- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Kettle
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Diners, Canadian (Traditional) [Edit]
1138 Highland AveManhattan Beach, CA 90266
Neighbourhood: Manhattan Beach
(310) 545-8511
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 6 am - 6 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
455 reviews for The Kettle
Review Highlights
-
"the freshly baked muffins in the morning are divine." In 95 reviews -
"Highly recommend as a late night diner." In 64 reviews -
"blackberry lemonade is incredible." In 12 reviews
Loading...
455 reviews in English
-
Review from Richard B.
Laguna Hills, CA
I had a misspent youth at this joint, arriving at 2:00 am after too much fun at the Brewery or Hennessy's on too many occasions. But you grow up, assume a dignified married life, and pursue boredom in the suburbs. But wait, friends are in town from Down Under and want some So Cal beach vibe but have small children.
The Kettle returns. And what did I find: same delicious comfort food. Only I am bit more sober. -
Review from Lili S.
New York, NY
i come here every time i take a trip to manhattan beach (which has been quite often recently!) and im never disappointed.
the kettle hands down serves the best honey bran muffins.
beach day + muffins= probably not great for my beach body but the muffins are so worth it. -
Review from Kellen A.
Torrance, Los Angeles, CA
One of my absolute favorite restaurants.
Breakfast is always amazing (the banana pancakes are my personal favorite).
I might be in love with the tortilla soup, and the broccoli cheddar on thursdays is some of the best (cream based) soup around.
The prices aren't too bad (compared to portion size/quality) and the crowd is always good for a laugh (if you go anywhere past 11pm). -
Review from Choy L.
Last stop for the night.. It's almost 3am now and what better way to end a night of drunken debauchery than a filling meal comprised of eggs, some sort of unidentifiable meat, and of course, MUFFINS!!!
I have been craving for some smoked salmon and really creamy scrambled eggs obscenely peppered with chives lately and when I saw the NY scramble (Eggs, Salmon, Tomatoes and Onions all scrambled together) on the menu. Well, I almost jumped for joy.. If not for my alcohol weakened state, I might have.. Or did I?? A lot from that night seems to be blurry..
So there it is.. Coffee, NY scramble and a Banana Nut Muff. What? You're out of muffins?? how can tha.. Wait.. Wait a minute, You found one just for me?? I love you miss server girl!! unless that muffin came from some other tables leftovers then I don't love you anymore.. -
Review from Chris B.
Redondo Beach, CA
How can you not love this place?! It's a South Bay institution.
Pros (there will be no cons worth mentioning):
- Weekend late night summer peoplewatching.
- A couple of uphill blocks from the beach and pier.
- Free wifi (the Kettle's own, plus a secondary signal from Starbucks across the street).
- Legendary honey bran muffins.
- Equally Kettle-ish French onion soup.
- Chicken piccata with capers that's extra delicious - especially with double sauteed fresh spinach instead of the occasionally rubbery taters. A little dijon mustard adds even more flavor. Entrees come with soup and a muffin, so it's hard to leave unfull.
And then there are the breakfasts and desserts. Heh.
If you show up solo, consider the counter for faster seating. There are a couple of TVs should you time your visit to coincide with the evening news/weather; the seats are comfortable and not stacked on top of each other so you actually have something that resembles real elbow room.
Another idea would be to utilize the ample patio with an appetizerish something and a glass or two of red wine whilst accomplishing a modicum of late night laptoppery or perhaps episode streaming via your phone.
Parking is easiest during off hours, and there is a garage adjacent as well.
My recommendation is to appreciate The Kettle for what it is - a 24/7 establishment with venerable meals, epic seasonal peoplewatching, and a certain consistency that puts the comfort in comfort foods. -
Review from Kevin K.
Manhattan Beach, CA
Good breakfast spot since they are always open. I've not been there for lunch or dinner but their am offerings are always fresh with bottomless coffee mugs. Reasonably priced.
-
Review from Julia S.
Club sandwich a ok
Chocolate pancake a ok
Oi am drink
SO... that is a real life description of what an.. er.. tipsy person would write. Embarrassing, I know.. BUT! If a person in an inebriated state of mind would think this place is just A-OK, then.. what will I think when I'm clear headed? (Also.. how weird is it that I would find it necessary to whip out my phone and start drafting a review??)
