Been here several times, with a group and with just one other person. Â Never had issues with parking, seating, or service.
Came here on New Year's Eve several years ago, we had the best time. Â
Haven't ordered any food here, but the atmosphere is casual & fun, staff attentive.
We'll be back.
This is one of my favorite spots to check out live stand up comedy. It has a House of Blues type of feel. Small crowd and a more personal experience. Something you definitely never get when the artist you choose to see is performing at a big venue. I saw Eddie Griffin here. He did an encore and met with the audience afterwards! Certified legit
Review Source:Finally got the chance to check this place out. A friend had free tickets with the mandatory purchase of 2 drinks (not limited to alcohol)...winning! Our waitress was great. Kind of bummed there wasn't a food menu. Only drinks. At least I didn't see one.
The atmosphere is like any ol comedy club...nice, with gross bathrooms. What is with that? I guess they figure...you're here to laugh, not pee. Or maybe both, but in your chair only. I don't know. Get up at your own risk.
The market on the west coast doesn't seem to be as great as the east, but *shrugs* whatever.
This particular night I thought the openers were way better than the headliner -- he'll remain nameless, you don't need it.
Overall 3 stars 'cause it takes guts to get up there, our waitress was attentive, and these days...laughter is priceless. Comedians are beautiful gifts to the world.
Went last Friday for the 8:00 pm show and was not disappointed! Sam Tripoli, the headliner was ridiculously funny and inappropriate.. Which coincidentally is my kind of humor. All the other comedians (didn't write their names) were super funny as well. I recommend a weekend show for a fun date night. Will definitely come back!!
Review Source:I had a Living Social voucher for The Comedy Store and I'm going to level with you: my expectations were set fairly low. I had never heard of any of the comedians on the line up and when we arrived at the venue, it smelled like a thrift store. But now, these are the qualities that most endear it to me.
The comedians were hilarious! The environment is low key and unpretentious -something very much lacking in the neighborhood. Our cocktail waitress was spot on, ruthlessly efficient and drink prices weren't bad either. I only paid $6 for a large Stella. I'll have 2 more of those, please.
I would certainly come here again. Prices were fair, entertainment was excellent and the crowd was young and laid back. Sit in the front row at your own peril. I dodged the bullet but my husband wasn't so lucky..
I'm throwing virtual tomatoes at this place!
1. Takes FOREVER to get drinks served. At least 30 minutes, I'd say.
2. Junky interior. Just cheap, dirty and outdated. Is it too much to ask to renovate once every 20 years?
3. Bad comedy! Just not funny. Low brow, trying too hard. Just not Impressed at all.
Not only is The Comedy Store a legend in the comedy world. Â It's a great place to spend an evening laughing with friends. Â Because it is a little out of the way it gets overlooked but it shouldn't. Â You can usually get FREE tickets by calling in ahead of time and that is for big name headliners too! Â The drink prices are standard and there isn't a bad seat in the house. Â During the week you can catch local up a coming comics (usually FREE) making a name for themselves. Â You might just catch the next Chris Rock, Dane Cook, or Louis CK.
Review Source:I loved my visit here!
Holy cow... I was cracking up soooo much and so hard throughout the entire evening. It was open mic night so tons and tons of different comedians got onstage to do short sets. Being able to see so much talent in one night was pretty cool... if someone wasn't getting laughs from the audience, that was okay because they would be off stage soon and another comedian would perform and possibly get the audience laughing more.
Went with a group of friends and we all had a great time. It was really sweet that the night we went, the show was actually benefiting dogs and they had some dogs in front of The Comedy Store up for adoption.
We stayed until the end of the night, so the show lasted a good few hours. I feel like we really got our money's worth for how much comedy we got to see packed into a single night.
Highly recommend this place!
RECOMMENDATIONS: Weekday shows are hit or miss and can be almost brutal sometimes but if you are on the mailing list you can go to those shows periodically without having to pay the cover. Â There are also BoGo deals for late shows and coupons in the Reader so you can get in the door for less than the $20 per person....the two drink minimum is, however, unavoidable
FOOD/DRINK: They have no foodz so I usually hit up the Prep Kitchen or somewhere before the show.
