Dinky is adorable. Really just needs some food while on a road trip. Not to far off the interstate. One waitress, one cook. 50s style silver interior One page menu front and back. Breakfast to close. The omelet was bigger than expected. Toast came with it. Just a cute stop. Watch the hours. They are correct, closing at 2. Very friendly and we enjoyed it. read more

Dinky Diner - Meat Lovers omelet - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

See all

My husband and I stopped here on our drive through Iowa. Very quaint diner. Both food & service were very good.

Cool little joint. Driving from Texas to Minnesota and stopped in here for a burger. Service was great and the burger and fries were good. Make sure you got cash. read more

Dinky Diner - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

See all

If you are in the area you need to stop for the entertainment. The staff was hilarious and chatted openly about their small town issues. Food is what you expect in a dinner. As a Texas boy I can say the ice tea was good. We smiled so hard while we were there. Get that waiter into a theater program! read more

Dinky Diner - This is the Pyrotechnic Artist of Texas crew. - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

Perfect name for this hole in the wall. That said, you have to get your butt on one of the 8 stools at the counter. The food was incredible. Just like Mom makes and lots of it. It's the true dive spot, but you have to take a chance on this one. We had breakfast as a family. Couldn't have been better. Like I said, just like Mom makes. If fancy is what you want go down the road. You want good food... then this is your spot. Bring cash... that's all they take. I like that part even more. Good luck and Good eats! read more

Great homemade omelets, excellent biscuits and gravy. Would recommend supporting this quant small town restaurant just off the interstate. Friendly staff and clean restaurant! I think they close at 2:00 pm. read more

I am sure this is a great local spot for breakfast -- but I would not recommend it for lunch. The food was well cooked and hot, but the mashed potatoes were instant (although the French fries and gravy were excellent). The hamburgers were fine but really the food was just okay. The staff was lovely and kind and the service was good... but probably not so memorable that we'd go back again. Stop here for the fun factor of a unique diner, not necessarily for food that will wow you. read more

Amazing food. It's that hole in the wall kinda restaurant. Looks are deceiving lol. Small dinner greaT service lots to eat. Love it.

Great breakfast in Southern Iowa, the name says it all, worth the stop at the highway 2 exit!

This place is so cool. It's an old school small diner. The food is is comfort food that is delicious. The prices are fantastic! Our waitress was fast, so nice, and lovely. read more

If you are traveling the roads of Iowa like I am, and you stop to visit small town diners like this one, you should not be expecting gourmet or 5-star quality meals. With that understood, Dinky Diner in Decatur City IA offers a quaint, local feel that not only feeds your tummy with some staple meals like burgers, grilled cheese, meatloaf and fried chicken, but also feeds your inner youth with nostalgic views of what once was. The staff is friendly and the service fairly quick. If you are not a local, you will likely get a few curious eyeballs your way, but not in an uncomfortable sort of way... just a "where you from?" sort of way. Within five minutes, everyone is back to their own meal or conversation. Decatur City has been incorporated since the late 1800s and the town has clearly seen better days. However, the Dinky Diner is a wonderful way to enter the town with decent food and nicknacks throughout the establishment like John Wayne and Elvis pictures, glasses with the Fonz on them from "Happy Days" and other items that you will recall from your childhood if you are older than 40. Is the food "great"? No -- but its decent, standard American faire (hence my 3-star rating), but don't let a 3-star throw you off. There are not a ton of choices around this area anyway! But at the DD, you will walk out feeling well feed and your soul is just a little bit happier for being able to support local businesses and revisit someplace special that is disappearing from the American landscape. read more

Dinky Diner - Just off I-35/ Decatur City exit in southern Iowa is the Dinky Diner. Small town cooking that reminds you of a time gone by. - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

Very nice woman who owns the diner. The coffee was great! It is such a cute place I just had to stop. It did not disappoint!!

Really good, very small. The food is delicious and is good cheap prices. Not much staff and has a mask policy

Excellent breakfast in a great dive diner. It was full of locals so you know it's good. The wait staff was friendly to read more

Dinky Diner - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

See all

Totally tiny, which is fine, totally dirty & totally slow, which is not. Locals only, cheap eats & friendly staff.

Went there when we dropped son off at college in August during the height of covid. Had breakfast it was awesome and the coffee was even better. Service was wonderful. It was so good we came back the next day. it was just as good. Will be back when we drop him off in the fall again. read more

I stop for gas and was directed to this place a 1/4 mile down the road from the I-35 exit. It's a Valentine Diner built in Witchita KS in the mid 60's and move here from Ellsworth Kansas in 2005. The food was great and so was the staff. I'll be back with friends the next time I go north. read more

See all

Traditional small town cafe. Full of locals talking about what the neighbors have been up to and other daily events. Food and the service were good. The restaurant was a bit run down and the menus needed replaced due to their condition. We arrived a little late for breakfast, so we settled for lunch. Good burgers, chicken strips and the ham on the club sandwich was thick cut. I would like to stop ba k by and try breakfast. read more

Awesome experience friendly staff and delicious. Will be visiting regularly. Amazing little building, kids had a great time. read more

