Californians love this ‘OG’ SoCal cafe. Now all the ones living in Eagle can too
It’s no secret that Eagle is a major hub for Californians stampeding to Idaho. In increasingly visible ways, those transplants are bringing their politics, economics — and food — with them.
The Potholder Cafe, founded more than 50 years ago in Long Beach, just opened at 404 S. Eagle Road. The breakfast and lunch destination debuted in late August but finally got its sign on the building in early October, according to its Instagram page. It took over the former home of The Stuffed Olive, which closed in June.
There are four other Potholder Cafes: three in Long Beach and one in Los Alamitos. There’s a bit of ocean fog about precisely when the brand was founded, but evidence points to the early 1970s. The Potholder website says “serving since 1970,” while the Eagle location’s Facebook page claims “est. in 1973.”
Either way, the Potholder is cherished by many Southern Californians. A 2022 article by online publication Longbeachize described it as “the OG of Long Beach’s love for breakfast” and “synonymous with Long Beach’s breakfast culture.”
The Potholder has adapted to Idaho with touches of Gem State wall decor. But longtime Potholder customers will find the same familiar California menu options.
The Potholder’s breakfast arsenal is as large as its portions. There are choices ranging from Popeye’s Scramble ($14.95, Jack cheese, sausage, spinach and mushrooms) and the Baked Potato Omelette ($15.95, cubed potatoes, bacon, cheddar, sour cream and green onions) to the Mondo Burrito ($17.95, eggs, bacon, potatoes, beans, cheese, topped with enchilada sauce, avocado and sour cream).
Or test your arteries with the D-Fib ($19.95): chicken-fried steak wrapped in bacon and jalapenos on top of a biscuit slathered with sausage gravy.
Got a massive appetite? Try the Potholder’s eating challenge, the Mac Daddy ($18.95), which involves a trash can lid of a pancake, two eggs and bacon or sausage. Devour it all and you get a shirt and social-media fame.
Lunch is packed with burgers, sandwiches and salads. If you enjoyed too many Potholder bloody marys or micheladas the day before, you can grab The Hangover burger ($15.95, cheese, avocado, bacon and an egg). And although there’s a traditional French dip ($15.95) on the menu, why not act like a local with the California Dip ($16.95). It adds Ortega green chiles and jack cheese to the sandwich. Incidentally, all burgers and sammies come with either fries, salad, potatoes, fruit, cottage cheese or sliced tomatoes.
The Potholder pours bottomless mimosas on Saturdays if you buy an entree costing at least $12.95. And its coffee bar selections include a seasonal pumpkin spice latte in October. Haul a steaming cup outside where, milking fall weather, the Potholder is welcoming diners on its dog-friendly patio.
Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, the Potholder Cafe appears to be winning over Eagle. It rates an enthusiastic 4.9 out of 5 stars on Yelp (20 reviews already) and 4.6 stars (18 reviews) on Google.
“Tasted just like being home in Long Beach!” a Yelp reviewer proclaimed. “Brought back so many memories of weekly breakfasts with my parents. They would have been so happy to see this in Idaho! We will definitely be frequenting!”
