Okay so anyone who knows me knows I love breakfast. I have been known to become giddy at the sight of pancakes. Alps did not disappoint me one little bit. What I found to be more enjoyable was the friendliness of everyone that I came across. It appears to be family owned and they have staff that have been with them for years. I mean let's be honest, you can get really good breakfast many place but the service here is AWESOME! They may see me on Saturday AND Sunday mornings. :-) read more

Here are a few convenient positions to use while eating at this magnificent, deceptively European pancake house and diner. Position One: THE NOM-NOM ATTACK After you get your food, prepare your arsenal of culinary cutlery in your hands and dig into that skillet. Left hook, slice. Right jab, scoop. Left hook, stuff. Right jab, sip. Continue until your breakfast enemy is nothing but a stain on the plate. Position Two: THE SIP-SIP STARE DOWN If you are at ALPS to look at the non-existent mountains, take a break with a coffee and newspaper. Try and stay calm as the raging caffeine courses through your veins. Unbeknownst to you, this coffee-drinking ritual is a test of wills. Which will come first, the check, or your sanity? Position Three: THE NEGOTIATOR Diners, drive-ins and dives got you coo-coo for hot cocoa? Don't know what I'm talking about? It's because those sneaky waitresses have their own code, lingo, razzle-dazzle sheesh boom bah. Did you order a triple decker omelette, hold the italian, double-Sparten with extra hashies? Maybe whatever that was will taste good with your hunka-hunka O.J. freshly squeezed. Nod and smile, negotiator, nod and smile. These tips and tricks are sure to net you a wonderful time at ALPS West Restaurant & Pancake house. Auf wiedersehen diner-seeker, and enjoy! read more

I have been to many breakfast diners in this city and I have not been able to settle down into one since I have been grieving the loss of Huck Finn. Huck Finn is still around, but their service, quality of food, and drunken obnoxious crowds have prevented me from making any return visits. ALPS was very clean, the waitress was the nicest and genuinely friendliest waitress I have met in a very long time. After little to no sleep from the night before I arrived here on a Friday morning (sober) and had no problems getting a table. The food came super fast and was tasty. Two of my friends ordered the skillets, both were excellent and I ordered the Big Man breakfast which was substantial and delicious. It is a little out of the way for me since I live on the southside, but once I relocate further north, this will definitely become one of my go-to breakfast diners. read more

I'm really surprised at all the negative reviews! We had a great experience here. We walked in early on a Sunday afternoon and were promptly greeted and seated by a very friendly woman. The place was 3/4 full and very clean. We were immediately served hot, delicious coffee. Now, I know this doesn't do it for everyone, but I was really pleased they had flavored creamers at the table. Score. We had typical breakfasts...an omelet and pancakes...and it was delicious. There was so much food, and it was all hot and fresh. The waitstaff was attentive and kept the coffee cup full. When the bill came, it was more than reasonable for all the food we received. I am very happy to have this place in my neighborhood. But you should stay out. I don't want to have to wait in line. read more

Great diner restaurant. Family owned. Like stepping back in time. Wish they were open for dinner.

Fluffiest Egg White omelet around. Really? Yes really! Most of the breakfast joints around Albany Park/Irving Park are diner dives. Tons of butter, lots of grease, (great for a hangover) but just not healthy. This is not true about the ALPS. The owners are sweet, the waitstaff has sass, and there is generally no longer than a 10 minute wait on Saturday or Sunday. No extra charge to sub fruit for hash browns, although an egg-white omelet does tend to run quite a bit extra. 2 coffee's, 2 egg-white omelets = $27 (ouch) read more

I come here once a week for breakfast. Good food, great service and reasonable prices. Waffles with fresh fruit and turkey sausage. Good coffee. read more

