I stumbled into this place craving a breakfast at lunchtime. Glad I did. I got the big Joe omelet. And it was epic. Huge 3 egg omelet with sausage shrooms and Swiss cheese. And the hash browns WERE ACTUALLY BROWN ! Super friendly family run business I live in sf. But my next visit to San Bruno , I WILL try the burger for sure. read more

Another great meal at Big Joe's, we ate their breakfast special today,rib eye steak & eggs, it was delicious. read more

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Placed an order for pickup which included burgers, steak sandwiches, and chicken fried steak. Our order was ready within the 20 minutes it took us to get there. Everyone enjoyed their burgers. The steak in the sandwich was flavorful. Good sized portions for the price. Maybe just wished they vented the boxes so the fries stayed crispy. read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - Steak sandwich - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Big Joe's is a classic American diner with brunch, lunch and dinner options. There are wall specials by the counter. My pick was the Joe's Burger $18. It took about 15 minutes for it to come out. This was a good burger, 1/2 pound patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, bacon, avocado and Jack cheese. It doesn't come with onions. Service was excellent as the restaurant was mostly empty at 7pm. read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - Joe's Burger $18 - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

We came for a late breakfast around 11 AM on a Monday - my grandpa owned the location in the 1970s but now lives in another state so we brought him to visit his old cafe. We'd been here before but didn't know this was the spot! We got to chat with the current owner Jesus, and Lorena, who were very friendly and we'll be happy to bring him back for breakfast every time he visits. Aside from that fun fact, the food was all delicious and is provided in very generous portions. It's definitely comfort food in a relaxed diner setting. Some people came to enjoy a shared breakfast, others to work on laptops with their meals, and some taking a break from work, so it seemed like a nice neighborhood restaurant. The Belgian waffle had a different texture from what you'd normally expect but I welcomed it. I don't think there's anything else that stands out, but I was happy with everything on the table. We would, and have, come back whenever we're looking for a comfy breakfast spot read more

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With plates that overflow with delicious goodness, this place doesn't disappoint. The staff is friendly and the chefs pump out high end dishes at reasonable prices. Many locals have made this their favorite place to enjoy quality food and feel like family. Whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner you won't leave hungry. read more

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Aim for breakfast on a saturday. Huge portions. Fast service with a smile and very attentive to all requests. Come here for the food, don't worry about the decor. It's a classic American Diner. Family owned and operated. read more

I had Joe's scramble and it was huge and very filling I couldn't finish half of it. Gave a lot of bread and tasted good. Husband had their French toast and had 5 spices. read more

Another win for us. I always go for the chicken Parmesan. It's consistently delicious and the portions are huge. My husband had the fish and chips this time, and they were perfectly crispy and full of flavor. Definitely one of our go-to spots when we're craving a great meal. read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - Chicken Parmesan Fish N Chips - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

Good diner food. Came with a friend and decided to share a bowl of soup and their mix grill plate. I believe the soup was some kind of barley soup. It was clearly homemade and VERY good. Highly recommended! The mix grill came with a piece of steak (beef), I believe 2 pieces of pork, one of chicken and a sausage. All served up with steamed and buttered vegetables and mashed potatoes. There was plenty of food to go around and leftovers for an extra meal for us. read more

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Chicken fried steak generous portions w/ taters &eggs over easy..Great diverse menu . New go to spot in San Bruno. read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - Chicken Fried Steak - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

Big joes is our favorite for breakfast. Food is plentiful and delicious, always give 3 eggs. My son loves the ribeye steak, enormous piece of meat, cooked perfectly. read more

Sat by window and watched outside activities . Good service. Food was served quickly. Hot and delicious . Large portions

Well it's been too long since I have been back. I am very glad to say they have made improvements. New floors, removal of an old gum ball device. New service staff. The menu is still solid . The service is nice and polite. The food is always good. Salmon and rice . Large portions of fish and chips. The ribs and fries are fall off the bone. Beer is cold and refreshing. read more

