Been wanting to come here for years. It did not disappointed. I was lucky. I only had to wait for a few minutes for a stool to open up. I had read several reviews before I went so I ordered the New Orleans omelet (shrimp, capers, hollandaise and slivered almonds) hash browns and toast. The hash browns were done just how I like them, crispy outside and tender inside. I have had many fresh shrimp omelets on the Gulf, so I was a little sceptical about the shrimp here, but it was good quality shrimp, not rubbery. The capers were a nice salty, pungent addition. The hollandaise was very lemony, but good. It could have been warmer though. All in all very good. I think it would be even more interesting if it was dusted with Cajun seasoning. Fun, dive, cosy, neighborhood atmosphere. I will definitely be back. read more

Al's Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This was a cool place to eat, great vibe and super friendly service! If you're in a hurry it might not be for you as there is very limited seating. If you don't like tight spaces this is not your place either. But service is quick and food is good! I had the Jose, spicy and good but hashbrowns tasted a little burnt French toast was awesome, Leonard was pretty good. Coffee not so good. Would eat here again though! read more

Al's Breakfast - Jose breakfast plate...so yummy!!!! - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I had to deduct for rise in prices; which means less of a wait, (often no wait at all), and a thinner bankroll. But, what really rankled me on a recent visit, was the fact that breakfast seems to be a coursed meal at Al's. I entered at six AM, first and only person on a weekend morning, and ordered my usual eggs Benedict, with a short stack of blueberry pancakes. The egg dish appeared and the cakes were not even on the grill. Since there was no one else in the joint, I asked the waitress if my blues were forgotten. We both looked at the cook, who was standing there looking at me. Was she expecting me to tuck into my eggs, and THEN she would start my cakes? After an uncomfortable stare-off, she started cooking the rest of my breakfast order. By the time my meal arrived, my eggs were stone cold. WTF? Is this a thing? A coursed meal for breakfast? I was a breakfast chef for many years, and always served people their entire meal, at once. Some like to start on the sweets, some like to let their pancakes cool before burning the roof of the mouth. Some just don't like being told how or when to eat; its my belly and I'll fill it in my own way, thank you very much. NO COURSED BREAKFAST! read more

Only ordered take out, but would have really loved to eaten there. As my son and I were waiting for our order we got to soak in some of the place, the different types of money above the counter, the dinosaur on the shelf and the mismatched coffee cups. The staff is friendly and the pancakes are really good. You have to try the blueberry pancakes. They are blue. read more

Al's Restaurant, a DDD restaurant, was fun to eat in. They are only open for breakfast/brunch. There is a line of bar stools next to a counter in which patrons order and eat at. Because there is no actual waiting area, guests form a queue behind the people who are eating, getting quite crowded, as there is always a line. After waiting for half an hour, we finally got sitting spots. The food was delicious and they even had a strong hot sauce game. The toast was a bit underwhelming although not a huge dent on the whole experience. If you have not been to Al's, I would for sure recommend you change that read more

Al's Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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First went to Al's in 1987. Last went two weeks ago. I always go back when I'm in the Twin Cities. I dream about the buttermilk blueberry pancakes. My wife loves the wholewheat blueberry pancakes. Order a side of real maple syrup. The place has only 13 stools, so usually there's a long wait. Do it. Be friendly and talk to people in line around you. I'd give just about anything to have breakfast there tomorrow morning. Oh my. read more

Be prepared to stand in line outside, even in subzero temps. Part of Al's charm is that it's not for the faint hearted. Once you make it past the first set of doors, be alert. You will need to squish and let many people pass before you make your way down the length of Al's watching patrons eat and planning your own meal. When your ass hits one of the famous 14 red vinyl stools, prepare yourself. Grab a menu and make your final decision. Choose wisely. I recommend the Jose (hash browns, homemade salsa, poached eggs, and melted cheddar) and the pancakes. My husband dreams of the eggs Benedict, corned beef hash, and bacon waffle. Even while eating, stay alert. You may be asked to move down a stool or two to accommodate more diners even while savoring your delicious, delicious Al's meal. read more

Amazing. The wait is very long (because they can only sit a certain amount of people at a time at the counter) however it is so worth it. The eggs are so fluffy and natural. The hashbrowns are tasty and delicious, and the pancakes are huge and fluffy and crispy. The atmosphere is amazing--you feel like you are in an old RV and the people are great. I love being able to watch the people cook your food right in front of you. The only thing I don't really like is that people line up behind you, waiting to sit when you get up, and it is super tight and stuffy. You feel like you are being watched while you eat. read more

