Family-owned staple in Rochester with a rich history and legacy. The owners were adorable and very friendly. Prices are really reasonable and felt like a visit to early 2000s. Food was average at best though. A bit greasy and quality of ingredients makes sense for the reasonable prices. read more

If you're looking for a down home breakfast, this is it! Had pancakes, hashbrowns, eggs over medium, and bacon to go. The eggs were cooked well and the pancakes are quite fluffy. The food feels a step above Waffle House (and as a Waffle House fan that is high praise from me). Will be ordering again! read more

The only place in town that I found a wonderful chicken fried steak. $10 Eggs, bacon, links, biscuits and gravy are good with the coffee. The place has unusual hours so make sure it's open before you make the effort to drive there. read more

please clean up the place! floors and window so dirty. outside is not appealing! I wonder how clean and sanitized the kitchen is? are the dishes and silverware clean? some people overlook this. I left without ordering! read more

Great food, super fast, and excellent service!!!! Really cute mugs and fun pictures on the walls! A fun place to go over and over!!!

The food was amazing. We are visiting from illinois and this place hit the spot for our hunger. The staff are extremely nice and the service was amazing and fast. We had a wonderful conversation with the woman who i assume runs the place or is a waiter. The cook was amazing at what they did, 10/10 Recommend! read more

Cheap Charlies - two plates of food on a table - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Recently moved to Rochester and kept seeing the pig on the building. Finally came for breakfast and so glad. Super friendly server. Both my daughter and I enjoyed our breakfast. Pancake super fluffy and yummy. Will be back soon read more

Cheap Charlies - Pancakes, hash browns and bacon - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

See all

The food was amazing I ordered the one pancake with two eggs (sunny side up)and I got it in like only 8-9 min grandmas and Hollandberry Pannekoeken can not catch up read more

Though I got recommended cheap Charlie's as a great breakfast spot in town, I was disappointed after actually receiving my food. The pancake I ordered had little areas that were discolored(black specks) and the sausage and gravy that I ordered was extremely bland and didn't seem to contain any sausage. Though it was definitely affordable, I don't plan on going there again. read more

This shit is so ass I thought I saw a 8 legged parasite floating in my water as it was from a sink that seemed like it was cut out of a bathroom. read more

Cheap Charlies - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Old school diner type of spot I had fast hot homemade meatloaf plate for lunch. Breakfast menu looks good! Waitress was friendly. Parking under large pig on roof. Lol read more

This place was amazing! I had the French toast sandwich and my boyfriend got the pork tender meal. Such big portions and the server was so nice. It was a family owned restaurant and I'm so glad we came here! I wish I could give more stars. I would rate this place a 5 on service, 5 on food and 5 on affordable prices! this place! read more

Cheap Charlies - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

See all

I'm just confused. We ordered 2 of the combo plates. One including pancakes, eggs and sausage. The other included eggs and pancakes. We got two sides of hash browns. We asked if they had fruit to put on the pancakes. They said no. The server offered chocolate chips, so we accepted. When we were ready to pay, our server calculated the total to be $41, and we both agreed that that was not correct. Way too high. So she grabbed the coworker who just so happened to the owner. When the owner took over and tried to calculate the total, she told us our total would be $49. No. No way. She told us that because we got chocolate chip pancakes we got a different special. She tried to explain how she settled on the $50 total, but it made no sense. After looking on at the menu it should have been $22.96 (7.99 for pancake & egg combo plate, $8.99 for the pancake, egg and sausage combo plate, and 2.99x2 for two sides of hash browns) I took a picture of the menu and the bill slip to do the math yet again when I got home, and I am correct. The owner was trying to charge us an extra $30 to add chocolate chips to our pancakes. She was trying to charge 11.75 for EACH pancake. Just... what??? We were charged a total of $29 after conversing with the owner for quite a few minutes. So we were still overcharged, but we just wanted to leave at that point. Also, sometimes a greasy diner is just what you want. This wasn't just greasy, this was dirty. The salt and pepper shakers were filthy. There were yellow clumps in the sugar shaker, which was also filthy. I didn't realize these were inside the shaker until one of the clumps fell into my coffee! Ew. TLDR: Don't make any substitutions unless you'd like to pay a $30 up charge for chocolate chips, and maybe just say away... read more

If you're looking for a down home restaurant that cooks some delicious comfort food, Cheaps does a great job!! Plus it makes you feel like you're in an old-timey sort of diner even though you're right in the middle of town! Not to mention, they just had a cameo on a movie that needed the old diner sort of style ambience, so you're sitting in a famous place now, and I guarantee you will not be hungry when you leave there!!! read more

