I've driven by this place a million times and never noticed it. But now we live in the area and my dude was Yelping new breakfast spots. When this came up, we decided to give it a go. We walked in and everyone was SO FRIENDLY. Not only the staff but the patrons as well. The first time we were in, I had the meat skillet. It was good, better than average. This last time we went though, we asked them if they could make a skillet with the much Yelped about corned beef hash. They were happy to oblige. It was AMAZING! As previous reviews said, it's real corned beef hash, not that canned stuff. As we were leaving on New Year's Eve, one of the staff members asked us what our son's birthday was because they were going to play it in the lottery. We were in a week later and they sadly informed us that his birthday did *not* win them the millions. Boo. Probably our new go-to breakfast place in our area! I can't wait until next weekend when I shall be eating that dreamy hash again... read more

An old school diner in the BEST way. Good food. Good people. The first time you walk into Yellow Rose you'll feel like you've been eating there for years. A warm welcome, solid diner fare and a never-empty coffee cup make it worth a visit. read more

We ordered delivery (big surprise) for breakfast. We were both craving corned beef hash and had our desires fulfilled in a big way. The hash was homemade and delicious. My fried eggs were a tad over cooked, but other that that everything was tasty, well packaged and delivery was prompt. Will order again in the new year. read more

No social distancing practices followed at all. Came to pick up my order on 5/2/20 and none of the employees were wearing face masks. They were not restricting the number of people allowed in, so no social distancing was being done. I waited outside until my order was ready, and when I came back in there was an older guy with no face mask coughing at the register. Even worse, he made no attempt to cover his mouth. The person running the register took his money, gave his chance and never bothered to wash his hands. Businesses should enforce the rules that recently went into effect, but if they don't want to offend those that don't follow the guidelines then many people that do simply wont go back. read more

If it's the owner who is sitting on the chair, or whoever is taking orders- you need to do better/ What was ordered was pancakes and 2 sandwiches. One with scrambled eggs and bacon, one just bacon You gave me two of the same sandwiches which is not what I ordered and your reply was "you get an extra egg" that's not what I wanted- and for you to ask for the sandwich when you clearly saw I didn't come in with it is an asshole thing to do. I didn't eat it - when I called and said you messed up I was not told to bring in the mistake you made. You won't be seeing me again read more

Amazing breakfast! Right amount of greasy and tastes phenomenal! Served with a delicious homemade jam. Yum!!!!!

Good food, incredible bargains (go for the "sidewalk special" shown on the sandwich board in front) and above all the friendliest staff around - it feels as though you're sharing breakfast in a friend's kitchen. read more

It's a cash only cafe. But the food is very affordable and yummy! The service was great and I will definitely be returning. It's easy to miss on Elston but totally worth stopping in. The inside is very retro and old school. There was a ton of menu options and I decided to have the Spartan Omelet which was delicious! read more

We had to do some stuff at the Elston Ave Secretary of State place and stopped here for lunch. What a pleasant, classic, neighborhood breakfast place! I had a Denver omlette. My wife went all in with the "Chicago Breakfast": eggs, several types of pork, toast, and pancakes. It was all delicious. I didn't see that it was cash only on the way in. I left with a dollar in my pocket. Whew! read more

This place reminds me of Cheers. Like in the TV show. Everyone knows your name. The staff are very friendly and so are the patrons. The food is delivered hot and FAST. I heard the waitress this morning jokingly tell the customer next to me at the counter she was sorry it took so long. I swear the cooks are listening to you order as she is writing it on her check. By the time she turns around and tells them what you want they are probably have finished cooking it. The owner is the chef and his wife is the cashier. Some of the staff have been there from even before the current owners took over. The prices are great. My wife ordered something just today and the waitress suggested she order from the sidewalk board because it was cheaper than the ala cart way she was ordering. Got the same thing with the meat she didn't want and she gave me the sausages she didn't want and it was still cheaper. What a deal. Many days they post on Facebook a photo of the daily specials hanging in front of the kitchen. You can't go wrong in here. read more