The drinks at the Comedy Store are pretty stiff but also pretty expensive and not that big. Â I kinda wish they would remodel and upgrade so they could have the bar open during the day and not have to make all their money from the hours of 7:30 to 10:00 PM. Â Giving a little leeway on how much they have to charge to get in and how much the drinks cost. Â I doubt that will happen any time soon though looking at the broken stained glass over the center of the seating area that hangs precariously over the patrons brave enough to sit beneath it. Â
SERVICE: A majority of the staff are up and coming comics who trade their time taking tickets, seating, busing, etc. for stage time so they aren't always the best at customer service but they try. Â The actual 'hired help' are the cocktail waitresses and the bartenders. Â They are all very nice and do the best they can to keep the drinks coming without interrupting the show. Â No complaints about the service but no real accolades either.
LOCATION/DECOR: I have always gone late so parking at the far back end of the Vons parking lot has never been a problem but don't take my word for it because it DOES say that they will tow you. Â
The interior is like most comedy clubs "black" Black walls, dark carpet, black tables and chairs, Oh, and the chairs suck BTW. Â The tables are small and the seating is really strange (standard for comedy clubs though). Â If you go with just one other person you have the choice of A: Sitting in front or behind that person on one side of the table. Â B: Sitting across a table from the person you are with and very close to the strangers behind you who will end up sharing your table. C: Sitting close together at the back part of the table with strangers sitting right in front of you and sharing a table....any choice you make it will be a little bit uncomfortable.
It is not the worst comedy club I have been to but I do think Diego deserves a better venue, or at least a face lift for the existing one, its in the center of La Jolla. Â They do good talent there because of their sister location in LA that started the careers of countless (now world famous) comedians. Â I will continue to recommend this place until something better comes along that can book the same quality talent.
I went there and I had a great time. I don't think the crowd was very good because the comics were bombing. If there were more people there and if it wasn't a sunday night, I think they would have been better. We got a lot of entertainment for 5 bucks.
A bud light draft is 4.50 and a vodka is 6.50. The chairs are not very comfortable.
If you sit in the front row you can expect to get some attention from the comics.
I love comedy and I had a great time. Some people in the crowd didn't have a good time though. The 2 couples up front got up and left after a while because they were getting picked on by multiple comics.
They don't serve food, go down the street to Don Carlos Taco shop, its awesome
I was born and raised in the La Jolla/Del Mar area and went to college at UCSD but could never afford or had the time to go to the Comedy Store. Â My wife and I are on vacation in San Diego and went last night since we're staying just a block down from it.
The lineup consisted of a number of different comedians so you got a wide variety of styles. Â On weeknights a show like this only costs $8 per person with the two drink minimum. Â Being on vacation and not having to drive back to where we are staying, we had some premium drinks. Â The drinks were outstanding. Â Hands down they have the best Chocolate Martini anywhere.
The show started at 8:00 and ran till about 10:30 and was a blast. Â My only complaint was it would be nice to have a program so you remember the names of the comedians. Â
Definitely will come here again when I'm in the area on vacation again.
I came here on local's night (Wednesdays and Thursdays) and upon arrival found out there's no cover with a yelp check-in! yayy yelp!
I've only been to comedy shows where it's one artist, and comedy clubs with a few artists with longer sets, so this was definitely a change. There must have been about 10 different artists with 5-10 min shows. They were all pretty funny as each of their acts appealed to different age groups, backgrounds, etc.
We had a ridiculous heckler in the audience that kept asking questions and talking back. She eventually started smoking and then threw up on one of the staff members upon getting kicked out. Definitely made the experience!
p.s. two drink minimum
Great place to go on a date, for girl's night out, or just with a group of friends in general. Alcoholic beverages are reasonably priced as well, and much more cheaper if you have a coupon.
At one time, I actually saw Steve Byrnes here and was surprised to see him on the Asian Kings of Comedy show. He was absolutely hilarious! Each time Ive gone here theyve always had great comedians and I always left feeling entertained.
One star taken off for the size of the place. Theyd attract more patrons if they made the place bigger. Other than that, expect to have a good time and great laughs! (=
But then again, it's just my opinion..