MI am a local Muslim from here in Rochester, I have to say that this has to be one of the worst restaurant experiences I have been through at a breakfast spot. The server lady was insanely disrespectful and took a used coffee cup from a table she cleaned and put it BACK INTO THE POT! Not only that but I am Muslim and found a piece of bacon in my pancakes which is against my religion to eat maybe let's pay more read more

Cheap Charlies - Pork in my pancakes HARAM!! - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

What a great breakfast place. It's a family owned business. Food was tasty and quick. Will eat there again. read more

Cheap Charlies - Chicken fried steak and eggs - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Man this place has gone downhill. The once charming grunginess has fallen deeper into physical disrepair. And the food, which was always the thing, just isn't good anymore. Stick to breakfast items. Avoid the hot turkey sandwich with the freezer burned turkey and its weird sweet gravy. read more

Our favorite breakfast spot in Rochester! I've been going since I was a kid, over 20 years! The pancakes are massive and the country fried steak is soooo delicious! Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great breakfast spot around town that istn too expensive or boujee. read more

Me and my basketball team came in for breakfast after our morning practice. The waitress was really rude and gave us a side eye or smacked her lips whenever we asked for something, even simple things. Also we saw her grab the coffee off of a table that had left and put it back in the pitcher and on the stove to heat up. Disgusting. DO NOT RECOMMEND read more

I saw that Cheap Charlie's was listed as one of the 8 must places to dine in Minnesota. We went and yep it was awesome. The food was fantastic and the price was really low. Today Eggs Benedict was one of the breakfast specials. It was outstanding! The wife had eggs bacon pancakes and fried potatoes. She couldn't finish it all. The portion was large. Add two cups of coffee and breakfast was less than $20 A great meal read more

Gross French toast. Massive smell if urinal deodorizer hits you when you walk in the door. Friendly staff, but I hate to say: the food was not good. I had open-faced roast beef sandwich. The gravy was wrong. The beef seemed like it had been cooked for 3 days. Not good at all. I really had much higher expectations for a local dive diner. read more

Cheap Charlies - Taking my daughter for breakfast - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

This "divey "breakfast diner was exactly what we expected. We had great service and food was fast. Reminds me of the restaurant cafés back home in my small town. Plenty of seating and the price is right in line. Definitely going back. Great for a hangover breakfast too. read more

See all

It's kind of a dive, a little old school, almost retro. Food was okay. Scrambled eggs were an odd thin sheet of cooked eggs then folded up on the plate. I like mine actually scrambled. The sausage was good, and the pancake was great. It was really filling though, and huge, and don't think most people would need more than one. I thought the place was clean enough, I didn't feel like my health was in danger. I wish I had been able to try a bit more but the person I was with ordered the same exact things so I didn't get to try anything else. I was really looking forward to trying the eggs benedict but was told they only have that on the weekends. Unfortunately I can't foresee a time where I'll be there on the weekend since I go down there to go to the Mayo, so that's a little disappointing. I was looking forward to that while we planned our visit. Waitress was attentive. Not quite rude, just short and to the point. I guess she was busy. I will admit I was a little disappointed in this place after reading all the great reviews. I guess my expectations were too high. I was hoping to find a good breakfast place, I will probably keep looking. read more

This dive is a MUST if you are in Rochester! The breakfast is outstanding. The portions are enough to leave you bloated walking out the door. The service is very good. I would recommend sitting at the counter so you can catch up with the gossip. Yes a town with over 100,000 people has a rumor mill. I'm a sucker for breakfast and this is my choice if I'm in the Rochester area. It does get busy so you might have to wait. read more

Cheap Charlies - "The counter" - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

See all

I cannot recommend the choc pb pancake enough. It was cooked perfectly. Coffee was ON POINT. big fan of this place. It's a diner, don't get me wrong, but it's a DAAAAMN good diner. read more

Cheap Charlies - Choc pb pancake, toast, sausage and eggs. My gf got eggs over medium and loved them. We both loved coffee. - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Food was extremely low quality and the service was terrible. This place needs to be inspected by the state, it is filthy where people eat- I can't imagine what it looks like in that kitchen... I have been to a lot of restaurants in Rochester and this one is by far the worst. Stay away read more

Very much a hole in the wall. The family that runs this restaurant is very sweet, welcoming and helpful. I ordered a no-frills double bacon cheeseburger with fries... it was so satisfying and delicious. Definitely not good for you, but it tasted absolutely amazing! Very affordable as well! read more

Try it to say you have, but don't expect to be a regular. It modulates between kitsch retro greasy-spoon quaint and just plain nasty. I think they embraced, too much maybe, their "best dive" award. I am told the place hasn't changed much in the years it's been a fixture on the near-North part of town and from what I saw in the upstairs overflow area where I ate breakfast it might not have been cleaned since then, either. So if that's what they're going for they nailed it! The food is OK and the prices slightly better. The smoked pork chops are a rarity in this town and a good value. read more