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We came to this restaurant on a whim because we were getting our car fixed at the nearby firestone. I'm so glad we found this restaurant!! Food was excellent, I had the southern eggs Benedict (new item) with eggs on a biscuit with sausage and gravy with hash browns on the side. Our service was fast and friendly. They refilled our waters and coffee and the waitress was excellent! We will definitely come back if we're in the area. I would recommend this place to anybody!! read more

I know I've said this before, but seriously, who isn't a sucker for a good diner? ALPS is probably one of the best diners I've been to the city thus far, and I secretly love it because it makes me feel like I am back home in the burbs (ya, I'm a dork). I was told it gets prettyyy busy on Sunday mornings, so our party of 3 ventured out a little early to get a table. Luckily, we were seated right away and our orders were taken soon after. They have really great service, and the food is fabulous. I absolutely love any type of skillet, so I went with the Gypsy--ham, cheddar cheese, bell peppers, and onions all on a bed of hash browns, and 2 eggs over-easy to top it off. Holy yum. Highly recommended. They also serve lunch and dinner, and seem to have really great specials. I would come back to check those out, too. ALPS is awesome. read more

have been here many times over the years, but after the experience today will never go back I feel sorry for the employees that have to put up with the cook in the kitchen. We ordered biscuits and gravy with sausage and eggs We had to return the biscuits because they tasted raw and uncooked. The cook(???) came out screaming at us that he has been making them the same for years. not once but 5 times. Totally uncalled for. never again!!! read more

I'm a regular here. If you want a traditional breakfast, this is the place. These reviews are bs, the owners are so friendly and accommodating & I have never seen disrespect come from this place. read more

Alps is an old school breakfast joint that does get packed, but the wait is never extremely long. The food is always fast to come out. You always get greeted at the door and they always try to accommodate everyone. I am a regular. They do have a parking lot on the side as well, but if it gets to packed uou can easily find street parking. read more

Waitress "Mo" is hilarious and was the highlight of the experience. I felt like she was straight out of a sitcom, like Alice. She had a funny sarcasm and wit about her. The experience, overall, was great. The food -OK. It wasn't bad, it was just OK -similar to other places I have been to. I guess I was expecting something more "wow". I had heard they were "really good" so I was expecting something different or unique but it was just some good / OK food. I will say, the potato pancakes were made fresh and were very good. Everything else OK. I did enjoy the attentiveness of Mo and the ambiance so it's likely I will be back to try something a little more adventurous than the standard breakfast and see if they can "wow" me! read more

ALPS is a solid, breakfast oriented diner. The food was ok, good but not exciting. I had the biscuits and gravy with sausage patties. It was a decent portion and tasted alright. They could have been a bit more generous with the gravy, but all in all it was A-OK. Christopher had a combination with eggs and sausage and potatoes and pancakes. He ate it up but wasn't overly impressed with it. One thing to note is the sausage patties have a very strong flavor. It was fine for us, but my Mom could not have eaten it. The restaurant itself, is large, airy and clean. For a neighborhood spot, it is convenient and not bad at all. read more

i HAVE NEVER HAD A BAD MEAL HERE. Portions are ample. Service is excellent. Juice is fresh. Eggs are done how you ask. Wait time is minimal as they are very organized and it is a huge place. EXTREMELY DOG FRIENDLY DURING THE SUMMER - If you want to walk with your dog and grab a bite to eat - come to ALPS! Everyone there from the owners to the waitresses love dogs. They bring them treats and water. IT's really fun for them and us. And it is shaded on the outside patio. read more

Yes fiver stars may be a bit skew for this place but when you compare it to other places in the immediate neighbor you might tend to agree with me. So an altered review would still get 4 stars. Sure you could say it's just another diner similar to Golden Nugget but it's much better and significantly cheaper to. Around $10 per person including tip. Also don't be fooled by the outside the diner is a lot bigger then it looks from the outside. Food is slightly better then you're average diner and service is just as good. The pancakes are amazing good as well.... no boxed crap here. I'll guarantee that I I will back here again. read more