I suppose any rating for a comedy venue is going to be of limited value given that 95% of the experience is the performers...
But I had a great time here! Â Everyone was great, the price wasn't too bad (I think $24 all in per person). Â Two drink minimum but at least some decent options on the menu.
No parking is a downer, but we found (free) street parking easily.
Seating inside is somewhat mediocre but fine, just be prepared to be stuffed in near other people.
All said, everyone we were with had a great time and laughed throughout. Â An enjoyable two hours and, although I'm not in this area often, I wouldn't hesitate to swing through again.
HIGHLARIOUS! Â A group of us went on a Friday night and laughed our arses off! Â The two drink minimum doesn't bother me especially because it's a two drink minimum for the table. Â Meaning, if you go with 4 people, the table needs to have ordered 8 drinks (and they are more than happy to split tabs). Â
There were 4 comedians on the night we went and 3 of them nailed their acts! Â It's edgy...controversial....raw comedy. Â If you get offended easily, you probably shouldn't be going to a stand up comedy show. Â $20 for a night of laughs is well worth it for me! Â Loved it, and plan to go back very soon.
I've been here a few times and have had more than a few laughs! Every time I've been here i've used a Groupon, got them for $10 a ticket instead of the regular $20. Everyone gripes about the 2 drink limit but who CARES, and I've honestly never been asked by the servers to purchase another drink.
Almost every show features 3-4 comedians. Sometimes the openers are better than the headliners! I've seen Ahmed Ahmed here, and it was great!
If you're looking for something different on a Friday or Saturday night, check this place out, it's definitely a good time!
Sunday shenannigans - had more laughs in the car on the way home, mocking the ill-conceived schtick wherein the comedians swapped personas and did sets as each other. They, the comedians (who, by the way, out numbered the audience members), roared with mutual self admiration, or at least one guy laughed loud enough for all, while the audience shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
A young, caucasion male takes the stage with the identifier, BLACK, handwritten across his shirt with a sharpie. He would have done better to commit to his character but after 5 painful minutes, he apologizes to the black audience members for his mockery (nevermind those of us who may have been offended by either a. his audacity or b. his inability to tell a good joke) and exits the stage with his tail between his legs.
It's a hole in the wall comedy club in la jolla and the tickets were free, so I guess I got my money's worth. We had a few laughs at the old ladies in the front row who were hammered before the show even started. The one or two comedians who were funny were overshadowed by the 15 other mediocre at best, offensive at worst, performers.
I wanted so badly to tell the one guy that the word he was looking for was reparations, not repercussions and that Europeans brought the smallpox epidemic that dessimated Native people, not polio... but that wouldn't have made the "jokes" any funnier.
I've walked down Pearl Street many a quiet Saturday night, but never realized that this is where everyone actually is! We all know La Jolla isn't the most happening of neighborhoods, but the Comedy Store definitely brings a bit of much-needed nightlife to the area. It was fun times, good laughs, and I was in bed by 10:30 after a long week. Perfect.
We enjoyed a line-up of five comedians at 8 pm...each act longer and funnier than the last. Two drink minimum...expected, as every comedy club I'd been to prior was in LA. The comedians were pretty hilarious, particularly the last two! Good mix of material, including the expected vulgarities and raunchy jokes...so keep an open mind, especially if you're sitting up front! These guys definitely kept things interactive.
The show ran on time and was well-organized, and the cocktail waitresses timed their drink orders perfectly! I believe our tickets were $20 a head, thought it seems that after you pay your way in once you're golden. Free Wednesday or Thursday admission with your yelp check-in...and if you write down your email address on one of the cards on your table, you are promised more free tickets! Sweet.
I would for sure come back to catch another show! This makes for a totally fun and low-stress evening, weekday or night. I'm a definite fan.
Went here on Saturday night after winning some tickets from Rock 105.3. The comedians were hilarious!! Don't take your mom or the sensitive here! Not for those who cannot handle vulgarity or similar types of humor. But if you just like to laugh and enjoy yourself, come here. I was talking to my wife about this place, it would be a great first date because you can judge your dates sense of humor by what she laughs at and what she finds inappropriate.
No 5 stars because the 2 drink minimum, but it is expected and the drinks aren't that expensive. Total cost was just under $30 for the two of us, not bad especially because the tickets were free.