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I was hesitant because I walked in to an empty place, and at first glance the menu seemed a little pricey for what I wanted to spend. But I got a plain turkey sandwich that came with fries for 15$, and what I got was a HUGE sandwich stacked with turkey and a legit mountain of thick cut fries. The people were very sweet and it had a real classic diner feel. I couldn't finish my meal at all, and as I sat multiple regulars came in and laughed with the owners. It was a nice sight and feeling and ended up being a great meal. Glad I came here! read more

What a gem. This is a hole in the wall of decident delicious selections of foods that you will sincerely enjoy. Yummmmmmy read more

Gotta love this place. A mom and pop nestled Into a strip of businesses. The food is good , there was alot of people there . The menu is vast . I got the joes scramble. There was a lot of food. Mmmm. The potato's were crisp and the eggs fluffy. The service was as expected .. the place is quaint and a diner style. I love it . Great memories when I was growing up. The coffee is good as was my hot chocolate. I will be back. read more

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Taste: 5 Creativity/Authenticity: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 Bang for your buck: 5 I was craving a BLT and what better place to eat this nostalgic sandwich in a diner with a counter top!! Gone are those days and today I was in the mood for a BLT sandwich and I stumbled upon Big Joe's Diner! The lady who took my order was so nice and even though I was just ordering a BLT, the service here was 5 star. Now to the BLT, you can't mess up a simple sandwich you would think but, I think I found a place that does it right, it's only white bread, not sourdough, not wheat, white bread. Bacon, lettuce leaves, not shredded lettuce which I've gotten from some other place before those heathens! lol And last tomato and good mayo that's it, no avocado, no egg! Overall this place is great, has all the classic diner options and best of all small biz. I will be back to try other stuff thank you read more

The food is fabulous, and plenteous. I am going to be a regular! Please go you won't regret it!

About as good as a diner can get in my book. The decor is pretty dated, and there's only one waitress and one short order cook to run the place, but man, the food is fire. They don't overcook eggs where they lose fluffiness, and servings are generous. I had the chicken fried steak with hash browns, which might have been the best in the area I've ever had. read more

Big Joe's is a pretty okay local diner spot in San Bruno. It doesn't blow you away, but it's the type of comfort food that you seek during breakfast and lunch. While walking to the front entrance, the front is completely covered in a gigantic army of flies at the doorway. I had to make a split decision if I even wanted to walk into the place, but I braced myself and went through. Big Joe's has been opened for decades so certain parts of the restaurant is pretty outdated and not the cleanest. The interior does have a big gorgeous mural of South San Francisco which was pretty cool. Service wise I will have to say was hit or miss because the lady that sat us down and took our order was super nice and attentive, but she had to step away and someone else took over and our replacement waitress was way more unfriendly and unattentive to us. So service wise I have mixed feelings. I personally ordered the BLT with Curly Fries. The BLT itself is $11.95, but if you add curly fries it is an extra cost of $2. I have an obsession with curly fries so I can't say no. The portions are huge and American sized which is the biggest appeal of this diner. There isn't a ton to say about a BLT because...well it's a BLT. They give a good amount of bacon and it was crispy. The tomatoes and lettuce were also fresh. They didn't overdo it with the mayo. The curly fries were also great although it is hard to find a place that makes bad curly fries. Overall the food quality isn't bad, but the service could be a little better and could use some updating in the interior. Also found it a little strange they didn't have a breakfast combo that included their waffles and pancakes as you can only order them by themselves. Parking isn't too bad and there is a parking lot nearby, but you have to pay for parking until 6pm which is not ideal. Also they need to fix their front door fly problem. I still at least wanted to try out this local mom and pop diner even if my experience wasn't perfect. read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - BLT with Curly Fries ($13.95 total) - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

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Huge portions, great service, cozy vibe. Clearly popular with the locals too. Coffee was good and bottomless.

