Don't go anywhere else for breakfast. This is the spot. Bidwell Egg for those who like breakfast bagel sandwiches. The bacon is perfect, their potatoes are delicious and you will not be disappointed by their service. Always prompt, smiling and happy to see you. If I don't go here when I am visiting for a quick weekend, the trip was a complete waste. I LOVE MORNING THUNDER! read more

it's the best you'll get in CHICO!!! they go that extra mile to make you happy and welcome, even during the busiest of times..

Been here 3-4 times. Never been a huge fan, but favorite spot was closed so ordered it for delivery. Ordered the California bagel, over easy. There was.....absolutely no flavor. No seasoning. When you season food while it's cooking it absorbs it + adds the flavor. The avocado was flavorless-there are local avocado farmers with great avocado. The hashbrowns were dry, not buttery / rich. Don't really get the point of this place. Bacon was redeeming moment....hard to mess up bacon however. Overall, if you don't like seasoning / flavor, this place is for you. read more

Best Taco Salad with Chicken and they add extra cilantro! I've had it three times now! Breakfast is amazing and the cafe is darling and clean!!! read more

Overcrowded bad seating, Terrible coffee, small and weird menu L L L L L L L L L L L L read more

THE PRICE: not bad, I mean for the portions. if your a quantity over quality the this is your place. THE SERVICE: 1 star, there nice to there regulars but ive been there enough to see how the waitress's have this snobby attitude, it's so obnoxious! they smile but its obvious they think there hot shit for working there..I'm not sure why!? you rarely get checked on and when you do they seem annoyed by simple requests like some ranch or some more ice tea. weird group of people..are these not normal requests? THE FOOD: 1 star at best. I've been here 6 times, each time willing to give it a try! there food is like a version of denny's but more expensive and less service. they win people over with the heaps of food they toss your way but if you truly stop and process what your eating its not good. its just a ton of food. I'ved tried there lunch menu and breakfast. neither is up to par with other chico places! all in all I wont be returning and i will be telling friends and family to stay away, dont waste your money. IF YOU WANT A GREAT BREAKFAST, try sins of cortez! nice service,strong great coffee, and amazing amazing breakfast!! read more

This place has the best breakfasts ever! Nothing else like it in the Bay Area, makes it almost (almost) worth the drive up to Chico. Yummiest breakfast potatoes (Creamy and crunchy at the same time); good coffee, mochas and lattes; massive omelets with anything you could want in them, the bagel sandwiches are a huge favorite with my sister. The prices aren't bad considering the huge, uber-generous portions. The service is always nice, no matter how busy they are, and you can't beat the cheesy-chic decor. Word of caution: They only take cash or ATM cards, no credit cards accepted. read more

If you want breakfast, I recommend going someplace else and spending half the price. After reading all the positive yelp reviews I thought that Thunder Morning Café may live up to the hype that yelpers were giving it. Sadly no, no it did not. This place is pretty average as far as diners go. They could do much more with a theme; instead they have cheesy photography of livestock, other animals and random paintings. I assume their decorator is probably someone in elementary school. The prices of the menu were expensive. It was nearly 10 bucks for a 3 egg omelet. I'm not against paying for the quality of a product. If it tastes amazing then I am very willing to throw down some cash for the explosion of awesomeness in my mouth. The problem was there was no explosion. The food had no special taste that really separated it from its local diner competitors. In fact I've gotten more flavor out of something I've ordered at a drive-thru and that's pretty sad. The portions aren't that big either. I'm not sure what people are talking about. Perhaps they are confused because the plates that the food comes on are so small. I had to be careful moving my food around for fear that it may fall off the plate and on to the table. In fact, the portions are comparable still to the ones you get at any other local diner. The service was friendly, but it made it hard to tell who you should flag down for a refill though since the staff is all dressed in whatever they pull from their closets. There were a couple people who looked like they dug out their shirts from the bottom of their hamper. The bathrooms are outside, which is pretty inconvenient. I don't want to get up, put on my coat, go outside to the bathroom, take off my coat, proceed to freeze my butt on a cold toilet seat, put my coat back on and re-enter the restaurant. I know that in the summer it's probably less of a hassle. Overall, I won't be going back. The food is not worth the price. read more