Went last night and saw Bryan Callen, Dov Davidoff and Jerrod Carmicheal. Â I didn't know any of them except Bryan Callen from "The Hangover". Â They were all very good. Â It was a blast!
Yes, there is a two drink minimum and the drinks aren't cheap but this place is nestled in La Jolla Village away from the hustle and bustle you find a few blocks up so parking is available and free. Â That saves you at least $10-20. That's how I rationalize it. Â
Other reviewers are also right about the decor. Â It's a little run down and the seating is a bit tight but that didn't bother me. Â It felt cozy to me.
The service was good. Â They take your credit card and hold on to it so they can start a tab but that's standard. Â
I definitely will be returning here. It was a lot of fun.
This is the Jewel of La Jolla....get it? Seriously....the way this place is ran is straight up cool and organized, I love this place, from the emails, to the reservations and the seating etc it's rad, the keyboardist! ROCKS!
They gift you free tickets here and there, which is cool of them. The 2 drink minimum is standard and who in the hell cannot swing a 2 drink minimum?
You have to love comedy! the regular comedians are hilarious here. They have visiting comedians as well and they have all been good so far.
Go here, I promise you won't be disappointed, unless your sensitive, politically correct, weak, and over all a boring square....these comedians really push the edge.....I wish they would push that envelope even  harder!
I went last night, and of course there was a dumb, drunk, white bitch trying to heckle the comedians......she got CRUSHED. Everybody was laughing so hard.....Ari you OWNED THAT BITCH!
I really love this place! Â If you are looking for something to do on a Friday or Saturday night The Comedy Store is a guaranteed night of fun! Â
It can be a little bit of a spendy evening, but is is probably not something you are going to do every week. Â You will find that it is well work the price once you have seen the show and you will want to be back soon. Â
If you follow these rules you are sure to have a great time! Â
1. Â Don't sit in the front row if you are going to get all bent out of shape when the comics pick on you. Â That is their job!
2. Â Don't heckle it is distracting for everyone. Â You are not adding to the show like you seem to think you are.
3. Â Be courteous, and don't talk to your group about anything, not even about the jokes. Â You just attract attention to yourself and distract the comic as well as others around you.
Food & Drink: Â There is a two drink minimum which I think should be waived for the Designated Driver especially if you are in a group of more than two. Â
Service: Â The servers are generally pretty friendly. Â Everyone wearing a Comedy Store T-Shirt is also a comedian and you can usually see them perform during the week or as an opening act on the weekend.
Location & Decor: Â There is not much to the decor everything is black other than the old stained glass feature on the ceiling. Â Watch out when seated under this, it seems to have taken a bit of a beating over the years. Â The place cold definitely use some updating, but that is not what you are here for, you are hear to laugh.
The Comedy Store in La Jolla is the definition of decent and that's giving it quite a bit of credit seeing as I was a few beverages in by the time I arrived.
$40 plus random Ticketmaster-ish service charges got us an hour and a half of two comedians that would have been just plain meh had it not been for the two-drink minimum. Actually, I take that back. Kevin Christy, the second comedian of the night, was hilarious and really cool when we approached him after the show. TCS should have ended with him instead of the other painfully awkward dude. Anyway, back to the two-drink minimum, you'll pay $7 per drink, but they're strong and strong is good.
I didn't find my Saturday night at TCS to be the best value, so I probably won't be back unless it's to see some serious talent.
The seating in here is strange and somewhat awkward. VERY hard to get in and out if you have to use the restroom. So go before the show.
The drinks were nice and strong and fairly decent.
The tickets were $35 each on a Saturday, which seems fairly high. The openers were funnier than the headliner. I laughed a lot the first 2 guys, then nothing, just boredom. Maybe it was a bad night I will go again on a Thursday thanks to David's tip of free entrance and multiple comedians!
Totally hit or miss. Â I've had more good times than bad ones at The Comedy Store, so 4 stars it is!
The fun-ness of your evening is, for the most part, at the mercy of the comedians who are performing the night you go, as I'm sure is the case at just about every comedy club in existence.
