Old school diner with staff that has great customer service and extremely friendly. First time here but they made me feel like I have been coming here for years! The omelette as were so big and fluffy and the little donut and orange slices are such a cute touch. Defiantly will be back! read more

We love this place. Yes, it is iconic, but the service is outstanding and we love the historic venue!

Truly so yummy and a classic for a reason! The lines are so worth it because once you're in the food is delicious and honestly such a great deal for the amount you're getting. Quick service and the perfect hometown diner ambiance. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Popeye Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So good and the service was top tier! Very generous people who work here. Food was awesome !!! read more

Lou Mitchell's - Smoked Salmon Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The quintessential greasy spoon that you don't want to miss. Go here, eat breakfast and don't feel bad about it! The donut hole was a nice touch! read more

Happy 100th anniversary. I love diners and breakfast so I had to check out this spot near Chicago's Union Station. I got there in time to be seated right away. There was a constant flowing line on a weekend... however people were seated right away. I personally appreciated a bag storage area for travelers. The decor was vintage worth some modern twists. It was busy. My server was wrought to the table. I ordered the coffee because it was world famous, chicken sausage, eggs, toast, potatoes, and a weekend special of a homemade buttercream filling. First: the best Coffee that I've tried was Jamaican Coffee. This was not it.... it wasn't the worst but it wasn't the best thing either. That pastry though.......a delight for my mouth. Powdered sugar everywhere, perfect whipped buttercream and the cake let me know that I was in trouble.... not bad meaning bad... but bad meaning good. I wanted to love the food. It was extremely oily and bland. I tried the homemade orange marmalade.. I was not the fan of the chopped pieces of orange rinds. It was too many. Why 4 stars? The service. My server was everything! I was offered ice cream after my meal. That ice cream was delicious. She was very personable.... got to know a little bit about me...I had my uniform on so she talked about flying. She checked on me. She had a fantastic personality. She also made that great pastry selection. She's 5 stars and for that I would be willing to try again or just order pastry and Coffee. read more

Best breakfast joint in Chicago. You may have to wait to be seated, but it's well worth it. Not for the claustrophobic, gets crowded snd loud. read more

So many good things about my first visit to this iconic location. You had me at the free donut and orange slice to start, and brought me back for years to come with the apple and cheddar omelet. I wouldn't say that omelet would be defined as life changing but it could be argued as such. Yum! read more

If you are from Chicago or from out of town it's definitely a must try spot. It is a good family ambiance. This place has been around for a long time, the staff is very polite and they all move quickly. The food is so warm and delicious! We came for Father's Day and they were really busy but they did a great job! It gets packed quickly so make sure you come with extra time (worth the wait). I got an omelette but turned it into a skillet which was so good! The portions are big, so come hungry! We can't wait to be back! read more

Lou Mitchell's - Orange Freshly Squeezed Juice - 8 oz - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

10/10 this is the best brunch spot. Truly a piece of history. It's as old school diner as it gets. You can't make a reservation so prepare to wait in line for a little. Food was amazing and portions are huge. Service was quick and friendly. Best brunch in town! read more

Lou Mitchell's - Banana pancakes, waffle, hash browns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Lou Mitchell's has been around since 1923. 1923! Can you believe that? I hadn't been here in a while and I can say after my latest meal, I know why. There was a time when demand to get in was so high that there would be a line outside (maybe there still is? Not the day I went though) and they would give you a donut hole while you waited. The day I was there I still got the donut but it came with a slice of orange to the table. My order was the Spinach Special omelette- (Spinach, Greek Feta Cheese, Onion) with Greek toast. I asked for the onion to be swapped with mushrooms but I got tomato instead. Not the worst mistake, it still tasted pretty good. Also can I just say, I dont know what they do to their eggs but that omelette was the lightest and fluffiest thing I have ever had. It was freaking magical. The interior is small, and has that typical "Chicago diner" vibe. Great place, if you've never been, or are just visiting Chicago, this is a must do at least once. read more

What's not to like. Pops took me here when a wee lad in the 90s & I take him there now -- folks are nice, food is great, and you're likely to run into other social friendly diners. read more

Being out of town, I researched all the food places I could. Lou Mitchell's had great reviews and the food choices sounds delish. Boy was I right - This place was amazing! Environment: We caught an Uber as the parking is on street and pretty limited. We waited quite some time for a server. The gentlemen did get us started with drinks as we waited so that was a plus. We also had outside dining so it was very relaxing to get that city feel. Staff were nice - just Midwest and not Atlanta. Had to get use to that. I did feel rushed while ordering - I guess she wasn't use to people ordering multiple things to try. The Food: boom! Delicious! I tried the apple cheddar omelet; the pecan waffle and my cousin had the egg Benedict over English muffins. Each came with home made hash browns. And cranberry juice - it hit the spot. :) Would definitely revisit while in town read more