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We went to Minneapolis for the Super Bowl and had so much great food but this experience was special. Al's is the narrowest restaurant in the city at a width of only 10 feet! As Doug (cook and co-owner) told us when we sat down "Bet you didn't think you'd be eating in a shed this am!" We split bacon, sausage, hashbrowns and a blueberry pancake and each got our own eggs. Mine were poached and hers scrambled. The food here is simple but very tasty. If they had an Al's in my city, we would be regulars. I'm sitting here craving that blueberry pancake now. read more

Good, but not worth the wait. standing in line for an hour and the food is above average but not worth the wait. The service is great and its family owned with a unique history. The salsa is also really good. The music is good, it's dance music to make the wait not seem as long. read more

Al's Breakfast - The line, an hour wait. - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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This breakfast joint is a classic. We try to arrive very early as they always have a line outside. Love how everything is cozy inside. Love the Omelette. read more

It was alright, place is small. Definitely not for groups, literally there's only about 12 seats or so.. Well less than 20 that's forsure. I got the omlette with "extra" meat for about $10. It was meh, not really extra mean. I'd say there was barely any. Can't say I'm impressed yet there's really nothing to complain about if you manage your expectations.. I mean that's all it is, a restaurant lol. You go in, eat and get out that's all. Check out the 3rd picture, that's pretty much all the seating right there. See the people standing behind the people sitting? Those are the people waiting for a seat. So if you like having your back turned towards people while having them watch you eat, this place is for you read more

The pancakes melted in our mouth. There has been so much said about this TRUE ESTABLISHMENT since 1950, there isn't much more that little old me can say. Go! The wait is worth it. read more

Al's Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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If there is a line, you're out of luck. The line moves slow and it's only counter seating. Fortunately, I arrived early enough. Oh, also bring cash. They don't take credit cards. But I do like this place. It's the place to go for a hot breakfast. They seem to have a lot of history there. I'll have to come back to find out what that's all about. read more

Being that this is an institution of Minneapolis, I knew we had to try it while we were in town. We got there during prime time on a Saturday morning, unfortunately, and waited an hour and a half to get seated. But, the server was very friendly and the service was quick. With such a small place, I kind of expected to feel rushed, but they did not rush us at all. Since I had read reviews about it, I ordered the Jose and it was tasty. The potatoes were crispy, the eggs were poached perfectly and the homemade salsa was spicy. It was all very good, but honestly, I don't know that it was worth the wait. For a visitor like me, sure, I can now say I've been to Al's. But, if I lived there, I wouldn't make it a regular stop. read more

Let's be honest: if you go to Al's expecting a calm, quiet brunch with gourmet food and coffee, you're probably going to be disappointed. On the other hand, if you know what you're getting into, and want to eat a really great, simple, cheap breakfast, then the minor stresses are worth it. By minor stresses I mean potentially: waiting in line (if you go on a weekend or at peak brunch times,) both outside the tiny storefront and inside against the wall, hovering over people, two feet away from their food, having to get cash to pay for your meal, probably needed to get another coffee after your meal if you're not into the kind of coffee all diners tend to have, having to get the attention of busy staff to get condiments you need, and having to choose from what seems like an infinite number of possible breakfasts. Obviously, none of these are really ~trials,~ and you could avoid these by going many, many other places. But then, you'd also miss: the friendly staff jamming out to 90's tunes, perfectly poached eggs (if you're into that), fluffy pancakes, kitschy decor, Dinkytown history, golden people watching (especially if someone tries to say they know Al or tries to sit down without their whole party present..ooh, dramz), and the privilege of being able to say you've been to Al's. I would recommend ordering pancakes-- any kind, though I am fond of the blueberry and I especially liked their current special of chocolate chip pancakes (no syrup required). The hash browns are also amazing. I would also recommend going with a friend or two (but no more) so you can maximize the variety of your foods--portions are not very small, and you're a true breakfast lover, you're going to want to try pretty much everything you see being served that you didn't order. You may also want to avoid watching the chef cook if you're on a health kick or not in on the secrets to really good diner fare (read: butter & oil. read more

