I live at walking distance from this institution. I've not lived in Alton fir long, but I can tell you I am a lucky man to be so close to this wonderful restaurant. People line up before 7 to take the chance to eat here and get an early table. Join the crowd, you won't be disappointed read more

My wife and I were looking for somewhere new to try on Sunday after church. After a quick google search we found Joe K's. We arrived to a full restaurant and had a small 10-15 minutes wait. After ordering and receiving our food, I realized why so many people enjoy this place. The food was delicious and the service was some of the best we have experienced in a long time. This is definitely going to be our new favorite lunch spot! I also can't wait to try Joe K's out for breakfast! read more

Joe K's - American Near Me - Alton, Illinois

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Their food is always delicious with efficient, friendly service. It is one of our favorite hometown restaurants.

Good food, good service, very nice hole-in-the-wall place. Only one issue that makes this review three stars - the owner/manager really rude and icy when checking/cashing out customers - acts like he hates being there - super unfriendly guy - a shame. He tarnishes an otherwise really nice experience. read more

Visited for the first time today during lunch. We ordered the pork tenderloin and French dip. The food was old people's food, no seasoning and little taste. In full disclosure I am 70+. We won't be going back. The food was just not good. Based on the crowd it looked like we are not the norm for Joe's repeat customers. read more

Had breakfast with a colleague - loved it. The waffles I had were among the best I've ever had- ever!!! Harder, crunchy on the outside, soft inside. Can't wait til next time I'm back in Alton!!! read more

Found Joe K's on yelp and wasn't disappointed one bit. It was my first time back to Alton in years and wish I had more reason to come back so I could stop by for breakfast at Joe K's. We would have waited 15 minutes for a booth, but snagged the last two seats at the bar. Really good service for coffee and food. I am pretty sure my coffee never got below half full and food was fresh and hot. The serving sizes are filling and all the items appeared to be delicious. This is exactly what I remember about diners and truly miss their hometown feel. read more

VERY slow. Ordered over thirty minutes ago, waitress has no apparent clue as to what is going on or where the food is, and the place is not packed. read more

What a sweet spot! Friendly, clean, quaint, affordable and delicious. Even on a super busy winter holiday(day after New Year's) we had great service and food. Some menu offerings include french toast, banana nut pancakes, eggs benedict and a slinger. read more

Joe K's - Quaint mom and pop breakfast joint at Joe K's in Alton, IL. - American Near Me - Alton, Illinois

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I went for breakfast on a Sunday. I was dining alone so I sat at the counter. My order was taken quickly. . I ordered eggs Benedict, it doesn't come with any sides so I had to order hash browns on the side. I also ordered 2 pancakes since the pancake menu was so large, I assumed it was a point of pride for the restaurant. The eggs Benedict was good for a dinner, the english muffins were not toasted at all, but the eggs and the hollandaise sauce were good so I still count it as good. The hasbrowns had zero flavor at all. The portion was plentiful but they had no taste, even salt didn't help. The pancakes were good but this is where I have to really mark them down. FAKE Syrup, not real maple syrup. FAKE butter, they had some cheap off brand margarine. FAKE cream, some palm oil based off brand creamer. They also only had sweet and low and equal as sweeteners. In spite of sitting right in front of the coffee machine at the counter, I had to ask for a refill on my coffee. There is also no way the coffee they are brewing is Ronnoco. Ronnoco has a rich delicious flavor and a robust smell. This coffee had almost no flavor or scent, if they are brewing Ronnoco, then they are not making it with the proper amount. I expect a mom and pop restaurant to serve real food. Real cream, real butter (hopefully whipped) and real maple syrup. The pancake prices aren't low enough to justify the "cost cutting" on the butter and syrup. Also it is still probably cheaper to buy the real stuff in bulk and package it in the store. I gave it 3 stars instead of 2 because I think the basic food is decent. If I go back I will get an omelette and just drink water. read more

Went here based on the previous Yelp reviews and I'm so glad I did! This place was amazing! The coffee was flavorful and I never wanted for a refill, they were very attentive to the coffee level! The place is full of locals and everyone seems to know each other which I find quite charming. It had a great church crowd but the tables turned over quickly! As for the food, OMG so delicious! I ordered the Dixie dish, a biscuit, 2 sausage patties, 2 eggs cooked any way, hash browns and sausage gravy. My friend ordered 3 full pancakes. The gravy was good and I ordered my hash browns extra crispy and they were actually crispy!! Highly recommend this place and I will be going back! read more

Stopped in here for a quick breakfast on the way back to STL from a weekend trip. The waitress wasn't the friendliest, but she was really busy. It took a decently long time for them to get the food to the table, and when it came, they messed up my order - gave me an omelet instead of biscuits and gravy. The waitress didn't notice, and I couldn't get her attention so wanting to avoid the inevitable 15 minute longer wait for my original order, I settled for the omelet. I tried the blueberry pancakes and those were pretty good. The omelet and hash browns were good. I wouldn't avoid going again, but wouldn't rush back. Pros: inexpensive, lots of options on the menu Cons: bad service read more

The food is affordable, the menu is varied enough to satisfy just about anyone who enjoys comfort food, and the servers are friendly and quick. They close at 2pm, so get a table early! read more

