This is one of the best and most consistent breakfast places I've ever been to. The skillets are great, though we substitute their regular potatoes with hash browns. The pancakes that can come on the side are fantastic. Portions are good, my wife and I typically share a meal and are full, and the prices are fair. Service is fast and friendly. I am so glad we have a breakfast place like this in Elmhurst. read more

Stray hen is one of my favorite breakfast places in the area. I ordered the pig and pepper Benedict and it was delicious. The carnitas were tender and flavorful with a great pepper. The hollandaise was great and really brought the whole flavor together. The service was timely and everyone else enjoyed their meal as well. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Pig and Pepper Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

Love the food and service has been great. Enjoy it in the summer when you can dine outside

Excellent food and top notch service Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah...Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah... read more

Great people, great food! Ambiance is awesome! Farm to table breakfast! Coffee is awesome also!

This is a charming and delightful spot for a relaxing brunch. While the outside seating was a bit too breezy.

Corned beef skillet was terrific tasting & portion was generous. Service was impeccable & cleanliness of the establishment beyond reproach. Highly recommended. read more

Such a yummy brunch! Their oat milk mocha was delicious, as was their mariachi omelette. The portions were average but the food was well worth it. The restaurant is in a cute area in downtown elmhurst, and we were seated pretty quickly. Great spot for a Sunday brunch with friends. read more

Stray Hen is a cute little place tucked in an old bank building in Elmhurst. I had trouble finding it at first but it's right across from the train tracks - you can park in the lot on the other side of the building. The menu has a ton of choices and prices are pretty reasonable. I opted for the "south of 80" which is essentially biscuits and gravy. The portion was HUGE - no way anyone is finishing that! I liked my well cooked eggs and the fluffy biscuits but wasn't in love with sausage which was Italian sausage patties versus something more breakfast-y. I did love my side of fresh fruit and that they started me off with a carafe of watermelon ice water. Such a nice refreshing touch! Stray Hen is a great option if you're nearby - good food & fair prices. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Menu 8/23/19 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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Great place fo4 Sunday brunch. Service was quick and friendly. Food was AMAZING! Definitely going back to try much more off their menu. read more

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Best brunch spot! So many great options that are all delicious. Staff is always nice and the service is great!

Great portions! Excellent service. Tasty healthy options. Definitely will return.

Small restaurant and worth the wait- service and wait list to get in was super convenient with an interactive staff. It is a large menu which made me nervous at first- all the food was fresh. I ordered the salmon Benedict- the portion was larger then I am used to. Hollandaise sauce was great and the poached egg was perfection. We split a waffle sampler which was fun- the fruit was very fresh and delicious. Mimosas were $8 , could've used more champagne! Cheesy potatoes seem enticing- but skip them it tasted like potato's with unpackaged cheese melted on top. The potato's without the cheese were great. Would recommend for a girls brunch, quick lunch or family breakfast spot. read more

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I eat here all time. Everything is good. Service is great. I always go for their Shrimp PoBoy - much better than Pappadeaux's - I'm from southwest Lousisana, so a good shrimp poboy in the Midwest is definitely a find. The breakfasts are huge and delicious. read more

Restaurant does not take reservations which is fine. We arrive our group of 5 with a handful of customers waiting. We ask to be put on waitlist and are told 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 wait. I look inside and there are several open tables. A table of 6,4 and 3-4 of 2 person tables. I ask if they are short staffed. They say no, owner has a group of 17 coming in. Understood, reservation. Then I ask these split up tables account for more than 17. They indicate another table of 7. I ask if that group of 7 are here as it is a waitlist availability. They say no they are not here. I let them know that is a reservation. Cancelled our waitlist and went to Egg Harbor Cafe. Great reviews for Stray Hen but we won't be back. Also got a text and phone call when table opened up...ignored that call. read more

Great restaurant located by the Elmhurst Metra station. We arrived and waited about 15-minutes for a table... not bad for Saturday-prime breakfast hour. First thing we noticed, table for 2 was a comfortable size. Some places you barely have room for coffee cup and plate - this table allowed for elbow room. Kudos to owners for not trying to squeeze in a few more tables to get more seating and making guests feel cramped. Large menu and at 10 AM were offering both breakfast and lunch. Coffee bar assortment of beverages offered plus mimosas and spritzes. A fresh water carafe WITH ICE was left at the table - nice touch ... some places you get water carafes - but no ice. We opted for just drip coffee. Really, really good quality coffee! Hunters omelette with upgrade to Smores Pancakes on side plus hash browns - very good. Pancakes were phenomenal - loved the butterscotch twist on them making the unique and not overly sweet. The everything bagel breakfast sandwich had the right portion of each ingredient and texture of the bagel was spot on - not overly hard or chewy, fluffy egg, and tasty sausage. Our server, Jenna, was delightfully charming and always available and around without being annoyingly so. She took time to chat with each table but not at the expensive of ignoring her other tables. Timely fresh coffee toppers were wonderful. We didn't have to look or ask for anything, We like Cholula sauce .... and 3 different bottles were left at our table - traditional, smoky, and green - again, offering several options is just a little thing extra provided that was recognized and appreciated. Owners don't skimp on quality of ingredients and small extras and provide high-level of friendly service. Definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