Al's is legendary in Minneapolis, and I'm ashamed to say, it took me 3 years of living around dinkytown to try it out. Now, if you go on a weekend morning, I have two words of advice: 1. Go early. Like a few hours before close. You WILL wait in line for probably an hour. And 2. Bring cash. They do not accept cards. With the disclaimers out of the way (don't blame me if you didn't follow them, and you had a bad time!) On to the meat of the review! This place is SO, SO, good, you guys. Yes the food is good, and will cure even your nastiest hangover, but better than that--the atmosphere is worth the wait. The inside is TINY, kind of dark, definitely old, and the walls are plastered with years and years of history. Paper money from around the world, and kitschy signs like "beware of attack waitress". And adding to the already fun feel of the place, is the constant banter between staff. It's like dinner and a show, just watching the staff joke back and forth. The main guy behind the counter has a great attitude and seems to love his job. He carries that joking on with the customers as well. I'm just going to touch on the food-- because, yes I had the blueberry pancakes everyone raves about, and they were everything from my hopes and dreams. However, Al's is so much more than your average pancake place. Highly recommend, everyone go once before you die. read more

This place I always come to visit when in town to see my older brother. Food is mediocre at best and I don't k ow if it's Al but all he does is yell at his waitresses. You can't help but feel bad for them LOL. Has browns were good I feel like this place is good whenever the cook has good day. Got to appreciate the old school vibe but can't help wonder how clean this establishment is. read more

Al's is my favorite breakfast joint in Minneapolis, and I think it could be everyone's favorite if they are prepped for the experience: 1. Arrive before they open and stand in line. It's worth the cold, rain, whatever, to be some of the first people in the door. The waitstaff is sarcastic and fun, and it's a great way to start your day. Plus, you save yourself the experience of waiting for a seat while you watch someone else eat. 2. Order the blueberry walnut pancakes. Not an option. A must. 3. Bring cash - make it easy on yourself and everyone else. 4. Don't bring more than one other person with you. It's a breakfast bar with kind of shitty bar stools and a group of people standing directly behind you waiting to take your seat. Not the place to socialize with a group, but THE BEST place to get breakfast with your best friend or true love. Every time I eat here I love Minneapolis that much more. read more

What a great breakfast! I love my breakfast and I give Al's my highest rating of an +A. Best English muffin I have ever had. I like my muffin crispy and buttery. This met my criteria. Ate there two days in a row and it did not disappoint. It's small but get over yourself. If you want an excellent breakfast with exceptional flavor, this is the place. It's a true diner. Get in line and leave your attitude at the door. read more

Unique and a dinkytown staple, I came here for the first time today and only waited a minute for a stool. I knew it was narrow, I didn't know it was THAT narrow. I'm 6'3 and not 'petite', but it was fine. I ordered the eggs benedict and 1 pancake. Everything was very good, I would go back for either item. The ham was good quality and the eggs were perfection. You have to be ok with having no personal space and feeling people watch you eat. I was surprised I was able to let it go so quickly. Staff were super fun, my only issue was the temp in there. It's a very humid day, I almost fainted. I don't do well with heat, so I didn't knock them for it but it got very warm in there. read more

Had the summer special, blueberry walnut pancakes, and hashbrowns. It is a bit of a wait but the dining experience is a classic feel with great staff to add even more enjoyment to the outstanding food! read more

I had the Jose and substituted the toast for a blueberry walnut pancake, and both were quite good. They came in big portion and were enough for two meals for me. Both tasted delicious! read more