The best broccoli and feta cheese omelette, my daughter love the pancakes and waffles. The customer service is great. And the ambiance is really quiet and nice. read more

Have you read the book "Unbroken"? Its about Louis Zamparini and his amazing story of survival and redemption during and after WWII. I could not put it down. And the folks at ALPS must have sensed my urgency to keep reading this book because they let me linger much longer than probably the average diner lingers after breakfast. Smiling as they refilled my coffee and water glass, making sure I didn't need anything more. And it wasn't just the server either, the owner and cashier were both so nice and sunny on a cloudy, cold day. Maybe they saw the tears brimming in my eyes from such a gripping story that they wanted to be extra nice to me. Get the window seats if you can, watching the traffic drive by is a great mindless activity. The food is good, hearty and filling. I always go with the veggie skillet and poached eggs. Their poaching technique isn't the best, but at least the eggs are not overcooked and gummy. The coffee is strong and hot; they have flavored creamers for you ready on the table. I've only come for breakfast, well, I did come for lunch and ordered breakfast instead. That's what I love about these casual diners. Breakfast comfort food anytime you want. read more

Meh. The only thing exceptional about this place is how clean it is (for a diner). I was also pleased that Hubs and I were able to get seats right away at 11:30am on a Sunday. If we didn't live down the block though, I don't really think we'd come here again. The food is pretty bland! Hubs ordered this breakfast tortilla that had peppers, chorizo and egg in it that sounded flavorful on the menu, but left much to be desired. The chorizo looked like reconstituted meat from Taco Bell. He drowned it in hot sauce just to get it to taste like something, which still wasn't much. And the hashbrowns were also mushy and flavorless. My three deuces were adequate, but for almost $7.00... it left me disappointed. Maybe I just have too high of diner expectations. I'm sure we will come back since we live so close, at which point I think I'll give one of their skillets a try. read more

Great menu of everything breakfast. Food is well prepared. Staff is warm. Service is very good.

I went there today for the first time my granddaughter's took me my God the food was delicious. The restaurant very nice. Staff owner and everyone there was wonderful it was worth the price. So I recommend it to anyone that lives in the city. I live in the suburbs and we have one Diner like that here but I really like enjoy this one. During this rough time we're having with covid it's good to find a good place to eat! read more

I'm a bit biased as this is quite close to home, but it's a diner and is what it is. The people here are quite friendly, except the cashier when you block his payment line. We waited about 10 minutes to be seated on a Sunday morning. Getting our food did take longer, and I never did get my coffee. Also my "healthy choice" breakfast ended up having hashbrowns instead of fruit. But damn the egg white omelet was huge! We'll be back... maybe because we live so close. Maybe because the food is quite delish when you do finally get it. read more

It's not often that I give breakfast joints five stars, but this place is truly the best. You know why? Because pancakes come with EVERYTHING! Well, maybe not everything, but close to everything. For example, when I ordered a bacon and cheese omelet, I had the choice of getting it with toast or pancakes -- at no extra charge! Most breakfast places don't offer pancakes when you order an omelet. That was definitely a plus. I also liked how fluffy my omelet was, and the pancakes (as you would expect from a pancake house) were delicious. I suppose one negative was that our server was loud and abrasive. She just didn't have that sweet folksy demeanor that you would expect from a waitress at a diner. The food came out fast, though, and, like I said, it was delicious, so I'm still giving this place five stars. We will be back for sure! NOTE: While there is paid parking on the street in front of Alps, there's a free parking lot around back for restaurant customers. read more

I love coming here with my family on sunday amazing food amazing service just love Alps read more

Alps Pancake House - the best soup and coffee - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ate there this weekend. First time in over 30 yrs.. this should say something. I was convinced because I was told it is re done and new. Anyhow I was very disappointed, the waitress was very unfriendly, never smiling and really rushing us to order. The food was average and I thought a bit overpriced for the amt given. One of us ordered chili quilies and it was very hot to the point it was unable to eat , and she was ill the rest of the day. Were Mexican and can handle heat. It will be longer than 30 yrs before I would go again. Not worth the taste or money. read more

