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Al's Breakfast
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Diners, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
413 14th Ave SEMinneapolis, MN 55414
Neighborhood: University
(612) 331-9991
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 6 am - 1 pm
Sun 9 am - 1 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
153 reviews for Al's Breakfast
Review Highlights
"The blueberry pancakes are excellent."
(in 18 reviews)
"As was the corned beef hash and poached eggs."
(in 10 reviews)
"This is truly a Dinkytown gem."
(in 19 reviews)
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153 reviews in English
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Review from Jeff P.
Nashua, NH
1/8/2012
I had the best scrambled eggs in my life at Al's! The fresh made hollandaise sauce on the the Eggs Benedict was fantastic, and combined with the bacon waffle and scratch made corned beef hash made for an amazing breakfast. As you know, it's a tiny place (only 14 stools) and I have heard the wait can be lengthy. I hear the tip is to go there during a week day, and preferable when University of Minnesota is not in session.
Go, order anything on the menu, you won't be disappointed! -
Review from Sarah H.
1/26/2012
Al's Breakfast is best described as an experience, one you should not undertake if you are claustrophobic or are looking for a healthy breakfast option.
Here's why (which anyone knows if you have been): it doesn't matter when you get to Al's on the weekend, you will be waiting behind people watching them eat in a space that looks like it is a shack with a roof put on it between two buildings.
The food...OMG the food. The pancakes with buttermilk, the hashbrowns, the griddled meats. So so tasty. I need to go again and soon. -
Review from Josh L.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 1/11/2012
Girlfriend absolutely loved this place (shes a pancake fan) and because of that I went to this place quite often during the last couple months of my stay. I myself am not a big fan of fried food or eggs, nor do i hate such food so your opinions may vary depending on your preference. I will comment on a few things I ordered 2+ times in the past based on my own preference:
1). Blueberry pancake
Score: I'd give it 4 out of 5. Tastes good. I would recommend you to try it if you happen to go there and like pancakes.
2) . Bacon (side order)
Score: 2/5. A bit over fried, too fat and too oily for my likings.
3). Sausage (side order)
2.5/5. I have nothing to say about it... Tastes like... Just what you will get from most brunch buffet places.
4). Eggs Benedict
Score: 4.5/5. Best eggs Benedict I have had. Tastes a bit sour compared to others I have tried, but I liked it that way.
5). Omelets
I have tried different omelets they offered. The New Orleans one was definitely not enjoyed and I would give it a score of 1/5. The reason I tried it twice was that I forgot what I ordered last time... The other omelets (dinkytown, west bank, etc) I tried were ok. I didn't like them because they were too oily for my likings and I generally dont like omelets, but I still felt most of their omelets were better cooked than these at many other places (Le Village at Paris Las Vegas, I am thinking of your awful "custom made" omelets).
6). Hash Browns
Score: 2.5/5. I didnt like their take on the hash browns as the potatoes were generally over fried (burnt)... Some others eating there appeared to enjoy it while I definitely would like it less burnt.
7). Hot pepper cheese scrambled eggs
Score: 4/5. I liked it and would order it every time if I had not found my most loved eggs Benedict :-)
Other than the food listed above, waiting time was a big concern. People were friendly. Price was good and the environment felt great (felt like good old America to me). It works like this: I would miss this place and their food every once in a while and after dining there I usually would feel a bit fed up with so much oily food and then after a while I'd miss it again....the circle henceforth continued.
Definitely a good memory in the twin city. Keep it good just like what you have done for over 50 years or so by now, Al's!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/27/2011
This place is kind of famous and their food deserves the reputation. Whether it deserves the waiting… Read more »
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Review from Carolina M.
Zimmerman, MN
12/15/2011
This was great! The food was most certainly worth the 1 hour plus wait I endured! Follow the tips of the other reviews and get there early!
There are only about 12 seats so do NOT go with a group, you will wait forever! -
Review from Faheem R.
Chicago, IL
11/8/2011
Summary: Definitely a step up from a Wafflehouse, but if this is really the best breakfast in Minneapolis, then I feel sorry for everyone who lives there.
