Take A Drive To The Desert To Dine At This Exceptional Remote Restaurant In Southern California
By Natasha Kayes|Published March 15, 2024
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Natasha Kayes
Author
I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
As a beach girl, I don’t spend a lot of time exploring the desert. That being said, the more things I learn about and discover farther inland, the more I want to head away from the coast and experience that part of Southern California. La Copine is a remote desert restaurant in Yucca Valley, CA, that feels like one more reason to do just that!
La Copine is located in the middle of the Southern California desert on a narrow off-the-beaten-path highway called Old Woman Springs Road, just outside of Joshua Tree National Park.
Out here in this remote place, it seems a bit surprising to find a bright and inviting restaurant that nearly always has a line out the door and a wait.
The menu features simple, fresh ingredients and a rotating seasonal menu of flavor-packed dishes incorporating California produce in dishes that boast French, Southern, and Asian influences.
Enjoy delightful salads, sandwiches, and seafood dishes, as well as a few yummy breakfast options like Franz Toast and the Breakfast Sammy, served with date jam on an English muffin made in-house.
Customers love the portion sizes which are often big enough to share, as well as small plates - like crispy papas, fried eggplant, Black Hawk Farms sirloin brochette, and more if you just want something light.
If you’ve got room for something sweet, the menu features unique desserts like a ricotta panna cotta with fresh figs, black pepper honey, and mascarpone.
The outdoor patio is cozy and heated, and offers diners a chance to soak up views of the desert and the very unique Joshua trees that are found throughout the area.
This welcoming desert restaurant in Yucca Valley, CA is open for brunch and lunch, and you can make reservations by text. Find menus, hours, and reservation information on the La Copine website, and follow La Copine on Facebook to keep up with news and happenings. If you have been to this little Yucca Valley oasis, we would love to hear about your experience! This is a perfect stop on a trip to explore Joshua Tree National Park – speaking of which, you should check out this cool open-air desert tour!