I got to try both the club sandwich and chocolate pancake, and looking back, I don't think it's really worth it for the price. You might as well go to Norms, Ihop, or Denny's if you're looking for food quality. But if you're determined to find a more "hip" 24-hour diner, this might be the place for you. -
Review from Matthew D.
Venice, CA
Man, this place is a hell of a lot better than I remember. I used to go here all the time because it was open 24 hours. Big Mamou's chicken sandwich was my regular order back then but they took it off the menu. So I ordered the Cubano burger, which is topped with shaved ham, Swiss and pickles on a toasted brioche bun. And I was pleased to find that they serve it with a side of Mamou's sauce. It's just an onion mayo, but it's nice to know you can still get it. Anyway, the burger was great. Perfectly cooked to medium rare, juicy and very flavorful. It was about $12 with a cup of their famous French onion soup, which is always excellent.
The tall guy who waited on us was very prompt and attentive, and I believe he has been working there since I started eating at The Kettle, close to twenty years ago.
Like I said, open 24 hours and they have a huge menu so you can't go wrong.Listed in: Burgers
-
Review from Chris H.
Los Angeles, CA
Come on...how could people rate The Kettle 3 stars?! When it comes to 24/7 restaurants, there is no place even CLOSE to The Kettle! Where are you gonna go instead...Denny's or IHOP?! You can get a great omelet at 2am any night of the week, and their Orange muffins are EXCELLENT! The Tuna Manhattan is very good as well, and those steak fries are mighty tasty when you're looking for something to munch on after everything else is closed. Sure, if you compare it to an expensive steak house, the food may be a bit lacking in quality and flavor. But if you rate it based on what it is - a beach-area 24-hour joint - you are not going to find better!
As a side note, you stand a good chance of spotting someone famous if you frequent the place late at night. What's great is that MB residents are cool enough NOT to bother the athletes/celebs that call this place their late-night home. -
Review from Josh T.
Oxnard, CA
I'm leaning more towards 3.5 stars.
Essentially, this place is just a diner... but don't get it mixed up with Denny's or IHOP. What sets this place apart from the bigger chain diners, and even many of the truck-stop diners, is the food is actually good.
I've been driven across this country several times, and I've been to many diners. One thing that's common amongst most of them is they tend to serve JUST decent food, not special, but certainly better than any monstrosity you may buy from McDonald's or Burger King's breakfast menu. At The Kettle, they actually give their food a little more effort.
When I say over-medium eggs, they actually gave me an egg that wasn't runny and had just the right amount of gooeyness. I received a banana nut muffin that was so moist and flavorful that it would be a crime, at least in my eyes, to add butter.
Now everything wasn't perfect; the pancakes while good, were a little too thin. Also, the sausage was certainly better than anything I've eaten at Denny's, but it was also nothing to write mom about (unless she just so happens to read this review).
As I mentioned before, this is a solid diner spot. Good food, decent prices, and decent service. I recommend anyone try it, especially if they want a good alternative to big chain diners. -
Review from Samuel C.
Los Angeles, CA
I've only been here for breakfast. But everytime I leave happy.
Eggs benedict and country benedict are my favorites. Pancake nice and fluffy. fresh oj... i loves it.
I had the country benedict this morning:
It had a biscuit, topped with egg and sausage, drenched in a country sauce. it's milky and thick. So when you cut into it, the layers all fall in together just perfectly. It's got alot goin on in your mouth. mmm!
In the past i've had their onion soup... another one of their stronger items. definitely try.
I will continue to patron this place for a whiles. The out door patio, on a sunday morning, and you're baby boo and the ocean breeze... it's freakin sexy. loves it. -
Review from Lin F.
Ontario, CA
Late dinner...grilled Atlantic salmon-- order that sweet sauce on the side-- the fish doesn't need a cover up. Pot roast super yummy soft. Beef stew also divine comfort food. Hot muffins free! Carrot was my fave but honey bran delish too. Open 24h & sure beats D! U can people watch too.
