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    The Ugly Mug Diner

    4.0 (1.1k reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

    The Ugly Mug Diner Photos

    THE UGLY MUG DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Ugly Mug Diner

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    Steak & Eggs
    Josh H.

    The Ugly Mug Diner is a creatively inspired, upscale diner in the heart of Salem that specializes in breakfast and brunch. It's open every day from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. My friends and I stopped in early one afternoon last month during our second day in Salem. Although there was a short wait when we arrived, it moved quickly and well worth it. The food was delicious, and our server was friendly and attentive. I ordered the steak & eggs, which came with two eggs, marinated skirt steak, toast, and home fries. The steak was juicy, and the marinade added a pleasant touch of sweetness. The presentation wasn't perfect because the steak was precut, but that wasn't a big deal.

    Interior
    Courtney O.

    We checked out The Ugly Mug Diner for breakfast on our last day in Salem. We waited in line outside for about 15 minutes before they seated us. The inside is fairly small and it definitely lives up to that diner feel - with only a few tables and a counter area. We ordered the Breakfast Burrito, This Ain't No Chicken & Waffles and the Breakfast Poutine. For drinks, we ordered the Salted Caramel Mocha and the Apple Cider Mimosa. I really enjoyed my Breakfast Poutine - the gravy had nice flavor and it was loaded with cheese. My husband liked this Chicken and Waffles - he said the chicken was great, but unfortunately my friend said the Breakfast Burrito and salsa that came on the side lacked a lot of flavor. Staff were very friendly and welcoming and the food came out quick and hot though. Overall, I really liked The Ugly Mug Diner - the food was good overall and the ambiance felt cozy. I would definitely come back and try some other dishes next time I get the chance to visit! Check them out!

    Patrick W.

    Super cute breakfast place. We made it to Salem during the craziest time of all, Halloween. As we were looking for places to eat, we found this lovely place close to Essex street. The spot was cozy the moment we walked in. Highly decorative and friendly. Also the crab cake Benedict was spilling out with deliciousness. The sweet potatoes absolutely immaculate. And my wife and I agreed it was a super awesome experience overall. Come check it out next time!

    This Ain't No Chicken & Waffles, Huevos Rancheros
    Christina B.

    Cute local spot for breakfast in Salem! There was a line outside (it was a Saturday morning in November), but they kept it moving efficiently. Our service was friendly, and the food was about what you'd expect from a little diner! I feel like the interior could benefit from a little bit of an update, but it's a great place for a breakfast stop.

    Western Omelet with toast and homefries
    Kristi B.

    We had an exceptional experience at the Ugly Mug for a late breakfast on Saturday. While there is tons of street parking around, we actually found it easier to park in the parking garage behind the witches small area so that we could just freely walk around without having to worry about metered parking. My husband got the Western omelette and a pancake as well as two pieces of bacon. The food was delicious with the exception of the home fries. They tasted old and like they've been sitting for a while. I got the breakfast burrito and was very impressed with the flavor although the eggs could've used a little bit more seasoning. Overall, the location is quite busy, but the service was exceptional and probably one of the one spots during our vacation that we've had undeniably great hospitality.

    Steak & Eggs
    Erika V.

    I was in Salem some months back and one of my best friends found this spot with good reviews for breakfast so we walked in and luckily got a table right away. It was around 10.45am on a Friday and the place was pretty packed. I ordered some tea and my friends some coffee and juice, we were 4 people in total. For breakfast 3 of us ordered their Steak and Eggs which came with 2 eggs, marinated skirt steak, toast, and home fries. The steak was good, and the marinade they used really gave the steak a good flavor. It was a very fulfilling dish full of protein and carbs. My other friend ordered the Eggs Florentine with sauteed spinach and portobello mushrooms, she really enjoyed it. The ambiance is loud, it's a diner but decent and the food was greasy but yummy.

    Huevos Rancheros
    Krystyn P.

    Solid breakfast offerings... like the dishes other restaurants don't typically make but are classics. I watched my husband be genuinely elated to order toad in a hole- he hasn't seen toad in a hole for years on a menu. The inside has super creative decor and the wait staff is friendly and attentive. Definitely recommend but it's super popular- be prepared for a wait!

