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Early Bird Diner

4.4 (1.3k reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Early Bird Diner Photos

Business Info

EARLY BIRD DINER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Hipster
Classy
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Early Bird Diner

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Chicken and waffles
Allison B.

Solid Breakfast Spot Worth the Wait. We stopped by The Early Bird Diner on a busy morning and were greeted with a 15-minute wait, which is pretty standard for popular breakfast places. Parking was definitely at a premium--expect to circle the lot or park on the other side of Savannah Highway and risk the four lane crossing--but once we got seated, the food more than made up for it. My chicken and waffles arrived piping hot, with the chicken perfectly tender and juicy on the inside and nicely crisped on the outside. The French toast was also excellent--fluffy, flavorful, and cooked just right. Our waitress was attentive and friendly, and the food came out surprisingly quickly considering how crowded the restaurant was. The only real drawback was the syrup. It lacked depth and flavor, which was a bit disappointing since it's such a key component for both the waffles and French toast. They'd benefit greatly from upgrading to a higher-quality option. That said, the prices were very reasonable, and the portion sizes were generous--the chicken and waffles plate was huge! Overall, we really enjoyed our meal and will definitely be back. Next time we might lean toward one of their savory dishes instead of anything that relies heavily on syrup. Recommended? Yes, especially if you're craving classic breakfast comfort food.

Chicken and waffles
Kristine F.

We always drive by and see them packed. But today we stopped in early. Our server was very pleasant and he made some suggestions. I got the chicken and waffles and enjoyed. Chicken was crispy and good flavor. Huge portion!! My boyfriend got the eggs Benedict. (Sorry I didn't get a photo... I was eating). My food came way before his did. He didn't care for it much... it looked okay but I've seen better. They have really neat local artists paintings on the wall. Very unique.

French Toast from the kids menu. My kids was too excited try it and cut it up before I got a picture.
Kimberly T.

My mom and I have wanted to try this place for a long time. Finally made the trip and it did not disappoint! She ordered the Chicken and Waffles, I got the Shrimp and Grits, the kids got Chocolate Chip Pancakes and French Toast. I tried a little of everyone's food and would order every meal again. I have had Shrimp and Grits places where the gravy/sauce over powers everything and is almost like soup, but here it was perfect! The Chicken and Waffles was a huge portion that my mom and I decided we may split next time. It was super delicious and she let me take her leftovers home( insert happy food dance)! The resturant is kind of small so it does get to be a little loud and crowded. Don't be surprised if you have to wait for a table. There is plenty of artwork and stickers all over the walls to keep you entertained while you wait. The corner by the bathroom has a small selection of local products like grits and honey along with stickers, shirts and hats for the resturant. We will definitely be repeat customers!

Marble rye toast - thick like Texas toast.
Jennie D.

We showed up to the Early Bird Diner late, which felt a little wrong given the name, but the coffee was hot, so all was forgiven. Breakfast plates here aren't shy; they come out loaded with all the good, down-to-earth stuff you actually want to eat. We ordered a basic cheese omelet with sides of sliced avocado and tomato, and both were perfect. You can't fake freshness like that. The avocado was buttery and bright, and the tomato tasted like it had been picked that morning. We also got a classic plate of eggs with HOMEMADE home fries (yes, homemade!), shell eggs instead of that cheap pourable stuff, really great bacon, and Texas-thick toast. The orange juice tasted fresh, but I'll admit I didn't ask. The plates were so big they practically covered the whole table, which made me laugh because it's exactly what diner breakfast should be: generous, a little chaotic, and completely satisfying. Presentation was simple, the kind you expect from a real diner, but the food itself was fresh, hearty, and way better than you'd think something served at noon in a place called Early Bird would be.

Shrimp and grits
Krysta R.

As soon as I saw the giant skeleton rooster outside , I knew I was b the right place for me! Let's start with the coffee! It was delicious! Our server Hannah let us know that the coffee is local. It's a must try item. We asked Hanna what's popular and what she recommends as we are from San Diego. We ordered two out of the three things she suggested and they both did not disappoint. Right after we ordered shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles I saw the banana pudding pancake and you can in fact order just one! Do not skip this either. It had real bananas and the pudding swirl was delicious and props to the nilla wafers on top too. The chicken and waffles; the chicken was two boneless chicken breasts and cinnamon waffles. I couldn't even finish half. It is a huge plate. The chicken was juicy and fried perfectly. The sauce for the chicken, I couldn't even finish literally bathe in. The shrimp and grits were absolutely scrumptious. The shrimps was also cooked perfectly and this was stick to your ribs good. Un pictured, the biscuit that came with was delicious and so fresh tasting. I see why this place is so busy. There is plenty to see when you walk inside. It seems like they support a lot of local artists and I appreciate that Thanks for excellent service Hannah!

Omelette
Amy D.

A Charleston institution! Love the local art and comfy vibe. Ordered the special omelette which had scallions, jalapeño, corn, and cheese. Super delicious. Their biscuits are fire!