Rave reviews from my whole table....'BEST chocolate chip pancakes I've ever had!'...'BEST chicken fried steak I've ever had!'...my husband told me - write them a review and give them 5 stars! Lol We were staying in the area and the continental breakfast at the hotel left much to be desired. Joe K's had several great reviews so we decided to give it a try - they did not disappoint! Super fast service, friendly staff, and immediate coffee was the perfect way to start. The food came in a timely manner and was DELICIOUS! I tried the Farmer's Omelet...stuffed full of hashbrowns, ham, onion, peppers, and cheese...so good! My youngest got the chocolate chip pancakes which arrived with a mile-high dollop of whipped cream ...we all tried them and they were some of the most buttery and fluffy pancakes any of us have had. My oldest got the western wrap which looked delicious, a nice full tortilla...and my husband got the 'the big country'....2 eggs, potatoes, chicken fried steak, delicious homemade gravy, and a biscuit (which was super flaky and fresh)....all in all, we'd DEFINITELY come back!!! read more

This is a great little restaurant with wonderful staff and delicious food. You will not find a better place for breakfast or lunch.

Went here to eat breakfast with dad. First time I been here and had the big country. The biscuits were absolutely awesome, the country fried steak was perfect, the gravy was great, and the American fries were the best ever. This place is a gem that needs more recognition. read more

First time here lt was very good but disappointed with the gravy. Loved the biscuits hash browns and sausage and eggs

Great service and food. Had the Santa Fe omelette with American Fries, everything was delicious. Definitely recommend this place.

Really good local family restaurant. Clean, yummy food, reasonably priced, and friendly!

Try the grilled biscuits! I can see craving these constantly. Otherwise this place has great breakfast food. I really enjoyed the Big Country. Nice peppery gravy, perfectly done over easy eggs. read more

We eat here a couple times a week! Love their food. Its the best breakfast in this town. Always clean and waitresses are always friendly. Never a long wait for your food. Sometimes a small wait for a table but its worth the wait. They are only open until 2 but they also serve lunch which is just as good as breakfast. Awesome hamburgers too! read more

used to go to Joe k's alot...and the last 3 times I have gone have been purely awful experiences. Was there with my young child and we had been seated and served our drinks, then the hostess came over and demanded we move. That's awesome because relocating myself and my young child after already having them settled is an awesome idea! way to make me feel welcome! after 45 min we still didn't get our food, we asked the waitress what the deal was and she rolled her eyes at me so we got up and left. that was last summer. just went there again with in the last 2 weeks, and didn't even get half my food. Waitress didn't seem to notice that we didn't get it because they sure did put it on the bill Lastly, this is the loudest place in Alton to go for a meal, and they are always packed, and the customer service sucks. read more

Really good food. Just wish they were open later that 2pm. They put out an exceptional breakfast. Love the biscuits and gravy

Great food! Very busy place but the staff is still curious and attentive. We waited awhile for our food but it was definitely worth it.

In my book, I know a cafe is good when you see senior citizens frequenting the place regularly and the servers know them by name. Joe K's is such a place, and you can't go wrong with their yummy, down-home breakfast or lunch. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are hearty. The food and service is always good! It is the kind of place where the owner can be seen joking around and talking to regulars or even running the cash register. read more

We visited Joe K's for the first time, on April 26, 2017. We arrived at 12:45, and there were only two tables open, including a large (seating about 8) table. Within 15 minutes, several more tables had opened. I would guess that arriving during the peak lunch time would have made for a wait. They close at 2 PM. The menu is varied, with many good-sounding items listed. The day's soups were listed on a board in the vestibule, and sounded good. Breakfast is available all day, and I took advantage of that to order the (waitress-recommended) "Scrambler" sandwich, w/o mayo. Served on sourdough toast (other breads are available), containing grilled ham, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, and lettuce, it was excellent! (Onion and tomatoes may have been available; I do not recall for sure.) Unlike so many breakfast meals (wherein it seems some components are done cooking before others, and lose their heat and may even get soggy), it was served hot and fresh. I also had the American fries, and they were very good: thin-sliced, with crispy edges, but tender and moist in the middle (i.e., not dry and hard, like the so-called "home-made potato chips" often found at restaurants). Hash-browns are also available. My wife had the Club sandwich, w/o mayo; she said that it was also excellent. Her side was French Fries, which she said were good. Our waitress was VERY cheerful, quick, and helpful, despite nearing the end of an apparently very busy lunch period. Counter service was also available. We both felt that the prices were reasonable and market-competitive. The decor is unremarkable but inoffensive, with little visual interest. But, with such good food and service, who cares? The restaurant is located at the back edge of a large parking lot, at the corner of State and Elm in Alton. We would recommend it to anyone looking for a nice, casual restaurant with many reasonably-priced and tasty items on the menu. read more

This is a great place for breakfast or lunch. I go there a lot and always have a great meal. Fast, friendly, competent service with a smile. Wait staff and cooks are awesome. Would recommend them for all of the above reasons and the reasonable prices. They have a wonderful Ruben Sandwich!! Great soups too. read more

Had an amazing breakfast here. Perfectly poached eggs are very hard to find.. Will never have IHOP again..

Terrific breakfast. My family and I were in Alton for the day and read about this restaurant on Yelp. All of us had something different and all of us loved our food. We had one of the omelets (the hash browns are perfect), the Dixie breakfast, the biscuits with sausage, and we shared one of the apple strudel pancakes. The restaurant has a very neighborhood feel to it - we felt like it was very obvious that we had never been there before! But the people and staff were quite friendly and helpful. If we are ever in Alton again we will absolutely stop here. read more