We went at 8:30 AM on a Friday and only had one party waiting outside in front of us. There is NO waiting inside (it's literally just a bar) so be prepared for whatever weather you have. The staff was so nice and had a great working dynamic with each other. We didn't really order by meals, we just got what we wanted (I ended up getting 2 eggs Benedict and one pancake). The coffee is okay, but the food is really what makes it. The pancake was SO GOOD. The Benedict's muffin was pretty tough but it did taste really good. Pretty savory. Great experience I recommend going at least once. read more

Al's is diner styled with a bar that has maybe 10 or so stools and the kitchen right in front of you. Super cute and homey vibes! It's definitely cramped so I wouldn't recommend coming with a large group but they definitely will accommodate to your party! I didn't even realize this place was a restaurant because I walked right by it! It's wedged between two larger places so you'd only notice Al's if you were looking for it. According to my friends who go to UoM it's definitely a hidden local gem for breakfast foods. I ordered a full meal scrambled eggs with garlic, mushrooms, and cheese, hash browns with cheese, and 3 slices of bacon. The scrambled eggs AMAZING!!! I love wet eggs; these were so fluffy and plenty of mushrooms and cheese in every bite. This was the most wholesome and filling breakfast I've had in Minneapolis. I cleaned all three plates and was extremely satisfied. I really wish I had room to try the flapjacks! **Bring cash you're going to eat here!! read more

Al's Breakfast - Bacon + Scrambled Eggs + Cheesy Hash - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I had the bacon waffle, 2 eggs, toast and a side of bacon. Hubby had The Smokey! Whew!! That was breakfast! The waffle was fluffy with bacon cooked just right inside the waffle. The side of bacon was that country thick bacon, not that think see-through bacon. , Oh wait, let me not forget the MN maple syrup (slurp). The best breakfast I've had in a long time. I've been raving about them all day. We met several nice people in the small cozy diner. We will be back every time we visit MN. read more

See all

5 stars for the hearty food and service, and overall atmosphere. Knocking it down one star because being cash-only in 2019 *without even bothering to have an ATM* is just a bad business decision and an incredibly poor customer experience. Please get with the times re: payment options for customers. read more

Worth the experience, but I probably won't make this a regular breakfast stop since I like more space when eating out. Tiny diner with sassy servers that keep the line moving. There is very little space so I wouldn't recommend for a big group. I like how you can order small amounts of breakfast foods so you can try a bit of everything and prices are reasonable. Just a heads up, toast comes with your meal so I ended up with more food than I expected, but everything I ate was delicious. read more

See all

Our Omlette jiggled like a boob Our conversation was all laughs and discoveries and def augmented by the staff Our hearts, well our whole bodies, walked out glowing here's our full experience at: https://youtu.be/Iu-EHXxqQqs read more

Al's Breakfast - conversation - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

My favorite breakfast spot in the Twin Cities (and maybe the country). Huge portions, cooked expertly, and the menu hasn't changed substantively in forever. 13-15 stools, cash only, fast service, just the best. read more

Al's Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This was by far my favorite place in the little time that I visited Minnesota. It was a nice, cozy, & very small only seating like 10-12 people at a time. My party and I got there before the rush which was on a Sunday morning at 10:15. Will & his coworkers were exceptional as they ensured their customers were happy & also sung along to songs. I ordered the "Spike" and short stack of pancakes which was great and the perfect size. Follow my Instagram for more eats @gypsybread_ read more

Al's Breakfast - The "spike" eggs & mushrooms with a garlic sauce & short stack of pancakes. - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

So, I know good food when I have it and I had it at Al's. Timing is everything and Memorial Day weekend was the perfect time to try Al's. Yes, the place is a hole in the wall and yes, you will have to be patient while you wait along the narrow passage way watching people eat their delicious food while you salivate but good things comes to those who wait! An establishment like Al's does not stay in business for as long as it has without having the chops to be a staple! The hype is not overrated in my opinion! You have to appreciate the novelty of Al's to truly understand what makes it special: The old school pots, the diner counter top, the Christmas lights, the international dollar bills and the vinyl floors just to name a few all come together and make it an experience that is like no other. I ate Al's food like it was my last meal.... I loved every bite of my buttermilk pancakes, scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, my corn beef hash and wheat toast! I was so full I had to take some to go. They don't have to go bins but instead wrapped up my food in good old fashion foil paper ! Gotta love that! FYI, cash only! read more