Yellow Rose Cafe - Sat special. Mar 31 - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Super sweet people so I hate to leave this honest review but they served me the absolute worst breakfast I have ever ordered! I travel extensively and eat it A LOT! My Sunny-side Up eggs were first served mostly raw with the whites uncooked and then they replaced my eggs with brown, over fried eggs! Here's a tip for you..Put a little water in the pan and cover them for a minute. You will have perfect eggs! And please don't ruin these healthy treats by frying them in oil. That is completely disgusting! Turkey sausage also not good and dollop of margarine on toast all added up to one super unappetizing mess! n read more

Neighborhood gem. Love it here! My husband and I come here every Saturday and are hardly ever disappointed. It has a very cozy feel. I have yet to find pancakes as delicious as they have here. Some other things I love are the breakfast tacos, turkey sausage scrambler, Biscuits and Gravy....I don't think I have had anything that I did not like! read more

I was very pleased with my meal. Service was very courteous and the good came pretty quickly. Skillets are my typical brunch order, but I read the other reviews recommending the Corned Beef Hash, so I decided to give it a try. It was excellent! The meat was so soft and tasty and the hash was cooked just perfectly. Oh, and their homemade jelly and hot sauce - they're both delicious and such a great touch. I love this little place. Definitely stop in! read more

Yellow Rose Cafe - The Chicago's Best - Corned Beef Hash with two eggs - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Homade corned beef hash, friendliest efficient service makes a great small local business. Everyone seems to know each other greet and chat. Corned beef hash is excellent. Perfect for a mom and pop breakfast diner. read more

Love their homemade food try the wrap that was Great . And the coffee is always very good read more

See all

My friends suggested this place since I always like to try new spots. my wife and I recently moved to Portage Park so this was only like 15 minutes away. Great little spot with great food. I sat at the counter since I love to just sit and read the paper and mingle with others. everyone there was super friendly, even the cook gave me a hello when I walked in. I will be back, my wife wants to try the corn beef hash! TIP: CASH ONLY. I don't mind it, but they should maybe put a sign on the door before you walk in. I didn't see the sign posted up above the counter area until I was done with my meal. I had to run down to Chase to grab cash. i'll bring cash next time. If you like a nice small local spot, do try! read more

I have ordered from here on multiple delivery apps. 1/2 of the time my ordered is cancelled. Really sucks because the food is great and the price is right but the level of professionalism has now caused them to lose a customer. I would rather get raked over the coals someplace else with a subpar selection than try give this place my money again. Order placed today for 40 minutes and they didn't have the decency to cancel right away. They let me think my food was almost at my door to check the app and see it cancelled 1.5 hours before there scheduled closing time. This place can take a flying leap into a brick wall. read more

Ordered online for delivery and LOVED the food. Reminded me of the breakfast spots I remember eating at in my small hometown. Once covid has eventually moved on I plan on going in person as well since it looks so great! This place will definitely become my go-to breakfast place! read more

Can't go wrong with the corned beef hash. It was our first time... and love the corned beef. Other food is just so-so.

A great place for breakfast, great service, great people, great food where the coffee is fresh and flows like a river, non stop! They make you feel right at home and the prices are great!! This review would have been longer, but I have all this great food staring at me right in the face not to mention a beautiful green eyed girl that just pinched me with a smile asking for my attention!! Thanks for the breakfast date Christine. Please note, CASH ONLY so be prepared, thank God we had cash on hand. This small detail is the only thing stopping them from a a five star. read more

Yellow Rose Cafe - My favorite, biscuits and gravy with eggs! - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Great menu at very reasonable prices. Had the 4 duces and enjoyed all of it. Pretty casual setting with limited seats. However, the staff are friendly and outgoing. read more

I really Yellow Rose. The corned beef hash and Yellow Rose #2 are both excellent. The service is top notch, and the prices are cheap.

