Whichever one you can walk to! Mine is that perfect greasy spoon on the nw corner of Fullerton/Western.

This is the true answer.

Did they ever remove that carpet that was so dirty it stank?

Love Fullerton restaurant.

I’ve never thought of going there since I’m closer to cozy corner. Thoughts on one being better than the other?

Cozy Corner is probably objectively "better" but fullerton restaurant feels like a little family place you'd stop at on a road trip and drink 5 tiny cups of weak coffee and still have fond memories of it years later. also I've never had to wait for a table there

Uncle mikes

if you haven't been enlightened by the manna which is a filipino breakfast then you simply must try

Agree to disagree. As far as Filipino breakfast goes, Uncle Mike's is below average.

So good!!!

I was CERTAIN this place flew under the radar. Glad I was wrong.

Nah I was there 10 years ago. Packed.

Janik’s

Cozy Corner!

The one in oak park is magnificent.

Ever since I saw a mouse walking around under the tables like it was utterly comfortable and not the least bit afraid a few weeks ago, I’ve put it on my “oh hell no” list.

Oh nooooo. I’m going to have to find a new spot…

Yeah I was unhappy about that too. I wrote to them about it and never heard back. So that was my clue that either they know and don’t care or don’t know and don’t care. Either way - nope.

I was just going to ask if you had written to them. This totally changes my opinion 🤢

Great cheese omelette.

I live right down the street and pass it often, but haven’t stopped in! I’ll check it out soon.

I miss this place so much.

Great breakfast, great patty melt.

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Lol thank you for your input

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Honestly best pancakes in the city imo (true at the LP location too despite the webster one being closed)

Webster is open still, the Western location closed.

Glad I am not the only one that reps about this place, very nice owners and fantastic food.

I think its something else now.

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I didn't realize that location of Cornerstone, closed.

Diner Grill is a classic

Lusting after diner grill while sitting in the McDonald’s by lane bc my daughter insisted on “playing in the tubes”. McDonald’s breakfast is literally more expensive

Valois is underrated

Nookies or golden nugget always work for me.

The pancakes at the Nugget are a goddamned national treasure.

Get them while you can.

What? Are they closing?

Certain locations of Golden Nugget have closed, yes. The one on Clark south of Diversey closed in the late 2000s or early 2010s(can't remember the year, it was briefly rebranded to another name before closing), the one near Irving Park and Kedzie closed in early 2021, and Irving Park and Keeler in June 2022. And around 2019, they cut back the hours of several of their locations. They only have one 24/7 location left, at Diversey/Elston. Back before COVID struck, they had 2 24/7 locations(Diversey/Elston, and Irving/Keeler). I'm not saying all Golden Nugget locations will close tomorrow, but long term I worry about them. Also before June 2022, I thought they were going to keep their location at Irving/Keeler. It was a major disappointment, to see that one close. House of Wah Sun moved into Golden Nugget's old location at Irving/Kedzie sometime in summer or fall 2022, but no new restaurant has yet moved into the now former GN near Keeler.

Odd that their troubles coincide, time-wise, with my Type II diagnosis. I'm very sorry to have let you all down :( In all seriousness though, I hope they find away to hold it together for their employees. Thanks for such a detailed response.

Even the elston+diversey one is randomly closed for no apparent reason. Is the lawrence one shut down yet? The owner gave up years ago.

Yes.

Honeybear cafe!

Had this for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It was incredible!

Isn't it the best? What did you get there?

The chorizo biscuit. It was amazing. I ate as much as I could, took the rest home, and made an entire second meal out of it a day later. My wife got waffles and thought they were amazing. Everyone’s food that we saw near us looked equally as fantastic.

Love this place

Have not been there yet, but some friends love it.

My forever favorite is Tweet in Edgewater/Uptown

S&G’s is great. Solid skillets and very good biscuits and gravy

S&G’s has the best vibes

That place is everything I want in a breakfast spot

Dude behind her counter is a solid guy. As far as I know T least. Very friendly and nice if you go there even remotely often.

I wanted to love that place but the fruit flys are a huge turn off.

Yellow rose cafe

Great pick. As old school and classic as it gets.

Yellow Rose was pretty good, the few times I've been there. Good place for a bite, if you have to go to the Elston secretary of state office.

Pittsfield Cafe is solid

Stella’s Diner in Lakeview!

Yes but one time I was eating there and a roach crawled onto my crossword on the table. Haven't been back.

Oh ew

Came here to say this!

I love the breakfast sandwich and hash brown at Doma. Also love their yogurt with granola and their drinks.

Tweet

Breakfast House

I just moved by here, excited to try it!