This place is beautiful the food is great and I loved the fact that they had a seasonal menu!!! A friend and I met for lunch and this place did not disappoint! The atmosphere is busy and loud but we loved every moment . I am a coffee drinker and breakfast lover! I ordered the pumpkin spice latte -it was not up to par for me I'll stick to Starbucks as it was a little weak and not flavorful a lot of cinnamon. The sliders on Point!!! Hats off to the shelf and the service was very friendly all staff where accommodating and answered our questions -will definitely be going back for seconds third oookkkay I'm a lifer...I'll be here for as long as they are open. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Hash browns - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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Love this place Best Bloody Mary in Town. Please visit this place, so clean so Professional and good location. They don't have parking but there is a plenty parking on the street. Food is absolutely delicious read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

Always a great place to meet fam and friends. Food always delish. Breakfast menu has so many choices. And kids love the pancakes. Adults too. Fluffiest pancakes ever!!!!! read more

I got the blueberry cheesecake pancakes and I've been dreaming of them ever since. It's a cute restaurant. It's not too big but not too small. The mimosa flight is amazing! They even have guava. Be prepared to wait like 30 minutes on the weekends. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

Great service portions, tasty as heck very full so expect a wait but the food is definitely worth it. Biscuit melted in the mouth. Chilaquiles is a bit spicy. I asked cheese on side and my friends placed cheese.on half of it so picture is not accurate it's probably melted on but they are known for their chilaquiles super tasty. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Pumpkin pancake, biscuit and gravy, crab Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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Every-time we find ourselves in Elmhurst we make a point of stopping at Stray Hen Cafe. We have had nothing but excellent experiences at this establishment. While it is often very busy, the wait does not seem to ever be longer than 20 mins (for a table of 2). The hostess takes your number and you can check where you are in line, with an estimate of when your table will be ready. This is great, as it allows time to walk around the cute Elmhurst downtown. This spot serves phenomenal food, though I can only really speak to the brunch food. The menu is very extensive with the classics, along with unique and seasonal items. Everyone will find something they enjoy! If you are looking for a little boozy beverage to start you out, look no further than the "not so basic" Bloody Mary. That is a meal in itself and only $9! This would easily be $15 in the city. Stray Hen also has a decent coffee selection, with in house made lattes and other drinks to meet all your caffeine needs. Food is also a great value. Most entrees are around $10-12, with enough to have to ask for a take home box for leftovers. Most come with perfectly seasoned potatoes or fruit, and your choice of toast/pancakes. Our favorites are the Breakfast Burrito, Frittata, and South of 80. Overall, this place is a must if you find yourself in Elmhurst in need of some excellent brunch fare. Cute and cozy space, kind and attentive staff, and delicious and unique menu items. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - "Not so basic" Bloody Mary - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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This is our go-to weekend breakfast/lunch place in elmhurst. It never disappoints. Love the food, service and menu!

This place is tremendous! Food is fantastic, good portions. I could not say enough good things!

Wow, the food is fresh, tasty, and inexpensive considering the neighborhood. We always leave with leftovers. Nice view of the train lines if you enjoy that and walkable to many other businesses and amenities. This has become one of our regular stops now. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Bad Hunter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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This is a place where you are paying more for the egg- sperience than a good filling meal. Waiter was attentive, wide variety of food. From Breakfast to burgers, and even a Poke bowl?! Odd choice with the poke bowl in my opinion. I enjoyed my food. My friend got the French Toast combo plate. It only had two slices, eggs and his meat choice. Just seemed like there should have been at least another slice. My eggs benadict was good. First time getting that, and no complaints. The worst issue was the noise level. We got there around 2pm, and the place was about half full. They close at 3pm so it was winding down. Noise level was simply too loud. It was difficult to talk to my friend, and he couldn't hear the waiter. The waiter did have an accent which made it more difficult. I don't think we will be back solely because it was just so hard to hear in there. Allergy/dietary restrictions info: They offer gluten free toast as a side, but do not mention anything for substituting it in meals. Alternative milks are offered, but expensive in my opinion. $4 will get you almond, soy or oat. Sugar free syrup is available here, just make sure to ask for no powdered sugar on your pancakes, French Toast, etc if you are trying to limit sugar. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Lots of alternative milk options - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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Excellent breakfast. After visiting Elmhurst university, we found this great breakfast spot in cute Elmhurst. Many great things on menu. My daughter had cinnamon roll French toast. It was exactly what you imagine. So good! read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Salmon eggs benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