Top Ten Tips for an Al's Newbie, by an Al's regular (once a week for 15 years and counting) 1) Week-ends are for suckers. Yeah, it's easier to go on week-ends cause you don't have to work and stuff, but it's a far better thing to get up early and go before work on a weekday or go to Al's on a day off. Yes, Alison who works the grill on week-ends is great but Grinna is the uncontested master of the grill and he works Fridays. Also you never know who is going to be doing eggs on the week-ends. (I have invented an egg periscope for Al's so that I can see who is doing eggs and then determine my order). 2) Al's is the only religion which offers you your heavenly reward in this life. You must be faithful, patient and obedient, (when the wait staff say slide, you better move, bub!) but you will eventually be seated and it will be worth it. 3) Low blood sugar can be a problem while waiting in line for so long (especially on the week-ends). Order an apple sauce, yogi-berry or grapefruit to come before your meal to help offset your hunger. 4) You can't go wrong with an omlette, egg special or pancakes. The Jose is quite possibly breakfast perfection, but it is also an advanced dish. You need to be in training for a while before you are up to a Jose. 5) The1:00 p.m. closing time is not flexible. Grinna has said that the only way he will over-ride it is if someone held him up at gun point. So be there by 1:00 and don't walk away all grouchy and whiny if you're late. You've been warned. 6) You can get coffee to go at the end of your meal. How great is that? I don't drink coffee, but still, that's what I call a bottomless pot. 7) Ordering ala cart gets expensive. I know you think you're really really hungry when you finally sit down, but just remember you can reorder a pancake or two at the end of your meal. 8) Your clothes will smell like Al's for 3-4 hours afterwards. Some people think this a good thing, but hungry dogs may follow you down the street. 9) Kids are welcome, but babies and toddlers are a bit of a problem. There are really no accommodations for those who either can't sit on your lap and eat or sit up and feed themselves on a stool. No booster seats and if your child is a picky pokey eater they may incur the angry stares of patrons standing in line. 10) If you haven't had hasbrowns at Al's you haven't had hasbrowns. No matter what you are ordering figure out how to save room to at least split some hasbrowns with someone. read more

Greasy, Nasty Breakfast. In a good way. Here are a few pointers for our of towners: 1. Block off 2-3 hours of your morning. 2. Get $20 out of the ATM (they do not accept cards). 3. Wait in line quietly, move up when people sit down right away so that you are not yelled at. They will yell at you. They can be mean. 4. Sit down fast. You've had enough time to look at a menu, so know what you're ordering! 5. Sample a lot of things. Mix them together. Eat your friends food. You waited in line long enough-- Don't screw it up! 6. If you're asked to slide down: No questions, do it. The cooks are always right at this restaurant, not you. 7. Eat swiftly, but enjoy. People come in here for the great breakfast and the unique atmosphere--not to sip on coffee for an hour. If you want to catch up with a friend, there is plenty of time to do that in line, if that's not good enough, go to Perkins. read more

Okay, I'm docking a star. But I have good reason, and it has nothing to do with the food or service. When I go out for breakfast I like to sit down and get breakfast, not wait forty-five minutes in the freezing cold. That's what happens here on weekends, which is when I want to go out for breakfast. I just cannot give all five stars to a breakfast place that I can't justify trying to go to on weekends. Now, the important part: If you go on a weekday when it won't be as busy, you will never want to leave. This place is absolutely deserving of its legendary status. Once you finally get in, sit yourself down on one of their wobbly stools, and let yourself be wowed over and over again. I have not tried the cakes, but the omelets are spectacular. They look like little brown oven mitts, but they taste like tiny shattered bits of heaven captured between two shells of crispy egg. Honestly, I didn't even get the bell peppers I ordered in mine this morning, but I don't care. I think the mistake was the divine hand of god saying "Kev, you don't need that - here, let me show you." The food is unbelievably great, the service is tersely fun, and the space itself is (I have to say it) cozily comforting. This place could be the Main Street institution of commerce in any small town in America (hell, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about it in a 'Lake Woebegon' monologue), but lucky us, It's right here next to the U in Dinkytown. I just wish they had room for me on Sunday mornings. read more

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If I had to think of what a dive diner looks like, this would be it. Al's Breakfast is a quaint small restaurant that seats about 14. Everyone sits on stools by a long bar/table. Service here is quick, like a real-life diner dash scenario. If you come 30 minutes before opening, you probably have better luck getting in as the first wave of customers. We came about 5 minutes before opening and we end up as the third wave of customers and did not get seated until about an hour and half later. (Obviously if there are limited seating turnaround will be slow). We were starving by the time we were seated so we got bacon waffle, corned beef hash with hash browns, eggs benedict and one short stack blueberry pancake. The eggs benedict was SO good. It seemed smaller in portion than other orders but typically eggs benedict always seem small-sized. It was just enough salty and the eggs were perfectly poached -- as in we sliced into that bad boy and yummy yolkyness oozed out. The corned beef hash was probably the best I ever had! It was just salty enough and has bits of onions mixed in. The side of hash brown was big enough for two people -- huge. Blueberry pancake was soft and buttery but I would probably say out of the 4 dishes, that this was least unique. Bacon waffle was awesome. The humongous waffle had bits of bacon mixed into the batter so you get bites of savory and sweet. Overall, great food and waiter/waitress were nice but don't expect the attention you would get at a larger sit-down restaurant. Also don't be the douchebag who decides to finish their meal and then sit for 20-30 minutes chatting when there is a line running through the restaurant and outside (AND knowing people fainted in line). You will get the fuck-you looks. Oh and CASH ONLY. read more