Seyla T.

My parents and I came in for lunch on a Wednesday and it was pretty busy! Service was attentive - our food took a while and someone came by after 40 minutes to let us know our ticket fell and so wasn't seen by but they were working on it immediately which we appreciated! I'm sure service is typically quicker. Portions of food are pretty good but not large to where you feel horribly stuffed. Very casual diner serving up brunch classics but some with a fun spin. I absolutely loved my corn cake benedict as my pancake was like a corn fritter which I love.

French toast

Great food and service. Best grits!! Bought some humble hot sauce too! Diner vibe and food came quick.

Chicken biscuit
Jessica C.

Service was great. An employee at the front seats you when you walk in. Has a diner-like atmosphere. Parking availability is the only negative thing about this place. Grits were thick, creamy, and flavorful. One of the best I've had in Charleston. Chicken biscuit was great. The chicken was crispy. The biscuit was nice and fluffy. Also tasted the pancake, which I will definitely be ordering next time! Tasted as though there was cinnamon in the batter and I loved it. Will be returning!

Pecan Fried Chicken Tenders
Matt B.

What a cool local diner in West Ashley, I enjoyed the throwback to old school restaurant days. The food was top notch, chicken tenders were fried perfectly and the fries were tasty. Then the biscuits and gravy were fantastic, the white gravy was excellent.

Cool sign in the restaurant
Doresa I.

Pancakes are a must get. I loved the pancakes. The service was good not exceptional. It's an old diner so the feel was a diner with one bathroom. Oh my daughter ordered blueberry pancakes and the blueberries were so juicy.

Counter area! Love the vibe!
David G.

The place was amazing. I get a great hipster vibe. Everyone is chill and very nice! The food as you can see by the pictures was excellent! Coffee was great and the service was equally good. Just a local diner with a great reputation. It was featured on diners, drive in's and dives!

Pork chop and scrambled eggs.

Their food is consistently amazing year after year. Check out this HUGE pork chop! Service is always exceptional. Parking is challenging but worth the hassle.

The pancake

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

Breakfast was very tasty. I had eggs bacon a biscuit and a side pancake. All good. Friendly service

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2 years ago

I've been a patron of Early Bird since it opened. Friendly servers, local art on the wall, great food. Yum!

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Ask the Community - Early Bird Diner

How is the pot likker bowl? What does it taste like?

I haven't tried it yet. Please let me know your opinion, if you try it.

Is this place any good? My cousin Emily Key said it was.

It's very good..... chicken & waffles a must try.

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Millers All Day

Millers All Day

4.4
(1.4k reviews)
4.8 mi
$$

A review posted in honor of the experience one of my friends had this past week -…read more My husband and I came to Charleston specifically for the food, and out of all the amazing meals we had, Miller's All Day was hands down our favorite. We came for breakfast and started with the banana bread with Nutella cream cheese -- absolutely incredible. We also split the cornmeal pancakes, which were so good we came back the next morning just to have them again. I ordered the B.E.C. with the home fries, and I can honestly say they may have been the best potatoes I've ever had in any form. Perfectly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and they practically melted in my mouth. My husband had the turkey club and said it was fantastic as well. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and memorable. We loved it so much we went back the very next day. 10/10 -- highly recommend if you're visiting Charleston!

First off, the aesthetic is on point. Great design. Love the display of record covers on the…read morewall, though we agreed that it was a totally missed opportunity that there was no music playing, even though they had what appeared to be a great sound system as well. Second, this is one of the few places that's still having you scan a QR-code at the table for the menu. ...So, we're sitting down at this cool restaurant, with southern hospitality vibes, and we're being directed to pull out our phones to pull up the menu and then spend a good minute with our faces in our phones trying to decide what we want. Vibe killer, for sure. I would rather have a nicely-designed card stock menu with an eggy fingerprint or a coffee stain than sitting at the table with my phone out waiting for the menu to download and then trying to navigate it while discussing it with the server, who in our case, was a bit impatient. And also loud and impersonal while I'm at it. So, we ended up ordering: BISCUITS AND GRAVY-- this was the best thing we ordered. Rosemary presence was just right (love Rosemary but not too much). The pickled ocra on the side was perfectly pickled and crisp, which was a wonderful contrast to the scrambled eggs and gravy-soaked biscuits. I wish I could've walked out with a jar of them. Only complaint was I wish that there were some small chunks of sausage in the gravy. CINNAMON ROLL- this was impressive, a biscuit cinnamon roll pulled high with a whipped, airy cream cheese frosting. Wasn't the best cinnamon roll I've ever had. If there was a classic ooey gooey cinnamon roll near by, I'd pick that. Still appreciated it as something different that was executed well and highlighted their biscuits. MILLERS PLATE (I think that was the name of it)-- it was a basic breakfast platter with eggs, choice of breakfast meat (my son chose bacon), home fries, and a biscuit. My son said it was basic, but that his potatoes were over-fried and greasy. PATATAS BARAVAS-- my husband got this and said that the sausage was sparse and it was overloaded by large chunks of potato. If you're going to pay nearly $20 for a plate, it shouldn't be primarily filled with filler like potato. He said flavor was nice, though. Also, he missed on the menu that the meat was a "brisket sausage" and not "brisket AND sausage," so worth noting if, like him, you would be looking forward to the latter. This is pay at the table. They also pre-set tip options to 20, 22, and 25%. And our server stood there waiting for us to complete our transaction. Hate that. If you must use a pay at the table device, be classy and review the ticket with the patron, give a kind farewell, and then give them step away to give them space to decide on the total and tip without pressure. Also, we nearly never tip less than 20% and more often tip more, but it puts a bad taste in my mouth whenever suggested tips start at 20 or more percent and go higher. Bit presumptuous. On the way out we had to stop and grab some pics from the Photo Booth. This was a fun touch. Glad to have tried this spot while making a pit stop in Charleston. Has special breakfast/brunch vibes, for sure. Just a few things that could be improved.