Exactly what you expect when hitting up a local small diner. Fast service, good food, hot coffee with lots of refills. I cannot wait to come back for lunch! Cute and clean inside. No complaints. The waffle was almost like mochi texture, different but delicious. read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - Belgian waffle with berries and whipped cream - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

I ordered the steak sandwich, a little pricey at $30 with fries and Mac salad BUT it was very very very good!!! Over 15 years ago they had a location at Hazelwood St in South City. Unfortunately I did not eat there. Never had the chance. The San Bruno place is nice and homey. There's regular customers and the restaurant staff appreciates them. I'm a new regular now. Your menu has great old school food that I plan to try. Reminds me of Bob's Burgers animated show. I mean that in a loving way! read more

Just watched Pulp Fiction and feeling nostalgic for an old school dinner ambiance? Big Joe's will scratch that itch, and fill you up without breaking the bank! I'm personally a big fan of the country breakfast and chicken fried steak--the first is a great way to start the day, and the second is an equally great way to wind it down! In both cases, I tend to order items I can't easily replicate at home (e.g. due to all the frying required), and I also am a big fan of how Big Joe's puts these two dishes togeter. I can't get enough of the sauce! Around Daly City, they have Original Joe's, but if you want a more relaxed experience, San Bruno's Big Joe's is the spot for you! Service is great: promt and courteous. Street parking is kind of tough, but there is parking available at the rear of the building. read more

The breakfast and dinner food was so delicious. Their omelettes are big enough to serve 2-3 ppl. Their dinner specials are good especially the chicken fried steak dinner. The grill special was delicious and enough to share. The food portions are very generous . Good home Cooked meals without doing the cooking. The prices are very good too. read more

First time here, ordered the Chicken fried steak with hash browns & scrambled eggs. I would have preferred a white gravy but this came with brown, it was ok. The service was great with a friendly attentive waitress & I loved the atmosphere, you can tell the locals love this place. read more

I'm a big fan of diners. Big Joes was a hit. Texas style French toast was thick but light, egg batter was soaked all the way through. The butter made it perfect. The omelette surprised me. I thought it looked dry but it moist and juicy. Hashbrown super crispy Big joes is on the top of my list. read more

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Always great and more food than I can eat. Very nice family owned business. Can I say Doggie Bag

You will never leave hungry! The service is always great and welcoming. Friendly I would say. I need feel rushed either. You can enjoy your meal and visit with other a friend. It's an old school diner feel. The price is very fair and reasonable read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - Ribeye and eggs -fries. Wow! Giant seriously like 3-4 eggs worth in the scramble. - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

Just found a place to get sausages, eggs and toast today in San Bruno because I was craving it. A big portion i will definitely come back. read more

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Breakfast here is a winner...dinner, not so much. This neighborhood diner has great breakfasts, but dinner was a disappointment. Service was polite but nothing special, and our meals took quite a while to arrive. I ordered the beef stroganoff special, expecting tender beef in a creamy brown sauce over egg noodles or rice. Instead, it came out with a thick, glossy orangey sauce that looked and tasted like a canned Sloppy Joe or Manwich, served over rigatoni-style pasta, completely wrong for stroganoff. The flavors were overly sweet and tomato-forward, lacking the creamy, savory richness you expect. My boyfriend's ribeye was seasoned well, but it was about 70% meat and 30% fat, with a faint off smell that made it hard to enjoy. I'd still recommend Big Joe's for breakfast, but I wouldn't return for dinner until the kitchen steps up its dinner game . read more