See all

I freakin love pancakes and rumor has it that Al's was one of the best places to get pancakes in the city. Also it's Cash only. Bring CASH! I hit up all for the first time with a couple of buddies and we started our journey waiting outside. You'll have to park on the street and you even might miss Al's at first glance because the place is so small and tucked away. The place is tiny tiny tiny with only a couple seated. You will most likely be standing and waiting for 45 minutes to an hour so come with people you like and don't mind chatting too for awhile. Once inside we waited against the wall for spots to open up that would accommodate our group. You are literally touching the people seated an eating, but it ads to the wonderful experience of Al's. Everyone is friendly from the staff to the guests and once you enter it's like your part of the giant Al's family. The place is filled with history and stories with staff that have been working their for most of their lives. It's a hole in the wall diner, but the food is high quality and cheap. I had eggs, a corn cake, buttermilk pancake, bacon and toast. I also tried the chocolate chip pancake and and the special they had for that week. Honestly, not the best pancakes in my book, but the whole experience was super fun, staff and service were excellent, food was flavorful and fresh. I will definitely be back and can't wait to show off Al's to those Who have never gone before. read more

Al's Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I'm really sad that I just now tried this place (5 days before graduation) because it is amazing! There always seems to be a wait (based on reviews and my experience) but it is worth it. It's definitely a Dinkytown staple and I can see why! The servers are attentive and fun to talk to. The blackberry pancake is simple but definitely one of the best I've had. I also had a summer scramble, which was really good as well! The best part is everything was just $10! Definitely one of the best values in terms of food around campus and I'm assuming that it's one of the reasons why it's cash only. I left Al's very satisfied. Normally, breakfast places make me feel like crap afterwards but not Al's! I'll definitely be back once more before I love. read more

Al's Breakfast - Summer scramble and blackberry pancakes - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Excellent pancakes. Also had the corned beef hash. That was ok. The smell of bo from the dude next to me kinda ruined the experience for me. Overall I don't think you're missing out on much. read more

Al's is a little gem tucked in the middle of Dinkytown. I would call Al's an experience - standing in the line for an hour to get inside, looking at all the delicious food others are eating as you wait standing behind them, trying to make up your mind what to order, the list goes on... The food is just delicious. I have been here multiple times, both me and my husband are U of MN grads so this is an obvious favorite I guess. My most favorite dishes here are their omelettes and pancakes. I can actually say everything on their menu is really good, but just these two stood out for me. After eating breakfast/brunch here, either go take a walk in the lake or be ready for a nap. Its really good food but heavy! :) It is a cash only place and since they also have only 15 stools, you may or may not want to go with a group. We recently went as a group and loved the experience. Also you won't be seated until all the people in your group have turned up, just something to remember. If you don't mind the lines and looking for a quirky Minneapolis's diner experience then don't miss this one. read more

See all

There's just something about Al's that is incredibly charming. It's hard to describe - you've got to experience it firsthand! No, the place isn't luxurious or spacious by any means - it's actually the tiniest, most easy-to-miss narrow little greasy spoon, with 14 stools total. No, you can't expect to be seated immediately. What you CAN expect is to wait in a cramped line directly behind the already seated customers, with an up close and personal view of all their delicious dishes. The line moves relatively fast - I don't think anyone waits more than 25 minutes to be seated. Trust me, it's worth the claustrophobia! I'm pretty sure you can't go wrong with any dish you order. I got scrambled eggs, cheesy hash browns, and a blueberry walnut pancake (yeah, I know I'm a pig). It was all simple yet SO satisfying! And the food is made right in front of you, so you can be assured of its 100% freshness. I can certainly see why this diner has maintained its popularity since 1950. Such a wonderful experience that everyone needs for themselves at least once in their lifetime! read more