Food: Ordered The Jose and Punkin Pancakes. The Jose starts with a layer of hash browns as the base for poached eggs, melted cheese, and salsa. Pretty solid - salsa is a bit on the spicy side but given my heritage I was fine with it. I am a HUGE fan of punkin anything - however, the Punkin Pancakes were disappointing / disgusting for two reasons: 1) they were on the raw side; 2) the cook started cleaning the grease trap in the griddle with her spatula while she was cooking the pancakes.
Service: Orderly and direct. No nonsense here. Get your menu, figure out what you want, order, eat and leave. If you don't, you are going to make the waitstaff and the dozens of customers waiting in line very, very angry. Don't be that guy/girl...
Ambiance: Cramped space with 14 stools at a counter and a line of hungry people breathing down your neck to eat your food and get out of there. Lot of pieces of flair on the walls. If you don't want to lose your appetite, ignore the dust over the A/C ducts and the grease stains all over the cooking area.
Wait time: Got there around 10am on a Saturday morning. Made it through the doors and waited about 20 minutes. Beat the rush at 10:15am when the line started to go out the door.
Miscellaneous observations: Cash only. -
Review from bean l.
Long Island City, NY
12/17/2011
I miss this place!! I worked here for a spell folks, the food and the fun are all burned in my memory!!! I still have my "bean" mug that Doug the owner and his crew graced me with, I will treasure it always! Wally-Blue pancakes are the bomb-diggity! Someone out there in MN please send a shout out to Doug from "Bean in NY !!"
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Review from Scott B.
Saint Paul, MN
12/18/2011
If it's Al's breakfast, let HIM eat it.
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Review from Cecily V.
Miami, FL
12/30/2011
Long wait, but good eatin'!
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Review from Kate P.
River Falls, WI
12/3/2011
Come ready for an experience! And to wait in a cozy closet...it's worth it. Personal space boundries melt away as you sit next to (right next to) someone you don't know, both enjoying the amazing pancakes and other breakfast treats. Go when the U of M is on break (that's when we go) so you don't have to wait.
Parking is on the street.
You literally feel like you're in a closet. It's that small. And when the U of M football staff are in there for breakfast...you can imagine! This is as dive as a place can be--you'll never look at pancakes the same way again. Don't think you can eat 3 pancakes--maybe you'll finish two...maybe. Next time, I'm ordering one pancake, with eggs and bacon. Perfect.
This is a landmark--so COOL. You have to try it!!!!!!! Bring cash, they don't take credit cards. -
Review from Courtney R.
Sunnyside, NY
8/23/2011
I'm not going to beat around the bush here, Yelp. Al's Breakfast is the best breakfast place in Minneapolis.
I went to college in Minneapolis, and came to Al's so often that I eventually added my name to one of the hundreds of tab books that fill the shelves under the back counter. I put $20 on a tab, and went through it within a week.
My go-to meal is the Eggs Benedict. I can honestly say I have never found a better Eggs Benedict. And I've looked. The eggs are perfectly poached every time, and the hollandaise is tangy and delicious and made from scratch every morning.
I also have dreams about the bacon waffle (just typing that made my mouth start to water). Four strips of cooked bacon baked into the middle of a waffle. It's amazing.
The coffee is bottomless and the eggs are famous. But that's only half of the Al's experience.
The wait is usually about 45 minutes to an hour, and you wait outside, or in the cramped doorway, or behind the 15 stools that line the bar. As stools open up, diners are asked to shift down to make space. This is not a great place to come with a huge party of 6! Trust me, though: don't be afraid of the line. It moves along, and people are friendly, and the breakfast is oh-so-worth it.
The staff there is great, not "surly," just busy! It's good to look at the menu before you sit so you can order right away, yes, but that's mostly so they can get your order to you quickly (you've been hungry for 45 minutes, remember?) and seat the next diner.
I don't even live in Minneapolis anymore, but every time I come back to visit, Al's is the first place I stop. They still keep my tab open for me!
Eat at Al's. It's a one-of-a-kind place, with fantastic food. You won't regret it. -
Review from Amanda S.
Minneapolis, MN
12/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My favortie place for breakfast - blackberry pancakes are awesome!!
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Review from Mon P.
Minneapolis, MN
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Finally made it to Al's this morning.
