Learn more about this business on Yelp.
“world famous since 1939”
The date was April 30, 1939. The place was the Golden Gate International Exposition, also known as the 1939 San Francisco World's Fair. Working in one of the tents in the food Pavilion was one W.C. Tom Esau, a talented young cook fresh from the Midwest. Visiting the World's Fair was a prosperous restaurateur from Santa Barbara, looking for fresh ideas to brighten up the small beach town's cooking scene. The fresh idea he brought back was none other than Tom Esau himself. After years of working at various restaurants in the area, Tom decided to use his talents, and especially his top secret (and hugely popular) buttermilk pancake recipe, and open his own cafe. Thus, in January of 1961, began the legacy of Santa Barbara's oldest continuously running breakfast house. Tom raised his family working in his restaurant with his wife Ruth, and started the tradition of home cooking, large portions, and pride in his work. His Midwest upbringing remains an influence on his original menu, with such popular items as grits, chicken fried steak, and biscuits and gravy. His top-secret pancake recipe using fresh buttermilk is the exact recipe used today, more than 60 years after he developed it. In 1978, along came Scott and Arti Stanley, fresh from traveling the world in search of surf. This time they were in search of work, and they bought Esau's Cafe from Tom and Ruth, thinking that working all morning and surfing all afternoon would be the perfect job description. For 30 years Scott and Arti have raised their family in the restaurant just like Tom and Ruth did. During their reign, Esau's has been the recipient of many awards, both locally and in international travel guides and magazines such as Sunset and Fodor's. Being a Carpinteria family, the owners longed to return to their home town, and in 2003 they did just that, opening their second location just blocks from their home and the beach. They continue the tradition of hearty servings and free surf reports, where the legend of Tom Esau's Coffee Shop and his famous pancakes lives on in a gathering place for locals and visitors from around the world.
Best breakfast spot in Carpinteria! Dog friendly huge plus for us! Great portions, exceptional service and delicious food! Just wish they had the biscuits the two days in a row we went easy... Read more
I haven't been to Esau's ever since they closed down the Santa Barbara location back in 2015. I remember this was one of the more popular spots in town to dine at for breakfast, and one of my... Read more
I asked Yelp, What time is it? Yelp said, Mikey, it's Women's History Month and it's about time you got busy celebrating the vital role women have played in American history. We're tryna... Read more
Esau's Cafe
Hours
- Sun - Sat: 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
Problem with this listing? Let us know.
Has RV parking changed? Let us know.
-
Parking
-
Pets Allowed
-
Restrooms
-
Wifi
-
Wheelchair Accessible
-
Credit Cards Accepted
- Reservations
- Does not take
-
Lunch
-
Brunch
-
Dinner
-
Drinks
-
Dine In
-
Breakfast
-
Drive Through
-
Outdoor Seating
Parking, Dining
Nearby Hotels
Related Trip Guides
The Ultimate Guide To Joshua Tree National Park
- 53 Places
- 11:44
- 408 mi
The top things to do on an I-40 road trip
- 35 Places
- 49:44
- 2,851 mi
The top things to do on an I-10 road trip
- 55 Places
- 56:13
- 3,026 mi