    Scotch Egg Breakfast and Corn Cakes with Candied Pecans
    Paul D.

    My wife and I tried The Ugly Mug Diner during our trip to Salem. It DID NOT disappoint. I had the scotch egg breakfast and a mocha latte both of which were great. My wife, who is vegan and gluten-free, had corn cakes with candied pecans which she said was awesome. We will return the next time we are visiting. The server was great. The whole dining room is decorated in breakfast decor. I love this place.

    Egg in a basket
    Marah H.

    I'm not sure why this place has such rave reviews. Aside from the stellar interior decor, some friends and I found this place to be mediocre at best. Bacon was overcooked, eggs were undercooked (runny & clear whites), and the home fries were awful. Service was kind and friendly but again, the food was not very good. The one thing I'd recommend is the sweet potato home fries, they're far better than the regular ones. Respectfully, I would not come here again.

    Wall
    Alice P.

    The food and customer service is really good. Nice stop in Salem MA. Excellent people that work there!! Very focused on great customer service!!

    Tahs L.

    I actually really enjoyed this spot. The waffle was good and didn't taste like a gross box of mix. It was very sweet though (I got the Elvis waffle). The service was friendly and the space was a cute decorated vibe for sure.

    Carolina S.

    I love a no frills diner experience. We made our trip to Salem slightly post season and left NY at 7am. This put us in Salem a little before noon. My friend arrived a little earlier and was able to snag us a table right away. We finished parking and walked over. Immediately knew we had the coolest waitress! I noticed her "Leatheface" tattoo and I was sold! And then.....drum roll please, she showed me her leg! I am obsessed! Horror movie fanatic central, took me after we left to figure out it was from the tattoo artist I love, STEGA! She also gave us tons of great Salem tips! I truly felt so at home in Salem in this trip! I was in the mood for lunch! And the crab sandwich sounded perfect with some fries. And how could I resist a Nutella Latte. It was just what I wanted. I ordered my meal so fast that I didn't realize it came with bacon, had to pull that right out and my boyfriend was more than happy to assist. The food came out super fast and was the perfect base for running around Salem. I was tempted by the huevos rancheros and the eggs Benedict's. Until next time! And I hear there's pentagrams on the Gimme S'more! I'm here for all the gimmicks! No shame in my game!

    Campfire Delight, Gimme S'mores & Nutella Latte
    Isabella C.

    Coffee was delicious and the inside vibe/decor was cool! Food was pricey for how average it was

    Great selection of collected coffee mugs

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    2 months ago

    fave breakfast in this area! the food and portion sizes are great and the quality is very consistent

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    Page 1 of 28

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    Portside Diner

    Portside Diner

    4.0
    (63 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $

    So we just love going to Old type diners and grabbing breakfast. Although not important to the…read morereview. I just came from Lahey hospital where I had a procedure done... So I didn't bring my wallet but I had my wife so everything should be okay. I was a little groggy from the procedure but we sat down and split an eggs benedict cooked perfectly and the French toast. Served up quickly with a smile. We talked to the people to our left and right and enjoyed our breakfast and that's when the bill came. Very reasonable in price. I handed it to my wife and she says well I didn't bring my pocketbook. You always have your wallet. I looked at her and said I didn't bring my wallet because I didn't want to leave it in the hospital. We said uh oh. This has never happened to us before so we asked what I think is the owner and explained our situation. She just looked at us and said never mind breakfast is on me. Who does that? Anyway, I grabbed the bill and we left laughing about our stupidity. On the way home grab day. Thank you card at CVS and wrote a check out and sent it to the diner. I never thought of the diner again until I saw an advertisement for it and said I have to go give it a review. Not only is it great food, not only is it great service, not only is it a wonderful retro place, but the owner is one of a kind. By the way, I paid much more than the bill with a little note. That said, please pay it forward. Love love love this place and haven't back since.

    Excellent food; excellent service; reasonably priced. We always stop here when we are in the…read moreneighborhood.

    Photos
    Portside Diner
    Boston cream french toast and an omelette
    Boston cream french toast and an omelette
    Portside Diner

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    The Ugly Mug Diner - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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