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This is a trendy dive that knows it's a trendy dive, and once a dive becomes self-aware, it's over. Cute signs everywhere, 'Beware of cranky waitress' or something, a dollar bill on the wall with the word 'BONER' written on it, you know the drill. And yeah, the waitress was cranky. Not sassy cranky, just flat out bored and over it. I ordered one egg with asparagus and hollandaise, one blueberry pancake, and a grapefruit juice for ten-something. Actually it should have been $9 but they arbitrarily decided to give me two eggs instead of one and charge accordingly. I'm not sure what everyone is smoking when they say this place is cheap. Eggs: Great! Perfectly scrambled, the asparagus tasted really fresh, not overcooked, and there was plenty of it, and the lemony hollandaise was perfect for me. I can see how if wouldn't be if you're not the kind of person who likes to straight-up eat lemons as though they are oranges. But I am, and I liked it. Pancake: Nope! Not only was it practically raw, but it also had no flavor. The blueberries might as well have been juicy balls of unflavored gelatin or something. I didn't want to put syrup on it because it wasn't syrup, it was that Aunt Jemima corn syrup whatever. Overall, just definitely not worth the hype. Maybe it was good at one point - it MUST have been good at one point - but that point is somewhere in the past. So, can a place ride on the coattails of its own notoriety while letting its quality slide? Apparently, yes. Because there was a half hour line on a Thursday morning at 7:15. read more

I hate all the people who don't "get" Al's and want to turn it into a damned Denny's. Its hot and miserable in summer, deal with it or don't go. Al's has not interested in cleaning up, getting bigger, or having "good service" and neither are its customers. Andrew F., I'm personally asking you to never return to Al's. Same with K.K. (did you each order a plate of bacon? Because $30 for 3 people seems ludicrously cheap). This is the only place that has been awarded a James Beard in Minnesota. The food is the best, that's objective and not subjective. You want macrobiotic, fat-free, soy food? Is Al's too greasy? Are the waiters "mean" to you? Do you think that Al's should move to big building and become a Dunkin Donuts? Do all these reasons and more make you not want to come back to Al's? Good. Yuppie Defense System is working perfectly. Thank god there's one 10 sq. ft. space where we can openly sneer at morons on their cell phones, vegans, and all those wastes of flesh who order salads with dressing on the sides, and splenda in their coffee. read more

I hadn't been to Al's in about 10 years. A part of me may have been avoiding it because I didn't want anything to sour my flawless childhood memories of it. The good ol' days of being oblivious to things like food and service quality. But you see, I'm with this guy and he'd *gasp* never been to Al's. He isn't from Minnesota so he has an excuse. Kind of. But I decided that he needed to go and I needed to give Al's a chance as a big girl. I'd been waking up at ungodly hours of the morning due to some jet lag. Awful for my day? Yes. Perfect for actually getting a seat at Al's? Yes. I've never been there after about 8 am so I can't speak for "later" wait times but if you're an early riser, chances are you and a dining partner can get seats fairly quickly. Plus...the early hours seem to be filled mostly with regulars and they know the drill. Efficiency is key and you'll get smiles and rainbows if you're willing to move to let people sit together. I walked in knowing I was going to be putting a pancake in my stomach but little did I know that they had CORN pancakes? Um. Marriage of my dreams. So you can probably guess what I ordered...and it was awesome. It wasn't made with corn meal (at least I don't think it was?), it just had kernels in the batter. My bf had an omelet with onions, green peppers, and smoky (!!) cheddar. You have to get the smoky cheddar. No, really. You have to cause then your life will be better and I'll get good karma. Here's the thing. I don't really like eggs which normally translates directly to I don't like omelets. But Al's defies all logic and makes an omelet that will surely be the thing I order next time I want to eat breakfast in a closet. The women working behind the counter are quick with the refills. Cash only. read more