Cheap Charlies - Cheap Charlies. August 2017. - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

I went to Cheap Charlie's when I was in college and it is a fun hole in the wall diner. The booths and service and food were classic. My father loves this place because of the grease and home town feel. I am not a huge diner guy, but it was fun when we went and the food was pretty darn good if you want a coronary. You get what it advertises for. A fun place in Rochester read more

We were at Mayo for an appointment and one of the workers told us about cheap Charlie's. I m so glad they did! The food was excellent! The portions were huge and the price was good. The staff was nice too. Definitely would recommend. I only wish they were open later than 2! I would have eaten here for dinner as well. read more

Cheap Charlies - Tender fried pork breakfast. - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

See all

The best breakfast ever! Ate there every day during my girlfriends appointments at the Mayo Good prices Great food Fantastic atmosphere 12/10 would recommend read more

Cheap's Charlies is one of Rochester's hidden gems! You can expect good food with reasonable size portions at cheap prices. The atmosphere is unique from the giant pig that greets you at the front door upon entering to the classic diner feel. If you're looking to find some of Rochester's locals you've found the right place and they scattered throughout the resturant adding to personality that makes it Cheap Charlies. read more

See all

I saw a story about the place on the news and thought I'd give it a try and support a local business. Boy am I glad I did. The staff was super friendly and the prices were great. You get a huge portion for cheap and the food was great. Our food even came up surprisingly fast. Will for sure be going back many times. read more

Meh!! That's my reaction to this restaurant. Several people recommended this place to us so we gave it a try and left underwhelmed. The venue is a little dive spot known for its breakfast but no one in our group was impressed with the meals that they received. The coffee was watery and undrinkable, the pancakes were a doughy mess, and the burger was served on stale buns. The icing on the cake was that the staff was extremely rude and abrasive which was reminiscent of the Seinfeld Soup Nazi episode. Overall, I would recommend avoiding this place and grabbing breakfast at another nearby place. read more

My boyfriends and my favorite breakfast places! Delicious food (especially the pancakes), and there's always a clean place to sit. It's like a chain diner but with some personality. My only complaint is they close early! read more

I liked the food ..that's all that matters...the sever woman was a sourpuss though..but the grub was hit and tasty

Hole in the wall breakfast joint serving breakfast, lunch and dinner all day (or however late they are open). Great greasy breakfast, good service from the waitresses, super cheap... don't know what else you can ask for. It's a great diner that makes you feel like you've found something special. I've never understood why anyone would go to Pancake house or waffle house or those chains instead of finding a great small, unknown place to dine at (get real food, better service, support a local restaurant) read more

Awesome breakfast spot- exactly what it sounds like. Cheap food, huge portions, very quick. The ambiance had a cute hole in the wall feel. I would compare it to an old town diner. The breakfast was clearly homemade and very delicious!!! I will be back. read more

Cheap Charlies - Diners Near Me - Rochester, Minnesota

Cheap Charlie's is great if you go there with realistic expectations 1) it's cheap 2) it's a diner 3) they serve cheap diner food. Nothing out of the world or will make you think "there's no way I could make this at home" but it's decent, inexpensive tastiness. The atmosphere is nothing special, but the service is friendly and relatively quick. You can stuff yourself for less than $6. It gets crowded, so you may have to wait or sit at the counter if all of the tables are full. read more

I'm not sure I can do any better than G. D.'s review... The Atmosphere: post-apocalyptic is the word. I doubt it could pass the most rudimentary of inspections. Helpful signs on the wall specify 2 or more people per booth - as opposed to what? Do they really have a problem here? I have never checked the restrooms, and hope I never need to. The way the rest of the place looks, I can only imagine. The Clientele: You have 2 types - the middle-aged suits that roll in at 6am, pour their own coffee and go upstairs, and (without a word exchanged) their order is delivered. I'm told these guys are there 5-7 mornings per week. I asked today who the one was and was told he was Fred, a local dentist. It's good to know that my Dr will understand when I tell him I'm addicted to CC. And then you have the retired crowd at the bar - who lay down (in exact change) their payment when they sit down. Seem to be a ritual. The Food: With Cheap as our first name, what can you expect? the best pancakes, sausage, and eggs in town, served with coffee and more butter than the law allows. Best breakfast in town - or any town. Really when breakfast include a drink for $2.99, what more could one ask? The Price: See name on sign. The Pig: Beats me - must be Charlie. The Location: Conveniently located within throwing distance of the world's biggest hospital system, and within 4 blocks of said hospital's ambulance service, so response time ought to be pretty decent. Overall: Rochester Icon - and has a loyal (and disposed to chronic illness and early death) fan-base, of which I am a card-carrying member. read more