I was so afraid that I would have to wait for hours so last night I set up the alarm clock to wake me up at 6 in the morning. After a couple of snoozes, I got up, drove to Al's and got in there right around 6:30 and didnt have to wait!!! yay!!
Ive been on my little quest to find the most yummy eggs benedict, so of course I had to try the eggs benedict. I sat close to the stove so I could see that the hollandaise sauce was made to order, which i though was very nice. The eggs were poached to perfection. The thick ham was full of flavor. The English muffins were slightly brown on the outside and not at all soggy like some other places. The plate topped with a nice of freshly-made hollandaise. The hollandaise should have been a star but it was a little bit too acidic to my liking. It was really gooooooood overall but just not the best that Ive had.
If I can get myself up at 6 in the morning again, I will go directly to Al's.Listed in: Breakfast - Brunch
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Review from Michael G.
Minneapolis, MN
11/11/2011
An experience. Not like any other breakfast spot in Minneapolis. As cheap as gets. Certainly not the healthiest breakfast you can find, but that's not the reason you go to al's. Great place to bring out of town friends, because its unlike any other place. Weekends are crazy and you will have to wait in line outside the door for at least 45 minutes, either get there early or stick to weekdays.
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Review from Jeff K.
Whippany, NJ
8/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
My 10 year old was obsessed with this place after reading about it and then seeing it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so we had little choice but to go when we came to Minneapolis.
We knew there was going to be a wait, and there was. We got there Monday morning, around 10:40 and we were seated a little before noon; so it was an hour twenty minutes, thereabouts.
We had familiarized ourselves with the menu because of the "surly waitstaff" reviews had read, but we didn't find a single surly thing about our server. He was awesome, good humored and maybe a smidge sarcastic, but we're from NJ, so we felt right at home. :-)
My wife and I had the Jose tho I upgraded to the "Jose with Corned Beef Hash"
A quick note on Corned Beef Hash. In NJ, CBH is what comes in a can from Hormel -- it looks like dog food with small cubes of potato sprinkled around small shavings of corned beef. Here, it means hash browns with thin slices of corned beef cooked in. This was so far superior to the CBH we have at home, and it may have spoiled me.
The eggs were poached to perfection.
My youngest had corned beef hash with a side of hash browns (!!!)
The middle one had the bacon waffle - a large waffle, half of which came home with us.
My oldest had the blueberry/walnut pancakes.
Having snitched a bit of all of them, they were each excellent examples of their class; but none really held a candle to the Jose.
For five of us, the check came to $50 (incl tip), which seemed about right for a trendy diner.
A note on the facility -- the line stretches across the sidewalk outside and eventually finds its way inside where you stand against the back wall like vultures waiting for the people on the stools ahead of you to finish.
This creates an odd sensation. You find yourself hating the people who have a second cup of coffee after their plates are cleared -- DON'T YOU SEE THE LINE OF PEOPLE DOWN THE STREET?!? -- but then forgive them since they're a party of 3 and you're a party of 5, so even if they got up right now, you still couldn't sit.
I ran out to move the car and the rest of the family got seated in the meantime, and I missed "The Al Shuffle" where people were asked to slide down the counter and consolidate to make room for the five of us. I'm sorry I missed it.
We were seated in front of the coffee pot, so any time the guy went to fill someone's coffee, we got topped off; even if he was just walking by. Proximity had its privileges. :-) -
Review from Isaac C.
Minneapolis, MN
7/31/2011
The absolute best place to have breakfast.
The wait on weekends may get too long, like more than an hour the last time I've been there, but it is worth it.
They warn you about the "attack waitress" but the waiter/waitress are awesome. -
Review from Hideki K.
7/1/2011 2 photos
Al's Breakfast is a great hole in the wall breakfast joint in Minneapolis' Dinkytown!
Thank you Yelpers! Without you guys I would not have heard of Al's Breakfast. I just noticed that they have their own Wiki entry:
http://en.wikipedia.or...
Al's was featured in Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2007. Al Bergstrom, the founder, lived until 2003 and passed away at age 97!
For my very first meal in Minnesota, earlier this month, my friend & I headed straight to Al's after renting our car at MSP. Even though we arrived at 10am on a Friday, there was a line almost out the door. It moved quickly though, and since it was just two of us, it wasn't a problem to squeeze us in. The wait was probably 20 minutes. I only had to re-feed the meter once during our time there.