Red stripe beer! Score. -
Review from Vanessa D.
Lawndale, CA
The Kettle is mine and my boyfriend's go-to spot for late night dining. The staff is always nice no matter if its 11 pm or 3 am. All their soups are great. We've tried their Portuguese sausage and bean, chicken tortilla, corn chowder and chicken tortilla. Their breakfast is good, and all entrees we've tried have been great. You can never go wrong at Kettle...they have a big menu with a lot of variety.
-
Review from Kendall T.
Los Angeles, CA
Big diner with diner style food. The prices are ok, and the food is ok. I think most people come here for the location. We had poutine (fries with cheese and gravy), a tuna melt, french onion soup, and a cobb salad. Everything was pretty standard - not tons of flavor, but a lot of salt to compensate - and would get the job done if you are hungry. I will add, however, that the blackberry lemonade is fresh and very good. I would just get that next time!
-
Review from Dustyn S.
Amazing place! The muffins were warm, fresh, just perfect! A friend of mine recommended it to us and she couldn't have been more spot on! Definitely go here for anything from breakfast, to lunch, to steak dinners! Not to mention Manhattan Beach is gorgeous!
-
Review from Jim D.
Los Angeles, CA
Delicious diner food--have enjoyed beef stew and fried chicken and sandwiches. Their mashed potatoes are the real deal.
Great sangria too! Try a muffin if you're in the mood for a treat. -
Review from Andrea T.
If there's one thing that's decidedly lacking in the South Bay, it's a good diner. Especially with the tragic closing of Rocky Cola Cafe. The Kettle is the South Bay's last stand when it comes to diners. But it's not your typical greasy spoon.
The menu is a nice mix of traditional and unusual, with plenty of crabcakes featured prominently in appetizer, breakfast, lunch and dinner sections. "CRABCAKES ALL DAY YO" I pretty much always order either the crabcake benedict, crabcake sandwich, or the Tuna Manhattan. The Tuna Manhattan is a huge portion of tuna on a burger bun, topped with melted Cheddar and, like, an *entire* avocado.
The prices here are not what one would call "cheap" meaning that if you're totally drunk and looking for food, you're probably better off hitting up Denny's or a drive thru (you're drunk, so it doesn't really matter).
On the other hand, if you're looking for a solid diner meal that you can enjoy sober, I recommend hitting up the Kettle and then taking a nice relaxing walk on the beach while the massive portions digest in your tummy.
Fair warning, lines here can get nasty around breakfast/brunch on the weekends. Just sleep in and come around noon instead. -
Review from Cobra K.
Colorado Springs, CO
The only good things about the Kettle are its hours and the fact that it's not a chain restaurant. That's where it ends.
Food here sucks. I actually wanted to go to IHOP halfway through my meal here. -
Review from José B.
Los Angeles, CA
This place is sooo good. The breakfast menu is what I go for because the muffins are amazing. Wait can be long on the weekends and it always seems to be busy. I remember their portions being bigger before but anything you order is sure to fill you up.
Friendly staff. Parking around the area is pretty much all metered. -
Review from Ted T.
Los Angeles, CA
If you have never been to this place, order a Bran Muffin.
Seriously, this is the only reason I would go here.
I guess they have other stuff but I didn't know a bran
muffin could taste this good. Don't know how they do it
but they are the best anywhere on the planet as far as I know.
Have I mentioned the Bran Muffins? -
Review from Noelle W.
Austin, TX
This is the stuff that breakfast dreams are made of. It's getting harder and harder to find decent breakfast spots. I wish this wasn't so far away. Pumpkin muffins are KILLER.
-
Review from Teresa T.
Upland, CA
Solid breakfast place. I like it but don't crave it. I do like how they put the contents inside the omellette instead of in the egg mix like a dam frittata. And almost forgot last time i was there i ordered a "random" biscuit and gravy and the gravy was really really good. My other freinds really like it here too.
-
Review from Elle K.
Playa Del Rey, CA
I looooove Kettle!so does my fiance!Great muffins,all the breakfast I ordered was great so far. Definitely sit outside.
