about us
- our story begins in 1886
Where Los Angeles History Is Always on the Menu
What started as a small eating house beside a Southern Pacific railroad depot has grown into the most storied restaurant in Los Angeles County. The Saugus Cafe was founded in 1886 by James Herbert Tolfree in the heart of what is now the Santa Clarita Valley — making it older than the Statue of Liberty and one of fewer than a dozen American restaurants that trace their roots back to the 19th century. For nearly 140 years, through two World Wars, the Golden Age of Hollywood, and generations of Santa Clarita families, we have kept the doors open, the coffee hot, and the welcome warm. Our mission has never changed: serve honest food, honor the history of this place, and make every guest feel like they've come home.
140 years of history — Los Angeles County's longest-operating restaurant, open since 1886.
Classic American Cooking — Generous portions, timeless recipes, and sensible prices served all day.
A Landmark Still Standing — Honored with an official historical plaque recognizing our place in California history.
A Menu Rooted in Tradition
We believe the best breakfast in Santa Clarita starts with the same foundation it always has — fresh eggs, real butter, house-made gravies, and portions big enough to mean it. Our kitchen has always cooked the way California families expect: nothing fussy, nothing frozen, nothing fake. From the 1886 Platter to our world-famous New York steak — the same cut President Theodore Roosevelt ordered here in 1903 — every plate we serve carries the weight of nearly 140 years of craft. We source locally where we can, cook from scratch where it counts, and never cut the corners that matter.
More Than a Restaurant. A Piece of Santa Clarita.
The Saugus Cafe has always been where the Santa Clarita Valley gathers. Ranchers and railroad workers filled these booths first. Then came the Hollywood legends — Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, and Marlene Dietrich, who filmed just behind our building. Presidents Benjamin Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt passed through. William Mulholland is said to have eaten breakfast here on his way to secure the water rights that would reshape all of Southern California. Scenes from CSI, Justified, Murder She Wrote, and Boys on the Side have been filmed inside these walls. Through every chapter of this valley's history, locals have gathered here the same way — over eggs, over coffee, over conversation. That tradition is alive. The cafe is open again. And your table is waiting.
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