and Swiss cheese.

Then there are the omelets, which have developed a following of their own. Mandy’s offers a dozen varieties, each served with sides like hash browns, fruit, fried mushrooms and pancakes.

The Takeout said it assembled its list using expert and national rankings, professional food writers and praise from local publications.

To capture the true “hole-in-the-wall” spirit, it looked for small, unpretentious eateries with distinctive, locally inspired food and deep community roots, taking into account recommendations from local regulars, customer reviews and food-focused social posts.

Mandy’s apparently checks all those boxes — and then some.

Hungry Californians reportedly travel from across the region for its famous fare, with one food writer describing it as the kind of place people “specifically plan their morning around.”

Inside, the dining room is often packed, creating a lively, social atmosphere. Yet despite the crowds, the kitchen apparently keeps the food coming quickly without sacrificing quality.

The latest honor from The Takeout joins a long list of Mandy’s accolades.

In 2021, Yelp ranked the cafe No. 29 among the best breakfast restaurants in the country. The Union Democrat has also named it the best breakfast joint in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties.

The praise from customers is just as enthusiastic.

“Mandy’s is the best restaurant around,” one customer wrote on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

“We love Mandy’s. Great food, lots of it and everyone who works there is so very friendly and makes you feel at home,” another wrote.

Not an early bird? Mandy’s has lunch covered, too, with burgers that are just as indulgent. There’s a jalapeño popper burger stuffed with cream cheese and peppers, plus a brunch burger piled with a potato patty, American cheese and an egg.

Mandy’s isn’t the only West Coast breakfast joint getting some love from The Takeout.

In Oregon, the honor goes to Otis Cafe in Lincoln City, where an all-day breakfast menu features its signature “German Potatoes,” crispy hash browns topped with green onions and Tillamook white cheddar.

Up in Washington, The Stilly Diner in Arlington takes the title, with biscuits and gravy and cornbread pancakes among its local favorites.

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