Dinky Diner - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

See all

Sad to say, because I love little one of a kind diners, but I would skip this one folks! The name is very appropriate as it is tiny as they get. The service is prompt and friendly but that's about it for the pluses. The whole place is in a stare of disrepair. Rusty fixtures and broken booths, condensation on the windows from lack of ventilation or insulation. Ordered coffee which was only .75 but they only have powdered creamer. Butter spread, not butter in the heartland, really? My sisters French toast was soggy and bacon limp. My hash browns were certainly not brown or even edible. Surprised that this place has good reviews. We stopped because of cute name and good reviews but hurried out as quickly as possible. If you are in the mood for mediocre food and an adventure that's what you will get here. read more

Great food, friendly staff, great prices, and they are open during COVID, which I'm happy to see. I come here to support this local business every time I visit Milo, Iowa, which is further north of this diner. I'll eat here for as long as they remain open. read more

I would think it's really cool because there food is really good there and my mom works there now read more

We went for dinner which must have been a bad idea. Their was a couple in the diner when we got there and one waitress. My wife ordered the chicken salad (some iceberg, two cut up chicken fingers, a few diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese) I order a sandwich and wanted a side salad but my wife's salad took the remaining lettuce. Boys ordered burgers. They were out of fries and onion rings and only had one order of curly fries left. By the time we finished ordering I don't think they had anything left and a party of 8 came in after us! Don't think I would chance it for a road trip meal unless it was breakfast. read more

A great little diner with very friendly customer service. We ordered The Big One burger and onion rings. While we waited for our order the fine ladies running the restaurant gave us the history of the building and the owner. It was a great dinner break on a road trip. read more

Dinky Diner - The Big One Burger - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

If you are driving I-35 you need to stop here. It's worth every penny. Super affordable comfort dining. Biscuits and gravy are the best I've ever had! Fresh homemade and delicious. Friendly and helpful staff too. read more

See all

A great greasy spoon diner just off of hwy 35. Kindest sweetest most welcoming staff!! Had the grilled chicken with curly fries. Best I've had in a while and certainly better than any chain. And pie. They have lots of pie. I didn't partake myself but everyone here is raving about it. read more

Dinky Diner - Feeding RAGBRAI. Built in 1967. - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

One star is probably too generous. The diner was so humid that the windows all had condensation on the inside. The smell of food due to no ventilation may never leave us and the food was subpar, and it took a really long time to get our food. The sausage was burnt and my omelette had runny white uncooked egg. I am baffled that this place has a 4 star rating. read more

Dinky Diner - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

The old style 50's diner that is untouched. This does mean it is a little worn . The food was great. Home made rhubarb pie like my grandma made. Meatloaf dinner was tasty. Prices were low. read more

Dinky Diner - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

See all

This diner looks quite dinky on the outside, but the inside is filled with delicious and comforting foods. I got the chicken fried chicken which was on special. It was amazing! Fantastic choices here. Great pie. Clean bathrooms, too, made for a good all around stop driving through here. read more

A great spot right off the hwy! Stopped here on our way back to Louisiana, great service, great coffee and great food. We definitely will be back when we come back this way! read more

Easy to find, Good home cooked breakfast with lots of options. Cozy atmosphere & friendly staff. Planning to go back for a weekend supper. read more

Dinky Diner - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

Great stop for travelers...right off Interstate 35! Try the pan fried chicken with homemade bread...and save room for a slice of pie! Friendly people.....including waitress and the locals! Check out their daily specials! read more

I had an awesome experience dining here this first day of summer 2014. The place looks small but it offers so much charm, I was very impressed with the warm and gracious greeting as well as the plentiful portion of food, I ordered the Hash brown supreme entre for breakfast and it was great, I'll certainly try to visit this place when I'm passing through, Great fun! read more

Exactly as advertised by other reviewers. TINY diner in this tiny town with a huge diner menu and a very friendly staff. Great little find off the beaten path. Make the effort to get there. read more

Dinky Diner - Diners Near Me - Decatur, Iowa

See all

A real treat for me when I come visit my boyfriend while he is hunting down here. Their breakfast is my favorite! Like eating at Grandmas house. Limited seating but worth the wait. read more

Exactly as advertised. Small, clean, friendly and basic goodness to appease the appetite. If we lived locally we would be regulars.

Wonderful, local diner!!! Friendly, fast service, with great home cooked food. Tenderloin sandwich is a must try, but bring your appetite. The daily specials are equally good. The cucumbers and onions go quick, so get there early. We loved the charm and charisma of the wait staff. read more

When I was in college this was one of my favorite places in the entire world. You feel like home as soon as you walk in the door. The waitstaff are warm and friendly and helpful. The food is a very fair price and you get humongous pancakes/hashbrowns/omelettes. All of which are incredibly tasty. They have a diverse assortment of coffee mugs, and the mug you get that morning, be it a sad santa mug, or snoopy kissing lucy, always foretells something about your day to come. This place is a true treasure and a rare find that defines all the goodness of Iowans everywhere. read more

A small road side cafe, big on taste with home cooking. $6 lunch special includes a meat and choice of 3 sides. Very fulling. They also have homemade pies and who does like pie :) read more

Well the food is not bad, but the staff was obviously having a bad day, dropped off menu walked up to take our order...all without speaking a word, yep you can't make that up... read more