Hobee’s California Restaurant

Meh… Below average

I was in need of a burger and it needed to be a place that’s walking distance due to Stanford’s Saturday game. So, Hobee’s was the first place that popped in my mind. As I looked over the burger section of the menu, I saw there was a mushroom swiss, a guacamole burger, a gouda, and a teriyaki burger. What caught my eye was the redwood bacon cheddar burger.
The Redwood Bacon Cheddar burger includes a whole wheat bun, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a pickle. The patty is ¹⁄₃ pound, which could be beef, turkey, veggie, or a grilled portobello mushroom. Since I like real burgers, I chose the beef patty. I was disappointed that there is no side of fries. The choices are black bean chili, tortilla chips, or for a dollar more hash browns. I got the hash browns.
I have to say I was kind of disappointed by the meal. The beef patty lacked additives like salt, pepper, and other additives. The only real taste came from the cheddar and bacon. The hash browns were also a disappointment. I like my hash browns shredded and crispy. The hash browns were more like country potatoes and were soft. Next time, if I’m hungry for a burger, I’ll journey down El Camino to get my fix.

Had lunch at Hobees with my family and we got seated right away but i think that they were changing shifts when we got there because we were waiting to get our order taken for over 15 mins until someone asked if we were already helped. this is why i give my 3 star review. because after that the service was great.
The server was apologetic and fast after that.
Ordered the Cupertino club, very tasty not too big
my husband order the tamale bowl. that was very good next time i will order that.

After a good hike near Stanford University, decided to eat at Hobee’s. We ordered:
— Huevos Rancheros = the black bean chili was delicious and having the sour cream top everything off. A side of blueberry coffeecake was so good.
— Farmers fresh and eggs = love the sweet potato, zucchini, bell peppers and two poached eggs. Very light and healthy. They season the vegetables well. Had a side of banana-​toffee coffeecake and it was good too!
Overall, it is a good place to have breakfast or brunch. I would come back if I am in the area.

LOVE the omelets and coffee cake.
I’ve tried their french toast a couple of times and didn’t care for it too much.
On weekends, there is sometimes a wait. The service tends to be on the slow side.
If possible, try to sit towards the front of the restaurant. There’s a lot more natural light there than in the back room.

Looks like it’s all been said about the coffee cake! I am not a fan of coffee cake, and I really dig this stuff at Hobee’s. Get some!
We went to Hobee’s the two days we were in Palo Alto. I ordered omlettes both times, and they were stuffed! Service was excellent. This will definitely be our spot on our next visit!

I’ve eaten here on two occasions. The first visit had good service and good food. My most recent visit had, however, terrible service but at least the food was still good. Given the variety of restaurants near Stanford University, I think that there are better options available for breakfast.

I have fond memories of Hobee’s. What I remember most are their special cinnamon orange tea and the famous blueberry coffeecake.
I was happy to see it but also a bit disappointed since we just ate breakfast elsewhere… but I told hubby we have to pick up the coffeecake before we leave the mall and that we did.
The inside was a bit dark and dumpy so was glad we didn’t eat here. I did pick up couple slices of the coffeecake. It was good but definitely better if eaten at the restaurant when it’s warm w/​butter.

If you’ve never been here before, definitely get a blueberry coffee cake.
This isn’t a fancy establishment. I think of it as a nicer version of IHOP. The Palo Alto one is convenient for morning meetings. It’s not too loud, and there’s always room. The service is slow, which, if you’re having a meeting is fine (you don’t want to be bugged every few minutes). I enjoy the wheat pancakes — it comes with 3 pancakes and nothing else, and it’s pretty filling.