Al's is the only necessary Dinkytown experience. Waiting outside in 10 below temps to be seated at a 13 person counter is part of what makes the experience so charming along with having some of the best breakfast cooked directly in front of you. This place is a delicious gem that defines the Minnesota dive diner experience to me. Portions are generous, butter is mandatory, and patience is a virtue. Don't be a jerk by hovering too long after eating! read more

In my book (and the book of many Minnesotan's) this is one of the top 5 spots for breakfast in the Twin Cities. Hands Down. To say otherwise may get you a passive-aggressive Minnesota stare. A couple things to KNOW before you GO... 1. CASH ONLY. You've been warned. 2. There is no restroom inside (do your biz before you go). 3. Expect to wait (14 seats). Again, You've been warned. 4. It's a dive. Don't expect it to be super duper clean. 5. Street parking only (a.k.a. metered parking). Ok, now to the fun part! I was lucky enough to arrive just shortly after 9am on a Sunday and didn't have to wait! Granted...it was day light savings and I'm guessing people's clocks were slightly off. This place is TIGHT, meaning narrow, inside. It was an alley before becoming Al's; it's only 10 feet wide. These guys don't screw around, no diddle daddling trying to decide what it is you'd like to eat. Quickly review the menu, flip your cup up right if you want coffee, and you damn well order with military precision (like I said, these guys are the ril'dil). I landed on huevos rancheros, side of bacon and white toast (with coffee of course!). The toast is simply amazing. Dredged in butter, lightly toasted with a soft-chewy inside; solid compliment. The rancheros was...well...tasty! No shortage of hot peppers (my preference), freshly chopped onions, peppers and fluffy scrambled eggs. Oh and the bacon, cooked to perfection (i.e. CRISPY). This place has earned a James Beard Award and has been featured on Triple-D. The atmosphere inside is fantastic! From the Christmas style lights, rando toys and foreign currency, there is no shortage of things to see and chat about with friends. If you're still reading...do yourself a favor and make time to hit this place up. Be sure to read the "...couple things to KNOW..." before you head out. Just setting expectations :-) read more

Let me start by saying, I think the food is pretty good here but this review has more to do with food safety and cleanliness than the food. With such an open kitchen, you would think that food safety would be very important but standards over the years have clearly slipped. During our 45 minutes in Al's we watched the cook to the far right of the seating bar touch raw bacon and other meats without ever washing her hands once while we were there. We saw her hold the raw bacon in one hand, place it on the grill, and then move on to her next task. She handed plates to the servers and touched just about everything in the restaurant. Trichinosis is a disease caused by raw or under cooked pork that can easily be transmitted from cook to diner. Also, do not look too closely at anything in the seating area. Everything is covered in a thin film of dirt and grease that makes it seem as if cleanliness is not important to this business. It seems that this place is open for a few hours each day and then immediately closed up when the shift is over without any detail cleaning getting done. Just because this is a greasy spoon diner doesn't mean that they should neglect all of their cleaning duties. Where is the health department when you need them... read more

I'm not going to beat around the bush here, Yelp. Al's Breakfast is the best breakfast place in Minneapolis. I went to college in Minneapolis, and came to Al's so often that I eventually added my name to one of the hundreds of tab books that fill the shelves under the back counter. I put $20 on a tab, and went through it within a week. My go-to meal is the Eggs Benedict. I can honestly say I have never found a better Eggs Benedict. And I've looked. The eggs are perfectly poached every time, and the hollandaise is tangy and delicious and made from scratch every morning. I also have dreams about the bacon waffle (just typing that made my mouth start to water). Four strips of cooked bacon baked into the middle of a waffle. It's amazing. The coffee is bottomless and the eggs are famous. But that's only half of the Al's experience. The wait is usually about 45 minutes to an hour, and you wait outside, or in the cramped doorway, or behind the 15 stools that line the bar. As stools open up, diners are asked to shift down to make space. This is not a great place to come with a huge party of 6! Trust me, though: don't be afraid of the line. It moves along, and people are friendly, and the breakfast is oh-so-worth it. The staff there is great, not "surly," just busy! It's good to look at the menu before you sit so you can order right away, yes, but that's mostly so they can get your order to you quickly (you've been hungry for 45 minutes, remember?) and seat the next diner. I don't even live in Minneapolis anymore, but every time I come back to visit, Al's is the first place I stop. They still keep my tab open for me! Eat at Al's. It's a one-of-a-kind place, with fantastic food. You won't regret it. read more