The decor of Al's is fun with decorated egg shells all over the place. They have large cards with names of customers behind the counter. These are prepaid tabs so that they don't have to bring in cash and can deduct their meals from their tab totals.
The eggs here are their specialty and boy are they delicious. My friend and I ordered too much food, even though it didn't seem like a lot upon ordering.
The flapjacks (pancakes) come in a short stack (2), regular (3), or long (4). They are deceivingly huge and unbelievably cheap. I ordered a whole wheat SS, and my friend ordered a blueberry and walnut SS (I forget if it was whole wheat or regular), but hers were amazing. The added combination of blueberries and walnuts made them so delicious and quite possibly the best pancakes I have ever had.
The eggs are what Al's is known for. They might be just regular eggs, but for some reason they taste extremely good here. My friend just ordered two eggs, which came with toast. I ordered a tasty omelette, which also came with toast.
The bill was ridiculously cheap for what we ordered. We ended up ordering twice as much food as we could handle. For the two of us, we should have just stuck with SS flapjacks with blueberries and walnuts, an omelette with toast, and two coffees. Even the coffee here was good, and bottomless too. They were good about continuously refilling our mugs. I forgot to add that they use real maple syrup, and not that imitation Aunt Jemima stuff. Also, I believe remembering it to be cash only here.
Al's is a must when you visit Minny! Don't be intimidated by the wait. You'll be well rewarded for your patience. -
Review from Aaron L.
Burnsville, MN
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yeah, it's good. Maybe it's even *that* good (see the other 150 reviews). But the allure of what was once an alley that now narrowly seats 14 patrons can only go so far.
4 stars for great food, the only hit being the cramped and limited seating.
And remember to bring cash. -
Review from Hannah C.
Minneapolis, MN
8/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I Finally made it in here hooray! I arrived in a group of 3 at 12:30 ( Thats my usual wake up and breakfast time these days) just a half hour before they closed shop and I only had to wait a couple minutes . It was a Tuesday however so I wasn't expecting anything too crazy.
I got the hawaiian omelet and it was delish. The big pieces of sausage inside was so good mixed with the gooey swiss cheese. On top of that the chunks of pineapple and sour cream surprisingly went really well together. That perfectly eggy omelet was unlike one i've ever tasted!
I'll definitely be back for more. Probably around the same time since I barely waited. Also it was nice how their wasn't a line out the door of people eyeing you to leave so they can eat like some reviews mentioned. -
Review from Patten F.
Franklin, TN
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had seen it on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives", so this was stop A1 on the weekend in Minnesota.
Luckily, we had read up a bit on how this worked, so we were prepared for the system. Unfortunately, we didn't think too far ahead when we rolled in with a party of 3. As you can tell from the rest of the reviews here, there aren't many seats and you have to wait in line along the back wall while you wait for a seat.
The place is so tiny that we actually missed it driving by and had to get out of the car and look.
PRO TIP: This place is not for the claustrophic. I imagine it's much worse in winter.
When we finally got our stools (after 2 patrons were directed to other stools), I ordered the "Jose", which is eggs fried on hashbrowns with tomatoes, cheese and toast. I also got a side of bacon because...well, it's bacon.
The Jose was ENORMOUS...and I only got the 2 egg version, but it was so freaking good. The bacon was thick and crisp...and the best part - we were stuffed to the guild and the grand total for my breakfast was under 10 bucks. -
Review from Maddie D.
Washington D.C., DC
4/3/2011
I just don't get it. I've been to Al's twice and I really don't understand what the fuss is about.
I was expecting long lines so didn't mind that, and the cramped restaurant makes it at experience, which I though was pretty fun, but the food was very average. I got some special omelet, but it tasted like every other omelet I've ever had.
The second time I went, they put tomatoes on my bf's omelet, which he hates (who hates tomatoes?!?). He just picked around them, and the waitress, who was very friendly, was gracious enough to not charge him for it.
I feel like waiting in a long line for Al's on a Saturday morning is something all UMN students have to do, but don't get your hopes up too high. -
Review from Katheryn A.