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Coffee bar
Coffee bar
Club Sandwich
Club Sandwich
Cinnamon Roll

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Cinnamon Roll
Bedford Falls - Charleston

Bedford Falls - Charleston

4.4
(141 reviews)
4.4 mi

A true hidden gem!! Best burger and fresh handout fries in…read moreCharleston!!! Fantastic service too!! Nick and Rossa are great bartenders!!! Love the vibe!!

I hate giving bad reviews, but I will if I need to, however, this place is exceptional!…read more First it's got a super comfy vibe, think, "I've just walked into my aunt's backyard bbq with all of my family". Everyone just fits in, no matter if you're the black sheep! Seating is a little limited, but worth the wait. I guess the first person I ran into was a manager, he introduced himself, (legit, "Hi my name is Bryan" and shook my hand!) (Post Script, the handshake is pervasive here, literally both bartenders were introduced to me and both came up and shook my hand.) I had checked this place out from other Yelp reviews and already knew I wanted the Fish and Chips, so after my beer order, I was shocked and awed that without asking, he brought the Malt Vinegar! You know it's gonna be the bomb already! The fish arrived very quickly! Bruh...this fish was legit. A large solo iceberg of fried perfection crested upon a wave of fresh made "chips " and they were clearly fresh made, not the frozen variety. The beer batter on this fish was so good I was in heaven. I thought it might be heavy and greasy, and yet somehow it held only flavor, crunch, and absorbed my Malt Vinegar to perfection. This place is packed with regulars and it clearly seems to attract other service industries personnel. All good signs of a good time! This may have been my first visit, but won't be my last!

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Bedford Falls - Charleston
Loaded Grilled Cheese - very tasty!
Loaded Grilled Cheese - very tasty!
Bedford Benedict

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Bedford Benedict
Three Little Birds

Three Little Birds

4.0
(487 reviews)
2.4 mi
$$

Today was my very first time visiting this restaurant, and I have to say--I absolutely loved it!…read moreI've been wanting to try it for a while since I'm often nearby doing freelance makeup work at Wildcraft, and it did not disappoint. The food was fantastic, and the customer service was truly exceptional. I ordered the breakfast special with eggs, sausage, and fried potatoes, and everything was cooked perfectly. I also treated myself to a slice of French toast on the side, which was absolutely delicious. I can't say enough good things about this charming little spot. I'll definitely be coming back again in the future!

2-25-26 Wednesday 11:30 am…read more Cup French Onion Soup-no cheese or croutons Sweet Potato Benedict 1-Blueberry & Choc Chip Pancake Ala Carte Wow!!! What a great place to get a Benedict in the middle of the week!!! The restaurant is so CUTE!!! You know you're in for a treat, when you have to wait a few minutes to wait for a table-always a good sign in Charleston. Spoiler Alert-no alcoholic beverages. I yanked my back out and was looking forward to having a Bloody to go with my ibuprofen. Denied. I had the most delightful server, Caroline, who set me up for success with my order. I had selections in mind and she recommended them when I asked her what was good. The French Onion soup had an interesting seasoning profile that I could not place-but it was very good-no cheese or croutons, so maybe it should be onion soup instead. I loved the spin on the Benedict with a sweet potato roll, the eggs were perfectly over medium and the home fries were on time!!! I added one pancake to eat for dessert...totally get this if you love chocolate chips and blueberries, as both were generously added. Add the syrup as it would be like buying the ticket and not getting on the ride. I felt the charges were in line with other diners in the area. Whew! I need a nap now!!!

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Back Bar with Specials Menu
Back Bar with Specials Menu
Nutella Peanut Butter French Toast
Nutella Peanut Butter French Toast
Fed vanilla latte

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Fed vanilla latte

Early Bird Diner - diners - Updated July 2026

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