We like the food but the yelp waitlist times were WAY off today. Quoted 15 - 20 minutes but ended up being seated after waiting an over an hour. Hopefully there is a way to adjust that so the times are more accurate in the future. read more

Great food, wonderful coffee, nice vibe... give a try. Servers are pleasant and every time I go I'm glad I did.

I found this place online because they said they were vegan friendly and I was with my non vegan family. Im glad they had vegan options but I was just a little disappointed with everything. I ordered the build your own skillet which was a base of potatoes and allowed you to add an egg/tofu, a meat, and veggies. I am frustrated that for each egg/tofu, meat and veggie you have to pay $1-1.50 extra. I got a veggie skillet for almost $18 because I didn't want just potatoes for a meal (I added avocado, tomatoes, onions, spinach, and some other veggies). Regardless, I wouldn't have been that upset if the potatoes and tofu were seasoned and tasted good. Unfortunately, it was bland at best. The waitress also looked mad when I asked her to bring me hot sauce (all the other tables had 3 bottles of different cholula but she seemed annoyed when I asked). The waitress was fine at first but as it got busier she got more snappy and annoyed throughout our meal. She acted like it was the biggest hassle when we asked to put in a meal to-go and when we asked for our check (which took almost 20 minutes to get after we asked for it). My chai was also quite bad- it had so much cinnamon it burned my throat. My brother said it tasted like you were doing the cinnamon challenge. I could not even finish half of it without my throat feeling raw. But thanks for having milk alternatives. I hate leaving bad reviews for restaurants trying to cater to different diets- it's really important these places exist but the food must also be good and reasonably priced. People with dietary restrictions should not be a mere afterthought as a way of attracting new customers. I hope you'll take this feedback and make some adjustments. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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Really great staff, food came super fast. Was hot and fresh. Cinnamon roll pancakes were amazing. read more

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Many tasty choices. Crowded, depending on the time. I could not eat the chilaquiles due to the high level of spiciness.

fresh salad but would've liked more tuna. had to wait a very long time every time we requested more water. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Ahi Tuna Salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

Love this cute little Elmhurst restaurant. Their lattes are yummy. They have a nice array of brunch options. It's kid-friendly and also date-friendly. The chilaquiles are my favorite. I always have this ready as a suggestion when meeting up with friends in the suburbs as it's a great restaurant! read more

Love this place!! The BEST Chai's in town!!!!! (sorry starbuck, brew point, elijahs, train station coffee, and even courageous cupcakes - they have you beat!!) The ambiance is really nice here too. Always a fun and exciting place to sit outside once the weather is nice for the kiddos. Kid friendly place and menu!! Kids love watching the trains go by!! Keeps them entertained while I can relax and enjoy the sunshine :) perfect!! read more

Decent menu, attentive staff. Nice place to meet friends for breakfast for breakfast or lunch.

Wow. We were both amazed by this place. Don't hesitate on going. So many menu options to choose from. Neighborhood is lovely as well. read more

Stray Hen Cafe - Papi Chulo Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Elmhurst, Illinois

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This is my pick for best breakfast in the area! I have been here numerous times and somehow never managed to post a review. It is consistently excellent if you want a fresh and delicious breakfast. The only negative is the wait you may encounter! The ambiance is great as well as the service. I have never had a bad experience here in all of the times I have visited. Today I had the South of 80 breakfast, and if you like sausage biscuits and gravy, this is the best. I also had a side of French toast. This place is truly the best all around hands down! read more

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I called ahead and they said they didn't take reservations, so we waited outside for like 20 minutes. Every person who showed up after me told the hostess they called ahead and were seated immediately. What? You said you didn't take reservations! I was impressed by the size of the french toast, but the plates were so small I couldn't even cut it without it falling onto the table. The restaurant is very small and crowded, there is no way a wheelchair would be able to move in that place. I'm lucky I didn't have to use the washroom. read more

My favorite breakfast place, since I've came to eat here. Hospitality and service is amazing.