Arrive 30-45 minutes early if you're interested in good (1st row) seats. Â Dress to fit a stereotype (e.g., tribal tattoos and an Ed Hardy shirt, blonde hair extensions and cosmetically enhanced cleavage, a Mohawk and gauged ears, a cowboy hat and Wrangler jeans) if you aspire to get called out by a comedian. Â Don't bring your parents or grandparents to a show if they wouldn't feel comfortable potentially being in the spotlight; I've noticed that about half the comedians I've seen like to relentlessly pester older people in attendance. Â Shows often contain skits/routines that are sexually crass in nature, so that's something to be mindful of as well. Â
Heckling is prohibited at The Comedy Store. Â You'll very likely be asked to leave if you don't behave yourself, so pass on this venue if you're a heckler.
Service--the cocktail waitresses, bartenders, and people working the ticket window--seems consistently good and friendly. Â Not a fan of the 2 drink minimum, but whatever.
Coupons for The Comedy Store are easy to come by in local magazines and papers. Â Also, if you have an Entertainment book, then there are always several buy-1-get-1-free admission coupons for the late shows. Â
Happy laughing!
Being my first live stand-up comedy experience, I was quite impressed with the Comedy Store.
We went on a very off night, Jan. 1 (apparently a time reserved for hangover nursing rather than unbridled laughter). Â My date and I thought that it would be awkward to watch comedians with an audience of just 5 or so, as it was for the first couple acts. Â However, the intimate setting only livened the atmosphere, and towards the end of the night there was a sizable audience yielding raucous laughter.
The acts ranged in content and level of polish. Â Some were definitely better than others, but none "bombed" or were overly terrible. Â Dangerous Dick of San Diego radio acclaim made an appearance, and I felt his act was certainly the best performance. Â
You probably wouldn't want to take your mom to see any of the comics as some of the material was definitely of a PG-13 level.
Price wise, it was about in line with what I expected. Â There was an $8 / person cover, and a two drink minimum. Â Drink prices were a bit on the high side. Â The night ended up costing about $33 / person, all tips included.
They lose one star for having a tip line on the credit card receipt for simply paying the cover charge....not cool to hit me up for tips when I've been in the business for about 30 seconds.
All in all, great experience, check them out for a unique nightlife activity.
Yeah, I will pretty much never go here again. Â Unless perhaps I am very very very very drunk. Â That is why they have a minimum, because nobody is funny unless you are tanked, and I dont mean throwing up tanked... I mean looking at your own throw up and noticing that there is still a full blue M&M and wanting to eat it, tanked.
A group of us went with free tickets to a show on a Wednesday (there were 20 people there, pretty close to empty). Â I think we saw about 6 comics and only 1 maaaaybe 2 were slightly enjoyable. Â The other guys would either yell into the microphone or make fart jokes like they were a 3rd grade boy in front of a class of girls. Â One guy, in all honesty, was shrooming or something because he could not feel out the audiences disapproval in the slightest bit. Â He looked like a lanky Jim Brewer and seriously, no joke, thought it would be funny to make noises into the microphone.
I dont care if they give away free tickets to this place, it sucks, and I will never go back, I would rather walk through Blacks beach with my grandmother, and that really would be painful! Â Please do not imagine what that would be like.
I came here last year with friends and didn't like it. Â Probably my fault for expecting something similar to the comedy clubs I've been to in SF. There's no food here and the enviroment isn't conducive to talking to friends. I know, I know, you're supposed to listen to the person talking on stage. But it'd be nice to make some appreciative comments. The signs forbidding talk and the closeness of the stage prevent that.
The area is cramped; basically one room with lines of chairs like in an elementary school. There may have been some tables. Drinks had to be bought outside the room. Sigh, I didn't like it. No one was memorable. Probably doesn't help that I'm not a drinker. I just remember that the end dragged on and comedians kept coming onto the stage. My friends and I eventually snuck out and they went to a bar.
The Comedy Store is the creme de la creme of the San Diego comedy scene. Always a good time, even the doorman will crack jokes at your ID picture (next time I'll come prepared with a witty comeback I swear.) Once the show starts, expect to drink and to laugh your ass off. Â You might even see a celebrity or two; Pauly Shore has been known to drop in because his family owns the joint. Â
Prices are steep, but always worth it. Â Don't forget to sign up for the email list, they'll mail you free tickets from time to time. Â
Note to the hecklers: If i wanted to hear loud crazy drunk talk I would have gone to any PB bar. Â Respect the performers and audience please! Thanks.