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When I think of my perfect breakfast place - this one checks all the boxes. Diner feeling - older decor, open kitchen, counter seating as well as booths on the wall and side by side seating options. The food was great - I ordered a ham and cheese omelette and added a pancake to try. Though I usually like my home fry potatoes a little on the more cooked side to a crisp - this was great. The omelette wasn't just toppings stuff in between the egg fold - but mixed in the egg itself. Love that. The pancake was good - and their homemade maple syrup was so good I bought one for the road. Highly recommended I'll be back next Chicago trip. read more

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Looking for a good & iconic breakfast place and Lou Mitchell's showed up on the list. Perfect. Interesting and iconic interior. Prompt service, and good food. Let's face it , breakfast is difficult to improve upon and hard to mess up. Your basic breakfast dishes , done right, and a notch up. Real maple syrup instead of 'pancake' syrup? - check. Butter that comes out at the ideal texture to spread on pancakes or toast? An excellent coffee? check A fried donut ball and slice of orange when you sit down? whoaa. I wish I didn't live 2000 miles away. read more

Written to "Oops I did it Again" by Brittney Spears I think I did it again I made you wait in a line that never ends Oh baby I don't mean to rush No reservations? Are you serious? Bout to lose all my senses But the line is moving efficiently! Oh baby, baby Oops, you did it again Doughnut holes to start, Lou's you're changing the game Oh baby, baby Oops, I think I'm in love Coffee is sent from above What to choose? My predicament You see my problem is this Dreaming of pancakes Wishing more table space truly exists I try counting the ways Portions so huge you'll have food for days Think you need new contact lenses? There's really no need Oh baby, oh Opps, I did it again I ordered an omelet, 4 eggs standard came Oh baby, baby Oops, I think I'll explode Too much food, may implode Not mad, it's magnificent read more

This is definitely one of those Chicago legacy restaurants. Came in for breakfast 2 days ago and there were lots of customers. Ended up sitting at the counter. Made me think of the Nighthawks painting even though this place isn't 24 hours. They give you a donut hole + orange slice when you come in. I ordered coffee, chocolate chip pancakes, bacon eggs. Eggs and bacon came with potatoes!! Im not normally a big breakfast person but I was taking big walk in afternoon and knew I would need my energy. Pancakes come with maple syrup. Thankful that a diner like this still exists in Chicago. read more

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I got the corned beef hash, friends got eggs Benedict and an omelette. No complaints about the food at this OG institution. I like the unique sliced hash browns and that we all got 4 eggs instead of 2 eggs as stated on the menu. It was our first time but is that standard now? Service was good. Unrelated to covid but I don't like when too many tables are packed too closely together. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Where to even begin... from the service, the food, and the atmosphere... everything was absolutely phenomenal!!!! Our server Audrey was so friendly, made great suggestions, and made our visit great from start to finish! The omelets and pancakes were to die for & the biscuits and gravy were the best I've ever tasted! We later found out that our server is also the manager... and we can see why!! She seems very respected by the rest of the staff & keeps the entire restaurant together! Will most definitely be coming back & specifically request Audrey!!! read more

this place is food was pretty good. The chocolate chip pancakes were bomb and I'm talking bomb and then the bacon was pretty good as well. The only thing that this was disappointing I gave it four stars. was they ran out of hashbrowns, which is also a good sign but they give us french fries those were decent. The server was a little loud, but she was nice overall I would recommend this place especially for it being for 100 years this is a must go to in Chicago but the food came out cold read more

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Oh Lou Mitchell...... so disappointed to return for a second visit, while traveling via Amtrak from MI to CA, only to have a sub-par experience. Both the service and the food were a disappointment. Lets start with the service: slow and inattentive. We dined at 11:30 am in a Thursday, when the dining room was at most 3/4 filled. After a wait that resulted in us eyeing staff annoyingly, a server came to our table with apologies, stating that our section was being rotated among several servers. OK. No problem. Let's restart. We were then served coffee we didn't order, while the complimentary donut holes which we were delighted to sample were not brought to our table. The entrees we ordered arrived relatively quickly; we asked about the donut holes and received our second apology. They were brought to our table, cold, while the entire I ordered: eggs Benedict Florentine, was luke warm at best. The country fried potatoes were not warm. My husband's omelette, which he custom ordered, was a better temperature and he said it was tasty. His potatoes, however, were Luke warm. And now for the third apology: his toast never arrived and we had to flag down the server to request it, after he was almost done his entree. When the toast made it to the table, better late than never, it was white bread and not the whole wheat he ordered. The chicken sausage looked appealing and I ordered a side for a steep $7. I asked if it had nitrates, to which our server replied, "Ummmm..... maybe. I'll say yes.... Do you want me to ask?" With a look that clearly said, "I don't want to ask." The two stars reflect food that was only passable, service that was not rude but just very scattered and inattentive, prices that were reasonable for the area and a great location. Maybe also a little lingering fondness from our first visit. Bummer. After a wonderful first experience, this trip left us questioning if we would return. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Collage of all the best moments from our stay: tasty donut hole & orange slice, filling entree, homemade toast, and a cool downtown vibe. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool diner vibe. Went here with my family when visiting Chicago. Brief wait and worth it. Really enjoyed it. Casual, historic kind of place that is really fun with great food and really fast service. Was very crowded but they turn over tables fairly quickly. read more