Flew into Chicago on a redeye and needed some breakfast. Based on Yelp reviews, took the family out to Yellow Rose Cafe. It's a small nondescript place that would have seemed completely in place 50 years ago. There's nothing fancy or pretentious about the place, and that's ok. The service was warm and wonderful, and all the food we ordered was hearty and delicious. read more

Awesome diner. The staff is as friendly as can be, and it is a small family-owned restaurant. I've never heard of a diner being closed on Sundays, but it's the one day out of the week that they can have to themselves (and that is respectable). Their homemade corned beef hash is amazing, and their homemade hot sauce will kick your ass. The diner is very dated and seating is tight. I think the place only holds maybe 25 people. Seating is first come first serve (and seat yourself), and I've had someone snag a seat at the counter before me even though they arrived after me. I guess you have to be quick on your feet. There also seems to be a ton of regulars here, or at least that is what the atmosphere entails. This place is cash only, but the prices are extremely reasonable (under $10/plate). read more

Really good diner food and great customer service. I've had the corned beef hash and it was delicious. Recently I had the Steak Skillet, there was more steak than I thought there would be which is good. read more

Now this is a great neighborhood diner! We happened upon the Yellow Rose by chance and are we glad we did. Friendly staff with a great familiar vibe. You can tell they have a lot of regulars. As for the food, it's rare that an omelette would send me to Yelp this might have been the best I've ever had. The eggs were cooked perfectly, not overdone at all, and they serve it with house-made hot sauce. Topnotch for sure. If you're in the neighborhood, definitely stop in! read more

some of the best corned beef in chicago. this is a no-frills, humble diner. unlike most diners, you can tell a lot of things are made in-house and it makes quite a difference. no wonder this place is always packed! i recommend the corned beef hash or a reuben or corned beef sandwich! read more

What's in a name, that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Not in this case Shakespeare! Yellow Rose Cafe is not your average diner or rose. The Rose here is Yellow. Does your diner make homemade hot sauce, homemade strawberry jam or homemade corned beef? No? Exactly! Yellow Rose is located on a busy stretch of north Elston Avenue tucked between two large buildings. Don't blink, you might miss it! But if you do miss it you'll miss out on awesome corned beef, did I mentioned it was homemade, great and creative skillets, pillowy pancakes, crispy hashbrowns and piping hot coffee! All the great diner classics and more done right! The waitresses here are great too. Friendly, sweet and they keep your coffee cup full! The cooks here are awesome and will even chat to you while they cook up your food. So many great things that make Yellow Rose a diamond in the rough. If you are hungry for diner food and you want it done right head over to the Yellow Rose! Try their homemade hot sauce, homemade strawberry jam or homemade corned beef. You'll love them. And try the rest of the classics and absorb the classic diner ambiance the Yellow Rose brings. read more

Excellent old school diner with good food, reasonable prices and excellent service. Thanks!

Updated: This was sent to me by a yellow rose patron. Appears that bad food leads to hostility and poor grammar. " John G. has sent you a message on Yelp: Yellow Rose "If I catch you talking shit about yellow rose again I will shit on your front doorstep. stop on hatin' beotch"" Real classy. Just like the crappy restaurant. Original review: Diner food Burnt eggs Cash only Probably a decent local spot, but not with making an effort to get there. Nuff said. read more

Want an absolutely charming place. My first morning in my new apartment was quite chilly. The gas company screwed up and didn't switch the account so I had spent the night buried under blankets. On waking up at 6am and realizing the technician wasn't going to be around until after 8am, I decided on breakfast. I found this place on The Yelps and decided to give it a shot. I am so happy I did. I wandered in to an almost empty cafe. There was a waitress and one other diner (a regular) so I plopped myself down at the counter and got aquainted. What a wonderfully friendly and charming bunch. I hate to admit that I've forgotten the waitresses name, but she was just as sweet as can be. And the other diner was a hoot as well. After ordering the Chicago breakfast (lots of sides of meat) we all settled in for a wonderful chat. Then another woman wanders in and is friends with the waitress. She joins us at the counter and joins us in our banter. Then the food arrived. Holy Jebus in Heaven. Fantastic. Fresh preserves for the toast!?! Homemade turkey sausage - and if they hadn't told me it was turkey I would have no idea!?! All washed down with the finest diner coffee a gal could hope for. I will definitely be stopping back in to try more tasty treats - oh, and some good conversation. read more

Good neighborhood spot with wonderful staff. I ordered the spinach scramble which was good. This is the epitome of a Chicago diner.