Classic diner with great breakfasts - and I do mean great. In San Bruno for one night and I'm so glad we chose Big Joe's as our breakfast spot. We picked Big Joe's the night before / and didn't pay attention to the hours. If you're from the Midwest - be aware they open at 8:30 on weekdays and 8:00 on weekends. We stopped by at 8:00 on a Friday - and opted to take a stroll around the neighborhood until they opened. Very good decision to wait for them to open. The decor is old school diner. Booths/tables with Formica tops and a counter. Nancy ordered the chicken apple sausage and scrambled eggs / sorry - no picture. But - the sausage were off the grill and were delicious. Tender and juicy. What a treat for us Midwestern girls to have chicken sausage. I love a good eggs Benedict - order it whenever I can. Big Joe's Egg Florentine is an out of this world variation. The spinach, the creamy cheese sauce, the gently poached eggs - oh so delicious. I practically licked my plate it was so good. The country potatoes are also cooked on the grill and are very tasty. Crispy with little bits of onion. read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - Eggs Florentine - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

It's a great local breakfast place. Nothing fancy or snooty, but absolutely someplace I'm planning to come back to. We came for a late weekday breakfast, but there was a decent breakfast crowd around 11 am. Tables are stocked with the usual breakfast accompaniments: jam, syrup, hot sauces. I love that they have multiple hot sauces! We had a chicken fried steak breakfast, corned beef hash, and a berry waffle. The only thing we didn't love is the waffle. It was ok, just really really sweet and a bit chewy instead of crispy and light. Next time, we will do the pancakes. The other two items were great, and I have a particularly high standard for both. read more

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Found this place by accident when looking for another place to eat on the same block. Glad we came because this place felt like stepping back in time especially with the classic painted mural on the wall of old school San Mateo Avenue back in the day. We sat at the counter and service was very fast and friendly. We got hash browns, eggs, shrimp scramble with surprisingly big shrimp, and strawberry waffles. The portions were huge and the prices were reasonable. The food was very tasty! We had lots of leftover to take home. A friendly couple next to us said they came on a regular basis and they also recommended going for dinner for their entrees including the prime rib. They also loved the portion sizes and the reasonable prices. I'll be back! read more

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Always wanted to try this spot out. Gave it a try and it didn't disappoint. I had the steak sandwich recommended by my waitress and my friend had an omelette. Both were very delicious and very big portions. Our waitress was very accommodating and friendly which made my experience even better. I highly recommend trying them for breakfast or lunch. They have a very large menu with lots of choices and I'm sure they won't disappoint. Go on give them a try read more

On recommendation of a friend, we tried Biig Joe's today. My friend had a very fresh bowl of fresh fruit with coffee, and I decided to try the Deluxe Chicken sandwich with fries instead of onion rings. The portions were generous, and the chicken was cooked perfectly and not dry, which is sometimes the case at other restaurants. The bacon, Jack Cheese, and Avocado was a great combo with the chicken. Service was pleasant and efficient. It's an old-fashioned small diner, but for me, the food is the most important aspect and everything is very reasonably priced. I highly recommend for a very satisfying meal. The hours posted on Yelp are not accurate, so I've included a photo of the posted sign....I could have come for dinner, had I known! read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - Deluxe Chicken sandwich with fries....grilled chicken breast, Jack cheese, bacon and avocado, with fries. - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

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I decided to try this place for breakfast based on the pics of their food. I used to come here with a good friend long ago. At 11:15am on a Sunday the place was not busy. There were outdoor tables stacked up with chairs so maybe people thought they were closed. I heard people ask walking in. I decided to get the Joe's Favorite omelette which was three eggs with sausage, cheese, green onions and mushrooms. It came with country potatoes and toast. When it arrived, I was pleased to see the omelette piled high with plenty of potatoes. My server was good. She did come by and ask me if I needed more coffee a couple of times. Their coffee was good too. Strong! If you want to avoid the Sunday wait at other places nearby, get here between 11am and 12pm. I will return here again to try a lunch entree. Good food and great coffee! read more

Big Joe's - San Bruno - Joe's Favorite omelette with sausage, mushrooms, cheese and green onions w/country potatoes. - Diners Near Me - San Bruno, California

Completely sick after eating this got sent to the hospital for food poisoning be aware i used to love this place don't know Whats happened

Great food and service. Clean. Local gem. I really wanna keep it a secret, but I'd rather have them get the extra business cause they're so good. read more