Los Angeles, CA
4/25/2011 2 photos
Go wait, be creepy, eat, and enjoy! If there's a line, stand against the walls and BE CREEPY! Al's Breakfast is awesome. In the heart of Dinkytown, Al's food will make your heart skip a beat begging for more! I personally love, LOVE, love the eggs benedict. I know it's 'fatteningly' delicious, but there's something about the hollandaise with the perfect amount of fat and lemon zest that goes with the perfectly toasted biscuit.
Major Tip:
CASH ONLY -
Review from Glendon S.
Minneapolis, MN
5/24/2011
This place has survived the 60's and 70's, 3 riots after national championships, the great depression of the 2000's and they STILL don't let you pay with anything except cash.
Average wait on the weekend: 25-35 min but well worth it.
There is a reason why this place has not only survived so much, but been on DDD, Travel Channel, and every other "hidden gem" show. -
Review from Wanda M.
Minneapolis, MN
5/1/2011
This is truly a Dinkytown gem.
It is a bit uncomfortable waiting in line once you are inside, but who cares...that is part of the character. There is always a line out the door, so don't let that turn you away.
You will probs smell like a greasy spoon when you leave, but if that is a surprise for you, you should not be going here.
We had:
Wally blues
Cheddar cheese scrambled eggs
Bacon
T loved everything we ordered! -
Review from Lixin Z.
Ames, IA
3/13/2011
If there is a half star rate, this restaurant would get 1/2 star more for the warmness of my omelet.
I was visiting my friend at UM and we went out the other day for early breakfast. After looking up on yelp, we decided to give this spot a try.
Parking wise, you don't need to pay the meter till 8:00 am so that was quite convenient.
The place was a bit packed but it was a reasonable wait. There was about 20-some seats and people tried to finish food soon enough not to keep others waiting.
Horrible service, the only other bad one I've ever had in Midwest was at an Iowa local Italian. I didn't feel welcomed at all, and whoever she was always looks pissed and hated her job. My orange juice was spelled. And apparently they donno how to use please, sorry or thanks. Good for them if they try to live on good tips.
I guessed the only reason to keep such business running was the awesome food, plus I was sorta expecting that from some other reviewers so no surprise on that. Crossed that assumption out immediately after tasted my friend's yogiberry yogurt, aka blueberry, strawberry and blackberry yogurt, preserved??? We were expecting fresh fruit but after all it tasted rather sour and, boring.
I had a Spanish omelet. Serving speed was ok but not impressive. Food was fresh and hot, and that was probably the only exciting part. I ended up adding lots of hot sauce to make the food a bit more flavorful.
Price wise, ok. A bit too expensive on juice and coffee.
Frustrating experience, maybe it was cuz we were not in the pancake mood and missed the best part of the restaurant? I hope that was the case and bon appetite to all those other Al's breakfast fans who dared to give a 3 stars above. -
Review from Sam M.
Circle Pines, MN
10/8/2011
The eggs benedict is the standard by which I judge other breakfast places. This place is simply the best breakfast in the twin cities. Yes it is a small place, but I like to think of it as cozy.
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Review from Elizabeth S.
Minneapolis, MN
2/22/2011
I've endured the long lines, the cash-only policy and the cramped quarters, and this is still a five-star review.
Don't like the space? Turn around and leave. You won't suddenly start to enjoy it when you're shoveling hot food into your mouth and hungry people are drooling on your shoulder.
The employees get it done. They do not hand out customer satisfaction surveys or get demerits for not smiling. This is not a Perkins in Shoreview; this is a diner on the mean streets of m-fkn Dinkytown.
Other reviewers have covered the unofficial rules. I'd like to add one more that might put me on a hate list or two: Don't bring little kids. Yeah, yours are angels, everyone else's are trouble, blah blah blah. It's not about THEIR behavior. It's about how miserable THEY will be. The diner is tiny and dark; it's unforgiving. A baby could probably deal with it. Ambulatory children, not so much. -
Review from Nate J.
Minneapolis, MN
5/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
5 star diner food but overall a 4. I'd rather head to the Birchwood Cafe or try someplace new but if the owners are reading this review they'd say "f-em, didn't want their kind here anyway."