Came to the famous Lou Michell on Route 66. Hostess Donna (huh, she's 94 years young?) found us the best server in the place, Chad. Very energetic and very informative. As a diabetic, he was able to hook us up with sugar free maple syrup. We never saw the bottom of our coffee cup (he was always there to give us refills) and he was constantly checked in with us. The portions are HUGE and everything is made on site (or their offsite bakery. They have their own specialty coffee blend and they make their own orange marmalade too. A great place that opens early, a nice diner to visit with really nice people. read more

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I got bacon and their apple and cheese omelette to go this morning. It was phenomenal. The staff was wicked fast and amazing. Mmmmmmmm

While waiting for my next train at union station, Lou Mitchell's cane recommended. As I walked up to Lou's, the line was out the door yet moved along quickly. The manager promptly seated me at the counter where I was greeted by a veteran waitress whose service was so good I tipped her graciously. The food is served hot and in sizable portions. The chili was so delicious, especially on such a cold day, I asked for a second cup. The ambiance was ideal and welcoming, clearly this is where most any of the locals go for their lunch or breakfast. I left with a smile on my face and thanked the train attendant for recommending. If I lived or worked close by I'd no doubt frequent Lou Mitchell's enough to become a regular. read more

I just can't ever get tired of this place. Only have been for breakfast but it's just what I like in a breakfast place. Stopped in for breakfast before our 2p train, and boy did it hit the spot. From the hostess to the waitress, to the decor, it's just solid old school atmosphere with friendly service and solid meals. read more

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Lou Mitchell's is an iconic Chicago diner celebrating 100 years this month. I came here on St. Patrick's day for brunch and the line was quite long. It's a first come first serve restaurant, but the line moved at an efficient pace. The inside is typical diner style and the ambiance is very bustling. The menu is very large and there are many choices. The food was very disappointing. I see this as more of a touristy destination than a go-to hearty breakfast place. I came here with a group and no one was especially impressed with their dish. The "Royal Burger" was unseasoned and the bread to filling ratio was off (more bread than anything else). The fries were homemade from whole potatoes, but some were not cooked all the way and you could taste raw potato. They also forgot the coleslaw that comes on the side with the deluxe entrees. The biscuits and gravy were very average. The biscuits itself were very crumbly, which wasn't my favorite. The table comes with complimentary jams, so we ordered some toasted bread to try them with. I'm not sure if they're supposed to be homemade jams, but they are not very good. The orange marmalade is a mixture of oranges and the peels (which gives it a bitter taste) and the purple jam doesn't really taste like anything besides sweetness. My friends enjoyed their coffee. Overall, we left with our stomachs full, but I won't be returning here. read more

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This breakfast place is a real experience. Just in case you aren't aware, they invented the American breakfast as we know it. You need to go for that reason alone. Second reason: the coffee. It's just plain black diner-style coffee, but it's amazing. Third reason: the Bennie's. Their eggs Benedict is perhaps the best I've ever had. Perfect hollandaise. Fourth: the Malt Belgian Waffles. Go. Just go. Now. P.S. - our waiter was really funny and fast. read more

A Chicago landmark and for good reason. It definitely has a New Jersey diner type vibe. It is small, busy, and dated, but that just adds to retro experience. I had what may be the best burger, best French fries, and best cup of coffee I have ever had. On top of that, the staff was genuinely nice, which made the experience even better. They are open for breakfast and lunch, and I am told it gets quite busy on weekends, but so worth the wait. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great cafe with a vintage diner vibe , located near Union Station, making it perfect for a quick pickup of pastries/treats before catching a train, which is exactly what I did. I stopped by in the morning around 8AM to get a slice of their pound cake as a quick breakfast. Their marble pound cake is so good, but unfortunately they were all sold out, so I could only get a slice of the all butter pound cake, which was still good regardless. The cake is moist, fluffy, and buttery without being heavy, too oily, or overly sweet. Next time I will dine in to try their breakfast/brunch offerings, which looked amazing and I'm sure are very popular due to the full house of customers that I saw when stopping by. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you love holes like I love holes. .. you'll enjoy this place. If you know, you know. ..Lbvs o:-) Lou Mitchell's defines old school simple breakfast. Omelets are what they do best. This is going to sound a little strange, but their buttered wheat toast is incredible. Pancakes are huge yet fluffy. They serve high quality bacon and the country ham is salty in the most perfect of ways. Service is hit or miss as with any diner. 3.49 stars for the food. Rounding up for their legendary status and consistency. Pro Tip : Order your hash browns well done. read more