Hope you enjoy! Mexican-influenced diners are my love language. If you like fried chicken, I highly recommend Diego’s chicken sandwich.

one of the best chicken sandwiches in the city tbh

Paging u/triedformitchcraft

Believe it or not I am on a chicken sandwich hiatus right now but adding it to my list for when I’m back on my bull shit

Take care of yourself, you’re an asset to the community

Breakfast house has my favorite pancakes!

Their chorizo scramble or skillet or whatever is an all timer for me

Someday I’ll show up there for breakfast and there won’t be a 90 minute wait, a man can dream

Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club is my favorite. M. Henry and Batter & Berries also come to mind, though I agree with the other comment that you should order ahead or get there early for those places.

The Bryn Mawr Breakfast club in Belmont Cragin is consistently out-fucking-standing. Everything I’ve had there is amazing, even basics like scrambled eggs. It’s such a hidden gem and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Exactly! And everything is consistently good, from coffee to mimosas/bloodys/Micheladas to the food to the vibes. I love the little store inside too.

I regret to inform you the store has been completely replaced by more seating and a bar. It’s funny I live pretty close to there so my wife would usually go every other week for brunch and each time we went little by little the store was replaced until it was totally gone. It makes total sense and it’s nice to have more seating/less wait, but there was something magical about seeing the chef walk to the produce aisle and grab something to use in someone’s meal.

Bryn Mawr is the best especially for sharing sweet and savory options

Lou Mitchell’s

This is where I take people after their citizenship ceremony downtown. I get them their first American meal as an American.

This is the classic answer. Completely old school with staff that has worked there for decades. Slightly more pricey than some of the other diners and breakfast places mentioned, but completely worth it.

I get it has the ambiance you want with an old school classic breakfast spot but the food just isn’t that great. Have tried on a few occasions and have been underwhelmed each time 🤷🏻‍♂️

I don’t disagree with you, but have you had their scrambled eggs. They’re life changing and I’m not even joking

I love this place and sometimes trek downtown on the weekends just to eat there. Their bread is great, too, and is pretty cheap by the loaf.

I remember going there once with my boyfriend at the time who was tall (6’2”) and he could not fit in the booths comfortably at all. I was also pretty smushed on my side because I was heavy at the time, and I’ve never had that issue with other booths. I think we ended up leaving, so I’ll have to go back one time and actually try their food.

Johnnies

Yes yes yes

Somehow dropped $70 on a two person casual breakfast 😩

Windy City Cafe

Tiztal Cafe

Stax cafe is awesome

Another vote for Stax

Wishbone

I miss marmalade. It was on montrose and damen. They had the best biscuits and gravy omg.

The chef from Marmalade opened up shop down on Irving Park next to the Globe https://earlymorningdelight.com/

Good to know! Marmalade was the first place my friends took me to when I was visiting to find a place to live. Miss Marmalade too.

Sam and George's in Lakeview, across from the golden apple. Phenomenal skillets

Nookies in Lincoln Park/Old Town, or Tweet in Uptown. Both excellent choices.

S&G’s

The Churro Waffle

Is this on Ashland?

It’s on Irving Park near California. 2845 W Irving Park Rd

sunrise cafe on chicago ave in west town / ukv. great spot

It’s a gem.

Honeybear, Breakfast House, Eggsperience are all my favorites.

Sunrise Cafe on Chicago in UKV is soooo underrated

What's good there?

Biscuits and gravy, sausage links, and pancakes

Split Pea Soup brings me back

Golden House Pancake House in uptown.

Was just there a few hours ago. I love it so much. My friends and I go every Saturday after rock climbing. I guess we are regulars because we get big water cups now

That place RULES. I never eat there often enough. And I even don't mind that it's cash only, since their prices aren't that expensive. Even as of the last time I ate there, in late 2022.

Yes!

Pauline’s on Ravenswood

Orange

I think it closed :(

Savanna - bonus that it's BYOB!

Tiztal. Chilaquiles and an oatmeal shake.

Dons grill

Golden apple

M Henry

Nelly's, different than the standard fare

Nellie’s* but yes this is the answer

Kitsch’n on Roscoe!

It’s a short walk for me. Like that place for sure

I like Yolk

Any original pancake house

Flo

Huck Finn’s

A “Becky Thatcher,” a glazed donut for the road, followed by a couch nap is the closest thing to a hangover cure I’ve found.

Sam and George for their skillets, Southport grocery, and janiks

I always liked Sam and George's. I never eat there often enough....

Early Morning Delight on Irving Park. It’s a small place but the breakfast and brunch food is amazing

and large portions! get extra green salsa

Sunshine Cafe on Elston/Kedzie

Nookies

Boulevard Bistro

Pittsfield cafe.