I don't normally write too many reviews anymore (there's way too many people doing them for me) but I felt compelled, no obligated to do one for the Yellow Rose. The moment I walked in, I felt like a genuine sense of hospitality rarely seen in restaurants today. It was like going back to some better, nostalgic time when people were kind to one another. It was super refreshing to feel that way. Oh, the corn-beef hash was amazing but it almost played second fiddle to the warmth from the fine people at the café. 5 stars. read more

Hands down the best breakfast diner in Jefferson Park. Good prices, happy people who run the place.

The café reminded me of a café that would be in Mayberry. Non descript. Counter seating, a few booths and some tables. My food came up quickly and servers quite friendly. I could see how you might get to know everyone when you sit at the counter. Customers were friendly also. I ordered the sidewalk special. It was okay. I did take one star away. You could taste all the grease/oil/butter that was on the fry surface. In their defense I am not a fan of corned beef hash. I did not try that and that is what everyone raves about. Give them a try. There are many 4 and 5 stars reviews. read more

This place strangely rocks. Food is beyond awesome, prices great and it is immaculate. The entire CTA crowd eats here - it is like a movie set with friendly bus drivers & everyone knows everyone else. But you will not feel excluded by any means The waitresses will instantly be your honey and keep things a moving The ingredients are high quality, the chef is apparently running his own local seasonal food movement . Soups are homemade - and those blueberries on your pancakes are actually a fruit not some jellied food service goop. Plenty of parking - only downer is no Sunday breakfast - boo read more

Hidden gem? No Quirky? Yes Good breakfast fare? 'Fraid not. Coffee barely qualifies as coffee and food is mediocre. Had feta spinach omelette. Can't understand how it turned out tasteless. Oh wait. They cooked it on overheated flattop. Good way to turn omelette into rubber disc. On the plus: prices ok. Will continue search for hidden gem. read more

Yellow Rose Cafe reminds me of being home... That's pretty much how I will sum this up for you. Run by a very friendly husband and wife team, and staffed by great people as well - with excellent home made food to boot! It is a small, local/homestyle diner featuring food made by the owner (Who you will see cooking with his staff every day) that leaves me happy every time I go there. I basically always have breakfast there, so I can only speak to the quality of those types of items, but I will say that the breakfast food is excellent! Honest, good, homestyle cooking that hits the spot! Daily specials are on the board as you walk in, and the regular menu is just big enough to cover the options you might want - with a nice variety of items ranging from classic American breakfasts, to tasty "South of the border" items. Of particular note in the breakfast items is the *Home made* corned beef hash. Excellent!! Made in-house, this hash has got to be one of the tastier things I have had for breakfast for a long time. I definitely highly recommend it - you will not be disappointed. If you are disappointed by it, you might want to have your tongue checked ;) Go... Eat at Yellow Rose Cafe! You won't regret it. read more

A small local diner in a not so busy area. Plenty of parking in the back but there also street parking. The service was excellent. The owner was friendly and accommodated my special requests. When I asked for pancake with extra whip, she added a lot of whip and offered MORE if I'd like. The serving of 3 pancakes was huge for a good price ($6). The turkey sausage was a little bit dry but nicely flavored. They came by often to refill my coffee. Don't forget it's CASH only! Wish they would've put up a sign outside. read more

See all

We wanted a diner... and THIS is the diner experience! :) I feel like neither the restaurant nor the clientele have changed, and they don't need to. Friendly, quick service, great food, traditional diner menu, easy parking on the street. A few of the regular started chatting with us at the counter where we sat, and my corned beef hash was perfect. Lots of food, good prices. :) read more