One star off was...I tried dinner once,and it was O.K.
I'm still a big fan of Kettle though!!! -
Review from Andrea C.
Torrance, CA
Yummers! This place is a good late night food place. The atmosphere is cozy and warm. I definitely recommend the Honey Bran muffin. It's like a good amount of sweetness and very warm. Just writing about it is making me crave it.
This place is open 24 hours which is very rare to find in SoCal. -
Review from Anne Q. T.
Tustin, CA
i may be biased as the location is as good as it gets being by the coast.
Food is fine, but not the reason why you're here. It's usually the meeting up with old and new friends.
Twenty years from now, you may not remember what you had other than the French onion soup or why he ordered a salad. But if you take a walk down to the pier afterwards, you may never forget that you had a great time at the Kettle. -
Review from Jess M.
Los Angeles, CA
This rating is specifically about the French Onion soup and bread pudding. I have tried a few other things here and there and they were okay. But I can't get away from the soup and dessert. Everything you would want in a French Onion soup is there. The cheese, garlic bread and simplistic yet flavorful soup. The bread pudding is like nothing else. I have never really cared for bread pudding. Some places I have had it with milk and others it is soaked in a liquid. But at The Kettle, the bread comes sitting in a thick rum syrup. There is really nothing like it. If you aren't a fan of bread pudding, give this place a try.
I also love that this place is open all the time, the staff is very friendly, and the interior of the place has character. -
Review from Jim D.
Any city is with the name "Beach" after it gets five stars with me. I live by the water but not by the beach and yes Alameda has a beach but it is definitely not in the same league as Manhattan Beach. I was in Manhattan Beach coming up from San Diego and stopped by for breakfast. The Kettle is located on a scenic location blocks from the beach.
Looking at the menu there are alot of healthy choices. I still don't understand why the twelve year old boy in Van's skating shoes sitting next to me only ordered a plate of bacon for breakfast. I ordered the California Benedict ($10.95) with hollandaise on the side with tomato, avocado, 4 hr onions and poached eggs cooked to perfection. That immediately increased my Yelp rating, they have some very good cooks in the kitchen. The Kettle offers fresh baked muffins which are first class too, they are very fresh.
The Kettle has a great outdoor seating area. It was fun watching the well toned locals walking there pedigree dogs and looking at the fancy cars. -
Review from Eric F.
Torrance, CA
I occasionally get a call from a certain friend of mine that I like to refer to as "The Game," Robert Rodgame. A young, Russian man so out of touch with reality that it's an absolute wonder he still walks this planet. On our most recent man date (I can do better, as far as looks go... I can only describe him as a horrendously pale redheaded Chris Penn) he shows up at my house and says he wants "diner" food. What the fuck am I supposed to do with that? Get in the car you idiot, I say to him. He starts driving toward the beach.
I walk up and down the arduous hill that is Manhattan Beach Boulevard frequently with my girlfriend. I had been inside of The Kettle briefly before on business. If you are wondering, the business is none of your business. I had heard that it was a good spot. Expensive for what it was, but a good spot.
The Game parks his '65 Cutlass in the underground parking. What kind of 20-something year old drives a fucking Oldsmobile? Robert gets zero stars for failing at being a human.
We get seated outside since there wasn't a wait and it happened to be a nice day. He ordered some sort of stuffed French toast with a funny name, I order a burger because I am a simpleton. The Kettle Burger, to be exact - thousand island dressing, meat, some vegetables. Whatever.
It was a big, juicy burger that was worth it's hefty $8.75 price tag. Slightly too-charred, but I did ask for it medium well. Robert's french toast was really good. I was kicking myself for not getting something more... memorable. Guess it gives me reason to come back.
Service sucked. Stupid young woman wasn't very respectful or attentive. We had to flag somebody else down to take our check. She did refill the coffee, though - which reminds me, the coffee was pretty good.
I'll come back. -
Review from Rem R.
My friend and I decided to go to Breakfast, we drove to Wendy's in El Segundo and forgot they were closed on Mondays, when we saw they were closed our first thought was The Kettle.