My last review of Al's Breakfast was removed. Evidently you need to recount first hand experience. I will do so now. It's a small place, so expect a wait to get in. Realize that there will be people standing one foot behind you, watching each bite go into your mouth. The hollandaise was overpoweringly lemon. Lip-puckering sour. The hash browns were served on an oil slick, luke warm. I tried my date's pancakes. Nothing notable. When I mentioned the extra-lemony hollandaise (in a friendly, constructive manner), the woman behind the counter told me "that's how it's supposed to be, that's how you know it isn't out of a packet." Personally, as an eggs benedict aficionado, I disagree. Hollandaise is buttery, egg yolky, goodness with a bit of lemon tart. Not lemon sauce. Expect a wait. Expect to be asked to move throughout the course of your meal. Apart from that, don't expect much. read more

Al's, Al's oh Al's. I've been going to Al's Breakfast in Dinkytown (Minneapolis) since I was of appropriate age to sit on a stool and play with the dinosaurs they give you. The atmosphere is certainly entertaining, to say the least - and not for everyone might I add. The box car sized greasy spoon brekkie joint is plastered with all sorts of interesting knickknack. Money from every place imaginable, Coke and Pepsi cans from other places and in other languages, shelving full of food tabs are just a few of the things you'll see when dining at Al's. the servers and cooks do a lot of shouting of orders, which gives it Here are a few pointers right off the bat about Al's. -Don't go to Al's expecting to have a similar dining experience that you'd have at a 'typical' breakfast joint. It's not that kind of place. -Do go on the weekend, if you do go early. -Try to go on a weekday morning, so you can avoid the insane line that will be waiting (and worth the wait) for you upon arrival. -Do not wear clothes that you'll mind stinking up with brekkie smell. It just happens when you're in there. -If you're a high maintenance person and expect great service, don't. Al's has fine service, but it's part of their personality too. I can see some people being put off by the Al's charm:-). As for the food. It's amazing. Their pancakes and syrup are the best I've ever had at a restaurant, like ever. I order blueberry, but they have quite a variety. I also order some sort of egg item with my cakes, like the summer special, the Spike or just two scrambled with cheese. It's a delicious place. Oh, they have the best hollandaise around so check that out on eggs benny or the spring special. Enjoy Al's deliciousness. read more

Al's Breakfast, unfortunately, is at least 1500 miles from my home, now. it's hard to know where to begin when talking about this place. A little background may be in order. Al's is located in a part of Minneapolis that is known as Dinkytown. The campus of UM (University of Minnesota) is divided in two by the Mississippi River, and right on (and/or next to) the East bank you have a neighborhood called Dinkytown. For the folkie-rock-y musical history-inclined, this is where a kid named Bob Dylan, fresh in town from Duluth, first heard folk music (and promptly abandoned his then-current plan to be a rockabilly guy). Whether Dylan ate there, or not, is beside the point, but he could have; Al's has been there since 1950. The place is ten feet wide! Can you believe that? And it seats 14 people. That's not a typo. I wandered into Al's by accident.I was up all night, and "roughing it" during the Spring/Summer of 2008 (a period I think of as my "chemo + under-the-bridge" Days). I knew this place was a 'classic', an 'icon', as soon as I entered. You walk in and take up a position immediately (and at "ten feet wide", including the stoves and counter, I DO mean "immediately") behind the current crop of breakfast clientele. As a spot becomes available, you sit down. The walls are covered in crazy little toys and foreign currency and god-knows-what-else. The cooks and waiter/waitresses have a variety of "reputations" but I was treated like a "regular" right from Day One. I bought a pre-paid "ticket' that entitled me to "credit." Money was tight, and it was a good move, on my part. The "ticket' was a scrap of paper with my name, and the dollar amount, written on it. We're talkin' "low-key." The food ... breakfast fare including the 'usual' eggs, hash browns (best anywhere), omelets, killer bacon, waffles and pancakes (of many descriptions), is The Best in America. I find no reason to lie or exaggerate here, and I'll just say this once: I have eaten at a ton of places, all over North America, and when I say it's the best in America, it's not an 'opinion' it's a simple fact. It's that good. I'd say it's the best in "North" America, but I have a deep fondness for a little joint across the street from the "old" Montréal Forum, called "Moe's", that is different (for sure), and not as varied in the pancake/waffle department, but is (or "was", due to the fact that it might have receded into "history") on a similar level. Al's is probably "better", but I'm a loyal kinda guy, and I was a Moe's "regular", so there you go. I still have some "credit' at Al's, and believe me, I intend to use it. :=) Minneapolis has a lot of great places to eat, quite a number of terrific art galleries and museums, very cool theaters ('plays' not BS movies), and a vibrant music scene. The people there are really special; helpful, open, friendly, and not nearly as neanderthal, uneducated-Republican as the 'rural' Minnesotans. One of my favorite bands (rock) in my whole life was none other than The Replacements, and they were fronted by this gifted singer/songwriter/guitarist named Paul Westerberg. (I know, I know, this is a 'food" piece ... bear with me here). Paul was once asked, "So, um, who are you "replacing?" and he came back with, "Everybody." Well, anyway, Paul's wife, (author Laurie Lindeen), was a waitress at Al's. Now if that doesn't rock your boat of "cool" then I'm afraid there's no hope for you; do not pass "Go", do not collect $200, eat at Denny's, instead, okay? Al's ... come for the hash browns, stay for ... "Everything." read more