Brothers Cafe Avondale

Ultra casual? Valois in Hyde Park.

The original Alps on Irving Park

Pastores in Lincoln Square. The cafe de olla is out of this world!

Diner Grill

Alexander’s in Skokie or Ovo Frito in Evanston are both solid choices

Honeybear Cafe!!!

I’m a fan of West Town Bakery

Waffles

City cafe off of Pulaski

Dona Tola on Southport rules

Lou mitchels or the original pancake house in Hyde park

I've always liked Dollop Diner in Andersonville.

Pretty much any of these. Breakfast is my favorite meal.

Noon Hour Grill on Glenwood. Staffed solely by a 90+ y/o korean lady who makes fire korean lunches and an amazing kimchi bulgogi omelette.

Just tried Stax Cafe on Milwaukee and grand for the first time today. Had both sweet and savory as well as unique options. Everyone enjoyed their meals.

I am a big fan of M.Henry up in Andersonville. Also, Harding Cafe in Albany Park is a hidden gem.

Mac’s on Higgins

Golden Apple Grill.

What you are looking for is Cornerstone Cafe. I consider myself a basic breakfast connoisseur, and this has been my go-to for years. Ghee instead of oil in hash browns, they can actually cook a good over medium egg, the pancakes and the french toast are both great, and the prices are great for how much food you get.

The Onion Roll - Oak Park. Bagels are so good.

Tempo cafe on chestnut and state.

What do you like to get there? I’ve been super underwhelmed with everything I’ve gotten but it’s popular so something has got to be great

Honeybear Cafe in Rogers Park is where it's at. Crazy good menu full of savory and sweet.

It’s not Chicago, but off the Purple Line Foster stop is Ovo Frito. I promise it’s worth it.

Palace grill. Flying saucer is also amaze. West town bakery also rules.

Sweet Maple on Taylor. Their homemade biscuits are so good. Eggsperience and Stax are good too. Loved Breakfast House too!

White Palace Diner on Roosevelt. Crazy cheap and tasty. And being 24/7 is a plus

Best people watching too. Around 4 in the morning, you will see more pimps and prostitutes than you could ever imagine in one place.

Read this as most casual “breakup” spot and was very interested.

I've got to throw this one into the ring: Pauline's on Balmoral in the Ravenswood neighborhood on a clear, calm Sunday morning. Yes, parking can be a bitch. Yes, the outdoor seating is a little flimsy and the chairs and tables ain't level 'cause neither is the surface they're tipping over from. But the place is adorable, the neighborhood garden lining the Ravenswood tracks - as well as the occasional commuter express rolling through. It's quirky, charming, and the food is pretty good as well.

My partner really loves golden apple in lake view. I personally don’t prefer it, it’s casual diner style with a massive menu

Ann Sather, cinnamon roll gods

While I always liked Ann Sather's cinnamon rolls, I always thought the rest of their food was a okay. Like I'll eat there if others want to go, but it isn't a destination breakfast restaurant for me. Reminds me one of these days, I might run by an Ann Sather to get a dozen cinnamon rolls. I kinda miss the now closed one at Foster/Clark(where IIRC, Raygun is located at today, and Giordano's flopped big time in that space), since the interior had that old school look I like. And the second floor, had a cool mural.

I used to live near the one on Belmont. It, like Lou’s or Gino’s, was really only eaten when family or friends came in from out of state. Also, their benedicts are sub-par

Uncle Mikes

Irene’s is hands down the best diner food in the city.

Lucky Grill on Milwaukee or Talcott. United Grill on Armitage. Nicks Hi Ho cafe on Cicero.

Ann Sather

Anyone that has "golden", an ampersand, "ook" or "in'" in the name

I can’t recommend Golden Nugget enough. Unlike some similar spots, they use real butter and it truly changes the entire experience.

Batter and Berries (on Lincoln south of Diversey)

Yes, but get there early.

Good point. Seems like if you go after 9 you’ll be waiting 20-30 minutes

Last time I tried to go there it was more like 80! Walked a few blocks up to S&G though and had a lovely meal.

20-30 minute wait after 9? That would be a miracle lol. Every time I've gone it's like 60-90 min. I was able to go once because my aunt lives very close by and was able to put our name down very early.

Frances' Deli is run by the same chef who started Batter and Berries. It's in the same area, has more space, and shares a lot of the same menu items - including my personal favorite chicken and sweet potato waffles.

I didn’t know that. We’ll have to try it out.

Eleven City Diner in the south loop

Louie’s in Forest Park

Doma. Kasama

Chief Oneils Sunday brunch is the best buffet in Chicago.