We arrived and the area surrounding The Kettle is all metered parking. We parked put two quarters in to the meter and for some reason it registered as 2 hours, SCORE.
We walked into The Kettle and they were just about full. Our waitress was on it, we sat down and she came right over to get our drink order. I ordered coffee with skim milk, my friend ordered Hot Tea. The drinks arrived quickly. We reviewed the menu and decided to go with Banana Pancakes with the bananas mixed into the batter; my friend went with the biscuits & gravy.
From the point we placed the order till the time our food came out was a bit of time 10-15 minutes which to me is kind of unacceptable. I am used to the super fast service and family vibe of Wendy's. Our waitress came over twice to tell us our food was almost done and on the way out.
I understand a kitchen is a kitchen but they were not that packed and I had forgotten the reason I had not been back here in quite sometime.
In The Kettles defense the bananas pancakes were very good, the biscuits and gravy were good as well. The Kettle is open 24/7 but for some reason I am just not vibing it.Listed in: The BEST Breakfast spot…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/15/2011
The Kettle is one of a kind. It is open 24/7 and offers OK food. Over the years I have learned to… Read more »
-
2/15/2011
-
Review from Alexandria S.
Los Angeles, CA
You ever have one of those nights where you want to eat pot roast in every conceivable thing? Well, The Kettle is the place for you! I've gone here for years, but my latest experience truly demonstrated why I continue to go back. I ordered the pot roast quesadilla, which is basically what you imagine - savory pot roast stuffed into two tortillas and cooked up with cheese, onions and peppers. Un.fucking.believable. Delicious and well prepared, with a side of horseradish (it comes with a mayo/horseradish blend, which I find unacceptable, so I ordered sour cream and plain horseradish, and mixed them myself).
Service was prompt, staff friendly and tough as nails, since I'm sure they deal with appx. 12.5 drunks per night. Prices are a little steep, but totally worth it.
Finally, their chocolate banana shake it the http://bomb.com. Must try. -
Review from OO O.
Torrance, CA
it's 4 stars on a regular basis but goes down to a 3 if you go on a fri-sat 2100-0300. All the drunk people of Hermosa Beach and Manhattan beach come here to grub. Some can get pretty annoying.
I LOVE THEIR BRAN MUFFIN!! bff and i came here one day just to order 12 of their muffins...i know...excessive.
Good food, open til the wee hours of the morning, reasonable price....ooooo....i forgot to mention - do not order the crab cakes....its wet in the middle. gross. -
Review from Sascha B.
Hawthorne, CA
Tonight the kiddo asked if we could have " the Kettles" for dinner tonight for some macaroni and cheese. Mind you, they use ordinary blue box Kraft macaroni and cheese, which we had in the cupboard, but theirs-- she said-- is much better.
But I do enjoy dinner at The Kettle-- in 20 years going there I've strayed from the French Onion soup/Cobb salad combo very few times (why? That soup is fantastic!) Their freshly baked muffins are great, the Buffalo chicken sandwich is great, the blackberry lemonade is a little too syrupy for my liking and it seems like every time we go the prices are higher and they've changed the type of fries they serve (steak fries, now seasoned crispy fries.)
You really can't go wrong at a 24-hour restaurant that a.) isn't Denny's, and b.) doesn't have a drive-through window. -
Review from Sid P.
Los Angeles, CA
Ummm... They serve "food" - uninspired - univentive - unnecessary.
Not as good or efficient as an East coast diner.
Something I would think to find in the middle of nowhere in some god forsaken place late at night on a cross country road trip and even then I'd be holding out for a Denny's or an IHOP (I hate Denny's and never have been to an IHOP) - but then again it's in Manhattan Beach - so it's perfect right where it is. -
Review from Ed H.
This is only based on two dishes
1) Panko crusted chicken tenders. Had a nice crunch, but there wasn't any flavor to the chicken except from the sauce. The fries were meh
2) Club sandwich with the turkey swapped out for the curry chicken. Both were meh.
The food isn't terrible, but it's nothing to write home about (only Yelp). Good only because it didn't have a wait like everywhere else (hmm, I wonder why) -
Review from M C.