Al's Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

I'm not a fan of authoritarian regimes or diners. Their website lists 10 rules, called "How to Behave". Behave? Am I in kindergarten again? Guess what, I'm not, though I'll be glad to throw a temper tantrum, if you'd like! ;-) The problem is not only the Byzantine set of rules, but also that the rules aren't enforced consistently. We got barked at for sitting down at an open spot, even though it was our turn, because that particular waitress wanted to wipe that spot and we had to be called and then snottily so, like she's doing us a freakin' favor. No one else in line had to wait for their spot to be cleared. Rule number 4. "Don't be offended if it sounds snappy." Oh yeah? Well, I got some rules for you, Ruley McRulerson, "Don't tell me how to feel!" and "Pretend to be nice to people, even if you're a sociopath or are having a bad life or simply lack empathy!" :-) On the theme of "not all rules are good rules", I felt bad for the person behind us, who was waiting for their friend to show up, who was running late. The same server scolded her and told her that she had to go to the back of the line, because they don't hold spots for anyone, and then an illogical rant that there's gonna be seven people that she's holding spots for instead of one more. I guess the patron should've lied and had her friend sit separately when they showed up. Rule number 3, if you care. I know I don't! A sign that says "ACHTUNG! REGELN!" with a posted list of rules might help the atmosphere of imposing fear and obedience. Or something hearkening back to Soviet times if they're comrades on the opposite authoritarian extreme. Anyway, after that character and charm, the food was hot, but not necessarily good, except for the hash browns, which are usually good by default anywhere you go. Omelettes were unique, thick, overcooked, and very hot, but not great... bland and disappointing, even though we ordered the Mexican (black olives and tomatoes) and West Bank (potato, onion, sour cream, strawberry), which both should've been more interesting and tasty than a plain omelette. They even managed to screw up the toast, which was dry, though it was nice that they had rye. But it all wasn't worth the wait or the abundance of attitude or the historic charm of a run-down shed turned diner. Take your rules and schoolmarm tone and shove it! And yeah, I won't let the door hit me in the backside on the way out-- fuggetaboutit! This overgrown toddler was not impressed. read more

This place is literally the definition of a hole in the wall! The kind of hole in the wall you search and search for. It's the locals best kept secret for sure! It is TINY with seating only at the diner bar that has about 12 stools. The rooms is super limited but it's an experience like we have never had. My husband got the Eggs Benedict and a blueberry pancake that was the best we've ever had and came highly recommended! I tried the Jose and it was amazing! The staff is super friendly, service is quick and you get to watch them make to right in front of you, and it's a unique experience I'm certain we won't replicate anywhere else! If we ever find our way back to Minneapolis we will definitely be back! read more

See all

Great food. No credit cards so bring cash. It's worth making time for. I will go again. Lots of history and good service.

Wayyyyy overrated. It's a diner with way overpriced breakfast food. Cmon Gophers, this place is a joke. No variety for jelly, pricey burned diner coffee and everything is ala Carte. read more

Visiting Minneapolis from Ohio for our son's University of Minnesota graduation. Anytime we're in town, Al's Breakfast is a must. Get there early or prepare to wait in line. Though the wait is worth it. We arrived at 6a on a Saturday and their 14 seats immediately filled. And a line soon followed. The atmosphere is one of a kind. The food is great. It is an experience. This time I had the blueberry pancakes. I've had omelettes and waffles with past visits. It's all good. read more

See all

When you think of classic breakfast - this is where all your dreams come true. What you wish all breakfast places could be, Al's is. Made to order, fresh food and with portions you would serve yourself at home. I can't think of a better place I've had breakfast in my entire life. read more

Al's Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

Always have amazing service at Al's! Got curbside pick up today and they were quick and ready to go. Some of the best bacon and hash browns you'll find in Minneapolis. Can't wait until dine in is open again for the classic diner vibe! read more

Al's Breakfast - scrambled eggs with bacon and rye toast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

Went to Al's early this morning and was seriously blown away by the food! This is the cutest little spot in town, with only about 15 (maybe fewer) seats in the whole restaurant - definitely a hole in the wall spot. From what i've heard, there's always a line. My dad and I stopped in around 6:30 am and were lucky to get a seat right away but the whole place was already full! We ordered an egg scramble with mushrooms, cheese, and garlic and added tomatoes because why not. We also ordered hash browns and 2 blueberry pancakes and OJ. Sometimes diner food can be super average but trust me when I say there is nothing average about this food! Everything is cooked to perfection and absolutely delicious. The pancakes were definitely my favorite...so fluffy and amazing! The vibe in here is great - everyone is super friendly and you can tell there are the regulars who come in that everyone knows. Cutest spot that everyone needs to check out! read more

Long wait but great food and service. Didn't know that the waiters doubled as the entertainment too :) Omelets were great, blueberry pancakes to die for, and the hash browns were dynamite as well. read more

Al's Breakfast - Inside the restaurant waiting for one of the 14 seats....a very intimate arrangement indeed. - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

Horrible! Tiny, dirty and my breakfast wasn't good and my pancakes were as thin as a dime n my English muffin was just warm not toasted. I can't believe it's highly rated- read more

It is a cafe in a strip mall. The food is plentiful (eggs and a side meat) but the side pancake I had was a bit thin and not very tasty. Syrup is Karo style. I wouldn't recommend it. I would classify it as typical of a truck stop type café. You get your money's worth. Staff was good/ok, not great. Good for filling the tummy. Average. read more