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Oh, wow! If you are close to Union Station or just want some good eats, this IS your breakfast stop! The service was impeccable. The establishment accommodates special dietary needs (I am GF-DF.). It is LOUD, and you may have to aggressively seat yourself. BUT, it is worth it! read more

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Historic diner with great food, unlimited coffee refills, and super friendly and fast service. Very reasonably priced as well. An instant favorite. read more

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We came here for breakfast and surprisingly, there was not wait. The inside was completely empty, and one table available outside, since it was a beautiful morning. The service was great at first, but it started to go down hill when we didn't get our water or coffee refilled. Our waitress never returned and we waited forever for our bill. Finally another lady came and gave us our bill and said our server had sent her. Why did she disappear? Why didn't she ever return? The coffee was great, my wife ordered their biscuits and gravy, and I ordered their Corned Beef Hash. The biscuits and gravy were good. The biscuits were very soft and buttery, and the gravy was tasty. I wasn't a big fan of the corned beef has. It was very mushy and wouldn't have preferred for it to be a bit more cooked. The hash browns didn't look good, but they tasted great. Overall, for subpar food and horrible service, I get why this place is popular, but I don't believe I'll be returning. read more

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Great spot for breakfast or lunch. My wife and I stopped in with my little one for some much needed pancakes and eggs and were promptly seated and greeted with warm smiles. Of course the food came out quick and plentiful. I local neighborhood poor guy came in causing issues and the manager handled it as quickly and appropriately as possible. They really were professional with situation and looked out for the safety of their customers. Even covered our tabs and were over apologetic about everything. We will be back! Left my wallet in the rush and they even got a hold of my job to get me back to grab it before they closed. Stand out group of folks! read more

Looked up online where we can eat breakfast in down Chicago, Lou Mitchell's came up with good reviews. The facade reminds me of a diner from a movie. I'm a big fan of their melt away pancake. Imagine eating 3 pcs of this per order with unlimited spread of whipped butter and maple syrup. Coffee tasted like medium roast, unlimited refill. Ordered the smoked salmon plate with bagel and hash. Sprinkled a little bit of salt and was able to empty the plate shared with my hubby. The scrambled eggs was perfectly cooked country style. Paired with toasted white bread and hash, sounds like we are already full. Two of us, spent about $50 plus tip. Food was good. See a lot of happy faces enjoying breakfast with family and friends. Yes! We had a slice of orange and donut hole as starter ;-) read more

Banana pancakes were awesome. The chicken sausage was delicious. Eggs cooked perfectly. My wife and I love diners and this one was perfect. Service was excellent and the ambiance was old fashioned and we absolutely loved it. read more

We had bacon Belgium waffles, very good. Everything comes with a donut hole and orange slice. Very good service, downtown prices but not too bad. read more

The egg sandwich was such a disappointment-you'll get a better, cheaper breakfast sandwich from Dunkin' a couple doors down. And, ordering to-go was no fun. Gruff, grumpy staff. Boring, expensive food. Really expected better from a place that seems so proud of its history and longevity. Should've been way better. read more

The portions were huge! This place is so cool. Felt like an old city diner. They sell pastries, their coffee bagged, t -shirts, and other things too! Love a good souvenir, lol. They have everything on table upon you being sat which was super convenient. Ketchup, hot sauce, cream, butters, jelly, etc. all on table. Great- I don't have to ask anyone or hunt down a server! I didn't try the coffee but it did smell delicious. I had a one egg with bacon served in a skillet with potatoes. It was good! The bacon was tasty not overly done, potatoes were good just needed some S&P, and the eggs were cooked perfect. I will definitely come back and try an omelet next time. They had booths or tables, even a bar top for singles. The wait staff was phenomenal! They were all genuinely happy to be there, helping other staff, smiling, it definitely gave a good vibe! You pay at the front - not the server. They take cash and cards. You can tip on the credit cards- just let them know ahead of time. You can purchase any other goodies while you are checking out. Huge menu with lots of selections! Kid friendly. Indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Lou Mitchell's - Breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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