Lots of attitude, great food, good pricing. Only 14 seats so the food stalkers breathing down your neck don't make you want to linger but they wouldn't have it any other way. -
Review from Bill H.
Eagan, MN
2/6/2011 ROTD 4/30/2011
I absolutely love Al's Breakfst, it's one of the best breakfast joints I've ever been to!! The problem is it's size, It's a basically a large walk in closet that happens to have the most amazing fair priced breakfast of all time. Every time that I've gone I've had to wait outside for a seat to open because they just don't have the space to support people waiting inside.
But the moral of the story is Al's is awesome, but prepare to wait a few to get in. 5 stars even though it's small and you have to wait, that's how delicious it is!!! -
Review from Megan W.
2/22/2011
Al's is the perfect place for a wintry, week-day breakfast. It's tiny and cozy, and there's a feeling that you're having breakfast with each and every patron on the restaurant's 14 stools, instead of only with the person you're with.
(Note: it's perfectly acceptable to fly solo with a book or newspaper here, or to simply chat with all of Al's lovely employees.)
(Second note: If you're hungover on a hot summer day, Al's is not the place to go. You WILL feel claustrophobic. Not that this has, uh, ever happened to me.)
The Summer Special is my favorite - scrambled eggs are loaded with spinach and tomatoes and lots of fresh mozzarella. You can't go wrong.
Pro tip: Bring cash. -
Review from Joel L.
10/16/2010 1 Check-in Here
We got a tip about this place from someone at Surdyk's when we asked about a solid breakfast place in the area. This place didn't disappoint.
Since it was a Monday morning, I think we lucked out a bit by only having to wait about 30 minutes to get seated, because this place is tiny. I counted 13 seats, but there may have been one more. If you're waiting in line inside, you're literally standing over those eating at the counter - it's that small.
This place runs like a well-oiled machine, and has a bigger menu than I expected. I went with the corned beef hash, wheat toast and eggs over medium. Pretty good corned beef, not too greasy, nicely cooked potatoes, great start to the day. Coffee was refilled fast, the staff was pretty cool, and I loved the James Beard medal just hanging there among all the other stuff, like it was no big deal.
I would definitely go back here for breakfast.
CASH ONLY -
Review from Kitana Q.
Manhattan, NY
3/14/2011
Highly efficient assembly line of closely-packed diners. Narrow restaurant with the minimally necessary space for the kitchen, the counter, the stools, squeezing space, and the line of hungry people waiting to eat.
1. Food: fresh, fast, and good menu. I don't recall that it was particularly special. Pancakes are worth a try!
2. Service: Efficient. Cash-only. Beware of their service times; they will not feed anyone who arrives after the kitchen has closed.
3. Atmosphere: Came here more for the local neighborhood joint feel, and the odd desire to eat at a counter...and a Minneapolis institution. -
Review from Amirhossein K.
Sunnyvale, CA
4/16/2011
I freaking love this place. Although I have moved to CA, every time I get a chance to go to MN I make sure to go to Al's.
You should definitely try their Israeli Omelet. -
Review from D. L.
Minneapolis, MN
8/18/2010
It's not just about the food at Al's, it's the whole experience. I love that the long wait just makes the food taste that much better when you sit down. I love the communal elbow-to-elbow dining at the counter. I love looking at the walls covered in the history of this iconic breakfast spot. I love watching the servers and cooks interact with each other and their regulars. I love how analog everything is at Al's, down to cash only. And, of course, I do indeed love the food.
The José is my favorite (because yes, I also used to love José's salsa from House of Hanson). It's really perfection. But the scramble w/cream cheese and chives and the spring scramble w/asparagus & hollandaise are tied for a close second. And everything else -- the hash browns, the toast, the bacon, the corned beef hash (oh, the corned beef hash!) -- is always done to order and done just right. -
Review from Dee T.
Royal Oak, MI
7/26/2010
Just go ahead and call me a hater, but seriously, I would not by any stretch consider this the best breakfast in the cities. Sure, I did enjoy my spring special of scrambled eggs with fresh baby asparagus and hollandaise (which was delicious!)...but everything, especially the hash, came with a half-liter oil slick. It just made my meal overall unpalatable. On the drive home, I had to hang my head out of the window to get some of the grease scent to dislodge. Didn't work, btw.