No wait on a Wednesday morning at 7am, and I'm glad. Ordered their 'juevos rancheros'....haha, what a joke that was. Barely fried onions and bell peppers with some pickled hot peppers and a side of house made salsa. That, to an Arizonan is just fried onions and peppers with salsa, nothing to do with rancheros at all. Disappointing. Salsa was better than average. Blueberry pancake was ok, but Stockman's truckstop in St. Paul blows them away. Bacon was crispy and good, pretty hard to mess that up though. Orange juice was out of a bottle unfortunately not squeezed fresh. In all, not much to look at, not much for flavor, definitely wouldn't wait in a line to eat here. But the local Minnesotan's seem to line up for all kinds of crap, good and bad, so I guess it's a cultural thing, not necessarily because it's excellent and worth the wait. After looking at other people's food there, I'll make this a pass in the future. It'll shorten the line. read more

I have not been to Al's in quite a few years and am happy to report it's basically the same, grill, light shades, most pottery, wobbly stools, heat, people waiting in line behind the stools. There may be tweaks to the menu but it's of course basic American breakfast styles and there are two areas for cooking. The chef still shouts out what's needed up front and the coffee is hot and fresh, not gourmet. The one difference, at least today, it took a lot longer to get a two-egg omelet in my face.. people coming in long after me served and left and I'm still sipping coffee. At least it's a bottomless cup. The previous owner and staff could whip those orders out in amazing time. The order finally arrived and it was still delicious and cooked to perfection with plenty of butter melted on the whole wheat toast. A worker even asked me if I ate yet? You don't know? Ah no I haven't, then I had the order quickly. At least this sliver of Dinkytown is still preserved and not new apartments with shiny new taco and pizza joints below. Keep Al's as it is! read more

This place gets a lot of hype. I remember being at the Minneapolis Government Center once and saw a picture of this place hanging on one of their walls. Anyways, I finally decided to check it out today and here is a summation of my experience. I open the door and upon walking in, about a dozen pair of eyes all stared at me at the same time. Perhaps I opened the door too forcefully, but it was one of the most awkward restaurant experiences I've had... I waited for about 5 minutes before seats became available. I sit down, 5 minutes later the server comes over with a menu and water. I proceed to order pancakes and huevos rancheros. The place could really do a lot to improve their hygiene practices. The cook places cooked food right next to dirty plates left by patrons. He will throw bread right onto your plate with his bare hands and say nothing to you. You can tell by the demeanor of the cook that his attitude is probably "you are lucky that I am cooking for you" and that hygiene doesn't apply to him. I look around and see burnt hashed browns on people's plates. My pancakes are okay, but my huevos rancheros? I got plain scrambled eggs with a side of literally raw onions, green peppers, and banana peppers. This is what they call huevos rancheros? What a disgrace! It's hard for me to believe my fellow Minneapolitans think of this place as a Holy Grail for breakfast. Without effort, I can think of a dozen other local breakfast joints that blows this one out of the waters. Seriously, if I was from out of town and you bring me to this dump, I won't trust your judgement on food ever again! read more