First visit to this cute café on recommendation of my son's friend. I give this restaurant 5 stars mostly for the staff and service. We were greeted as we walked in the door and everyone was so nice and friendly. I was impressed that I had ordered French Roast Coffee and it was rich and robust. They said that when I was ready to leave that I could even get another cup in a "to go" cup for the ride home.....wow. Both my son and I ordered omelets. I ordered the hash browns but was so sorry that I did not order the potatoes since they looked awesome. Biscuits were huge...heavy and could have been a meal in itself. I loved them!!! Yummy!! Atmosphere is nice and spacious and there is even a nice patio. read more

Well, spank my ass and call me Charlie-this place is expensive. You get a huge portion, granted, but expect to drop a cool $30 on breakfast for two. Really. read more

Came here at suggestion of a friend for primo big breakfast. Easy to find and plenty of parking; I could imagine it'd be insane on the weekends - as many reviewers have noted, there's just not a plethora of bfast spots in Chico. Of the few this seems to be one of the best. Menu: Not too many choices. Standard fare. Many omelettes to choose from. Ambiance: There really is none. Your plain ol' diner. Some seats, some booths, about a dozen seats at the bar. Peoples: Friendly, helpful staff. Really nice. And your everyday crowd coming for grub. Very kid-friendly. Now, the food: Oh man. Ohhhhh man. Best, absolute best ranchos huevos I've ever had, hands-down. Now, that's not a big breakfast item I usually seek out, but this half-order mountain o' food really satisfied. I can't imagine how big the full order is (only a buck more). Go with the chorizo. Looked around at the other plates... one guy had a waffle stacked with strawberries and whipped cream, another had what looked to be your standard eggs and potatoes. BUT what really looked good was the bacon. Huge strips of bacon, and they looked to be cooked to perfection. Savory and crispy, not soggy. I left the place only with the regret of not having any of that bacon. Next time. read more

By far the best experience I've had in Chico. The only thing that could have made it better is if it was election day and Ted Cruz defeated Hillary Clinton by a landslide election. Ordered the Bacon Burger with a side of garlic fries along with a hot chocolate. It was no disappointment, everything looked photogenic. The burger was loaded with crispy bacon and cheddar, The whole meal was plentiful. The hot chocolate was served in what looked like a mini beer mug and was topped by a mountain of whipped cream with cinnamon sprinkled on top. The waitress was very nice and tentative. This is by far my favorite place to go to. I'll be here ready to celebrate Cruz's future victory and the downfall of liberalism in America. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

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This is a great breakfast spot. I came most recently on Sunday, and was expecting a wait since it was the weekend. The wait was only about 10 minutes, and as soon as we were seated, someone took our drink order. Our waitress was very attentive, asked if we needed anything else, how our food was, etc. Even though they're busy they don't make you feel rushed and the food is good quality, so you get what you pay for. read more

Great food at a decent price. Much better then going to a chain restaurant. Loved the family atmosphere as the server made me feel like I was a regular and it was the first time I had visited. Only reason it isn't a 5 star is the jelly catty was quite dirty and my bacon was a little over cooked. read more

Absolutely always outstanding food!! Always friendly service!! And extremely clean and consistent in every way possible!! bottom line this is how all restaurants should be run!! read more

This place has the best breakfast and the early bird is probably the cheapest on the menu. I go for that its the cheapest breakfast left in chico 6.00 total and its plenty of food. They have great muffins. The breakfast burrito is delish too. read more

I used to love this place . Maybe I just ordered the right things . Nowadays I am a chicken fried steak connoisseur. And as an expert on the plate , I feel an obligation to my local community to provide the WARNING. This place has the absolute , most garbage country fried steak in town . It is pretty much a 1 1/4" thick piece of deep fried rubber . Paired with an inadequate amount of gravy , you will be forced to fill up on 2 eggs and some subpar hash browns and possibly stop at a mcdonalds on the way home ( which is ultimate failure ). Spare yourselves and order anything but this . This is a public service announcement for all Chicken Fried Steakers . read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

I've had fantastic breakfasts here many times and always came away pleased with the experience. Fabulous baked goods -- scones, muffins, biscuits, pancakes, waffles. Enormous waffles, with perfectly done fillings. My favorite thing on the menu is the Mexican Hot Chocolate. They use the traditional Ibarra tablet, whisked into steamed milk. There is really nothing better. Even if you have to wait, it's worth it. Besides, you get to sit outside, enjoying the sun. What's not to like about that? I've found that if you get there before 9:30 on a weekend, the wait is never too long -- 10-15 minutes at most. read more