I would give this a solid 2.5 if I could. The overall experience merits two stars, but the food and service are almost good enough to get a third. Now somebody pass me a Lipitor. -
Review from Elijah M.
McHenry, IL
7/9/2011
I miss the days in the 60s with Al and even the days when Phil modernized the place with Coyner pottery and those tacky Tiffany style lamps, but one does not come to this place for the decor. It is the spirit of those in attendance and the food. While the days of Al wandering around pouring coffee and Carol in the window are long gone, the ambience is the same and the food is still the best you will ever find. Everything is good, no sense in trying to break it down. Roomy and cozy, plenty of room to eat as Al used to stay, so why expand. Great pancakes, waffles and omeletes. Simply the best on the continent. Only two places in the USA to get breakfast, Al's in Dinkytown and Eggs 'N Things in Honolulu.
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Review from Mariel L.
4/17/2011 ROTD 11/26/2011
I am a certified Food Network cult member; show me a place I should try out, and chances are I will try to go there. So, of course I had to come to this place because it's been featured on every imaginable food travel show that features Mpls. And, to make myself feel a little less annoying tourist, a little more bona fide foodie, I confirmed with a couple of U of M alumni friends that this is indeed an awesome place to grab breakfast, as long as you're willing to wait in line. To which I say, NAY, we will go there first thing in the morning on Sunday and be first in line and be awesome and pat ourselves in the back, so on and so forth....
Of course, that didn't happen, and we ended up being in the second wave of diners and waiting approximately half an hour to get our grub on. But, it's actually good to wait, because standing behind those folks eating their breakfast really whets your appetite, and allows you to catch up with friends, observe every nook and cranny of this incredibly small space, and enjoy being in the presence of that James Beard Foundation medal hanging above a CD/cassette player (mommy, what's a cassette tape?). Al's Breakfast was given said award for being an American Classic, and that's what this 10-foot wide diner is, not some nouveau American restaurant with some "twist." It's straight up greasy spoon food, with mounds of hash browns browning atop an awesome grill top, eggs being poached for your bennys, different bread slices toasting, and the pancake batter being cooked in the same vicinity as the breakfast sausages, giving the pancake a salty, fatty, and delicious breakfast-y aftertaste. I went for the two poached on corned beef hash and a side of blueberry/walnut pancakes. The corned beef hash was beautifully brown and crispy on the outside and unctuous and yummy on the inside. The eggs were poached perfectly, and sopping up that runny yolk with the rye bread, while adding a little bit of the hash on top, made up for the most perfect bite you can ever have at the ungodly time of 10 AM on a Sunday morning. Brilliant. -
Review from Tammy L.
St Paul, MN
2/16/2011
I am a huge huge huge breakfast foodie. Anything with eggs, I'll eat.
I've been here quite a few times, different days of the week, and times. I think the best time to come here in the summer is early early mornings, you'll beat the rush of people. Anywhere from 7am-10am will have a wait. But whether you have to wait or not, it's worth it.
The prices are sooo good for the portions and food you get. I recommend getting the blueberry pancakes. There are a few other menu items I've tried that are good also. Overall, I highly recommend this place.
It's a cute, small but warm and cozy diner with extremely friendly staff. -
Review from etienne c.
Estherville, IA
8/29/2011
Best breakfast I've had in a long time. Perfectly cooked eggs of all kinds. Real butter on the toast. Reasonably good coffee with constant refills. It's tiny, and seating is at a diner bar, so get cozy with your neighbor and enjoy. My meal was $10 with tip. The staff are friendly and very efficient. I'd eat breakfast there every day if I lived near Dinkytown.
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Review from Mary F.
Minneapolis, MN
12/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
The best Eggs Benedict around, as well as their house-made corned beef hash.
The wait can be long, but it's certainly worth it. -
Review from S C.
Hempstead, NY
8/15/2011
My GF and went here to see what the big deal is. Well this place is defin worth talking about. Its a small counter service only place. We waited about 30 mins to be seated. I had the Blueberry Walnut pancakes. Let me say it was the best freaking pancakes I ever had. If you read this and decide to give this place a shot-please know that the pancakes alone are worth the trip.