This review is 43 years in arriving but better late than never. I was stationed at a nearby Chicago & Northwestern railroad (now defunct) hub in the fall and winter of 1980. I lived in my van in the railroad yard with no cooking facilities and had to be to work on the tracks at 7:00 AM, so I needed a regular breakfast spot. After scouting out the possibilities, I found two - Al's and another 24-hour restaurant. I decided Al's would be my regular breakfast stop if at all possible. Now, being from out of town, I had no idea that this was an "iconic" place. I was just a young, hungry, hardworking railroad man looking for a place to warm up and have a hearty meal. Being a pancake person, this place was perfect, and in the winter, walking into that toasty little room, with the warm hippies and hot pancake smells after sleeping outside, was pure heaven. I soon discovered though that I needed to be there when it opened, otherwise, I may not get a seat, and having to be to work at 7:00, I couldn't wait around. Occasionally, it would be full, and I was forced to go to that "other" restaurant. Now, living 1800 miles away, I will probably never have a chance to dine at Al's again, but how many restaurants do you remember with fondness some 43 years later? I hope Al's hasn't changed a bit or a bite. read more

This little spot was kool just a very small counter gave it a ton of charm service was on point food ehhh my girl loved what she ordered maybe I just ordered the wrong thing for me but the thick cut bacon was worth the trip 1850 miles away from home I run into someone from home, true story read more

Female staff member would not allow me nor my mother to stand under the awning by the door since it was raining. Wasn't even allowed to look at the menu and could overhear said staff member talking smack as we were pushed outside. With the understanding that is a small place, it's still unfortunate that we were treated like an inconvenience. Since we had this rude experience we decided not to even bother eating here, so sad to see that customer service has gone down along with this pandemic. Was really looking forward to trying this place! read more

A definitive go-to when visiting Minneapolis. Old school diner feel and it's incredibly tiny and intimate. A great brunch or breakfast spot. The food did not disappoint! Highly recommend. read more

See all

Seriously the food is amazing! Best hot cakes I've ever had in my life. I had the chocolate ones and they were wonderful! I've only being there in weekends but I was told that the cooks are different during the week. I'm only speaking on behalf of the cooks and servers of the weekend. This is because I was told that the food is not as good on week days compared to the weekend. I don't know about that cause I've only being there on weekends as I said but regardless I loved it! Yes please complain about the long long waiting lines because it is extremely small but that's part of the fun and anticipation in my opinion! read more

Went to Al's on a cousin's suggestion. Paid for Saturday morning on street parking and went and stood in line just inside the entrance of the small hole-in-the-wall diner with more customers out the door and along the sidewalk. Emphasis on hole, as in small. The diner consists of a restaurant length counter with stools and enough room behind the stools to stand and wait for diners to finish. Yes that's right, you stand behind eating customers and quietly talk about how hungry you are. Too be fair, the staff has as much room to work. And be sure to go to the bathroom before you go, cause there isn't one. The staff was friendly enough and worked to clean and prepare seating as soon as those finished got up. Be prepared to play musical chairs while you eat as you may need to move in order to accommodate different sized groups. My cup was empty once during three cups of coffee. I ordered the 2 egg Smokey omelette and it was okay. It came brown and a bit dry even though there were tomatoes in it. The only thing that saved it was the chunky chewy bacon mixed in. The toast was toast. I quess if you're looking for a "quirky/charming" breakfast dining experience, Al's is the place. I personally like to sit and enjoy my meal and not have waiting folks staring at the back of my neck wondering how many cups of coffee I can drink. By the way, my visit was during the summer, can't imagine what it's like to wait for seating when it's cold out side. read more

What a great fun little diner! Located this place on Yelp and thought we'd give it a try. Upon entering, you wait in line behind the patrons already seated on the stools. The lady working behind counter reminds me of the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld...she was the Stool Nazi and kept people in line and made sure you were seated by the order you came in. The cook was a riot! He was hollering out orders, requests for food supplies ... all while singing along with the music playing in the diner. He was very entertaining and added to the environment. They have a nice menu with some twists on standard breakfast options. We opted for different omelette options and added a side of bacon. Good food, fun atmosphere...make this a must try place. read more

See all

Hidden gem. From the squeaky stools to the quirky dolls and figurines on the counter, this narrow hallway embodies what little is left of Minneapolis in the 50s. Each dish is said to be unique and take you on an experience. I got the huevos rancheros. The smooth texture of the eggs and the freshness of the peppers can turn even a dull dish into something simply delightful. It leaves you wanting more! read more

Great food and entertainment by the short order cook. May have to wait but the atmosphere is great!