I’ve gone at least three more times since the first.
This place suffers from the same downfall as many restaurants in the area, I’m coming to find. Atrociously awful service. I mean service that is so bad, that it’s impossible to actually dine in.
Is this a bay area thing? I’m not a fragile lily… I get yelled at by psychotic veterans daily. Just last week someone tried to toss a table at me… yet, I’ve been pretty shocked at what passes as service out here.
Let me paint a word picture:
Last time. seated outside at Hobee’s. I don’t know what kind of cookie monsters were eating there before us, but apparently they left a small mountain-​like offering of smooshed, dirty fruit, coffee cake, hashbrowns, and sausage for the under-​table monster.
It was serious business under there. Did the servers clean off the table, let alone under the table? No. How bout if we ask nicely? No. How bout if we ask two more times. No.
It was gross! So we sat there uncomfortably, our feet pulled up underneath us, feeling ashamed that we were so hungry we’d just put up with it. I brought my friends there for the first time, and I’m sad to say that I was actually embarrassed that we suggested the place.
We’ve had the same server on most visits, and he’s just so not interested. He takes our order (brusquely), then he’s never to be seen again. Someone else shuttles the food, and if you need a refill of coffee, or to order something new, or for instance, to ask a third time to have the table cleaned. he’s nowhere to be found.
I go out to eat because I want to relax and enjoy myself. I don’t need you to be nice to me, really if you could just not be rude, bring my food in a timely fashion, answer my questions and keep the place clean, I’ll be back.
Sad to say goodbye to the Mamas Papas and the truly yum blueberry coffeecake, but it’ll be a long while before I suitably forget the indignities of dining here enough to return.

Hobee’s is the place that taught me that restaurant omelets did not need to be dripping in grease. Thank you Hobee’s! In addition to the omelets, they have a variety of creative burgers.
Nice intimate location in Town & Country Village just across from Stanford Stadium. This location is also listed as «Hobee’s Stanford».
Can’t beat the blueberry coffee cake!

Hobee’s offers a couple basic vegan options, which I guess is nice given that this is a popular brunch spot and vegans likely end up here a lot (maybe not by choice, though).
I had the tofu scramble ($ 9) which was competently made. It comes on a piece of fiesta ware and is served with a simple cabbage side salad and country potatoes.
I thought the scramble was a bit too salty and could have used some extra spices — for example, they seemed to use turmeric and cumin, but didn’t use garam masala, which could have given the dish an extra savory note.
I also had their cinnamon-​orange tea ($ 2) which was too sweet for my likes — they claim it’s «naturally-​sweetened,» but I fail to see how that’s possible given how sugary it tasted.
The Hobee’s menu has a bunch of ingredients that would make for good vegan dishes, but they’re not constructed as-​is; you’d have to ask lots of questions and get modifications done to existing dishes in order for something to come out appealing (such as making a BLT with tofu or mushrooms, which is not an option currently). As such, it’s a bit of a hassle.
The service is friendly but slow, especially if you’re on the patio.
On a whole, it’s nice that they have a couple vegan options here, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to come to Hobee’s.

The banana toffee coffee cake is back! Warm, with a crunchy toffee topping, I’ve definitely gotten extras to go. They also have some other summer specials, including 50% off mimosas on weekends, so my guava one was only $ 2.50!
I got the cardinal omelette again, with mushrooms, spinach, chicken breast, and artichoke hearts. It’s topped witha tomatillo sauce, and there’s no extra charge for egg substitute. However, the omelette was a little too buttery for my tastes.
They were super nice about letting me bring in my Peet’s coffee from next door, and the servers are all really friendly and helpful. Ours even checked to make sure it was ok to have melted butter on my coffee cake.
I definitely like this location more than the one on Central, as there are two rooms and some patio seating, too. Mmm I love weekend brunch :)

I first came to this Hobee’s in 1984. I remember the day exactly, since I was taking a class at the then Hotel across the street, we were here for Lunch, and I was trying to impress a pretty woman who was helping to teach. Bev turned out to be a long time relationship and a still existing friendship.
I’ve been back several times since, and Hobee’s really hasn’t changed all that much. It’s kind of Midwest with a light granola accent, and I still love their coffee cake and tea. It’s just too bad that it’s a bit of a schlep down here from the East Bay. But like visiting an old girlfriend, it’s worth an occasional trip to visit and catch up.