Oh, Morning Thunder! How I love thee! My brother was playing baseball in Chico last summer, so we went to watch him play. He raved about getting some breakfast at Morning Thunder. His raves were totally up to par! Although the wait can be long, it is so worth it. The choices for breakfast are varied, the portions are huge, the flavors are fantastic and the prices are great! I had an omelette chock full of cheese and bacon (super crispy!) and avocado. SSSSSSSCrumptious! The coffee kept pouring and I kept devouring. The service was friendly and honest and down to earth. There were all sorts of age ranges and faces in the joint both times we went. We will be going back to watch my brother play again this weekend. The running joke is that we go back to Chico strictly for Morning Thunder. :) read more

Rocking breakfast joint. Make sure to ask for extra crispy home potatoes. Chicken fried state incredibly good with a real steak and not minute steak inside. Great gravy! Fluffy, light and tasty muffin. And big portions. Awesome waitress read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - Chicken fried steak - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

The food was meh. The wait staff seemed to have a lot of energy but ignored me when my coffee cup was empty. The Country Waffles near the skyway is better and worth the extra minute in the car. Honestly, The Roost has better food. Casino 99 has better prices if you're a late riser. Not sure why people still go here for breakfast. Maybe habit I guess. read more

The bomb.com Slower service, but to be expected on a Saturday or Sunday morning. We had a group of 5, and were accommodated just as swiftly as smaller parties. Good(ish) service, awesome food and fun atmosphere... Added, your tab won't break the bank! read more

Only open for breakfast but the place is pretty good better than dennys. It has a homey feel :) lines on weekends are prety long but they go fast read more

I was up in Chico for Thanksgiving with my family. Taking a break from baking 10 pies for my family, we had lunch here. The portions are very generous. We split a bowl of their home made clam chowder and a Ruben sandwich. The food was good and I would have given it 4 stars had the chowder had more clams. The service was very good and the people all friendly. I will go back. read more

We love this place. Everything here is great. Prices are very reasonable. The muffins vary each week and are homemade.

The fiance and I were traveling for Christmas Holiday and our travel took us through Chico. After several hours of driving, I needed a break and the fiance thought that Morning Thunder Cafe would be a nice stop for a late lunch. Morning Thunder Cafe is more of a breakfast stop as the close by 2PM. It's a nice little cafe holding around 50 people. We got here at 1PM and was able to walk right in and find a spot. The menu here is pretty basic. They have most of your breakfast basics such as waffles, omelette's, and different type of eggs. For most items, prices are reasonable and you can get a good breakfast for under $10. Since I already had breakfast, I was interested in lunch. The lunch menu has maybe about 10 items to choose from and most of it are either classic dinner style sandwiches such as Patty Melts, Hamburgers, etc etc. I was disappointed that they didn't offer a Reuben sandwich. Prices for lunch is also reasonable with most items under $10. I decided to get the Patty Melt with Fries and the Fiance got a Veggie Burger with a salad. I have to say, the food cam out quick. My Patty Melt was decent though I do like that they added bacon to it. It was a decent size though it was a bit greasy for my taste. The country cut fries I got with this was both generous and very good. They added good spices to it which made them very delicious. My fiance's Veggie Burger was your typical garden burger. Nothing special and it hit the spot for her. Her salad was a chopped salad with too much dressing. Portion size was decent and tasted fresh. In the end we ended up paying $22 for our meals including tip. An ok price for what I consider average food with the above average portion size on just the salad and fries. I give them pluses for the quick turn around and the service was friendly though I didn't like having to go outside and around the corner to use the bathroom. Overall just an average eating experience and if in the area and looking for breakfast or a quick lunch Morning Thunder Cafe is worth considering and gets them a 3 stars rating. read more

I've been here a couple of times and even though the parking lot always looks full, there has always been room inside for us to sit down right away. I had the single pancake with bananas and a bowl of fresh fruit today. My husband had the special, a ham, Swiss cheese and mushroom omelet with hash browns and a side of their homemade cherry muffins. Every was delicious! Fast, friendly service too! I especially like how they ask you if you want a refill on your coffee before they just reach over and start filling it up. read more

Morning Thunder Cafe - Single pancake with bananas on top and real maple syrup. In the back is two homemade cherry muffins. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chico, California

Giant portions! The service was pretty quick, the portions were large and the spinach/bacon/mushroom scramble was full of good stuff! read more