Walked in for breakfast. Was told to go sit in the back. After sitting down another server told us not to sit down unless we're told. After telling him we were told to sit in the back he said that doesn't actually mean to sit and be served. I've had plenty of my friends tell me they have great food here but the service is crap. read more

Al's Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Expecting a line, we arrived before 8AM on a holiday Saturday. There were 6 ahead of us. Linemates were friendly, and wait was shorter than expected. Service immediate, bottomless coffee delicious. While waiting for bacon waffle and scrambled, treated like family by busy Alison and the busy crew. Arrival to departure in less than an hour, we left feeling happy, satisfied by the great food and great experience in equal measure. A MUST EXPERIENCE if you're in the Cities! read more

Al's Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Tiny doesn't quite do this place justice. It's a hole in the wall with just 14 seats I think? But, they've somehow found an efficient way to make it work (though that doesn't mean there won't be a substantial wait). The seats are all along a counter and, once full, you form a line along the wall directly behind everyone eating. There is no personal space to speak of...guaranteed that people will need to squeeze by you or you'll need to squeeze by people. If you're dining with anyone else, all must be present to be seated or you will be moved to the back of the line. Once seated, the staff may continue to shift you around to accommodate as many parties as possible. So know this going in and be cooperative so everyone eats! While you're in line, study the menu so you're ready to order. There are flap jacks that you can order 1, 2, 3 or 4 of, waffles, eggs prepared in a variety of ways, etc. I got a single BLUEBERRY FLAP JACK, SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH MUSHROOMS AND ASPARAGUS, and an ENGLISH MUFFIN. It was a great breakfast. Everything is prepared right there in front of you. read more

Al's Breakfast - Blueberry Flap Jack - Diners Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

Staple breakfast in Dinkytown to the point it's almost touristy. With that SAID, it's not a bad thing. There's a reason why this little diner is so popular. The food here has definitely withstood the test of time - greasy yet the kind of guilty pleasure you just can't resist. You know what'a the worst part? Standing behind other patrons feeding on those amazing bacon and hash browns when you're REALLY REALLY hungry but not knowing how long you have to wait before you get seated. It's a little hard to predict the time when you should show up to avoid standing in line for the food. Either show up very early or very late, and it should be relatively light in queue. I actually wonder why it took me so long to write this piece, but everything there is about this place, you just gotta love it. The retro vibe, the diner tradition, the screaming at the top of your lung across the table between the cooks - ah, just get those blueberry pancakes and stop reading. read more

After living in Minneapolis for a few years and hearing about Al's for so long, we (party of 2 - important) finally gave it a shot. It was the day after Christmas, a Wednesday, at 11 am on the dot when we arrived. Street parking was plentiful and there was no line out the door. We almost thought maybe they weren't open. They were, and we joined the line against the back wall of the room. I had heard about Al's being tiny, I've been to Mickeys and Our Kitchen and other notably small restaurants, but you truly cannot do justice to the size of this place through words alone. Maybe not even a picture. You stand single-file along the left wall, inches away from those who stood in line before you and are currently on a stool at the counter. I believe there's 14 seats. Despite the...intimacy of the space, the staff was incredibly welcoming, friendly and perfectly conversational. It truly felt like being in their home; you become part of their banter and yelling orders from across the counter. They move quickly as to turn over the seats as fast as they can. The line moves quicker than you'd expect. The food was great, everything's fried in butter. The pancakes, good. Wouldn't go as far as saying they're the best ever, but certainly worth getting. I LOVE that you can really customize the size of your order (1-many pancakes, 2 or 3 eggs, etc). I got the 2-egg Spike which was delectable, savory and garlicky. This smaller portion was even too much to finish with a pancake on the side. If it's just you and a friend or date or uber driver, get in the line! If you've got 3-4 people, prepare to wait a bit. Any more than that, I implore you to reconsider or split yourselves up. read more

By far.. the GREATEST OMLETE I've ever eaten!! Nothing comes close!! I eat eggs EVERYDAY for breakfast and typically like them over easy/medium because omelets taste gross to me but love scrambled. I don't know what Amal's doing in the kitchen BUT he's mastered how to make them thoroughly cooked, soft, fluffy, cheesy and ohhhh so tasty!! A must try!! Staff is fun and friendly. Only reason they don't get 5 stars is because they got both my and my lady's orders wrong. read more