My family has been coming to Hobee’s for a while now — back in 2005-​ish, while coming off a binge and awake for the last 30-​something hours, my aunt (unbeknownst to my situation) picked me up from the airport and said, «Let’s go to Hobee’s!» I just wanted to sleep, but whatever. I ordered a simple oatmeal with low-​fat milk and banana, and I’m really glad because I STILL remember that meal to this day.
Fast forward to 2011. My life = not so glamorous. My idea of a binge is working on homework for more than 20 minutes straight. Dad suggested we go to Hobee’s and I can’t refuse.
I ordered the Huevos Rancheros which came with some black bean mixture, topped with eggs and some sour cream with a side of sauteed mushrooms (OMG). It came in a little whole wheat flour tortilla boat, so awesome. Plus, of course, their blueberry coffeecake. It was splendid. If I had been as hungover as I was that one morning so many years ago, I’d have probably kissed the chef before I puked all over the kitchen.
On the plus side, it was around 12:30pm on a Sunday (when it’s supposedly SUPER BUSY), and we only had to wait maybe 10 minutes. Good stuff. Come here, leave happy. And bloated.

Standard american food and brunch on the weekends. Ordered the omelet which I thought was a little dry. Small and cozy restaurant, the staff at Hobee’s is overall pretty welcoming… when they finally acknowledge you. It literally took me 10 min to get my coffee.
Their Embarcadero Salad however is pretty good. Nice and fresh, it has walnuts, pears, and a nice cranberry sauce. Their salmon pasta was a little bland though.
All in all, mediocre food.

Yay for Tully’s Coffee! Also, get the coffeecake! It is delicious. They have your typical diner breakfast fare, but it’s all delicious. The Stanford «Cardinal» Omelet is really good as is the Chicken Apple Sausage one. The staff is very friendly and efficient. Definitely worth a trip.

I love Hobee’s. They have good breakfast foods. Tofu fans: you have to try their tofu scramble! When I first tried it, I was such a fan I tried to replicate the dish at home. I’ve tried several of their omelets and their oatmeal; all satiate enough to have me coming back for more (living almost next door may have something to do with this).
The décor is very warm, almost like dining in grandma’s kitchen. I’ve never had a problem with service.

Gosh, I wonder if some of the other reviewers live in a parallel universe where Hobee’s is staffed entirely with evil twins, Star Trek style. :-)
New menu items I’m in love with:
1. Los Gatos Pasta, which is some sort of alchemically tasty combination of sausage and pasta and creamy chipotle sauce. My new comfort food!
2. Sweet potato pancakes are now always on the menu! My sweetie loves the Pancake Sandwich (which isn’t a sandwich — it’s two pancakes with an egg and your choice of meat.) You can get all the pancake menu items with sweet potato pancakes instead.
3. My favorite off menu thing — the chorizo scramble (eggs, chorizo, cheese and tomatoes) made as a wrap. So much tasty goodness that you can hold in your hand! *giggle*
As a final word, if you have problems at Hobee’s — something made the wrong way, staff member not taking care of you — let the manager on duty know. The staff are incredibly responsive and really do take customer satisfaction seriously. I love Hobee’s and I love Unilocal — but I always urge Unilocalers to bring up problems when they happen and try for a resolution first.

I know that each Hobee’s Restaurant is slightly unique but the disparity in service and food between this location and the one in Cupertino is embarrassing.
We were shown to our table by the bathroom by this kid
Why he thought we would like the table next to the bathroom instead of one of the 20 or so empty tables in the restaurant is a mystery.
We opted not to sit there and found ourselves next to these girls
«Like Oh My Gawd»
I was like instantly transported to a food court at like Any Mall, USA.
But the real fun didn’t begin until shaggy haired kid who seated us continued to visit these girls every five minutes. He asked about their weekend, their food was, what they thought about some movie, and when they were going to post their next party on Facebook.
Oh the Good Times.
Maybe the table by the bathroom would’ve been a better choice after all?
All things would be forgivable if the food impressed.
Meh.
The wife’s veggie egg white omelet wasn’t very flavorful, and my cheese and avocado sandwich was woefully in need of more avocado.
Overall, 1.5 stars rounded up because, unfortunately, I’ve had worse.