I had been there a few times between 6:30 and 7:00 AM on Sundays and just came in and sat down. I asked for the wifi code and was given it. A few months later I came in on a Sunday around 7am and sat down. I ordered breakfast and since I had a new device I asked for the wifi code. You would think that I was a murderer. I heard "we don't have wifi" and the host complaining that I should have waited to be seated because that's what the sign said. I have never been treated so rudely in my life and I did nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. I told them that apparently they didn't want my business even though I had just ordered. The waitress and the host were extremely rude. I will never go back and encourage others not to waste their time with such rude people. read more

My buddy and I had breakfast at Alps West last Sunday. They do have a free parking lot behind the restaurant but it does fill up quickly. The restaurant also fills up, but there seemed to be a good flow of diners coming in and out so there never seemed to be a long line. There is a small foyer with bench seating and a pleasing Alpine scene on the wall if there is a line. We each ordered a breakfast special platter with eggs, hash brown potatoes, French toast and choice of meat. It was a filling breakfast though a bit on the bland side. Our waitress was attentive to our needs. They have good weekday morning specials if you live in the area. read more

A very predictable restaurant. Very clean and relaxed. The prices are reasonable and they have parking available. If you're craving the usual breakfast, this is a safe place. read more

ALPS is very close to my heart. I used to live close by and probably here at least 3 times a month and they never failed me. I like seeing how the owner greets the customer, how they appreciate your business and they're attentive to your needs. I've like almost everything I've had in here. I like my corned beef skillet and the pancakes! read more

Doubled up at ALPS West for breakfast this weekend. Saturday, I went for the Kentucky Derby Breakfast consisting of 2 biscuits with gravy, 3 eggs and 3 sausage patties. It was pure hillbilly delight on a plate, although my over medium eggs were far to runny, I'll just go scrambled next time. On Sunday I went with Jerry's mess. A slung-together creation of scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, peppers, and onions. This was a very good breakfast. ALPS west is a clean and bright, the staff is very good. They keep the coffee and ice water coming and are very friendly. Prices are competitive with most of the other joints you can find. The wife also approved. All in all a great time was had in Old Irving. I'll definitely be back! read more

The Alps fills the gap between overpriced, trendy cafés and greasy spoons. A baked omelette will cost upwards of $8 bit it is worth it. I had a baked egg white omelette with FRESH spinach, feta cheese and tomato and it was excellent. The banana Nutella crepes are a great choice for a dessert to share. Support this family business! The hosts work very hard to please every guest. read more

Just an average sit-down breakfast restaurant in the hood. Their food is alright, nothing impressive. Slow service. Huge portion per plate. read more

This breakfast, brunch and sometimes dinner joint is a nice and easy no frills greasy spoon dressed up in its Sunday best. Sit down to some hot coffee, take as much time as you like with the menu or just make it known that you are in a rush and whatever you order usually comes out nice and hot before the coffee needs to be refilled. I have only been here for breakfast but I love their omelette and skillets. French Toast and Pancakes are good, however the pancakes are bit heavy on the batter at times. All in all great deal and a great pit stop on your way to Wrigley or just before that trip to Wisconsin or the UP. read more