My first time at a comedy club was quite enjoyable. We parked in the back by the Vons. Don't know if we were supposed to, didn't see a disclaimer, haha. (One of the comedians' acts) My group of 6 came in on Friday night for the 10:30 show. Tickets, as mentioned by prior Yelpers, are a little much. Later on, after your face hurts from laughing, you'll know it was totally worth it.
The interior is quite humble, but after you acknowledge the pictures of previous comedians, you kinda wonder why they don't redecorate. After going from the main entrance/bar area and entering the venue, you are told not to talk, yell, or leave your cell phone on. We complied (for at least 3 min) and then were seated at a table near the back...by the bathrooms  =  Guess we should've arrived at 10:15 for the 10:30 show instead of 10:45, eh?
The ceiling is stained-glass. The stage is miniscule. The venue itself was not too great, but the set-up was intimate....in a way. I went to the bathrooms, which need to be updated. The toilet partitions barely closed. The interior kinda reminded me of what an older bar would look like. I wasn't impressed. But again, you're focusing on the comedian, not the ambiance.
The crowd ranged from mid-twenties through the fifties. The drinks are somewhat pricey, but what do you expect for La Jolla and let alone a landmark such as The Comedy Store?
I didn't drink since I was the DD but still laughed my a$$ off. I was anticipating a "Jerry Seinfeld" clean-cut routine, and got the opposite. All the comics were vulgar, blunt, X-Rated, hilarious and it was great. Â Definitely something new for a Friday night.
My group began interacting with one of the comics (forgot all their names) and were reprimanded by one of the tiny security guards. He told us to stop yelling...(piss off little Comedy Store joker). He totally killed our mood. We left about 20 min before the last comic finished his act.
Other than that, The Comedy Store is great. If you're looking to be the co-star of the show, wear something out of the ordinary and arrive a little early to sit in the front. Depending on what you look like, you'll either walk out laughing your butt off at the pathetic attempt the comic made trying to make a fool out of you since he didn't have a decent act ready. Or, have higher confidence or lack of self-esteem. Either way, if you're a bystander just watching and having a good time, you'll enjoy yourself. Be sure to walk in with an open mind.
This place is a lot like most local comedy clubs of any import - cramped. You'll be up close and personal with the people around you, both at your table and beyond. Not great for the claustrophobics out there, but it's great to see comedians live, up close. There's always the fear that you get picked on, but if you have a problem with that ... don't sit near the front! Sheesh.
Anyway, as reported - $20 minimum and 2 drink minimum most nights, but you don't even notice that. You're gonna have at least 2 drinks in 2-3 hours anyway. And besides, funny is funnier when you're drinking.
1. Comedy is funnier live. I know this much is true.
2. Even a hardcore groupie/lush like me doesn't want to go to a concert or show at a bar every night.
3. Life is full of surprises, and The Comedy Store is a lot like life.
On weekends, The Comedy Store has big names and headliners and the cover is usually $20, with a two drink minimum. It's a little steeper than your usual club cover, but you get a quality night of  entertainment, and a chair (and, let's be honest, you were going to drink more than two drinks anyway).  It's a great time, great for a group night out. Make reservations, and  I recommend you get there early to get a good table.  Since it's downtown La Jolla, you can easily find a place within a couple of blocks to have dinner beforehand.
Now to my 'insider' tip. On Thursday nights, it's local  night. $5 cover, two drink minimum. All local comedians you haven't heard of or seen on tv. Some you may recongize as bar backs at the club. Yes, there are some duds, and maybe one or two that are absolutely painful to watch, but there are gems too.  On Sunday, it's open mic and then locals, no cover, two drink minimum. Ok, so a little more of the painful stuff, but again, lots of funny people, with great material. However, the big name guys sometimes drop in and do a set, so you may get lucky.
My friends and I have shut the place down, stayed through the bitter end of the night, and were rewarded with passes.
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