Of course everybody loves big portions, but that's not what makes this place stand out. The coffee and tea refills are always coming around the bend, and this place is hoppin', so that says a lot. They know how to handle a full diner. The menu now has a "lighter side" insert for the health conscious, and there are lots of vegetarian options for those who don't like bacon or sausage. BUT, for those who do, this is the best, center-cut bacon found in any diner anywhere! I've eaten in 25 out of the 50 states, and this diner does three things best: 1) best French roast coffee (for a diner, not a coffee house), 2) best bacon anywhere, and 3) best eggs; they understand the difference between an over medium egg, for example, and an over medium-well. Most line cooks get the yolk runny in the easy to medium ranges, but a medium egg means that the whites are cooked through. The nuances are important to those of us who are grossed-out by runny whites, for instance. AND, the service is awesome. Asking for extra dressings or salsas are not a problem, and the food comes out in a timely fashion. The owner, Dee, works hard and improving food and service as she herself, come to find out, has worked there since the early days of the original owner. Just a tip, it's the specials and the stuff that's NOT on the menu that are fantastic! Try the verde salsa on the breakfast burrito. Or order the Jerry Tacos (chicken, bacon, chese and dressing on a generous bed of green leaf lettuce, cradled in two, double soft, corn tortilla shells). The biscuits, muffins, gravy, salsas, and soups are all home-made. Everything is, in fact. Oh, and for the gluten sensitive, they have home made gluten free bread, pancakes, fresh toast, and waffles. Enjoy! read more

How much can can I say about this place, this place is the (bomb) meaning great. Great food for the right price and our waitress is a beautiful young girl and is funny and jokes with us. Yelp better start making more stars, because this place is passed 5 stars. I cant wait to come back to Chico for more breakfast. Again, thank you to the cooks as well, and the wait staff for making my day outstanding. Can't wait to go visit my In-laws again, so I can go to my fav spot. read more

While you can always expect a wait.. good things come to those that wait. Lol. Food is worth the wait. Prices are reasonable and food is always fresh and delicious. read more

Great classic style diner! Been coming for years, right by the park! Great environment, great scenery, service! Classic menu options. Great food. read more

Breakfast was delicious! Staff was courteous and timely always made sure our coffee was full. Pancakes say they are huge right in the menu and boy they are not lying the pancake was more than 2x my head. So good! read more

Best breakfast in Chico. People are great and atmosphere is warm and happy. The hash browns are fresh, bacon is thick and delicious. But the cooks are simply top notch. I eat at Morning Thunder 4-5 times a week and am never disappointed. I would highly recommend them if your looking for fantastic fresh breakfast with pleasant and upbeat service. Marc read more

I was in the area on a Friday around 11am and my party of 6 was seated within 10 minutes of arriving. The service was good. It's a nice location with good atmosphere, but the bathrooms are on the outside of the building. I found this kind of weird and perhaps made me a bit wary of the hygiene. I ordered the buttermilk waffle and it was quite average. It was served with syrup and butter. I had a bite of my tabelmate's seasoned fries and they seemed quite good. I like that they offered Sierra Nevada brewery mustard. read more

Five stars all the way. The food is amazing, fresh, and portions are huge. The price is right and the staff are friendly but not overly so. Yes, you're going to have to wait for a table if you go during breakfast and brunch hours on the weekend, but it's worth it. Their biscuits and gravy are phenomenal, as are their breakfast potatoes, their muffins are fresh, warm, and you get TWO, and their California Omelette is so, so great. Just remember, Morning Thunder is a diner; I recommend going on a day when you have to wash your hair because trust me, it's going to smell like day old bacon and that's gross. read more

This one of my favorite breakfast places! Great muffins and the best coffee! Love the French Roast which always order. They have regular as well for my husband's taste. read more

So, I'm sitting here in a Chico favorite for a very good reason... i am in the mood for a yummy breakfast! I have come to morning thunder since I came to college here a LONG time ago. This place never fails. It has changed ownership once that I am aware of. I was worried when that happened because in my experience the quality and prices never seem to stay consistent with the old place. It's great for large groups or single(me) diners. There is usually a wait during the usual hot times, ie Saturday/Sunday morning...but if you plan it out right it's not bad at all! I definitely suggest this place:) read more

The morning thunder serves giant portions sized for the walmart crowd. I've never been able to finish an entire plate of this food. The biscuits and the homefries are pretty good. Downside is the wait, especially on a hot day as there isn't alot of shade to go around, and no room to wait inside. read more

I like their coffee and their food is fantastic. I recommend the garlic fries for it taste better while the regular wavy ones are lacking like Ted Cruz's intelligence. Their Thunder Burger is fantastic and I love the garden patty they used. The waitresses are great, they are attentive and always know when to offer more coffee. The atmosphere has an old diner feel which boosts the experience. Definitely coming back. read more