I’m absolutely obsessed with breakfast food. For me, breakfast really is the best meal of the day and I can eat it for any meal. That’s why I was so happy to discover Jinky’s the last time I was in Santa Monica. Jinky’s is on 2nd Street in downtown Santa Monica, just a few feet from the Broadway and 2nd intersection. It’s one of three Jinky’s locations, the other two in West Hollywood and Sherman Oaks – but they are all part of a family-owned chain.
Jinky’s in Santa Monica, for me, was almost the perfect breakfast experience. The only slight downside was the service from the waitress. When I wanted to place my order she was a little slow but, other than that, she was very friendly and polite. The atmosphere and the food, though, made up for it.
At Jinky’s, you can either sit outside on the front patio or inside. I’m not a huge fan of eating outside, especially on a street where there’s a lot of traffic, so I chose to eat inside. The interior is nicely designed with warm colors, large enough tables and pretty comfortable seats – so perfect for an indoor body like me.
The menu is big with everything from tons of breakfast food like omelettes, pancakes, several kinds of eggs benedict, burritos, frittatas, salads, sandwiches, 27 different types of chili, fajitas, burgers, pastas – you name it, they make it. They also have a full-service coffee bar, with all the coffee-based drinks you want. I had a couple of lattes, which were piping hot like I like them and smooth tasting.
The first time I ate there, I ordered a Classic Eggs Benedict, which had the most flavorful hollandaise sauce, and with ham and eggs cooked just right. The next time I ate there I tried the Chili Jumble. You get to choose which chili you want, then it’s served with cheese, over potatoes and topped with scrambled eggs, sour cream and avocados. Absolutely the best breakfast I have ever eaten – bar none. It was huge, and I was enormously full before I had finished it, but you can bet I ate every bite.
The last time I ate there, I chose something from the lunch menu. The Jinky’s Curried Chicken Salad was good, just not quite as spicy as I’m used to, living in Bangkok. I would order it again though as everything was fresh and it was tasty. My friend had the Jinky’s Steak Sandwich, which was served dripping with mozzarella cheese and onion rings. He declared it delicious. In fact, it looked so good, that will be what I order the next time I eat at Jinky’s.
The prices are also great. Most dishes are under $10, so you can get away with breakfast or lunch for two including tip for under $25. A great price for pricey Santa Monica.
Jinky’s in Santa Monica really has everything for every taste. Their menu has over 100 dishes on it and, with 21 flavors of chili, how can you go wrong? Jinky’s has also been named Best Breakfast in Town by several Los Angeles TV stations and magazines.
A quick tip on parking when you eat there. The best thing to do is to park in the Santa Monica parking garage, which is only about 100 yards away from Jinky’s front door. Between 8am and 6pm, the first 2 hours are free, so you don’t have to worry about feeding a meter.