Beverly Hills, CA
Manhattan Beach in general doesn't have much amazing food, does it?
Huge place. Average food. Relatively average prices.
Some healthy options like eggs and chicken breast.
Average rating. -
Review from Sally E.
I went here this morning with a group of friends for brunch. The food was delicious! I had the huevos rancheros and also tried a bit of my friend's NY omlette and both were delicious. The waitress was super friendly. Even though it was crowded, we got some great service--we barely had to wait for our food. They also have complimentary coffee and mini muffins at the door.
While the food menu wasn't anything particularly special, the convenient location, good service, and yummy food, makes the Kettle a great option (though not a must-visit) in Manhattan Beach. -
Review from Winston S.
Hermosa Beach, CA
My recent experience is based on the server. She was working on Wed night. Someone took our beverage order and brought our drinks. As soon as our drinks were dropped off, she rushes over and says "are you ready to order?", when we barely sat down. It was in poor taste to make guests feel rushed, especially when we were still looking at the menu. One of us asked if the chicken enchiladas were still available. She didn't even know that was the special that evening.
When my buddy's coke was low, she asked if he wanted a refill, and didn't even know what he had to drink. She needs more training on how to serve guests and also needs more knowledge about the menu.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/25/2011
I've been coming here for over a decade. I love the fact that they are open 24/7 and have a much… Read more »
Comment from Sarah S. of The Kettle 1/5/2012
Hi Winston - I am sorry to hear that you were not happy with… More » -
10/25/2011
-
Review from Karita P.
My family has been dining at the Kettle for years and we love their food. The Beef Stew is to die for and the Pot Roast Sandwich is a winner as well. Always tender, never chewy and melts in your mouth. Yes, we're carnivores and the Kettle never disappoints us. My husband recently discovered the Chinese Chicken Salad and now swears by it.
We rolled in on New Years Day and even though it was pretty busy we were seated within 5 minutes. This would have been great except after we were seated it took 25 minutes for anyone to acknowledge us and when the server came over she said "oh I guess I'll help you since no one else is". She explained that shifts were changing and I get that, but not one of the 10 servers that kept walking past us could come over a little sooner? Even though the past couple of times we've been here the service has been sketchy the food is always delicious so we'll keep coming back. -
Review from Bettina S.
Redondo Beach, CA
I have many fond memories of the Kettle, I go here at least once whenever I'm in town and more often now that I'm back in the area for an extended time. I have friends who also live out of town and ask to go here whenever they're visiting.
Look, the food isn't the best (except the potato skins, damn I love their potato skins), but it's definitely at least "good," consistent and plentiful, priced right, and they are open 24 hours. They serve breakfast all day too, which is pretty key, especially when you need something to eat after a night at the bars.
It's a great choice when you and your friends can't agree on what to eat--kinda like a way better Cheesecake Factory in that regard (a variety of options, but everything tastes better than at CF and the selection is a little bit more curated).
The only bad thing I've had there was the "sweet baguette French toast" the other day, which hadn't soaked long enough in it's custard. And it wasn't even terrible, as I ate it, just not right, and very possibly and one-time mistake. Other than that, I've enjoyed the food, company, service, and atmosphere. -
Review from Evelyn S.
The Kettle's like an upgraded version of Denny's or any other diners, but with bigger portions and more expensive prices.
I've been several times, but this review is solely focusing on their breakfast menu. I got a breakfast sandwich consisting of bacon, cheese, egg, and best of all, GRILLED ONIONS. I didn't really expect much, but it was BOMB. The grilled onions definitely topped it all, and made the sandwich so much more juicy and flavorful. The best part was that the bread, although toasted, never became soggy even with all the ingredients! The meal also came with a side of potatoes and fruits.
My boyfriend got Ouef's Pain Perdu, because he thought it was cool since it was French toast stuffed with cream cheese. To his disappointment though, the cream cheese was just basically on the side and not really "stuffed" as expected. It also came with eggs, potatoes, and orange juice.
Each meal was about $10 each, which is to me, on the pricey side.
I love how The Kettle is 24 hours too -- great for those late night munchies by the beach!