Has never been the same since my first stop by. My Bf and I have frequented to try other things on the menu and never seem to be impressed with anything else the same way the pancakes won our heart. Here are as follows + soup hasn't failed yet so far. Chicken and rice soup was awesome. Creamy and filling. Nowhere near bland. Tomato with barley soup - a creamy tomato base and the barley soft. Also really good. - Serving-size spoons (pretty thick and heavy) for your soup. +eggs florentine. Think eggs benedict, minus the ham. Add spinach. Made pretty well. The English muffin doesn't hold up to egg yolk well though. I would have liked a slight toast on em. Otherwise, delicious, and yum. - Cobb salad. Simple..... ice berg lettuce a little watery for the salad. Chicken and bacon done well. Otherwise nothing too special. Bleu cheese dressing did ok, but with watery lettuce, it didn't really hold. Pretty forgettable. - chorizo skillet. Looked like a hot mess. Didn't taste like much. Just looked like a red, greasy, mish mash of eggy meatloaf texture. Not so appetizing. In conclusion, I'd say stick with the breakfast items. Pancakes, hash browns, and eggs. These won't disappoint. There's a few combos they offer to include breakfast items... like 2x2x2, plus bacon/sausage/or not... etc etc. Any other selections, that's your call =). In terms of service, it's decent if you don't mind being called "kids" all day by certain waitresses. read more

I don't know why I haven't gotten on here about Alps. We get breakfast from them with great frequency, the hubs more often than me, and occasionally lunch. Super nice folks, the ladies who wait tables are always nice and friendly, the food is good. It's a little pricier than I expected but the portion sizes are pretty big. I do wish they'd let me order off the kids menu for a smaller portion, but alas, not allowed. I do always ask for a little more chocolate in their chocolate milk, their bacon is on the thin side but decent, waffles and pancakes and french toast are all good. All in all, a decent diner spot in a neighborhood so lacking in diner spots. read more

After several drive-bys, we went in on Sunday around 2 pm. We were seated immediately and pored over the extensive menu. The boy ended up with one of the specials, a chorizo skillet. I got a skillet with spinach, tomato, and cheese, eggs poached. The eggs were done to perfection. The skillet was tasty, but I thought the hashbrowns were more like potatoes than hashbrowns--mushy. The ingredients seemed fresh, but were a little bland, even after a generous application of hot sauce. One major coup: they have turkey sausage! As a non-pork eater, having zero breakfast meat options is one of the greatest perils. Two skillets with pancakes, a side of turkey sausage, and two glasses or orange juice: $30ish, including tip. read more

By far my favorite breakfast place. It is clean, great service, good prices, nice portions and down the street from me. Sundays are definietely their busy days, but that's the day they serve their delicious chicken and rice cream soup, so we mostly go their on Sundays. Actually, who am i kidding we go there all the time. Now I'm not a huge pancake fan (I know, I know), but their pancakes are on point! After the 30 millionth time my bf hounded me to just have some, I did and now I know why he wants to always go there. Everything on the breakfast menu is great. Highly, highly recommend you ditch Ihop, golden nugget, denny's or wherever else and come here =) read more

I really wanted to like this place. I really, really did. The food came out fast, but the eggs atop my Wanderer skillet were overcooked and the hash browns I specifically asked to be prepared "crispy" were undercooked. The pieces of bacon I tried to ignore in this skillet were the kind of pieces I'd spit out if I were eating a strip of it-- white, fatty, chewy and again, undercooked. There were supposed to be tomatoes in this skillet- and I'm sure they were in there, but they certainly weren't red and they didn't taste ripe. I dunno, it IS only April.... The pancakes everyone raves about on here were dry- even with strawberry glaze and whipped topping. I'd like to say I'd give this place a second chance, because like I said, I REALLY wanted to like it, but here's why I won't. Of the 5 major breakfast staples: Bacon (meats) Egg preparation Pancakes Hash browns Coffee (maybe orange juice) Only the coffee was passable. Everything else was pretty much a fail. I hit every staple with the breakfast I ordered and they flubbed at 80%. Coffee doesn't keep me coming back. I'll give 2 stars for cleanliness and friendliness of staff. read more

This is a very good breakfast diner. They have an large menu to choose from. Its not the cheapest place to eat but the food is great. The best part is, they have a free parking lot in the rear. The place is clean and updated. The staff is friendly and attentive. read more

I've been here 4 times and each time has been the same. Short wait for a table for 2. Average service. Tasteless food. Menu is lacking creativity. Finally decided I won't be coming back. read more